• Be My Valentine: Cookie Surprise!

    Window Pane Heart Cookies made with love by the girls and their friends!

    We made these fun window pane Valentine Cookie Surprises this week.  The girls had a blast cutting out the cookie shapes and adding the hard candy to make window panes!  They taste pretty yummy too with the variety of flavors and textures.  The cookie dough is your basic sugar cookie mix.  We added the hard candies in the middle to make the cookies extra special.  It was a wonderful baking adventure with our girls and their friends who were spending time over at our house.  After having 5 young girls cooking in the kitchen it was a mess but they were so proud of their creations and goodies that it was worth the extra clean up time!

    Sugar Cookies

    • 1/3 cup Butter or Margarine
    • 1/3 cup Shortening
    • 3/4 cup Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 2 cups All Purpose Flour
    • 20 to 40 Hard Candies (We used a variety of Lifesavers, Root Beer Float Hard Candies & Candy Canes*)

    1.  Beat butter and shortening on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, and a dash of salt.  Beat till combined, scraping the bowl so everything is well blended.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Gradually add the flour into the mixture.

    2.  Cover and chill dough for 1 to 3 hours to make it easier to handle when making cookies or cutouts.

    3.  Lay down wax paper and lightly flour.  Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness.  Use a variety of cookie cutters to make the shapes you want.  Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

    4.  Cut out a heart shape in the middle of the cookies.  Fill the hole with a crushed hard candy.  The candy will melt during baking creating the glass window pane hearts in the middle of the cookies. *We tried using up extra candy canes but they didn’t melt well (they tasted good) but I would stick to the one color hard candies like life savers!

    5.  Bake at 375° for 7 to 9 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are firm and light brown.  Cool until the middle window are set then transfer to a platter.

    Surprise Valentine's Cookie - this one had three different flavors!

  • Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping (Recipes)

    I am now wrapping up week number 5 in my No Grocery Shopping challenge!  It has been a fun adventure for our family as we continue to find ways to make the food in our fridge and pantry stretch!  Some of the recipes over the last few weeks have been a huge hit in our family for years while others were different.  We are always looking for ways to create healthy meals that everyone enjoys without wasting the food we have in our home.

    For those who have been emailing me about what we’ve been eating here are a few of our low budget main dish recipes:

    Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

    I came up with this recipe a couple years ago when I was trying to use up some leftovers in the fridge.  It has since become a favorite at our house.  The neat part about this recipe is that it can be easily altered based on the ingredients you have in your refrigerator.  We usually have a stock pile of Wacky Mac because we use double coupons at Ingles, Bi-Lo, or Publix plus we get extra money back from Upromise eCoupons which makes most of our purchases of Wacky Mac free plus some overage.  Dairy products are regular staples in our house so it makes this recipe fairly easy to make anytime.

    Print Recipe

    Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

    The neat part about this recipe is that it can be easily altered based on the ingredients you have in your refrigerator. It is a simple recipe that is almost impossible to mess up.
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time1 hour
    Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Casserole, Macaroni & Cheese, Wacky Mac
    Servings: 8

    Equipment

    • 9x7 Pyrex Casserole dish

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz Wacky Mac Veggie Noodles (Any shape pasta can be used, but the girls love the mixed shapes and colors of Wacky Mac)
    • 1-2 cups Milk (depending on how rich you want it, powder milk works too or add a touch of sour cream to increase the richness)
    • 1 cup Velveeta Cheese (cubed)
    • 1 tbsp Butter or Margarine
    • 1 cup Shredded Cheese (I use up the partial bags in our fridge so it is usually Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Colby, etc..)
    • 2-3 cups Water (You want 4 cups liquid, if you add more milk, reduce the water)
    • dash Salt, Pepper, and Garlic to taste

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Add all the ingredients above except the water to a casserole dish.
    • The water will be different based on what you add to your casserole.  Add enough water to cover the noodles and stir everything together.
    • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees.  After 15 minutes of baking stir the casserole than continue baking for an additional 45 minutes.  The top of the casserole will be crunchy (everyone’s favorite part) but should not burn.

    Notes

    I have also been known to cut of cheese slices or put in a couple spoons of cottage cheese.  It really is a “use up the leftovers” type of Marconi & Cheese Casserole!  If you want you can add a cup of fresh or canned tomatoes that tastes great too.

    Chicken Pot Pie

    After several days of cooking we will often use the meat and vegetable leftovers in the fridge to make a Pot Pie.  Our favorite is the Chicken Pot Pie, but we have made several variations of Beef and Ham Pot Pies as well.  You can often get Store Brand Pie Crusts on sale or clearance for a great price if you them on hand use those otherwise the recipe below includes how to make your own pie crust with a few basic ingredients.

    Print Recipe

    Chicken Pot Pie

    A family favorite, chicken pot pie is a simple way to use up the remaining chicken that doesn't taste like a "leftovers" meal.
    Prep Time35 minutes
    Cook Time1 hour
    Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Chicken, Leftovers, Pot Pie
    Servings: 8

    Equipment

    • 9 inch pie pan

    Ingredients

    Pie Crust

    • 2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
    • 3/4 cups Crisco Shortening
    • 1 tssp Salt
    • 5 tbsp Water (cold)

    Filling

    • 1 to 2 cups Cooked Chicken (use leftover or canned Chicken)
    • 1 to 2 cups Cooked Vegetables (use leftover or canned Veggies)
    • 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Mix together the ingredients for the crust until the dough is formed, split the dough in half.
    • Roll out half of the pie crust (add more flour if necessary).  Place half of the pie crust in the bottom of a 8 or 9 inch pie pan.
    • Stir together the Chicken Pot Pie filling ingredients.  Add the filling to the pie pan.
    • Top with remaining pie crust.  Roll the edges of the bottom and top crust together.  Cut a few slices in the top of the pot pie, (I usually will do a smile face or Christmas Tree or heart just for fun.  The girls are always looking to see the design on the the top prior to eating it.) 
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Check halfway through and if the crust is getting too dark put a piece of foil over the top to keep it from burning.

    Pasta Night

    We will often have a “Pasta” night which is a quick and easy meal that our family enjoys. It is one of our “meatless” meals.   Many times Pasta nights consists of cooking:

    Print Recipe

    Poor Man's Pasta

    Don't let the name fool you. This is a simple staple that is quick and easy to make, yet still a comforting favorite.
    Prep Time1 minute
    Cook Time8 minutes
    Total Time9 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Cheap, Simple
    Servings: 4
    Cost: $3

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups Elbow Noodles
    • 1/2 tbsp Butter or Margarine
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese (aka. "Shaky Cheese")

    Instructions

    • Cook the noodles, drain and add the butter.  Sprinkle Shaky Cheese over your noodles and enjoy.

    Notes

    I add veggies and fruit to round out the meal.   It is quick, simple, and inexpensive. 

    Spinach Chicken Casserole

    This is another one of those quick recipes I threw together to use up some extra chicken we had in the fridge that was a hit with the family.

    Print Recipe

    Spinach Chicken Casserole

    This is a quick "throw together" meal that tastes great and feels like it should have taken more time.
    Prep Time5 minutes
    Cook Time1 hour
    Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Cheap, Simple
    Servings: 6

    Ingredients

    • 2 to 3 cups Cubed Chicken (or you can use 2 to 3 frozen whole Chicken Breasts)
    • 1 can Spinach
    • 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
    • 4 oz Sliced Mushrooms (Optional: Canned works best)
    • 2 slices Provolone or Mozzarella Cheese
    • 2 cups Rice (uncooked)
    • 2 to 4 tbsp Water

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Pour the 2 cups of uncooked rice and water if necessary into a casserole dish.  Add the Chicken on top of the rice.
    • Mix together the Spinach and Cream of Mushroom then add it on top of the Chicken.
    • Spread the sliced mushrooms over the spinach mixture.
    • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
    • Add the cheese on top 10 to 15 minutes before the casserole is done.

    Veggie Beef Soup is another one we put together with items we have on hand.

    Along with the main meals we have a fruit and vegetable.  We still have chicken and beef weekly as well as fish every couple of weeks to make sure everyone is getting the nutritional meals they need.

    I will continue to share with you the challenges and successes so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating and sharing your story.  As I extend this goal into at least the first part of February I hope to have the opportunity to share more about what we are doing to make it stretch!  Let’s see if we can finish yet another week of the No Grocery Shopping challenge!

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Be My Valentine: Scrapbook Highlights

    Do you like to scrapbook?  You don’t need to be current with your scrapbooking to do this Valentine’s Day gift (I am way behind on my scrapbooking too).  Show your spouse and family you love them on Valentine’s Day by doing a Scrapbook highlighting the big events over the past year.  You can do scrapbook at home with your materials or one online at Snapfish or any other great photo place.  Think back over this past year and pick one or two big events for each month or two. Here is some ideas of what to include to get you started, even if you do the Holidays you’ll have plenty of special memories.

    • January – Happy New Year
    • February – Happy Valentine’s Day
    • March – Springing into Spring
    • April – Easter
    • May – Mother’s Day
    • June – Father’s Day
    • July – Independence Day
    • August – Back to School
    • September – First Day of Fall
    • October – Halloween
    • November – Thanksgiving
    • December – Christmas
    • Birthdays
    • Fresh Start
    • Weddings
    • Anniversaries
    • Special Trips
    • Vacations
    • And so much more!!!

    Create you book of highlights with the scrapbook material you have or do it online.  It will be a fun gift as you reflect back on the memories you made together!

    Photo by shimelle

  • Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping (Meals)

    A couple questions we have been asked several times over the last month regarding my No Grocery Shopping challenge are – What have we been eating?  Do we have any recipes?  I am thrilled that we were able extend this challenge into February!   The quick answer is the meals have been “simple”.   Thankfully my family does not have any food allergies so we can be a little more flexible on what we eat.

    Here are a few ways we made our pantry stretch:

    • Always Eat Leftovers
    • Keep it Simple
    • Make Meals with Few Ingredients
    • Cook 1 Main Meal a Day
    • Cut back on Snacks
    • Make Meatless Meals

    On typical day we eat toast, cereal, eggs,  oatmeal or something we have on hand for breakfast.  The girls have lunch at school so they are covered for that meal.  Jake and I eat left overs for lunch (the left overs are usually from dinner the night before).  For dinner I fix a simple, few ingredients main dish to feed our family of four then add fruits, veggies and other sides to compliment the main dish.

    The first place I noticed a dip in the pantry was with the snacks.  When the kids get home form school they are HUNGRY (they eat their school lunch at 10:30 AM) and are always ready for a snack.  If it has been a busy day for me a lot of times they will grab an item from our “snack basket” on the kitchen counter which contains items such as granola bars, pretzels, crackers, etc…. We have noticed a dip in our dairy products too.  The girls will often have a cheese stick or yogurt for a snack after school so those have been being utilized.  Another snack they enjoy after school is a half of peanut butter & jelly sandwich or peanut butter with honey and veggies which gives them an extra boost of protein.

    One of the neat parts about doing this challenge is I have started noticing trends in our family.  I have seen what we eat more of as well as the items that get left behind more frequently.  It is important to me that we all continue to get healthy meals and snacks, however, I want to eliminate wastefulness.

    Along with the main meals we have a fruit and vegetable.  We still have chicken and beef weekly as well as fish every couple of weeks.  I will be adding the recipes for these items in the next day or two.  It is our plan to continue this challenge yet another week!

    I will continue to share with you the challenges, successes and what I have purchased so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating  and sharing your story.  I am thrilled that we can extend this goal and continue to use up the items we already have in our home!

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Life Simplified: Sell, Give, Donate or Toss It?

    I was listening to the radio a few weeks ago and heard the announcer telling a personal story how she had a box of knickknacks and other items.  She was procrastinating on organizing the items and as she was going through it she was trying to decide what she should give away, put away or throw away……in the end she just got a bigger box.

    This little story stood out to me because I have been thinking about how we as a family and Americans in general need to cut back.  One of my goals in 2011 is to simplify my life more by enjoying the blessings and not wasting what God has given me.  I have been sharing with you the successes and challenges on those specific areas in my life as I go through them.

    My Third Life Simplified Goal:

    • Organize & De-Clutter our Home

    Explanation of the Goal: When my husband and I were first married we lived a nice but small apartment.  When we had friends over to eat we had to sit on the floor or the hand-me-down love seat that I received from a client that was throwing it out.  The majority of our items have been purchased second hand or given to us by family or friends.  After a couple years in the apartment we moved into our home and then had kids.  Recently as we were sitting together talking about life we realized how much “stuff” we had accumulated over the course of a few years.  I am a sentimental person so a lot of items have a story behind them, but there a many items in our home we no longer use.  The girls have baby toys that they no longer play with along with knickknacks here and there.  Over the course of the year we a going to reorganize and de-clutter our home.  I think it will be a continual work in progress, however, if we are not using an item we need to evaluate if we really need it.

    Here are some ways we anticipate eliminating some of the clutter:

    • Sell It – EBay, CraigsList, or Garage Sale
    • Give It Away – to someone needing or wanting the item.
    • Donate it to a charity or an organization that can give it to a person who can use it
    • Throw it away – this one is hard for me!  I am still learning that it is okay to not keep every single piece of paper my kids scribble on.  I want to have some to put in a scrapbook for them but I don’t need every paper.  I love the memories!

    We have already started working on this goal.  It is amazing how easy it is to post to CraigsList and Ebay which the items usually sell within a week or two.  When someone is over at the house and we realize that they could use something we have but are not using we take the opportunity to give it away.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating  and sharing your story.  I would love to have an organized and de-cluttered home by the end of the year.

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Be My Valentine: Romantic Dinner for Two!

    You have the babysitter lined up for the kids now it is time to figure out what fun excursion to do with your spouse.  Going out to eat at a restaurant is a great option, however, going on Valentine’s Day can mean a lot of waiting in lines.  If you have your heart set on going to a restaurant go to a place where you can make a reservation in advanced or pick a different evening near Valentine’s Day.  As a side note, the point of Valentine’s Day is to spend time together and celebrate with your love ones.  If you do it a day earlier or later it can be an even more relaxing and romantic date to remember.  Since Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, try going on Friday or Saturday before Valentine’s Day.  Going near the Holiday but not on the Holiday allows you to get into the restaurant easier and dinner will be more relaxing with better service because you’re not rushed.  It will be less expensive for the babysitter that night since you don’t have to be out as long waiting for a table.

    My recommendation if you want to go out on Valentine’s Days (or any other Date Night) for less go on a picnic with your spouse.  Why is going a picnic a better option:

    • It’s Less Expensive – you can pick up food on sale at the grocery store and make it at home.
    • No Waiting in Line
    • Relaxing Meal Together
    • One-on-One Conversation without interruptions

    Since it is winter time you may ask, how do we do a picnic in the snow?  The last cold picnic we went on together Jake and I found a great spot to park.  We took all the seats out of the van except the front two then put a air mattress in the back part of the van.  We brought a picnic basket full of goodies and a movie.  We had a quiet relaxing meal together, talked, and enjoyed a movie.  It was a great evening full of fun and relaxation.

    “Be My Valentine” is a series of creative ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with those you love.  You can make it a special Holiday without spending a lot.  Spread a little extra cheer to those around you this Valentine’s Day!  Surprise your loved ones with a fun and thoughtful gift from the heart.  It is a great time to reflect on sweet memories as well as create new ones with whole family.  May this Valentine’s season be bursting with love for you!

  • Cruising on “Serenade of the Seas”

    We had the privilege of cruising on Royal Caribbean’s “Serenade of the Seas” ship on our last vacation.  The first evening we were aboard the boat was full of exploring the ship, our cabin, the schedules, activities and the amazing services they had to offer.  It was our second cruise and the “Serenade of the Seas” was a bigger ship as well as a longer trip.  We were excited to have the opportunity to explore more islands during our trip.   Both of us slept very well aboard our time on the ship as they cruised from island to island during the night.  We met a lot of really neat people and was able to spend some quality time with our family.  “Serenade of the Seas” is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships.  Here is some information about “Serenade of the Seas”:

    Ship Facts

    * Maiden Voyage: August 1, 2003
    * Passenger Capacity: 2,114 double occupancy; 2,502 maximum
    * Godmother: Whoopi Goldberg
    * Gross Tonnage: 90,090
    * Length: 962′
    * Beam: 105.6′
    * Draft: 27.9′
    * Cruising Speed: 22 knots

    Ship Highlights

    * Rock-climbing wall
    * Portofino Italian Restaurant
    * Chops Grille
    * Latté-tudes,SM a specialty coffee house featuring Seattle’s Best Coffee®
    * Seaview Café
    * Themed bars and lounges
    * Casino RoyaleSM
    * The Colony Club, a unique British colonial-style lounge with self-leveling pool tables;
    * Beautiful indoor Solarium
    * Indoor/outdoor country club with golf simulator
    * Adventure Ocean® youth facilities
    * Day Spa and Fitness Center
    * Sports court with basketball/volleyball court

    These were just a few of the details of “Serenade of the Seas”.   We enjoyed amazing food, great entertainment and a fun times.  We would go again if we had the opportunity.  If you have never cruised before it is an experience worth trying at least once.  None of our party got sea sick.  The trip was pretty smooth and the service wonderful.  Check it out if you are thinking about taking a cruise.  Who knows who you’ll meet along the way!

    A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Go with a good attitude and looking for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of February 2 – 8, 2011

    Here are this weeks deals at Save A Lot.   Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Ekrich Hot Dogs or Bologna – $0.99

    Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks – $0.89 per lb

    Pork Spare Ribs – $1.99 per lb

    Boneless Pork Roast – $1.99 per lb

    Fast Fixin’ Chicken (up to 43.2 oz)- $4.00

    Primo Italian Sausage or Brats – $3.29

    Ground Chuck – $2.49 per lb

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Sunny D Citrus Punch (128 oz) – $1.79
    Use $0.25/1 coupon from 1/16 Smart Source (Expires 4/30/11)
    $1.54 each after coupon

    Michelina’s Snack Rolls (45 oz) – $3.99

    Coburn Farm Singles – $1.99

    Blue Bonnet Spread – $1.99

    Household

    Wrightware Foam Plates (40 count) – $0.99

    Sparkle Paper Towels (6 rolls) $4.99

    Produce

    Peaches or Nectarines – $0.99 per lb

    Grocery

    Quaker Instant Oatmeal (10 pack)  – $1.99
    Use $1/1 coupon from 1/2 Red Plum (Expires 4/30/11)
    $0.99 each after coupon

    Red Gold Tomato Sauce – $0.50

    Hungry Jack Specialty Potatoes – $1.00

    Betty Crocker Hamburger or Tuna Helper – $1.00

    Long Stem Roses (1 Dozen) – $12.99

    McDaniel’s French Roast Coffee – $4.99

    McDaniel’s Donut Shop Coffee – $3.99

    Crystal Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.49

    Save A Lot Brand Soda – $0.69

    J Higgs Buttery Rounds – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Brownie Mix – $1.39

    Albany Bakery Cookies (Chocolate Chip or Oatmeal) – $0.99

    Salted or Roasted Peanuts – $1.99

    Nature Trails Chewy Granola Bars – $1.99

    Power Cycle 2x Ultra – $2.99

    Sundia Fruit Cups – $0.89

    Mike Sell’s Groovy Potato Chips – $2.49

    Chex Mix – $0.99
    Use $0.50/2 coupon from 1/30 Smart Source (Expires 3/26/11)
    Use $0.50/2 coupon from 1/2 General Mills (Expires 2/26/11)
    $0.59 each after coupon

    General Mills (Cocoa Puffs, Golden Grahams or Trix) – $1.99
    Use $1/3 coupon from 1/2 General Mills (Expires 2/12/11)
    Use $1/1 coupon from 1/9 Smart Source (Expires 2/19/11)
    $1.45 each after coupon

    Marcum Chili Seasoning – $0.39

    Diane’s Garden Tomato Paste – $0.39

    Wylwood Kidney or Chili Beans – $0.65

    Diane’s Garden Dice or Stewed Tomatoes – $0.59

    J Higgs Classic Saltine Crackers – $0.89

    Senora Verde Tortilla Chips – $0.99

    Senora Verde Mild or Medium Salsa – $1.59

    Senora Verde Tomatoes or Green Chilies – $0.59

    Country Crossings Marvella Cheese Spread – $3.49

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.