9.26.2011

Meal Planning Monday 9/25

breakfast:
scrambled eggs, toast
yogurt with Nutty Granola
cereal
pancakes
maple sausage, poached eggs, english muffins

lunch:
macaroni and cheese
hot dogs
cheese and crackers
peanut butter and jelly
canned soup, cheese toasties
leftovers

snacks/sides:
string cheese
yogurt
granola bars
crackers
peaches
apples
bananas
carrots
celery

supper:
mushroom and spinach quiche
spaghetti with meatballs
Dining with the Alphabet- the letter "C"- chicken cacciatore, couscous, cauliflower, carrots
chicken fajita casserole
pizza
baked potato soup
fennel roast pork, roast potatoes, green beans, batter rolls

Shared at

9.24.2011

Souper Saturday- Chili

What better way to start fall than with a big pot of chili simmering on the stove? Cold weather makes me think chili. Yum! Chili is an affordable, versatile, easy, one-pot meal. Here's my old stand-by:

- 3 T olive oil
- 3 medium onions, diced
- 3 T minced garlic
- (3) 4 oz cans diced green chilies
- 3# ground beef, browned and drained
- 1# kidney beans, soaked overnight, rinsed, and drained
- 1# pinto beans, soaked overnight, rinsed, and drained
- 1 #10 can diced tomatoes in juice
- 1 8 oz can tomato paste
- 1/4 c chili powder
- 1/4 c seasoned salt
- 1/8 c ground cumin
- 1/8 c thyme
- 1/8 c paprika

Heat oil, garlic, onion, and chilies in the bottom of a large stock pot on medium low until onions are soft and translucent. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Simmer on low 4-5 hrs or until thick and beans are soft.

I like mine over macaroni with shredded cheddar, parm, and diced onion- and plenty of corn bread on the side. Papa Cow prefers his with shredded cheddar and lots of Saltines. Bear agrees with her daddy and scoops hers with crackers.

How do you eat your chili?

Super Savings Saturday

Wednesday we made a quick stop in at Marsh to pick up the following.

2 boxes Chex
6 cans Campbells Chunky soup
2 boxes Betty Crocker potatoes
2 boxes Fiber One bars
1 6-pack Danimals
Total: $8.19 (saved 76%)


We made another, much bigger trip today. Everything was quickly Tetris-ed into the fridge and I didn't get a picture, but we scored some great deals- with minimal coupons. Actually, I only used the $15 off $100 coupon from the ad and the $2 off Folgers coupon (also from the Marsh ad). Our freezer is once again full with a variety of meal starters which will make menu planning even easier.

- 3 Bell & Evans (natural hormone antibiotic free) chickens, approx 4# each
- 5 # chuck roast
- 1.5# Harvestland (natural hormone antibiotic free) boneless skinless thighs (mark down shelf)
- 8# pork shoulder
- 8# boneless pork loin
- Folger's coffee
- 5# red potatoes
- (4) 6-packs bottled Pepsi
- 2 boxes chocolate Cheerios
- 4 doz eggs
Total: $84.26 (saved 49%)

9.22.2011

Dining with the Alphabet- the letter B

Earlier this week we enjoyed what may be our last week of 80 degree weather this year. On our way to and from the playground we completed a letter "B" scavenger hunt finding a bridge, bird, brother, books, and several blue and black items. Another night we took dinner to some friends and met their new baby boy.

Cool weather hit just in time for our letter B supper.

Beefy BBQ beans
adapted from this slow cooked bean casserole

1 lb ground Beef, browned and drained
3/4 lb Bacon, diced
2 onions, diced
2 T minced garlic
1 can Black Beans
1 can kidney Beans
1 can garbanzo Beans
1 can navy Beans
1 can great northern Beans
1/4 c catsup
1/4 c mustard
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 apple cider vinegar

Combine in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hrs. Serve with Bread and Butter.

9.19.2011

Meal Planning Monday 9/19

breakfast:
scrambled eggs, toast
poached eggs, sausage, english muffins
pancakes
yogurt with Nutty Granola
cereal

lunch:
macaroni and cheese
hot dogs
cheese and crackers
peanut butter and jelly
tuna salad
leftovers

snacks/sides:
string cheese
yogurt
granola bars
fruit leather
apples
carrots, celery
mandarin oranges
peaches

supper:
spinach and mushroom pizza, fruit
lasagna, garlic breadsticks, tossed salad, green beans, apple crisp
pan "fried" white fish, mac and cheese, peas
Dining with the Alphabet- the letter "B"- bean casserole, broccoli, breadsticks, blueberry dessert
meatball subs
Souper Saturday- chili
Italian beef, roast potatoes, tossed salad, batter rolls

Shared at

9.18.2011

Dining with the Alphabet- the letter A


This year we embarked on our homeschooling adventure as Bear started preschool. This week we started the alphabet working on the letter A with handwriting, phonics, and some fun activities. We started the week running through the front yard as airplanes, astronauts, and alligators. I don't have a pic, but the driver's education car that circles our block got a show!

Every Thursday we are dining with the alphabet- with supper revolving around the week's letter. While the kids were coloring these free coloring pages, I put together this fast, delicious A supper. We talked about each ingredient and tried them individually. Both kids loved it.


A Supper

Boil 1 box of angel hair pasta according to directions, drain, and return to pot. Add one jar marinated artichoke hearts with liquid, toss to combine. Sprinkle with shredded asiago cheese. Serve with asparagus sauteed in olive oil and lemon pepper. We had apple slices for dessert.


We ended a fabulous A week with a trip to our local orchard.

9.05.2011

Meal Planning Monday 9/5

breakfast:
scrambled eggs, toast
pancakes
biscuits and gravy
yogurt with Nutty Granola
cereal
Alton Brown's Granola Bars
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

lunch:
macaroni and cheese
cheese and crackers
peanut butter and jelly
tuna salad
Skinny Pizza Rolls
leftovers

snacks/sides:
cottage cheese
string cheese
yogurt
granola bars
crackers
cantaloupe
peaches
cherries
pears
carrots
celery


supper:
grilled cheese, tomato soup
BLTs, roasted potatoes, cantelope
pan "fried" white fish, spinach rice bake, carrots
bean and rice burritos, tomatoes, corn
pizza
pasta salad
crockpot "rotisserie chicken, roast potatoes, broccoli, batter rolls

Shared at

9.03.2011

September Baking Day

I haven't been as good about planning my monthly baking day/freezer cooking sessions this summer. This three day weekend is the perfect time to get back into the swing of things. By taking one (or two) days each month to cook in bulk, the rest of the month will go much smoother. Freezer cooking saves time chopping, preparing, cooking, and even cleanup!


Alton Brown's Granola Bars

Nutty Granola

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

Whole Wheat "Cheese-Its"

"Wheat Thins"

Skinny Pizza Rolls

Super Savings Saturday


Marsh Trip

In addition to the triple coupon event, our local store issued $5/40 coupons in the ad to celebrate their post remodel grand re-opening event. The cashier took the store coupon off my total before scanning manufacturers coupons! We shouldn't need dish soap for a while.

- Honey Nut Cheerios $3.33 -.75(-1.50)= $1.08
- Swiss sweet tea x2 $3.19 -.75 (-1.50)= $.94 each
- Reynolds aluminum foil x2 $3.09 -.55 (-1.10)= $1.44 each
- Barilla pasta sauce x2 $2.00 -.55 (-1.10)= $.35 each
- Mt. Olive pickles x2 $2.50 -.50 (-1.00)= $1.00 each
- Yoplait Greek yogurt x4 $1.25 -.50/2 (-1.50)= $.50 each
- Quaker Chewy granola bars x2 $1.88 -.75/2 (-1.50)= $.75 each
- Totinos pizza stuffers $4.39 -.75 (-1.50)= $2.14
- Yoplait parfaits 4 pack $2.00 -.75 (-1.50)= FREE with $.25 overage
- Dawn dish soap x2 $2.00 -.50 (-1.00)= $.50
- Dawn Plus dish soap x2 $2.00 -.75 (-1.50)= FREE plus $.25 overage
- Pledge $3.99 -.75 (-1.50)= $1.74
Total after coupons: $12.08 (83% savings)


We later made a 2nd trip to Marsh and picked up a latte with my free Birthday drink postcard at Starbucks on the way home.

We planted our garden pretty late this spring, so things are just starting to ripen.

9.02.2011

A Confession

Last week, as I sat in my car waiting patiently with my fellow commuters for the light change, I listened to the soft grinding-rattling sound originating from beneath the hood. Every morning, commuting to work, heart racing at the thought of my car taking it's last breath, leaving me alongside the road. I knew what was wrong with it. Why hadn't I fixed it? Well, a lack of emergency fund. I've made many excuses as to why we live paycheck to paycheck, but none are excusable- previous car repairs, vandals, burglars, pay cuts, our rental home going into foreclosure... I know better, but as a society we've made it easy on each other to adopt this common lifestyle. I told myself I was doing the best I could, but I need to be honest with myself. If I had planned further ahead, those events wouldn't have been the emergencies they became. If I had been a better steward of my money, I wouldn't be in this hole.

Unfortunately, this epiphany occurred a little too late... as did my car repairs. A $400 repair became a $900 replacement- one that we couldn't fix with YouTube. I'd been planning to ride my bike for fitness and environmental reasons, but this economic reason seemed to be the one that kicked my in the seat. So, last Tuesday I rode the 22.5 mi round trip commute- and I liked it. Just when I thought I'd found a part-time fiscally responsive solution, I sprained my ankle in the yard. Barely weight-bearing, I've given up dreams of Tour de France, and picked up my car from the mechanic.

This fall, I embark on a new chapter in life with several new endeavors and goals.
- new budget, paying down debt and building an emergency fund
- beginning home school with our preschooler
- evolving toward a healthier, more natural diet and increased fitness routine
- decluttering our home, office workspace, calendar, and minds
- focusing on our family and kindling a stronger relationship with God

Marsh Triple Coupons

Triples-Marsh090211B