Tuesday, December 29, 2009


Saw this New Year's decoration idea and thought it was really clever.





Go here to Martha Stewart's site to see more decoration ideas and even how to make them!
Continue reading...

Free Home Made Simple coupon booklet--new link!
I sent for this coupon book and it was full of good coupons.

There's a new link here to sign up for another Home Made Simple coupon booklet with over $35 in coupons for P&G products.

Free Weekender Beauty Sample Kit


Go here to sign up for a free Weekender Beauty Sample Kit from Become. This is available to US and Australian addresses.
Continue reading...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

How do you like the new look?


I'm working on a different look for my blog and more information to add, so it's a work in progress.  I'll add some new information in a couple days to help with planning New Year's goodies.
Continue reading...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Easy recipes for Christmas week


This is a busy week, keep dinners simple.  Don't forget to look at my previous post on easy Christmas breakfast's.
Another breakfast idea is the Palermos Breakfast Pizza on sale at Fareway this week for $3.77

Sloppy Joe's
Chili
Tomatoe Rotini soup
Homemade Pizza
French Dip and Cheesy Potatoes

Rump Roast $1.99lb., perfect in the crockpot with some potatoes and carrots


Garlic Top Sirloin Pot Roast

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 (3 pound) top sirloin roast 6 cloves garlic, slivered 6 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered 4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces 2 large sweet onions, peeled and chopped 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup beef broth 3 cubes beef bouillon 1 bay leaf 2 large green bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions

Rub salt, pepper and paprika into the meat. With a small knife, make slits in the roast. Press the garlic slivers into the roast.

Place the potatoes, carrots, and onions in a large slow cooker. Place meat on top of the vegetables. Pour in water and beef broth, and add bouillon cubes and bay leaf.

Place lid on slow cooker, and cook for 6 hours on High, or 8 hours on Low. During the last half hour of cooking, add the green peppers.
Continue reading...

Christmas Morning Breakfast



Patsy's Egg Casserole

Stand: 10 minutes
Prep: 45 minutes
Bake: 50 minutes

Nonstick cooking spray
1 lb. uncooked bulk pork or Italian sausage
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup bottled roasted red sweet pepper, drained and chopped
8 cups cubed white bread slices (12 ounces)
12 oz. American or cheddar cheese, shredded (3 cups)
8 eggs
3 cups milk
1-1/2 tsp. dry mustard or 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions
1. Lightly coat a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. In a large skillet, cook sausage and mushrooms until sausage is cooked. Drain off fat. Stir red pepper into mixture in skillet; set aside.
2. Place half of the bread cubes in prepared baking dish. Top with half of the sausage mixture and half of the cheese. Repeat layers with remaining bread cubes, sausage mixture and cheese.

3. In a large bowl, beat eggs with a rotary beater or whisk. Beat or whisk in milk, mustard, salt and cayenne. Carefully pour egg mixture evenly over bread mixture in dish. Using the back of a spoon, gently press down on layers. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

4. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until puffed, golden and set. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 12 servings.

The Egg Casserole that I most use:
I prepare the night before and then it's easy just to throw in oven that morning.
9 eggs

3 slices of shredded bread
3 c. milk
1 1/2 lb. sausage (I just use 1 tube, which is a pound)
1-1 1/2 c. shredded cheese
1 tsp. salt
Grease 9x13 pan
350 degrees, 1 hour and 10 minute, or until bubbling and starts to brown on top
Can use mushrooms, ham, onion, peppers. 

Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
Raise the night before and bake upon awaking, this aroming will get anyone up!

I haven't tried this one yet, but it sure looks good!

Creamy Butter-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls with Chocolate



Rise: 45 minutes
Prep: 25 minutes
Cool: 5 minutes

1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
2 14- to 16-ounce loaves frozen sweet roll or white bread dough, thawed
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
1. For topping: In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and whipping cream. Pour into an ungreased 3-quart rectangular baking dish (13x9x2-inch). Sprinkle the 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans evenly over mixture; set aside.

2. For filling: In a small bowl stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and flour; set aside.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll each thawed loaf of dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle. (If dough becomes difficult to roll out, let it rest a few minutes.) Brush each rectangle with melted butter. Sprinkle each with the brown sugar mixture, chocolate pieces and 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Roll up each rectangle starting from a long side. Seal seams. Cut each roll crosswise into 6 pieces. Arrange pieces, cut side down, in the prepared dish. Cover with a dry towel. Let rise in a warm place till nearly double (45 to 60 minutes). Break any surface bubbles with a greased toothpick.

4. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or till sides of rolls are browned and center rolls do not appear doughy (do not underbake). If necessary, cover the top with foil for the last 15 to 20 minutes to prevent overbrowning. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Loosen edges; invert onto a serving platter. Serve warm. Makes 12 rolls.

Note: Topping will turn to a caramel color as the rolls bake.

Here's another new recipe that looks yummy.

Lumbercamp Falls Skillet


2 slices bacon
3 medium round red potatoes (1 pound), thinly sliced
1 medium red or green sweet pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips (1 cup)
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound cooked smoked andouille or sausage links, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 10-ounce package frozen whole kernel corn

Directions
1. In a very large skillet, cook bacon till crisp. Remove bacon, reserving bacon drippings. Drain bacon on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside.

2. Add potatoes to skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add sweet pepper and onion. Sprinkle with salt, cayenne, and black pepper. Cook and stir for 8 minutes more. Add sausage and corn. Cook and stir for 8 to 10 minutes more or till potatoes are tender and browned. Sprinkle with reserved crumbled bacon. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.


Blueberry Surprise French Toast Casserole

Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 25 minutes

12 slices dry white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
12 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup
Blueberry-flavored, maple, or maple-flavored syrup

Directions
1. Place half of the bread cubes over the bottom of a well-buttered 13x9x2-inch baking dish (3-quart rectangular). Sprinkle cream cheese and blueberries over bread cubes. Arrange remaining bread cubes over blueberries.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs with a rotary beater; beat in milk and the 1/2 cup syrup. Carefully pour egg mixture over the bread mixture. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.

3. Bake, covered, in a 375 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake about 25 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, and topping is puffed and golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with blueberry-flavored or maple syrup. Makes 8 servings.

*Note: To dry bread slices: Arrange bread in a single layer on a wire rack; cover loosely and let stand overnight. Or cut bread with 1/2-inch cubes; spread in a large baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 300 degree F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until dry, stirring twice; cool.
Continue reading...

Monday, December 21, 2009

Oreo Truffles





Go here for  complete instructions on how to make the oreo truffles
Continue reading...

Christmas Cookie Baking


Make it easy this year with cookie baking ideas from Betty Crocker
http://www.bettycrocker.com/baking/  These recipes use cookie pouches from Betty Crocker and save a lot of time and are very yummy.  There are 27 Christmas Cookie recipes.




Continue reading...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Good coupons for Yankee candle, Bath & Body and Rayovac batteries


Here are some good coupons from Coupon Saving Mom.

Free Rayovac Batteries




Go here and enter 74016761 to get a FREE Coupon for Rayovac Batteries!

It will not work if you copy and paste the code - You have to hand enter the code!

The coupon is good for an package of 4 AA or AAA Rayovac Batteries or a 2 pack of C or D Rayovac Batteries!

Bath & Body Works


Bath & Body Works Free item (up to a 13.00 value) with any 10.00 purchase.
The Bath and Body Works Printable coupon is good until December 24, 2009!



Yankee Candle Printable Coupon


Save 10.00 of a 20.00 purchase
Coupon Expires on December 13, 2009!
Continue reading...

Thursday, December 10, 2009

5 dinner recipes, 1 dessert and an appetizer(or make it a meal)


Menu for this week:
Garlic Braised Beef and potatoes 
Boneless Beef Rump Roast $1.99 lb
Green Giant potatoes $1.29 5lb bag
Bella Mushrooms $.99
Steamfresh Vegetables $.99 (brocoli)

Chili & Peanut Butter sandwiches
Bush's mild chili beans $1.29
Jif Peanut butter $3.49
Sara Lee Honey wheat bread $1.88

Pulled Pork Fajitas
Boneless Pork Shoulder $1.79lb  or chose Fareway's Homemade Steak or Chicken Fajita Mix $4.99lb
Fastco Shredded Cheese $.99
Green Bell Peppers 2/$.78

Panini & Tomatoe Rotini Soup
Deli-shaved Ham $2.69
Provolone Cheese $4.49lb
Dole assorted Salad blends 3/$5  Spinach goes great on panini's
Campbell's Chunky Soup 2/$3
Bella Mushrooms $.99
Carrots $.89

Tilapia Fillets with steamed vegetables and rice (or steam fresh carrots)
Tortilla crusted Tilapia 2/$5
Steamfresh vegetables $.99

Nachos
Fastco Round tortilla chips $.99
Fastco shredded cheese $.99
Onion $.99

Desserts
Blueberry Cobbler, blueberries 2/$5


Garlic Braised Beef
8 small red potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut in half

8 cloves garlic, peeled
3-pound beef boneless bottom round roast, trimmed of fat
1 envelope garlic-and-herb dry soup mix (from 2.4-ounce package) Not available @Fareway, QC area has it
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed beefy mushroom soup
2 cups Green Giant Select® frozen broccoli florets (from 1-pound bag)

1. Place potatoes and garlic in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Place beef on potatoes. Sprinkle dry soup mix over beef; pour beefy mushroom soup over all.

2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.

3. Remove beef from cooker; place on cutting board. Cut beef into slices; place on serving platter with potatoes and garlic. Cover to keep warm.

4. Meanwhile, place frozen broccoli in slow cooker with remaining sauce. Increase heat setting to high. Cover and cook about 15 minutes or until broccoli is tender. Serve with beef and potatoes.



Over the Top Nachos
Ingredients


1 pound ground beef 1 onion
 finely diced salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (14.5 ounce) package tortilla chips
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced

Directions

In a large frying pan, brown ground beef with onion, salt and pepper over medium heat. Break the meat into very small pieces while it is cooking. After the meat is thoroughly cooked, drain off the grease.

Arrange chips on a microwavable platter. Spread beans over the chips. Layer with 1/2 of the cheese, the ground beef mixture, and remaining cheese. Arrange jalapeno peppers on top.

Microwave on medium-high until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.


Tomatoe Rotini Soup
My family LOVES this
( I serve with warm french bread, but a panini would also be great)
I add a pound of browned Italian sausage
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

4 cups tomato juice (I buy the spicy tomatoe juice)
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
2 medium stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped ( 1/2 cup)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta (4 1/2 ounces)
Shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

1. Mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours.

3. Stir in pasta. Increase heat setting to high. Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.


Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled-Pork Fajitas
1 pork boneless loin roast, (2 1/2 pounds), trimmed on fat

1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 cups barbecue sauce
3/4 cup Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 bag (1 pound) frozen stir-fry bell peppers and onions Or fresh
1/2 teaspoon salt
18 flour tortillas (8 to 10 inches in diameter)
Shredded cheese, if desired
Guacamole, if desired
Sour cream, if desired


1. Place pork in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Place onion on top. Mix barbecue sauce, salsa, chili powder and cumin in small bowl; pour over pork and onion.

2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours.

3. Remove pork from cooker; place on cutting board. Shred pork, using 2 forks. Return pork to cooker and mix well. Stir in stir-fry vegetables and salt. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook 30 minutes or until mixture is hot and vegetables are tender.

4. Using slotted spoon to remove pork mixture from cooker, fill each tortilla with 1/2 cup pork mixture. Fold one end of tortilla up about 1 inch over filling; fold right and left sides over folded end, overlapping. Fold remaining end down. Serve with cheese, guacamole and sour cream.




Blueberry Cobbler
6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/4 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
3 cups fresh blueberries

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour melted butter into 8 or 9-inch square baking dish.


2. In medium bowl, whisk together Bisquick mix, sugar, and milk; pour over melted butter.

3. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over Bisquick batter. Bake 42 to 47 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Continue reading...

Friday, December 4, 2009


Wow!  Here it is, the holiday season is upon us, we need quick meals, Right?  I'll see what I can do to post some quick easy, inexpensive meals and at the same time I will be posting some fun recipes for baking and entertaining.

On my grocery list this week:
Pork Loin Roast $1.99 lb.
Bone-In Chicken breast  $.99 lb.
Boneless Pork Chops $1.99 lb.
Spiral Ham $1.99 lb.
Stew Meat $2.49 lb.
Fast Fixns Chicken $4.69  I buy the chicken fried steak one
Chicken Breast boneless $4.99 - 3lb. bag
Hamburger $1.99 lb (10 lb. tube)
Meatballs $5.99 - 32oz. package
Turkey Roast Jennie-O $2.99
Farmland Sliced Bacon $1.99 lb.
Farmland Sausage Links or rolls $.99  12-16oz.
Coca-Cola Liters $.88 (stock up for holiday parties)
Cottage Cheese $.49  12oz.
Egg Noodles 2-$3.00
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits 2/$3.00
Tropicna Orange Juice $3.99
Salad Mix $.79
Chi-Chi Tortilla Shells $1.49
Bear Creek Soup Mix 2/$5

Menu Ideas
Tacos with ground beef, Taco Salad or Chicken Taco's, whatever way you like it.  I got a fantastic idea from some friends for a super easy way to make chicken tacos and they are very good.
Chicken Taco's
Place a bag of frozen chicken breast in crockpot and pour a jar of salsa over top, cook on low all day, then at night simply shred meat and you have the best chicken tacos and so easy!
Use left overs from tacos and two nights later, make taco salad (beef or chicken)  The family will never know you are using leftovers (make enough for two meals when cooking the first time and now you have two super easy meals)

Soup is an easy meal, put in crockpot and serve with french bread.  Whether you use a soup mix or make from scratch.
Loaded Potatoe Soup
6 bacon slices
1/4 green onions
1 (14oz) can vegetable broth
1 c sour cream
1 c whole milk
1 20oz bag of red potatoe wedges (Simply potatoes)
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. pepper
Garnish with cheddar cheese, chopped fresh chives

1. In a large heavy-bottomed pot, cook bacon until crisp, remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pot. Crumble bacon.

2. Cook green onions in hot drippings over medium-high heat for 3 minutes, or until tender.  Add broth, whisk in sour cream and milk.  Add potatoes, salt, and pepper.  Cook in 15 minutes, or until heated through.  Top with crumbled bacon, and if desired garnish with shredded Cheddar cheese and chopped fresh chives.

Chicken and Rice Vegetable Soup
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 (32 oz) container of chicken broth
1(10 3/4) can cream of chicken soup
2 1/2 c shredded chicken (about 2 lbs)
1 16oz. bag of frozen vegetables mixed, thawed
1 5.7 oz packet chicken-flavor rice sides - Knorr
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

1. In a large heavy pot, melt butter, over meduim-high heat.  Add onion, and cook stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.  Add broth and soup, whisking to combine, stir in chicken, vegetbles, rice, salt and pepper. Cook stirring occasionally over medium-high heat, for 15 minutes.

Beef Stew
3 pounds cubed beef stew meat 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces 4 large potatoes, cubed 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper 2 cups boiling water 2 (1 ounce) envelopes onion soup mix 3 tablespoons butter 3 large onions, quartered 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1/2 cup burgundy wine 2 (6 ounce) packages fresh button mushrooms, halved 1/4 cup warm water 3 tablespoons cornstarch


Directions
Toss the beef, flour, and salt in a sealable bag until the beef is coated.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Combine the beef and Worcestershire sauce in the skillet; cook until the beef is evenly browned on all sides; transfer to a slow cooker, but do not clean the skillet. Add the carrots, potatoes, parsley, and pepper to the slow cooker.
Combine the boiling water and soup mix in a small bowl; add to slow cooker.
Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion and garlic in the melted butter until soft; transfer the onion and garlic to the slow cooker and return the skillet to the heat. Combine the wine and mushrooms to the skillet; cook until the mushrooms begin to absorb the wine; pour the mixture into the slow cooker.
Place the cover on the slow cooker and set to High; cook for one hour. Reduce heat to Low and cook until the beef is fork-tender, 6 to 8 hours. Whisk together the warm water and cornstarch; stir into the stew; cook uncovered until stew thickens, about 15 minutes.



Balsamic Roasted Pork Loin  from Allrecipe.com

2 tablespoons steak seasoning rub 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil 2 pounds boneless pork loin roast
Directions
Dissolve steak seasoning in balsamic vinegar, then stir in olive oil. Place pork into a resealable plastic bag and pour marinade overtop. Squeeze out air and seal bag; marinate 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Place pork into a glass baking dish along with marinade. Bake in preheated oven, basting occasionally until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (65 degrees C), about 1 hour. Let the roast rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
 

Golden Pork Chops
from allrecipe.com   My family really likes these!


6 pork chops 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 onion, chopped 1/2 cup fresh sliced mushrooms 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed golden mushroom soup

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Rinse pork chops, pat dry, and season with seasoned salt and pepper. Place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a separate small bowl, combine the onion, mushrooms and soup. Mix together well and spoon over the chops.

Cover, and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Uncover, and bake for 15 more minutes. (Note: Time could be less or more depending on the thickness of the chops.) Pork chops are done when their internal temperature has reached 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
 
Spiral Cut Ham
Makes a great meal and then you have ham for left overs, make scallop and ham a couple nights later, egg casserole with ham


  Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
3 pounds potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped cooked ham 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup water 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Directions
Place sliced potatoes in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix together shredded cheese, onion and ham. Mix with potatoes in slow cooker. Using the same bowl, mix together condensed soup and water. Season to taste with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the potato mixture.
Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours.

Spaghetti & Meatballs
Short on time?  Use meatballs in your spaghetti!  Use jar sauce and you can have a meal in 15 minutes.  Serve with garlic bread!
Continue reading...
 

It's a Sweet Week! Copyright © 2009 Designed by Ipietoon Blogger Template In collaboration with fifa
Cake Illustration Copyrighted to Clarice