Weekly Shopping Trip--ALMOST took week off!

Well after shopping last week, I really didn't need to much this week! It was a very busy week, so I didn't take the time to do any deal shopping, so I use from my stockpile! I would have saved even lots more this week had I not wanted to use an Aldi's coupon that was like a post-it on my Sunday paper a couple of weeks ago! The coupon was $5 off a minimum purchase of $30 and expired 11/29/08(so I wanted to use it now!).

So here is what I got at Aldis to make up my $30 to get the $5 off(sorry no pics!)...

2 bags seasoned curly fries $3.18
2 froz. juice concentrate $1.90
2 froz. lemonade concentrate $1.58
1 box breaded fish fillets $2.79
1 box breaded fish sticks $2.79
2 containers Cool Whip $1.38
2 bags tortilla chips $1.98
2 lbs baby carrots $1.98
1 pkg. swiss cheese slices $1.99
1 head lettuce 99¢
2 tubes biscuits 76¢
2 lbs margarine sticks $1.34
2lb bag carrots $1.39
2 boxes mac & cheese 70¢
1-64oz apple juice $1.65
6 cans pumpkin $4.74
2 cans beef broth 78¢
2 bags mini marshmallows $1.58
1 box onion soup mix 69¢
2 boxes taco shells $1.98
2 cans evaporated milk $1.38
2 cans sweet potatoes $1.38
1-32oz plain yogurt $1.59
1 box juice boxes $1.89

TOTAL after $5 off: $37.41

For more savings stories head over to MoneySavingMom's Super Saturday Savings.

Another "Leftover Makeover"--Potato Cakes

One of the leftovers that we had from our big Thanksgiving dinner was mashed potatoes. I am not too sure how it happened but there was over 6 cups of leftover mashed potatoes.

Anyway, today I decided to make some mashed potato cakes!




Potato Cakes

4 cups leftover mashed potatoes

2 eggs

1 cup flour

Mix together and season to taste! I used...

3 tbsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

4 tsp. pepper

3 tsp. seasoned salt

bacon bits

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded


Mix the seasonings into the potato mixture. Make into patties. Place in a skillet with 2 TBSP olive oil and 3 TBSP butter. Fry til golden brown(5-7 minutes) Turn over. Fry til golden brown. When done cooking, drain on paper towels. Serve.




IF you don't feel like doing up the potato cakes you can just melt about 3 TBSP. butter in a frying pan and slap some of the mashed potatoes in the pan and fry them up like hash browns. Sometimes I fix them plain and other times I spice them up with pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt.

Thankfulness

Even though Thanksgiving day comes around once a year, we should take the time EVERY day to be thankful!

Thankful that we woke up still breathing the breath that God has instilled in us!

Thankful that we have a family that cares for us!

Thankful for the warm food on our table that God has provided us!

Thankful for the working hands and feet that God has given us!

Thankful for the warmth of our houses!

Everyday remember those mundane everyday things that we take for granted! Life is a vapor and should not be taken for granted!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from my family to yours!!

Glimpse into my Kitchen

Just stopping in to let you see what was produced in my kitchen yesterday!

I did TWO batches of bread...I let my breadmaker do the work for me in regards to the dough! Then I took the dough and baked it in the oven! I did a batch of "classic white" bread and a batch of honey oatmeal bread. When I follow my recipe for a 2lb. loaf I can get FOUR mini loaves of bread!! They have been great for having as another side to our meals! I think they will make great little loaves for gift giving as well this Christmas season!

Along with the bread, I did a pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake squares, and a bottomless apple pie(I took the other pie crust from my Pillsbury pie crust box and made a lattice top on some apples that sprinkled with cinnamon).



For dinner yesterday, I did up a "taco bar"! I took one of my 1# packages of already brown ground beef out the freezer, thawed it, and added 1 can of tomato soup and 2 TBSP. taco seasoning for my beef taco meat! Then in the fridge, I had some plain baked chicken that needed to get used up so I made up one of my favorite "leftover makeovers"! I diced up the 2 1/2 chicken breasts, added about 1-2 TBSP taco seasoning(I buy in bulk and just shaked it in!) and added enough mild taco sauce to wet the meat. Both meats I let simmer on the stove til heated through and while I shred lettuce and cheese and heat up the taco shells.

This is one of those meals that can less than a 1/2 hour from start to finish and just what the "doctor" ordered after a long day of baking and standing on my feet in the kitchen.

Check it out!!

I did another guest post over at Happy to be at Home!!!

Go take the time to read about A Sonshine Thanksgiving!!

There is a yummy recipe!!

On Notice!

Just putting my readers(the five of you! LOL) on notice that I might not be around here much this week!!!

Hubby was to have just Thanksgiving Day & Friday off this week but last week he decided it best to take the WHOLE WEEK off!!! We have projects around the house to do and our church is the final stages of building additions so he(and I) will be quite busy this week! Hopefully in the evenings when he is working at the church I will be able to get some blogging done! However, I am not to sure so I am putting everyone on notice now!

My week is pretty much planned out for me this week with him home!

It looks something like this....

Monday: help hubby paint the bathroom(the only room in the house that is barely big enough for TWO people to be in at the same time!!)

Tuesday: baking for Thanksgiving dinner & laundry!

Wednesday: Family field trip to the Air Zoo (if you have never been you need to go, especially if you have boys!!! good place to stop if you are planning a trip to West MI)

Thursday: Thanksgiving Day spending the day at my parents' house! (their house is bigger than mine hence the best place for 11 plus people to gather!)

Friday: with hubby home it is anyone's guess what we might be up to after the busy week!

Saturday: another round of household chores including changing and washing sheets to 6 beds!

Sunday: Church day and hopefully a day of rest before a work week!

Sooooo should you see me here it will be a rare treat! Hopefully I will be able to get new posts scheduled out on Tuesday or in the evenings.

Should I not be around I want to wish you and your family a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday

I love using "Texas Toast" for garlic toast and french toast. It makes things quick and easy to do. On Sunday I took half the loaf and made it into garlic toast to go with our spaghetti and meatball dinner.

Then on Monday morning I took the time to make french toast with the rest of the loaf plus another whole loaf. We ate some for breakfast and the rest went into the freezer for a breakfast next week.

I especially like using the thicker slices for french toast. I even use the end pieces, however, I take my bread knife and carefully cut off the very end of the piece. This way the egg mixture soaks in on both sides of the bread. Yes it makes the pieces not as thick as the rest of the pieces but those thinner pieces work well for my little ones.

Also using the thicker slices it is easier to make homemade french toast sticks. I cut the slices of bread into thirds before dipping into the egg mixture.

To answer a question in the comments...I cook the french toast, let it cool and then freeze. To use the french toast out of the freezer...stick in the toaster for a couple of minutes(my toaster is set on 3) then heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Doing the toaster then the microwave makes it where the toast isn't so tough to eat.

For other kitchen tips, recipes and more; head over to Tammy's Recipes!!

Menu Plan Monday 11/23-11/29

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

Last week's menu plan went off without a hitch! I had a couple of days that I switched around but all in all it was a better week following the plan than the week before.

This week's shopping trip was one of my big shopping trips of the month. I was able to get everything I need except milk and fresh fruits and veggies for $170 for two weeks!

This week’s menus are going to be tentative as my hubby is home on holiday for the whole week!! There are even a couple of days I don’t even know what to fix so I will try to update when I know what I am doing those days. We are doing some projects around the house and also hubby will be spending many hours at our church. Our church is the in process of adding on and we are in the finish stages of the project. We also will be taking the time for family on Wednesday and going on a field trip to the Air Zoo.

Any Thanksgiving leftovers will be left with my parents or put in the freezer for consumption at a later date. We are ones that don’t like to have turkey and the fixings for several days after Thanksgiving.

If you are looking for some inspiration on meals you can find links to my menu suggestion lists over in my right side bar down by Organizing Junkie's button.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (11-23)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage or steak, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: spaghetti and meatballs, garlic toast
Snack: snack basket

Monday (11-24)
Breakfast: waffles and sausage
Lunch: sandwiches and chips or leftovers
Dinner: oven fried chicken, boiled potatoes, corn
Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (11-25)
Breakfast: cereal and muffins
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: ???
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (11-26)

Breakfast: muffins, cereal and eggs
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner: ???
Snack: cookies & milk

Thursday (11-27) Happy Thanksgiving!!
Breakfast: Pancakes
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: Thanksgiving Dinner @ my parents’…roasted turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, corn, cole slaw, biscuits and rolls. For dessert, pumpkin cake squares, pumpkin pie, and cookies!
Snack: snack basket

Friday (11-28)
Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel or toast
Lunch: sandwiches & chips
Dinner: Taco Bar
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (11-29)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: Burgers, fries and corn
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Singing Sunday

"Lead Me To The Cross"
by Hillsong United

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart