Saturday, January 3, 2009

Weekly Shopping Trip--Saved $17.36

Well it looks like I am starting the New Year in a no spending mode for groceries! I am just doing shopping for what I need to finish meals and nothing more! I am also going to be working at getting ALOT of the convenience items out of my house and working towards more healthier options! It should be interesting how long it lasts!

So for this week, I spent $28.05 and saved $17.36 at Meijers!

Here is the breakdown...
  • 3-32 oz Welch's Grape Jam $5.00
  • 4 loaves Aunt Millies Bread $4.00
  • 1-4lb bag Boneless/Skinless Chicken breast $7.99
  • 2 gallons milk $5.00
  • 4.66lbs pork loin $8.81
Grand Total: $45.41
Total OOP: $28.05
Savings Total: $17.36 (Non-Coupon Savings: $14.61; Coupon Savings $2.75)

Friday, January 2, 2009

Just in Case...

Just in case you are wondering where in the world am I...

I have been here but not here this past week as my hubby has been home on vacation. When hubby is home that means there are projects that need attention and computers that don't! So I have been working with hubby to get the projects completed and also keep up on everyday things like keeping bodies fed and clothes clean!

Things will be back to normal around here come Monday, January 5th! So in the meantime, enjoy your weekend! And I will see you all here on Monday with Meijer deals, menus and more!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Its Official!

Along with it officially being 2009...

The 3 Moms have Happy To Be at Home relaunched!!

Take the time to go over there and check the new digs out, including reading my article about writing thank-you notes

And while you are over there, let them know what you think of the new design and leave them a comment!


Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Blog Awards!

Thanks to my friend, Amy, at The Finer Things in Life who not only gave me one but two blog awards!!


The first one is the "Kreativ Blogger Award" and that has a little assignment with it!  I am to list six things that I am thankful for and then share the award with six other bloggers. 

I am thankful for...
  1. Christ being born as a baby, becoming a man and then dying on the cross for my sins!
  2. My wonderful hubby that God gave to me! He is my best friend! He is a great provider for me and our children!
  3. My five wonderful(most of the time! LOL) children. They are such a blessing to me!
  4. My warm house!  Lots of snow has fallen lately along with high winds and while over 19,000 homes in the area were without power from the weather we kept our power and our heat in the sub zero temperatures
  5. All the new friends that I have made around the blogosphere over the last year and a half! Being a stay at home/homeschooling mom, I don't get out too much with my IRL friends so it is good to come and read other blogs to see that I am not alone.
  6. For my pastor!  His sermons the last few weeks have really spoken to me and have made me think about myself and things that I need to change in order to grow more like Christ!

The second award is the "Lemonade Award" it is given to blogs that show "attitude and/or gratitude".  For this award my only assignment is nominate 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude! 

Between the two awards that is a lot of blogs to nominate so I am going to take the time to nominate eight blogs and they get both awards! 

A New Endeavor in 2009 for Me!

Well just in case you haven't heard the news that is going around the blogosphere...I have an announcement to make regarding a new endeavor that I am going to be doing in the new year!

My friends Toni, Joy, and Kate who started Happy To Be At Home are in the process of relaunching the site with a whole new look but the same great content and more!  Starting tomorrow(January 1st) you will be able to cruise around the new site and read posts not only from the "3 Moms" but also from FOURTEEN other moms!!  

So you are probably wondering what this has to do with me!?! Well...Yours truly is one of the 14 Moms that will be a writing contributor on the site!  I will be writing posts about homeschooling while the other Moms will be writing about different things. Below is a list of the other contributing writers and their topics...

Erin from $5 Dinners--Kitchen topics
Lisa from Crazy Adventures In Parenting--Mothering & Military life
Rachel from Keep It Simple--frugality
Carri from The Peterson Clan--Large-family mothering
Sherry from Lamp Unto My Feet--Recipes/Kitchen
Susan from Susie’s Homemade--Crafty, D.I.Y stuff
Shannan from Chubbie Chica--Weight loss
Niki from Free 2 Be Frugal--Weekly freebies & coupons round-up
Author Tricia Goyer from Triciagoyer.com--Inspiration & Parenting
Niki from Organizing Connection--organizing & simple living
Amy from The Finer Things in Life--MommyhoodJenna from Food With Kid Appeal--healthy food for kids
Amy from Mom’s Toolbox--travel

OH and just so you know...I am not going anywhere from here!  My blog will still be going full throttle in the new year with more posts on my parenting series, more deals and savings shopping, more recipes, more frugal tips, and even more homeschooling links!  So stick around here and enjoy me here along with coming over and visiting me at Happy To Be At Home!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

No Rise Yeast Dough










I got this recipe from a friend about a year ago and let me tell you that it can make life so much easier in the bread department of your kitchen!! Make it up and have a big batch of it sitting in the fridge to use with meals as the week progresses! OR make up the big batch, cook 'em and have the different rolls or breads to put in the freezer for the week. And the best part is you do not have to wait for them to rise!


NO RISE YEAST DOUGH RECIPE

Mix and let sit for about 15 minutes.
1 Tbs. yeast
1/2 C warm water
1 Tbs. sugar

Then add the following:

1/2 C. oil
2 C. *sour milk, buttermilk, or yogurt
1/2 C. sugar (or less)
1/2 tsp. soda
5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
5 C. plain flour (maybe need a little more I use about 6 cups)

*1 cup sour milk= 1 cup of plain milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice* THIS NEEDS TO SIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO CLABBER.

GLAZE RECIPE FOLLOWS AT END!!


Mix and knead well. Place in a oiled bowl. This dough will keep in the fridge for a least a while if a tight lid is in place. Just take out the amount needed to be used at the time. This dough can be used immediately. There is no waiting for it to rise.

This dough can be used for the following: dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, apple rolls, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, dough nut holes, pigs in blankets. Just use your imagination for different recipe uses.

Donut holes:
just pinch off a small amount and roll into a ball then fry in hot oil. after frying glaze them and let them drip on a cookie cooling rack. Place a paper towel or wax type paper and you can use the dripped icing over again.

Donuts:
Roll out dough then cut with cutter then carefully drop the donuts into hot oil to fry them until they are floating and golden in color. Drain on paper towels then glaze or dust them with powdered sugar or however you would like.

Cinnamon rolls:
roll out into a rectangle; spread melted butter/margarine and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on it. Then roll up from the small end and cut. Cutting the dough with string, thread, or dental floss will give you a clean cut. These can be baked with sides touching or as separate rolls. Bake in about 375-400 degree oven.

Apple Rolls:
Make dough as you would for cinnamon rolls but instead of spreading butter and cinnamon you will spread an apple filling on the dough. Apple filling recipe follows after glaze recipe.
Bake these rolls like you would cinnamon rolls.

Bread sticks:
roll small amounts in long strips about the size of your finger and 8" long. Put these on a cookie sheet. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds and bake at 400.

Pizza dough:
with greased hands, flatten dough to fit greased pizza pans but bake the crust about 5 minutes to keep the crust from getting soggy. Place your favorite toppings on the crust and finish baking!

Hot dog and hamburger buns: just shape them and bake them on cookie sheets

ICING FOR CINNAMON ROLLS AND DONUT HOLES:
1/2 cup conf. sugar,
*1 Tbs. corn starch*
1/4 tsp. vanilla and
1 Tbs. boiling water

**the cornstarch is optional**** THIS MAKES A SMALL AMOUT OF GLAZE BUT IF YOU PLACE THE RACK OVER A SHEET OF WAX OR FREEZER PAPER YOU CAN SCRAPE THE EXCESS OFF AND REUSE IT.

APPLE FILLING:
Cover peeled and cut up apples with sugar and allow this to rest over night to create its own juice. Simmer this until thick and apples are tender. You can also add cinnamon to this mixture. Never boil the apple mixture as it will burn easily. I always start the cooking process on the simmer setting/fire.

For more kitchen tips, ideas or recipes; head over to Tammy's Recipes OR head over to Blessed with Grace!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Menu Plan Monday 12/28-1/3



**It is hard to believe that this is the last week of 2008!! This year has seemingly gone by so fast!



I got all my Christmas baking done! I was able to make up FIVE goodie trays as gifts for the neighbors and still have plenty of sweets (and calories) around for my family, even after serving some for Christmas dinner dessert! I am going to be putting some of the sweets into the freezer to pull out over the next few weeks! I would hate to have my hard work go stale!

Last week's menu plan had some switching around of some meals so there is a couple of meals that will seem like repeats from last week but are carryovers! We decided to take S out to eat for her birthday so the homemade burgers & fries dinner will be this week!

I will be able to make it this week on the shopping I did two weeks ago!!! I have only stepped in the store to get WIC items!! It is payday towards the end of the week so I will be going to the store for a few deals on Friday and then doing more shopping next week.

This week’s menus still include hubby being home from work! So far we have done quite well in using up leftovers despite him being home so that is good! I will be working at making bigger meals towards the end of the week so that I have leftovers to send with him when he goes back to work next Monday.

We do not have any plans for New Year's other than my oldest son and hubby are going to our church's junior high new year's eve all nighter it will be a quiet night of lounging around!

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 (12-28)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage, hash browns, and biscuits
Lunch: bagel bite pizzas
Dinner: Oven Fried Chicken, Crashed Potatoes, and green beans(carryover)
Snack: Christmas cookies

Monday (12-29)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: saucy pork chops, rice and peas or salad
Snack: cake & ice cream (leftover from birthday party)

Tuesday (12-30)
Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: pizza
Dinner: burgers & hotdogs, fries, and corn (carryover)
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (12-31)
Breakfast: pancakes
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner: lemon pepper chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn
Snack: snack basket or leftover birthday cake!

Thursday (1-1) Happy New Year!!
Breakfast: bagels and cereal
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: spaghetti and chicken parmesan served with garlic toast & salad
Snack: snack basket

Friday (1-2)
Breakfast: eggs, cereal and toaster strudel
Lunch: sandwiches & chips
Dinner: ??? Not sure what will get fixed here!
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (1-3)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: ??? Not sure what will get fixed here!
Snack: snack basket or popcorn