Singing Sunday

I Can Only Imagine 

by MercyMe

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

Frugal Friday--A Freezer & Pantry Meal

I had meatballs in my freezer and I wanted to do something with them other than putting them in marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce so I decided to do some beef gravy. 

I made up some beef gravy using a can of beef broth and cream of mushroom soup. I added about 1/4 cup of sour cream to the mixture along with a little bit of cornstarch for thickening. I simmered it on the stove and made sure that it was mixed up well and then poured it over my already cooked but frozen meatballs. Then I put them in the oven at 350° for an hour.

While the meatballs were cooking I made up some mashed potatoes and heated up a bag of frozen corn!  Simple, yet filling! 

Weekly Shopping Trip--Spent $67.84

This week's trip was a little nerve racking for me in that I am really, really, really watching my pennies!  It seems that December is the month were I just get the things that we need and do not allow myself to stockpile.  As a matter of fact, I seem to work for the stockpile and only shop to complete meals for the week.  I think some of it has to do with the fact of wanting to be able to use the extra money I normally would use on my stockpile to make sure there are presents under the tree that we didn't have to charge on our credit cards.  I just don't like getting into debt of gifts that are given to others. 

Anyway, back to my weekly shopping trip...I didn't even spend $70 this week!! YEAH!  However, I only saved around $19 BUT I did shop at Save A Lot so I guess you could say that I saved more than just $19!  

Here is the breakdown of what I purchased this week...

1st stop...Save A Lot(where I used a $5 off $30 coupon that I got in my local paper!)

• 2 bottles Apple Juice $3.38
• 2.62lbs bananas $1.55
• 1 bag family pack chicken nuggets $4.49
• 2 cans beef broth 98¢
• 4 cans biscuits $1.52
• 2 containers  Chocolate Cool Whip $2.78
• 3 bags frozen corn $2.97
• 8 cans cream of chicken soup $3.92
• 2 bags shredded hash browns $2.78
• 1 gallon chocolate milk $2.99
• 1 bottle molasses $1.99
• 2 cans condensed milk $2.78
• 1 bottle canola oil $3.29
• 2 jars pizza sauce $1.98
• 2 graham cracker crusts $1.98
• 1 bottle taco sauce $1.29
• 6 cans tomato sauce $2.94

TOTAL: $40.59 after $5 off coupon was used!

2nd Stop...Meijer: 

• 5.11lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $9.15
• 3 boxes kleenex $3.25
• 1lb cheddar cheese $4.00
• 1 pkg american cheese slices $2.00
• 4 cans tomato soup $2.00
• 1 bag cough drops $1.27

TOTAL with tax: $21.97

Savings Total: $7.69 (non coupon savings $6.79; total coupon savings 90¢)

3rd Stop...Family Fare: 

• 2 jars Ragu Sauce $1.99
• 10# potatoes $3.29

TOTAL: $5.28

Savings Total: $6.28

GRAND TOTAL: $86.81

GRAND TOTAL OOP: $67.84

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS: $18.97

For more savings stories head over to MoneySavingMom's Super Saturday Savings and Becentsable's Centsable Saving Stories.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Themed Day

A glimpse into my kitchen yesterday...

Starting to work at getting some baking done for the sample goodie trays that I make for gifts for my neighbors and for dessert at the family dinner on Christmas day.

Here is two of my boys(12yo, 8yo) working at making some fudgy buttons. This recipe is soooo kid friendly! I let my 12 yo work the stovetop part of the directions and the 8yo did the rest of the stirring and then they both worked at putting them on the wax paper. The boys had fun mixing it together and shaping the "buttons".

Here is close up of their finished product. After tasting his work, my 8yo ds said, that they taste like melted Reese's cups!

While they worked on the fudgy buttons, I did up some haystacks! These were easy to make as well!

Haystacks

1 can chow mein noodles
1 bag(12oz) butterscotch chips
2/3 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
2 cups salted peanuts(optional)

In a bowl, mix peanuts and noodles together, set aside. In a double boiler pan, melt chips and peanut butter together until smooth. Remove from the heat, and pour over peanuts and noodles, stir til combined. Drop by the teaspoonful on wax paper. Cool til hardened. To speed up the cooling process you can put them on wax paper on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer for 15 minutes.

The last thing that came out of my kitchen yesterday was Amy's recipe for Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!! Yummy!! These were easy to make as well. The kids loved helping to unwrap the peanut butter cups and putting them in the cookies.

Stay tuned...there is more goodness that is going to be coming out of my kitchen this week!!!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread

I love pumpkin roll however, I don't always want to take the time to make one up! Well, I found a solution that is just as good! I call it Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread! I have taken the original recipe and added a cheesecake "filling" to it!

Here is the recipe...

3 1/3 cups flour(I usually do half white & half whole wheat)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 tsp salt
2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
1 can(15oz) unsweetened pumpkin
2 egg

For cheesecake:
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar


Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a loaf pans. Sift together first 5 ingredients; stir in salt.

Combine sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, beating until well blended. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating at a low speed until blended. Transfer batter to prepared pans.

In a separate bowl, mix up the ingredients for the cheesecake until creamy.

The bread batter is thick enough to create a channel down the center to pour in the cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and a wooden pick comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 2 loaves

You can do this without the cheesecake filling and then use it in some pumpkin spice bread pudding!!

For other tempting tummy recipes and more; head over to Blessed with Grace!

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