Meal Plan Monday

Now that school is out and summer is in full swing (just ask my kids who are spraying each other in the backyard and refuse to take a nap!) the insanity of meal planning has shifted from Friday to Monday and shopping happens on Friday. I try to do a bigger shop on the Friday of Coreys paychecks so that I have my basics squared away for the two weeks (I never shop for more than two weeks because if it is in the house it will get eaten).

This week was the second week of Coreys paycheck so I bought my *extras*. My Menu looks like this
Monday *breakfast* Waffles with strawberries *lunch* crackers with melted cheese and lunch meat *dinner* veggie fajitas
Tuesday *b* oatmeal with protein powder *l* PBJ *d* stir fries
Wednesday *b* pancakes *l* left overs *d* small group (We are taking mozzarella and tomato salad with sweet basil from my new herb garden)
Thursday *b* oatmeal with blueberries *l* cheese crackers and meat *d* shrimp and rice with mango
Friday *b* pancakes and grocery shopping
 I use this meal planner page and I frickin love them! I love her too!

My Grocery List
Milk (sw) 1.89
Frigo String Cheese (sw)5.99
French Bread (sf) 1.50
Scallops (sw) 10 (2 lbs)
Breakfast Sausage (sw) 2/6
Blueberries (sw) 3.99
Strawberry (sw) 5
potatoes (sf) 4
blackberries (sf) .88 (3)
total 41.00
sw= safeway
sf= sunflower
Safeway does 5 dollar fridays and is totally worth it for some of the awesome sales!

Yum! Some Delish Recipes :D

Has anyone noticed I totally blow at catchy titles? Ya, me too 😦 Awe well I am sure it will be okay!
So, I have been the sucktastic queen of the kitchen, as in we have had take out and pizza more times than I care to mention in the last couple weeks. I lost my mojo, couponing, meal planning and cooking just weren’t working for me 😦 Totally a bummer, I think a big part that I became SOO OBSESSED with frugal that I was sad with the lack of really yummy, quality ingredients! Well, Mama got her Mojo back 🙂 Yay buddy!

This week Jay had a play date with a girl who is not big on the eating side of things, so I thought who doesn’t love PIZZA?! So…off I went on a search for a quick and easy dough, I wanted to veer from what is the norm for me and this is what I found on food.com
I added the ingredients from the bottom up and this made 3- 2 people pizzas! So fun, the kids made their own, and soo yummy I topped mine with sweet onions, mex cheese blend (cus that is all I have on hand) and banana peppers

• 2 teaspoons dried granulated yeast
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup water , plus
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions:

1. 1
   SOME PIZZA TOPPING IDEAS.
2. 2
   Caramelised onions and roasted garlic.
3. 3
   Mozzarella cheese, Camembert, Romano and Feta (for a really, really cheezy pizza!).
4. 4
   Equal parts of basil pesto and olive oil mixed together with Parmesan or Romano cheese.
5. 5
   Plus some roughly chopped sundried or SEMI-dried tomatoes, sliced black olives and LOTS of grated Mozzarella cheese, salt and lost of freshly ground black pepper!
6. 6
   Cranberry jelly, shredded chicken, sliced Brie!
7. 7
   Mozzarella cheese, shredded chicken and sliced avocado!
8. 8
   Place all the above ingredients in the order I have listed into the bread machine.
9. 9
   Select the dough cycle and press start!
10. 10
    When the dough cycle is complete, take the dough out of the machine and place in well greased bowl, and roll the dough around (in the bowl) thus’coating’ it in oil.
11. 11
    Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1/2 an hour.
12. 12
    Knead the risen dough lightly.
13. 13
    To shape and bake: roll the dough into a circle.
14. 14
    Place on well greased baking tray or pizza pan.
15. 15
    Then add a topping of your choice and bake at 225’C. *I baked at 450
16. 16
    NOTE: for a nice crisp and very thin pizza, bake BEFORE adding the topping AND after!

Last night I opted to continue on my drive out of my comfort zone (IE yummy gourmet-esque foods) and made a Tator Tot Casserole! I am personally opposed to all casseroles because of a horrible Tuna experience over two decades ago, I couldn’t eat lays chips for a long time afterward either :shudder:
But I hopped on Pinterest and let my fingers take me away

 this is what I came up with! Looks totally unhealthy right?!

Believe it or not, it borders on healthy! 

2 cups cream of anything soup with chicken bullion
2 oz velveeta
1 1/2 Cups milk
8-10 Cups broccoli florets
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 bag tater tots, frozen
1/2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cubes sweet potato/carrot puree
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place soup and milk into a large pot over medium heat. Whisk until smooth and heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in broccoli and puree and cook for 5 additional minutes to soften slightly. Stir in salt, pepper and garlic seasoning. Pour mixture into 11×7 inch baking dish that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Top evenly with tater tots and cheese; bake for 20 minutes then cover with foil. Bake for an additional 15 minutes with dish covered with foil. Remove from oven and serve.
recipe modified from http://www.meetthedubiens.com 


I haven’t been cooking a ton lately but these two were def successes and with the Alton Brown recipes I have lined up for this upcoming month I am sure that I will have a few super long Wednesday posts 🙂

Grocery Lovin Mama

I went to the grocer with my kids and My hubby- he of course got a call AS SOON AS WE WALKED IN…but he was able to stay long enough for me to rock through my grocery trip :YAY:

So this week I got at Safeway
Mission Chicken Ceasar Wraps (2 boxes) 2.68 (Total) orginally 7.38 -3.70 (SC)-1 (MC)
Lucerne Sour Cream 2.15 orginally 2.39-.24 (Employee Discount)
Open Nature Pizza 4.49 orginally 5.49-.50 (SC)-.50 (ED)
10.95 lbs of apples 9.64
Total $19.65
Savings 14.75 or 44%

Meal Plan
Breakfast
Pancakes
Waffles
Cinnamon Rolls
Oatmeal
Omelet x3

Lunch
Pastina
Nachos
Roll Ups w/apples
Mac and Cheese
PBJ
quesadilla
edamame

Dinner
Mexican Pizza
Left Overs
Mac Bake
Pumpkin Soup in Crock Pot
Date Night
Left Overs
CJs Moms

We also have a ton of left over pizza from our meal splurge last night with take and bake pizzas from Papa Murphys

Grocery Shoppin…

Payday weekend came around once again, and oh so quickly! Meal Plan, Grocery List, Coupons and Ads in hand I went into the store (Costco Included!) Armed and Dangerous!!! Our Meal Plan this week

*Breakfast*

Pancake Muffins 

Oatmeal

Pancakes

Parfait

Pancakes

Waffles

Cinnamon Rolls

*Lunch*

Peanut Butter, Apple Butter sandwhiches with Yogurt

Subs with tomato soup

Mac + Cheese Bake Left Overs

Edamame + mashed Pot w/ ground beef

Cream Cheese Roll Ups

Nachos

Lunch with CJs grandparents

*DinNer*

Koonthal Curry

Left Overs

Mexican Pizza

Lunch Biscuits w/carrots + pancake cookies (gymnastics night)

Penne Primavera

Left Overs

Ratatouille

I have 400 for the Month of November to feed the fam- 116 left after this weeks shop

*item * orginal prices *my price 

# Denotes Item to last full month

Safeway

#Popcorn White (kernals) *$3.99 *3.59

Lucerne Sliced Cheese (for Jays school party) *$5.99 *$4.94

Strawberry yogurt (2) *$1.20 *$.98

Peach Yogurt *.60 *.49

Blueberry Yogurt (2) *$1.20 *.98

Key Lime Yogurt (2) *$1.20 *.98

Gingerbread Yogurt (2) *$1.20 *.98

Vanilla Yogurt (2) *$1.20 *.98

Plain Yogurt *.60 *.49

#Frozen Juice *$1.25 *1.12

#Frozen Punch *$1.25 *$1.12

#Frozen Lemonade(2) *$3.78 *$2.50

Hot Dog Buns *1.49 *.90

Denver Post *$1.50

Total 24.11

Savings 5.10 or 18%

SunFlower

Apples (4.3 lbs) $4.23

Green Onion .50

#Hemp Strawberry Granola (1.41 lbs) $4.92

Red Grapes (1.99 lbs) $1.37

#Carrots .50

Spinach $1.25

Milk $3.69

Milk $3.69

Total $20.86

Walmart

Sprite $1.48

Dr Pepper $1.48

Mt Dew $1.48

#Butter $3.28

#Picante $1.88

#Salsa $1.98

Queso Bites $4.97

After Coupons (and taxes) 19.51

#Costco

5 dz eggs (that DH LEFT AT COSTCO so now I have to REBUY them) 6.89

Potato 6.79

Lysol Wipes 11.99

Organic diced tomatoes (2) 7.69

Dog Food 24.99

Tortilla Chips (2) 7.59

Frozen Blueberry 9.29

Nutella (2) 12.98

Skippy 8.39

Syrup 6.99

Pancake Mix 6.39

Celery Stick 2.99

Peppers 6.49

Half and Half 3.99

Flour Tortilla (2) 5.98

Frozen Berries 10.99

Chicken Breast (10 lbs) 19.99

Onions 3.49

Philly Loaf (?) 7.49

 Total 177.58

Safeway

#Elbow Mac (2) $2.98 $1.42

#Angel Hair $1.49 .71

#Penne $1.49 .71

#Rotini $1.49 .71

Ice Cream $2.58 $1.78

Ice Cream $1.29 .89

Ice Cream $1.29 .89

Frzn Pizza $4.94 4.04

Frzn Pizza $6.29 $4.00

Total 15.71

Savings 8.24 or 35%

I did splurge on things that were not totally nesseccary but after last weeks cheese and bread scores (all months worth!) I couldnt help it

How Did You Lose The Baby Weight?

I have lost like 15 pounds in the last bit and I get a lot how’d you lose the weight or you look like you have lost weight, whats up?
Well here are two of my favorite secrets :)….
I don’t have the time to hit the gym every day or every week for that matter (as has been proven after two week long rounds of sick kids) so I rock the Pop Pilates and I eat lots and lots of Bon Bons 😀
Okay pick your jaw up off the floor! Yes, I eat Bon Bons and I freakin LOVE them, chocolate and peanut butter…and only 15 calories hellz to the yea!

Sneaky Bon Bon
Ingredients
Topping 3 tbsp sugar

2 orange puree cubes
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup nutella
1/2 old fashioned oats

mix all your ingredients (aside from sugar) together
roll into tsp sized balls
roll balls in sugar
freeze
consume 

Ahh Friday Morning

I love friday something about it is so incredibly refreshing for all that it is and isn’t. Like it is the end of the school week which sends an electric buzz through my house and it isn’t Monday which makes me smile! I am excited for this weekend! We have gymnastics (maybe Brett has been coughing up a storm and while I am certain he is not contagious I am not sure he feels up to it) and Brett has a blood draw, we are taking a trip to the bank (and maybe even the awesome park by the bank). Tomorrow we have pictures with Ania Mikol Photography its a grocery shopping weekend (which means LOTS of new recipes!) My life is all around good and it doesnt hurt one touch that it is Friday! Plus, I made Pancake Muffins for Breakfast…OMFG They were AmaZing and I didn’t eat like 12 of them, only 2 and half the syrup! Want the recipe? How about a recips AND a flour mix that I am in LOVE with? I thought so…

Pancake Muffins
2 cups Krusteez Pancake mix (love it because its egg free 🙂 )
1 1/3 cup water
1-2 cups blueberries
1 brown banana

mix it up baby! Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, preheat oven to 350, spray muffin tin, pour  3/4 full in each tin, bake for 25 ish minutes (check on them though I didn’t time them) remove, let cool and serve with a side of syrup

Flour Mix
1 cup all purpose
1 cup whole wheat
1 cup unsweetened wheat germ

Mix and store, use in place of all purpose flour

It’s been a long weekend

In a good way! Well mostly…Corey and I got into a fight which sucked but ended well 😉
Actually that something I wanted to write about :eww: Corey and I had lost some of that flame, ya know what I’m talking about right? That feeling, butterflies, kissing and hugging and desire for eachother. We, by all means, have had a rough road and we jumped into all this with two feet. For those of you who don’t know Cj and I met when I was 18 and he was 22, it was a fling (I was engaged) and then feelings started I broke it off with the other guy and we decided at some point a baby would be fun – Jayden was born 2 weeks after I turned 19, we got married 6 weeks before I turned 20, Brett was born 3 weeks before I turned 21 and Emmy was born on my 23rd birthday. Whirlwind – yes, romance – not so much. We have made plenty of mistakes and fallen really well into our roles of mom and dad but neglected lovers. Okay well that’s all leading to…
We made out of hours last night! It was amazing and sensual and touching and feeling! Truly stunning, I’m still feeling butterflies! I wouldn’t call it romance but fun and intimate and giggly- everything out marriage has been missing for so long!! We needed it 🙂 and when we texted this morning it reminded me of how exciting it was the time we talked after our first night together (we made out til 5 am) and I was that excited albeit more rested since we hit the pillows around midnight this time around.
On a less sexy note we went to my mother in laws place yesterday and it was soo fun! It snowed and it was gorgeous (posting pics during nap time) and we got to go for a walk sans kids 🙂 we also made amazing and easy vegetarian lasagna
And of course I’m posting the recipe
Veg lasagna
No boil noodles
Spaghetti sauce
Spinach
Zucchini
Cottage cheese (or ricotta)
Mozzarella
Provolone

Light layer sauce
No bake noodle layer
Sauce
Cheese (all mixed up first)
Spinach
Zucchini
Repeat with sauce on top
Bake for 1:20 minutes at 375
Set on counter for 30 minutes
Enjoy!!!

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Finding Frugal Side of It and How Raw this Wound Really Is

So I was listening to pandora the other morning while getting ready, I heard this song Real and I was all that’s so touching until he sang a line Real is a little dream house with a big ole foreclosed sign…then I cried and I realized how real-ly raw this wound still is. I mean taxes are sucky and all but hearing that and thinking back to buying our house, wanting to grow old in it with my husband, bringing my babies home to that house (and having one in the loving room), watching my babies grow in it and seeing myself grow up in it…it was sad, hard and a relief to leave. But it’s still a raw wound

Now for the finding frugal side of things…I think I missed it 😦 I have spent soo much on groceries and I don’t know I almost feel like it’s not any cheaper to make it all myself! Healthier sure, but we will see on the first when we break it all down! It just is hard to see the whole picture from the bottom of the mountain (or is it a mole hill?)
On a lighter note anyone up for…

French Onion Soup!
Altered from allrecipes.com!
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
3 onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup red wine
2 cans vegetarian broth
1 French baguette
8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
Directions
Melt butter or margarine in a 4 quart saucepan. Stir in sugar. Cook onions over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Stir in flour until well blended with the onions and pan juices. Add water, wine, and beef broth; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cover soup, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Cut four 1 inch thick slices of bread from the loaf. Toast the bread slices at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) just until browned, about 10 minutes. Reserve the remaining bread to serve with the soup.
Ladle soup into four 12 ounce, oven-safe bowls. Place 1 slice toasted bread on top of the soup in each bowl. Fold Swiss cheese slices, and fit onto toasted bread slices. Place soup bowls on a cookie sheet for easier handling.
Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or just until cheese is melted
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 732 | Total Fat: 29.4g | Cholesterol: 89mg

This is an extremely filling soup I served it with Paninis and blueberry muffins with Brie centers topped with apricot glaze…I only did 1/4 cup servings to save on calories, leaving the entire meal at 500 calories (not cheap 😉 but it did provide me with left over lunch for a week

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rockstar Review Wednesday

This week I’m reviewing the
Oster Expressbake Bread Maker!
Grade C

Pros makes really good bread dough! Cleans easily

Cons bread comes out looking like this

It takes amazing! But looks like crap and the blade gets stuck in the bottom. It also takes nearly 4 hours to make that bread

Let me say- before I took my happy self to Wal Mart this past Sunday I researched lots and lots of bread makers! I visited my local goodwill hoping to find a breadmaker (unfortunately to no avail!). The Oster Expressbake got like 4/5 star reviews so I figured it would be a good purchase, especially considering I make soo much bread in a week! I was sadly mistaken! Even though the dough is decent and once baked the bread is yummy! The bread is absolutely horrid looking and the blade is always baked into the bread, and it over heats after one loaf 😦
I don’t advise purchasing the Oster Expressbake…in fact mine will be going back to walmart this weekend 😦

-Samantha