Monday, February 28, 2011

Corn Tortilla Chips



Above, Tortilla Chips, Guacamole Dip, and Bean and Corn Salsa. I fixed taco salad to go with this. I will post the other two recipes tomorrow.

I made tortilla chips tonight and we loved them! They were so good, crisp and most of all salty. This was all the chips that was left out of what I fixed. I copied this recipe from a book that I bought at the Dollar General Store right before Christmas last year. It was called 1001 Recipes Short, Easy, Inexpensive. This is the best cookbook! I only paid $5.00 for it.



We rate this one a 5 out of 5.

12 corn tortillas (6 in. diameter), day-old*
Vegetable Oil
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt

*If tortillas are fresh, let stand, uncovered, in a single layer on a wire rack for 1 to 2 hours to dry slightly.

Stack 6 tortillas. Cuttng through stack, cut tortillas into 6 or 8 equal wedges. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Preheat deep fryer to 375. Fry tortilla wedges in a single layer 1 minute or until crisp, turning occasionally. Remove and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt immediately. Repeat until all chips have been fried. (I kept the ones that had already been fried in a glass bowl in my oven at 200 degrees to keep them warm and crispy while the other ones were cooking.)

Grocery Shopping

My grocery trip this week was a bit more expensive. Although I said I was going to only shop for 1 wk. at a time now, well, there was some good meat sales that I could not pass up so I bought extra for my menu next week. I spent a total of $211.00 and saved $29.99 by using store cards and coupons. So my total was actually $181.01. My best deals was getting my favorite deodrant for only .25 and getting 3 Dawn dishwashing detergents for free! Can't beat that! I also bought a Febreeze refill (which was on sale) and got the warmer for free.
I bought extra items that I had coupons for that just happened to be on sale this week. I now have enough paper towels to do me literally for 6 months and dog food, deodrant, Dawn, and toothpaste! Of course, Rite Aid was already out of the Downy and the Advil that was on sale by the time I got there.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Grocery Update

So sorry to have just left ya hangin, but I have just been super busy! I got caught up on some housework that needed done this past weekend and then had some friends over for lunch after church Sunday. Bridget had saw my post earlier in the week of my menu and I think she was worried she was gonna have to eat Pigs-n-a-Blanket! She didn't have to although her husband didn't think the idea was bad at all! It is so nice to be able to fellowship with others who love the Lord!

Anyway, I had to go back to the store this weekend as I thought I would. I can't help it, I just do not like going every two wks. Just tears my thoughts all up!! I spent $50.00 making my total for two wks. somewhere around $164.00 which is about $82.00 a wk. I needed milk and bread and then I forgot to get enough stuff for Eugenes lunch for two weeks so had to get that and a few more things that I did not get enough of to do me two weeks for. I think I am gonna go ahead and make up my two week menu. I liked that part so if I see anything on special that I know I will need for the next week then I can go ahead and get it.

I noticed Kroger has a 10/$10 sale this week. This is a list of what I see so far that I will be getting (everything is not necessarily 10/$10): sour cream, mini carrots, eggs, whole chickens, Pork loin, sugar free ice cream (yum!!), Manwich, Ravioli, Nature's Own Bread, Bounty Paper Towel (gotta check my price book first on this though), bacon and Cheerios. I have coupons for some of these things so it will be even cheaper. Go me!!

The area I live in is in a flash flood advisory for tomorrow and Friday. Hope everyone is very careful and stays safe.

God bless!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Grocery List

I went to 4 stores. 3 in my hometown and 1 not. The only deal on found on meat this week was at Save-A-Lot on chicken breasts. It was .99 lb. so I bought 2 packages although I just needed one.

At Save-A-Lot

Milk/1 gal. $2.89
Frozen garlic bread $1.99 (Two meals)
Whole chicken (.99 lb.) $4.63
2 Supreme Pizzas $4.58
Chicken breast (2 pkgs.) $6.76
Idaho potatoes (10 lb.) $3.99
Onion Soup Mix .79
White Lily Flour (5 lb.) 1.99
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese $2.69
Buttermilk Biscuits (5) $2.50
Cream of Mushroom soup .59
Yellow Mustard .69
Yellow Onions (3 lb.) $2.29
1 head lettuce $1.39
Canned greens (2) $1.38
Tomato Juice $1.39
Egg Substitute (4) $5.96
Sugar Free Grape Jelly $1.69
Dog Biscuits $1.29
Country ham slices $9.98 (Breakfast every day for 2 wks.)
Canned diced tomatoes .65
Vegetable shortening $3.49
Celery $1.29
5 lb. Granny Smith Apples $3.00 (OMG!! I just now realized I bought the wrong kind!!)
Fishers Weiners $1.49
Cabbage $1.66
TOTAL $71.04

My husband bought his lunch snacks at the Dollar Store for a total of $6.12 for 6 items. (I won't bore you with these items as if you are not already. lol)

At IGA I bought:
Chicken wings $5.92 (2 meals)
Hamburger $6.48 (at $2.41 this sure wasn't even close to a sell!!)

TOTAL $12.40

At Wal-Mart I bought:
Peanut butter $2.48
Ham lunchmeat $3.98 (Husbands lunch)
Fiber One Bars $2.42 (But I had a .50 coupon)
Rolls $1.98
Dog Treats $3.33
Mountain Dew $4.38 (for my husband, I drink water)
Hogie Buns (husband's lunch) $2.48
Loaf of bread $1.18
Margarine .88
Vitamins (me!) $5.00 (but I had a $1.00 coupon)
Roast beef lunchmeat (husband's lunch) $3.98

TOTAL $31.35

So my total spent for two weeks of groceris was $114.79! I thought I done pretty darn good. Now I will have to go back on Friday to buy a few more things such as milk and bread that I do not have room to buy and freeze up but I think it is still pretty good.

As far as the coupons go, I saved $1.50 by using coupons. Not a lot but better in my bank account than the grocery stores!

What do you think?

2 Week Menu

Fixing a two week menu was harder than I thought it was going to be, but maybe not like you are thinking. I had no trouble at all coming up with the menu ideas. The problem was I kept changing my mind!! As I was going through my recipes I kept changing and changing, erasing and erasing. They just all looked so good!I finally decided I was going to have to stop changing and settle for what I had on paper! lol

Here goes, in not any particular order. This is just what I have on the menu to fix for the next 2 weeks.

1. Speghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic toast.
2. Potato Soup, cornbread.
3. Pigs-n-a-blanket, mashed potatoes, green beans.
4. Hamburger goulash, mashed potatoes, corn, cornbread.
5. Open face turkey sandwiches, potatoes,cole slaw, corn.
6. Pizza, salad, chicken wings with homemade ranch dressing.
7. Fried chicken and chicken livers, green beans, cole slaw, mashed potatoes,
homemade biscuits and macc-n-cheese.
8. Onion Chopped Steak with Easy gravy, mashed potatoes, asparagus,cornbread,
homemade Italian Parker House rolls.
9. Salmon patties, fried potatoes, greens, cornbread.
10. Grilled chicken breasts, baked potatoes, salad, rolls.
11. Hamburgers, homemade french fries.
12. Pork chops and gravy, potatoes, beans or corn, rolls, and macc-n-cheese.
13. Vegetable soup, cornbread.

I will be posting tomorrow my grocery store items and how I did on the cost.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Snowed In, Again

I have spent my day at home instead of work. I was not able or willing I should say to slide off my mountain to go to work. I haven't felt good anyway so I guess it was a blessing I could stay home and lay around.

I got a few rooms cleaned. Took me forever though. I would rest a while and work a while. I sure hope I feel much better tomorrow.

I have been in the process for many months trying to gather all my recipes together and finally accomplished that today while I was home. Now, just getting them typed in on my computer. I am such a paper pack rat!! You just have no idea. So, as a way to help cut down on my a lot of the paper I have stashed everywhere, I am going to type my recipes up on my computer but, the most important thing is to make sure I back them up! Been there, done that.

I am also crocheting an afghan for Matt (dds boyfriend) using camaflouge yarn. I made my son an afghan so now it is Matt's turn. I will post pictures when I feel better.

I must go. I have an appointment with the tax lady tomorrow and need to finish up the information I need to take with me. I really dread this so, so bad!! All I can say is, "Lord help us!" lol

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Snowy Tuesday

Yes you heard me right. Another snow on the ground. I so long for the days when I wake up and the sun is rising. It just does my body good. lol

Due to the rising gas prices I feel I need to start doing a two week menu and go every two weeks to grocery shop instead of every week like I do now. I tried the every other week thing once before and didn't like it because it seemed all the good sales was on the week I didn't go to the grocery store but I have no choice now so I am going to give it another try. Of course this includes only going to Wal Mart every other week also (which is about 30 miles from my home). Boo! Hoo! I have to keep telling myself this will save me money!! Ya know, it's sad when going to Wal Mart every weekend is the highlight of ones life. lol

I tried to spend only $80.00 on groceries and household goods last week but couldn't do it. I spent around $98.00. I am trying to find a good number for my budget that I can live with comfortably. My husband is a meat, potatoes and corn bread man. Messing with his food is NOT where I want to go! lol

I will share my menu once I have it down on paper and how I do at the grocery stores this week.

Have a blessed day!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Changing Background

Yep, again, I changed my background. I really need something more cheerful to look at when I open my blog. Something to remind me that sunshine is around the next bend bringing warmer weather with it.

I am so, so behind on my housework from all my health issues. All my household routines and schedule has been blown completely right out of my Household notebook! Need to remind myself to take it one step at a time. Maybe I need to go back and read my Flylady reminders. My goal today is to catch up on all this mess as much as possible. Starting with getting off this computer! lol

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Cinco De Mayo Skillet

Edited February 12th.

This recipe come from the Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross from the cookbook Cheap, Fast, Good! It was very easy, quick and, cheap!

Salt for cooking rice
1 c. long-grain rice
1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 cans (14 oz. each) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
Juice of 1 lime
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large ripe tomato, chopped
Shredded lettuce, shredded
3/4 c. shredded Mexican-blend or Cheddar cheese
Sour cream, optional

Bring 2 cups lightly salted water to a boil in a covered medium-size saucepan. Add the rice, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

Brown hamburger with onion in a 12-inch skillet. Drain. Return hamburger and onion mixture back to skillet. Add taco seasoning and cook according to pkg. directions.

Meanwhile, make a Mexican tomato sauce by peeling the garlic cloves. Turn a blender to high and drop the garlic cloves through the hole in the lid. Process until finely chopped. Turn off the motor and add the tomatoes with their juice and the lime juice. Cover and pulse to finely chop the tomatoes. Add about half of the tomato sauce to the hamburger mixture; stir well and simmer 10 minutes. Add the cooked rice to the skillet and stir well.

For each serving, top 1 c. of the hamburger mixture with 2 T. of the cheese, 1/2 c. of the lettuce, 1/3 c. of the diced tomato, 3 T. of the reserved tomato sauce and sour cream.

We ate this with tortilla chips. My husband loved it which surprised me since he is not a fan of black beans.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Side Tracked

Well looks like I am going to have to put Weight Watchers to the side somewhat for a little while. I have a lot of health problems to begin with and just have had a rough time here lately.
Last year when I began WW and exercising I just started feeling so good! I had so much energy, my sugar levels didn't drop, my thryoid levels were stable and so on. Then I discovered that I had a ruptured disc at the top of my spin (being in my neck), so I had to stop all exercising until I was able to get that fixed. By the time I had healed (after surgery) I was out of the mood to exercise, let alone diet.

In October I started just feeling so draggy again and tired all of the time so I figured if I got back on WW I would not only loose some extra pounds but it would help me to start eating better again and exercise and I would start feeling better again. Well, that idea sounded good but it just didn't work. I have just kept on going down hill so I finally broke down and went to the doctor yesterday. This was my report, iron and blood pressure too low, and thryoid medicine too strong for me right now. I knew something had to be wrong more than what I had originally thought because everytime I exercised It left me so weak I could hardly move!

Got to eat lots of beans and liver and take iron medicine! I am on Toprol for a heart condition but this medicine is alos used to lower blood pressure. The doctor is wanting to cut me back on this to see if my blood pressure will increase some but, I really dread this because then my heart rate will be out of control again. But, here I go!