Soup Bean Casserole

I have already posted this recipe I just found out. If you will look under the Casserole tag on the right hand side of my blog, you will find it there! 

Have a great night!
God Bless

Menu for the week of Feb. 25th

This menu was chosen by my husband. I am on a diet and only eating meat and vegetables so I let him choose what he wanted this week.

-   Soup Bean Casserole, mashed potatoes
-   Hot dogs, chili, potato chips
-   Chuck Wagon Sandwiches, (not sure what else)
-   BBQ Ribs, potatoes, vegetables, rolls
-   Chili, crackers, Peanut butter sandwiches
-   Hamburgers, chips

Menu for Last Week

Yep, running a week behind. That's me! Last weeks menu was as follows:

-   Chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, hominy, cole slaw, rolls
-   Pigs-in-a-blanket, mashed potatoes, corn, greenbeans
-   Chicken Noodle Soup, crackers
-   Hamburgers, french fries
-   Taco Salad, doritos

My Menu

Due to some health reasons I had to quit one of my part-time jobs, so now I only work one.  Which means that I will be short quite a bit of money a month so I am on a new quest to spend as less as possible at the grocery store and use everything up instead of throwing it out. 

Eating out is something that we are not able to do now and I have to say that has been the hardest adjustment but I'm doing pretty well. I just tell myself that he is fatting anyway. (lol) I love being able to stay home more.  I not only am able to care for my husband better but have more time to do the crafts that I so love to do.

Below is my menu for this week.  I am using meat that I have bought on sale either last week or in previous weeks.  What food is left over is either eaten at another meal another day or my husband takes it to work with him for his lunch.  Working less means I have more time to cook so that is another plus!

Monday (tonight) Vegetable soup*, cornbread (I had 1 bowl of soup leftover so it will be hubby's lunch tomorrow)
Tuesday - Onion chopped steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, bread and vegetables
Wednesday - Grilled boneless pork chops, baked potato, rolls, salad
Thursday - Fried chicken legs, french fries, cole slaw, rolls
Friday - Pork in crock pot, fried potatoes, cooked cabbage, cornbread

*I got three meals out of the pork roast that I made the vegetable soup with. How's that for stretching? lol

I Think...

I need a new picture of myself. I hate having my picture took. Those darn pictures always make me much more overweight than I know I am. lol Maybe soon.....

Here I Go Again!!

Yep, me and Weight Watchers are seeing each other again on a weekly basis. Doctor wants me to exercise to increase my lung capacity since I am unable to breath in as much as I should and to get some weight off at the same time.  Last week was my first weigh in and I will have to admit I was very disappointed. I lost 1.2 lbs. I was looking for at least 5. It went on quickly so I thought sure it would leave that way too. lol Oh well, better than gaining 1.2 lbs.

Anyone else doing weight watchers?

It's a boy! Baby weighs 8 oz. now and both baby and mommy are healthy and that is all that matters!

Trying Again

Now that I'm ready to start blogging again, I keep losing internet connection. Windstream has been to my house every week for the past month. He really has! As if that isn't enough, I find out yesterday during his weekly visit that they have finally found the problem and it will be two more weeks before they can fix it! I am trying so hard to keep my patience, but it is starting to run really thin!

Get to find out today what Sweet Pea will be. A boy or a girl!! So excited. I vote girl, but we will see.

I had a great Thanksgiving. It is always good when my family is around me. Then I got to go shopping with my favorite sister Saturday! We drew names after Thanksgiving dinner. I got my sisters name and she got mine. lol

All joking aside, I am very thankful for my sister. The Lord has brought her threw a lot and blesses her more everyday. I can't help but think of the song "Where Would I Go". How true the words are to this song. I just asked my sister this weekend what in the world would we do if it wasn't for the Lord?! How do people who are not saved make it without him in this world? I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that.

Have to get off of here and head to work. Hope everyone has a blessed day. May God bless you!

Blessings,
Tammi

Hello To All!

Thought it was about time I posted on here. Been gone longer than I had planned on being. So much has happened since March 2011 since my last post. Let's see...where to start.

Well, we moved from the backwoods to the outskirts of a neighboring city and we love it! I am only minutes from work now instead of 30 minutes. I had been wanting to move for over 20 years and I finally go to! I am happy, happy, happy!

Then my car died and had to buy another vehicle, which I did not want to do. I had my car paid for and was enjoying no bank payment. I always drive my vehicles until they can't go no more. I want my money's worth! lol

We then added a brand spanking new son-n-law to the family and now Matt and my daughter Kelli are expecting their first child (which I have nick named Sweet Pea) and our first grandchild. We are all so excited! It will be the first grandchild for us and for Matt's family also, and the first great granchild for my parents and Matt's grandparents. We will get to find out whether we have a boy or a girl on November 28th. Next Christmas at this time we will have a beautiful grandbaby to spoil and share it with.

I guess that is the major changes that have went on in my life. Oh yeah, I broke down and done something I said I would never do. I bought a dog. Her name is Bella and she is a Bischon Frise. She is four months old and hyper, hyper, hyper! But can turn around and be the sweetest thing. She is great company for me. I will try and post pictures as soon as I can.

Hope everyone is doing fine. Have a great evening!

Don't Leave Me Spring!!

It is supposed to be in the 70's here today and then drop down in the 40's tomorrow with a possibility of strong storms and hail this afternoon! The only bad part about these warm days we have been having is that the winter just doesn't want to let loose and keeps coming back. Spring is my favorite time of the year. I just love looking at all the easter flowers and the trees blooming out. God's work is always so amazing!

I am writing this while on lunch break with the office door open while listening the the birds chirp away. So relaxing. I am eating leftovers from supper last night. Grilled steak, baked potatoes and a salad. Yummy! Now, if I just had some ice cream....awww. lol

I have the GEM class to teach at church tonight. What a great bunch of girls I have. We are going to be studying about Hannah and the importance of prayer in our lives. All but 1 of these girls comes on the church bus and their parents or guardians do not come with them so teaching them the simple things is very important. Making sure they know that Jesus is always there with them not matter what goes on in their life. An adult may come and go out of their lives on a regular basis, but the Lord doesn't come and go. He is always there for them. I plan on helping them make a prayer journal in a couple weeks. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Have a blessed day! Hope to see ya at church tonight.

Back On

So, so good to have my computer back. It had a nasty virus so I had to take it to the computer hospital. lol I sure do miss it when it is gone.

Really looking forward to the sun today and for the temperature to go to 70! My bones will be happier!

Have a great day everyone.

Giveaway

Please visit Patty to enter in a drawing for an awesome giveaway! This is her first giveaway and it is a great one. Look around on her blog while your at it. She does a really good job!

Easy Rolls

Another recipe I found from the above book. We loved it. It was quick and easy (my new motto), frugal and delicious! We gave it a 5 out of 5.



Easy Rolls

1 (1/4 oz.) pkg. yeast
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
4 c. self-rising flour
3/4 c. oil

Mix yeast, 2 c. lukewarm water and sugar. Set aside for 5 minutes. Add egg and mix with whisk. Ad flour and oil. (Batter will be thin.) Pour into container, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375.

Spoon batter into sprayed muffin cups about half full. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Serves 6-10.

I used a 1/4 c. measuring cup to fill my muffin cups. I filled each cup about 3/4 full. I made this on Sunday and made 12 out of it then stuck the container back in the fridge and made 10 more on Tuesday. They were just as good on Tuesday as they were on Sunday.

Enjoy!

Coupon Deals for March 5th

I was really proud of myself last week. I saved $17.80 by using coupons. Not as much as some I know, but that was a good amount for me and as long as I'm happy with it then that is all that counts. lol My best deal was getting 12 Mega rolls of Charmis toilet paper for $1.97 by using a Kroger coupon and a printable one.

Hope to do well this week also although I do not see much that is on sale that I use.

Twist Sticks

(Click on picture for a closer up view).


I made these last night for supper also. They were good. Not pretty, but good. lol Despite finding it messy and difficult to twist these in a more attractive way, we still gave them a 5 out of 5 because they were so good.

TWIST STICKS

1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 (1 oz.) pkg. Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
1 (8 oz.) pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. Combine sour cream and soup mix. Spread out crescent rolls into 1 long piece of dough and press seams together. Spread mixture evenly onto dough. Cut dough into 1-in. strips and twist each strip loosely. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Noodle Coleslaw

This is another recipe I made from this book.




This was so, so good. We gave it a 5 out of 5.

1 (16 oz.) pkg. coleslaw mix
1 c. sunflower seeds
1 green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 (3 oz.) pkgs. chicken flavored ramen noodles
1 (16 oz.) bottle Italian salad dressing

Combine coleslaw, sunflower seeds, bell pepper, onions and seasoning packets. Break ramen noodles into smaller pieces and add to colelaw mixture. Toss with dressing and refrigerate overnight. Serves 4.

Bean and Corn Salsa

This was ok but I wasn't crazy about it. I am not keeping the recipe. I thought maybe someone would like it.

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained
1 (8 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (16 oz.) jar thick-and-chunky salsa

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate. Serve with chips, enchiladas or other Mexican food. Yields 1 qt.

Classic Guacamole

Oh, how I love this stuff!! Too bad I only made half a recipe though.

4 T. finely chopped white onion, divided (I didn't use this much)
1 T. plus 1 1/2 tsp. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 or 2 fresh serrano or jalepeno peppers*, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 tsp. chopped garlic
2 lg. soft avocados
1 med. tomato, chopped
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. salt
Corn Tortilla Chips

*Serrano and jalepeno peppers can sting and irritate the skin; wear rubber gloves when handling peppers and do not tough eyes. Wash hands after handling. (This is very important! And no younger sister, I will not be sharing of how I personally know this. lol)

Combine 2 T. onion, 1 T. cilantro, peppers and garlic in a large mortar. Grind with pestle until almost smooth. (Mixture can be processed in blender, if necessary, but it will become more watery than desired.)
Cut avocados lengthwise into halves; remove and discard pits. Scoop out avocado flesh; place in bowl. Add pepper mixture. Mash roughly; Leaving avocado slightly chunky. (I used a potato masher).
Add tomato, lime juice, salt and remaining 2 T. onion and 1 1/2 tsp. cilantro to avocado mixture; mix well. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hrs. Serve with corn tortilla chips.
Makes 2 cups.

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.