It's Good to be Back!

Wow! 

We are still fixing some kinks in my laptop but I hope to be back to normal soon! I have a new battery but we think my computer has a problem charging. 

Anyhow...

On our adventure to keep All Natural and Organic products in our house and diet, we are finding that we are feeling a little bit better everyday! I notice the change in our kids behavior is changing to the good! I have been shopping at Whole Foods for the past several shopping trips but today I was not able to get there. I went to Kroger instead and shopped the organic department. I think I spent more at Kroger than I would have at Whole Foods but in all I got what I needed and I didn't get foods that were processed...at least that didn't have ingredients that I could not pronounce. I am using an Organic Laundry Soap and I must say, I really like it. I was hesitant to use it at first because I didn't think that it would work, but overall, I really like it! Priced at around the same price as Gain, or Tide, it works really well. I have not seen a change in our clothes as far as color or wear. 

As far as menu planning goes. I do have one for this week. Tonight we are eating Roasted Bone-in Chicken with Veggies and Potatoes with Cheese sauce and Salads. Friday night its Pizza Night and Saturday its Chicken Salad Sammies and leftovers. Sunday I am going to cook up some Chicken tenders and have Chicken Tender Salads! Haven't started on next weeks menu yet. 

As far as health go, Our Daughter has double ear infections and our son just got over his ear infection. Other than that we are feeling good. 

Hopefully in another week I will have my computer fully up and going and I will be able to post more! In the meantime, if you have ideas or anything  you would like to talk about, please comment or link up below!! 

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Will be gone for another week!

I am having computer issues and should have it all squared away in a week. I will be posting again soon!! So, be checking back!!! 


~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Frugal Tips

 Yesterday I mentioned that I was reading a book called "Go Green, Live Rich" by David Bach. It has "50 simple ways to save the earth"

In Chapter 1, it talks about knowing your impact on the planet. I went to the website it provided and found my carbon footprint. Below is my score...

YOUR ECP SCORE:	312		ANNUAL CARBON OUTPUT:	12.4

How Your ECP Score Works Your ECP score is linked to your private Earth Conservation Plan. Generally, ECP scores range from 150 – 900, the lower the better. Your ECP score is calculated based on six categories related to Home, Energy, Work, Commute, Travel and Lifestyle.

I don't think I did too shabby but there is room for improvement. 

That was Tip #1....

Tip #2, talks about the Litter Factor. This is a no brainer but one thing I did realize is that my husband takes 2 bottles of water to work with him everyday and both our kids take one too. That is 10 bottles a week for hubby, 5 for Emma and 2 for Dillon. I thought, how can I fix this? I answered myself and really didn't like the answer... I will have to use reusable water bottles and wash them....I hate washing dishes but I will try and find one that is dishwasher safe. I run the dishwasher once a day on average.

That should take care of that problem....

Tip #3-8 talks about the type of car you drive, skipping a trip, biodiesel, and vehicle maintenance. I not going into too much detail here. There is not much we can do about the subject personally because my husband lives 40 miles from his job and we live 12 miles from the nearest major town. We are not going to sale our house and move closer because we love where we live in the country. We are not at a point to where we are able to trade in vehicles for a more energy efficient one but hopefully this spring we will be. The only thing I can take from these tips are to minimize the amount of trips I take into town, which is down to 2 days a week (our son goes to preschool in town). I try and get the majority of my errands done on those days. While I am in the car rider line at school, waiting to pick up my daughter, instead of letting the car idle for 20-30 minutes, I let it run for 5 or so then shut it off until we get cold, then start it and let it run till we are warm and then shut it off, so on and so forth....

Tips #9-16 talk about Greening your home. We have slowly started changing out our light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL). They use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. The only draw back is that is contains small amounts of Mercury, meaning, they have to be disposed of properly. For correct disposal see this website.

It also talks about lowering your thermostat a couple of degrees. I hesitated doing this. I like my house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. At night we would turn the heat down because we slept better when it was slightly cooler. Right now we are keeping it on 67-68 even though it has been dropping down into the teens at night. If the house gets really chili, I turn it up to 69-70 to get the chill out of the air and then turn it back down. I guess in a couple of months I will see if there is a change in our electric bill.

 One thing I must improve on is unplugging appliances when they are not in use. I really need to work on this! 

Tips #17 and 18 talk about conservation of water. We are planning on remodeling sometime this year (fingers crossed) so, if I get my way, me might be able to purchase 2 low flow toilets. Considering the older toilets use up to 7 gallons of water each flush and the new ones only 1.6 at the max, I think I could justify the $230 plus price tag.....

Another, would be turning of the tap when brushing your teeth...That's a given people....Stop being lazy. Consider this while you are brushing your teeth, if  you keep the water running, your are wasting on average a GALLON of water. You wouldn't go to the store and purchase a gallon of water and take it home and pour it out in the sink would you???? Don't think so! 

These are all that I am sharing you with today. If you have anything that you would like to add....Link up below and tell us! 

More tips to come next week!

 

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

I am ready to go back!

 We had such a busy weekend I didn't have time to post. And, I find that it is Wednesday already....

Where has the week gone??

I had a catering gig Monday and was really surprised at how well it went. I usually have my husband there with me and if he can't make it (due to work), then I recruit a friend. This time, I had NO ONE but me, myself, and I! At this Lunch-on, I provided:

Lasagna

Green Beans

Caesar Salad

Fresh Fruit

Triple Brownie Threats

Strawberry Mini Delights

Sweet Tea

and

Water

Hubby cooks all the desserts for me and I just decorate them! He does an awesome Job!! He is my sidekick and I missed him dearly that day!

After it was all said and done, it was a big success!

I have several ways that I could go with this blog today...But, I must settle on one and work on the others later! I really don't have a menu put together for this week, but I can tell you what we had and what we are having tonight! 

Monday: Grilled Cheese and Salads

Tuesday: Fresh Parmesan Tilapia and Cheesy Potato Salad, (kids had organic fries)

And tonight we are having: Chili Glazed Turkey Breast, Green Beans, Rice and Tomatoes, and Salad (Everything that we will be eating will be organic)

As far as the rest of the week goes...I will deal with it later this afternoon and have something planned out I am sure! 

Speaking of organic.....

I went to Whole Foods yesterday ( I LOVE THAT STORE). YES, I did go about my weekly budget but I purchased some items that I felt we needed. I am all about cutting back on the grocery bill, but I do not want to sacrifice our health to do so. When I had lost 70 plus lbs (2 years ago), I was eating really healthy. I found that as I ventured into the "saving money on groceries" game, I started to gain weight back. I wanted to see how much I could get, for the cheap! I have done really well doing so! But, I have also found that the brands we normally would not have eaten, were causing some unwanted side effects. Some people believe that the foods we eat may not have an effect on our kids behavior. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I started adding more processed foods into our kids diet and slowly watch them change. Their behavior was nothing like it use to be. They had less energy in some ways but were more rowdy in others. They didn't have the attention span that they once had. I felt as though something was dragging me down, I was always tired and had no clue as to why. People would say, "Well you take care of a household, hubby and 2 kids...no wonder your tired". Yes, this is true, but, I wasn't as tired when I was eating healthy. 

As I mentioned before, I went to Whole Foods yesterday. I purchased $150.01 in groceries, but I had a buggy FULL! I bought several packages of fresh meat from the meat counter, fresh sliced lunch meat from the deli, fresh cheeses from the cheese counter, and several items from the bulk aisle. I did use coupons and received credit in the amount of $.20 for bringing in just 2 bags. At my local Kroger, we only get $.04 per bag. My receipt was just as long as usual and I got everything on my list and more. 

We are trying to stay away from processed foods, added preservatives and lean more towards the organic, all natural foods. With that being said, I do have a pantry still stocked with some processed foods. I have not decided if I want to use these all or donate some to our local food pantry. Either way, they will be used and not thrown away. 

I don't plan on buying everything organic. Fruits and veggies that have thicker peelings, I will purchase at a regular grocery store. We will not be eating the peelings and because they are thicker, pesticides are less likely to penetrate the peel. 

I will however, purchase the milk that is produced from cows that are not given the rBGH hormone. I will purchase meats that are raised and slaughtered the humane way and are fed a healthy diet. We have our own chickens, so we get eggs everyday and we know what we feed them (alot of salad and veggies).

I want to free our bodies of as many toxins as possible, while keeping it in budget, and I think I can do it! I purchased some all natural Laundry soap. It was a bit pricey but I would rather buy it then make my own at this point. I will be going back next week for another grocery trip. It may turn out that I only go twice a month and shop the regular store the other times. 

As far has paper towels and toilet paper, I will buy ones that are made from recycled materials. Since I mentioned it....Recycling is another thing we are taking on....Our daughter already loves to recycle, thanks to her Kindergarten teacher! 

I went to our county library yesterday as well. I picked up 2 books, one which was titled: "Go Green, Live Rich" by David Bach. I am almost half way through the book. It talks about "50 simple ways to save the earth". I will share over the next couple of weeks, some tips that I found very helpful in "greening" our home and bodies! 




I know this has been one of my longer blogs, but I really feel that my priorities have changed as far as our health is concerned. I hope that you find yourself thinking about what ways you can green your body and home all while being frugal! Link up below and tell me what you are doing!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Super Bowl Sunday Recipes

Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions without going to jail for it.  ~Heywood Hale Brown

Seems that every year, I get more into football....Not sure why! 

Even though our Tennessee Titans didn't make it to the Super Bowl, we will still be watching: my hubby for the Packers, and me for the Steelers! 

I thought I would start on some recipes that I have for parties such as this!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 pkg (8oz) softened Cream Cheese

2 cups cooked, shredded Chicken

1/2 cup of your favorite Hot Sauce

1/2 cup Blue Cheese Dressing

1/2 cup Crumbled Blue Cheese

Mix all ingredients together and place in a baking dish. Bake on 350 for 20 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Optional: add a thin layer of cheddar cheese and place into the oven for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with toasted Pita Chips, Veggies, or Corn Chips.

Another of my favorite dip recipes:

1 pkg (8oz) Light or Fat Free Cream Cheese

1 Jar Salsa

Cube cream cheese and add to microwave safe bowl with salsa.

Cook in 1 minute intervals until hot and bubbly! Serve with Tortilla Chips! 

And One More!

Cheesy Nacho Bake:

1 lb lean ground beef

1 can (14-1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1/4 cup water

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz) taco seasoning mix, Or you can make your own here.
3/4 cup Sour Cream, divided
6 oz (7 cups) Tortilla Chips
1-1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 green onion (optional)


Heat oven to 350. Brown meat in large skillet, drain fat is necessary. Return meat to skillet and add seasoning mix, tomatoes and water, stir well. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream. Remove from heat.
Place half the chips in a 13x9 inch baking dish; cover with layers of half each of the meat mixture and cheese. Repeat layers.
Bake 20 minutes or until heated through. Top with onions and remaining sour cream.

As far as our plans go, as of right now, we are partying alone...not such a bad thing! We may invite some friends over. Whatever we do, it will be a day of pending time with family. Whoever wins, wins...GO STEELERS!!!

Coming up soon: Enchilada-Zagna!

What are your plans for the Super Bowl and who will you be cheering for? Leave a comment below and link up!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Lemon Shrimp Parmesan Pasta

This is one of my "comfort" foods that I LOVE!! And, its one of the few seafood dishes that I can get my hubby to eat!

Aldi has a brand of Shrimp (not sure of the name) that is peeled, de-veined and cooked.  And Frozen...

I thaw them out by putting them under cool running water for about 2-3 minutes.

In a small sauce pan, I place 1/2 stick of butter (unsalted) and 1 1/2 cups Chicken stock (low sodium). Bring to a simmer and add 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt. 

Meanwhile, cook about 2 cups noodles. Any kind you like. We like to eat it with Angel Hair, or Penne.

Add your Shrimp to the sauce and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the juice of 2 lemons and 2 T Parmesan Cheese, simmer 2-3 minutes. 

Add cooked noodles. Mix together well and serve!!

It is so delicious!! Hope you enjoy!!

 

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Yet.....Another Snow Day!

Is it really that obvious? Can you sense the sarcasm in my writing?

Another Snow Day.....

Now they will have to start making the days up for snow....On our 5th round of snow storms this year, though this one wasn't as bad. 

Don't get me wrong, I love having my kids home! But, I am going to hate them having to go longer than expected. 

Enough!

How has your week started off so far?

Mine has been great! 

Sticking to the 1500 calorie diet is much easier than I thought. I am eating more filling, low calorie foods and I am eating the right portions! Even though is has only been a couple of days I already feel better! 

It's amazing what eating right can do for your moods!

As far as a meal plan goes this week, there is not one! Well, there is but i just made it today and its not completely filled out...

So far this week we have had:

Monday:

Tilapia, Green Beans, and Salad

Tuesday:

Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, and Steamed Mixed Veggies with Cheese sauce

Tonight we are having Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops, Cheesy Potato and Turkey Bacon Hash, Green Beans and Salads!! And yes, it will fit all into my calorie points!! 

Thursday:

 Homemade Pizza Night (Per Dillon's request)

Friday:

Dinner at my mom's to celebrate a daddy's birthday! No matter how old I get, I will always call him, daddy!!

Saturday:

We have a Leadership Dinner with our church and its a ?Semi-Formal?. Better break out those Semi-Fancy clothes...you know the ones you only wear once a year! 

Sunday:

???? Another place I hadn't finished!

Needless to say, I need to do some searching in my pantry and freezer to see what I can scrounge up! 

Monday, I purchased a book....Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn. It is 754 pages long and as of right now, I am on page 525....nearing the end! I had not seen any of the other movies until a couple of weeks ago. I did however, spend a weekend watching all 3 movies with my hubby! He likes them too, but he doesn't like to admit it! What man, in his right mind, wants to admit they have a softer side and occasionally likes a good Love Story?!!?!  

The release for the 4th movie, in case you wanted to know, is 11.18.11 and the one for the 5th is 11.??.12!! Don't really remember the date on that one.

Onto another subject....

I promised a recipe for the Lemon Shrimp Parmesan Pasta! 

You will get that recipe soon....

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Running Time!

Monday, Monday!!!

So, this weekend was great!! We had some of our best friends over Saturday and enjoyed a wonderful meal, competitive game of Mad Gab, and settled down to watch a movie! 

Sunday, we woke up late and had to go to the 2nd service at church! Afterward, we really didn't feel like going out to lunch so we came home and I fixed Lemon Shrimp Parmesan Pasta! It was Amazing and I promise that I will post a recipe this week!! 

A conversation that we had with our 4 year old son on the way to church went a little something like this:

Dillon: "Dad, when we get home, can you build me a monster truck?"

Dad: "We will see"...most common answer in our household!

Dillon: "OK...sissy, dads gonna make a monster truck"

Few minutes later....

Dillon: "Tomorrow, can I get my drivers lessons?"

Dad: "I think you have to be 16 to do that son"

Dillon: " Ah MAN!"

I love those little conversations!!

No menu plan made out today...Will post hopefully tonight!

I finished the Pantry Challenge and I must say, it was easy!! I might even do it every 6 weeks or so!! How did you do on it?? At the end of the blog there is a Mister Linky so link up!!

Today I started the running program! Week 1...OH MY! 

I might be on this week for a couple of weeks! LOL!!

Its hard, but I can do it!!

I am also going to be counting my calories. I was doing Weight Watchers. Don't get me wrong, I like Weight Watchers, but with the new points plus system, I feel I get too many points. I haven't lost anything. What I am going to do is eat 1500 calories a day...for some that may be too many but for me its not! I purchased last year for my birthday, a Mio watch! It keeps up with your calories in/out, heart rate, and so on... I love it! If you burn 500 calories or eat 500 less calories each day, you can loose up to a pound a week. Hopefully I can loose more than a pound a week! According to my watch, I have burned 556 calories in 1 1/2 hours! Not too bad!!

Our local Kroger is having a major sale going on again!! I will be stocking up on some pantry items this week! More to come on this! 

What are your plans for this week? Link up below!!

Hope you have a Blessed day!!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

WOW! What a week....

I would like to find a stew that will give me heartburn immediately, instead of at three o'clock in the morning.  ~John Barrymore

This week has not gone to plan by far! Trying to get back into a routine from having the kids home from school a whole week because of snow was not easy. And to top that off, They have another snow day today! So, since winter break, they have had 13 days of classes which they only attended 7 because of snow...

Enough venting!

How has your week gone?

Are you still doing the Pantry Challenge?

Speaking of Pantry Challenge, we have not really stuck with the menu plan this week. It went a little something like this...

Monday: BBQ Bacon Sloppy Joes

Tuesday: Fried Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes and Salad

Wednesday: Pasta with Red Sauce 

Thursday:  Chicken Bites, Pasta Salad and Salad

We were going to have fish Wednesday night instead of Goulash but the fish ended up being to mushy and didn't look right, so when in doubt, throw it out. Luckily, I had a stocked pantry and was able to throw a dinner together. 

Thursday night was the only night that I actually went and bought chicken. I forgot to lay something out that morning and the kids were getting out of school early due to snow and I was in a hurry. I know, but it was on sale and I got a good deal! 

Tonight, we are having homemade Pepperoni Pizza!! Yes, this is completely from my pantry! I made a batch of pizza dough last week and froze 3 of the crust dough! My hubby and kids (and I) LOVE Pizza!!!! We could eat it everyday, well, I could!! Homemade just makes it better!! 

As for this weekend, we are having some friends over for dinner tomorrow night. What was planned before was BBQ Chicken Sammies left over from the Roasted Chicken during the week. Since that never got cooked, I am going to make it Saturday night...with Baked Potatoes and Green Beans! I will let them bring the dessert! I might even make some homemade rolls! 

As for Sunday, We will eat out for lunch and for dinner I will stick to the original plan and have Grilled cheese and Soup!

Starting next week, I will be adding in some new topics!! I hope you join me!! Don't forget to follow and refer me to your friends! 

Have a blessed weekend!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Menu Plan for week of 1/17

We load up on oat bran in the morning so we'll live forever.  Then we spend the rest of the day living like there's no tomorrow.  ~Lee Iacocca

I know its a day late. I have been meaning to post this! Going along with my Pantry Challenge, I am using only items found in my pantry, freezer and fridge for this weeks menu! I am going to the store today though to pick up milk, bread and some other essentials. Our local Kroger is having a good sale this week so I will be doing a little shopping for those items that I can get at rock-bottom price and/or free!! 


Monday: (posted recipe last night)
BBQ Bacon Sloppy Joes, Mac-n-cheese


Tuesday:
Pork chops w/Mushroom Gravy and Brown Rice, Green Beans, Rolls and Salad


Wednesday: 
Roasted Whole Chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, Mixed Veggies, Salad


Thursday:
Goulash, Veggies, and Salad


Friday:
Leftover Goulash, Veggies, and Salad


Saturday:
BBQ Chicken Sammies (leftover Chicken from Wed. meal)


Sunday:
Dinner out after Church, Soup and Grilled Cheese that night.


Once a month we eat out after church on Sundays. And we will occasionally eat out on the weekend, not every weekend, maybe once or twice a month. 


I have not planned out our menu for the week of the 24th yet, but once I do I will post. 


I will also post recipes on the days that I make the meal planned! 


Are you menu planning? Do you have any menu ideas? Comment below and leave a link to your blog!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

BBQ Bacon Sloppy Joes

BBQ Bacon Sloppy Joes

New Recipe! 

I found a similar recipe in a magazine and thought I would revamp it to make it my own. When I first read it, I thought, BBQ and Cheese???? How is that going to taste. Well, surprisingly, it was DELICIOUS!!!

1lb ground beef (You can use turkey if you like)

2 Carrots, peeled and diced finely

1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup BBQ Sauce

4 slices Bacon, diced

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, I used the Ragu Cheddar Cheese Sauce in a jar but the original recipe called for Velveeta.

salt/pepper

garlic powder/onion powder

Italian Bread or Hamburger buns

Saute Carrots in EVOO over med-hi heat. Add bacon and cook 5-6 minutes. (I used Laura Lean Ground Beef so I didnt have to drain bacon fat or beef fat off) Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Add BBQ sauce, Water, and Cheddar cheese. Add seasonings and stir until warmed through. Serve over Italian Bread slices or hamburger buns!! Really Good! 

One might think that this will have a strong BBQ taste or Cheddar Cheese taste. You must try this recipe. Neither one is strong. They blend very well to make this a must have dish!! I served mine with Annie Organic Mac-n-cheese!

 Sorry No Pictures, it got gobbled up!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Running Time!

My First 5k

In April 2010, I ran my first 5k. I finished in a little over 44 minutes. That is 3.1 miles. I had trained in the gym, inside, on a treadmill. I had it down to 3.1 in 38 minutes. I get outside... and I can't breathe! The air is so different! Not to mention that it had stormed right before the run. I also didn't take into account that the run, was mostly up hill. It was hard, one of the hardest things I have had to do as an adult. I had to push myself. My oldest sister ran with me and pushed me all the way. The middle sister was going to run with us but she had just had a baby.I started running in December '09. In February, encountered a leg injury. What one Dr thought was tendinitis, actually turned into something more serious. The first Dr put me on 1800 mlg of Ibuprofen, and told me to take it easy on the treadmill and come back after the 5k if it hasn't gotten better. So I ran, and I ran hard. The day of the 5k, I wore my shin brace, and prayed. I had my mp3 player blaring in one ear and my sister in the other! We are in the "crowd" at the start line. Then suddenly, the gun shot was heard and we were off! Little over 44 minutes later, I crossed the finish line! I finished in front of one of The Biggest Loser contestants, Liz Young.

I could not believe that I finished before her, but I did! She was one of my motivations to run! 

      This is me and Liz! Make sure you go to her website and check it out! 

After I ran my 5k, I was still having problems with my leg. I went to a different Dr for a second opinion. And boy, am I glad I did! I ended up having a stress fracture. I ran a 5k with a stress fracture. I was put in a boot for 4 weeks. Not fun. Needless to say, that was the death of my desire to run. I tried several times to run again but with no avail. I felt like my body was broke and it didn't want to run again. Having not ran for over 4 months, I decided to try it again. My mom gave me her treadmill. We cleaned it up (had been in the garage collecting dust and spiders), and I ran on it for the first time last week. It was an awakening. I realized just how out of shape I was. I then realized how much weight I have gained since I stopped running. UGH! SO, why am I telling you all this....Not sure!

But I do want to share with you my weight-loss goals for this year! I joined weight watchers before Christmas...bad idea, but I am back on track! Not telling how many points I get but its a bunch! I sometimes have a hard time eating all them. Weight Watchers online is what I am doing. If you haven't given it a try, do so!! I am planning on loosing 65 lbs this year! I think I can do it!! That will put me at what I weighed when my hubby and I got engaged! ! My ultimate goal is to loose 80 lbs! But, I will get the first 65 off first! 

Also, today I started back on the treadmill. I am starting slow this time. Last week I did 10 minutes. I ran for a few of those minutes. Today, I ran a few more but off and on (20 min total). I am trying to condition my leg so I don't end up with another injury. I found a program that I am going to try and follow to see how it helps me. Here it is.

Week 1: Walk 5 min. run 2 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 2: Walk 5 min run 4 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 3: Walk 4 min run 6 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 4: Walk 3 min run 8 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 5: Walk 2 min run 10 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 6: Walk 1 min run 12 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 7: Walk 1 min run 20 min (repeat 2 more times) Walk 5 min
Week 8: Walk 1 min run 30 min Walk 5 min.

Slow and steady wins the race!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Valentin's Day is quickly approaching. Hop on over to www.colieskitchen.com and enter her contest for a $25 giftcard to Walmart! There are more then one chance to win!! 

Good Luck!!!

A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat.  ~Old New York Proverb

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 6 & 7

Pantry Challenge Day 6 & 7

Since its the weekend, not a whole lot is getting done around the house. Hubby had been working on the electrical ALL day. He found out that whoever wired the house when it was built back in '98, wired it wrong. Go figure.

Thank God I have a smart enough husband to fix someone else's mistakes.

Our daughters Children Church pastor and his wife had their first baby this past week. As I have mentioned before, I am over the Helps Ministry at our church. We prepare and have dinners arranged for those who have recently had a baby, death or illness in their family. 

I am making them my famous Lasagna! She loves it! And, everyone I have made it for loves it too. I am not one to toot my own horn, but it is really, really good! I give thanks in part to my mom for teaching me how to make it but I have changed it a bit to make it my own! My husband and I make the same Lasagna for roughly 60+ people once a month at our church. Its for new members and their families. We serve it with Green Beans, Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad, which is home cooked. My husband makes all the desserts and they get great raves!!

I decided that since I needed to purchase some of the items for the Lasagna, that I would purchase enough to make 4. Two will be going to them, (1 for tonight and 1 for the freezer for another night) and two will be for us (1 for tonight and 1 for the freezer).  Yes, I had to purchase the items. Yes, I guess you can say I didn't stick to the Pantry Challenge, but I think I have. Since I am making 2 Lasagna's for us, that means 12 meals (lunch and dinner). We don't mind eating on a pan of Lasagna if it takes us 3 nights! WE LOVE OUR LASAGNA!!! That my friends, is a frugal meal!! 

This will be our Saturday night meal, and our Sunday afternoon meal! Anything leftover will be eaten on during the week by me and the kids for lunch and possibly Monday nights dinner as well!! 

So, this is the time that I would normally put in the recipe! Not this time, I don't share my Lasagna recipe. SORRY........Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 5 & Frugal Friday Finds

Pantry Challenge Day 5

This kids were out again from school today. They will out Monday too due to MLK day. That makes 10 days in a row...this momma needs a break! LOL 

Today is Pantry Challenge Day 5. This is an easy one. We had Chicken tenders last night and I made 2 batches. Thank goodness I did. I don't really feel like making anything tonight! So, we are having Chicken Tender Salads, Soup (Healthy Choice Tomato Bisque), and grilled cheeses! 

Simple enough huh! The soup is from a stock-up sale that went on at my local Kroger back in Oct '10. I purchased 22 cans for $.49 a piece!! GO ME!!!! 

What are you doing for dinner tonight and how is you pantry challenge coming along?

A NEW Addition I am adding to my blog is Frugal Friday Finds! This is where I will tell you what frugal deals I have found this week and what frugal living changes we have made! This week I went to Walgreens. Here are the deals I made!

2 Lysol wipes (2 bottle pack):$3.69 BOGOF sale plus a $1 off coupon = $2.69 for 4 containers

Gain Dish Soap: $1.99, $1 off Walgreens coupon plus $1 off mfg coupon = FREE!!!!

2 12pk 7up and 2 12pk A&W Rootbeer = $11.00

2 Lysol Spray Cans $4.49 ea, BOGOF sale plus $1.50 and $1.00 off coupon = $1.99 for 2

2 pkg StayFree Pads $6.79 each: 2 $3.00 off Walgreens coupons plus BOGOF coupon plus $1.00 = $.58 for 2

With tax I paid a total of $18.65 

WAG Coupon Savings: $7.00

WAG Advertised Savings $17.14

MFG Coupon Savings $11.50

Savings total: $35.64 

 How awesome is that? Do you have a Frugal Friday Find that you would like to share?

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 4: Italian

If God had intended us to follow recipes,
He wouldn't have given us grandmothers.
~Linda Henley

Pantry Challenge Day 4:Italian

Wow! What a day! Only thing that got done was the kitchen getting cleaned and a couple of loads of laundry! That is what kind of day it has been!

Whew.....

 On to the challenge!

Tonight we are having Italian Chicken Tenders! Back in November I bought chicken tenders in bulk, and packaged them into separate servings. I took 2 out of the freezer this morning. One for tonight and one for tomorrow night! 

 All I did to the chicken was rub it in olive oil, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and poured 3-4 tablespoons of Italian Dressing over the tenders, baked at 425 for 20 minutes!! How easy was that! 

I wanted to serve it with some hearty and filling, so why not pasta salad?! 

I mixed 1/2 cup low fat mayo that I had on hand with 1 teaspoon mustard, and 3 T relish, (we like dill relish) and a few pinches each of garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and paprika. I added about 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon sugar and mixed well!

 I cooked about 2 cups bow-tie pasta to al denta and rinsed in cold water. I mixed the two together and added some mozzarella cheese (1/4 cup).

I know it sounds crazy, ?dill pickle relish?, but we like the salty tang that it adds to the pasta. You can substitute green olives instead but my hubby doesn't like green olives.  

To lighten the dinner up a bit, I know, after the whole pasta thing, I added some green beans! 

Everything came from my pantry and freezer! Items I had on hand! The left over chicken will be used for tomorrow's dinner! Check back to see what that is going to be!!

What did you have for dinner tonight??

ps: the dinner plate is a 6x6 in plate, we use smaller plates for smaller portions!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Pantry Challenge Day 3: Mexican Night

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy.  ~Author Unknown

Mexican Night

Pantry Challenge Day 3

Seeing that we still have snow outside and schools were closed again, and we were going on our 3rd day of being snowed in, I decided the kids and I would go out for an adventure. I needed to pick up a few things from Walgreens (I will share my awesome savings tomorrow) and I really needed a new pair of rubber boots to wear out in the snow and to feed the chickens and dogs in! I have stuck to my challenge of not purchasing items for the pantry for the past 2 days and I am not about to jump ship either!! However, that being said, when I was at Wal-Mart getting my shoes, I came across some Craisins at an AWESOME DEAL and I didn't pass them up. I purchased 3 packages, but we do use these on our salads just about everyday!  

I decided that tonight was going to be Mexican night! I came across a recipe I wanted to try out the other day and found this was the perfect night to do so. This was my first time making this dish and I loved it. Dillon on the other hand is a very picky eater and didn't care for it but Emma liked like myself! Hubby has not ate his yet, but I am sure it will be good!!

 Ground Turkey Nacho Bake

1 lb Ground Turkey, browned

2 T Taco Seasoning, I will share my recipe for homemade below

1 cup salsa, mine is homemade

2 Cups refried beans, I made mine with homemade pinto beans

2 8 inch Soft Tortillas

1 can Kidney beans, drained ( I used Pinto Beans since I already was making refried beans. )

1 1/2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese ( I used Mozzarella )

1 cup additional salsa

Tortilla/Corn chips

Brown Ground Turkey and add Taco seasonings and salsa. Cook for about 5-6 minutes. Add kidney beans and cook 2 more minutes.

Spray a 8x8 or 9x9 casserole dish and place 1 tortilla down. Spread refried beans over tortilla. Spoon meat mixture over refried beans and add some crushed up tortilla/corn chips. Add 1/2 cup of salsa and half of shredded cheese. 

Repeat layer. Make sure you end with cheese on top. Bake on 350 for about 15 minutes. 

Let is sit for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving! 

Serve with a side salad! 

YUM!!!

(this picture was taken by my 6 year old daughter!)

You can make this your very own recipe by adding green chili's or jalapenos.  This recipe came solely from my pantry, with what I had on hand. See, cooking from your pantry isn't that hard...but I am only on day 3! 

Bonus recipe!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

1 T Chili powder

2 tsp Onion powder

1 tsp each Cumin, Garlic powder, Paprika, Oregano, Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

Mix together in a baggy and there ya go!! Homemade taco seasoning! IF you are feeling a little spicy, add in a pinch or 2 of Cheyenne pepper!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Panrty Challenge Day 2

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.  ~Doug Larson

Pantry Challenge DAY 2

Today is Day 2 of my Pantry Challenge.  

Again, I have not wrote out my menu planning for the next 2 weeks, so I will be working on that today, hopefully! 

If you live in the Mid-South like I do, you know we have snow, and A LOT OF IT!!! We got upwards of 7 inches over the last 2 days. the county south of us got 13 INCHES!!!  That is enough to close down school and the whole county! You would think that being shut up in a house for 2 days, I would get everything on my list done....WRONG!!!

I did however, start back running! My mother gave me her treadmill the other day, ancient but it serves its purpose. Hubby cleaned it up for me last night and I began running again today. Back in April of '09 I ran my first 5K. I hope to run the same one this year and beat my time, if my injury doesn't come back to haunt me. I was sidelined after the 5k due to a stress fracture in my lower leg. UGH!!

Enough about running!!

Lets talk about the Pantry Challenge. It crossed my mind about 11 am that I had not laid anything out for dinner! I then began to read the blogs that I follow. One of them is A YEAR OF SLOW COOKING. She cooks in her crockpot everyday! I found a recipe that I just happened to have all the ingredients to and decided I would make it for dinner tonight. Instead of using the crockpot, I am going to be cooking it on the stove and as a side dish for steak (which I pulled from the freezer around noon). Now, my husband does not like green olives so I am going to hide them in the dish by mincing them. It will still have the same taste, just not visible, which is his problem! Here is the link to the recipe. I will give the verdict tomorrow as to how well it went over with my family. 


So, as you can read, I am using my pantry for dinner tonight. Are you?? If so, leave a comment on what you are having and your plan for your own Pantry Challenge!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Chi Chi Chi Chili

 

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.  ~Voltaire

What a true quote! 

I started the "Cooking from the Pantry" adventure challenge. Since today was a snow day and I forgot to lay anything out for dinner and I have not done my meal planning for the next 2 weeks, (I know...I know) I looked in my freezer to see what we had. I really didn't want to cook a big meal or spend a lot of time in the kitchen tonight. So, I was thrilled to find a freezer bag of Chili that I had made back in December and froze the rest! I ran it under hot water for about 2-3 minutes, enough to get it out of the bag, and warmed it up on the stove....And there ya go!! It was just as delicious as it was the day I made it!! 

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Its Snowing, and you know what that means!!!

  Hubby stayed home from work today and the school system closed down for the next 2 days. There is 7 inches of snow on the ground and we are expected to get another inch in the next day.  When my husband goes to work, I try to stick to a routine. When he is home, it goes out the window most of the time!! I had planned on getting a lot done this weekend and this week. Starting out, haven't don't much at all. See my list here.

Today started at 5 am for my hubby and I. He wanted to see what the roads looked like and if he was going to go to work or not. Needless to say, he didn't go, so there goes my routine. I love having my husband home from work! Kids woke up around 7ish and I started breakfast around 7:45ish. We had bacon and cheese sammies. We let the kids play their games on the Wii while hubby and I looked at activities to do at Disney World when we go this fall. We all then watched a movie on NETFLIX about Disney! NETFLIX by the way is awesome! Check it out! Then, it was time to go out and play in the snow!!! We had so much fun!!

Now, as I type this up, I have a child laying on the living room floor, the other sitting on the couch, and my biggest baby (hubby), asleep on the chair!  

In all the excitement of the snow, I forgot to lay anything out for dinner. OOOOPS!!! But, have not fear, dinner will be made, from scratch, from something.....LOL!!

I am also starting this week a "Clean out your pantry" week. Some blogs that I am reading are doing it for the month of January. I on the other hand am starting late so I am only going to do it for a week, maybe 2. The whole point of this is to use what you already have in your pantry and freezer. I have enough meat to last a month, I bet.  And, my pantry is stocked well too! This week, I do my shopping on Tuesdays or Thursday, I will only be purchasing the necessities: milk, lunch meat (if not able to use meats from dinners), cereal bars (the kind with fruit in the middle, haven't attempted to make them homemade yet) and any household item that I run out of and don't have a stock pile for. My local Kroger is having a meat sale this week. I MIGHT and I mean MIGHT be purchasing some meat items if I think I can get them for bottom dollar, if not, not buying it. Our meals this week and next will be Pantry and Freezer Meals. Not only will this use what I already have, but I can make room for more stocking and biggest of all, SAVE MONEY!! Who doesn't like to save money?  I know I do! 

I hope you are enjoying this blog and any feedback will be greatly appreciated! 

BTW, you can still get the TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE deal at TARGET. I purchased mine for a grand total of $5.24!! It was a $40.99 DVD/BLUE RAY Combo!! Who got a good deal?? Yep, that's me!!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~