Tis the Season To Be....Trusting....God!

This is my little Christmas corner that makes me smile....I've been very frustrated with my walls lately - they need a "treatment" and we haven't had the money to do it. This pic doesn't show how bad they are. Most of the walls have white sheetrock mud all over them, trying to fill in and mask what the previous owners were trying to do. The "sewing table" was $5 at a yard sale. I have plans for it - later. The old door was $5 at a yard sale. I took all the paint off with lye. That will be explained later. I had 2 doors and turned the other into a headboard. The window was $1 at a yard sale. It too will have another home when I get it figured out....So I just took some of my shabby stuff and put it all together and I like it! :)
On another note....trusting God....We are at a place where God has to do a miracle in our finances. Hubby was off work for one week, with more to come. No paycheck for that week because you have to claim your "waiting week" with the unemployment dept and they don't pay for the waiting week. I remember a couple weeks ago I figured out how much the next cycle of bills was going to be and even with a regular paycheck we couldn't cover them. NOW, we have less than that because of not working! All these questions go through my mind....Will God provide? Will I be able to cover the utility bills? Does He care? Will he provide like I think? Will I be able to pay the whole electric bill or just enough to get by? Because when I think about how BIG my God is, I think that the money should be there to pay all the bills ON TIME. That is my version of "provision". Just being real here guys. My faith is little. But I want to report back next week and be able to say "My God is Big - He gave us over and above what we asked/needed." As Jesse Duplantis says "My God is Not Enough, He's Too Much!" I'll keep you posted on my faith journey. And I'm gonna be honest!

Pumpkin Bars W/ Cream Cheese Frosting

PUMPKIN BARS W/ CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
(It's like what chocolate is to peanut butter!)

2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
2 tsp bkg powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c sugar
4 eggs well beaten
2 c pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c oil

Beat eggs, add pumpkin, cinnamon, oil and vanilla. Mix well. Add the rest of dry ingredients. Combine.
Cut wax paper to fit the bottom of a 10x15 pan (I call this a jelly roll pan). Pour batter into pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min. Cool. Frost and cut into bars.
*There is a bigger pan out there that is more common than 10x15 - I think it's 11x17. I'm sure this would work, just adjust your baking time. There is plenty of frosting with this recipe so don't worry about not having enough for the larger pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 box (1#) powdered sugar
Cream the cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until soft and creamy.

For more great recipes go to Grocery Cart Challenge!

I Never Knew

I just had to share....I took some snapshots with my little guy on the fly the other day and ended up with a good one! I must admit....I look at photos of really good photograpers to get ideas! Shhhh. I also have another secret. I tear up when I talk about him. Why? I don't know. I'm not an emotional person. But everytime I share a story or a funny moment - my eyes water. I guess he's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me! And he brings a smile to my face everyday. I never knew this kind of love until I had a child.

Menu Plan Monday

I feel like my meals have been on the "fly" lately. Plus - I am tired of all my 'usuals'. So I spent some extra time planning this week and visiting my new favorite recipe site. I only plan for dinners. I don't plan which day I will have what - I just wing it - it depends on what's going on for the day and what's quick if we are busy and so on....I'm also crockpotting a bunch of chicken because I know it's on sale at Safeway this week for 99 cents a lb. So here's what's cooking this week in no particular order!

Pork Pulled Sandwiches

Chimichangas Blancas

Steak Inspired Slow-Cooked Beef , Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans

Beef Stroganoff (with leftover Beef)

Chicken Tetrazinni

Hobo Bags (with leftover chicken or beef)

Pizza (Maybe Chicken Ranch Pizza with leftover chicken?)

For more great ideas visit here.

My Claim to Fame

Ok, so maybe it's not Hollywood but maybe it's "BloggyWood"!
My sister and I have been following Gail at Grocery Cart Challenge for awhile now and have been inspired to "Eat for Less"! We happen to live in the general vicinity of Gail and wouldn't you know it.....she actually is a real person! We saw her twice in one day, I almost felt like a stalker! We do our grocery shopping on Mondays (just like Gail) and also frequent the same liquidators. So as we're pulling in to SNS Liquidators my sister says "Gail shops on Mondays, maybe we'll see her!" TeeHee! There was a green volvo in the parking lot and I remember reading that she drove a volvo. I promptly forgot about it as we went in. We grab our carts and start perusing the "aisles" and Sara says "There she is! Did you see her? She's at the checkout! I almost didn't recognize her b/c her hair is longer and not as curly as her picture" I'd like to tell you now that I was brave and outgoing and went and introduced myself as her stalker - but I didn't. I just peeked around the shelving non chalantly (is that spelled correctly?) and gave the checkout a looksee.....and then in a whisper "Yes I saw her!" Aren't we silly. THEN we went to WinCo and I saw her heading to the checkstands and I started running from the end of the front area trying to catch her "Gail, Gail! I read your blog everyday, what are you buying can I look in your cart, How much did you spend today?! Can I get your autograph?" OK, that last sentence was a lie. But then I found my sister and she said "Did you see Gail? I was really close to her cart, she left it unattended with her purse and her shopping list!" No Way I said.
By the way, I made Taco Casserole tonight, just like Gail. Do you think I'm a threat? ;)

Projects!

Ok, so how many projects do you have going?!? It seems that I'm not getting very many of mine done....not to mention this blog....I think about things to write all the time, but most times I'd rather go to bed....but tonight it's 11:30pm and I'm waiting for bread to rise! AAAkkkkk! So I started a list...I add things to it as I think of them...and sometimes I just put things on it that I've already done just so I can cross it off the list! That way when I have a few minutes I just look at my list and see what I can fit into my open time frame. Otherwise I just dink around and try to remember all the things that need done.....Here a few of my ongoing projects.....




This is a burp rag I made for a friend of mine...I want to make more to have on hand for baby showers, very reasonable to make and they don't take much time, unless it's your first one, and it took me about 6 weeks! No joke. The second one took about 45 minutes!

Well, lo and behold - I haven't downloaded the rest of my project pics but I will tell you they include: Turning an old dresser into a sink for my bathroom. Stripping the paint off of 2 old doors and making them into headboards. Oh and a house that is a project all it's own. That's all for now, must check on the bread and get some much coveted sleep.....

Home Sweet Home!

Well I'm finally getting around to posting pics of our house. This pic makes it look so clean and inviting....when in all actuality it looks like a construction zone outside and in! We are first time home buyers and if you don't know it - you can get $8000 from the government for purchasing a home this year. I've amended our '08 taxes and I'm waiting on the check, which we will use for a kitchen and paying off bills.
So - lets enjoy the tour....I'll try and update as I make changes...alot of painting has already happened and I don't have photos of that yet. I'm having problems getting this pics to post where I want them to....bear with me. That picture is my kitchen...SCARY! If anyone knows of a contest I can enter for the worst kitchen just let me know! More to come....a 3 yr old wants me to sit with him while he watches Nemo.....

Machine Free EASY Chocolate Ice-Cream

This is seriously so good.....better plan to make a double batch! I've been hearing lately how bad store bought ice-cream is for you - with all the chemicals and ingredients you've never heard of. I don't have an ice-cream maker yet (haven't found one at a yard sale!) so this recipe was perfect! I discovered it in a local paper, but it originally came from Cook's Country magazine June/July issue.


MACHINE FREE EASY CHOCOLATE ICE-CREAM

1 tsp instant coffee
1 Tbsp hot water
4 oz bittersweet chocolate pieces, chopped fine
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
1 1/4 cup cold whipping cream

Combine instant coffee and hot water in a small bowl. Let stand until coffee dissolves, about 5 minutes. Microwave chocolate pieces, sweetened condensed milk and coffee mixture in bowl, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted, about 1 minute. Stir in vanilla and salt. Let cool.

With electric mixer on med-hi speed, whip cream to soft peaks, about 2 minutes. Whisk a third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream into chocolate mixture until incorporated. Freeze in airtight container until firm, at least 6 hours. If you don't plan to eat this all right away (trust me you won't have this problem!) then lay plastic wrap over the surface to keep better in the freezer.

**NOTES**
I used dark chocolate chips (bag said 60% cacao).
You can omit or reduce the coffee granules, but honestly you don't taste the coffee, it just gives the flavor some depth.

This is soooooo good, did I mention that already?

For more great recipes check out Friday Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge!

Lunch Making Made Easy

Well I don't know about you but I dread making lunches for my husband every night....it's the end of my day, it feels like I'm preparing another meal, the 4th one of the day....I'm tired, I just want to go to bed....sound familiar?
I've come up with a simple solution to make it a little quicker - here is the door on the inside of my refridgerator:



My current fridge has these removable trays on the door - I put all my lunch making items in that tray and just take it out when I'm ready to make sandwiches. Now if you don't have a fridge like this simply use a storage container that's easy to get in and out of your fridge and put all your necessary items in the container. You save time on both ends, picking out your necessary items and putting them all away! It works for me!

For more great links and tips check out Works For Me Wednesday.

Savin' a dime...Out on the line!

So this is my pulley clothesline that my hubby made for me. We just bought this house and it's one of the first things I had him do for me. It took a couple weeks to break it in because everytime I had laundry to hang outside, the neighbor was burning brush....smoke and clean laundry don't mix....well unless of course you're camping! *lol* I've discovered a few things as I've been doing it:
1. Don't use clothespins on your towels. Just hang them over the line in half. The pins make them hang funny and then when you fold them they aren't neat looking. I know, I know who likes crunchy towels? Washcloths are no matter b/c you just get them wet to use them anyway. But you'll get over the crunchy towel thing....trust me. And did you know towels take the longest to dry in the dryer of anything? Especially if you have big thick ones like I do. (Wonderful wedding gifts!)
2. I clothespin the jeans to the line by hanging them upside down - clothespinning the hem to the line. Most of the t-shirts I also pin at the hem.
3. I "dry" a few minutes in the dryer before I hang them on the line. This takes out the "spun" look from the washer.
4. Sheets I also hang over the line at the halfway point instead of using clothespins. Ohhhh....nothing better than freshly washed sheets, hung outside and then sprayed with homemade Linen Spray as you put them back on your bed.
5. I'm wondering if I keep doing this if my clothes will fade? My grandma once told me that the sun would help get out stains on your clothing. I think it's true for some stains.

Happy Laundering!

Super Summer Seafood Salad!

This is a summer staple in our house. My husband tells me he could eat this all week...so I guess it's a keeper!

Seafood Pasta Salad

1 box pasta, prepared according to directions
1 small package of imitation seafood (usually found in the meat case at your grocer)
1 cup sour cream (I use light)
1 cup mayonnaise (I use light)
2 tsp Pampered Chef Dill Mix
2 T Lemon juice
1 T sugar
Salt n Pepper to taste
celery, diced (optional and put whatever amount you like)

Mix sour cream, mayo, dill mix, lemon juice and sugar all together and stir into your drained pasta, cut up imitation seafood and celery if you wish. You could even put peas in it.
This "recipe" is forgiving. Usually I don't measure anything. I've found my favorite pasta to use is tri-color radiatore (did I spell that right? It's curly with ridges). Tonight I did bow-tie. The P'Chef Dill mix is a combination of dill weed, dehydrated onion & garlic, herbs and other spices. It looks like there is a tiny amount of celery seed in there. When it runs out I have to figure out how to mix my own because it's expensive! And if you like a more saucy salad, just add more mayo/sour cream. I have also used only 1/2 the package of imitation seafood and hubby doesn't know the difference. So then I can make 2 salads!

This recipe is part of Recipe Swap over at Grocery Cart Challenge. Go take a look and get some new ideas for next weeks menu!

Urn 'O Lettuce!

Well, my first post in awhile....we've been in the midst of buying a house, moving and painting, paining, painting! More on that later!
I'm not going to stress about trying to get a garden in at our new house so I had planted this lettuce early on in one of my urns. And last night we were able to enjoy fresh salad! It was yummy and definately better tasting. You can't see it in this picture but this lettuce has extra fiber....my husband was using his saw today and when I went out to take the picture there was sawdust all over my salad! Oh Well, who doesn't need a little extra fiber!

Saving On Groceries

Saving On Groceries!

My sister and I recently held a class at our church for menu planning and how to stretch your grocery dollar....in preparation for this she went to Safeway with the list of things she had boughten on her last shopping trip at WinCo and one of our local liquidator stores.  Unbelievable!  You won't believe the savings!  So check out her Grocery Savings!

Apple Topped Baked Beans

Well the sun is out in the PNW today - I don't think the weather man called for it but it sure is a welcome surprise.  And after 6 long weeks of waiting....we finally got the keys to our first home!

I'll post pics as soon as we're in and you can watch my remodeling project on a budget.....

Here's a recipe that's been in the family for a long time and it's usually on the summer camping or bbq get togethers list....

Apple Topped Baked Beans

1 28oz can of Baked Beans  (I usually use Bush's)

1 lg apple, shredded

1 T butter

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 slices bacon, diced and partially cooked

Place beans in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with shredded apple, dot with butter, sprinkle brown sugar, top with bacon pieces.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

(I think I usually just dump it all in the dish and mix it up....and it turns out great!)

Check out more great recipes at the Grocery Cart Challenge!

Spring Fling Cake

Well, spring hasn't quite sprung here in the Pacific Northwest....so here's a special occasion (or not!) yummy cake to brighten a rainy day!

SPRING FLING CAKE

1 yellow cake mix
1 11oz can mandarin oranges (including juice)
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
Combine ingredients with mixer. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9" cake pans. (Tip: Liberally grease and flour!)
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes
Chill and frost. (Cut each layer in half if you want a 4 layer cake)

FROSTING RECIPE:
2 large cans drained crushed pineapple
2 sm boxes instant vanilla pudding
2 9 oz Cool Whip
Mix dry pudding with drained pineapple. Fold in cool whip.
Frost chilled cake. Keep Refrigerated.


For more great recipes check out the Recipe Swap at Grocery Cart Challenge!

"Mama, Meat Ball"

I've been having trouble getting my almost 3 yr old to eat dinner.....so if he chooses not to eat on any given night - I just let it go and I guess he'll tell me if he's hungry. That is if he can convey it to me in a 2 word "sentence"! For the longest time he's talked only in colors and numbers. He's just now putting 2 or 3 words together. Now that's progress! I put him to bed tonight around 9pm. I forgot to check on the hunger issue before putting him down. After about 15 minutes I hear this little voice from the bedroom...."Mama." Just a minute T..... "Mama"....... What T? "Mama, MeatBall" Funny child. So - 9:15 and I let him get up so he can eat some meatballs....which by the way wasn't what we had for dinner! But I admit at this point that if meatballs is what he'll eat then meatballs I'll make. But only because he's 3 mind you!

Seafood Chowder

I'm always looking for ways to cut corners or eliminate steps so when I find recipes that do just that I hang on to them! This is one of my favorites and it's been on my menu plan for weeks but I haven't been able to find seafood at a great price!

SEAFOOD CHOWDER

1/2 c chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 T olive oil
1 can Cream of Celery Soup
1 1/2 c milk
1 T snipped fresh basil or 1 t dried
1/4 t pepper
1 # fresh or frozen seafood - your choice
1/4 c white wine
In a large saucepan saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until tender, not brown.
Add the Soup, milk, basil and pepper and heat until bubbly.
Add the seafood and return to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3-5 min or until seafood turns opaque. Stir in wine, heat through.
I've used scallops, shrimp, tilapia, cod - They were all yummy! It can easily be doubled and I've also made it without the wine, still good!

Be sure to check out Gayle's Recipe Swap for more great recipes!

Bourbon Glazed Salmon

Well, fishing season is open for a very limited time....wishing my hubs would bring home a fish. This recipe is the only way I make salmon or steelhead now. It's the best I've tried! Be sure and check out other great recipe ideas for next weeks menu at Grocery Cart Challenge!

Bourbon Glazed Salmon

1 cup brown sugar
6T bourbon
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
2T fresh lime juice
2t grated fresh ginger
1/2 t salt
1/4 t fresh ground pepper
2 garlic cloves minced
Combine ingredients in ziploc bag with salmon.
Marinate for 30 minutes
Remove fish and discard marinade.
Place salmon on a broiler pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Broil 11 min or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork.
optional: sprinkle each fillet with 1/2 t sesame seeds and 1 T green onions.

Get Well Soon!

"Get Well Soon" Works For Me!
Well, so far I have not got the creepin crud this winter. I usually get it once a year. Two years ago it lasted for over 3 months, that irritating cough...plugged ears....you know what I'm talking about! Last year it didn't hang on for near as long, thank goodness. But this year everyone around me has had it - even those in my immediate household. The only thing I have done differently is my "Get Well Soon" Vitamins from Arbonne International. I have my own account with them to get a discount. It's not sold in stores - so here are a couple of options on how you can get it:

1. Contact someone near you who sells the product.
2. Leave a comment with your first/last name and email address and I can generate a registration code for you and for $15 you can sign up for your own account and get 20% off for one year.

Be sure to check out www.wearethatfamily.com for hundreds of ideas that work for others! It's great reading!

Menu Plan Monday

Meals For March 1-7

I always make a list of 6 or 7 meals and then choose from the list throughout the week. Tonight is easy night b/c my house is a mess and I need a nap. :) My kitchen is smaller than some RV kitchens....so even a few dirty dishes takes up all my counter space!

Dinners:
Costco Meatballs/Stroganoff
Firecracker Chile & Cornbread Muffins (Best Chile I have ever had!)
(Chile Recipe in Among Friends Cookbook - Heart & Soul)
Savory Sweet Roast/Potatoes (Roast Recipe from Fix-It and Forget It pg 97)
Sticky Chicken
Homemade Pizza
Fajitas from leftover Roast
Enchiladas from leftover chicken

Snacks/Quick Breakfasts
Bran Muffins
Granola Bars
Monster Cookies
Honey Grain Bread for lunches (Oster Bread Machine Manual/Recipes)

Check out more great recipe links and menu plans at Organizing Junkie! Get Inspired!

Nothing Is Worth More Than This Moment

I've had several of these "moments" lately....moments that I wouldn't give up for anything in the world. I was always a firm believer that a child sleeps in his own bed...no matter what! And when my little guy was a baby,he never slept with us. I just thought that it was better for everyone to be in their own beds. That is until my baby became a toddler who could melt my heart when I walked into his room and he's whimpering "mama, dada" - which I know to mean he wants to sleep in mama and dada's bed. How can you say no to that little person with these alligator tears coming down....And so, we give in at times, mostly on weekends when hubs doesn't have to get up early to go to work. The other night was one of those nights, we were not going to bed yet and so I was just laying down next to him for a little together time. (I've discovered he's a 'quality time' kid) I had been working more than my normal part time hours and I felt guilty that I hadn't had much time with him. So as we were laying there, one hand clutching his brown monkey and with the other he was running his finger up and down the bridge of my nose. It brought a smile to my face! What a precious time and nothing was worth more than that moment, not even the last 10 minutes of CSI that I missed! Cherish the little moments with your kids!

Easy Hamburger Quiche

I had my mom dig this one out this week...it was a recipe I remember us having - you know- 30 years ago. Could it really be that long ago?! I remember that I don't think I liked it very well! But I made it this week and actually enjoyed it, as did hubby.

EASY HAMBURGER QUICHE

1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/2 c milk
2 eggs
1 T cornstarch
1 1/2 c grated cheese
1/3 c green onions
chopped green pepper (optional - to your liking)
9" Unbaked pie shell

Brown meat, drain and set aside.
Blend next 4 ingredients until smooth.
Stir in meat, cheese, gr. onions and gr. pepper.
Pour into shell.
Bake at 350 degrees
35-40 min.

Notes:
I think I ended up having a little more burger - so I added an extra egg. I'm not a green onion or green pepper fan so I left those out. It was still yummy!

Check out more great recipes at Grocery Cart Challenge!

Feb 15-21 Shopping Trip

I didn't have any pics of my groceries - so I thought this one I found online was funny! "Bent & Dent Discount Groceries". We have a local Liquidator that we call "Scratch N Dent"!

I just want to put a plug in for Gayle at Grocery Cart Challenge....love the recipe swap on Fridays. I usually find 2 or 3 new things to try for the following week's menu.
Here are my shopping results for this week:

Prospector Liquidators:
3 boxes pasta (I keep pasta stocked so I don't have to pay full price at my local Safeway!)
mayo (only .99!)
TOTAL: 4.26


WinCo:
Parsley
Crisp Rice Cereal Bulk
4 Yogurt
18ct eggs
Fiber One Pop Tarts (only .50 after coupon)
Lunch Meat
Strawberries
Pint Sour Cream (Coupon)
Yukon Potatoes
2 Radish
Cous Cous Bulk
Brown Rice Bulk
Pine Nuts Bulk (yikes...$2.20 for a handful!)
Flour Bulk
Cucumber
3 Limes
Flavored Creamer (coupon)
Evap Milk
Cottage Cheese
Total: 28.92
Funny Story Here....I got a clerk who was obviously new - a young man who was probably still a teenager. What was my first clue? He rang up my bulk crisp rice as "Disney Tinkerbell". My second clue? When he came to the radishes he said "What were these called?" My third clue? A few days later looking at my receipt I realized he rang up my English Cucumber as a regular cucumber.

Safeway: Is the only store in my town....I rarely shop there except for coupon items or "lost leaders"
Coupon Items:
Brownie Mix .69!
5# Sugar 1.69 (cheaper than buying bulk)
Marshmallows (How long has it been since you made rice crispy treats!)
Big Bag Shredded Cheese 4.99!
Bread 1.59
2 Family Paks Hamburger (Raincheck item at 1.29lb!)
Fuji Apples .50lb!
Craisins .99
Total: 23.14

Fred Meyer: (They run the milk & oj at 1.00 each every 2-3 weeks. I stock up!)
1/2 gal milk 1.00
1/2 gal OJ 1.00
Total: 2.00

GRAND TOTAL 58.32

Dinner Choices this week:
-Costco Meatball Stroganoff-
-Hamburgers
-Hamburger Quiche (Will be posting Friday for Recipe Swap!)
-Tacos
-Cabo Chicken & Zuchinni
-Mexican Lasagna
-Homemade Pizza

Recipe Swap

Buttered Breadsticks

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
Melt 1 cube of butter in a 13x9 pan. (I use 1/2 cube )

Combine and let sit:
1 1/2 c warm water
2T Sugar
1T Yeast

In another bowl combine:
3 cups flour
1/2 t salt

Add wet ingredients to the dry. Mix well. (I use my kitchen aid mixer)
Knead on well floured surface for 3 min. (Again I use my kitchen aid, the dough tends to be wetter when you are not flouring and kneading by hand so I add more flour when I'm rolling it out.)
Let rest for 10 min.
Roll out on a floured surface 1/2" thick in a 13x9 rectangle.
Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 1" strips, place in pan with the melted butter. Coat both sides of strip with butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese - to your liking!
Rise for 10 min
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 min

This feeds 4 piggies. :) It would feed more if you have more self control than we do! You just can't stop at one!
Sorry no pics today
Be sure to check out more great recipes at the Grocery Cart Challenge!

Indoor Snow Project

Here's a fun idea for your little ones - when it's too cold to play outside in the snow....bring the snow indoors! Scoop up some snow, bring it inside and place it in a jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides) to contain the water when it starts to melt and then get out all your loose potato head parts and build your "indoor snowman"! Fun for kids and adults alike!
Click HERE to be linked to Rocks In My Dryer for hundreds of ideas, I'm sure you will find an idea or a project you can use today! I did!

Feb 8-14 Shopping & Menu

weekly shopping trip
& menu plan

This was not a normal week, our weekend plans took us near Costco so I stocked up on things I like to keep on hand. And I didn't get to my favorite liquidators, just WinCo. Of course my husband was at Costco with me and he had some special requests that don't always fit in the budget. :) I always get meatballs there - They are 12.99 and I get 4 meals out of it. Also, I got whole wheat tortillas there for 4.95 - same price as the regular ones. 40 in the package! You can't beat that price.

WINCO:
Plastic Wrap 1.57
1#Roast Beef for lunches 4.02
Lasagna Noodles 1.49
WW Mini Bagels 1.88
2 BB Yogurt .74
Salsa 2.76
Sour Cream .98
Frozen Green Bean .88
Frozen Corn .88
Bulk Flour 1.77
Cauliflower .98
Strawberries 2.98
Bulk Sugar 3# 1.61
1 oz cinnamon .18
Powdered milk bulk 1.38
Bulk oatmeal .73
Alfalfa Sprouts 1.48
Butter 1.98
Zuchinni 1.06
Pizza Sauce 1.19
Enchilada Sauce .57
Dark Choc Chips 1.64
Total : 32.87

Dinners for this week are:
Chicken & Dumplings
Homemade Pizza (a good way to diguise leftovers!)
Crockpot Lasagna
Chicken Enchiladas (also a good way to use up stuff in fridge)
Something with Elk Steak (Haven't searched for recipe yet)
Fajitas
Olive Garden Soup (dinner for couple who had a baby)
Valentines Day - maybe dinner out?

Today I crockpotted (is that a word?) a package of bone in chicken breasts that I got for 99 cents a pound a few weeks ago at Fred Meyer. This will go for my Dumplings, enchiladas and added to the soup possibly, if not the soup then the fajitas. No time for recipe links this week....maybe next week.
Be sure to check out how Gayle spent her grocery $$ this week at Grocery Cart Challenge.

For Sale: Potty Chair

POTTY CHAIR FOR SALE

Never Been Used!

Well it's not really for sale, because I'm clinging to the hope that one day he will use it! I must confess....I bought this silly thing when my little guy was 18mos old...those of you who have boys - go ahead and let out a big belly laugh! He is now almost 3 and has never used it. He won't even sit on it for fun. I wanted to be so prepared and I even bought a potty book....to no avail. And since we're talking confessions here - oh the thoughts that ran through my head when I'd ask my girfriends how old their boys were when they got out of diapers.....3.....half past 3.....I would put on the unshockable face and think, "Oh yah right, you won't catch my kid in diapers after 2!" LOL! You should have seen the inside of my head when my girlfriend told me she gave her kids marshmallows for going potty! No Way! Well little does he know I'd give him a king size candy bar and all the brown milk (translation: choc milk) he wants if only he'd just sit on the potty!

Kahlua Cake

I just made this tonight....my little boy wanted to make a cake....he loves to help in the kitchen. This recipe is a one-bowl quick dessert that everyone will want the recipe for! I usually make it a day ahead because it tastes even better the 2nd day!

Kahlua Cake
1 Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
1 small box Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 12 oz pkg Chocolate Chips
1 pint Sour Cream
2 Eggs
1/4 c. Oil
1/2 c. Kahlua
Mix all ingredients by hand just until moistened. It will be very thick. Spoon into greased/floured bundt cake pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Do Not Overbake!

Tonight I didn't have vanilla pudding on hand so I used Chocolate. I use whatever chips I have on hand - dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate. I usually use lite sour cream. Any kind of chocolate cake mix also works fine. It's even more heavenly if you frost it with a Basic Ganache!

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What's In A Name?

Quite a few years ago I was eating at ChickFilA and had ordered a chicken sandwich (do they even sell anything else?). I took the top bun off to remove the pickles...and there on top of the grilled chicken was a pickle with a perfect heart cut out of the middle. I thought one day I'd find my soulmate and he would have the missing heart from my pickle. Many, many years later I married (at the ripe old age of 35!) and I have the most fun little boy. What a joy to go about my normal routine during the day and find things in the oddest places. It brought a smile to my face when I opened the fridge one day and there, next to the milk was my shoe - with a pickle in it. This blog is dedicated to my little guy, for the blessing that he is and the joy he brings to my life! So if you find pickles in your shoe, erasers in your dryer and sharpies in your washer, consider yourself blessed!