Drinks Anybody?

I have been posting what we eat but what about drinks....Well for the most part we drink H20.

• Water. Sometimes we add crystal lite for a treat. 

• I also like coconut water a couple of times a week.

•  Occasionally  pick up a gourmet soda as a treat and we share it.

•  Some mornings we have Ovaltine, I will have to  do a post on that....

Groundhog Day

Wed and Thurs was like a repeat of Tuesday, but that's part of a pantry challenge. 

Menu for wedensday:

BF-Pumpkin muffins

Lunch:
Caitlyn had Tuna patsa before going to the babysitters house.
I made a hummus sandwich = whole wheat bread spring mix & hummus!

Then we headed off into the big world Missy got to play with her friends at the babysitters and I got to get some stuff done. After I picked her we headed over to Target to look at school supplies. They had sharpeners for .20 and those big pink erasers. Pencils for .50 and Comp books for .40 ... not bad. I may have been talked in to some squinkies but I plead the 5th on that one.

While we where at Target, My friend Joanna called and invited us to pizza, so we had to go. Its a fun little place with games for the kids (not the dreaded mouse place, trust me I do my best not to step foot in to that place!)

Thursday was an off day, we started with muffins again (don't worry we are almost out of them) I made another egg dish for lunch, the thing I like about eggs is you can eat them often and they can taste different all the time. Today I made them with sauteed broccoli and mushrooms and topped with some Pepper Jack cheese. We had seedless watermelon on the side. TJs has a great price on them 3.50!
Missy had tuna pasta salad and broccoli salad with some peanut dressing.

When we reconvened for Dinner we were blessed enough to be taken out for Five Guys, they have some of the best burgers and fries!!!

I have pictures!!!

Tuesday went well, I cooked all of our meals at home from Items we have had on hand, for those of you not familiar with "A Pantry Challenge" Here is a link. Read it after you finish this post ;)

To begin BF, we had eggs, I bought 3 dozen at the 99cent store. I used eggs, mushrooms, salsa, s+p, a little olive oil and Monterrey jack cheese. ( no mushrooms in caitlyn's eggs) 

 Doesn't look so pretty but it tasted great!
 Served with peaches.

 Lunch/Dinner
I ended up making a 2 for 1,  Pasta salad w/ tuna & peas.

 It's yummy but more for a child's taste. Caitlyn

 There was plenty for lunch, dinner and leftovers.

I made a pumpkin cupcakes/muffins for snacks, it came out to about 20 cupcakes/muffins.
Just a box of cake mix, a can of pumpkin. (ps don't tell I added chocolate chips)

 

We had some for  BF this Morning ;)

I'm thinking of making a roast, maybe Thursday or Friday. We'll see....

Am I too late...The pantry challenge, Summer 2011

Well I have been meaning to do a pantry challenge for sometime now and today is the day!

• How many days do you think we can last... Are there any exceptions ie: eggs, bread or milk, or do you think it going to the store breaks the challenge?

• I will list what we had along with a pic and The ingredients used.

Here's what we had today:(I didn't take any pics but I will from this point forward.)

Day 1 - we got a late start today. 

For our Breakfast Lunch: Left over Spaghetti, its so yummy the next day! I used WH pasta and an organic sauce from Fresh and Easy, w/ 1/3 lb of ground turkey. 

Late Midday: Smoothie  3 cups soymilk, 1 frozen banana, cocoa powder (eyeballed) 1 pack truvia, mix all in blender.  serves 2

Dinner: Omelette 2 egg whites & 1 whole egg 1/2 cup sauteed mushrooms and a little mozzarella + salsa. Plus a few salt free chips with salsa.

Since I didn't take any pics today, here are some other dishes I have made in the past to get you in food mood! 

mmm Turkey

Farmers Market Goodies

Salmon w/ wh pasta and broccoli

Cooking With Coupons! Dinner for 7 -Grand Total $2.58

Dinner Tonight: Barilla Piccolini w/ sauce

To begin let me break down what I used and how much I paid.
(All of the prices are after sales and coupons)

• 1 box Barila Piccolini   .33 (on sale for $1ea bought w/ $2off 3 boxes coupon)
• 1 jar Ragu  (I used tomato & garlic, but you could use any flavor) $1.00 ($1ea when you buy 6)
• 1/2 of a sausage $1.00 (I paid $2.00 but only used half.) (on sale 2 for $4.00)
• 1/4 of a bag of Kraft shredded Monterey Jack .25 (cost .98 but used 1/4) (on sale 1.98 used coupon $5 off when you buy 5)

This is so easy a child could make it, well almost, we don't want any children near boiling water!
Total time: 20 mins, if that!

• Make pasta according to directions = 7 mins cooking time
• While pasta is cooking:
• Cut 1/2 of the sausgae into bite size pieces (freeze the rest)cook for 1-2 mins in the microwave 
• In a large glass bowl pour in Ragu (or any sauce) add cooked sausage and put in microwave for 1 to 3 mins
• Add in half of the pasta and the cheese then the rest of the pasta and stir. 
• Serve with a little Cheese on top (just enough to look pretty)

Tastes even better than it looks...

Nutrition Facts
7 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		434.3
Total Fat		15.6 g
	Saturated Fat	6.0 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		22.9 mg
Sodium		788.6 mg
Potassium		0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate		60.3 g
	Dietary Fiber	4.9 g
	Sugars	10.0 g
Protein		15.4 g

Vitamin A	10.3 %
Vitamin B-12	0.0 %
Vitamin B-6	0.0 %
Vitamin C	5.1 %
Vitamin D	0.0 %
Vitamin E	0.0 %
Calcium	9.1 %
Copper	0.0 %
Folate	34.3 %
Iron	16.6 %
Magnesium	0.0 %
Manganese	0.0 %
Niacin	17.1 %
Pantothenic Acid	0.0 %
Phosphorus	0.0 %
Riboflavin	17.1 %
Selenium	0.0 %
Thiamin	40.0 %
Zinc	0.0 %

Recipe Calculator *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Nutrition Facts

  7 Servings

Amount Per Serving

  Calories

434.3

  Total Fat

15.6 g

   

  Saturated Fat

6.0 g

   

  Polyunsaturated Fat

0.0 g

   

  Monounsaturated Fat

0.0 g

  Cholesterol

22.9 mg

  Sodium

788.6 mg

  Potassium

0.0 mg

  Total Carbohydrate

60.3 g

   

  Dietary Fiber

4.9 g

   

  Sugars

10.0 g

  Protein

15.4 g

  Vitamin A

10.3 %

  Vitamin B-12

0.0 %

  Vitamin B-6

0.0 %

  Vitamin C

5.1 %

  Vitamin D

0.0 %

  Vitamin E

0.0 %

  Calcium

9.1 %

  Copper

0.0 %

  Folate

34.3 %

  Iron

16.6 %

  Magnesium

0.0 %

  Manganese

0.0 %

  Niacin

17.1 %

  Pantothenic Acid    

0.0 %

  Phosphorus    

0.0 %

  Riboflavin

17.1 %

  Selenium

0.0 %

  Thiamin

40.0 %

  Zinc

0.0 %

Recipe Calculator

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Rolling with Safeway

$5.80+.39 in tax

I was able to purchase everything in the picture above for only, 5.80+.39 in tax. 

This is how it all went down... I was shopping for some other deals in Safeway and the shopper in front of me purchased about 150.00 dollars in groceries and a bunch of Catalinas printed out. (Catalina's are the coupons that print out with your receipt.) Well, she just left them on the counter, so of course, I picked them up and looked through them. 

One of the was a $2.00 of 3 boxes of Barilla Piccolini , knowing that it was on sale for $1.00 a box I went and picked up 3 boxes and got back line, where I then paid $1.00 for 3 boxes, then what do you think happened, the same coupon printed out! 

 

I had to leave but decided to go back before the sale was over. Back at home I read over the rest of the coupons and one offer was buy 4 Hallmark Cards and you will receive a 3.00 Catalina good on your next purchase and one was 1.00 off 3 jars of baby food.(Chrissy's cats like to eat these. I know. )

I went back today and that is where the rolling comes in at I bought 4 of the Hallmark cards for .99 ea (4.35) and the Catalina did not print out, so I showed the cashier the coupon and she handed me the 3.00 in cash!

Then I put the 3 boxes of Barilla and 3 jars of Baby food (.59 ea) on the counter along with the $2/3 boxes coupon and $1/3 baby food coupon, and paid $1.77 (from the 3 she just handed me). Well another $2/3 coupon printed out , I had planned for this so , I took 3 more boxes out of my basket and along with the coupon and paid $1.00, you know what happend next, another coupon ....LOL so I put 3 more boxes up and paid $1.00. 

Well that was the end of that, no more coupons printed out, so I am guessing 4 is the limit.

If you are going to try this be sure to start out by purchasing 3 boxes of "Barilla piccolini " and dont forget to use your Safeway card. The sale on the pasta ends today.

Sweet Potato Pies

I am making my family's sweet potato pies, growing up my Dad would make them from his Dads recipe and as I got older, he would have me call my Grandfather in Philly and get the recipe, each year. We could have written it down, but that was part of the tradition. I just have to make them each year. Today I made 4! I am including the recipe below:

2 cups mash sweet potatoes
4oz melted butter
5 oz evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 eggs beaten
11/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp nutmeg

mix in a bowl and transfer to a blender to make smoooth. (Back in the day, they didn't have blenders and when I grew up we used a hand-held mixer, which gives it a more authentic texture)

pour into 2 9 in pie shells

bake at 350 for 1 hour (cover the edges with foil so that they do not become too dark)

I will add a picture tomorrow!! Yum Yum , I will be dreaming about pies!!!

time flys + delicious smoothie

Time flys once you have kids, Chrissy turned 19 on Halloween, (but I am still 26) We took her to the Zoo as she loves the Zoo, We = Andrea, Zachy, Emily, Caitlyn and myself. We all had so much fun, the TIGERS were awake, Chrissy's favorite part. We had a wonderful lunch of Hummus, veggies, crackers, cheese,nuts, dried fruits and fresh fruits. It is so funny Andrea and I think so much alike that we brought the same foods and bought some of the same things for Chrissy for her Bday, Luckily she didn't mind as one of her repeat items was a large Toblerone bar!! score!!  Andrea even painted her car. You can see the pics on  face book. If I ever find the cord to my camera, I will upload lots of pics!!!

Caitlyn is doing great in school, she got her 1st report card and she did very well I am sure this is the 1st of many.

I cant remember what else I have been doing except looking for a job/career. Which ever comes 1st. In the meantime I been doing some of the SAHM things Like cooking from scratch and crafting, we had a all day craft day at church and I was lucky enough to be on the committee and teach a simple class. 

ok now for what you have been waiting for the smoothie...

1/2 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup greek yougurt
1 bannana
1 cup milk
1 cup rice milk
4 splendas
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup ice or less

blend and drink talk about yummy and healthy!!!!!

Taco Night Wins, Just Because!

We have not had taco night in forever, it was worth the wait!!! I used ground turkey, fat free sour cream and FF cheese, no one could tell the diff. We also had FF re-fried beans and brown rice. The brown rice was taking 4ever so we did not eat it , we will have to have it tomorrow.

I found this internet station where you can choose your genre, so I picked 80's Urban, It brings back memories, then we listened to 90's urban, and Chrissy remembers the songs from back then I use to let Chrissy listen to whatever I listened to (Hmmm, Mother of the year award)

Time out : Caitlyn is break-dancing to GrandMasterFlash .. LOL. See picture above.

Anyway this is the link to the site.

On sweet note: Yesterday, my girls played "go fish" in the car. It was nice to see them playing together.

Another reason I love Costco: We went to Smart and Final, Petco and WalMart, to buy cat food but no one could come close to their price. So you know where I need to go!

BTW, We have a cat in heat and she is getting on my last nerve!!!

Cheers!