Sunday Paper Coupons

I got the Sunday paper today and was disappointed that there was only one circular for coupons but it is suppose to be worth more than 130 dollars. Now I will be visiting http://couponmom.com to figure out my grocery and shopping lists for Walmart and Walgreens for my payday. I personally think that using coupons is very smart for saving money as well as being able to have additional funds for my savings account or paying off debt. If you are unsure about coupons you should totally check out couponmom.com she has e-books that teach you everything you need to know and how to get started and the best part of the entire process is that it is free. Once you get all the basics down it really is not that time consuming either. Have a Fabulous & Frugal day........

Save Money On Dry Cleaning

Here is how I save money on dry cleaning: Dryel~ visit their website and get 10 dollars worth of coupons. This is worth it... trust me. Have a Fabulous & Frugal day.

Zip it.
Add 1-4 garments to the Dryel Fabric Protection Bag. Bag should not be more than half-full to allow garments to tumble freely. Unfold Dryel cleaning cloth and add to bag. Zip the bag and then place in the dryer.

Steam it.
Tumble in dryer on medium heat for 30 minutes to activate the steam-cleaning environment, removing odors and protecting against shrinking, stretching & fading.

Wear it.
Clothes should be slightly damp when removing them from the bag. Promptly hang or wear clean and fresh garments to help wrinkles fall out. Throw away cleaning cloths after use, but save the Dryel Bag for next time. It is designed to last up to 25 loads.

Parmesan Halibut

Yummy Parmesan Halibut, this is a restaurant quality meal~ Have a Fabulous & Frugal day.

Parmesan Halibut

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 15min.
2 tsp. virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
1/8 tsp. oregano, or 1 tsp. fresh,
chopped salt and pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb. halibut steaks, about 1 inch thick
1 Tbs. parsley, chopped
Ingredients
Cooking Directions
Turn on broiler. Heat oil in a small heavy saucepan
over medium heat. Sauté garlic 3-4 minutes. Stir in
tomatoes, oregano and salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in
Parmesan cheese. Arrange halibut steaks on a
lightly oiled broiler pan. Brush top of steaks with
tomato mixture. Place halibut about 4 inches from
heat source, and broil 5-6 minutes. Turn halibut,
brush again with tomato sauce, and broil another
4-5 minutes, or until sh is opaque throughout.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Per Serving: calories 173, fat 6.4g, calories

Spring Cleaning with Baking Soda

Spring Cleaning? Save Money by Using Baking Soda

Submitted by: Kira @ Tip Hero 04/08/2010 1:40 PM

The time for spring cleaning is here, but before you go out and buy a bunch of cleaning products, take a look at the many projects you can accomplish with the help of baking soda.

Food Safe Surface Cleaning

Manage Microwave Mess

Deodorize Fridges and Freezers

Hand Washing Dishes and Pots and Pans

Clean Stainless Steel Sink without Scratching

Remove Scuff Marks on Floor

Clean Bathroom Floors

Shower Curtains

Deodorize Drains and Garbage Disposals

Head over to Curbly.com for details about the benefits of baking soda from Arm and Hammer.

Spring Cleaning With Baking Soda

Book Review // Bitches on a Budget

I am reading Bitches on a Budget by Rosalyn Hoffman. Chapter one is all about shopping for clothes and maintaing the clothes that you have. Chapter one is not for the faint of heart. If you are used to shopping at Neiman Marcus, the suggestion is to shop at Target... My thoughts are why shop at Target when you can get it at Goodwill. I am apparenly of a lower class than the book is aimed at.
Chapter two is all about grooming and maintaining your appearance. Chapter 2 is very usefull information for budget grooming tips. Chapter 3 is about staying healthy and excercising on a budget. The basic idea is to not pay gym membership fees, quit watching TV and get moving. Chapter 4 is home maintenance and decorating tips. My favorite tip was for de-cluttering your house (which I need to do) and for buying artwork from local artists. I am about 1/2 way through the book and I would recommend reading this book. It is funny and quirky and the information is very frugal and very good.
I am just starting on Chapter 5.... so I will finish this review when the book is finished.

Amish Breakfast Casserole

Amish Breakfast Casserole: Excellent for breakfast and also for left overs to pack in your lunch
Have a fabulous & frugal day


Prep Time:
15 MinCook Time:
35 MinReady In:
50 Min
Servings (Help)
US Metric Calculate
Original Recipe Yield 12 servings
Ingredients
1 pound sliced bacon, diced 1 medium sweet onion, chopped 6 eggs, lightly beaten 4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese 1 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese
Directions
In a large skillet, cook bacon and onion until bacon is crisp; drain. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; stir in bacon mixture. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until set and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Banana Bread

Today I will be making banana bread for an upcoming event....it will last in the freezer for about 3 months however, when I make banana bread it never lasts around here.

Banana Bread with Pecan Crunch Topping

Makes two loaves.

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
4 very ripe bananas, well mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cups milk (can use buttermilk)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups pecans, whole or chopped (optional)

Pecan Crunch Topping:
7 1/2 tablespoons butter
12 tablespoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup pecan pieces, chopped small (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans.

Cream the butter and sugar together.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl, then add to sugar mixture. Add mashed bananas, vanilla extract and buttermilk. Mix well.

Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to banana mixture. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Fold in pecans if using. Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool an hour or two before adding topping.

To prepare topping, melt butter in saucepan. Add sugar and milk, stirring constantly. Cook until syrupy. Remove syrup from heat and add chopped pecans. Pour syrup over bread and place the pans under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes until very bubbly, being careful not to burn the topping. Let cool completely before slicing.

NOTE: Walnuts may be substituted for pecans.

Coffee Grounds

It is almost garden time where I live and I truly look forward to planting my little garden every year~ I actually find gardening to be very theraputic. I get large bags of coffee grounds for free at my local Starbucks. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to your soil and the plants and flowers love it. Also it helps (I think) cutting down on waste for the landfill. You can just ask for the grounds at Starbucks and they are happy to give them to you for free. It is a win win situation. Have a fabulous & frugal day.

Today

I will be cleaning house and doing laundry. I have a sick one at home so will probably need to make some soup....please post ideas or topics that you would like to see on my blog. I appreciate all feedback especially being so new. Have a fabulous & frugal day!

Fabulous & Frugal Pantry

Fabulous & Frugal Pantry:

Cooking at home is less expensive than eating out or convenience food. By eating at home you will spend less and eat better. I work 40 to 50 hours per week outside of my home and spend roughly $350.00 per month on groceries. I feed 2 teenagers, 2 adults, 3 dogs and 1 cat. I live in a small town so I don’t have the choices for shopping that those in a metropolitan area would have. To make matters even more challenging, I only get paid once a month so for me to keep my pantry well stocked is an important part of keeping my sanity. I would tell you that I am organized but the truth of the matter is that I am not very organized, but I do try to plan ahead.

I don’t really have a meal plan or make menu’s but I do utilize what I have on hand in order to get dinner on the table every night. I stock up on items that are on sale. I make my own salsa, jelly, jam, asparagus and pears…I can them myself. I also have a small garden every summer. In the garden I grow my herbs. I love to cook and my family eats well. I take left-overs to work for my lunch because my food is better than jail food.

I make my own breakfast burritos, egg muffin sandwiches and freeze left overs for later use…especially the days where I am feeling lazy. I use my crock pot every week, and I also make home made soup when I clean out my refrigerator. I am going to show you how to eat and eat well for less.

I shop at the Dollar Store for spices, crackers, tea, spaghetti sauce, muffin mixes and cleaning supplies.

I shop at the Grocery Outlet for miscellaneous canned food and toiletries. I usually pick up canned fruit and vegetables, tomatoes, beans, rice, pasta, canned soups and lots of wine.

I shop the day old bread store for whole grain breads, bagels, English muffins, buns, and snack items for lunches.

I shop my local grocery store for the weekly advertised specials or loss leaders.

I buy the Sunday paper each week just for the coupons. Check out the website Couponmom.com. I match up coupons with the weekly advertized specials at Walgreens and Rite Aid and usually I can get out of the store with only spending between 20 and 50 dollars and will have anywhere from 80 to 160 dollars worth of products.

Lets go ahead and take a look at my pantry, freezer and refrigerator.

Canned Food (store bought)

Evaporated milk peaches pears pineapple
Mandarin oranges applesauce tuna chicken
Corn green beans peas mushrooms
Tomatoes- Rotel, diced, flavored garlic and Mexican style
Tomato sauce tomato paste Italian tomato paste
Kidney beans pinto beans black beans
Chili beans butter beans refried beans
Spaghetti sauce green chiles olives
Cream of mushroom soup cream of chicken soup
Tomato soup low calorie Progresso soup

Condiments

Honey mustard mayonnaise mustard ketchup
Bbq sauce salsa salad dressings
Pickles jelly

Dry Pantry Items

Dy beans Bisquick peanut butter almonds
Cashews instant potatoes Jasmine Rice
Long grain white rice brown rice rice-a-roni
Popcorn cereal (hot and cold) olive oil
Cooking spray sugar brown sugar powdered sugar
Powdered milk yeast bread crackers
Jiffy corn muffin mix cake mixes brownie mixes
Muffin mixes

Pasta

Spaghetti egg noodles whole wheat noodles macaroni
Bow tie ramen noodles

Freezer

Bread English muffins berries mixed vegetables
Broccoli green beans stir fry ice cream
Pizza lasagna egg beaters coffee beans
Chicken bacon Canadian bacon
Ground beef ground turkey elk burger
Elk steak venison salmon
Talipia

Refrigerator

Eggs milk cheese yogurt
Butter sour cream cottage cheese lunch meat
Tortillas fresh veggies salad fixens fresh fruit
Parmesan cheese lemon juice vinegar
Rice vinegar Worcestershire sauce soy sauce
Tobasco sauce

Spices

Salt pepper lemon pepper garlic
Cumin mustard powder ginger
Onion powder Johnny’s seasoning salt chicken bouillon
Chili powder


You can get recipes on the internet to make your own Bisquick baking mix, Rice-a-roni, taco seasoning, shake and bake, spaghetti seasoning as well as a variety of ingredients that you’ll use on a weekly basis. I personally don’t have time for this but I do understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. Now, you can get out those cookbooks and make dinner for your family tonight,

Crock Pot Apple Pie

Crock Pot Apple Pie ~ What could be better than making apple pie in your crock pot while you are at work?



8 tart apples, peeled and sliced

1-1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup biscuit baking mix

1 cup biscuit baking mix

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons cold butter



Toss apples in a large bowl with cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Place in lightly greased crockpot. Combine milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and the 1/2 cup biscuit baking mix. Spoon over apples. Combine the 1 cup biscuit baking mix and brown sugar. Cut the cold butter into mixture until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Bitches on a Budget

I am so excited. I just got my book Bitches on a Budget by Rosalyn Hoffman and cannot wait to sink my teeth in it. I find Rosalyn's sense of humor to be enlightning in these tough economic times. I am working so hard to pay off debt and am thinking this book will be chok full of useful tips and tricks. I will keep you posted.

Rat Race

My sister posted this quote as her Facebook status a while ago ... thought I would share..... "The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." - Lily Tomlin

Crockpot Lemon Chicken

Lemon and chicken are wonderful partners. Try this excellent crockpot recipe and serve it over hot rice or noodles to soak up all the sauce.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours, 55 minutes
Ingredients:
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 bag baby carrots
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
6 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
3 Tbsp. water
Preparation:
Mix flour with salt and pepper in shallow dish. Coat chicken pieces in this mixture. Shake off excess and brown in olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Remove chicken and place on top of onion and carrots in a 3-4 quart crockpot.
Mix the vinegar, ketchup, water, brown sugar, lemon juice, and lemonade concentrate in small bowl and pour into the skillet. Cook and stir, scraping to remove browned bits, until mixture comes to a boil. Pour sauce over chicken in crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. When ready to serve, combine cornstarch and water in small bowl, mix well and stir into the sauce. Cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes until thickened. Serve with hot rice. 4 servings

Save Money on Groceries

You have heard it a hundred times "Make a list and stick to it." Plan your menus around your weekly sale flyers (loss leaders) from your local newspaper at your local grocery stores. Stick to your list and only go to the store once a week. You are not allowed to put items in the shopping cart that are not on your shopping list. Before you shop take inventory of your cupboards and pantry, this will help you avoid buying what you do not need.
Use those coupons, in store specials and BOGO's, take advantage of your store's reward programs and discounts. It is worth it for me to buy the Sunday paper just for the coupons. Visit www.couponmom.com and match up weekly advertised specials with your existing coupons~ this is the way to really get the bang for your buck. Remember to avoid buying things that you wouldn't normally buy just because you have a coupon. Even if you can save 25 to 50 dollars a week on groceries, that will sure add up at the end of the month. Happy Saving!!

Crock Pot Lasagna

This is an excellent recipe, much cheaper than buying frozen lasagna at the store and it is easy and home made ~ my husband is a hunter and I use Elk or Venison burger~ Enjoy

Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
1 lb (500g) ground beef
1 large onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced (or 2 tspn pre-purchased garlic)
1 lb jar tomato spaghetti sauce - choose your favorite flavor (we used spring vegetable)
8 oz (250g) fresh lasagna Noodles (no boil - found in cold section)
1lb (500g) mozzarella cheese - grated/shredded
1lb (500g) ricotta cheese
2 oz (60g) parmesan cheese - grated/shredded
¼ cup milk
1 egg - lightly beaten
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper
Optional other favorite herbs - depends how much is in the sauce you use.
mushrooms - sliced and added at end of frying meat
Method
1. Fry the beef, onion and garlic in a frying pan, using a tiny amount of oil.
2. Fry until slightly browned. And pour off any excess oil. Add tomato sauce and heat through.
3. Meanwhile, gently combine the ricotta, milk and egg.
4. Then mix in the mozzarella and parmesan. Retaining about 1 tbls of parmesan for later.
5. Now we are ready to construct it in the crock pot. We found there was no need to grease the pot, but if you must - do it now.
6. Using a large serving spoon or ladle, place about ¼ of the meat mixture in the crock pot - spread evenly.
7. Top this with a layer of lasagna sheets, cut to size. (See the notes below)
8. Top this with 1/3 of the cheese sauce.
9. Repeat steps 6, 7 and 8 once more. You should now have cheese sauce on top.
10. Now repeat step 6, then 7 and 6 again.
11. Top with remaining cheese sauce.
12. Sprinkle the retained parmesan on top.
13. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Notes
Serves 4-6

While not critical the layers should be -
meat, pasta, cheese, meat, pasta, cheese, meat, pasta, meat, cheese

To assist with cutting the lasagna sheets -
use a plate the same size as the crock pot & cut around using a knife.