Gas Prices

I have come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to buy gas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays than any other day of the week.  At least it seems to be true in Oregon.  I have been tracking gas prices for 2 months now, and my investigation shows that on Thursdays it seems to be the day when the gas prices go up, and my assumption is to gouge consumers for the weekend.  So, if you must fill your tank each and every week like I do....  Tuesday and Wednesdays seem to be the best (and cheapest) days of the week to buy gas.

Thanksgiving Left Overs

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Now that the big meal is done and over, here come's my favorite part...the Left Overs.
I just love turkey sandwiches, and mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy.  I will eat this for the next several days and not grow tired of it.

I made a pan of turkey enchiladas, I boiled the turkey carcass, and picked the meat off all of the bones, I took a can of green chili enchilada sauce and used 1/2 the can to line the bottom of a cake pan. 
I took a tub of sour cream and mixed it with a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of diced green chilies.
I used 10 tortilla shells.  put this sour cream mixture in the middle of the tortilla and a handful of turkey meat.
rolled them up like burritos and put them in the cake pan.  When the pan was full of enchiladas, I mixed the rest of the enchilada sauce with the sour cream mixture and poured it over the top of the rolled up tortillas.
I topped it with grated cheddar cheese and olives and baked it at 350 for 30 minutes until the cheese was all bubbly. 
Very easy and very tasty...... 

Now.... the broth from the boiled turkey....  I skimmed off the fat, loaded it up in a ziplock freezer bag, and stuck it in the freezer.  I will use this broth for a batch of home made soup in a week or two. 
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!!

Slow Cooked Asian Chicken

This sweet Asian soy chicken is a simple meal that comes together in your slow cooker. This is great for the chicken lovers in your family - they will chow down on these delectable chicken legs.  Here is a Fabulous recipe to use up those bags of Chicken Hindquarters that you have in your freezer that you loaded up on while they were on sale.....  Enjoy




Serves: 6


http://www.favediets.com/Crock-Pot-Recipes/Slow-Cooked-Asian-Chicken
Cooking Time: 5 hr



Ingredients

6 whole chicken legs

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 clove garlic, crushed

8 ounces can tomato sauce

Instructions

1.Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken in a slow cooker.



2.In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and tomato sauce. Pour sauce over chicken.



3.Cover and cook on LOW about 5 hours or until chicken is tender.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is a family favorite recipe.... it is easy to make and absolutely delicious....just in time for Thanksgiving.

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 large can of pumpkin (1 pound 13 oz size)
1 cup vegetable oil

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 3 oz package of cream cheese~ room temperature
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons of butter or margarine ~ room temperature
1 tablespoon milk

In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Stir in eggs, pumpkin, and oil, spread in a greased 15 inch by 10 X 1 inch pan.  (I use a large jelly roll or cookie sheet) Bake at 350 for 30 -40 minutes.  Or until done. Toothpick inserted will come out clean. and cool on wire rack.

Meanwhile, for frosting beat together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and butter.  Add milk and stir until smooth.  Frost your cooled cake, and cut into squares.   This recipe makes approximately 4 dozen bars. 

Fabulous Home Made Cranberry Sauce

This recipe is so easy and so fabulous, that you will never buy canned cranberry sauce ever again.  Your friends and family will truly be impressed and your house will smell amazing.  It is a win win recipe

12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
3/4 cup orange juice
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar (can use more if you like it sweeter)
2 oz gold rum

place all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook on med high for 15-20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has reduced, stirring occasionally.  You will hear the cranberries "pop"....  no worries, that is what you want them to do.  Remove from heat and serve.  Cranberry sauce can be made days ahead and brought to room temperature or slightly heated before serving. 

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

How to Make A No Sew Fleece Blanket

How to make a No Sew Fleece Blanket.....  These blankets are so easy and pretty quick to make and they make such nice gifts, and are wonderful to snuggle up with while watching TV

What you'll need:




1-2/3 yds. of print outerwear fleece 1-2/3 yds. of a solid outerwear fleece Tape measure



•Cut a square of each fabric that measures from 56" to 58" square. This measurement should be a whole number. Remove the selvages (fabric fray)

•Place the squares over each other, wrong sides together.

•Cut a 5" square from each corner.

•To cut fringe, lay one piece of fabric on the floor/table, and then fold the 5" to be fringed back.

•Cut fringe 1" wide and 5" deep on all sides.

•Using a overhand knot, tie the front and back fringe together.

•Do this all the way around the blanket being careful not to stretch the fabric.



In no time at all you'll have a beautiful no-sew blanket that's warm and attractive.



And because it's so easy, you'll have time to make a no-sew, hand-tied pillow to match!



Just cut a square of fabric that is 18" plus 10" square. Follow the same steps as the blanket, but to assemble, tie the three sides, and then slip the pillow inside. Tie the front and back fringe. Finish tying and you're done.



It's that easy!



Find more easy to do crafts, legitimate work-from-home help, parenting tips and so much more at www.MomAndHerMoney.com. Make more, spend less, be happy!

Save Money on Black Friday

Here it is....  drum roll please......  My fabulous strategy for saving money on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) is to NOT GO SHOPPING!!!!!!  Yes, you heard me right.  I am pretty much done with my Christmas shopping, and I am working all of the holidays this year.  I will save a ton of money by not shopping on Black Friday. 
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

6 Ways to live like a Billionaire

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/6-ways-to-live-like-a-billionaire.aspx

Here are the secrets we have been dying to know~ Ha ha.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

The Magic of Vinegar

Yes, that is right, Vinegar is a magical cleaner.  I just used a solution of 50/50 white distilled vinegar and warm tap water to shampoo the carpet in my hallway.  Kinda smelly at first but the smell dissipates rather quickly.  I got stains out that had been in the carpet for the last several cleanings using products designed to clean carpets.  The carpet is soft and lofty looking once again.  I am completely impressed with the results of plain ol' vinegar. I doubt I will ever use anything else.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Fabulous & Frugal Gift Ideas

50 homemade gift ideas Check this out!!!!  Absolutely Impressive.  I am totally going to the Dollar Store on my days off.  The Hurricane Lamps looks so elegant and beautiful and they will make fabulous gifts.  I was also really checking out the little pot snowmen.  I will keep you posted and post pictures if I end up making some of these.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

November

Holy cow!!! November already?? I just got used to writing 2010, it will probably take me 11 months to get used to writing 2011 (weird thinking about it). I spent my days off this week out of town at a training seminar for work. My class was "Building 9-1-1 Life Bridges to Suicidal Callers" It probably sounds a bit shocking to the ordinary people in the world, but it was informative, powerful and moving. Seriously, I have a lot more compassion and tolerance for the mentally ill now. The only problem with being out of town on my days off, is that when I got back late Tuesday night....I had to go to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I do not have any left overs to pack in my lunch (insert sad face here). I did make some tuna fish and I have cans of soup so I am okay for the time being, but I sure am craving some home made food. I am looking forward to my days off to catch up on housework, laundry and cooking,
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!