I promise, I'm still alive!

Hi friends!  Did you wonder where I went?  Well, I was kidnapped and held hostage by a tiny baseball player, aka Jackson.  After the regular season of baseball, Jackson went on to play for the All Stars team, which basically translates to the fact that we did NOTHING but eat, sleep and breathe baseball for the last 2 months.  We literally lived on the field....it's over now, I'm back and I promise to not take such a long leave of absence again.

Have you been hosting cookouts or attending some this summer?  If so, you can appreciate a recipe that's a crowd pleaser and super easy to make.  For times like these, I rely on a super easy, delicious recipe called Candy Bar Salad.  Yep, you read that right...got your attention now?  Try this to take to your next gathering...I bet you won't come home with any leftovers!  And for those of us who love to indulge in an adult beverage or two, try this recipe using wonderful fresh blueberries...Frozen Blueberry Lemonade.  It's even great without the alcohol, so the kiddos can enjoy some too :)  Just be sure to remember which glass has the vodka in it...:)

Candy Bar Salad

1 tub Cool Whip (I use light, just so I don't feel as guilty!)
8 oz. light cream cheese (again, make it semi-healthy! )
4-5 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and chopped
12 snack size Snickers or Milky Way bars, frozen

In a large bowl, soften the cream cheese.  Fold in the Cool Whip and apples.  Next, put the frozen candy bars in a gallon bag and smash with a hammer.  Fold in and serve.  For large gatherings, double this recipe.  YUM!!

Frozen Blueberry Lemonade

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
3 cups ice
1 c lemonade
1/3 c powdered sugar
1/2 c vodka (I used homemade vanilla vodka...could also use blueberry vodka!)

Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.  Enjoy!

Luscious Lemon Poke Cake

Ah, the first day of summer has arrived!  If you're like me, that means days of sun, boating, cookouts and family potlucks.  I love summer for a reason...it seems to be the time of year that we re-connect with not only nature, but our families.  This past weekend, we shared a day with my Mom-in-law and Dad-in-law.  He just loves anything lemon, so I wanted to make something special for us to enjoy.  This recipe has been deemed a "keeper" and I think it's definitely blog-worthy!   It travels perfectly, and it so good by itself, you won't need frosting or ice cream, but we did enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream :)  Try Luscious Lemon Poke Cake at your next cookout or family gathering, and be sure to let me know what you think!

Luscious Lemon Poke Cake

1 (18.25 oz) package of lemon cake
1 (3.4 oz) package of instant lemon pudding
3/4 c. water
1/2 c. canola oil
4 eggs
1/3 c. lemon juice
2 c. powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.  In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding, water oil and eggs.  Beat until smooth.  Pour into greased pan and bake 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  While the cake is still hot, use a fork and poke holes all over the top of the cake.  Mix the lemon juice and powdered sugar is a small bowl and pour over hot cake.  Let cool, slice and enjoy!  Would also make a wonderful coffee cake!!  Happy baking my friends!! 

Summer Time Savers!

I'm back!!  Am I the only one whose life is mass chaos during Spring?  Between baseball practices, games, field trips, awards ceremonies, graduation open houses, etc, I've met myself coming and going this past month.  I'm hoping with the school year winding down, things will start to slow to that easy, summer pace.  I've missed blogging and sharing with all of you, so here's hoping that time will be on my side once again.

Have you all caught the couponing bug like I have?  I believe I can blame my contributor and dear friend, Cassie, for that!  Seriously though, I never envisioned becoming a crazy couponer, but once you score some serious deals like I have, it becomes addictive.  I'll be the first to admit, couponing takes some time and dedication, but it's MUCH easier if you use this awesome website that Cassie shared with me... http://www.savingaddiction.com/ .   These gals do all of the work for you!  You just choose the store, and they tell you what the best deals are, and where to get the coupons you need!  It's amazing....some deals I've scored by using this site and my coupons are .17 for Lysol wipes, .49 for Chi-Chi's salsa, 1.45 for Ocean Spray juice, free Nivea bodywash, and the list goes on.  Try it, you will LOVE it!

With the busyness of the last month fresh in my mind, I've discovered another wonderful time saver.  Have you heard of freezer cooking, or once a month cooking?  Me niether, but I'm a huge fan now.  I have not done the once a month cooking yet, but for those of you brave enough to try it, Kendra suggests http://www.onceamonthmom.com/.  I just checked out the website, and it's mind blowing!  For those of you who are organization freaks like me, this website is a dream come true.  Spreadsheets with instructions, recipes, shopping lists and labels for the freezer!  I'm aiming to try this once the kiddos are out of school. 

This past weekend, I searched for freezer cooking recipes.  I found a few and and elated to say that I made 4 meals in one morning's worth of cooking and they are in the freezer for those nights when we are super busy or I simply don't feel like cooking.  I love the feeling of knowing that I have options in the freezer, and it's going to be a huge time and money saver.  No more calling in a pizza for delivery or running into town to grab subs.  Below are a few super easy, super economical recipes that you can make ahead and freeze.  I found these at http://www.momsbudget.com/ .  Check out this site too...so many neat things to save all of us time and money! 

Caribbean Jerk Chicken Freezer Recipe 2 1/2 lbs chicken pieces
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp ground red pepper flakes
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
Combine ingredients except chicken in a small bowl. Add chicken to a freezer bag, then add Caribbean Jerk mixture. Carefully move the chicken around so it is thoroughly coated, then freeze.
On cooking day, thaw in refrigerator and remove chicken pieces, disposing of the leftover marinade. Barbeque on a grill or bake in a 375 oven for approx 60 minutes (may vary depending on which chicken pieces are used.


Maui Wowee Chicken Freezer Recipe
Perfect for summertime eating in the backyard!
4 cups cooked chicken, diced
2 cups onion, chopped
2 cup green pepper, chopped
4 14oz cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans (15 oz.) pineapple tidbits
1 tbsp. soy sauce
In frying pan, heat 1 tbsp oil then saute onion and green pepper until softened. Add chicken and heat (or cook chicken at this stage if uncooked, then dice). Add cream of chicken soup, pineapple tidbits and soy sauce. Divide into two containers, allow to cool, then freeze.
On serving day. Thaw in refrigerator, then heat in saucepan on medium heat. Serve with rice or pasta.


Freezer Coleslaw Recipe 1 head cabbage, shredded
1 tsp salt
1 carrot, grated
1 green pepper, chopped
Coleslaw dressing
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed
Shred cabbage, place in bowl, and sprinkle cabbage with salt. Allow to stand for one hour, then drain any liquid. Then add carrots and green pepper.
In medium saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil for one minute, then pour on the cabbage mixture, stirring well. Freeze in freezer container.
On serving day, thaw in refrigerator, and serve.

April Showers bring Paper Flowers!

What a great Easter Hostess, Mother's Day or Teacher's Gift!  And it's CHEAP!!

I LOVE papercrafting...in fact, I adore it.  It's my therapy!  I retreat down to my own personal scrapbooking/craft room and spend time with just me, myself and tons of paper. When my crafty sidekick, Kendra, introduced this latest idea to me, I fell in LOVE!  And if you have as much cardstock/scrapbook paper as I do, you can get away with spending about $3 to make this nifty little gift!

Here's a quick rundown of what you'll need to make these flowers and the container.  Most scrappers/crafters will have a lot of this on hand in the first place:

*Cuttlebug/Cricut/Big Shot die cutting machine, and a flower die of your choice.  I used a Stampin' Up die that makes daisies.

*Assorted colored or patterned cardstock, your choice on colors

*Thumb tacks...one for each pencil

*10-12 pencils...I purchased mine at the Dollar Tree in a cute Easter motif

*Easter Grass to fill the bucket/vase.... I bought mine at Wal-Mart for just 24 cents!

*Ribbon for the trim on the bucket or the vase

*Rubber Stamps for the tag...optional, but oh, so cute!

*Glue or adhesive to put the flowers together

*Glass Vase or Tin Bucket...each were $1 at either The Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart.

If I were super organized and had all the time in the world, I'd have a step by step photo how-to for this.  But most of you are crafty enough, if I share the steps and some ideas, maybe you'll take off and fly with it.  If you have a Cuttlebug, Cricut, Big Shot, or any other die cutter, you're in good shape.  Use your favorite flower die and cut out as many flowers as you need for each pencil.  My flowers were a 3 part flower, so I cut out enough to make 24 flowers.  Glue the flower layers together, then use a thumb tack to secure the flower to the pencil eraser, arrange in vase or tin, using Easter Grass to secure the flowers in the vase.  You could also use Easter candy as a filler :)

I love using and making tags for the gifts that I make.  This one is hands down my all time fave!  The saying is great, and so fun!  This was made using Stampin' Up stamps and punches. 

Be sure to make a few of these for your special friends...I know I can't wait to make some more, just to have on hand for those last minute gift giving occasions :)

Here's the glass vase option...I love this...so elegant and so FUN!!

All Aboard!

Wow, gas prices are soaring...grocery prices are climbing, and we're all feeling the pinch in one way or another.  Remember I told you all to stay tuned, as there were some exciting things coming our way?  Well today I am excited to share an idea that our Coupon Diva Cassie introduced to me this past week...The Coupon Train!!   It's such an easy thing to do, and a fun way to help each other save lots of $$ at the store!  I often think about all the coupons in the paper that I won't use, and think it's a shame to throw them out if someone else could use them...the Coupon Train helps us do just that!

I'm trying to set up a Coupon Train today, as we speak.  I need about 2-3 more people to hop aboard my train, so if you live in my area, and would like to hop aboard, please send me an email at shelbarnhart@netzero.com.  We'd love to have you join us!  Here are the basics of the Coupon Train...if you'd like to start a train of your own, go for it!  What could be better than helping each other out?! 

Here are the basics, and the rules...(yes, even with the train, you need to have rules so it stays on schedule and doesn't "derail"!  lol!) 

A coupon train is an envelope filled with non-expired coupons that is sent between riders.  When you receive the "train", take the coupons out of the envelope that you will use and replace them with coupons from your personal collection that you won't use.  You then mail it to the next address on the list. 

Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth train ride:

*Pick a "Conductor"...this is the person who starts the train and sets up the route/rules.
*  Limit your group to about 5-6 riders to be sure the train doesn't have too long of a route.  This helps you share more often, and prevents lots of coupons that will expire soon.
*  The envelope should contain about 40 coupons, as well as a list of all the riders and rules.  Mail the packet to the person whose name is below yours, and they will do the same, until the packet makes it's way back to the conductor. 
*  Take only the coupons you need.
*  Replace the number of coupons you take.
*  Do not include coupons with an expiration date within 15 days unless you know the next rider can use them before they expire.
*  Provide enough postage as to not delay the train...a good rule of thumb is 40 coupons + packing list/rules = 1 stamp.
*  Each rider should remove any expired coupons in the packet when they go through it.
*  Please do not keep the envelope any longer than 2-3 days so that the coupons can be passed around before they expire.  We all know life happens, and there may be some weeks where you just don't have time to do the train.  If so, please mail onto the next rider on the list. 
*  The last person on the list will mail the envelope back to the conductor, who will sort through them, remove expired coupons, replenish the packet and start the train all over again. 

I don't know about you, but this sounds like fun, and a great way to maximize coupons!  Just last week, I  had several great coupons for products I don't use, and my sis was tickled to get them.  I hope you all have a great time with this, and be sure to comment here and let me know how it goes!  And feel free to contact me or Cassie if you have questions...we're all about helping each other save cash!!  :)  Happy couponing and saving!!! 

Fiesta!! Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream

As promised, here's the recipe for Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream.  The beauty of this recipe is that you can customize it to fit your tastes.  Next time I may try it with some grilled carne asada inside...yum!  Serve with homemade refried beans (the recipe is here on the blog, and it could not be any easier!  or cheaper...even better!) The nicest thing was that I assembled to flautas earlier in the afternoon, put them in the fridge and was able to take them out and start deep frying them when we were ready for dinner.  So convenient, and what a hit..delicious!!  Oooh, you know what else would taste just perfect with this?  An ice cold mojito or Margarita!  Have a fiesta at your house tonight!

Chicken Flautas with Avocado Cream

3 cups shredded, cooked chicken  (Can use rotisserie chicken, or cook the chicken breasts in a crock pot with water and adobo seasoning like I did, then shred)
1 3/4 cups fresh salsa
16 corn or flour tortillas, your choice
Shredded cheese of your choice, or use Queso Fresco for an authentic flavor!

Avocado Cream:
1 fresh avocado
1/2 fresh lime, juiced
salt
1/2 cup sour cream

Assemble your cream first...puree the fresh avocado until smooth, add lime juice, sour cream and salt to taste.  Set in fridge until ready to serve.  Don't do this too far in advance, or your cream will turn a lovely shade of brown/green...it will still taste fine, but the color is not very appetizing.

Next, assemble your flautas.  First, mix chicken and 3/4 fresh salsa in a bowl. Microwave tortillas to soften, this makes them easier to fold.  Place 2-3 T. of chicken mixture down the middle of the tortilla shells. Sprinkle cheese over chicken mixture, then fold up burrito style, then secure with a toothpick.  Heat 3/4" of oil in a large skillet.  When the oil reaches 375, place 3-4 flautas in the oil and deep fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, turning frequently.  Remove to a platter lined with paper towel and remove toothpicks.  Continue to fry in batches, then serve with avocado cream and remaining fresh salsa. 

Go Bananas!

It's Spring here in the great white North, but you'd never know it if you went outside...it still feels/looks like October.  I hate it...it's cold, wet and gray.  So, what do I do when it's gloomy and cold?  I bake!  I found a wonderful recipe for Banana Bread recently and since there were 3 sad little bananas turning a scary shade of brown in our fruit basket this morning, I decided today would be a perfect day to bake.  This is really, really delicious, probably because the recipe includes a chocolate glaze for the bread....so much for a healthy version!  I also love that it made 3 small loaves, perfect for sharing with family or friends. Try this the next time you have some bananas ready to go bad.  And if you don't have time to that, did you know that you can peel the bad bananas, pop them into a freezer bag and freeze them for future use?  Super nice to have on hand for days like this when you're itching to bake up some comfort food!  Happy baking!

Remember the last post when I talked about the giveaway???  We grew our followers that day from 5 to 10...Come on girls, let's spread the Domestic Diva Diaries word and get the 50 followers we're aiming for!  I'm ready to make that custom card set for our winner.  As soon as we hit 50, I'll draw a name randomly to win!!!   Keep sharing the link with friends and tell them to sign up to follow us.  There's some exciting things coming that you and your friends won't want to miss...trust me on this!  Good stuff, good stuff!!!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Chocolate Glaze

Bread:
1 cup mashed ripe banana, about 3-4 bananas
2 eggs
1/2 sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 cup melted butter or oil
1 1/4 flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 c. chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
3/4 c sugar
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. almond extract (optional)
1/4 t. orange extract (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together.  In another bowl, whisk eggs, butter or oil, sour cream, extracts and banana together.  Fold into dry ingredients and pour into lightly greased loaf pan or 3 mini loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes for standard loaf pan, 35 minutes for mini pans or until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.  Let cool 30 minutes in pan, then remove to cooling racks.  Next, make the glaze....

Glaze:
1 c. powdered sugar
2 T. baking cocoa
2-3 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla
Whisk together until smooth and pour over cooled loaves of bread.  Yum!!!!

Cheap Thrills and a Giveaway??!

Good morning my friends!  It's Spring Break week here in our corner of the world, and boy, do  I have a lot on my money saving mind to share today!  So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy today's tips and tricks, and stay tuned for an exciting giveaway possibility!!

This weekend, I'd had it with my hair...for some unknown reason, I go through goofy phase every couple years where I think I should grow my hair out and try to have long, flowing locks.  Well, that's never gonna happen...genetics are NOT on my side for long flowing locks.  I'm cursed with fine, thin hair and no matter how hard I try or what magical products I try, when my hair is long it has no body and looks stringy...ick!  The good lord above did bless me with the knack for cutting hair though, and I figured that if I cut both kids' hair and Curt's, why not attempt to cut mine in the cute style I'd envisioned.  After all, it's only hair and if I screw it up too badly, I can always call the salon.  I'm so tickled to report that the haircut was a huge success, and it's just what I wanted and the best part....it was FREE!  Love that.  Check out the pic and tell me what you think.... 

OK, OK, I know not everyone can or will cut their own hair, but I just had to share my happiness over the haircut experiment's success :)

Now, onto other cheap thrills that you can all do.  First of all, I hope you're all getting a kick out of Cassie's coupon tips and tricks.  She's teaching me to really be coupon savvy!  I saved $24 at the store on Friday with coupons, and I was so thrilled.  I've found a website that I just adore for coupons and free samples...check out www.allyou.com.  Just like the magazine, it offers daily free samples and printable coupons as well as lots of easy, do-able money saving ideas.  I love love love it!  Sign up for the daily email reminders regarding the daily free samples, then you won't ever miss out! 

This weekend was "Freezer Stocking" time for me.  Every now and then, I make a big ol' crockpot of my refried beans (recipe is here on the blog!) and a stockpot full of my  Homemade Pizza/Marinara Sauce.  Once both are done, I divvy up the goodies into quart size freezer bags and lay them flat for freezing.  This way, they take up less space and stack nicely in the freezer.  It's all about the organization girls!  The pizza sauce is the result of playing around with several recipes until I came up with a recipe that we all loved.  It's a sweet marinara, so if you prefer a more savory sauce, just play around with the ingredients and cut down on the sugar added.  I suggest you leave some of the sugar, as it helps cut the acidity of the tomatoes.  Having this in the freezer makes homemade pizza night a snap!  I simply mix up my crust in the Kitchen aid mixer, let it rise and then defrost the sauce.  So easy, and so yummy!! 

With Spring comes the urge to purge...closets, cabinets, you name it.  I started my Spring purging this weekend in Jack's room...wow...4 totes of garage sale stuff and 2 large trashbags later, I'm ready to move onto the next room.  Do this every Spring/Fall and you'll be amazed at how your clutter levels will start to drop dramatically.  Here's how to do it....First, pick a room to start with.  Gather totes for garage sale items, trash bags for Goodwill items and trash bags for actual trash.  Do it one room at a time, or even on closet/drawer at a time.  Each time you finish a task, you'll be so fired up to continue..I promise!  And onto garage sales...People often ask me how I price my items.  I follow a simple rule I read about years ago.  Try to price items at least 75% off retail.  Of course, if the item is damaged or dented, scratched, etc...knock more off.  And be reasonable!  If you've made the decision to get rid of it, price it to go.  Do you really want to put it away and drag it out again?  Nope!!  Another great tip that I personally do and love is that at the end of your sale, go through everything and donate a TON of it to Goodwill, Salvation  Army, or your local women's or homeless shelter.  The less you have to store for the next sale, the better.  Good luck, and happy garage sale sorting!

And now...the most exciting cheap thrill this blog has ever offered.....A GIVEAWAY!  Yes friends, you read that right.  But here's the catch...you're gonna have to help me on this one.  I know many of you read this, but not many of you are "followers" here on blogspot.  My goal is to get at least 50 followers by the end of the month.  If we hit that number, yours truly will be giving away something super fun and cute.....a handmade set of 6 Note Cards in your choice of colors, made my moi!  These have been a hit with those nearest and dearest to me, and I've even sold some sets recently.  So spread the word...get your friends to follow this blog.  Put links on your FB pages, shout from the rooftops, take out ads in the paper....OK, kidding about the ad...:)  One of you will be chosen at random at the end of the month if we can hit 50 followers.  And after that, each milestone we hit will be accompanied by another giveaway...fun, huh??!  This pic shows one of my designs...and it could be YOURS!! 

Cute, huh?  And making these is my creative therapy :) 

OK, get out your stockpots and whip up a batch of the Homemade Pizza/Marinara.  It's super cheap, super easy and super yummy.  I will tell ya, I'm a dump and cook kind of girl, so measurements are a guess.  Do what I do...I taste it as I cook it and add seasonings as I see fit.  You can't go wrong! 

Homemade Pizza/Marinara Sauce

3 small cans of tomato sauce (.39 cents each at Meijer!)

3 small cans of tomato paste (.25 cents each at Meijer!..told ya this was cheap!)

4-5 cups of water...depending on the thickness you prefer

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

3 T. basil

3-4 T. Italian Seasoning

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/2 cup white or red wine, optional

Mix all ingredients in a large stockpot and stir until smooth.  Simmer over medium low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  Make sure you taste test and get the seasoning to your tastes.  Let cool and package in 2 cup portions in quart size freezer bags.   Be sure to remove all air from bag, then lay flat to freeze.  Makes about 5 freezer bags of sauce. 

FB savin' pages

Today, I am gonna share with all of you the FB pages that I have "liked" that are leading me to all of these savings that I am rakin' in.

*The Coupon Wizards
*Shopping Tips & Tricks
*MoJo Savings
*Hip2Save
*The Coupon Diva
*The Krazy Coupon Lady
*Sister Save-A-Lot
*Super Coupon Lady
*Catchin' Freebies
*We Use Coupons
*All You Magazine (free samples daily)
*Printable Coupons and Deals

It's as simple as going to these pages, pressing the "like" button and start receiving their posts about getting the most out of your money. I LOVE these pages as they do all of the work for you! All you have to do is go & cash in on the deals.

Happy couponing!

Savin' & Snackin'

Good morning!  I hope everyone is enjoying Cassie's great posts about saving money...I know I am!  She's inspired me to dedicate one day a week to couponing...I do this on the same say I do my menu planning, that way I can coordinate coupons with what I have on my list.  On average, this method has saved me about $10-15 a week at the store.  Someday I hope to be one of those ladies who gets $100 of goodies for just $10 :)  I have a few other money savers that I'd like to share with you this morning....

Cassie herself turned me onto this next item...be sure to run right out and get it by Saturday!  If you use honey, you know how very expensive it is.  This week at Walgreen's, you can get a 32 oz. bottle of honey, normally priced 7.99, for just 3.99!!!  That is one heck of a deal!  You'll need the coupon that is printed inside the Walgreen's flier...these are normally right inside the store's front door.  With the coupon, you can get 3 bottles!  Stock up!!  You'll need the honey for today's yummy recipe, Chewy Granola Bars. 

Another great money saver is the Meijer M-Perks plan.  If you have a Meijer in your area, be sure to sign up for this at the Meijer website.  The program allows you to clip coupons online, then simply enter your cell phone number on the keypad at the checkout stand.  No carrying coupons, just enter the cell number and the coupons come off your total.  I love this plan!  Occasionally, they'll send you a text alerting you to some fantastic coupons to clip.  Most often, they'll offer a coupon for $2 off your total order, or 10% off any general merchandise purchase.  Check it out...you won't be disappointed!

Speaking of saving some cash, have you priced snack food items lately?  It's crazy, especially with 2 hungry kiddos in the house.  My sis shared this AMAZING recipe for Chewy Granola Bars with me recently, and they are delicious...you won't want to buy granola bars again.  The greatest thing about this recipe is that you can customize the bars to fit your tastes.  You can add chocolate chips, dried fruit, coconut, you name it...whatever strikes your fancy, add it!  When I made these, I used chocolate chips and butterscotch chips.  They tasted like a cookie, and the kids, even Miss Picky Lexi, LOVED them.  Try them, and I think you'll agree that they are easy, delish, and a huge money saver.  Go to Walgreens and get your honey and make a batch this weekend :)  Happy saving and snacking my friends!

Chewy Granola Bars

4 1/2 cups rolled oats (I used Kroger quick cooking oats...worked great!)
1 c. flour, you can use all purpose or whole wheat
1 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
2/3 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. honey
1/3 c. brown sugar, packed well
1 c. mini chocolate chips, or any add-in of your choice...be creative!
1/2 c. peanut butter, optional
1/4 t. cinnamon, optional...I don't care for the cinnamon with the chocolate

Preheat oven to 325.  Mix all ingredient together and press into a lightly greased 9X13 pan.  Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Enjoy!!

Today's deals & thoughts on saving $$$

Ok peeps! Here's my Wal-mart deals of the day....Strawberries....$1.25 pkg., BC boxed potatoes...2/$2 -$.50(coupon attached to box)=$.75 ea., LARGE box of Lucky Charms...$3.78-$.55 coupon=$3.23(same price as the small box), Texas Toast croutons...$1.36-$.55=$.81, Snack pack puddings/jellos...$.72 ea., Dean's French Onion dip...$1.32 ea. Buy 2 use $1 off Q=$.82 ea., Helluva chip dip...$1.25-$.75=$.50, Trial size Secret Clinical Strength...$2.47-$2 Q=$.47(great for your purse with the warm weather coming soon).

One thing I have learned is the smallest quantity is NOT always the cheapest in the long run. An example would be the Lucky Charms cereal. I got 2x the amount of cereal for the same price as the small box. :) My kids devour cereal these days! Also, I'm learning not to be so picky about brands. I may care but the kids don't! So when it comes to buying peanut butter, buy what is on sale or what you have a coupon for. This may not be everyone's choice but this is what I'm doing to save $$. Even if you don't need it & it's on sale this week, buy it & put it up for another week. This is called "stockpiling". My husband built shelving downstairs where I put all of my "extras" for future use. The idea to saving is to "stockpile" items when they are on sale & you have coupons for those items. Buy extras at that time so you don't have to pay FULL PRICE in a few weeks when it's NOT ON SALE! Hence the reasoning for my buying coupon inserts from http://coupon-wizards.com so I can get many copies of one coupon. This service is cheaper than buying all of those Sunday papers and having to deal with all of that paper plus I'm guaranteed my coupons every week. :) I'm hoping to find my coupons in the mailbox today so I can get started with my organizing. Happy Couponing to you! May you save lots of $$ today!

Good Afternoon! No savings tidbits today but I will be posting soon all of my favorite FB pages that I use to "catch wind" of the good deals of the week at our local stores like Wally World, Meijer, Walgreens & Rite-Aid. For those of you that have a Kroger close by, they also post Kroger deals. I absolutely love these pages as they do all the work for you...all you have to do is drive to the stores & cash in on the deals. Yesterday, thanks to one of these pages, I was able to get a JUMBO pack of Huggies(to use as a baby shower gift) & 2 packs of Orbit gum for a whopping $.97 + tax. I was SO happy!
Monday or Tuesday, I should receive my coupon inserts in the mail & I'll let you know what I think of them. I will share with you that I am getting 10 copies of each insert in the Sunday papers for less than actually going out & buying 10 papers. More Savings! :)
This morning, I made 4 batches of Michelle's Homemade Laundry Soap. If you have NOT tried this yet, I highly recommend that you give it a try. Easy to make & cheap plus it lasts a long time! Another cost-cutter!

Hello!

I'm the one Michelle warned you about...LOL! Let me introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. I have known Michelle since we were kids in grade school. YIKES! Michelle, does that make us old? Nope! You're only as old as ya feel! :)
I left my chiropractic assistant job to be a stay-at-home mom/daycare provider 10 years ago. The stress of the daycare dilemmas got to be too much for this momma so after 5 years, I gave up changing diapers & wiping snotty noses and just became a mommy to my 2 kiddos. My daughter, who just turned 12, is a split image of her father, who I owe much gratitude to for allowing me to live my dream of being home with my kids. My son, who is 9 yrs old, is a mini-me. He's a typical boy involved in all sorts of sports & loves to spend time with his dad doing whatever boys do. When my son started kindergarten, I got involved with volunteering in his class, which I loved dearly. This year, when he entered 3rd grade, my volunteering ended as it was now time for the kids to be more independent. (tears) This left me at home, lonely & bored, but soon that would change! In September, my dear friend had a baby & asked me to watch over her daughter so that brings me to today. I truly cherish all of my days that I get to spend with her. The 1st few months were rough ones but she's a happy lil' 6 mo. old who brings a smile to my heart everyday.
Now, on to my couponing adventures. One of my new year's resolutions was to cut debt & save more money. Who doesn't want that? I will let you all know of any good deals that are out there so you, too, can save $$ at the grocery store. Less $$ in their bank account & more in yours! :) Here's to happy couponing!

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad and other HOT news!!

Oh fun..the battle of the bulge marches on.  The closer I get to the big 4-0, it seems things are "bulging" where I don't think they should..  For about a month now, I've been training using the Couch to 5K program.  It's great for people like me who really hate to run, and to be honest, I am really starting to enjoy it, crave it, and understand what people mean when they say they get a "runner's high" from a workout.  It's weird...but I love it. 

When it comes to willpower, well...I have none.  Zero, zip, zilch.  Our pantry, freezer and fridge have looked like Mother Hubbard's cupboards for the past month.  If it has sugar, chocolate, fat or just anything naughty in it, I'm not buying it right now.  Fruits, veggies, whole grains, sugar free drinks...it's in there, and it's my only saving grace.  The kids and Curt are none to happy, but I assured them that they won't keel over from lack of cookies, cakes or processed junk. 

In an effort to come up with something healthy and yummy for my own lunches, I decided that a good old chicken salad would be a smart choice.  And thus, Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad was born.  You can add or delete ingredients to suit your tastes.  I adore the sweetness of the grapes combined with the spicy heat of the cayenne pepper.  It's great all by itself, or it makes a mean chicken salad sandwich or try it on a whole grain wrap...yummmm!!  The best part is that it's filling, delicious and guilt free.  Try it and let me know what you think!

And now, onto the other HOT news I promised....my dear friend Cassie has agreed to become a contributor to my modest little blog.  She is a Coupon Diva!!  She's been researching and saving tons of money each week through couponing services online and I asked her to share her tips and deals with all of you.  Can't wait to see what she has in store for us!  Welcome aboard my Diva friend!!  :)

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Salad

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked & shredded or diced finely
1/2 cup mayo or plain yogurt (can combine the two)
1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
1 cup red grapes cut in half
1/3 cup crushed pineapple
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (use more or less, depending on your tolerance for heat)
diced green onions
cashews or toasted almonds

Mix first 6 ingredients together and chill.  When ready to serve, top with diced green onions and nuts if desired.  Enjoy, guilt free :)

Chocolate Mint Dreams!

I ADORE chocolate and mint together....you name it, if it has these 2 together, I'm gonna love it!  I just made these Chocolate Mint Dreams for Jack's St. Patty's Day party tomorrow, and the whole family is loving them.  They literally melt in your mouth!!....Make a batch for your favorite leprechauns, and maybe they'll leave you some gold ;) 

Chocolate Mint Dreams

3/4 c butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 squares, 1 oz. each, of semi sweet baker's chocolate, melted and cooled
1/4 t. peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup mini chocolate chips

ICING
2 T. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 T. milk
1/4 t. peppermint extract
green food coloring

DRIZZLE
1/2 c semi sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and powdered sugar together.  Beat in chocolate and mint extract.  Gradually add flour.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by tablespoon full onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes.  Remove to wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile, combine icing ingredients and spread over cooled cookies.  Let set.  In microwave, melt chocolate chips for drizzle.  Place in a quart size freezer bag, snip off the end and drizzle over cookies.  Yield:  about 4 dozen.  YUM!!!

Company is Coming for Dinner!

Is there a dinner party in your plans?  Do you ever wonder what to make to "wow" your guests?  If so, I have the easiest, yummiest recipe for you to try.  This is one of Curt's all time faves, he just loves it, and I love to make it because (1) it's SUPER easy, (2) it never fails to get rave reviews and (3) you can make it ahead of time!  What's not to love?  Trust me on this, try  my Chicken Cordon Bleu tonight and you'll be the star chef at your house :)

Another recipe that I fall back on quite often, especially in the summer months, is Grilled Greek Potatoes.  This another fantastic, easy and CHEAP recipe that has never failed to get rave reviews.  I love to slice up the potatoes and onions earlier in the day, store them in a large bowl of water, then throw it all together when dinner time comes.  If you don't use your grill during the colder weather, these are excellent baked in the oven too.  Serve both recipes to your guest and they will think you're a rock star :) 

And for your table setting convenience, take a look at the diagram above.  It amazes me how many people don't know how to set a proper place setting.  I know the days of being taught things like this in ancient classes like Home-Ec are long gone, so print it out and keep it on hand if you ever wonder where a fancy schmancy butter spreader goes or where the white wine glass goes versus the red wine glass...LOL!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half horizontally
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 lb. of thinly sliced deli ham
1 package sliced Havarti or Swiss cheese


Place chicken breasts in a 9X13 baking dish.  Lay ham slices on top of chicken, then top with cheese.  In a bowl, mix up soups and pour over chicken.  Bake at 350 for approx. 1 hour, or until bubbly and lightly browned on top.  *Note....the ham slices may make the chicken breasts turn pink while cooking...do not be alarmed...the chicken is done :)

Grilled Greek Potatoes

1-2 lbs. red potatoes, skin on
1 large sweet onion
1/2 stick of butter
Cavender's Greek Seasoning (I found mine at Wal-Mart in the spice aisle)

Thinly slice the potatoes and onion.  Place a layer of potatoes in the bottom of a foil pan, top with a layer of onions.  Cut butter into small pats, and place randomly on top of potato/onion layer.  Sprinkle with Greek Seasoning, repeat layers until dish is full.  Cover with foil and grill on medium-low for approximately 35-45 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.  Check often to prevent burning.  If baking, place ingredients in a 9X13 dish in layers, cover with foil and bake at 400 for approx. 1 hour. 

2 pies shells = Dinner + Dessert!

Ever have those nights were you're pressed for time, but want to serve something yummy and maybe a little something special for dessert?  Well, here's your solution, using frozen pies crusts!  They are sold 2 to a package, so use one for the  Cheesy Ham Quiche and one for our all time fave, Peanut Butter Pie.  This couldn't be easier, or yummier.  When I serve this, I also serve cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit on the side.  My family LOVES breakfast for dinner, and this has become a keeper at our house. Try it and be sure to let me know what you think!  The pie is, well.....heavenly.  It's been requested by Curt so many times, I know it by heart.  If you live around here, you'll recognize the taste if you have ever eaten at Essenhaus.  It is pretty darn close to the peanut butter pie they serve. If you're really feeling domestic, you could make homemade vanilla custard for the filling, but trust me when I say it's out of this world good with a box mix!  Take it to the next potluck you have, and you'll be a star!

Cheesy Ham Quiche

1 frozen deep dish pie shell
1 cup diced cooked ham (I used Louis Rich Carving Board deli ham)
3 eggs, beaten
1 green onion, diced
3 T. mayo
3/4 c milk
1 cup sharp shredded cheddar
salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 T. flour

Preheat oven to 400.  Remove pie shell from freezer 10 minutes before baking.  Prick sides and bottom of pie shell with fork and bake the shell for 10 minutes.  Next, place ham, green onion and cheese in pie shell.  Beat the eggs with the mayo, flour, milk and  s&p.  Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 40 minutes, or until egg mixture is set.  Slice and serve with a dollop of sour cream if desired. 

Peanut Butter Pie

1 deep dish frozen pie shell
1 large box of instant french vanilla pudding
milk
creamy or crunchy peanut butter, your choice
powdered sugar
Cool Whip

Bake the pie shell according to directions, let cool.  Prepare the vanilla pudding according to box directions for pie filling, set in fridge to set up.  Next, place about 1/4-1/3 cup peanut butter in large mixing bowl.  Add about 1 cup powdered sugar and mix with a fork until crumbly.  You may need to add more powdered sugar to make it crumbly.  Place half of the peanut butter mixture on the bottom of the cooled pie shell.  Add pudding, top with generous amount of Cool Whip, then sprinkle with the remaining peanut butter mixture.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 8.

Breakfast without breaking the bank!

Snow Day!!!  Yep, it's a winter wonderland here again.  The kids are still fast asleep, and it's almost 9:30.  To be honest, I love snow days.  They give us a unexpected fun day to sleep in, be lazy and just veg.  I like to make the kids a yummy breakfast on days like this....something other than their usual fare of cereal or instant breakfast. 

This morning, I'm surprising them with pancakes.  Problem is, I'm fresh out of Bisquick.  And you know what, I'm tired of buying Bisquick.  It's expensive when you think about what's in it...it's just flour, sugar, salt and some baking powder.  So, being the frugal Mama that I am, I dug into the old recipe stash and came across not only a recipe for Homemade Old Fashioned Pancakes, but also found one for Golden Waffles.  No more buying pre-made mixes for me.  I have everything on hand for both recipes, so I'm excited at the prospect of saving more money at the grocery store!  Score!!! 

If you're having a snow day like we are, whip up a batch and enjoy the day.  Or do what we do and enjoy them for dinner some evening with a side of bacon or sausage.  Yum!!! 

Golden Waffles

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon white sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat waffle iron. Beat eggs in large bowl with hand beater until fluffy. Beat in flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt and vanilla, just until smooth.
2. Spray preheated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto hot waffle iron. Cook until golden brown

Homemade Old Fashioned Pancakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 1/4 cups milk

1 egg

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Keepin' it Simple

Happy Icy Monday...as I type, I'm looking out at what looks like a forest of glass trees.  Beautiful, yes...but I'm sick and tired of winter.  I hate winter, I despise it.  I'm ready for sunshine, flowers, mowing the grass, hearing birds sing.  To be honest, I'm in a funk today.   This weather is depressing.  To break the funk, I've pulled up the bootstraps and hit the kitchen.  Cooking always soothes my soul.  Hopefully what I've cooked up today will soothe some empty tummies when dinner time rolls around.

I've also been in de-clutter mode, trying to get out of this mid-winter funk.  If you're like me, you may have years worth of cooking magazines, etc.  I have over a decade's worth of old cooking mags.  They're taking up valuable real estate, and to be honest, I don't have time to sit down and leisurely browse through them for recipe inspiration.  To get rid of the stacks without feeling guilty, I've come up with a compromise.  I am going through them one at a time, tearing out recipes I would like to make, and putting them in a 3 ring binder.  To make it easy to find these recipes, I've divided the binder into sections like a recipe book...categories like appetizers, desserts, soups/salads, main courses, etc.  So far I've whittled the pile down by at least 2 years worth!  It feels good to know where these recipes are now, and it also feels great to get back some cabinet space. 

Today's recipes are exactly what I'm cooking up in my kitchen as we speak.  I recently came across the recipe for Best Beef Tips and I couldn't love the recipe more.  It's super easy, cheap and very hearty.  And as a bonus, everyone here LOVES it!  Serve them over some hot buttered egg noodles, and I think you'll agree that this dish rocks!  For dessert, I'm trying a new recipe, in fact, it's one that I tore out of the above mentioned pile of magazines.  I can't wait to try Orange Citrus Bars.  They sound delish...like a lemon bar, but made with orange juice.  What a great way to get your Vitamin C, right?   Have a great Monday, stay warm, and keep your chins up.  Spring is on the way, the Groundhog said so, right? 

Best Beef Tips

1-2 lbs stew meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/2 cup milk or dry red wine

Combine all ingredients in crock pot.  Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours, or until meat is tender.  Serve over hot buttered noodles or mashed potatoes. 

Orange Citrus Bars

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, divided
1/2 c powdered sugar
1 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
4 large eggs
1/3 c orange juice
1/2 t. baking powder
additional powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350.  In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour and powdered sugar.  Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.  Press evenly into bottom of a 9X13 baking dish.  Bake 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.  In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs and juice until well mixed.  Combine 1/4 c flour and baking powder, add to sugar mixture, stirring to combine.  Pour onto hot baked crust, and bake 25 minutes or until set.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.  Makes 2 dozen bars. 

A Chocolate Love Story

Let me preface this post by saying I adore chocolate...I love love love it....I dream about it, I would eat a snail if it were covered in chocolate.  I hide my chocolate from the kids.  Chocolate should be one of the major food groups, after all, it comes from a bean.  There are certain times (ladies, you know what I mean) where I simply MUST have chocolate or someone may die.  Yes, I really, really LOVE chocolate.  Every now and then, I hear someone say they don't really care for chocolate.  WHAT?!  Those people need to get to a Dr. stat...they need and M.R.I or some fancy test to figure out what is mis-wired in their brain.  Seriously...

With that being said, chocolate let me down this weekend.  Big time.  I was super, duper excited when I came across a recipe for Chocolate Pancakes.  The picture that accompanied the recipe made me drool...dark, delectable chocolate pancakes sprinkled ever so lightly with powdered sugar and topped with fresh red raspberries.  Who wouldn't want to try that?  I showed the rest of the family, and we were excited to try a special Valentine's breakfast treat.  I measured and mixed the pancakes from scratch, got out the powdered sugar in a shaker, set the finest china on the table and started to cook.  From the get-go, I had a bad feeling.  These silly pancakes were sticking to the pan, not wanting to turn over...they spread and didn't "puff" up as I expected.  I tasted the first one off the griddle, hoping my heart was misleading me.  Nope...severe letdown.  Curt didn't even finish his first pancake.  If you know Curt, you know he never throws out food.  His pancake hit the trash.  Epic FAIL!  So bummed.  So save your heart the tragedy and don't ever try to make chocolate pancakes.  Me being the frugal gal that I am, I tried to eat one with Jif, thinking it would totally redeem it and make it taste like a Reese's cup...NOPE :(  Besides sharing things I think are great, I thought I should share when I have a big failure too...gotta be honest and share that even I, the Domestic Diva, have kitchen failures too :)

To save face with the family and make sure they get the recommended Valentine's dose of chocolate, tonight we'll be feasting on a tried and true recipe Chocolate Pudding Cake.  I've had this recipe since B.C....before children.  It's the easiest thing ever, and never ever lets me down, unlike those stupid pancakes!  Try it warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.  It's classic comfort food, and something special to share with your Valentine.  Happy Heart Day my friends!!

Chocolate Pudding Cake Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into small chunks

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large bowl, sift together flour, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, set aside.
2) In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla; add to flour mixture. Stir batter until just combined. Spread batter evenly into an 8 cup shallow baking dish. Set aside.
3) In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1/3 cup cocoa powder, brown sugar, and boiling water. Pour liquid evenly over batter, do not mix. Distribute chocolate chunks into batter. Bake until a tooth pick or skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out with crumbs adhering to it, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Wowzers....it's flippin' cold outside!  I HATE this weather...I've been cold all day long.  In fact, I can't even feel my fingers as I type this.  Please excuse any typos you may find because of the frozen fingers ;)  When it's cold like this, I love to make soup.  Any soup will do, there's just something comforting and creative about getting out my old blue LeCreuset stockpot and whipping up a batch of yumminess.  I love making up a soup recipe as I go...throw in a little bit of this, a little bit of that...and before you know it that darn stockpot is full and I have to share a big ol' container with friends or family.  I know that breaks everyone's hearts when that happens ;)  

My partner in diva-ness Kendra and I were having coffee this morning, and as we were sipping and chatting, she was perusing one of my 6,000 Paula Deen cookbooks.  (OK, so maybe not 6,000...maybe 5,999).  That made me remember one of my fave recipes from Miss Paula, her Confederate Bean Soup.  It's out of this world good, and sooo yummy on a cold night like this.  I have made it so many times, Kendra giggled at the page in the cookbook...it's stained and worn.  The true sign of a great recipe that's been used a LOT!  Either that, or the sign of a super sloppy cook who can't keep her cookbooks clean ;)   If you make this soup, let me tell ya...it's not low-cal.  Don't even try to substitute milk for the half & half.  If you do, Miss Paula will show up on your doorstop and beat you with a stick of butter!  I'm serious y'all.....

The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook by Paula H. Deen

Confederate Bean Soup

Serves 3 or 4

1/2 pound Hillshire Farms smoked sausage, sliced in rounds-1/4 inch thick (ground sausage is a delicious substitute if you don't care for smoked sausage)
2 slices bacon, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced (optional)
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups leftover baked bans, or one 16-ounce can Bush's Baked Beans
1 1/2 cups half-and-half

Saute sausage, bacon, garlic, onion, and pepper (if desired) in butter until bacon is cooked. Add beans and simmer for a few minutes over medium to low heat. Add half-and-half. Increase or decrease half-and-half for preferred thickness. Serve with piping-hot corn bread.

Guess who's back!!

Ahhh....the Diva is back from vacation!  Did you miss me?  Be honest...did you even know I was gone?!  After a much needed week in beautiful Cancun, Mexico, I'm back in the saddle again.  Getting back into the groove of cooking and cleaning has been hard this week.  I'm wondering why I didn't bring back our maid, Maria and all the wonderful cooks/waiters at our resort.  They sure do make you feel pampered!  Oh yeah, now I know why I didn't bring them back...that darn immigration thing...

If you've ever been to Mexico, you know how wonderful and cheap the vanilla is.  I usually bring home 3-4 large bottles for all my baking, and by the time the next trip rolls around, I need to restock.  This trip was no different, but I also brought back 3 of the largest, plump vanilla beans.  I pondered what to make with these precious beans, then came across a recipe the other day that I'm super excited to try.  It's a recipe for Vanilla Extract.  It couldn't be easier, and the recipe claims the flavor and intensity puts the best store bought extracts to shame.  I can't wait to see how it turns out and how it tastes. 

Like I said earlier, getting back into the groove of cooking and cleaning has been rough this week.  It's times like these when I lack inspiration and motivation that I turn to great, easy recipes like Hearty Beef Casserole.  This is so simple, so hearty and a real crowd pleaser.  I usually have everything on hand for it too, so it's great on those nights when you just don't know what to make.  You can even substitute the spaghetti sauce for any pasta sauce.  Tonight, I'm making it with Vodka Cream sauce...yum! Try it with a nice green salad on the side and I think you'll be happy that you did! 

Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup vodka (your choice...even the cheapest of vodkas will work, no need to use Grey Goose!)
1 vanilla bean
1 small glass jar with tight fitting lid (I'm using a small mason jar)

Split the bean lengthwise, loosening the inside of the bean with the tip of your knife.  Place in jar with vodka, seal and let sit on counter top for 2-3 months.  The longer it sits, the more intense the flavor. 

Hearty Beef Casserole

4 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 14 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.75 oz can)
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cook pasta and set aside.  Brown ground beef, drain.  Stir in spaghetti sauce, set aside.  In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and soup. Stir until blended.  Drain pasta.  Spoon half of the beef into a greased 9X13 baking dish.  Top with pasta, soup mixture, and remaining beef.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.  Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes and 350. 

Mangia Mangia!

I'm so excited this morning!  After a wonderful lunch with my Mom-in-law last week at the Olive Garden, I was determined to find a recipe for our favorite soup, the Chicken & Gnocchi Soup.  I am so pleased to share that I found one, tweaked it just a tad and viola!  It's perfect!!  I ate 2 bowls of it last night and the best part of all was that Lexi loved it too.  She is so picky, but she really loved this soup.  It's easy, delicious and makes a perfect winter meal with a side salad and some delicious garlic bread or bread sticks on the side.  Warning for my dieting/health conscious pals...this soup is NOT lo-cal by any means, but if you limit yourself to a bowl with salad, you'll be just fine.  It's worth the splurge, trust me.  When you go to bed at night anticipating having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow, you know you made a great soup!

Speaking of salad, I usually don't care for Italian dressed salads, but I adore the Olive Garden's salad.  If you're making the Chicken & Gnocchi soup, you might as well make the salad that goes with it!  This recipe is dead-on!  If you're like most of us and trying to save money by eating at home, make these 2 recipes, set your table with a pretty tablecloth, a candle and have a special dinner at home.  I think you'll agree it's fantastico!  Mangia, Mangia!  (That's Italian for Eat! Eat!) 

Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (approx. 1-1 1/2 chicken breasts)
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
1 quart half and half
1 14 ounce can chicken broth  (I use the broth from when I cook the chicken)
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup carrots, finely shredded
1 cup onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin oil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese – optional
1 pound potato gnocchi – I found mine in the frozen section at Meijer..Meijer brand is great!

Saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil, over medium heat when the onion becomes translucent, add the flour, and make a roux, let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.
Cook gnocchi according to package directions.
Into the roux add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings, simmer until soup is heated through.   Serves 6-8

Olive Garden Salad

1 bag American Blend Dole Salad
4-5 slices Red Onion
4-6 Black Olives
2-4 Pepperochini if you like a sweet pepper you could use a Banana Pepper
1/2 C. Croutons
1 small Tomato Quartered
Freshly grated Romano Cheese, Parmesan Cheese works well too!
Chill one salad bowl in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Place bag of salad in bowl. Place on top of lettuce but red onion, black olives, banana peppers, tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Olive Garden Salad Dressing on top.

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1/2 C. Mayonnaise
1/3 C. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
2 Tbsp. Corn Syrup
2 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp. Romano Cheese
1/4 tsp. Garlic Salt – or one clove garlic minced
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. Parsley Flakes
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
sugar (optional)
Olive Garden Salad Mix
Place all ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If desired, add a little extra sugar if you prefer a little sweeter taste.  Will keep for about 10 days in fridge.