Saturday, July 11, 2009

Recycling - you should do it too!

OK yesterday I needed milk and I did not have a lot of money, so I took our recycling out to the car and packed it. My mom called at the same time and suggested we go over and pick up there recycling too. Daddy had mentioned it that morning. What timing – it was meant to be.

So we go to Ralphs (Kroger in other places of the USA) and fill up two grocery carts with recycles and wait in line in the sun. 4 big bins later … we have $18.92 to spend on groceries! WOOHOOO

So we go inside and water is 2 cases for $7 (reg 5.99 each), this is something I keep in the car at all times during the summer but not so much during the winter. We needed 2 gallons of milk, it was 1.99 (reg 2.99), milk never lasts long around here. We passed the peanut butter isle and the small jars of Skippy were .99 each limit of 4 – we got all 4 (reg 3.39 each) peanut butter is a treat cause its kind of pricy so this was awesome. Then I figured we had a few more dollars left so we stopped by the cereal isle and got the big box of Cheerios for 3.99 (reg 5.19) again another treat cause it cost so darn much and doesn’t last long at all.

We put everything up on the check out line and my 2 year old was acting up and distracting me a bit so I look up and the total says $39.11 and I about have a heart attack! LOL But then I remember I needed to give them the club card … off came $17.78, WHEW! Then I gave them the recycling slip and off came another $18.92, for a total of $2.41 left for me to pay. That much I could afford and happened to have that much change on me. The stupid CRV recycling fee for BUYING water threw off my total it was 2.40 – without that I would have had to pay one penny! LOL!!

Not a bad days shopping for someone who was worried about beening able to afford milk! Just wanted to share my very happy shopping experience. Even if you are not struggleing as much as we are, think of how much money you might save your family by recycling things your family uses anyways. Not to mention that it is good for our Earth.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Our 4th of July Dinner!

We didnt do anything huge, my parents came over and we BBQed and sat around and ate some good food. We had a great evening. So I just thought I would share the food!
These are Baby Back Pork Ribs. We chop them rack up into about 3 rib segments each. Then toss them all in a pot cover them with water and sprinkel Lawerys season salt and garlic salt. Bring the water to a boil and then cook for an hour.

THEN walk them on out to the BBQ and brushyour favorite BBQ sause on it nad let them soak in the flavor for about 7 mins aside (med heat) ALL DONE!
This is our favorite salad. Strawberry's with a garlic dressing!
Garlic Dressing ;
(taste's best when made a day ahead and refrigerated - last about 2 weeks in the fridge)
1/2 c vegatable oil
1/3 c sugar
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 t salt
1/4 t paprika
pinch white pepper
put in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shack well.
Lettus, sliced strawberries, shredded Monterey Jack Cheese and chopped walnuts
This is a lemon bread. Goes great with the above salad and we used a lemon fresh off the lemon tree in our back yard. YUMMM
Lemon Bread;
preheat oven to 350 degrees.
grease bottom and sides of 8x4x2 inch loaf pan
In a med bowl combine 1 3/4 c flour, 3/4 c sugar, 2 t baking powder, 1/4 t salt stir and set aside.
In another med bowl combine 1 beaten egg, 1 c milk, 1/4 c butter melted, 2 t shredded lemon peel, and 1 T lemon juice, stir well.
Pour egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir untill just moisten the batter should be lumpy, spoon into the greased pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 mins, use the tooth pck trick ... it needs to come out clean.
In a small bowl stir together 3 T lemon juice and 1 T sugar. After the bread has cooked but is still in the pan pour it over the top of the bread. Let sit 10 min and then move loaf to a wire rack to cool before serving. *I cook this in the afternoon so its totally cool by dinner time and I am not backing in the dinner rush ... you can even cook it in the morning and let it sit all day, but I loveit to much ti wait that long to eat it! heeheehee
Grilled Veggies! You can use any ones you want, I just happned to have these on hand. Zuccinii and Sweet Maoui Oninions. Cut them big enough that they wont fall through the grill. So place your veggies on the grill and brush on some olive oil on each and sprinkle with Lawyers season salt. BBQ till soft or squishy depends on who you like it. They are great.