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Coupon Mom.com

I just was told about this site and rushed right out to buy her book. (only $15 and well worth it) I am only on chapter 8 and I have learned SO much! I am so excited. The book warns that it take at least 6 weeks of collecting weekly newspaper adds to really get going and understand the system they are teaching you. And I believe them. In the beginning it takes more time and effort. But they tell me after like 6 months it will be a lot easier.

Cutting coupons can save you money, but having a coupon system will save you A LOT of money. If you could buy approx $100 worth of grocery’s for $20, wouldn’t it be worth a few hours a week? I sure think so. And here I am trying it out.

So far I have 2 weekends worth of adds. I have started going on line and printing coupons. I am learning about coupons that you can put right onto your store card from on the internet NO paper – it just comes off your total when you check out! And did you know that you can use (in most stores – need to check your store policies) a manufactures coupon and a store coupon on the same item?? Me neither! How neat is that? And if your store doubles coupons … it will usually double a manufactures coupon and not there own. So if you use a store and a manufactures coupon – you might be able to get the equivalent of 3 coupons off? Now if you got that deal at the same time as the store had it on sale … you can get it to next to nothing! And couponmom.com has it all organized so its easier for you and takes you less time then it would figure it all out on your own! No matter where you live in the country!

I have a lot of friends who swear they haven’t paid for a toothbrush in years! And that is only the beginning.

Honestly you need to be flexible with your brands, cant be brand specific. And there is work involved – but no matter what stage of life you are in, you could always use more money right? Me too! I will keep you updated as I go ……

Flank Steak with Stuffing

This is one of my ALL TIME favorite meals. I would beg my mom for days to make this. Same with my brother and now .... its one of my husband and daughters favorite meals. Guess you really cant go wrong with this meal! I always thought it was major labor intensive, but the first time I made it I was really suprised how easy it was .... And as usual I serve with rice (the dressing and they sauce goes great over almost anything. My mother always served with canned green beans (ick) but its good with frozen veggies!

FLANK STEAK 1 flank steak, about 2 pounds

Sauce:
1 c. hot water

1 bouillion cube

1 T instant coffee

1 T red wine vinegar

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

This is what the original recipe says. I usually use 3 – 4 c. of water and increase the rest proportionally, because I like lots of juices over the rice.

Stuffing:
6 slices bread, torn up

1 tsp. poultry seasoning

1 tsp. onion salt 1 or 2 eggs, beaten

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

*our family loves the stuffing so much we usually make double (once in awhile triple) .. any extra wrap up in a cheese cloth and just pop it in the pan next to the steak cooking.

Mix ingredients together. Place the flank steak flat, with 4 pieces of string or twine UNDER it. Lay the A string down first, then the B strings on it, then the flank steak on top of that. Place the stuffing on top of the steak, roll it up from B to B', and tie the strings, the B strings first and then the A string.

Salt the bottom of a large frying pan generously, place the rolled-up steak in the pan and sear on all sides. Sprinkle the top of the steak with paprika and dried parsley flakes, if desired (I don't). Add the sauce and cook over slow heat, just at the simmer, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Serve with rice and green beans.

Diebetic Meal - (check with your doctor for your guildlines!)
Measure out your protien 1 oz cooked meat is one serving (for dinner I am allowed 3 servings of protien so that 3 oz cooked for me)
The stuffing is a starch/carb, my dietician said that I could substitue the dressing for my fruit serving. So I would be allowed 1 serving of stuffing (1/3 cup) instead of a serving of fruits for this meal.
Can't have the peas with the rice, so I would recomend keeping the rice and eating your recomended serving of rice (1/3 c is 1 serving for a startch) and bake some dark green veggies in the oven, I would choose zuciini and onions, maybe a carrot - 1/2 cup cooked veggies is one serving of veggies or 1 cup raw. (I am supposed to have 2 sservings of veggies for dinner. That means 1 cup cooked veggies or 2 cups raw veggies for me.)

These are some pictures that my mom took to help me make it the first time ... the diretions were a bit too confusing so maybe these pictures will help you too!

Turkey Time - Leftovers!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! (US residents!) Now what to DO with all that left over turkey?? I personally am not a fan of the turkey, growing up we had Cornish game hens every year ... but that is a recipe for a different post!

Hubby loves the turkey - so he cooks the turkey every year. I am in charge of left overs. Never having had it growing up - this was hard for me. So I asked around. Here are some of the recipes I received. If you have more, please feel free to post them in the comment section!

This is my favorite one. I don't each much soup but this has so much yummness in it ... that is more like liquid dinner. Just YUMM!

LEFTOVER TURKEY SOUP (this ones all me!)
1 or 2 carcasses with lots of meat
water (cover bones)
1-2 c. chopped celery
1-2 c. chopped carrots
1 c. white rice mostly cooked rice (or leftovers if you have them)
Use all leftover vegetables you have in your refrigerator
Use all leftover gravy and dressing (I leave this part out - but it part of the original recipe so I include it for you to try)
Break up carcass and place in a large pot. Cover with water and simmer until all meat is off the bones. Skim off fat and remove bones and skin. Now, add all the above ingredients to the pot and let simmer for an hour or so. Add salt, pepper, and favorite spices to your taste. Freeze leftovers - they're good anytime (use before 3-4 years).

TURKEY ENCHILADAS: (just like my Chicken Enchiladas - but with turkey leftovers, this is hubbys special once a year treat!)
Ingredients:
Corn tortillas
Shredded Turkey
Jack Cheese (grated – big pile)
White medium sized Onion (coarsely chopped)
Green Enchilada Sauce (I like LaVictoria best) – Big can-

Layer-
Sauce
Tortillas
Onions
Turkey
Cheese
Sauce
Tortillas
Cheese
Sauce
Tortillas
Sauce (pour the rest of the can out here)
Cheese-add sliced olives on top and maybe sliced avocados!
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins to 45 mins until cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling on the side
Let cool and serve with a side salad, vanilla ice-cream would follow this meal good if looking for a dessert.

TURKEY WRAPS- (from Leanne)
Left over turkey
Mayo
Cranberry sauce
Bacon
Lettuce
and Cheese

Throw it all in a tortilla, roll and they are yummy!

TURKEY PIZZA- (from Heather)
1 Boboli pizza crust
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
left over turkey
shredded Monterrey jack cheese
chopped green onions
Spread cranberry sauce on Boboli, top with turkey and green onions. Sprinkle on cheese and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is hot and bubbly!

GRILLED TURKEY AND CHEDDAR SANDWICH (from Mairia)
I like to use a thicker whole wheat bread for this. My personal fave is Roman Mean Sungrain Bread.

Sprinkle skillet with salt of choice or even better sprinkle with Ranch Dressing Mix Powder from Hidden Valley (I cook with this a lot in place of salt)
Lightly butter one side of two pieces of bread.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the buttered side of the bread.
Lay one piece of bread in skillet butter side down.
Add a slice of cheddar cheese on the bread.
Now add your turkey either thinly sliced or in small chunks.
Add another slice of cheddar cheese to bread then lay 2nd piece of bread over it butter side up.

Cook in skillet until bread is golden brown on the bottom then turn. If you have a lid for the skillet use it for a minute to help melt the cheese.
The sand is done when both pieces of bread are browned to taste.
Serve with desired condiments! (I personally like mustard!)

- We make sandwiches, turkey noodle soup, BBQ Turkey sands, Grilled Ranch turkey sands or salads, turkey and cheese omelets.. well as you can see.. just about anything!

TURKEY LOGS (from Lanna)
Mix two cups turkey with half a package of cream cheese (or light cream cheese). Add 1 cup grated cheese (any kind) and ½ cup bacon bits. Add spices to taste (garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper, Mrs. Dash, basil, oregano, rosemary, etc.).

In Pillsbury crescent roll dough, place 1/3 cup scoop in each triangle and roll into a ball, sealing the openings so the turkey mixture is entirely encased in the dough. Bake according to crescent package directions (about 425 for 13-15 minutes, I think). Top with melted cheese sauce, if desired. Serve with pilaf or wild rice.

Do NOT put lemon pepper in it. It doesn’t taste good. And, don’t add all the above-mentioned spices. Taste as you go and remember the flavors will get stronger as it sits and melds.

TURKEY SLIDERS (from Tracy)
Left over rolls (I had Hawaiian sweet rolls and regular white)
Left over turkey
Left over cranberry sauce
Dijon mustard (I used honey dijon)

Cut the rolls in half add some turkey and mix cranberry sauce with dijon mustard to taste and spead it on the roll. YUMMMM!

TURKEY QUICHE (from Louise)
4 eggs
1 ¼ half & half or heavy cream
Chopped turkey meat
½ cup cheese of your choice
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Small can of diced green chilis (optional)
Chopped parsley or cilantro (optional)
¼ of a medium onion finely chopped (optional)

You can even use some frozen vegetables if you have them on hand. Quiche is so versatile.
Also you can make your own pie crust, buy a frozen pie crust, I prefer the homemade but the Pillsbury roll out ones in the refrigerator section of the grocery store are good too.
Bake at 400 for 40 minutes, yum!!

Protecting You and Your Family from the Swine Flu

Ok these are just general things you can do to keep healthy and protect against most sicknesses. Its also just a lesson in good old plain hygiene But the Swine Flu also know as the H1M1 virus is deadly and killing healthy people, not just attacking the weak.

#1 – Don’t touch your face! Teach your kids not to touch there faces.
#2 – Use a hand sanitizer, send one to school with your kids (if the school permits it) and carry one in your car, purse and at your work place.
#3 – Disinfect high traffic surfaces in your home, cars and your work places.
#4 – In the pubic restrooms … dry your hands with a paper towel and then use the paper towel to grab the door handle and open the door and then take that paper towel and throw it out at the nearest trash can.
#5 – When you come home from a place with a lot of people – baths or showers for everyone, wash all those strangers germs off. This includes daily bath’s/showers for the kids as they come home from school! Remember there are parents there who send there kids to school sick cause that cant afford to take the time off work!
#6 – Have the whole family take there vitamins daily.
#7 – Find a preventative medicine or something like it to start giving your family. (Make sure its ok for there age rang.) Examples are: Echinacea, Vitamin C, colloidal silver, extracts with high amounts of antioxidants in them, or just a glass of OJ or grapefruit juice in the morning (I can’t stand straight grapefruit juice – so we buy Ruby Pomegranate – YUM!)

I am sure there is more – but these are the basic’s for you to think and about and to get you going. If you know of anything else, please feel free to comment.

And if all that fails and someone in your family gets flu symptoms take them to the doctors immediately and stop contact with everyone you know! Please don’t spread this virus!

Interesting tidbit!!! I got an email about how a doctor had hear that you put an onion, cut in half, in the bedroom of a person with the flu and in the morning the onion was brawn/black and he took it in and tested it the onion had soaked up the flu germs! The person was feeling better by the morning (not cured but better). I haven’t tried it – but what do you have to loose to try it, just the cost of the onion!?

Its Time to Start the Christmas Shopping List!

OK its the beginning of the school year. Time to make your list of who you need to buy for. Then decided what you are going to buy for them. Then look for just those things on sale and stick to the list! It will keep you from over buying, and don't make impulse purchases - you cant buy too much!

Christmas is about giving, it not about the cost of the present, its the thought. Time to teach our children that now.

I am in charge of all the shopping and wrapping in my house. My husband doesn't get into the shopping, so I do his share. The kids are too small to do there shopping so its all up to me. Here is what we do.

Everyone gets some thing from Santa
Everyone get something from the parents
Everyone gets something from the rest of the kids.
We get something for my brother and his wife (they have any kids so that simplifies it)
We get something for both our parents

Just those things add up. When I was growing up my parents had more money then we do and it was only my brother and me so everyone got something from everyone else. I tried doing that and if we have time and money this year we will do that again. But I don't expect to have the money to do that. And that is OK. We will just teach the kids more about the given then the receiving at Christmas time.

Also this Christmas will be a lot less toys and more things they need. Like we all need a new sheet set, that will probably be arranged by Santa. My husband needs more work pants. My girls will probably get something to play with outside in our backyard. If we can we will get a toy as well, but they have enough really, and hardly play with what they have.

Then about a week before christmas we spend 2 days cooking treats and divide them up on Christmas plates and drop them off at friends homes on the second night.

OK so sit down and make you list - check it twice and have a happy Christmas season and don't spend more then you have. (the list helps A LOT and keep it in your wallet or purse until its all checked off)

Aunt Lisa's Meatloaf

OK I have to start by saying I detest Meatloaf. And this one I was able to eat for dinner. I can't say that its a favorite of mine, however it is my husbands favorite (and his Aunts recipe). So I made this for him. I hope that our children grow to love it too, its really easy and not to expensive, I got the lean ground beef so it cost a bit more, but I think lean beef just taste's better. One of the problems I have with meatloaf is whenever I have had it its always dry and people tell me to put catchup on it. This is moist and has so much flavor on its own there is no need for any catchup!

Aunt Lisa's Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 1/2lbs ground beef

2 eggs

2 T water

1 T Worcestershire Sauce

1 envelope Dry Onion Soup Mix

Breadcrumbs (add till you get the right texture)

Combine eggs, water, Worcestershire sauce, soup mix and mix together. Add bread crumbs (stirring into the mixture) until the mixture becomes the same consistency of the ground beef. Add ground beef to the mixture and mix well with hands.

Spray and glass loaf pan (I use one with a lid) and put the mixture in the pan. make sure its about the same height all around.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hrs (until the thermometer shows the middle of the loaf is at 170 degrees or above.

You may want to drain it 1/2 way through (if you are not using the lean meat). If you are not using a pan with a lid and you notice the top getting too done they you may want to put tin foil on the top.

Leftovers!

My husband loves leftover meat loaf sandwiches. 2 pieces of bread, spread a little mayonaise on the bread and slice the meatloaf for the insides! Poof, another meal done!

Texting and Driving

This is a PSA (Public Service Announcement) made in the UK. Its to wake people up to the danger to texting while driving. Please everyone, watch it, share it. And most of all don't text while driving, or talk on cell phones while driving. Concentrate on the road and get home to your family safe that night. Everything else can wait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF0_7qC6YFo

I listened to a new broadcast about this, in the film 4 people died including the baby, while the driver lives to remember it.

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.

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.

Price Shopping

I was just shocked the other day when I went and did my shopping at a new store. I went to a store called Smart & Final, it’s a bulk store that isn’t quite as big as Costco or Sams Club. (you also don’t need a membership to shop as S&F.)

I can’t afford a membership to both big ones, so I have a Sam’s Club membership. I get whatever I can there and then I head off to the local grocery store and pick up all the things I couldn’t get at Sam’s Club. When I have time I also got to the local farmers market and pick up what I can there.

I tell you this because I want you to know that I do try to spend wisely. So when I bought my spices at Smart & Final last week I was astounded and realized I need to do a SERIOUS price check of local stores and write down what to buy where.

Normally I buy McCormick brand spices. But I needed ground Cumin for diner that night and Smart & Final had a sale that was soo good I had to go there and by the time I was through I was too tired for the grocery store. So I went looking in the baking section at Smart and Final. For $6 I got the Trade Wind brand cumin. The McCormick one next to is was $5!!!!!!! (yes I know the McCormick one is ground oregano – but as this story says .. I was out or cumin!)

The Cream of Tarter was just as surprising. The large Trade Wind brand was $12 and the small McCormick was about $6.50!!!

So now I need to go and make a list of items I use a lot. Basics or staples they are often called.

My bell peppers and cucumbers are cheapest at Sam’s Club. The rest of the veggies are cheapest from Farmers Market along with fruits. Now I am going to have to see what Sam’s Club and Smart & Final have in the spices, flour and sugars. See where it’s the most cost effective for us. I won’t tell you where to shop – your area may be different, I just urge you to sit down this next week and spend extra time in the stores to find out what you need and the best place to get them. I live close to all 4 stores – so I can shop at any with out worrying about gas. If you have to think about gas that's OK just plan ahead and have a freezer handy and maybe turn a hall closet into a storage pantry. Just remember when storing food you want a mostly controlled climate so it doesn’t go bad. Also an interesting note I just found on some Smart & Finals except WIC (Women Infant and Children) checks here in California.