Mom's Mexican Salad

This was my absolute favorite dinner my mom made when growing up.  It's safe to say it was a household favorite, and the choice for many birthday dinners!  It was also the first dinner I made for Ryan, and probably a crucial part in his decision that he wanted to marry me. LOL!  I've made my own version that you can find in an early post that uses different chips and a different dressing.

Ingredients
Iceberg Lettuce, shredded
Tomatoes, Cut in smaller pieces
Purple onion, Chopped
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 lb ground beef, fully cooked
Frito's
8 oz Catalina dressing
Grated cheese

Directions
Combine all ingredients in bowl.  Toss with dressing and top with grated cheese!  This meal is great for an evening you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen!

Coupon shopping at CVS week 8/26

This week deals require you to buy the Sunday's paper that include coupon booklets.  There are three different coupon booklets.  1. Smart Source (SS) this one does not come in the Paris, only in the Dallas Paper. 2. Red Plum (RP) Is always in the Paris Paper. 3. Proctor & Gamble (PG), comes out once a month, my favorite coupons!  This week you only need the RP and PG, so if you don't already have the paper you might be able to find one at a convenient store.  Also check with parents, grandparents, or neighbors to see if they use the coupon books that come in Sunday paper.  Most of the time you will need multiple coupon booklets.  This week I used four.

All the deals I got this week were done at CVS.  I did two separate transactions that way the Extra Bucks I received in the first transaction I used in the second. 

Transaction #1 (Advil, Dawn Dish Soap, John Frieda Hair Product)

John Frieda Deal
Buy 1 John Frieda Full Repair Root Lifting Foam $4.99
Buy 1 John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo $4.99
Buy 1 John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner $4.99
Buy 1 John Frieda Full Repair Styling Spray $4.99
Spend $20.00, Receive $10.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 1Pay $19.96, Receive $10.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $2.49 each, when you buy all 4

Advil Deal
Advil, 40-50 ct, PM 16-20 ct, Children’s Liquid, 0.5 or 4 oz $4.49Buy 2, Receive $4.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 1
Use $1.50/1 – Advil Children’s Product, limit 4 – (facebook.com)
Or $1.00/1 – Advil P.M, 16ct or Larger – (advil.com)
Or $1.00/1 ThermaCare 2 ct or larger, Advil 40 ct or larger, Advil PM 16 ct or larger, Children’s Advil 4 oz or larger, or Infant Advil 1/2 oz or larger from RP 8/26 (exp 10/13)
9/14)
Pay $6.48, Receive $4.00 Extra BucksFinal Price: $1.24 each, when you buy 2

Dawn Dish Soap Deal
Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, 9-10.3 oz $0.99
Use $0.75/1 Dawn Hand Renewal, Power Clean, Bleach Alternative or Oxi, excludes trial/travel size, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 8/26 (exp 9/30)
Use $0.50/1 Dawn Product, excludes trial/travel size, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 8/26 (exp 9/30) Final Price: Dawn Hand Renewal $0.24, Regular Dawn Dish Soap $0.49

Transaction #2 Cover Girl Eye Shadow

Buy 8 Covergirl Eye Enhancers Eye Shadows $5.79, regular price
Buy One Get One 50% Off
Spend $30.00, Receive $10.00 Gas Card, Limit 5
Use four $3.00/2 Covergirl Products, excludes trial/travel size limit of 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 8/26 (exp 9/30)
Pay $22.74, Use your Extra Bucks from Transaction 1 of $10.00 & $4.00, Now Pay $8.74 Receive $10.00 Gas CardFinal Price before using Extra Bucks: $1.59 each, when you buy 8


Always double check your reciept.  I almost paid full price for some of my eyeshadows before I noticed they didn't take off the 50% on some of them.

Slow Cooked Pork

I love cooking dinner in my slow cooker!  There is really nothing to it.  You literally throw your ingredients in, and let it cook all day while filling your house with a yummy smell.  This particular dish would be great for Sunday lunch! 

• 4 cups of baby carrots, or 3 medium carrots sliced
• 1 boneless pork shoulder roast(3-4 lbs)
• 1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (10oz) green enchilada sauce
• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

Place carrots in slow cooker.  Add roast, beans, enchilada sauce and cilantro.  Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

After 5 hours of cooking enjoy this tasty meal! 

Portobello-Chicken Lo Mein

I'll keep this blog short and sweet!  This Asian pasta dish is one of my favorites!  I don't think you can go wrong with the blend of carrots, mushrooms, spinach, and slightly sweet sauce!

Ingredients
4 oz. linguine
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp honey
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
2 Tbsp sesame oil, divided
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1-3/4 cups sliced baby portobello mushrooms
2 cups fresh baby spinach

Directions

• Cook linguine according to package directions.
• In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, broth, vinegar, honey, salt, and ginger until smooth; set aside.
• In large skillet stir fry chicken in 1 Tbsp oil until no longer pink.  Remove from skillet and keep warm.
• Stir fry carrots and onion in 1 Tbsp oil for 2 minutes.  Add mushrooms; stir fry for 2 minutes.

• Add spinach; stir fry 1-2 minutes longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender and spinach is wilted.  I just love the colors in this stir fry!

• Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.  Drain linguine. Add chicken and linguine to the pan; heat through.

Enjoy!!

I Love Coupons!

OK, so I have to admit I'm addicted to coupons!  Don't worry I'm not as crazy as some of the ladies on TLC, although that might not be such a bad thing!  When I'm not to busy or there is a deal I just can't  pass up I go a little coupon over board!  Last summer was my first time to try (thanks to seeing all the great stuff my Sister In-Law Angie was snagging), and I've been hooked ever since.  I had enough shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, deodorant, kitchen soap, laundry detergent, toothbrushes, mouthwash, etc.. stocked up that I didn't have to buy any of it for a whole year!  The best part about it, I got almost everything for $0.00 - $0.50!!!  I'll start posting my weekly deals on Monday night that way everyone reading this that would like to save some extra money can try!

Deal from CVS

 



1. Listerine: On sale for $2.99 and you receive $2.00 back in Extra Bucks.  (If your not familiar with extra bucks, its a thing CVS does on certain items each week when you scan your CVS card.  After you pay for your items on your receipt it will print out the extra bucks that you can turn around and use as money at CVS)
I also printed a coupon off of www.coupons.com that was good for $1.00 off of 1 Listerine whitening product.
So with it being on sale for $2.99 plus my $1.00 off coupon that brings it to $1.99, now consider the $2.00 you get back in EB (Extra Bucks) that's like getting it for FREE!

2. Colgate Kids Toothpaste: On sale for 2 for $2.69.  There are no EB (Extra Bucks) on this deal, but at www.colgate.com you can print off 2 separate coupons for $0.50 off 1.  Since your buying 2 you need 2 coupons!  (Sometimes coupons will have a deal where it is so much off of 2 items.) 
So with the sale being 2 for $2.69 minus the coupon savings of $1.00 you pay $1.69 for both which comes to $0.85 for each!  Not free but still a good deal considering regular price at Wal-Mart is 2 for $4.56.

There was a third deal this week on General Mills Cheerios, but the store was already out:(  Luckily at CVS you can get a rain check for the sale price and the Extra Bucks deal! 
So here is the deal if your interested.
The cereal is on sale for $2.50 and when you buy 2 you receive $2.00 back in Extra Bucks.  At www.coupons.com you can print off a coupon that is good for $1.00/2 Cheerios.
So you buy 2 boxes of cereal for a total of $5.00 use your $1.00 off coupon which makes your total $4.00, now consider that $2.00 you get back in extra bucks its like getting 2 boxes for $2.00!  That's $1.00 each!

Deal from Walgreens

1. Colgate Total Advanced: (So this actually isn't that best deal, but considering I'm out of toothpaste it was the best I could especially considering I haven't bought toothpaste in a year.)
The toothpaste was on sale for buy one get one free.  At www.colgate.com you can print off2 separate coupon's for $0.75 off 1.  Even though its buy one get one you are still buying two items so you can use two coupons.
The toothpaste was priced for $4.29, so subtract both your coupons for a total of $1.50 its like getting 2 for $2.79!  That's $1.40 each.

2. Glade Expressions Air Freshener: On sale for $2.99 and when you buy one you receive $1.00 back in Register Rewards(Register Rewards on used just like the Extra Bucks are used at CVS.).  At www.coupons.com you can print a coupon off that is good for $1.00 off 1 Glade Expression Fragrance Mist Starter Kit.
So it's on sale for $2.99, subtract your coupon it brings the price to $1.99.  Now considering you get $1.00 back in RR (Register Rewards) its like getting it for $0.99!

3. Neosporin Essentials: On sale for Buy one get one 50% off!  The Neosporin is regular priced at $8.99 so when you buy the first one you get the 2nd one for $4.50.  That's a total of $13.49 for the 2.  At www.neosporinessentials.com you can print off a coupon for $3.00 off 1, but since you are buying 2 things of neosporin make sure you print off 2 of those coupons.  Now you can subtract $6.00 from your total cost to make a total of $7.49 for 2 or $3.75 each!  Once again not bad considering regular price for one is $8.99.

4.  Nivea Body Wash: On sale for $3.99 and when you buy one you receive $2.00 in RR.  So that's like buying it for $1.99! 


OK so that's a lot to take in, but don't give up without trying it once!  If you need more help a good place to learn more is www.thekrazycouponlady.com, or just give me a call I'd be glad to help you out!

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

The other day while I was on Pinterest I saw this delicious looking cake, and knew that my mom had made one similar before.  So I called my mom and asked her for the recipe, and to borrow her bundt pan because I didn't have one.  My sweet momma delivered the recipe to me inside a new bundt pan for me!  Thank you Mom!  I will now be baking a lot more cakes!  So when comparing my mom's recipe to the one on Pinterest they were very similar only my mom's called for less ingredients! 
Ingredients for my Mom's Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

• 1 yellow box cake mix
• 1 small box of instant vanilla pudding
• 1 small box of instant chocolate pudding
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup of oil
• 1 1/2 cup of water
• 1 1/2 pkg milk chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat your oven 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients and pour into your bundt pan,  Bake for 45 minutes to one hour.

This cake is so rich and so moist!  I think I'll go enjoy another piece right now!!
Note: My mom has made it with 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding instead of one of each, and it is still delicious, and gives the cake more of a yellow color!

Entertaining Toddlers & Feeding Birds

Making Bird Feeders

Aiden and Peyten love the outdoors and they love making things.  So this activity was a big hit with them, and it was a big hit with me because of the simplicity! 

Materials 

Empty toilet paper roll

Peanut Butter

Bird seeds

Directions

Take your toilet paper roll and spread it with peanut butter, and then roll it in bird seeds.

Hang on a tree branch to feed the birds!



Shrimp Scampi & Cheese Fries

Shrimp Scampi

I usually don't cook shrimp, but I came across this recipe that just seemed to easy and sounded to good to pass up!  Not to mention it easily fits into a budget considering the only thing I didn't already have on hand was the shrimp and a few lemons.

Ingredients

4 tsp olive oil
1 1/4 pounds of med shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup of minced parsley (fresh or dry)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Optional Lemon Wedges

How to prepare

Heat your olive oil in a skillet and saute the shrimp for 2-3 minutes until they turn a pink color.  Add the garlic and stir constantly for about 30 seconds.  Remove the shrimp from the skillet to a dish where they can stay warm.
In the skillet stir in the chicken broth, wine, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper.  Bring it to a boil, and boil uncovered until the liquid is reduced by half.
Pour the liquid over the shrimp and enjoy!   



Cheese Fries

First things first.....these are oh so yummy and on the lighter side when it comes to Cheese Fries!  I am definitely never again buying those nasty frozen fries!  Also once again the only thing I didn't already have in my pantry for this dish was the potatoes, so I'd say tonight was quite the budget savoy dinner!

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes (I used russet)
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
cheddar cheese

How to prepare

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with some cooking spray.
I peeled my potatoes, but if you want the extra fiber leave it on!

Now cut your potatoes in half.

Now cut your half in half.  (Who knew cutting potatoes would make a great way to explain fractions.  Who knows what fraction your entire potato is cut up into now?)

I'll give you a hint, my picture is only half of the potato and there are only two slices.

 Now proceed to cut each quarter into thin slices!

Okay, enough cutting!  In a large bowl combine all your slices and oil.  Make sure you toss well.  Add the seasoning and toss to coat.

Place the slices on your baking sheet in a single layer.  Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.  Depending on your oven and how thick your slices are you made need a little longer.  You want a tender crisp taste!  After they are just right remove from the oven, place in a baking dish spread some grated cheese on top and cook for about 2 more minutes!

Do I need to say anything?  I'll let the picture speak for itself!

Note: If cooking both dishes, start with the cheese fries and once they are oven start cooking the shrimp scampi!





Ranch Chicken Tacos, Thanks to Pinterest!

I use to grab a pile of cooking magazines, and search through them for what I was going to cook for the week.  Lately I have entered the world of Pinterest, and that is where the majority of what I cook comes from!  I know most of you are on Pinterest too, so don't worry I will start cooking some more original recipes!  Now back to what I cooked last night! 

Ranch Chicken Tacos

What you need

Chicken Breast (I used 2 for my size family)

1 package of Chicken Taco Seasoning

1/2 cup of ranch dressing

Taco Shells

Cheese

Toppings that you desire

How you cook it

1. Cook the chicken breast and them cut it up in cubes.  I like to cook my chicken in a skillet with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then cover the skillet with a lid to cook.  If you prefer you could buy already cooked chicken that you would just need to throw in the skillet to heat through.

2. After your chicken is fully cooked or heated through pour the package of chicken taco seasoning on top of the chicken.  Don't mix it with the chicken just let it set on top for a couple of minutes.

3. Now pour your ranch dressing on top of the chicken and mix it all together!

4. Now you are ready to stuff your taco shells with your chicken, cheese and any other toppings you desire.  I like heat my shells up!  How easy does that sound!

Looks yummy, especially on that woody plate!

My Mexican Salad!

So this is seriously so easy to make and so good! This was one of my favorite things my mom made when growing up.  When I married Ryan he had me change it up a little to taste more like one of the local restaurants!  I will post my mom's version in a few weeks!

What you need:

1 head of iceberg lettece

Tomatoes (I like to use cherry)

Red onion finely chopped

1 lb of ground beef

Cool Ranch Doritos

Thousand Island Dressing

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Mix all ingredients together, toss salad with dressing, and top with cheese!  For my family of two adults and two toddlers I usually use 1/2 of the lettece, meat, and about 8 oz of the dressing.  It is pretty easy just to guess the amount of everything you need since it is a salad!

My first official blog!!

While I have hopes of what this blog will do for me, I know that ultimately God has a plan for me.  So I thought there would be no greater way than starting my blog off with one of my favorite bible versus!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11