March-April

March-April

• organize the garage
• organize the cups cupboard
• plan and plant gardens
• stitch on my stocking at least six times
• go on a dinner date and a movie with Whit
• plan summer vacation

A Few Recipes

Here are a few of my recipes.  Yes, they are all good (to me anyways!)

Potato Kielbasa Skillet

YIELD

 4 Servings

ACTIVE TIME

 15 minutes

TOTAL TIME

 30 minutes

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INGREDIENTS

• • 1 pound red potatoes, cubed
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 3/4 pound smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

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INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Place potatoes and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until tender; drain.
  2. In a large skillet, saute kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add potatoes; saute 3-5 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.
  3. Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add spinach and bacon; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Yield: 4 servings.

A Freezer- Crock Pot Meal

Italian Chicken in The Crock Pot

Crock Pot

OR Place all ingredients in a zip-loc bag and freeze.  Don't forget to include the date.

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INGREDIENTS

• • 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • 16 Ounce Bottle of Italian Dressing (I used non fat)
  • 1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 packet Italian Seasoning
  • 4 to 6 Potatoes scrubbed cut in half or wedges (you can peel if desired)
  • 1/2 bag of mini carrots

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spray crock with Pam
2. Squirt a small amount of Italian dressing at bottom of crock-pot.
3. Place two chicken breasts in crock.
4. Pour some of the Italian dressing on the chicken.
5. Sprinkle half of cheese onto the chicken.
6. Sprinkle Italian seasoning onto the chicken.
7. Place next two chicken breasts into crock-pot, if possible not directly on top of the first breasts.
8. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of chicken.
9. Pour carrots on top
10. Pour more of the Italian dressing on top of chicken and carrots.
11. Sprinkle Italian seasoning onto the chicken and carrots.
12. Place potatoes on top.
13. Pour the remaining Italian dressing on the potatoes.Sprinkle Italian seasoning on the potatoes.Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
• **I use a whole bag of carrots, because I LOVE crock pot carrots!  I have heard that some people have a problem with freezing potatoes.  I have never had a problem with it before-- but that doesn't mean I won't ever!

Shopping Spree

I've gotten back into the cash envelopes and budgeting thing again.  I was really good for about a year, maybe less-- that was two years ago.  I did the Dave Ramsey thing and I was doing so good.  I think I stopped doing so well once summer hit.  I was shopping more and making dinner less.  I just kind of gout out of the routine and fell behind.  This year, I wanted to get back into the swing of things.  And so far, I think I've done pretty good (yeah, I know.  It's only February).

I have been messing around with menu planning for awhile now.  I went shopping every other week (per Dave Ramsey-- he says you should make your budget when you get paid.  Whit gets paid every two weeks, but I get paid every month-- we went with Whit's pay periods).  So, I went shopping every other week on Whit's payday.  I got really good at that.  I figured I could shop for a longer period of time, if I really planned it out.  So, this year, I have been making my menu plans for the entire month and shopping at once.

Some things that I have learned or tried to do: I always include SEVERAL crock pot meals.  Let's face it, I have to use my crock pot at least twice a week (definitely on Tuesdays and sometimes on Thursdays).  I also plan to make my meals that use up the fresh produce first.  So, for example, during this month, I planned on having Potato Kielbasa Skillet (which uses fresh spinach leaves).  I make sure to schedule that pretty close to shopping day (we are having this tomorrow night).  I also try to give myself some wiggle room.  Because as much I love to plan, things always come up.  Whit's working late, or I have dinner with my mom or I don't feel like having that meal that particular night.  I also always try to include something really easy (like Hamburger Helper).  I also try to schedule in a day of leftovers-- usually before trash day. :)

These meals do not include lunches or breakfast.  I usually always eat leftovers for lunch (and Whit usually goes out to eat for lunch).  We have cold cereal in the house for breakfast, but for the most part, McCoy eats at school.

My most recent trip to the store, I spent less than $200.  I cut a few coupons (maybe like 10 or so), but not many.  I also didn't shop "bargins" or anything like that.  Everything was normal price.  But, I stuck really close to my list.  In the past, I would have down on my list "two cans of cream of mushroom soup" and I would buy like 4 or 5.  Why?  I don't know!  But this time, I stuck close to my list.  I did have 3 cups of chicken broth and I bought 3 cans (because I need more liquid in my crock pot meals-- because I'm gone so long during the day).

I made 10 frozen crock pot meals already!  I made two of each: Italian Chicken for the Crock Pot (which has potatoes-- freezing them is no problem for me), Chicken Tortilla Soup, Saucy Pork Chops, Ham and Pineapple and Colorful Chicken Casserole.

I also want to mention, that I didn't just buy canned food.  I bought two big bags of baby carrots, two pounds of potatoes, celery, cilantro, fresh spinach leaves, bread and LOTS of meat (6 pounds of hamburger, 6 pork chops, 12 chicken breasts, a family ham, two ham steaks, and a package of polish sausage).  

I also bought (not on the list-- shame on me!), two packages of Reese's peanut butter hearts, a case of Diet Cherry Pepsi, deodorant, toilet paper, night-time underwear (big boy pull ups!), minced garlic, two boxes of cereal, extra sour cream, and cough medicine.

I'm just going to say, "Not too shabby!"

:)