I am a household list maker. My list making is an uncontrollable compulsion, and I just can’t help myself! In fact, that is how Menu Maker Mom got started. After all, a menu, in and of itself, is nothing more than a list of food items, isn’t it? I love lists because they just seem to make decision-making go totally autopilot. Things just seem to “click”. For me, when it comes to managing a busy household, lists create household order, whereas flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants just creates chaos!
What good is a list if you can't find it???
If you’re a list maker like me, or you want to start using a list or two, one of the most important concepts in making your lists work FOR you and not AGAINST you is having a regular place to put each list so each one is easy to access and easy to use. There is nothing more frustrating than having several running copies of the same list or losing a list. That just ADDS stress, not reduces it! If a list is kept hidden in a drawer, it won’t be used and probably will get lost.
Here's how I keep track:
* Menu is on the fridge. I use this daily.
* Camper packing list is in my household notebook. (More about that later!) Only use this one a few times a year.
* Freezer Contents list is on the freezer door. I use this daily.
* Fridge Left-Overs list is on the fridge. I use this daily.
* Grocery & Shopping list is on the fridge door. I use this daily.
* To-Do list is in my planner. I use this daily.
* Cleaning list is in my household notebook. I use this monthly.
* Gift Giving list is in my planner. (I keep a copy in “notes” in my phone too.) I use this
periodically as needed.
* Bill Paying list is in my accordion bill file. I use this list every 2 weeks.
* Budget and Savings list is in my accordion bill file. I use this list every 2 weeks.
* Holiday/Event/Vacation planning lists are in my household notebook. I use this list a
few times a year.
* School list of dates/phone numbers/important information is in my planner. I use
this list periodically as needed.
* Coupon code list. I keep this by the computer and use periodically.
For some my list might seem a little excessive. One might wonder if I actually keep a list of all my lists!! Especially for anyone who is NOT a list maker, my list-making compulsion may seem a little… Well, one might say “over-the-top”. I have a list of those people! ( just kidding! )
Truth is, I can’t imagine life without my lists. Don’t know how I’d get anything done or remember where anything is! I absolutely love my lists. They keep me organized and sane. They keep my house clean, my bills paid, and my family fed; and because they keep my life running smoothly and efficiently, they give me extra time in my day for rest and relaxation!
My list-making compulsion gets even worse...
Know what else I can’t live without when it comes to staying organized? Notebooks! I love notebooks almost as much as I love lists. In fact, I put some of my lists in notebooks! I'm sure you'd loooove to hear more about my notebooks, and I would be thrilled to tell you more..., but that’s not on my list for today!
*****************************
Menu Maker Mom~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
HAM PLAN #2
It's time for another set of batch recipes to add to our Make-a-Menu Calendar. Are you starting to get the hang of this added dimension to your cooking? The Make-a-Menu recipes are not meant to fill in every single night of your food prep. Rather they are a way to save time and money by using what's on sale and fill in the calendar on those extra busy nights.
There's still room for pizza and hamburgers and your special recipes that your family loves. Don't forget ~ the foundation of the Make-a-Menu system is first discovering what your family's favorite meals are!
We're going to add some yummies to the list of family favorites with the following savory meals all based on ham. If these meals don't appeal to you, don't forget to check out my other Ham Plan, where you'll find another set of recipes.
Today's recipes include:
Cheesy Ham N' Mac Casserole
Ham Manicotti
Amazing Ham Pie
Of course, before you make any of these, you'll need to purchase a ham! After you serve your family the yummy ham, slice up the leftovers. You'll have plenty to dice for these recipes. If you have extras left over, freeze the ham in 2-cup portions in quart-size freezer bags.
Don't forget that ham is on sale this week at HEB. When you head out to the store, don't forget to include all the ingredients you'll need for the cooking session.
*********************************
Recipes:
16 oz. Macaroni or rotini
14 manicotti noodles
½ onion
2 cloves garlic
½ green bell pepper (finely diced
¼ red bell pepper (finely diced
¼ cup olive oil
5 cup ham, diced
½ cup Parmesan cheese
2 can cheddar cheese soup
2 cup milk
3-1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 cup shredded swiss cheese
½ cup Bisquick or baking mix
10-oz. Bag frozen chopped broccoli
Serving Day:
1 cup milk
3 eggs
½ cup dried bread crumbs mixed with 2 Tbsp. Melted butter
Extras:
13”x9” casserole OR two 8”x8” casseroles
Gallon, quart, pint freezer bags
Snack baggies
Saran
Foil
********************************
STEP 1
Get out 2 pots and fill each with water, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp olive oil. Bring to boil. Boil macaroni in one and manicotti in the other. Boil until they are just tender, not finished, and not mushy. Don’t walk away or start watching your favorite tv show. DON’T OVERCOOK!!! When done, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Lay the manicotti noodles on wax paper or foil without having them touch each other so they don’t stick.
STEP 2
Get out a large saucepan and heat on medium. Open the cans of cheese soup and pour in the pan. Add 2 cups of milk. Bring to a simmer. Add 2 cup shredded Swiss cheese and 2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Remove from heat.
STEP 3 – HAM N’ MAC CASSEROLE
In a large bowl, mix macaroni, 1-1/2 cups ham, and 1-1/2 cups cheese sauce. Pour into a gallon-size freezer bag. Label well, including the instructions, “thaw, pour into a greased casserole dish, bake at 350 for 20 minutes”. MMM!! Simple and yummy!
STEP 4 –MANICOTTI
Get out a saute pan. Heat the pan, then add ¼ cup olive oil. Saute ½ cup onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 green bell pepper (finely diced), and ¼ red bell pepper (finely diced) until soft. Remove from heat then add 2 cups diced ham and ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Add ¼ cup cheese sauce from Step 2.
Get out a 13”x9” casserole pan or two 8”x8” casseroles. Put ½ cup sauce on the bottom. Spread it around. Get a spoon and a manicotti noodle, and start filling the noodles with the ham mix from Step 3. Fill them up completely! Lay them flat in the casserole dish, one at a time, as you fill each one. If you have extra meat mix, just tuck it in here and there. When you’re done, cover the manicotti with sauce and ½ cup parmesan cheese. Cover well with saran wrap and foil. Freeze. Add the dish to your Make-a-Menu Calendar.
STEP 5 – ASSEMBLE THE AMAZING HAM PIE KIT
Make the Impossible Ham Pie Kit by doing the following:
*Seal 1-1/2 cups diced ham in a 1-quart freezer bag.
*Seal 1-1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese in a 1-quart freezer bag.
*Seal ½ cup Bisquick or other baking mix and ½ tsp. Pepper in a snack-size bag.
*Make another Bisquick baggie, but include ¼ cup parmesan cheese and ½ tsp. Garlic powder. *Label bag as “topping”.
*Place one 10-oz. Package chopped broccoli and the bags of ham, cheese, and baking mix into a one-gallon freezer bag that you’ve labeled “Impossible Ham Pie Kit”.
Yep, that’s a lot of baggies, but it’s going to make cooking soooo easy! You might even consider setting up 2 of these bags. (Just be sure to add the ingredients to the Make-a-Menu ingredient list for this recipe.)
Print out the following recipe and place in the gallon freezer bag too!:
“Grease one pie plate. Preheat oven to 400. Dump ham, cheese, and baking mix into pie plate, mixing well. Add 3 eggs and 1 cup milk, mixing well. Mix topping ingredients with 2 tsp. Melted butter and crumble on top of pie. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.”
**************************************
Have fun cooking!!!
Menu Maker Mom~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.
There's still room for pizza and hamburgers and your special recipes that your family loves. Don't forget ~ the foundation of the Make-a-Menu system is first discovering what your family's favorite meals are!
We're going to add some yummies to the list of family favorites with the following savory meals all based on ham. If these meals don't appeal to you, don't forget to check out my other Ham Plan, where you'll find another set of recipes.
Today's recipes include:
Cheesy Ham N' Mac Casserole
Ham Manicotti
Amazing Ham Pie
Of course, before you make any of these, you'll need to purchase a ham! After you serve your family the yummy ham, slice up the leftovers. You'll have plenty to dice for these recipes. If you have extras left over, freeze the ham in 2-cup portions in quart-size freezer bags.
Don't forget that ham is on sale this week at HEB. When you head out to the store, don't forget to include all the ingredients you'll need for the cooking session.
*********************************
Recipes:
16 oz. Macaroni or rotini
14 manicotti noodles
½ onion
2 cloves garlic
½ green bell pepper (finely diced
¼ red bell pepper (finely diced
¼ cup olive oil
5 cup ham, diced
½ cup Parmesan cheese
2 can cheddar cheese soup
2 cup milk
3-1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 cup shredded swiss cheese
½ cup Bisquick or baking mix
10-oz. Bag frozen chopped broccoli
Serving Day:
1 cup milk
3 eggs
½ cup dried bread crumbs mixed with 2 Tbsp. Melted butter
Extras:
13”x9” casserole OR two 8”x8” casseroles
Gallon, quart, pint freezer bags
Snack baggies
Saran
Foil
********************************
STEP 1
Get out 2 pots and fill each with water, ½ tsp salt, and 1 tsp olive oil. Bring to boil. Boil macaroni in one and manicotti in the other. Boil until they are just tender, not finished, and not mushy. Don’t walk away or start watching your favorite tv show. DON’T OVERCOOK!!! When done, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Lay the manicotti noodles on wax paper or foil without having them touch each other so they don’t stick.
STEP 2
Get out a large saucepan and heat on medium. Open the cans of cheese soup and pour in the pan. Add 2 cups of milk. Bring to a simmer. Add 2 cup shredded Swiss cheese and 2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Remove from heat.
STEP 3 – HAM N’ MAC CASSEROLE
In a large bowl, mix macaroni, 1-1/2 cups ham, and 1-1/2 cups cheese sauce. Pour into a gallon-size freezer bag. Label well, including the instructions, “thaw, pour into a greased casserole dish, bake at 350 for 20 minutes”. MMM!! Simple and yummy!
STEP 4 –MANICOTTI
Get out a saute pan. Heat the pan, then add ¼ cup olive oil. Saute ½ cup onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 green bell pepper (finely diced), and ¼ red bell pepper (finely diced) until soft. Remove from heat then add 2 cups diced ham and ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Add ¼ cup cheese sauce from Step 2.
Get out a 13”x9” casserole pan or two 8”x8” casseroles. Put ½ cup sauce on the bottom. Spread it around. Get a spoon and a manicotti noodle, and start filling the noodles with the ham mix from Step 3. Fill them up completely! Lay them flat in the casserole dish, one at a time, as you fill each one. If you have extra meat mix, just tuck it in here and there. When you’re done, cover the manicotti with sauce and ½ cup parmesan cheese. Cover well with saran wrap and foil. Freeze. Add the dish to your Make-a-Menu Calendar.
STEP 5 – ASSEMBLE THE AMAZING HAM PIE KIT
Make the Impossible Ham Pie Kit by doing the following:
*Seal 1-1/2 cups diced ham in a 1-quart freezer bag.
*Seal 1-1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese in a 1-quart freezer bag.
*Seal ½ cup Bisquick or other baking mix and ½ tsp. Pepper in a snack-size bag.
*Make another Bisquick baggie, but include ¼ cup parmesan cheese and ½ tsp. Garlic powder. *Label bag as “topping”.
*Place one 10-oz. Package chopped broccoli and the bags of ham, cheese, and baking mix into a one-gallon freezer bag that you’ve labeled “Impossible Ham Pie Kit”.
Yep, that’s a lot of baggies, but it’s going to make cooking soooo easy! You might even consider setting up 2 of these bags. (Just be sure to add the ingredients to the Make-a-Menu ingredient list for this recipe.)
Print out the following recipe and place in the gallon freezer bag too!:
“Grease one pie plate. Preheat oven to 400. Dump ham, cheese, and baking mix into pie plate, mixing well. Add 3 eggs and 1 cup milk, mixing well. Mix topping ingredients with 2 tsp. Melted butter and crumble on top of pie. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.”
**************************************
Have fun cooking!!!
Menu Maker Mom~
Makin' Yummies. Stuffin' Tummies.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way"....
You must think I’ve completely lost my mind! Why, it’s not even October yet, and Menu Maker Mom is singing Christmas Carols?!?!Well, I’m just trying to get your attention because CHRISTMAS IS JUST 94 DAYS AWAY!!! Yep, Advent starts in only 68 days!!!
As a busy working wife and mother with busy kids, I know how important it is to stay organized, especially with approaching holidays. There’s so much to do: shopping, cleaning, cooking, attending plays and parties, wrapping, decorating... It’s just a flurry of activity and it seems like it’s just a blur from Halloween until New Years!!!
To help out, I’ve found some great online planners on the web that can help a busy mom like you and me stay calm, organized, and with our budgets. Grab a cup of joe and sit for a while and check these out:
OrganizedChristmas.com – This great site from the writers of OrganizedHome.com includes organizing articles, 2 organized plans called “Christmas Countdown” and “Holiday Grand Plan”, and you’ll also find a free printable Christmas Planner. The Holiday Grand Plan has already begun, and the Christmas Countdown is a 6-week program that hasn’t yet started. Go to OrganizedChristmas.com to register for either. It’s free!! By the way – this planner is cool because it includes a Bible study. “Jesus is the reason for the season!”
Celebrating-Christmas.com – What a fun site full of recipes, party planning tips, crafts, and free checklists. Visit Celebrating-Christmas.com to download their free “Celebrating Christmas Magazine 2008”. While you're there, don't forget to visit their other sites, including Celebrating-Halloween.com!
ChristmasOrganizing.com – This is the place to join a Yahoo discussion group where you'll learn from others and share with others. The authors also have a great organizing plan called the “Christmas Organizing Express.” Don’t forget to check out the easy tips for setting up an organizing center, the gift giving ideas and coloring pages too!
*********************************
Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin' Yummies... Stuffin' Tummies.
Monday, September 21, 2009
WHAT'S ON YOUR FRIDGE?
This is my fridge - the freezer section, that is. Sorry the pic is so poor ~ I took it with my cell phone's camera.There are three very important items on my fridge that help this family stay organized. The white papers in the upper left-hand corner are a pad of grocery lists. Using Word, I made a grocery list with four columns. It includes all the items that we normally need, and a few lines for adding items that aren't quite so regular. The list is broken out into the same sections as you would find in the grocery store, for example, "frozen foods", "produce", "meat", "canned goods", etc. It's so easy to check off any item as I run low or run out. I don't have to remember anything! Finally, this list keeps me sane when I get to the store, as I know I won't forget anything before leaving any particular department. No more running back and forth across the store, or showing up at home without this or that.
In the middle of the fridge I have a pen cup that's magnetized. It's meant for school lockers and it's so cool! I found it at Dollar Tree for, you guessed it, a dollar! Love it!
On the right side is the calendar. Mine is simple. Got it from the church and it hilights a different saint each month. It has all the holy days listed, which is nice for my family. The squares are uncluttered, so it's easy to see any notes that I have made.
Of course, I have a few photos of my favorite people. I love looking at them each time I check out the list or the calendar!
So what's your fridge like? What keeps you organized?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin’ Yummies. Stuffin’ Tummies.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
MENU PLAN MONDAY
Sigh. Sniffle, sniffle. The weekend is over. It was waaayyy too fast. I loved every minute of it, and now I'm sad to see it end. Why do Saturday and Sunday seem to fling by at lightening speed while Monday and Tuesday just tick by so slowly??? Please stand by while I pout for just one more moment.... Sigh. Sniffle, sniffle, pout.
Now that I've gotten all that whining out of my system, it's time to get on to the business of planning for another awesome day and another week of opportunities to enjoy life! First item on my agenda is to make sure I have my family fed and happy. On that note, here is my menu.
Sunday - FFA Barbeque lunch/dinner
Monday - Chicken Quesadillas & Tortilla Soup
Tuesday - Arroz Con Pollo & Green Salad
Wednesday - Pork Carne Guisada, Salad, and Tortillas
Thursday - Wine and Herb Chicken, Uncle Ben's Ready Rice, St
Friday - Salmon Pattties, Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, Caesar Salad
Saturday - Chicken Nachos (movie & game night!)
If you'd like more ideas for your menu planning, please visit http://orgjunkie.com/
Sunday - FFA Barbeque lunch/dinner
Monday - Chicken Quesadillas & Tortilla Soup
Tuesday - Arroz Con Pollo & Green Salad
Wednesday - Pork Carne Guisada, Salad, and Tortillas
Thursday - Wine and Herb Chicken, Uncle Ben's Ready Rice, St
Friday - Salmon Pattties, Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, Caesar Salad
Saturday - Chicken Nachos (movie & game night!)
If you'd like more ideas for your menu planning, please visit http://orgjunkie.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin’ Yummies. Stuffin’ Tummies.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Frugal Friday - My Top-Ten for the Weekend...
I love it when Frugal Friday is also PAYDAY! "Kaching!!!" Ahhhh – the joy that comes from working… the wonderful "paycheck". Of course, most of mine is gone the minute it hits the bank, but I make sure there’s enough left for frugal necessities and even some frugal frivolousness!
So, what kinds of frugal happenings will be going on around the Menu Maker Mom home this weekend, you ask? Well, here’s my weekend to-do list:
1. Take my girls to Dairy Queen for Blizzards! I’ll use $1.00 Off One Blizzard coupons that I got at http://www.blizzardfanclub.com/ Check it out and get your coupons!
2. Grocery shop at HEB, Super S, and Walgreen’s – I spent last evening planning and plotting. My coupons are clipped, my list is made, and I’m set to go!
3. Dig up weeds & plants in front shrubbery beds. Seems that with our rain blessing, the weeds have gone totally bonkers! After everything is cleaned up, I’ll start collecting bricks, mulch, and plants to create a new shrubbery/annual bed. I’m planning to plant annual mums, Mexican heather, a Mexican Bird of Paradise, and some other small shrub (haven’t decided which one just yet ~ probably Yaupon). I’ll post pics of the process!
4. Head out to find a steal or two at Beall’s. They are having a buy-one-get-one-half-off sale on shoes, among other things. Lucky for me, as I need new tennies in a bad way, plus I need new shoes for work. I’ll head out with my 25% off one-item coupons to bring the price way down! (You can get your coupon by scrolling through the coupons located on the left side of this page!)
5. Color my hair… Yes, I admit it. When it comes to my hair, I am NOT saving the earth by going green... No, I am not "au natural"... Yes, I admit it, and the scathing truth is out! The "silver" lining is, of course, that that I'll lose the salt and save the pepper with a coupon!
6. Clean my house. The most frugal decorating tip out there is to just keep it clean!
7. Decorate my house for fall. Once the cleaning is done, I’ll bring out the boxes and spiffy up the place. I just love Fall!!! I’ll post some pics when I’m done!
8. Post the menu. Enough said.
9. It’s time for our annual FFA BBQ Fundraiser. That means I’ll be helping out with potatoes and beans on Saturday, and serving after church on Sunday. We’ll work hard, but have lots of fun!
10. Do a little cookin’ ahead. I’ll be assembling the chicken meals and stuffin’ the freezer tonight. I’ll also whip up some freezer biscuits (recipe to follow) and taco seasoning for the pantry.
Looks to be a busy and enjoyable weekend at the MMM Household. What are your plans? Send me an email or post a comment so we can share!
Have a wonderful, blessed weekend…. And don’t forget to GIGGLE!!!
Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin’ Yummies. Stuffin’ Tummies.
So, what kinds of frugal happenings will be going on around the Menu Maker Mom home this weekend, you ask? Well, here’s my weekend to-do list:
1. Take my girls to Dairy Queen for Blizzards! I’ll use $1.00 Off One Blizzard coupons that I got at http://www.blizzardfanclub.com/ Check it out and get your coupons!
2. Grocery shop at HEB, Super S, and Walgreen’s – I spent last evening planning and plotting. My coupons are clipped, my list is made, and I’m set to go!
3. Dig up weeds & plants in front shrubbery beds. Seems that with our rain blessing, the weeds have gone totally bonkers! After everything is cleaned up, I’ll start collecting bricks, mulch, and plants to create a new shrubbery/annual bed. I’m planning to plant annual mums, Mexican heather, a Mexican Bird of Paradise, and some other small shrub (haven’t decided which one just yet ~ probably Yaupon). I’ll post pics of the process!
4. Head out to find a steal or two at Beall’s. They are having a buy-one-get-one-half-off sale on shoes, among other things. Lucky for me, as I need new tennies in a bad way, plus I need new shoes for work. I’ll head out with my 25% off one-item coupons to bring the price way down! (You can get your coupon by scrolling through the coupons located on the left side of this page!)
5. Color my hair… Yes, I admit it. When it comes to my hair, I am NOT saving the earth by going green... No, I am not "au natural"... Yes, I admit it, and the scathing truth is out! The "silver" lining is, of course, that that I'll lose the salt and save the pepper with a coupon!
6. Clean my house. The most frugal decorating tip out there is to just keep it clean!
7. Decorate my house for fall. Once the cleaning is done, I’ll bring out the boxes and spiffy up the place. I just love Fall!!! I’ll post some pics when I’m done!
8. Post the menu. Enough said.
9. It’s time for our annual FFA BBQ Fundraiser. That means I’ll be helping out with potatoes and beans on Saturday, and serving after church on Sunday. We’ll work hard, but have lots of fun!
10. Do a little cookin’ ahead. I’ll be assembling the chicken meals and stuffin’ the freezer tonight. I’ll also whip up some freezer biscuits (recipe to follow) and taco seasoning for the pantry.
Looks to be a busy and enjoyable weekend at the MMM Household. What are your plans? Send me an email or post a comment so we can share!
Have a wonderful, blessed weekend…. And don’t forget to GIGGLE!!!
Menu Maker Mom ~
Makin’ Yummies. Stuffin’ Tummies.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
STUFF THE FREEZER CHICKEN RECIPE
Chicken's on sale at HEB. Time to stuff the freezer! Here's what's on the Menu:
Wine and Herb Chicken
Cheesy Taco Chicken
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken
Louisiana Chicken
Let's get started! You'll need to have on hand:
3 T. olive oil
2 T. fresh lime juice
2 T. Orange juice frozen concentrate
2 T. fresh lemon juice
½ lemon, sliced thinly
¼ c. chopped onion
½ cup slice green bell pepper
¼ c. chopped celery
3 clove garlic, minced
4 T fresh parsley, minced
1 (14 oz.) canned whole tomatoes, chopped and undrained
1 (12 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes and chilies, chopped
1 (12 oz.) can Campbells Cheddar Cheese Soup
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. Red wine vinegar
1½ tsp. Dried basil
3 T. Chili Powder
3 T. Paprika
1 tsp. Cayenne
¼ tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Thyme
1-1/4 tsp salt
½ tsp. Lemon pepper
1 tsp pepper
¼ tsp Tobasco sauce
1 c. white wine
6 lbs chicken pieces
**********************************
STEP 1:
Label 4 gallon-size freezer bags as follows:
Wine and Herb Chicken
Cheesy Taco Chicken
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken
Louisiana Chicken
STEP 2:
Set up the bags:
1. Set up the 4 gallon-size freezer bags so they are standing upright. It might help to set them in bowls.
2. Divide the chicken in to the 4 bags equally.
STEP 3:
Stuff the bags:
1. In the bag labeled, “Wine and Herb Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
1 cup white wine, 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ sliced lemon, 2 tbsp. Parsley, 1 tsp. Thyme, 1 tsp. Basil, ½ tsp. Salt, ¼ tsp. Pepper.
2. In the bag labeled, “Cheesy Taco Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
1 can Rotel, 1 can Cheese Soup, ¼ tsp. Cumin, 1 Tbsp. Chili powder, ½ Tbsp. Paprika.
3. In the bag labeled, “Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
2 tbsp. Olive oil, 2 tbsp. Fresh lime juice, 2 Tbsp. Frozen orange juice concentrate, 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. Chili powder, 1 Tbsp. Paprika, ½ tsp. Cayenne, ½ tsp. Pepper, ½ tsp. Lemon pepper, ½ tsp. Salt
Wine and Herb Chicken
Cheesy Taco Chicken
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken
Louisiana Chicken
Let's get started! You'll need to have on hand:
3 T. olive oil
2 T. fresh lime juice
2 T. Orange juice frozen concentrate
2 T. fresh lemon juice
½ lemon, sliced thinly
¼ c. chopped onion
½ cup slice green bell pepper
¼ c. chopped celery
3 clove garlic, minced
4 T fresh parsley, minced
1 (14 oz.) canned whole tomatoes, chopped and undrained
1 (12 oz.) can Rotel tomatoes and chilies, chopped
1 (12 oz.) can Campbells Cheddar Cheese Soup
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. Red wine vinegar
1½ tsp. Dried basil
3 T. Chili Powder
3 T. Paprika
1 tsp. Cayenne
¼ tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Thyme
1-1/4 tsp salt
½ tsp. Lemon pepper
1 tsp pepper
¼ tsp Tobasco sauce
1 c. white wine
6 lbs chicken pieces
**********************************
STEP 1:
Label 4 gallon-size freezer bags as follows:
Wine and Herb Chicken
Cheesy Taco Chicken
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken
Louisiana Chicken
STEP 2:
Set up the bags:
1. Set up the 4 gallon-size freezer bags so they are standing upright. It might help to set them in bowls.
2. Divide the chicken in to the 4 bags equally.
STEP 3:
Stuff the bags:
1. In the bag labeled, “Wine and Herb Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
1 cup white wine, 2 cloves minced garlic, ½ sliced lemon, 2 tbsp. Parsley, 1 tsp. Thyme, 1 tsp. Basil, ½ tsp. Salt, ¼ tsp. Pepper.
2. In the bag labeled, “Cheesy Taco Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
1 can Rotel, 1 can Cheese Soup, ¼ tsp. Cumin, 1 Tbsp. Chili powder, ½ Tbsp. Paprika.
3. In the bag labeled, “Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
2 tbsp. Olive oil, 2 tbsp. Fresh lime juice, 2 Tbsp. Frozen orange juice concentrate, 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. Chili powder, 1 Tbsp. Paprika, ½ tsp. Cayenne, ½ tsp. Pepper, ½ tsp. Lemon pepper, ½ tsp. Salt
4. In the bag labeled, “Louisiana Chicken”, add the following, then seal:
1 Tbsp. Olive oil, ¼ cup chopped onion, ½ sliced green pepper, ¼ cup chopped celery, 1 clove mined garlic, 1 can whole tomatoes (chopped), 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. Red wine vinegar, ½ tsp. Dried basil, 2 Tbsp. Fresh parsley, ¼ tsp. Pepper, ¼ tsp. Tobasco sauce.
STEP 4:
Lay them all flat on a cookie sheet and stick it in them in the freezer!
STEP 5:
Add the 4 meals to your Menu Calendar.
STEP 6: COOK & EAT!!!
On cooking day, take out your frozen meal, thaw it, then stick in a crockpot on low for 6 – 8 hours. You can also bake in a casserole dish that you’ve sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until juices from chicken run clear.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: (Be sure to add these extras to your shopping list so you have everything you need on hand for serving day!)
Wine and Herb Chicken – fresh steamed green beans, wild rice mix
Cheesy Taco Chicken – chopped lettuce and tomatoes, tortillas, guacamole, beans
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken – white rice, steamed broccoli
Louisiana Chicken – Cajun rice (look for Zatarain’s or Tony Chachere’s mixes), green salad.
Menu Maker Mom’s MAKE-A-MENU Meals~
1 Tbsp. Olive oil, ¼ cup chopped onion, ½ sliced green pepper, ¼ cup chopped celery, 1 clove mined garlic, 1 can whole tomatoes (chopped), 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. Red wine vinegar, ½ tsp. Dried basil, 2 Tbsp. Fresh parsley, ¼ tsp. Pepper, ¼ tsp. Tobasco sauce.
STEP 4:
Lay them all flat on a cookie sheet and stick it in them in the freezer!
STEP 5:
Add the 4 meals to your Menu Calendar.
STEP 6: COOK & EAT!!!
On cooking day, take out your frozen meal, thaw it, then stick in a crockpot on low for 6 – 8 hours. You can also bake in a casserole dish that you’ve sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until juices from chicken run clear.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: (Be sure to add these extras to your shopping list so you have everything you need on hand for serving day!)
Wine and Herb Chicken – fresh steamed green beans, wild rice mix
Cheesy Taco Chicken – chopped lettuce and tomatoes, tortillas, guacamole, beans
Lemon-Lime Spicy Chicken – white rice, steamed broccoli
Louisiana Chicken – Cajun rice (look for Zatarain’s or Tony Chachere’s mixes), green salad.
Menu Maker Mom’s MAKE-A-MENU Meals~
MAKIN’ YUMMIES. STUFFIN’ TUMMIES.
Friday, September 4, 2009
FABULOUS FRUGAL FRIDAY
Being Frugal is Fabulous! I always give a High Five to the Good Lord for leading me down this path. This path has led me to meet so many wonderful people with so many awesome ideas for making life easier and saving our hard-earned dollars. If you're just tuning in to this blog, please introduce yourself so I can add you to my list of friends!
That being said, I hope we can put our heads together and start sharing some tried-and-true frugal tips and ideas. Oh, what the heck... Let's share the NOT tried-and-true too! Feel free to post your comments with ideas and links!
************************************
Make-Your-Own Breadcrumbs
Why buy packaged breadcrumbs when you have the ingredients right there in your kitchen??? I always keep a stash of breadcrumbs in my freezer, and I NEVER buy breadcrumbs in the canister.
It's simple... When you have left over bread loaf heels, crackers, rolls, tortillas, hamburger or hotdog buns, biscuits, etc., just set them aside and let them dry a bit. Once they are dry, run them through the food processor or blender. Put the crumbs into a shallow baking pan (I use the bottom of the broiler pan) and lightly toast them by setting in a low oven (250) for about an hour.
Seasonings can be added as needed. I store the bread crumbs in a 1-gallon plastic ice cream container, but they could be kept in any freezer bag, a cleaned out coffee can, a jar, or some other plastic container.
So easy, so inexpensive, so waste-free.
Being Frugal is Fabulous!
That being said, I hope we can put our heads together and start sharing some tried-and-true frugal tips and ideas. Oh, what the heck... Let's share the NOT tried-and-true too! Feel free to post your comments with ideas and links!
************************************
Make-Your-Own Breadcrumbs
Why buy packaged breadcrumbs when you have the ingredients right there in your kitchen??? I always keep a stash of breadcrumbs in my freezer, and I NEVER buy breadcrumbs in the canister.
It's simple... When you have left over bread loaf heels, crackers, rolls, tortillas, hamburger or hotdog buns, biscuits, etc., just set them aside and let them dry a bit. Once they are dry, run them through the food processor or blender. Put the crumbs into a shallow baking pan (I use the bottom of the broiler pan) and lightly toast them by setting in a low oven (250) for about an hour.
Seasonings can be added as needed. I store the bread crumbs in a 1-gallon plastic ice cream container, but they could be kept in any freezer bag, a cleaned out coffee can, a jar, or some other plastic container.
So easy, so inexpensive, so waste-free.
Being Frugal is Fabulous!
Ground Beef's on Sale... MAKE-A-MENU HAMBURGER PLAN
Hi there, my Menu-Makin' Friends! If you've followed this blog long enough, you've learned that the best way to save money and plan your menu is to prepare and freeze a few recipes at a time, using common ingredients that are on sale. With that in mind, it’s time to fill the freezer with new Make-a-Menu Meals! As always, these are simple everyday-type meals that all your peeps will love. They will sing for joy when you serve MMM-Good Hamburgers, Italian meatballs, MMM’s Meatloaf, or Porcupine Eggs!
This week’s menu uses ground beef, which is on sale this week at HEB for $1.99/lb. Of course, if you’d like to fill your freezer with even more beef recipes for even more savings, be sure and click on the “Beef Plan” link on the left sidebar. This entire batch cooking session should cost you just about $20.00. That's only $5.00 per meal for a family of 4!!
Here’s a couple of quick reminders:
1. Don’t forget to add your recipes to your menu as soon as they go in the freezer!
2. Add any items that will complete your meal to your shopping list BEFORE your week starts. For example, on the week that you serve meatloaf, you might want to include green beans, mashed potatoes, and rolls. Be sure to add these items to BOTH your menu AND your shopping list. When you serve Italian Meatballs, you might need rolls if you are making meatball subs; or you might need spaghetti noodles if you are serving spaghetti and meatballs.
3. Check out my Make-a-Menu resources and instructions on the left sidebar if you need a refresher on how
Let’s get cookin’... Here's the lineup:
MMM-Good Hamburgers
Italian Meatballs
MMM's Meatloaf
Porcupine Eggs
**All recipes serve 4**
**********************************
INGREDIENTS
7 lb. Ground Beef
2 packets Onion Soup Mix
1 packet Beef Gravy Mix
4 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
½ c. Bread Crumbs (I keep a stash of make-your-own in my freezer)
½ c. White Rice
1 c. Onion, minced (about 1 medium onion)
2 tsp. Salt
1-3/4 tsp. Pepper
3 Eggs
32 oz. (2 cup) Spaghetti Sauce
15 oz. Can Beef Consommé
1 c. Water
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
¼ tsp. Garlic Salt
2 tsp. Basil, dried
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/3 c. ketchup
1/3 c. BBQ Sauce
2/3 c. Quick Oats
***************************************
Other Supplies:
2 Gallon Freezer Bags, 2 Quart Freezer Bags, Wax paper or Fold-over type sandwich bags, Aluminum Foil
***************************************
Step #1 - Make the MEATBALLS
Mix the following and form into 2” balls, then bake at 250 for 20-30 minutes. Cool and freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
2 pounds ground beef
½ cup onion
¼ tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Garlic salt
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1 Egg
**Reserve 24-ounce can Spaghetti sauce OR 1-1/2 to 2 cups homemade spaghetti sauce for serving day
To serve, thaw in the refrigerator then cover with one 24-ounce can spaghetti sauce (or 1-1/2 to 2 cups homemade) and simmer. See "Serving Ideas" at the end of this article.
***************************************
Step #2 - Make the MMM-GOOD HAMBURGER PATTIES
Mix 2 pounds ground beef with 1 packet onion soup mix, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and ½ cup bread crumbs. Form into 8-10 patties. Place patties into fold-over type sandwich bags or separate by wax paper or foil. Freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
To serve, thaw first, then grill, broil, or pan fry. Serve on hamburger buns with all the fixin's and fries or corn on the cob, or with onions and gravy and mashed potatoes. MMM-Good!
****************************************
Step #3 - Make the PORCUPINE EGGS
In a large bowl, mix the following and form into 8 balls. Spray a pan with non-stick cooking spray and fry the meatballs, or bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool, place into a quart-size freezer bag. Freeze.
1 pound ground beef
½ cup rice
½ cup minced onion
1 tsp. Salt; ½ tsp pepper
1 egg
½ cup spaghetti sauce (freeze the other ½ cup until the day you serve this)
To serve, thaw the meatballs. Place in a casserole dish or crockpot. Add ½ cup spaghetti sauce, 1 15-ounce can of beef consommé, 1 cup water, and 1 packet beef gravy mix. Bake 40 minutes at 350 or cook 4 hours on low in the crockpot.
*****************************************
Step #4 - Make MMM’S MEATLOAF
In a large bowl, mix the following ingredients. Dump the whole mess into an aluminum foil lined loaf pan and press down into a loaf-shape. Freeze until almost hard. Remove from the pan, wrap with more foil, and freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
2 pound ground beef
1 egg
1 packet onion soup mix
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup bbq sauce
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup quick oats
1 tsp. Pepper
To serve, thaw in the fridge. Place back in the loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
********************************
Serving Ideas:
1. Italian Meatballs are great in soups and stews. They can be used on sub sandwiches and of course, served with spaghetti sauce and spaghetti noodles. They are also superb when sliced in half and placed on homemade pizza!
2. MMM's Meatloaf leftovers make great panini sandwiches!! Leftovers can be crumbled and served over egg noodles for a great dinner too!
3. MMM-Good Hamburgers can be served on buns with all the fixins' along with french fries or corn on the cob (ON SALE THIS WEEK AT HEB), or they can be pan fried and smothered with onions, mushrooms, and gravy then served with a side order of mashed potatoes with peas and carrots.
4. Serve the Porcupine Eggs over a small portion of rice, along with steamed green beans (I love the steamer packs. Check out this coupon and pick some up this week!)
********************************
MMM GOOD!!!
This week’s menu uses ground beef, which is on sale this week at HEB for $1.99/lb. Of course, if you’d like to fill your freezer with even more beef recipes for even more savings, be sure and click on the “Beef Plan” link on the left sidebar. This entire batch cooking session should cost you just about $20.00. That's only $5.00 per meal for a family of 4!!
Here’s a couple of quick reminders:
1. Don’t forget to add your recipes to your menu as soon as they go in the freezer!
2. Add any items that will complete your meal to your shopping list BEFORE your week starts. For example, on the week that you serve meatloaf, you might want to include green beans, mashed potatoes, and rolls. Be sure to add these items to BOTH your menu AND your shopping list. When you serve Italian Meatballs, you might need rolls if you are making meatball subs; or you might need spaghetti noodles if you are serving spaghetti and meatballs.
3. Check out my Make-a-Menu resources and instructions on the left sidebar if you need a refresher on how
Let’s get cookin’... Here's the lineup:
MMM-Good Hamburgers
Italian Meatballs
MMM's Meatloaf
Porcupine Eggs
**All recipes serve 4**
**********************************
INGREDIENTS
7 lb. Ground Beef
2 packets Onion Soup Mix
1 packet Beef Gravy Mix
4 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
½ c. Bread Crumbs (I keep a stash of make-your-own in my freezer)
½ c. White Rice
1 c. Onion, minced (about 1 medium onion)
2 tsp. Salt
1-3/4 tsp. Pepper
3 Eggs
32 oz. (2 cup) Spaghetti Sauce
15 oz. Can Beef Consommé
1 c. Water
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
¼ tsp. Garlic Salt
2 tsp. Basil, dried
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/3 c. ketchup
1/3 c. BBQ Sauce
2/3 c. Quick Oats
***************************************
Other Supplies:
2 Gallon Freezer Bags, 2 Quart Freezer Bags, Wax paper or Fold-over type sandwich bags, Aluminum Foil
***************************************
Step #1 - Make the MEATBALLS
Mix the following and form into 2” balls, then bake at 250 for 20-30 minutes. Cool and freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
2 pounds ground beef
½ cup onion
¼ tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Garlic salt
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1 Egg
**Reserve 24-ounce can Spaghetti sauce OR 1-1/2 to 2 cups homemade spaghetti sauce for serving day
To serve, thaw in the refrigerator then cover with one 24-ounce can spaghetti sauce (or 1-1/2 to 2 cups homemade) and simmer. See "Serving Ideas" at the end of this article.
***************************************
Step #2 - Make the MMM-GOOD HAMBURGER PATTIES
Mix 2 pounds ground beef with 1 packet onion soup mix, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and ½ cup bread crumbs. Form into 8-10 patties. Place patties into fold-over type sandwich bags or separate by wax paper or foil. Freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
To serve, thaw first, then grill, broil, or pan fry. Serve on hamburger buns with all the fixin's and fries or corn on the cob, or with onions and gravy and mashed potatoes. MMM-Good!
****************************************
Step #3 - Make the PORCUPINE EGGS
In a large bowl, mix the following and form into 8 balls. Spray a pan with non-stick cooking spray and fry the meatballs, or bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Cool, place into a quart-size freezer bag. Freeze.
1 pound ground beef
½ cup rice
½ cup minced onion
1 tsp. Salt; ½ tsp pepper
1 egg
½ cup spaghetti sauce (freeze the other ½ cup until the day you serve this)
To serve, thaw the meatballs. Place in a casserole dish or crockpot. Add ½ cup spaghetti sauce, 1 15-ounce can of beef consommé, 1 cup water, and 1 packet beef gravy mix. Bake 40 minutes at 350 or cook 4 hours on low in the crockpot.
*****************************************
Step #4 - Make MMM’S MEATLOAF
In a large bowl, mix the following ingredients. Dump the whole mess into an aluminum foil lined loaf pan and press down into a loaf-shape. Freeze until almost hard. Remove from the pan, wrap with more foil, and freeze in a gallon-size freezer bag.
2 pound ground beef
1 egg
1 packet onion soup mix
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup bbq sauce
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup quick oats
1 tsp. Pepper
To serve, thaw in the fridge. Place back in the loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
********************************
Serving Ideas:
1. Italian Meatballs are great in soups and stews. They can be used on sub sandwiches and of course, served with spaghetti sauce and spaghetti noodles. They are also superb when sliced in half and placed on homemade pizza!
2. MMM's Meatloaf leftovers make great panini sandwiches!! Leftovers can be crumbled and served over egg noodles for a great dinner too!
3. MMM-Good Hamburgers can be served on buns with all the fixins' along with french fries or corn on the cob (ON SALE THIS WEEK AT HEB), or they can be pan fried and smothered with onions, mushrooms, and gravy then served with a side order of mashed potatoes with peas and carrots.
4. Serve the Porcupine Eggs over a small portion of rice, along with steamed green beans (I love the steamer packs. Check out this coupon and pick some up this week!)
********************************
MMM GOOD!!!
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