August's Food Bill

For the entire month of August I spent $400.66 on grocery and saved $163.01.  I only saved 29% but I am really focused on what I spent!

Last August I spent $550
Last Month I spent $442.70
My budget this month was $450 but my goal was $425 (baby steps is my game)
Next month's budget is $425 and goal is $400

It's really working, all the hard work, some good coupon sites, and support from my friend Brittany, I am really saving money!

Stay safe east coast

I haven't slept in over 36 hours, so please forgive me for an error and grammer, plus I'm ok my phone so I can't really pre-read before i click post. Anywho, we had plans for a few months to drive to Charolette NC this weekend. Now with the crazy weather we had to options, leave jersey asap or stay in jersey. We left asap and made it down without any problems. We took a longer route bc we drove as far as west as possiable then went south. But we r here and this area is so far west that's it's not effected by this hurricane. Strange to say that we are safer in NC than NJ. Ok this random post is longer than I wanted and I can't edit so all I wanted to say was everyone on the east coast is in my prayers and please be safe.

Ps, it took us 11 hours to drive down..Monkey only slept for 2 hours! He didn't fall alseep till after 4am then woke up at 6am!!

Who am I?

Who am I

Just to make it a little more fun, I asked my sister to answer a few questions about me. Their answers are in a different color so make things a little more clear.

How would you describe yourself? 

I am a passionate sensitive person who loves to have fun and enjoy a good laugh. I don’t have any problem laughing at myself and talk to myself ALL the time.  It takes a long time for me to open up, I have trust issues, but once I open up your world will change lol.  Once I trust you, you will find me demanding, only because I care and want the best for you that I want you a part of my family.  I have a hard time taking NO as an answer.  My closest friends are my family, and once you are in, you can never leave lol just kidding. 

I asked my sister’s to answer this question about me, her answer: I would say you’re a very hard worker, you like your life organized and you take care of everyone around you.

What do people most often criticize about me?

I felt it wasn’t right to answer this question personally so my sister said some would say you can be a little too organized.

What are your pet peeves?

Two things, first I hate drama.  I know it’s part of our lives and everyone has them but some people make and need drama.  My second pet peeve; I truly don’t judge anybody nor their drama.  I find myself finding close family and friends wanting to be judge, they feel they don’t hold up to my standards, but I have very low standards and that drives me crazy.  I know it’s a crazy pet peeve but it’s mine.  The only thing I want from my family and friends is for them to be in my life if they REALLY want to be. That’s it.  I don’t care about money, status, lifestyle, choices.  Don’t get me wrong I want everyone to be happy but what makes me happy could be something completely different. And I am truly ok with that, that’s the way God made us.  Everybody is on a different path and I embrace that.

What are you passionate about?

Church, family and friends are on the top of the list, if they are not happy I am not happy.  I am also passionate about cooking for my family and friends and taking pictures of them. One of my favorite things to do for fun is just to hang around home (we have a sports bar in the basement) with great company and good food.  Even my friends will call me up and say “I need some lounge time” I will call up the crew and we will eat, share, laugh, and drink. 

I only give my opinions on the things I am passionate about; I go with the flow with everything else. Everything else is just “details” to me, I don’t care about how, when, where, I care about WHO. Therefore I am not controlling actually I rather somebody else make all the decision on all the details.  

What are your priorities?

My priorities might be different than some, church and family come first.  And to keep it that way we have some house rules.  We eat dinner together every night, there is no work or shopping to be done on Sundays, that’s a day for church and family only. We try are best not having to work overtime to pay the bills. Which means to reduce the financial stress in our house and to live under our means we are making it a priority to live a simply life.  My number one priority right now is to raise a well rounded child; I want him to have fun, to love, to learn, and to be sweet.  My second priority is my husband, next is the rest of my family and friends, then the house, finally and defiantly last… work.

What do people most often criticize about you? How do you handle stress and pressure?

These two questions I feel have the same answer if you ask my husband. I like to make lists and I take baby steps with everything. I am not a risk taker, I will to research, plan, and have a backup plan with lots of prayer all over. I don’t like stress, I hate conflict, and the whole thing makes me sick.

What is your greatest weakness and strength?

I have a horrible short term memory when it comes to details and I am a great listener. I feel the two go hand in hand because when someone wants to tell me their problems they really don’t want to talk about it again in the future which is great because I don’t remember all the details.  My one best friend calls me “the vault”; because she tells me everything and I will never bring it up again and never tell another soul.

Another weakness I have is if I trust you I really believe everything you will tell me (my DH hates this) I just don’t know why someone would lie to me.  I see this as a strength because I am never looking for people flaws or holes in their stories.  However I have to trust you firs.  It does take a lot for me to trust someone, without trying I study people’s behaviors and reactions, I am very observant person, I don’t miss a beat. (Fun Fact: When DH and I go out to dinner, we pick a couple and try to find “their” story based on body language) I can pick out a trouble maker/ liar; I have excellent judge of character.  But I never try to change a person, if they want to think the world is flat, let them.  I won’t argue with a person; I’ll nod my head and walk away, to me that’s just details.  Thank the lord that I never ever fell for peer pressure, I know the world is round but I never seem the point in arguing with someone or calling out their lie.  What good would it do? 

My sister said my strength is “Your willingness to help everyone, to work hard for what you want and that you keep your eye on the prize.”  And weakness is “I don't think you take enough time to just go with the flow, you might be missing something you would really enjoy.”

What motivates you? What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?

Another two questions one answer.  My mother always says that I am a very highly motivated person.  I just try to see the big picture and stay on the right track, sure I have taken a few turns but I always get back on that dirt road which leads me to the only thing I want, my family to a happy healthy future. The only goal I see in our future is more children.  I don’t want material things, sure now and then I see something and will be amazed but the next morning I remember what my family needs and don’t need.

What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? If you know someone is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it? My biggest problem is dealing with other love ones.  I hate conflict but that’s part of life. I’m not a drama girl but I will stand up for myself and for a love one.  I have strong beliefs and values plus I’m from Jersey.  I can have a temper and get a little unrashable (can’t believe this isn’t a word).  However when I get in a disagreement with someone I love, I learned to walk away, pray, then talk about without getting my emotions too involved. 

When was the last time you were angry? What happened?

It’s been a tough month for me lol.  I have been upset with my boss and husband (totally in need for confession) With my boss, it’s about control issue, but I remember myself, it’s just details and it really doesn’t affect my life.  However with my husband, I felt he wasn’t paying attention to me and I felt unappreciated. I was dealing with a lot of emotions (you might have noticed the lack of post in this month) after a few days of prayers and talking to my best friend who always reminds to me see if from another light. I was reminded that men and women are different and that we are still growing as a couple and new parents of an active toddler. I talk to my husband and we are better, still working on the issues but back on the right track.

How do people misjudge you?

I can be very quite not because I am shy but because I don’t want to say something stupid or something I will regret (I have been known to talk before I think).  I don’t talk about people, when someone is gossiping; you can tell I get very unconformable.  I also can’t tell I good story, that’s something my husband hates too.  You may have notice, I don’t complain or like talking about myself, I rather give a Monkey story than anything about me me (I meant to double that on purpose).  But I feel you all should know who I am.

BookClub: The 19th Wife

I need a little mystery in my life so I am reading The 19th Wife , this has been on my must read list for over a year and since I am visiting family next week I thought it would be the perfect time to borrow it from the library. Hope it's a good one because this is the only book I am bringing.

Here are some Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This sweeping epic is a compelling and original work set in 1875, when one woman attempts to rid America of polygamy. Ebershoff intertwines his tale with that of a 20th-century murder mystery in Utah, allowing the two stories to twist and turn into a marvelous literary experience. With such a sprawling tale to relate, a few narrators (Kimberly Farr, Rebecca Lowman, Arthur Morey and Daniel Passer) divide up the roles and deliver a solid, professional reading, true to Ebershoffs prose. A Random House hardcover (Reviews, June 23). (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From The New Yorker

This ambitious third novel tells two parallel stories of polygamy. The first recounts Brigham Young's expulsion of one of his wives, Ann Eliza, from the Mormon Church; the second is a modern-day murder mystery set in a polygamous compound in Utah. Unfolding through an impressive variety of narrative forms—Wikipedia entries, academic research papers, newspaper opinion pieces—the stories include fascinating historical details. We are told, for instance, of Brigham Young's ban on dramas that romanticized monogamous love at his community theatre; as one of Young's followers says, "I ain't sitting through no play where a man makes such a cussed fuss over one woman." Ebershoff demonstrates abundant virtuosity, as he convincingly inhabits the voices of both a nineteenth-century Mormon wife and a contemporary gay youth excommunicated from the church, while also managing to say something about the mysterious power of faith.
Copyright ©2008

Taking questions

I am preparing an interview post, looking for questions, will answer all, you don’t have to leave your name.

Thank you for the past year!

I have been blogging for one full year plus two days !

Here are some fun stats:

All time page views 3,470 (average about 10 a day)

I wrote 195 post

Top Five Posts

1) The Help (that’s because of the movie)

2) My only goal today (thanks to Matushka Anna)

3) Memorial Day Prayer

4) Perfect shirt for Monkey’s Safari Party (don’t ask me why)

5) Introduction

I have been awarded for "Keeping it real" award (thanks to Matushka Anna)

I am really happy to see people from all over the world reading my blog;

Canada, France, South Korea, Germany, Slovenia, India, Romania, Denmark, and Greece..plus all 50 states!

Some measurable changes in my life from the last 12 months

1) I pray more, in fact thanks to reading The Help, I keep a list of people to pray for and what I need to pray for ( I have horrible short term memory)

2) A little embarrassed to say but this time last year I didn’t fast on Wednesday but now I do :)

3) My grocery bill has dropped $50 a month, plus we aren’t eating out as much and I am baking more!!

4) I lost 10 pounds since last year (ok that’s not really blog related just wanted to share lol)

5) Monkey is still not potty trained but he knows some of his colors, he kinda can count, write the letter T, O, M, and W (I didn't focus on ANY of these letters, lol kids)

Ok but here is what I am really happy and thankful for, the great relationships that have been created through this blogging world.  A year ago, I didn’t know how to connect with people who have the same values and beliefs as me. I belong to a church where it’s more of an older generation than younger, and our family isn’t Orthodox (or really Christian) so it was a struggle at first but I am so happy where my family is at today. It might have taken me a little longer but I am here.  It’s tough and tired but that means we are on the right track.

When I first started this blog, my main goal was to be a better Orthodox Momma, and thanks to your support, tips, and advance, I am 100% better at my main job. I always said it takes a village to raise a child, I never imagine it takes the whole world :)

THANK YOU and I can't wait to see what this year will bring!

I'm not ready for the summer to be over

I always hate when people say "summer is over" what about the next 10 days, whats that? I'm just not ready for summer to be over *stomping my feet as I walk away*

Mom vs Wife

I’ve come to terms that being in a marriage is harder than being a parent.  You can’t demand a spouse to do something like you can with a child and if you love a child unconditional they will love you back unconditional, a child also is willing to help, and they don’t expect the world…unlike a spouse

How did it go?

It went pretty good, it started out slow because the first how or two all you do is prep work, so it’s hard to keep going when it feels like nothing was happening but by the end of the day I had lots of food!
2 ½ Mexican Chicken
2 ½ Chicken Pot Pie
3 Meatloaves
2 Pork Chops
4 ½ Mash Bean potatoes (these came out really good!!)
4 ½ red beans and rice (I over cooked the rice)
4 veggie casserole
1 tray of brownies
50ish peanut butter cookies

What did I learned?
1) to start cooking the beans really early! They took forever and a day to cook!! And to make the pie crust early too!! My kitchen was above 83 degrees with all the burners on plus the oven!! I didn’t even try to make my crust; I know it wouldn’t have come out right. 

2) Throw a whole chicken the night before, for the price I paid for just the chicken broth was sick. 

3) I also wish I took before, during, and after pictures.  I took a few with my phone, but that really doesn’t do it justices.

4) keep my eye out for when bags of beans and rice go on sale.

5) Pull out all cooking supplies and ingredients the night before

6) Have a clean the kitchen the night before!

Let’s get to the real question…how much did I save/spend??
3 tomatoes $2
4 red peppers $2
4 red onions $2
Bag of celery $1
2 Bag of carrots $2
1 Lemon $.50
1 Garlic $.50
Thyme $1
5 pounds bag of potatoes $3

4 pounds of chicken for 5 meals, “manger special” cost $3
1 ½ pounds of Pork Chops $3
3 pounds of ground beef “manger special” $4.80

3 Large cans of chicken broth $7.50
Big bag of rice $4
Big Can of enchilada sauce $2.5
Jar of salsa $1.75

1 pound of butter $3
1 quart of light cream $1.5
Frozen peas $1.5

4 pounds of black beans (I shouldn’t have gotten 4 pounds, I was excited to see a 4 pounds bag) $4
2 pounds of white beans $3
2 pounds of red beans $3
1 pound of pink beans $1.5
Box of brownies Free
Everything else came out of my pantry
Total cost for 10 meals, 13 side dishes, and some sweets…$58 I didn't save as much as I hoped but I totally saved time in the kitchen!

Now I know to keep my eye out for when beans and rice go on sale.  I usually make my own chicken broth, but I haven’t made roasted chicken in awhile.

Well I do it again? You betcha!!  Next cooking day is September 18!

Big Cooking Day is tomorrow

I think I wrote this post really for me, I always prefer having a very detailed game plan when doing anything for the first time.  I went through all the recipes that I will be making tomorrow and figured out what can be made together, like sautéing all the vegetables and what took the longest time

Friday Morning: removed chicken breast, ground beef, and pork chops from freezer and place into fridge to thaw.

Friday Night: peeled and chopped potatoes covered the pot of potatoes in water over night. Repeat for Carrots.  Picked over, rinse, and soak black and kidney beans overnight like the red rice and beans

Saturday:

1) Start to cook all beans and potatoes&white beans on low on the stove top

2) Make brownies and cookie dough with Monkey place in fridge to bake later

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy (about 2 - 3 minutes). Beat in the peanut butter. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the peanut butter mixture and beat until incorporated. Fold in the chopped peanuts, if using. (If the batter is too soft to form into balls, place in the refrigerator for about an hour or until firm.)

Roll the batter into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet, placing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Then, using the tines of the fork that has been dipped in white granulated sugar, make a crisscross pattern.

3) (while monkey is painting at the table) Dice tomatoes and red peppers.  Use the food process for celery, onions, and breading. The Magic bullet for garlic and fresh herbs.

4) (monkey’s lunch time) Start sautéing carrots, celery, onion, and peppers

5) Dice chicken, fry half the batch with taco seasoning and other half with Italian seasoning. Then cook the Italian season in chicken broth.

6) (nap time) Complete step 1 red beans and rice (should take less time since I already started the red bean)

1) Cook onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 teaspoon pepper, oregano, thyme, cayenne, bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, beans, broth, and water, and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain vigorous simmer (mixture will be steaming and several bubbles should be breaking the surface) and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beans are soft and liquid thickens, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

7) Complete step 1 for veggie casserole

1) In a large Dutch oven, saute the carrots, celery, onion, green pepper in oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic. chili powder and cumin; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.

8) Make the rest of the Mexican Chicken casserole dish

COOK and stir chicken and cumin in nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 2 min. Add peppers; cook 2 min., stirring occasionally. Stir in salsa; cook 2 min. Stir in beans, enchilada sauce, uncooked rice and tomatoes cook for 20 mins (until rice is cooked).

9) Complete steps 1& 2 from Chicken Pot Pie

1) To make ahead: Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large Dutch oven over high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until well browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Add broth and bring to boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to large plate and strain broth into bowl.

2. Melt butter with remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrots, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until lightly browned and softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add flour, and cook 1 minute. Whisk in reserved broth, milk, and thyme and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.

10) Make two meatloaves and bake

11) Complete step 2 for veggie casserole (underneath meatloaves)

Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until thickened and vegetables are tender. Yield: 8 servings.

12) Complete step 3 from Chicken Pot Pie

3. Meanwhile, using 2 forks, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces. Off heat, add chicken and lemon juice to sauce and season with salt and pepper. Transfer filling to medium bowl and cool until just warm. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.

13) Bread pork Chops and bake in roaster at 425

14) Make Mash Potatoes

15) Make crust for Pot Pies

16) Complete step 4 for Chicken Pot Pies

4. Unwrap and unroll pie crusts onto lightly floured counter. Following photos at left, glue 2 crusts together using 1 beaten egg. Repeat with remaining 2 crusts. Cut out 6 pastry toppings. Stir frozen peas into cold filling and divide mixture among six 2-cup disposable aluminum loaf pans. Top with pastry and use fork to seal edges. Using paring knife, make 3 steam vents in each crust. Tightly wrap each loaf pan in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.

17) Complete step 2 red beans and rice

When beans begin to soften up, take out 1 large ladle of beans, mash them up and add to saute.

The entire process should take about 6 hours!! But I will have plenty of dinners in the freezer!

Red bean and Rice

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 green bell pepper, chopped fine

1 rib celery, chopped fine

4 cloves garlic, minced

  Ground black pepper

1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano leaves

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 bay leaves 

Table salt

1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed and picked over

7 cups low-sodium chicken broth

7 cups water

6 cups cooked long-grain rice (from 3 cups raw rice)

Hot pepper sauce

Soak beans overnight in 3 times the amount of water (in refrigerator; covered).

1. Cook onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 teaspoon pepper, oregano, thyme, cayenne, bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, beans, broth, and water, and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain vigorous simmer (mixture will be steaming and several bubbles should be breaking the surface) and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until beans are soft and liquid thickens, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. When beans begin to soften up, take out 1 large ladle of beans, mash them up and add to saute.

Stir in hot cooked rice with hot pepper sauce, if desired.

Cool completely and place in proportional freezer bags, then add all the small bags into a 2 gallon freezer bag.

Veggie Bean Casserole

 2 medium carrots, diced

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cups frozen corn

1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons picante sauce

In a large Dutch oven, saute the carrots, celery, onion, green pepper in oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic. chili powder and cumin; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.

Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until thickened and vegetables are tender. Yield: 8 servings.

 

Cool completely and place in proportional freezer bags, then add all the small bags into a 2 gallon freezer bag.

Crunchy Pork Chops

1 box or bag of croutons

1/2 teaspoon  table salt 

1/2 teaspoon  garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon  onion powder 

1/2 teaspoon  paprika 

1/2 teaspoon  dried thyme 

1/8 teaspoon  sugar 

1 large egg

1 cup of flour

4center-cut boneless pork chops , 3/4 inch to 1 inch thick (each 6 to 7 ounces), patted dry with paper towels

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Use the food processer to crumble crountons. Place croutons, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, and sugar in bowl. In another bowl create and egg wash and in another bowl have flour and salt ready. 

2. Bread pork chops. Transfer breaded pork chop to baking rack set over rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chops.

3. Bake pork chops until juices run clear and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of chop registers 145 to 150 degrees, 16 to 22 minutes. Remove chops from oven and let rest on rack for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately or cool complete then wrap in foil and place in freezer bag and freeze.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

5 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 medium onion, chopped fine

3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

1 celery rib, chopped fine

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 (15-ounce) boxes Pillsbury Ready to Roll Pie Crust1 large egg, plus one large egg, beaten, for baking or make your own

1 1/2 cups frozen peas

1. To make ahead: Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large Dutch oven over high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until well browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Add broth and bring to boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until chicken is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to large plate and strain broth into bowl.

2. Melt butter with remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrots, celery, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until lightly browned and softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add flour, and cook 1 minute. Whisk in reserved broth, milk, and thyme and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, using 2 forks, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces. Off heat, add chicken and lemon juice to sauce and season with salt and pepper. Transfer filling to medium bowl and cool until just warm. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.

4. Unwrap and unroll pie crusts onto lightly floured counter. Following photos at left, glue 2 crusts together using 1 beaten egg. Repeat with remaining 2 crusts. Cut out 6 pastry toppings. Stir frozen peas into cold filling and divide mixture among six 2-cup disposable aluminum loaf pans. Top with pastry and use fork to seal edges. Using paring knife, make 3 steam vents in each crust. Tightly wrap each loaf pan in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.

5. When ready to serve: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Unwrap frozen pot pies and arrange on rimmed baking sheet. Brush crusts with egg, cover with foil, and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake until crusts are golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let pot pies rest 10 minutes before serving.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

3/4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup uncooked converted white rice

1 can enchilada sauce

1 tablespoon of taco seasons

1 red pepper, chopped

1-1/2 cups  Chunky Salsa

1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained, rinsed

1 tomato, chopped

1/2 cup Cheeder Cheese

Cook and stir chicken and cumin in nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat 2 min. Add peppers; cook 2 min., stirring occasionally. Stir in salsa; cook 2 min. Stir in beans, enchilada sauce, uncooked rice and tomatoes cook for 20 mins (until rice is cooked).  Cool completely then freeze.

5 pounds of Mash Bean Potatoes

5 pounds of potatoes
4 Sticks of Butter
2 16 ounce bags of dried white beans
1 Quart of light cream (could use milk instead)
Container of sour cream*
Big can of chicken broth
Enough water to cover potatoes and beans
As much salt and pepper you like

Pick, rinse, and soak beans overnight.  Peel and chop potatoes (also can be done the night before, cover in water and place in the fridge)

Cook potatoes and beans together in a big pot of chicken broth and water until very very tender. In smaller batches use a hand mixer and add butter and cream.  Season with salt and pepper.

Cool completely and place in proportional freezer bags, then add all the small bags into a 2 gallon freezer bag.

*I am freezing the mash potatoes, so I will add the sour cream when I reheat the potatoes.

Monthly Meal Plan continues

I want to me explain how I will create my monthly meal plan, for those who are thinking about giving this crazy idea a try. 

To make this monthly meal plan really work and to save money I have to do some bulk cooking, which I will be doing this Saturday.  So I wrote out next month’s menu and wanted to share with you the process. 

Step 1) I grab an unused monthly planner, then I wrote down my plans and activities in pen. These days will probably going out to dinner, will need a crowd pleaser meal, or something fast.

Step 2) I wrote down what I have in my pantry and freezer. This will include all loss leaders and mangers special I already bought.

Step 3) I googled up what produce is in season, to help my get creative in my meal plan. Which are apples, broccoli, cabbage, leeks, and pears to name a few.  I want to take advantage of the fresh cheap produce when not using a freezer meal.

Step 4) I looked at all my recipes, thought about steps 2&3, and created my monthly meal plan, and what I want to cook ahead and freeze. This will be a very simple bulk cooking, I am only working with three easy meats, chicken breast, ground beef, and pork chops.  I will make two Mexican chicken casseroles, two chicken pot pies, two meatloaves, and three crunchy pork chops. So really I am just making 4 meals, just doubling it.  Going to try to freeze mash potatoes, not sure if it’s going to work but what’s the worst that can happen. Also will make a batch of rice-n-beans and veggie bean casserole, which I will divide up into side dishes. And last but not least brownies and peanut butter cookie dough to be frozen.  I am told frozen brownies are delicious, can’t wait to try one!

Tomorrow I will explain more about my plan to tackle Big Cooking Day

I am changing my meal planning!

Who? Me
Why, I’m just not saving enough; I feel that we are still wasting food which means wasting money.
What will change? I am going from weekly to monthly
How will I save money? I hope to save money in three different ways.

1) Use what I have on hand. I am currently working on my September meal plan; I will base 90% of the entire month’s meal plan around the food I already have in my pantry (this I learned from America’ Cheapest Family).

2) Save on meat. I learned that my local supermarket have been reducing the price of meats “manger specials” on Tuesdays so I have been getting a lot of meat on sale.  I freeze the clearance meat right away so it won’t spoil.  I still think meat is way too expensive compared to last year and the year before :(

3) Stretching the meat and produce. I will try some bulk cooking; this is something I tried to avoid because it just sounds like a pain in the butt.  So I will start this crazy process nice and slow.  I plan of making a ham dinner in September; I will use the leftover ham to make split pea soup and ham-leek pie.  Those three meals use the same ingredients so I should save money on produce and making the ham last a while. So I cooked the ham once and have 3 meals.

Where do I start? Now, I am only buying loss lenders at the supermarkets which I plan on using in September. I have been gathering all my recipes in Monki Kitchen (still working on), made a list of my family favorite.  I have two “freezer cook books” but my family really doesn’t like most of those recipes, so I will try to just freeze mine. I wonder if black beans freezes well? We will find out soon!!

When I finish September’s meal plan, I will explain more of my thought process.

It’s been too long since I told a Monkey story

My little guy loves money…he has to no clue what it really is but if he sees it he loves to put it in his pocket (we all do).  I have two money stories to share.

The first one happen at the mall, we grab lunch at the food court and I placed my change on the lunch tray as I tried to juggle food, money, and Monkey.  Once we got a table, he saw the money and of course put it in his pocket, telling me it’s for the piggy bank.  After lunch we went to the Disney store where he saw Toy Story’s Ham (piggybank) and asked me for money, I wasn’t really paying attention to what he wanted, but gave the everyday mom answer: “I don’t have any money.” He replied “that’s ok I have money.” Now I start to pay attention, knowing he has 75 cents from lunch.  He pulled out his changed and places it in Ham then walks away.  He didn’t want the piggybank, he just wanted to put his money in it.  That piggy bank now cost $19.25 at the freehold mall.

Second story takes place at church (all good kid stories do) Monkey gets a dollar to put in the basket every week, and I thought last week was like any other week, I gave a check he gives a dollar. Services were almost over and he was going through my pocket book pulled out my wallet and found another dollar.  Leans over the pew (we sit at the first pew) starts shaking the dollar, like he was at a strip club, and screams “I have more money!!” while wearing his sunglasses on..upside down*. That little boy walked out of church with a few more bucks because everything couldn’t stop laughing and gave him more money.

*Why did he have his sunglasses on at church… I am having a hard time trying to get them off with reasoning.  I tried to explain to him that we don’t wear sunglasses in church/restaurant/home.  But he points to other people wearing regular glasses.  I explain to him that they need those special glasses to see.  His response “I need these cool boy glasses to sEEEE too.”  I pick and choose my battles; the sunglasses stay on…as long as he keeps his shoes on.  Why are they upside down, that’s just the way he puts them on. I do put my foot down when it’s time for communion

Miss Me? I miss you too!

I am sorry for my absents, things were just a little crazy around here and when push comes to shove, blogging always takes aback sits next to sleep. 

What are some of the craziness’; getting ready for preschool, changing my meal planning from weekly to monthly, getting ready for our trip to North Carolina to visit family, rearrange my budget, spending a lot of time with family, busy quarter close at work, thredup, started Christmas shopping, and planning a baby shower for my best friends since the 4^th grade.

I have also read 2 books from the America’s Cheapest Family, and because of them I am willing to try a monthly meal plan that will work for our family.  I totally recommend the books, they both were a fast easy read, but totally got my attention.

I have been so busy; I haven’t even been getting my daily swagbucks!!