Just a quick little update to let y'all know how I've been doing.
Monday: packed breakfast and lunch for hubs and me. For dinner we had a Hormel Turkey Dinner (http://www.hormel.com/products/refrigerated/HormelRefrigeratedEntrees.aspx) It was ok but we both agreed that mine is better but it sure doesn't take 4 minutes to heat up. :-)
Tuesday: packed breakfast and lunch for hubs and me. For dinner we were supposed to have meatloaf muffins but I was going to switch and have pizza instead since we had mashed potatoes with our turkey the night before. Instead, my in-laws took us out to dinner. Cracker Barrell is never a bad thing!
Wednesday: I skipped breakfast. Didn't pack lunch but hubs is home so he can eat some of the massive quantity of cereal residing in our pantry. I grabbed the January coupon from my Chick-fil-A calendar so I had chicken noodle soup. It was good. I am making that pizza tonight and Crystal's muffins.
I haven't shopped since my trip to Trader Joes. I do want some of those Aldi oranges and some Romaine lettuce though. The new ads in my area start today and I am dying a little on the inside to not be able to get some of these good deals I just keep repeating: "sales are cyclical, sales are cyclical. These deals will come again."
How are you all doing with the challenge?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Eat from the pantry update already thinking about next month and beyond
When I sat down last week to write out my month long plan I struggled to come up with the final 10 meals. But since then, I seem to have ideas all the time. So I'm going to write some of them down here because I can and should still draw from my freezer and pantry after this challenge is over so that I use up what I have instead of always using the new stuff and letting the things buried go to waste.
Here are some meal ideas. I'll update this post as I think of more:
Falling Off the Bone Chicken Wings- these are by far my favorite wings ever. I would rather make these at home than go out to eat for wings. When I think of wings these are the ones I want. Can you tell I really love them? I always serve them with pineapple because the flavors just seem to go together. I have several packs of wings in the depths of my freezer and the other ingredients (except ketchup... I'm almost out!) so this would have made a good recipe for this month too.
Here's the link to the recipe:
http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2008/07/falling-off-bone-chicken-wings-recipe.html
Bourbon Chicken- we love this and I have everything I need to make it (ya know except ketchup). I also serve this with pineapple. I guess I just really like pineapple
Here's the link:
http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2008/07/bourbon-chicken-recipe-from-krashed.html
By the way you should really check out the other recipes from Amber's Kitchen. That is one of my favorite food blogs!
Sweet & Sour Chicken- again I already have everything I need. I haven't posted this recipe. I'm not even sure where I got it from to give credit so not sure I'll post that.
Hibachi steak and fried rice- this is Michael's specialty. I like Michael specialties because then I get a night off from cooking!
Can you tell we like Asian food or what?!?
update 1/9/10 I thought of more:
Chicken Parmigiana
Sweet & Sour smoked sausage
chicken bacon ranch pizza
hash brown quiche
beef/chicken/pork fried rice
Sesame Ginger ribs (Asian style of course) & (crock pot)
One pan spaghetti
baked ziti
slow simmered garlic pork chops (crock pot)
Scalloped Potatoes w/ ham (would have to buy potatoes but will need a bag by then anyways)
Oven Fried Chicken (my mom's recipe-so good!)
Nana's Hamburger Gravy (not my nana someone else on Allrecipes or somewhere. Like sausage gravy but with hamburger... so yummy on biscuits!)
Italian Sausage and Potatoes
Chicken fingers with honey sauce
Meatloaf Patties
Pulled Pork (crock pot)
Beef Stew (I don't care what I have to buy to make it... I'm CRAVING it)
Chili (perfect for a cold winter night!)
Baked Potato Soup- Still working on finding that perfect soup that tastes rich and fattening for hubs but is light enough for me.
Now just need to think of a few ways to use sweet potatoes that hopefully hubs will eat. I would also like to think of a way to use some of these yummy Muir Glen tomatoes that I have sitting in my pantry. They are my absolute favorite canned tomato ever and since, thanks to the power of couponing, I get them free all the stinking time, I refuse to buy anything else.
Also, I have tons of instant oatmeal (the stuff in the packets) that I would like to find a way to use. Since we only really eat breakfast at home on the weekends and then I like to make something hot & homemade I have a ton that I've gotten for free or close to it and haven't been using. Unfortunately most of the boxes have been opened (since they're different flavors) with one or two packets removed so I can't donate any. I have made oatmeal muffins before so I was thinking of substituting a package of that for the uncooked rolled oats called for in that recipe. I'll do some experimenting and let you know.
Here are some meal ideas. I'll update this post as I think of more:
Falling Off the Bone Chicken Wings- these are by far my favorite wings ever. I would rather make these at home than go out to eat for wings. When I think of wings these are the ones I want. Can you tell I really love them? I always serve them with pineapple because the flavors just seem to go together. I have several packs of wings in the depths of my freezer and the other ingredients (except ketchup... I'm almost out!) so this would have made a good recipe for this month too.
Here's the link to the recipe:
http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2008/07/falling-off-bone-chicken-wings-recipe.html
Bourbon Chicken- we love this and I have everything I need to make it (ya know except ketchup). I also serve this with pineapple. I guess I just really like pineapple
Here's the link:
http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2008/07/bourbon-chicken-recipe-from-krashed.html
By the way you should really check out the other recipes from Amber's Kitchen. That is one of my favorite food blogs!
Sweet & Sour Chicken- again I already have everything I need. I haven't posted this recipe. I'm not even sure where I got it from to give credit so not sure I'll post that.
Hibachi steak and fried rice- this is Michael's specialty. I like Michael specialties because then I get a night off from cooking!
Can you tell we like Asian food or what?!?
update 1/9/10 I thought of more:
Chicken Parmigiana
Sweet & Sour smoked sausage
chicken bacon ranch pizza
hash brown quiche
beef/chicken/pork fried rice
Sesame Ginger ribs (Asian style of course) & (crock pot)
One pan spaghetti
baked ziti
slow simmered garlic pork chops (crock pot)
Scalloped Potatoes w/ ham (would have to buy potatoes but will need a bag by then anyways)
Oven Fried Chicken (my mom's recipe-so good!)
Nana's Hamburger Gravy (not my nana someone else on Allrecipes or somewhere. Like sausage gravy but with hamburger... so yummy on biscuits!)
Italian Sausage and Potatoes
Chicken fingers with honey sauce
Meatloaf Patties
Pulled Pork (crock pot)
Beef Stew (I don't care what I have to buy to make it... I'm CRAVING it)
Chili (perfect for a cold winter night!)
Baked Potato Soup- Still working on finding that perfect soup that tastes rich and fattening for hubs but is light enough for me.
Now just need to think of a few ways to use sweet potatoes that hopefully hubs will eat. I would also like to think of a way to use some of these yummy Muir Glen tomatoes that I have sitting in my pantry. They are my absolute favorite canned tomato ever and since, thanks to the power of couponing, I get them free all the stinking time, I refuse to buy anything else.
Also, I have tons of instant oatmeal (the stuff in the packets) that I would like to find a way to use. Since we only really eat breakfast at home on the weekends and then I like to make something hot & homemade I have a ton that I've gotten for free or close to it and haven't been using. Unfortunately most of the boxes have been opened (since they're different flavors) with one or two packets removed so I can't donate any. I have made oatmeal muffins before so I was thinking of substituting a package of that for the uncooked rolled oats called for in that recipe. I'll do some experimenting and let you know.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Eat from the pantry challenge update- how I've been doing- Epic Fail
I have had some success and one gigantic failure so far in the eat from the pantry challenge.
Jan 1- packed hubs lunch & breakfast for work, I was off so I ate leftovers at home for lunch, made beans & greens for dinner (http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2010/01/beans-greens-for-new-year-southern.html)
Jan 2- had breakfast in the car on the way to NC. Made Jimmy Dean brown & serve sausages that I had in my freezer and chocolate croissants also from my freezer. Met friends in Charlotte, NC for lunch, ate out lunch, got coffee, drove through for dinner on the way home.
Now, my big failure comes in the form of a sweet surprise from my husband. I have always been mildly obsessed with Trader Joe's. To the point that I email them every 6 months or so and beg for them to build a store where I live. Afterall, there are stores in GA & stores in NC. It would seem that SC is the next logical step, no? So we were going to be there and hubs decided that we were going and I was going to get everything I ever wanted. My in-laws go up a couple of times a year and bring back wonderful things so I had an idea of what I wanted (more chocolate croissants, mini croissants, 2 buck chuck, etc). Spent: almost $76.00 Epic Fail
Jan 3- I packed hubs lunch & breakfast because he worked, I was at home and ate leftovers all day. Was going to make chicken for dinner but it's a really long story involving thinking that I would need to hold it back to make for next Sunday to make for best friend and her boyfriend to come to dinner but now don't need to because he's an ex-boyfriend. Plus, hubs was working WAY late and it's no fun to eat a dinner like that alone. Made hubs a grilled cheese sandwich when he got home. Don't feel bad for him. He loves grilled cheese.
Jan 4- packed lunch & breakfast for me & for hubs. Making a turkey Hormel dinner tonight because noticed that I need to go ahead and use it. Using leftover mashed potatoes from New Year's Eve dinner.
Schedule will resume tomorrow and I've gotta make some muffins tonight because I just can't live without Crystal's pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/06/baking-day-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins.html)
Jan 1- packed hubs lunch & breakfast for work, I was off so I ate leftovers at home for lunch, made beans & greens for dinner (http://dinnerwithmikeandjen.blogspot.com/2010/01/beans-greens-for-new-year-southern.html)
Jan 2- had breakfast in the car on the way to NC. Made Jimmy Dean brown & serve sausages that I had in my freezer and chocolate croissants also from my freezer. Met friends in Charlotte, NC for lunch, ate out lunch, got coffee, drove through for dinner on the way home.
Now, my big failure comes in the form of a sweet surprise from my husband. I have always been mildly obsessed with Trader Joe's. To the point that I email them every 6 months or so and beg for them to build a store where I live. Afterall, there are stores in GA & stores in NC. It would seem that SC is the next logical step, no? So we were going to be there and hubs decided that we were going and I was going to get everything I ever wanted. My in-laws go up a couple of times a year and bring back wonderful things so I had an idea of what I wanted (more chocolate croissants, mini croissants, 2 buck chuck, etc). Spent: almost $76.00 Epic Fail
Jan 3- I packed hubs lunch & breakfast because he worked, I was at home and ate leftovers all day. Was going to make chicken for dinner but it's a really long story involving thinking that I would need to hold it back to make for next Sunday to make for best friend and her boyfriend to come to dinner but now don't need to because he's an ex-boyfriend. Plus, hubs was working WAY late and it's no fun to eat a dinner like that alone. Made hubs a grilled cheese sandwich when he got home. Don't feel bad for him. He loves grilled cheese.
Jan 4- packed lunch & breakfast for me & for hubs. Making a turkey Hormel dinner tonight because noticed that I need to go ahead and use it. Using leftover mashed potatoes from New Year's Eve dinner.
Schedule will resume tomorrow and I've gotta make some muffins tonight because I just can't live without Crystal's pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/06/baking-day-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins.html)
Beans & Greens for the New Year- a southern tradition
Please note: There isn't much of a recipe for the way I make my beans & greens so I've put the discription of what I do in purple down at the bottom.
If you've taken a look around this here blog of mine you may have noticed a distinct lack of posts related to the part of the country in which I live. There is a reason for that... I like to try new things! Sometimes though, it is good to give in to tradition and have those familiar foods from one's childhood. New Years Day is just one of those occasions. In my family we always had black eyed peas, collards & rutabaga for New Years Day dinner. Now I don't think the rutabaga was for any other reason than that my daddy just likes them. There are many reasons why you eat beans and greens on New Years Day and many stories for what they stand for. Here are the reasons that I was always told:
The beans represent your coin money and if you want to have some coins jingling around in your pocket for the new year you better eat yourself some beans on New Years Day.
The beans are always cooked with pork (duh what does a southerner not cook with pork?) and that represents several things. First, you want to live high on the hog and second, it is physically impossible, or so I have been told, for a pig to turn its head around and look behind it. Therefore, it is always looking forward just as we should not worry about the hard times of last year but look forward to the good times in the new year.
The greens represent your paper money and I think we all want to be having some of that in our wallet. It is said that the more you eat the more money you'll have.
For more info please see The Southern Plate: http://www.southernplate.com/2009/12/black-eyed-peas-for-new-years-day-and-why.html for your history lesson (I always learn something new there!) and her reasons for eating your beans on New Years Day.
Instead of black eyed peas I make pinto beans at the request of my husband. I would prefer the black eyed peas but since I want us both to have some change jingling in our pockets I make pinto beans so he'll eat them too.
I like the one hour soak method just because.
Put your beans in the bottom of a large pot, cover with water to one inch above the beans, bring to a boil uncovered, cover, remove from heat and let sit an hour. Drain the icky water off of them.
Now, the water that I actually cook the beans in I like to simmer all day with the ham hock in it. I don't cook my beans all day. Once they've been soaked they only need to cook for about an hour. If I just put the ham hock in with the beans for an hour the beans wouldn't pick up as much of the ham flavor. So I simmer the bone in the water that I'm going to cook the beans in all day, then I take it out, remove the ham and then put the ham and the water in with the beans to simmer about an hour. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with cornbread for sopping up the juices.
Now to a southerner greens usually mean collards (although turnip greens also pass) but well, here's the thing, I don't like them! I do like Spinach though and last time I checked it was green. So I just take a handful, remove the steams and throw them in a little skillet with a drop of two of olive oil, a sprinkle of kosher salt and a grind of pepper. I just wilt them down a bit and they're done in a matter of moments.
So there you go, that's what we ate for the New Year!
If you've taken a look around this here blog of mine you may have noticed a distinct lack of posts related to the part of the country in which I live. There is a reason for that... I like to try new things! Sometimes though, it is good to give in to tradition and have those familiar foods from one's childhood. New Years Day is just one of those occasions. In my family we always had black eyed peas, collards & rutabaga for New Years Day dinner. Now I don't think the rutabaga was for any other reason than that my daddy just likes them. There are many reasons why you eat beans and greens on New Years Day and many stories for what they stand for. Here are the reasons that I was always told:
The beans represent your coin money and if you want to have some coins jingling around in your pocket for the new year you better eat yourself some beans on New Years Day.
The beans are always cooked with pork (duh what does a southerner not cook with pork?) and that represents several things. First, you want to live high on the hog and second, it is physically impossible, or so I have been told, for a pig to turn its head around and look behind it. Therefore, it is always looking forward just as we should not worry about the hard times of last year but look forward to the good times in the new year.
The greens represent your paper money and I think we all want to be having some of that in our wallet. It is said that the more you eat the more money you'll have.
For more info please see The Southern Plate: http://www.southernplate.com/2009/12/black-eyed-peas-for-new-years-day-and-why.html for your history lesson (I always learn something new there!) and her reasons for eating your beans on New Years Day.
Instead of black eyed peas I make pinto beans at the request of my husband. I would prefer the black eyed peas but since I want us both to have some change jingling in our pockets I make pinto beans so he'll eat them too.
I like the one hour soak method just because.
Put your beans in the bottom of a large pot, cover with water to one inch above the beans, bring to a boil uncovered, cover, remove from heat and let sit an hour. Drain the icky water off of them.
Now, the water that I actually cook the beans in I like to simmer all day with the ham hock in it. I don't cook my beans all day. Once they've been soaked they only need to cook for about an hour. If I just put the ham hock in with the beans for an hour the beans wouldn't pick up as much of the ham flavor. So I simmer the bone in the water that I'm going to cook the beans in all day, then I take it out, remove the ham and then put the ham and the water in with the beans to simmer about an hour. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with cornbread for sopping up the juices.
Now to a southerner greens usually mean collards (although turnip greens also pass) but well, here's the thing, I don't like them! I do like Spinach though and last time I checked it was green. So I just take a handful, remove the steams and throw them in a little skillet with a drop of two of olive oil, a sprinkle of kosher salt and a grind of pepper. I just wilt them down a bit and they're done in a matter of moments.
So there you go, that's what we ate for the New Year!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
January 2010 Eat from the Pantry Challenge and meal plan
Well I took the first step in not buying groceries in January, I took an inventory (not a very detailed one) and I've made out a meal plan for the ENTIRE month. Hold me because this took forever and also I had to rework it because I had planned mashed potatoes nearly every night all month long. Now, I'm Irish so I wouldn't mind and hubs loves my mashed potatoes so he wouldn't complain either but I am thinking that we probably need more variety in our diet. You'll notice I repeat the same vegetables over and over and over. Well, hubs doesn't eat vegetables so I tend to stick to my favorites which tend to be cheaper anyways. If I'm only making them for myself might as well get what I want, right?
I have included breakfasts and lunches too since I pack us breakfasts to eat at our desks or on the road and we each take our luches to work.
Breakfasts:
muffins- blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, dried fruit
granola bars
yogurt
Lunches:
leftovers
sandwiches
quesidillas
soup
salads (chicken, egg, etc)
homemade mac n cheese
Dinners:
Friday, Jan 1, 2010
Traditional southern with a twist
pinto beans w/ ham, sauteed spinach (I don't like my vegetables cooked within an inch of their lives like most southerners)
Saturday, Jan 2, 2010
We are meeting some friends out of state for lunch so not sure what time we will be home. It will either be see food (see food, eat food) or leftovers from New Year's
Sunday, Jan 3, 2010
Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans
Monday, Jan 4, 2010
chicken noodle soup made with leftover roasted chicken and homemade stock that simmered in the crock pot all night
Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010
Meatloaf muffins, rice pilaf, broccoli
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010
pizza w/ pepperoni and pineapple, spinach salad w/ mandarin oranges, almonds and pear vinegar dressing
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010
Taco night with refried beans and corn
Friday, Jan 8, 2010
leftovers or date night
Saturday, Jan 9, 2010
hamburger helper (don't judge my husband makes me do it), roasted carrots
Sunday, Jan 10, 2010
balsamic chicken breasts, rice pilaf, green beans
Monday, Jan 11, 2010
hot dogs w/ chili, french fries, fruit
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010
chili bowls with chili, fritos, cheese & sour cream, carrot sticks
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2010
leftovers
Thursday, Jan 14, 2010
leftovers
Friday, Jan 15, 2010
spaghetti with fresh pasta, garlic bread & zuc coins
Saturday, Jan 16, 2010
Chicken Marsala, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans
Sunday, Jan 17, 2010
dirty risotto, fruit
Monday, Jan 18, 2010
Parmesan crusted pork chops, roasted potatoes, carrots & parsnips
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010
welsh rarebit, broccoli, fruit
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010
hamburger helper, fruit
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010
leftovers
Friday, Jan 22, 2010
Patty melts, french fries, fruit
Saturday, Jan 23, 2010
Dunbar macaroni, salad
Sunday, Jan 24, 2010
Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted parsnips
Monday, Jan 25, 2010
chicken salad, fruit
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010
Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, carrots
Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
Stuffed pork chops, broccoli
Thursday, Jan 28, 2010
breakfast for dinner- breakfast potatoes, sausage, eggs, fruit
Friday, Jan 29, 2010
date! I'm gonna need a break after all this cooking!
Saturday, Jan 30, 2010
pizza with Italian sausage, peppers & onion
Sunday, Jan 31, 2010
Stuffed baked potatoes with bacon, broccoli, caramelized onions and fruit
The end. I'm tired just thinking about it.
I have included breakfasts and lunches too since I pack us breakfasts to eat at our desks or on the road and we each take our luches to work.
Breakfasts:
muffins- blueberry, pumpkin chocolate chip, dried fruit
granola bars
yogurt
Lunches:
leftovers
sandwiches
quesidillas
soup
salads (chicken, egg, etc)
homemade mac n cheese
Dinners:
Friday, Jan 1, 2010
Traditional southern with a twist
pinto beans w/ ham, sauteed spinach (I don't like my vegetables cooked within an inch of their lives like most southerners)
Saturday, Jan 2, 2010
We are meeting some friends out of state for lunch so not sure what time we will be home. It will either be see food (see food, eat food) or leftovers from New Year's
Sunday, Jan 3, 2010
Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans
Monday, Jan 4, 2010
chicken noodle soup made with leftover roasted chicken and homemade stock that simmered in the crock pot all night
Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010
Meatloaf muffins, rice pilaf, broccoli
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010
pizza w/ pepperoni and pineapple, spinach salad w/ mandarin oranges, almonds and pear vinegar dressing
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010
Taco night with refried beans and corn
Friday, Jan 8, 2010
leftovers or date night
Saturday, Jan 9, 2010
hamburger helper (don't judge my husband makes me do it), roasted carrots
Sunday, Jan 10, 2010
balsamic chicken breasts, rice pilaf, green beans
Monday, Jan 11, 2010
hot dogs w/ chili, french fries, fruit
Tuesday, Jan 12, 2010
chili bowls with chili, fritos, cheese & sour cream, carrot sticks
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2010
leftovers
Thursday, Jan 14, 2010
leftovers
Friday, Jan 15, 2010
spaghetti with fresh pasta, garlic bread & zuc coins
Saturday, Jan 16, 2010
Chicken Marsala, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans
Sunday, Jan 17, 2010
dirty risotto, fruit
Monday, Jan 18, 2010
Parmesan crusted pork chops, roasted potatoes, carrots & parsnips
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010
welsh rarebit, broccoli, fruit
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010
hamburger helper, fruit
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010
leftovers
Friday, Jan 22, 2010
Patty melts, french fries, fruit
Saturday, Jan 23, 2010
Dunbar macaroni, salad
Sunday, Jan 24, 2010
Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, roasted parsnips
Monday, Jan 25, 2010
chicken salad, fruit
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010
Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, carrots
Wednesday, Jan 27, 2010
Stuffed pork chops, broccoli
Thursday, Jan 28, 2010
breakfast for dinner- breakfast potatoes, sausage, eggs, fruit
Friday, Jan 29, 2010
date! I'm gonna need a break after all this cooking!
Saturday, Jan 30, 2010
pizza with Italian sausage, peppers & onion
Sunday, Jan 31, 2010
Stuffed baked potatoes with bacon, broccoli, caramelized onions and fruit
The end. I'm tired just thinking about it.
Ultimate Recipe Swap Janet's Cheeseball and Ann's Open House Meatballs
Hi! Jessica aka Fishmama of http://www.lifeasmom.com/ asked us to share our favorite appetizer recipes. As soon as I think of appetizers I think of two recipes, my mother's meatballs and my cousin's cheese ball.
Janet is my cousin. She is my first cousin but because of the age gap in my family she has children my age. She is a wonderful wife, mother and woman and I am so happy to have her as part of my family and not just because she makes a darn good cheese ball that takes 3 minutes to throw together.
Janet's Cheese ball
1 package cream cheese (you can use reduced fat or fat free)
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
2 Tablespoons garlic pepper blend (example McCormick's or Jane's Crazy Mixed up Pepper)
Soften cream cheese. Place in a small bowl. Mix with dry Italian dressing mix. (I usually use a fork for this).
Put a layer of the garlic pepper blend on a small salad plate. Dump the cream cheese mixture on the plate and roll around to form a ball and coat outside with the garlic pepper blend.
Allow to sit for several hours for flavors to blend. I usually put it back in the refrigerator and then pull it out an hour before serving.
Serve with crackers and for goodness sakes don't tell your guests how easy it was!
Ann's Open House Meatballs
1 package frozen meatballs (or you can make your own- I usually make my own and freeze them and then use those)
1 small bottle ketchup
1 can beer (use anything or you can use root beer if you would prefer)
Mix beer and ketchup in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until boiling. Add in frozen meatballs, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until sauce thickens and meatballs are heated through.
Please check out the other posts here:
www.lifeasmom.com/2009/12-urs-new-years-meals-and-munchies.html
If this is your first time visiting Welcome and thank you for visiting me. Please feel free to leave me a comment.
Janet is my cousin. She is my first cousin but because of the age gap in my family she has children my age. She is a wonderful wife, mother and woman and I am so happy to have her as part of my family and not just because she makes a darn good cheese ball that takes 3 minutes to throw together.
Janet's Cheese ball
1 package cream cheese (you can use reduced fat or fat free)
1 envelope Italian dressing mix
2 Tablespoons garlic pepper blend (example McCormick's or Jane's Crazy Mixed up Pepper)
Soften cream cheese. Place in a small bowl. Mix with dry Italian dressing mix. (I usually use a fork for this).
Put a layer of the garlic pepper blend on a small salad plate. Dump the cream cheese mixture on the plate and roll around to form a ball and coat outside with the garlic pepper blend.
Allow to sit for several hours for flavors to blend. I usually put it back in the refrigerator and then pull it out an hour before serving.
Serve with crackers and for goodness sakes don't tell your guests how easy it was!
Ann's Open House Meatballs
1 package frozen meatballs (or you can make your own- I usually make my own and freeze them and then use those)
1 small bottle ketchup
1 can beer (use anything or you can use root beer if you would prefer)
Mix beer and ketchup in a non-stick skillet over medium heat until boiling. Add in frozen meatballs, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until sauce thickens and meatballs are heated through.
Please check out the other posts here:
www.lifeasmom.com/2009/12-urs-new-years-meals-and-munchies.html
If this is your first time visiting Welcome and thank you for visiting me. Please feel free to leave me a comment.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Eat From the Pantry Challenge
Hi. Long time no talk to. Sorry I'm not very good (ok so not good at all) at this blogging thing. One of my goals for 2010 is going to be posting more and I am going to kick it off in January by participating in the eat from the pantry challenge.
Crystal over at Money Saving Mom and FishMama from Life as Mom are hosting this challenge and encouraging us to use up what we have in our pantry and freezers and greatly reduce our shopping at the store.
I'm just gonna be honest here for a second. My pantry, it overfloweth. To the point that I can't find ANYTHING! I need a much better organization system but I think that the best way to do that is to use some of this up. Now, I'm not going to go an entire month without buying groceries and my goals are a little different from everyone else's. There are some things that I'm not very well stocked on (boneless skinless chicken breasts for example) and if they go on sale at my buy price ($1.79-$1.99/lb.) I am going to buy some. But, since I am planning to use several pounds this month that will be ok.
I will continue to buy milk, bread (maybe I'll make it one week but I'm not going to commit myself to that), fresh vegetables and I'll probably need eggs, sour cream, etc at some point. I will continue to coupon so that I can get these things at the best possible price.
I'm starting to think about meals that I could make from my pantry. There are several favorites that come to mind:
Homemade mac 'n cheese
Dunbar Macaroni
Meatloaf
Chicken Marsala
Chili
Pulled pork
tacos
stuffed pork chops
roasted chicken- which also turns into chicken noodle soup and chicken salad
Carne asada- which also turns into steak quesidillas
Patty Melts
I'll keep thinking and will take inventory some time over the next couple of days to get ready. This is exciting... and scary!
Go to www.moneysavingmom.com and www.lifeasmom.com to learn more about how others are approaching this challenge!
Crystal over at Money Saving Mom and FishMama from Life as Mom are hosting this challenge and encouraging us to use up what we have in our pantry and freezers and greatly reduce our shopping at the store.
I'm just gonna be honest here for a second. My pantry, it overfloweth. To the point that I can't find ANYTHING! I need a much better organization system but I think that the best way to do that is to use some of this up. Now, I'm not going to go an entire month without buying groceries and my goals are a little different from everyone else's. There are some things that I'm not very well stocked on (boneless skinless chicken breasts for example) and if they go on sale at my buy price ($1.79-$1.99/lb.) I am going to buy some. But, since I am planning to use several pounds this month that will be ok.
I will continue to buy milk, bread (maybe I'll make it one week but I'm not going to commit myself to that), fresh vegetables and I'll probably need eggs, sour cream, etc at some point. I will continue to coupon so that I can get these things at the best possible price.
I'm starting to think about meals that I could make from my pantry. There are several favorites that come to mind:
Homemade mac 'n cheese
Dunbar Macaroni
Meatloaf
Chicken Marsala
Chili
Pulled pork
tacos
stuffed pork chops
roasted chicken- which also turns into chicken noodle soup and chicken salad
Carne asada- which also turns into steak quesidillas
Patty Melts
I'll keep thinking and will take inventory some time over the next couple of days to get ready. This is exciting... and scary!
Go to www.moneysavingmom.com and www.lifeasmom.com to learn more about how others are approaching this challenge!
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