Sweet Potatoes and Apples!!!!

Last week, I tried this recipe that was in my Taste of Home magazine, and I was so exited! It is wonderful!   Apples and sweet potatoes - this is almost like dessert!  And it is the first time I was able to get the kids to eat sweet potatoes since they were wee small!  You have to try it!  I am so going to try to convert this into a pie!

Krogering Ideas 10/19 - 10/25

Hello!  I am back on track with my Kroger Meal ideas.  My sister was home last week so my list was put to the side...  There seem to be some promising ideas for this week.  Usually when I plan meals - my ideas that I am writing this week are actual meals I make for next week.  This way I am not in a mad rush to get to the store.


Idea #1 - Tuna Noodle Casserole.  I use the triedand true Betty Crocker Red Check cookbook recipe.  Starkist Tuna is on sale and Campbell's COM soup is on sale (plus you get Campbell's labels for your school of choice and there have been coupons in the paper).  Throw in some noodles, peas, and celery to round out this meal.  One thing I do a bit different is I put half of the noodles in my casserole, add 4 slices of American cheese, and then top it with the rest of the noodles.   Serve with a great side salad!

Idea #2 and Idea #3- Chicken breasts are on sale - so let's buy them and cook em up!  Boil em, bake them, slow cook them, or fry them - just cook the chicken! 

Chicken Salad in Pita Bread is meal #1!  Pita bread is on sale!  So make some chicken salad with part of the cooked chicken.  I am not the fanciest chicken salad cook - I just like to add some onion, celery, mayo, and salt and pepper.  You can even make this ahead.  Serve this with some grapes and sliced apples.  Lite dinner = dessert.  Duncan hines cakes are on sale!   

Meal #2 is Cream Chicken over ...   Again, Campbell's COC soup is on sale and then use the remaining cooked chicken breasts.  You are going to need chicken broth - boullin & water or broth is fine.  COC to broth is a 2 to 1 ratio.  I like to mix the chicken, broth, and COC together in the morning in my crock pot and it is perfect by dinner.  Serve it how you like - over rice, over biscuits (Kroger brand on sale), or over noodles!   I probably will serve this with fresh vegetables (carrots, cukes, and peppers are on sales) and ranch. 

Idea #4 and Idea #5 - Ground chuck is on sale!  I am thinking we buy enough and then boil it enough for 2 meals.  Yes you heard me right - boil it.  I have seen the light - no more frying ground beef for me.  Boiling it is so much cleaner - no splatters - and the best part my house doesn't smell like a diner when I am finished. 

Meal #1 - Chili!  There are some great football games on - why not give yourself a break on Saturday or Sunday?  Get up and get that crock pot out!  Chili is such a personal dish - have fun with it!  Are you a chili with bean person?  Do you like it hot or mild?  What sides do you like with it?  My hubby loves chili with peanut butter sandwiches - no this is not a typo - peanut butter sandwiches!  Double cut those fresh veggies when you make the cream chicken and serve those here as well! 

Meal #2 - Pizza Subs!  Grab some hoagie buns.  Mix pizza sauce with beef.  Mozzarella cheese is on sale.  Christy at Southern Plate has a easy recipe that we love.  These are great if you have a night where everyone is eating at a different time.  If that is the case - have an easy side but if you can eat together - this sounds like a good meal to have some fries with it.

Idea #6 - Chicken and Rice-A-Roni.  You seeing a pattern with me - chicken is on sale - we are eating chicken!  This is an easy easy meal.  Rice-A-Roni is on sale for $1!  You just need to get a 16 oz can of Stewed Tomatoes for this one. 

Some other quick ideas - pork loin with applesauce....  hot dogs n' kraut....  stuffed peppers....

Friends - My Friday Thoughts

I am the kind of person if asked the question - would you rather spend an evening with a whole group of people or with one or two people - I would answer one or two people every time.  without a thought.    I tend to have close friends and not a lot of them...  true friends...  fight to the end for friends...  And that is why today - when one of my dearest friends called me upset - I was ready to roll.   Mother Lion all the way... ~pause for a bit~ But....................... this was not my battle to fight - however, it bothered me all the same...  because I know how good a person my friend is....  She is loyal, kind, and to me - a sign of all things good in life...

So to my dear friend - and you know who you are...  some people are sandpaper in your life...  they are rough and they feel awful...  But they too are gifts - consider them traffic cops...  they are God's way of guiding you to where you need to be...  Offer them up...   Know that you don't ever want to be like them...  Learn from them...  And do everything in your power - to get the heck away from them......  

Happy Birthday #2!

So yesterday was my #2's birthday!  I can hardly believe that 5 years has gone by!  I can remember holding her in my arms the first time...  seeing her (and all her wild hair) and thinking oh my my my - I have a little girl.  I am not much of a girly girl myself - so I must admit I was more than a little afriad of raising her...  But this little girl and I are doing just fine...

One thing I remember thinking when she was born (as I did for all 3 of my kids), I prayed that she would have an independent soul...  that she would be able to think for herself...  trust herself to do the right thing...  be proud of herself...  and like herself...   On this prayer, I think it is being answered...   And I know this because on many occasions I have (or others have) asked her what she wants to be when she grows up...  she simply says, me.   How awesome is that?  Me, I want to be Me.  There is such an innocence in that statement, but it is also so profound... Independent soul - so far, I think so.

Clipart courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts free clipart.

Have Some Time? Like to Bake?

The Wheeling, WV chapter of Easter Seals is preparing now for its Annual Cookie Caper.  If you love to bake, they sure could use a hand.  More information including contact information is located on their website.  Check it out!

It's Friday

Hello!  It is Friday!  I am feeling a bit under the weather today.  Excited for a few days to rest!  My sister is coming home for a visit so I am looking forward to that. 

I took this photo of my #2 the other day.  She had no idea I was taking a picture of her.  She was just playing with the leaves.  How sweet is that?  Total pleasure!!!!  I love those moments when you are watching someone and they don't know it - and your heart totally swells!  I am just thinking to myself...  that is my little girl and I love her. so. very. much.

Enjoy!

Krogering Ideas Week of 10-5-2009 - 10-11-2009

Just thinking tonight what I would like to make for dinner this week... So I got out my Kroger Ad and started to brainstorm...

Idea #1 - Sausage Casserole. Comfort food all the way. Jimmy Dean sausage is on sale BOGO. I use a box of cooked macaroni, 1 lb of cooked, drained sausage, some milk and flour, and cheddar cheese. Think tuna noodle casserole with a twist. Very very good! Check out Jimmy Dean's web site - they have tons of great dinner ideas. Use the other roll for a breakfast treat - or freeze it until you want to make another casserole.

Idea #2 - Pot Roast. What could be better than a crock pot meal? English roasts are BOGO. I have noticed that generally the BOGO meat specials are a pretty good deal. I always use one and freeze one. Try some Lipton Onion soup to season it. And whatever you do, don't forget to add the potatoes, onions, and carrots. Take advantage of all the apple sales right now - make some applesauce with this. Mmmmmm.... (I know you can buy it - but it is really very easy to make).

Idea #3 - Mac & Cheese - homemade just like Mom did. Well, OK my Mom never did - she was a Kraft kind of gal... but I imagine her mac and cheese to taste something like this compliments of Southern Plate. Cheese is on sale and you can get macaroni pretty cheap. {One time I tried hiding cauliflower in the mac and cheese - trying to get the kids to eat it. Not only did they not eat the cauliflower, they didn't eat the mac and cheese. Do. not. try. it.} Serve this with Campbell's Select Harvest Soup - also on sale.

Idea #4 - Roasted Balsamic Chicken Thighs. I must admit I am more of a white meat chicken person... But this... mmmmm... Mary over @ Deep Dish South has the idea. Most of what you need you probably have in your pantry. Thighs are on sale! You will also need potatoes, an onion, and a lemon. Serve with a nice side salad. And I bet some Sister Schubert's Rolls or Texas Toast (both on sale) would make this a nice traditional Sunday dinner.

Idea #5 - Seafood Night! How about steamed shrimp? Kroger shrimp is on sale. Steam them with some Old Bay and dip em in you favorite cocktail sauce! Serve some Green Giant Steamers on the side (on sale) as well some angel hair pasta with garlic butter sauce! If your kids are like mine and not into shrimp - Van de Kamp's Fish Sticks are on sale.

Idea #6 - Chicken Sandwiches. Nothing fancy here! Places to go, people to see! Tyson chicken is on sale. Buy buns - lettuce, tomato, cheese. Make a small relish tray for your side - carrots, cukes, celery (we love stuffed with cream cheese!), pickles - whatever you have! Then make a little fruit tray as well - pineapple and strawberries are on sale. Buy one or two Yoplait vanilla yogurt to use as dip!

Idea #7 - Pork Chops or Pork Loin! Whatever your pleasure here. I am leaning toward grilled chops here. I probably will buy a big bag of potatoes and make some mashed as a side. Or I might make some rice. Salad all the way too! Not wanting to waste a thing that I need in the other meals.


Remember to check out Southern Savers for potential coupon matches esp for the frozen stuff. Her deals/prices are not all the same because she is in a different region - but the coupons will work the same.

Krogering this Week

What to make for dinner? The question of all questions! What to make so that it makes the most economical sense... So let's get out the Kroger Ad for the Columbus, OH region...

Cabbage is cheap and I bet you have precooked ground beef stored in your freezer. How about busy day cabbage rolls. Think cabbage rolls lasagna style. Layer, don't roll. Mmmmm!

Spaghetti and spaghetti sauce is on sale - $1!!! Last week, I tried something different - I made the noodles ahead, put them in my 9x13 pan and poured sauce all over them. Covered with foil. Then I put it in my oven to warm. Benefits - no sauce splatters! And my kitchen pans were all cleaned up before dinner! That to me is always the bummer about spaghetti - easy, yes. Messy, yes. But now I have a system!

Honeysuckle turkey tenderloins are on sale for $5.99. These are my new favorite easy dinner. Add some $1 bag Kroger vegetables for the sides to one of these. My goodness are they good! (Buy more than one and freeze - you never know when you need a quick dinner!)

Honeysuckle ground turkey is on sale. Give a little love to your heart and use ground turkey for a change in lieu of beef. Think chili, think sloppy joes, think meatloaf (just season it good)... You can't go wrong. Potatoes are always cheap - they would round out the meal nice.

Chicken breasts are on sale for $1.78. How do I love thee? Let me count the chicken recipes I can think of. Grill em, bread & bake em, put some Rice-a-roni in a skillet and cook em... Don't forget a fresh salad for this week. And remember - get extra and freeze them. Put two in a freeze bag and then you can get out just what you need.

Comfort food - how I love comfort food. Kroger's deli has American cheese for $2.99 a pound (remember to tell them to paper it). Get it, some Kroger bread, and a few cans of Campbell's Tomato soup. Grilled cheese and tomato soup! This is an easy dinner but a crowd favorite at my house! Go nuts in the chicken and make dessert today bc dinner was so easy! This cake is soooo moist - try it! Note: Strawberries are on sale too!

Breakfast for dinner! Kroger buns and syrup are on sale. Get em! Tracie, what are you thinking? buns and syrup! French toast it is! I read this recipe and would have never believed it had I not tried it myself. Honestly, the recipe is just like normal french toast - but using buns. What a great idea! I never throw buns out anymore. Wonderful! Bob Evans sausage links are on sale also.

That is it for this week! Be inspired!