Winco wheat thins steal!

Right now @ winco Nabisco has a coupon on select wheat thins( stuck to the package), there are all different flavors now too, we are trying the ranch, Vermont cheddar, and Wisconsin Colby. . Their price is $1.98 then with coupon you get the cracker-fulls free. Cracker-fulls are a snack cracker sandwich, they look pretty good bet the kids are going to love them.

If you can't be nice

After being off my blog for almost 2 years, I came back to a comment needing mediation. If was from march of this last year. It wasn't very nice and they posted anonymously. If you have a problem with me talk to me, posting randomly on my blog is immature and does nothing for anyone. If your worried about how I handle my children A: it's none of your business B: if your worried about their safety or well being then talk to me.

'Nuff said

favorite coupon facebook pages

I've had several people want to know how I find all my deals. While I do look through all the local ads with my coupons and match up, all these ladies work really hard finding deals for their readers. Just remember that some deals are not nation wide so they don't all work. But most do. If your interested like them on face book and they all have links to either their blog or website. Lots of info....
good luck and get ready to change your thinking !!!





http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Freebies4Mom

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/ThriftyNWMom

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/ThriftyandThriving

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/housepartyfun

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/thecouponcentsation

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/DealWiseMommy

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/ChaChingonaShoestring

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/thebudgetsavvydiva

yesterday and today

Actually it's been an ongoing project for the last few weeks. We are trying to put up fresh produce for the winter. We've done a little canning, freezing and a little drying. I feel like it's preparation for next year because I'm not organized at all. Having fun with my fil dehydrator and my new vacuum sealer. Caution, anything that is sharp ( dried green beans for example) will puncture through. UGH

I am also trying to plan for christmas, my goal is to make homemade gifts for my love ones, inexpensively but with the individual touches that you cannot put a price tag on. We will see lol...

Naomi and Phoebe have finally decided what they want to be for halloween : Naomi is going to be Piglet and Phoebe wants to be lumpy ( from winnie the pooh) I should be able to make both costumes for under $5 total because I will be using clothing from their closet. ( pink leggings, purple snowsuit etc) I will try to post pics of the final product.

The girls have started taking dance class and are really enjoying themselves. If I can get Phoebe to participate it will be even better.


more later

Dianna

wow it's been forever

So I've been putting off writing because all broke loose shortly after my last post and I had a lot to catch up on. To sum it up our 4th interstate move in 5 years and 10th actual move in 8 years! I might give details of the last few months some day but I figured If I tried right now I'd never get current 'history' in print.

more to come I hope !

the crockpot experiment continues

So I have been faithfully cooking away in the crock pot. The beef was tasty but I think the ribs would have been better. Nothing special,shredded bbq beef .. The next day I put these turkey, basil sausages I got bogo on for lunch because Nathan was going to have lunch at home. He wasn't able to which was fine because I wasn't confident that they where done all the way through and didn't want to microwave them. So I turned them on low instead and around 3 topped them with a sliced red pepper and 1/2 onion. They were really yummy, I served them on bread with cheese,( for me and Nate). I really enjoyed them, the girls wouldn't touch them, they are so fickle. I even had one for lunch the next day, I was thrilled.

Next came fajitas, the beef was froze in a mixture of tomato's and taco seasoning. I had thawed it in the fridge over night. Cooked it for about 4 hr on high stirring twice. Then I added my garden fresh mild peppers with a store orange pepper and the other half of the onion from the night before. The meat was really tender and very flavorful.

Tonight we did the sweet and sour chicken breast. The sauce was good, the chicken moist and not dry but I wouldn't call it a home run. More of a pineapple teriyaki but not sweet and sour. Maybe I will try another recipie some time. Tomorrow will probably be simple chicken. Chicken thighs, over russet and sweet potatoes seasoned with Italian dressing.

The culinary highlight of the week was my ice cream. Chocolate soy ice cream, the girls even got a bit of vegetables in it ;) I added a jar of squash for texture. Nathan said it had a fudgesicle flavor ..

If I'm up to it we might take a field trip to the asian market to pick up coconut milk. Coconut ice cream anyone?

The crockpot experiment day 2

So I ended up having to go to the pharmacy and then the store after the dr. Thinking that noodles would take to much time I picked up a package of Gnocchi . Yum!
I pulled the chicken out of the pot and turned it up to high. added the Gnocchi and stirred . They were ready in 20 min. In the mean time I boned the chicken trying not to shred it to much and then added it back to the soup.

Nathan said it was really good, Naomi and Phoebe both ate a good amount of chicken . That is a home run for us!

Tonight I wanted to make BBQ short ribs, but at 4.00 lb and to get enough meat for all that would be at least 4 lbs. (they are mostly bone) , YIKES! I am not willing to pay that price for something that has to cook in a crock pot to be eatable, then there is only a bite or 2 on each piece.

So this is what I did to get the same flavor

1/2 lb of Beef back ribs at 1.29 lb
2 lb beef bottom round at $2.29 lb
1 onion chopped
1/2 c wondra flour
2 c BBQ sauce
1/2 c honey
2 T mustard
1/2 c water

dust meat side of ribs with some of the flour place meat side down in crock pot
dust top, dust the roast with flour and place in the curve of ribs.
add onions,

mix rest of ingredients and pour over top.

cook on high 1 hr. turn to low for 6 or so hrs.

Serve over rice.

I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow.

Future prep:

I bought a 3 lb roast (cheep) yesterday and needed to get it in the freezer so I sliced the whole thing like fajitas strips.

1 bag meat for saucy pepper steak later

other bag I added first 3T taco seasoning, ( like packet I just made it my self)
1 can petite tomatoes and mixed, then added meat and mixed. That is going in the freezer for crock pot fajitas later this week.

Now to find a Gnocchi recipie :)