{Recipe of the Day: Easy, kid friendly, pizza!}

this pizza is so easy, your kids can even help and its all done in UNDER 30 minutes! No Kidding!!

Here is what you will need:
2pkg. popcan type biscuits
1 1/2C. prepared pasta sauce
2C. grated cheese
1/2pkg. sliced pepperoni (or any type of toppings you would like)

Here is how to make it:
1. pre heat your oven according to the brand of biscuits you purchased

2. place parchment paper or a silpat onto a baking sheet and spray lightly with PAM type spray. then open biscuits and place on sheet, sides touching.

3. push biscuits down so they start to form a crust. Don't worry if there are gaps between them, they will fill in as you cook the pizza.

4. spread top with pasta sauce, then sprinkle on cheese, pepperoni, and any other toppings you would like.

5. bake according to the biscuit's that you purchased PLUS 5 minutes to make sure they are cooked through....make sure to keep an eye on them because ovens vary! :)

{Menu Planning: Tips}

Hey Everyone! Long time, no blog! But I have so many blogs planned, I hope I don't have a very long pause!

Anyway, I wanted to give you all a post today about something I get asked about ALL THE TIME....Menu Planning!

I think sometimes we are at a loss with menu planning and just don't know where to start. We all know we should do it, but we just don't! So I wanted to put all of your questions together that you have sent me and tell you what I do! :)

Q: How long does it take you to plan a menu?
A: Well, I plan 3 meals a day for 4 people, so it takes me about an hour and a half to plan a menu and get a shopping list together.

Q: How do you decide what you will eat?
A: First, I search through all the local store ads and write down all the good deals, so I know to make my meals out of those products. Then, I ask everyone in the family if there is anything in particular that they would like to eat this week, and try to take those suggestions into consideration.

Q: Where do you find recipes?
A: Well, I don't really use "recipes", but I use ideas from them, more as a guideline I guess. I love searching other blog's, my old site, Gourmet Momma, the girls over at cook it, blog it (another cooking site I run...I think I am seeing a pattern here) I also use cook books, books from my culinary school, and sometimes, I just make stuff up! GET CREATIVE!!!

Q: do you use coupons to determine your meals?
A: yes and no. If I have a coupon that is for something we will eat, I will save it, if its for something I know we wont like or that is really bad for you, even if it makes it free, I don't use it. So I write down my coupons along with the sales flyer info so I know what to use.

Q: where do you keep your menu plan?
A: Well, on that little pad up there at the top, its on my fridge!

TIPS WORTH NOTING:
--make sure you plan our side dishes with all your meals
--have plenty of fruit and healthy snacks on hand so people dont eat things that are supposed to be cooked into dinner!
--look through your fridge, freezer, cabinets, pantry, etc. BEFORE you shop, so you know that you have three bottles of dressing already and you dont need anymore for that salad you want on Tuesday.
--HAVE FUN...this is menu planning, not brain surgery! If you try something new and your family doesn't like it, keep some pasta and sauce in the pantry at all times to whip up a simple meal you know they will all love! :)

I hope this helps! If you have any menu planning strategies, let me know in the comments section below! :)

{Banana Nut Waffles}

So, I LOVE me a good waffle, but add in some mashed up banana's and some walnuts, and I am in waffle heaven!

Check out my latest creation:




Banana Nut Waffles-
What you will need:
4 eggs
1C. milk
1T. baking powder
1/2t. salt
1 1/2C. All Purpose Flower
1/2C. wheat flour (you can use all wheat or all AP to taste)
1/2C. (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
1T. sugar (I used all natural!)
1T. vanilla
2 over ripe banana's, mashed
1C. walnuts, chopped

In a bowl, beat your eggs until fluffy, then add in butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk.

Sift in dry ingredients, and mix just till combined (there will be some lumps, this is ok!)

Fold in mashed banana and nuts
(I left this step for last, because if you have picky eaters, the waffle recipe is perfect by its self, so you can make your kid's waffles first, then add in the banana and nuts for you!)

Cook on your waffle iron until done! :) ENJOY....

I know Lagan did!!

{End of the Grocery Challenge!}

The All You grocery challenge is over!!!!! I'm so sad...but I had an amazing time blogging recipes and food posts and sharing money saving tips!

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my lack of decorating and projects while I was food crazy! hehe

I have posted my final totals on the side bar if your interested. All of my receipts are in a baggie and labeled for safe keeping! :)
Gosh, I hope I win!! hehe

As to everyone who asked if I would still be making recipe posts...YES!!! Just not every day! :) But I will be posting recipes and more food photos, so stay tuned.

{Meals from Monday: Week 4}

Wow...week 4 is already here, I can not believe we are almost finished with the all you grocery challenge! I have had a really fun time being creative with a budget and what I already have on hand! Its been really fun blogging about it with all of you as well!

On a quick note...to everyone who was praying for us on Sunday, Lagan is just fine, doctor said everything was normal...no cancer or anything! Thank you Jesus!!! :)

So, on to food...
for breakfast this morning I made my awesome oatmeal with apples and biscuits. (just click the names to be taken to the recipes)

lunch was spaghetti...Lagan's fave!

Dinner, I made turkey meatloaf. If you have a larger family, you might want to double this recipe...after all, if you have leftovers, you can always make meatloaf sandwiches tomorrow!


What you will need:
1lb ground turkey meat (extra lean if possible)
1C bread crumbs
1/2C ketchup
1T. dried onion
1/2t. each salt and pepper
1/2t. garlic powder
1 egg
1/2C milk

stir all ing. together and mold onto cookie sheet (make sure you spray it with cooking spray REALLY well!) until it looks like a loaf and bake at 400 for 1 hour.

I served mine with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli :)

{Meals from Sunday, Week 3}

Sunday was busy with church and having the family over, so meals were simple! :)

Breakfast was sweet rolls (pre made from the store...not as good as mine, but ok!)

Lunch we picked up Jack in the Box's new meals that are $2.99, pretty good value! (added about $14.00 onto my bill though...)

Dinner was BLTA's...Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwiches with baked chips. These were really great!

{Meals from Saturday, Week 3}

I'm so sorry readers, I know I am behind, but I am catching up now to the grocery challenge!! So check back through the last few posts to make sure you didn't miss anything!! :)

Meals from Saturday included:
yeast donuts made easy! WOW...these were SO much easier than my other donuts, and I have to say...a lot better tasting and CHEAP!


All you have to do is take a pop tin of biscuits (the ones in the dairy section) and push your thumb through the middle gently and stretch out a small hole. Then drop them in the fryer for a few seconds until golden brown on each side! SO GOOD!!!
(for frosting I just mixed powdered sugar and milk until it was as thick as I wanted it)

lunch was egg salad sandwiches...mmmmmmmmm....
and for dinner I made cheese enchiladas, per my own recipe here, and faux fried beans, recipe here.


It was SOOO good! And my brother in law and sister were here all day helping us with the house, so I was feeding 6 people all day and still stayed on budget! :)

{Meals from Friday, Week 3}

Wow, I cant believe Week 3 of the grocery challenge is almost over!

Here is what we ate on Friday:
Breakfast was my version of the "Shack" Taco served with strawberries

This Taco has eggs, chorizo, potatoes, and cheese all in homemade tortillas! MMMMMMM.... These were made famous by a little taco place called, duh, The Taco Shack!

We had lunch @ my sister's because my daughter was in a play from Music and Drama camp this week! :)

For dinner, we had our bible study group and I made homemade baguettes and served them with spinach and artichoke dip. I didn't get a photo before it was all gobbled up, but I did get the recipe! hehe

Baguette Recipe
Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

{Meals from Thursday, Week 3}

Breakfast on Thursday was oatmeal with apples and toast.
Lunch was leftovers from the week, and for dinner I made tuna cakes served with broccoli cheese rice and peas!


Tuna Cakes recipe here: TUNA CAKES
these were SOOOO good!!

{Meals from Wed. of week 3}

Wednesday was fun and easy...pancakes and sausage for breakfast, cheese quesadillas for lunch, and Migas for dinner! YUM!

Migas for 2:


4 eggs, scrambled
1 plum tomato, chopped
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 jalapeno, chopped (optional)
1 corn tortilla, torn into bite size pieces
1C. shredded cheese

In a small skillet, cook tomato, jalapeno and onion until onion turns clear.
Add in tortillas and cook 1 more minute.
Add in eggs and scramble all ingredients together.
Top with cheese and serve with tortillas! :)

Meals from Tuesday of week 3!

Tuesday morning I made omelette's with fresh spinach, leftover black forest ham and cheese...yum!


Lunch was tuna salad sandwiches...we love these!

For dinner, I made a southern fave...fried catfish, now this can be baked really easily, since it has a cornmeal crust, it will get nice and crispy in the oven! :) I also made hush puppies (recipe below) and coleslaw with low fat dressing. Dessert? Yeah...Peach Cobbler Baby! Got to take advantage of those fresh Texas Peaches that you can pick right off your tree in your backyard and throw into a cobbler!! :)



Hush puppies (all measurements are an estimate...I don't measure these!)
1C. yellow cornmeal
1/2C. flour
2T. baking powder
1t. salt
pinch of sugar
1/2C. chopped onion
enough milk to make it all come together about the consistency of pancake batter.

Put all ingredients together and let set about 15 min...mix will rise up and consistency will look like mousse.

Drop spoonfuls into your hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels.


For cobber, check out this recipe: Salt Lick Peach Cobbler

{Week 3: All You Grocery Challenge}

So week three started today, and I wanted to give you all a recap on the meals from today. Also, I am going to update the sidebar with my total so far for this week, so watch for that in just a moment! :)

For breakfast, we had rice crispies with bananas...didn't get a picture, but my mom used to make this for me all the time when I was a kid and I still am loving it!!

Lunch was black forest ham sandwiches on homemade bread (which was still warm!! YUM!!) and we had fruit and Frito's with it.


Dinner, I made baked chicken with a BBQ flavored Rub, DELISH...these leg 1/4s were already in my freezer, part of my meat stockpile, so they were totally free! We also had baked beans and I made my FAMOUS cornbread. (I take this to my bible study group all the time and I have never brought home leftovers!!)



Here is how to make the cornbread:
(before you make this, let it be known that this is super sweet, cake-like, super moist cornbread...not southern style dry crumby cornbread!)

you will need:
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350º.

In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Add the oil, melted butter, honey, eggs, and milk.

Pour into a greased 8-inch square pan.

Bake for 35 minutes.

{End of week 2, All You Grocery Challenge}

So it's the start of week three!!
I have all my groceries, so I will be updating my tally on the sidebar in a moment! But first I wanted to get you caught up on the meals from the end of last week!

Saturday:
Breakfast was a healthier version of eggs Benedict. I made whole grain English muffins, poached eggs, sauteed black forest ham, and sauteed tomato slices...SOOO good!!


Lunch we had smashed potatoes like what I made the other night. My sister was here, so I thought she would like them....they went over REALLY well!


Dinner was eggplant Parmesan...yum! Simple, easy, and when baked, not fried, healthy!


Then Sunday,
for breakfast we had cereal and toast
lunch was another huge salad, but we tossed on some extra shrimp from the other night and some hard boiled eggs!


for dinner I made Chinese noodles and egg rolls that were baked. I just mixed cooked noodles with Asian toasted sesame dressing, a little bit of teriyaki sauce and water then added in some steamed broccoli.

{shrimp, burritos and cookies?}

So the title sounds like an odd combination, but I assure you, I did not eat them all at once! lol

No, just a recap of yesterday and today's meals!
So yesterday, Thrusday, we had eggs and leftover bacon for breakfast (not picture worthy! lol). For lunch, my sister came over and we went to the store to pick up some stuff for lunch.
I made more home made tortiallas...but this time I rolled them out with a rolling pin instead of the tortilla press...much more thin and DELISH! They were gone in seconds! At the store we picked up supplies to make Chili con queso with ground beef in it and chips! SO GOOD! Lagan wont eat that, so I got her a frozen kids meal...a special treat for her! And we got some soda..which I dont drink, but good for the crowd! lol
I FORGOT TO TAKE A PIC!! DARN IT! :)

Dinner, I DID get a pic of... I made baja shrimp with shrimp I got on sale like 4 weeks ago and put in the freezer, a baja seasoning packet I had in the pantry since we moved here I'm sure, and some orzo pasta that has been in there just as long! :) So a totally free meal...which made up for the $15 I spent at the store for lunch! but we are still under budget!! YAY!! Here is the shrimp:



AND...if your still with me after this long post, If your interested, I have posted my running totals on the sidebar for the grocery challenge from All You Magazine, as well as a link to their blog so you can follow other frugal chicks along the way! :)

Now, TODAY...FRIDAY, we woke up and had the rest of the bagels from the baking day last week, as well as some yogurt that we needed to finish! (However, I still have yogurt in the fridge...I never buy yogurt, yet there always seems to be a never ending supply in the fridge! lol)
Lunch was burritos:
just take some flour tortillas (homemade is awesome!), leftover refried beans from last week, some taco bell sauce packets {just grab extra on your next trip!}, onionn if you wish, and the rest of the cheese at the bottom of the package! lol Roll all together and microwave about 1.5minutes. YUMMY!!!


Dinner, we are going to bible study and its sort of potluck, so I am bringing Oatmeal Rasin Cookies: RECIPE HERE.

{Steakhouse at Home}

Today's meals were really good! We started the morning off with Lagan's Favorite, FRENCH TOAST!! MMMMM!!!!!


For lunch I made a tossed salad with ing. that we had left over from all of our meals, plus some odds and ends from the fridge. It was a major hit! I also served the rest of the rolls from the other night, and I made the croutons from the heels of the bread I made earlier in the week.


For dinner I decided to make a steak house at home. After all, going to a steak house can cost upwards of $20 per person or more! So I grabbed some meat I got on sale about 3 weeks ago that I had in the freezer and marinated it like so:


then I cooked it in a pan that was REALLY hot just until it turned brown so it wasn't tough. Then I sauteed some mushrooms that I had in the fridge with some steak sauce and water! Makes a really wonderful sauce!

I also made "smashed potatoes". I made the baked potatoes in the microwave, then smashed them with a plate! Then topped them with bacon, cheese, and dried chives and baked them for about 10 minutes on 350.
(these were SOOOOOO GOOD!!)

I also made wedge lettuce salad with an iceberg wedge and Russian dressing I already had. And made a bag of mixed veggie steamers!


So there you have it, take simple ingredients like this:


and make them into this:


Steak house on a budget!! :)