hey gang!
hope you're all doing well--things have been BUSY lately. lot's of exciting things happening...and a few stumbles in my efforts to eliminate excess spending.
i basically live tweeted a shopping trip last weekend--spent some money i shouldn't have. and then proceeded to convince myself not to feel guilty.
oops.
its funny--i let myself splurge a bit, and it really opened the floodgates. its SO easy to talk yourself into doing things you know you shouldn't. ate out a few times, went to the movies twice this month, bought clothes...but all i can do is move forward.
i still consider the past 3 months a success. that's a long time for me to go without making any shopping trips...and now it's time for another 3 months. i feel good about my progress.
on a positive note, i paid off my gap credit card! next on the chopping block is my regular visa credit card...this one we use for big purchases (we'll probably use it for moving expenses next month) but it needs to be paid down quite a bit.
i've also been using the vinegar/water mix in the kitchen and i have no complaints. does the job and does it cheap.
tonight we're having a repeat recipe . didn't realize that it's a 3 hour recipe, not an 8 hour...so we'll be eating late tonight. sorry, d!
have any of you tried these recipes? leave your experiences in the comments! :)
3.22.2011
recipe review: slow cooker pot pie
this one was super, super easy and really delicious. ideal if you're in a home-cooking-carbs kind of mood.
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of celery
1 lb chicken breast
1 lb bag of froz veggies
1 packet onion soup mix
3-4 potatoes, peeled & cut into cubes
1/2 c. water
1 can biscuits
place all ingredients (excpet biscuits) in a crock-pot and cover. cook on low 8-10 hours. prepare biscuits, serve contents of slow cooker over biscuits.
i cut the thawed chicken breast into chunks and added it to the mixture--dind't cook it first. used a mix of froz veggies that had peas, carrots, and green beans. worked perfectly. used a little too much water and had to thicken the mixture up with corn starch when it was done. added lots of pepper--it was really good! i like this recipe a lot--plus, it was SO quick to prepare.
enjoy!
xo
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of celery
1 lb chicken breast
1 lb bag of froz veggies
1 packet onion soup mix
3-4 potatoes, peeled & cut into cubes
1/2 c. water
1 can biscuits
place all ingredients (excpet biscuits) in a crock-pot and cover. cook on low 8-10 hours. prepare biscuits, serve contents of slow cooker over biscuits.
i cut the thawed chicken breast into chunks and added it to the mixture--dind't cook it first. used a mix of froz veggies that had peas, carrots, and green beans. worked perfectly. used a little too much water and had to thicken the mixture up with corn starch when it was done. added lots of pepper--it was really good! i like this recipe a lot--plus, it was SO quick to prepare.
enjoy!
xo
recipe review: herbed pork roast
made this a week ago--dustin really like it!
1 boneless whole pork loin roast (4 lbs)
1 c. water
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tbsp. rubbed sage
2 tbsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 small onion, thinly sliced
cut roast in half. place pork and water in slow cooker, spread butter over meat. combine the sage, parsley, pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt. sprinkle over meat. top with onion. cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.
like i said, dustin really liked this one. i pretty much followed the recipe exactly--left the meat in the fridge overnight with all the seasonings, and i think that was a good thing. i also used extra butter (of course!)
by the time i had gotten home, the meat had been cooking for over 9 hours, so it was really tender and basically fell apart. it was great! we also had mashed potatoes and corn. yum yum.
this made a LOT of food, so i would recommend it for a big family dinner.
:)
1 boneless whole pork loin roast (4 lbs)
1 c. water
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tbsp. rubbed sage
2 tbsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 small onion, thinly sliced
cut roast in half. place pork and water in slow cooker, spread butter over meat. combine the sage, parsley, pepper, garlic, oregano, and salt. sprinkle over meat. top with onion. cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.
like i said, dustin really liked this one. i pretty much followed the recipe exactly--left the meat in the fridge overnight with all the seasonings, and i think that was a good thing. i also used extra butter (of course!)
by the time i had gotten home, the meat had been cooking for over 9 hours, so it was really tender and basically fell apart. it was great! we also had mashed potatoes and corn. yum yum.
this made a LOT of food, so i would recommend it for a big family dinner.
:)
3.10.2011
best idea i've heard in a while!
there's a great site called "offbeat bride" that i discovered while helping my little sister plan her big day.
of course, i love the site and check it regularly...even though d and i are not engaged. but hey, what's the harm in keeping tabs on things in the wedding world?
anyway.
a few months ago, my super fabulous and forward thinking friend shanell proposed to her beau and started her own wedding plans...and of course, because she's a lot like me...she also started reading offbeat bride reguarly. she also started her own spending fast/blog recently!
anyway--she posted this article on facebook about a clever way to save money for a wedding... i totally think this idea could work for ANY sort of saving...i'm going to give it some serious thought, though i think d and i would have to make our own rules. and i think our savings would be just for a little "nest egg," not for a specific purchase.
hmmm...what would our rules be? i don't listen to the radio much, and he only listens to one station. maybe everytime we hear the upstairs neighbors argue? or everytime we spend more than 15 minutes picking something to watch on the netflix instant queue.
let me know if you guys start this saving technique yourselves! i think it could be a fun one...
p.s. i've got an herbed pork loin roast in the crockpot at home! i'll let you guys know how it turned out and i'll post the recipe tomorrow! :)
xoxo
of course, i love the site and check it regularly...even though d and i are not engaged. but hey, what's the harm in keeping tabs on things in the wedding world?
anyway.
a few months ago, my super fabulous and forward thinking friend shanell proposed to her beau and started her own wedding plans...and of course, because she's a lot like me...she also started reading offbeat bride reguarly. she also started her own spending fast/blog recently!
anyway--she posted this article on facebook about a clever way to save money for a wedding... i totally think this idea could work for ANY sort of saving...i'm going to give it some serious thought, though i think d and i would have to make our own rules. and i think our savings would be just for a little "nest egg," not for a specific purchase.
hmmm...what would our rules be? i don't listen to the radio much, and he only listens to one station. maybe everytime we hear the upstairs neighbors argue? or everytime we spend more than 15 minutes picking something to watch on the netflix instant queue.
let me know if you guys start this saving technique yourselves! i think it could be a fun one...
p.s. i've got an herbed pork loin roast in the crockpot at home! i'll let you guys know how it turned out and i'll post the recipe tomorrow! :)
xoxo
3.07.2011
recipe review: chicken soup
this turned out great, but i didn't use the amounts in the recipe below. when i make soup, i tend to use the recipe as a guideline, and then i add/delete whatever sounds good at the time, haha. we ended up with probably 3 times as much as this recipe would make on its own.
1 can (14-1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1 can (8 oz) mushroom stems and pieces
1/4 cup sliced fresh caroot
1/4 cup sliced celery
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp dried thyme
3/4 cup cooked egg noodles
combine broth, tomatoes, chicken, mushrooms, carrot, celery, bay leaf and thyme. cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
stir in noodles. cover and cook on high for 10 minutes. discard bay leaf.
ok, so first i cooked my own chicken breast to use. probably about a pound. i just browned it on the stove with butter, salt, pepper, and thyme. i chopped it up and threw it in. i used a lot more chicken broth and added some chicken boullion, salt, pepper, and extra thyme. also cut up about 4 carrots and 5 celery stalks. left out the mushrooms (sorry, d. he knows i hate them though.) and left out the bay leaf (simply didn't have any.)
i also used a different kind of noodle--i can't remember what it's called but it's similar to castellane.
it was delcious...and because i added so much stuff, there is plenty for left overs for a few days. served it with biscuits. yum!
1 can (14-1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1 can (8 oz) mushroom stems and pieces
1/4 cup sliced fresh caroot
1/4 cup sliced celery
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp dried thyme
3/4 cup cooked egg noodles
combine broth, tomatoes, chicken, mushrooms, carrot, celery, bay leaf and thyme. cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
stir in noodles. cover and cook on high for 10 minutes. discard bay leaf.
ok, so first i cooked my own chicken breast to use. probably about a pound. i just browned it on the stove with butter, salt, pepper, and thyme. i chopped it up and threw it in. i used a lot more chicken broth and added some chicken boullion, salt, pepper, and extra thyme. also cut up about 4 carrots and 5 celery stalks. left out the mushrooms (sorry, d. he knows i hate them though.) and left out the bay leaf (simply didn't have any.)
i also used a different kind of noodle--i can't remember what it's called but it's similar to castellane.
it was delcious...and because i added so much stuff, there is plenty for left overs for a few days. served it with biscuits. yum!
recipe review: steak burritos
easily the best thing i've made yet...
2 beef flank steaks (about 1 lb each)
2 envelopes taco seasoning
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 tbsp white vinegar
flour tortillas
shredded cheese
sour cream
cut steaks in half, rub with taco seasoning. place in slow cook coated with cooking spray. top with the onion, chilies, and vineage. cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until the meat is tender.
remove meat, cool slightly. shred with two forks and return to slow cooker. heat through. sppon mixture into tortila, top with cheese and sour cream.
ok--this recipe is SUPER easy, cheap, and delicious. the meat was so tender by the time we got home and there was plenty to keep as left overs for the week after. dustin used the meat for a "walking taco" (mix in a bag of fritos or doritos, top with cheese, sr cream, whatever--then eat the mixture right out of the bag.)
use whatever toppings you like, but i promise you this one is a keeper!
2 beef flank steaks (about 1 lb each)
2 envelopes taco seasoning
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 tbsp white vinegar
flour tortillas
shredded cheese
sour cream
cut steaks in half, rub with taco seasoning. place in slow cook coated with cooking spray. top with the onion, chilies, and vineage. cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until the meat is tender.
remove meat, cool slightly. shred with two forks and return to slow cooker. heat through. sppon mixture into tortila, top with cheese and sour cream.
ok--this recipe is SUPER easy, cheap, and delicious. the meat was so tender by the time we got home and there was plenty to keep as left overs for the week after. dustin used the meat for a "walking taco" (mix in a bag of fritos or doritos, top with cheese, sr cream, whatever--then eat the mixture right out of the bag.)
use whatever toppings you like, but i promise you this one is a keeper!
investing in big kid toys
this past weekend was my cleaning weekend. i've really dropped the ball in the last month or so, and i didn't have much planned so i knew it was time to scrub down the apartment.
to be honest, i didn't get as far as i would have liked--the laundry took forever, and i started watching "circus" on netflix (it's a FANTASTIC mini-reality series that aired on pbs. basically follow the big apple circus for one season. only 6 1-hr episodes, but it was really interesting.)
but! i did get to try a homemade cleaning solution. this is my favorite source for the recipes so far. the one i used is easy as pie: equal parts water and vinegar.
months ago, i bought a sort-of natural all purpose cleaner. i ran out a week or so ago, so i kept the bottle, cleaned it out, and filled it with the homemade cleaner! a bottle of vinegar is super cheap, and i was able to fill the spray bottle and still have plenty left over for recipes and/or a new batch of cleaner.
i've been using it for simple kitchen/bathroom clean ups...and it works! my only complaint is the vinegar smell...but it doesn't stick around for long.
i've also read that if you have a "heavy" stain/clean up, heat up the water in the microwave before you add the vinegar. that makes it a little more powerful.
i'm also looking forward to using the baking soda/sponge idea in the bathroom soon.
oh, the thrills of being a housewife...er, housegirlfriend?
anyway.
on a similar note, i nearly exploded yesterday while trying to vacuum the floor/couch.
charlie, my precious angel baby, sheds like no dog i've every known. this is especially frustrating because he has light colored hair and it's short and wirey. so once it's stuck on something, it's visible and really hard to get rid of.
when dustin and i moved in together, i went out and got a new vacuum sweeper...it was $30 on sale and i thought, "whoa! it's a bargain! i need this one!" (oh, and guess where i bought it? TARGET. natch.)
anyway--the sweeper sucks. but i couldn't bring myself to buy a better one--i mean, who spend $100+ on a sweeper? i could be using that to buy all manner of interesting, neat things. but a vacuum? no way.
this weekend, though, i had an epiphany. rather than repeatedly buying cheap vacuums that only work for a little while, why not invest in a more expensive one! with a warranty!
it's something we usedaily weekly (let's be honest) and it's not a frivalous purchase like a purse or a pair of shoes...
so, i went to walmart (NOT target!) with a list of some things i needed, and i bougth a fancy $140 vacuum. certainly not top of the line like a dyson (someday...sigh) but it's pet hair specific AND i sprung for the 1 year warranty (only $10!)
oh, and the best part--i RESEARCHED the purchase beforehand! checked around the internet for reviews and made my decision before i even got to the store.
now, the only bummer was that i picked up the last one off the shelf...with the beat up box. i assumed it was fine...so bought it, got it home, and realized that the wheel had broken off.
tonight i return the vacuum and tomorrow i'll let you know how thrilling it was to use it for the first time...
so, maybe not the most exciting weekend--but i'm making changes and shopping smarter--and i'm proud of it!
xoxo
to be honest, i didn't get as far as i would have liked--the laundry took forever, and i started watching "circus" on netflix (it's a FANTASTIC mini-reality series that aired on pbs. basically follow the big apple circus for one season. only 6 1-hr episodes, but it was really interesting.)
but! i did get to try a homemade cleaning solution. this is my favorite source for the recipes so far. the one i used is easy as pie: equal parts water and vinegar.
months ago, i bought a sort-of natural all purpose cleaner. i ran out a week or so ago, so i kept the bottle, cleaned it out, and filled it with the homemade cleaner! a bottle of vinegar is super cheap, and i was able to fill the spray bottle and still have plenty left over for recipes and/or a new batch of cleaner.
i've been using it for simple kitchen/bathroom clean ups...and it works! my only complaint is the vinegar smell...but it doesn't stick around for long.
i've also read that if you have a "heavy" stain/clean up, heat up the water in the microwave before you add the vinegar. that makes it a little more powerful.
i'm also looking forward to using the baking soda/sponge idea in the bathroom soon.
oh, the thrills of being a housewife...er, housegirlfriend?
anyway.
on a similar note, i nearly exploded yesterday while trying to vacuum the floor/couch.
charlie, my precious angel baby, sheds like no dog i've every known. this is especially frustrating because he has light colored hair and it's short and wirey. so once it's stuck on something, it's visible and really hard to get rid of.
when dustin and i moved in together, i went out and got a new vacuum sweeper...it was $30 on sale and i thought, "whoa! it's a bargain! i need this one!" (oh, and guess where i bought it? TARGET. natch.)
anyway--the sweeper sucks. but i couldn't bring myself to buy a better one--i mean, who spend $100+ on a sweeper? i could be using that to buy all manner of interesting, neat things. but a vacuum? no way.
this weekend, though, i had an epiphany. rather than repeatedly buying cheap vacuums that only work for a little while, why not invest in a more expensive one! with a warranty!
it's something we use
so, i went to walmart (NOT target!) with a list of some things i needed, and i bougth a fancy $140 vacuum. certainly not top of the line like a dyson (someday...sigh) but it's pet hair specific AND i sprung for the 1 year warranty (only $10!)
oh, and the best part--i RESEARCHED the purchase beforehand! checked around the internet for reviews and made my decision before i even got to the store.
now, the only bummer was that i picked up the last one off the shelf...with the beat up box. i assumed it was fine...so bought it, got it home, and realized that the wheel had broken off.
tonight i return the vacuum and tomorrow i'll let you know how thrilling it was to use it for the first time...
so, maybe not the most exciting weekend--but i'm making changes and shopping smarter--and i'm proud of it!
xoxo
3.04.2011
recipe review: valentine's day meatballs
these really aren't "valentine's day meatballs." a more accurate title would be "holiday meatballs" or "meatballs to make when i want to do something nice for dustin."
these are his fav, and so this recipe is really more of a "share" then a "review" because we both love them, and they're super easy to make.
2 lbs ground beef
1 package chicken stove top stuffing (generic is ok!)
2 eggs
1/2 c. water
brown gravy (i've used the kind that comes in a jar and the packets you mix yourself, either works. the packets are cheaper though!)
salt
pepper
sour cream
egg noodles
preheat oven to 400 degrees. prepare cookie sheet by covering with tin foil. coat tin foil with cooking spray. in a large bowl, combine ground beef, stuff mix, eggs, and water. shape into 1/4 c. sized balls. place onto pan. (they won't spread so you can place them pretty close to each other.) cook for 16-18mins.
while cooking the meatballs, heat brown gravy and combine with a few spoonfuls of sourcream. add salt and pepper to taste. heat through. boil egg noodles as directed on package.
serve meatballs with gravy sauce and noodles
this recipe make a LOT of meatballs. i usually save them and use them with spaghetti later in the week...they're good with this brown gravy/noodle mix AND spaghetti. i think we've even made meatball subs with them. they're a great, easy item to make and use in different recipes.
when mixing the meat and ingredients, i use my standing mixer with the pastry attachment...but when i know i'm not in the mood to do those dishes, i just use my hands to mix it all together. not a bad idea considering you'll be using your hands to shape them anyway. just make sure you wash your hands before and after!
hope you like this one! i know we do. :)
these are his fav, and so this recipe is really more of a "share" then a "review" because we both love them, and they're super easy to make.
2 lbs ground beef
1 package chicken stove top stuffing (generic is ok!)
2 eggs
1/2 c. water
brown gravy (i've used the kind that comes in a jar and the packets you mix yourself, either works. the packets are cheaper though!)
salt
pepper
sour cream
egg noodles
preheat oven to 400 degrees. prepare cookie sheet by covering with tin foil. coat tin foil with cooking spray. in a large bowl, combine ground beef, stuff mix, eggs, and water. shape into 1/4 c. sized balls. place onto pan. (they won't spread so you can place them pretty close to each other.) cook for 16-18mins.
while cooking the meatballs, heat brown gravy and combine with a few spoonfuls of sourcream. add salt and pepper to taste. heat through. boil egg noodles as directed on package.
serve meatballs with gravy sauce and noodles
this recipe make a LOT of meatballs. i usually save them and use them with spaghetti later in the week...they're good with this brown gravy/noodle mix AND spaghetti. i think we've even made meatball subs with them. they're a great, easy item to make and use in different recipes.
when mixing the meat and ingredients, i use my standing mixer with the pastry attachment...but when i know i'm not in the mood to do those dishes, i just use my hands to mix it all together. not a bad idea considering you'll be using your hands to shape them anyway. just make sure you wash your hands before and after!
hope you like this one! i know we do. :)
sorry!
i assure you all, i'm still on board, moving forward with the project. it's been so long since i updated...and i'm sorry!
times is hard, though, ya'll.
but i'm not going to waste time explaining why i've been unmotivated to post. timing is everything, though. we finally started saving money and being smart with our finances, and of course we run into challenges right off the bat. isn't that how it always works?
i've had a few slip ups, i think i blame it on a few things:
1. i was sick, then dustin was sick, and we weren't motivated to plan out the next month of groceries. it was easier to just grab something quick, but i regret every meal we cheated with.
2.we got hit with a few unexpected "money things" that, intitially, felt impossible to move past. but, d and i are smart kids and i think we have a good handle on things now.
it's just hard to make not spending money "fun" when it becomes a "need." but i haven't given up yet...still going strong. and i have SO MANY GREAT RECIPES to share with you guys...i hope to update the past few this weekend....so look forward to that! i think i'll post one from memory right after i finish this up...
oh, and i still haven't been to target. :)
xoxoxo
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