Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Crock Pot Pork and Baked Potatoes

This is one of my favorite recipes, easy, simple, and delicious!  It is my go to recipe for pork roast.

1. Put pork roast in Crock-pot with a little bit of water.  Then I shake some Worcestershire sauce over the top and 2 tbsp of butter.

2. I wash the potatoes and place them on top of the roast in the Crock-pot.

3. Cook on low for 8 hours.

4. Eat a delicious meal!

Linking up to Tempt your Tummy Tuesday!

ALDI Deals Starting 01/30/2013

Here are some of this week's awesome ALDI deals...

• Weds. 01/30 ONLY: Smithfield Fresh St. Louis Spare Ribs $2.49/lb
• Kitchen Living Baking Pans 6 cup Bundt, Flower, or Heart, or 12 cup Muffin Tins $3.99 ea
• Boulder Valentine's Paper Tableware $0.99 ea
• Little Salad Bar Greek Yogurt Dips Spinach, Spicy Red Pepper, or Tzatziki 8 oz $1.99 ea
• Happy Farms Cheese Block 8 oz $1.79 ea
• Yancey's Buffalo Wing Cheese 7.6 oz $3.49 ea
• Nature's Path Love Crunch Organic Granola Dark Chocolate and Red Berries 11.5 oz $2.99 ea
• Beaumont Caramel Creme or Cinnamon Spice Ground Coffee 12 oz $4.99 ea
• Celery $0.79 ea
• Baby Carrots 16 oz $0.69 ea
• Avocados $0.59 ea
• Grape Tomatoes $1.29/pint
• Cucumbers $0.39 ea
• Multi-Peppers $1.99/3-pk

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

Menu Plan Monday: 01/28/2013

This week I tried to keep the menu simple since Joe and I are going to be super busy.  We have a flea market to get ready for, a house to clean, Christmas to finish putting away, plus the every day regular stuff that still needs to be done, like laundry and dishes.  So, here's the plan for the week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, or Waffles

Lunches: Leftovers, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, or Hot Dogs

Dinners:

Sunday - Fried Potatoes and Onions with Eggs, Bacon, and Toast

Monday - Leftover Potatoes with Pancakes and Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy

Tuesday -  Fresh-take Chicken Tenders with Rice and Broccoli

Wednesday - Sausage Spaghetti with Garlic Bread and a Vegetable

Thursday - Homemade Foccacia Sausage Pizza

Friday -Snacky Dinner/Leftover Buffet

Saturday - Flea Market Day, Out :-)

Extras: Brownies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Pantry Challenge Update #4: 01/20-26/2013

I am hoping to do a little better this week with cleaning things out of the freezers.  Last week I got busy, and caught up in other things; I want to be a little more focused this week.  I have a kick-butt menu plan lined up, so as long as life doesn't throw me a nasty curve ball, we should be good.  I will post my progress for each day this week below...

Day #20: Sunday I had those horrible stomach cramps again, can't wait to go to the doctor on Tuesday.  By afternoon I was feeling some better, so I did get some straightening  done around the house, as well as some laundry and coupon filing/clipping.  We ate pretty good too.
B - Scones for Joe, none for me
L - Homemade Pepperoni Pizza and Apple Slices
D - Salsa Chicken Bake

Day #21: Monday the museum was closed, so Joe and I took the opportunity to sleep in.  We also did our weekly house cleaning; I LOVE a clean house!  I even got some organizing done for Joe in the storage room.  In other words, it was a great day, and we ate good too!
B - None, slept in
L - Waffles for me, Buffalo Chicken Wraps for Joe
D - Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, Crock Pot Pork Roast, and an Alexia Veggie Saute - Yummy!

Day #22: Tuesday, well you know that curve ball I mentioned above, I caught it about 9 am.  After my doctors appointment, where my miscarriage was finalized, to put it mildly, I was sent to the ER to get blood work done stat-like, and a sonogram to make everything was ok inside, something about maybe needing a shot, which I ended up not needing, so a 20 minute appointment turned into not getting home for another 6 hours - ugh!  So that kinda wreaked havoc on our menu.
B - Granola Bars
L - McDonald's on the way home
D - Leftover Salsa Chicken Bake for Joe, and Pretzels for me

Day #23: Wednesday I was still feeling rough, plus I picked up a head cold along with everything else.  But, my everything else is feeling pretty good.  The plumbers came today to fix our shower, and we just relaxed and watched movies. 
B - None
L - Waffles with Syrup for me, and PB and J style for Joe
D - Burgers and Fries

Day #24: Thursday my head cold went south into flu territory, so Joe worked on some things around the house, and I tried not to die from a sneezing fit or a coughing spell.  I survived, but Joe was starting with a cold now too - Ugh, it's gonna be one of those kind of winters, where we just keep passing the same cold back and forth. 
B - Waffles
L - Pizza
D - Scrambled Eggs with Toast for me, Joe had a leftover Pork Sandwich

Day #25: Friday snow came to Westminster, yeah!  Joe ran out to the store to pick up a few things we needed before all the crazy people got there.  You know the ones of which I speak, buying arm fulls of milk, bread, and TP, thinking that they will need enough sustenance to survive the ice age instead of just the inch of snow were getting.  But anyway, we ate through some more leftovers, so it was a good day.
B - Waffles
L - Scrambled Eggs with Toast for Me, Leftover Pork Sandwiches for Joe
D - Leftover Pork Sandwiches with Baked French Fries

Day #26: Saturday Joe ran some errands while I straightened up the house.  I was still feeling a little under the weather, but I was also getting sick of living in a messy house, so order won.  We also watched some comedians on Netflix to relax in the afternoon.  We ate pretty good too.
B - None
L - Waffles with Syrup for Me, and PB and J style for Joe
D - Grilled Bacon Cheese Burgers with Baked French Fries - Yum-o!

All in all it was a good week.  We ate through some freezer food even though we were both feeling pretty rough.  Linking up to Good Cheap Eats!

Weekly Spending Report: 01/20-26/2013

This week I again tried to be good in regards to staying out of the stores,  Next week starts February, and a new budget for the month, always a good thing.  Here's how the shopping went down this week...

• Sunday's Giant Trip (2 apples, 2 boxes waffles, 1 box pop-tarts and 1-24 pk H2O): $17.05 oop
• Thursday's Wal-mart Trip (2 pks TP, 1 twin pk stomach med): Zero oop, paid with giftcard
• Friday's Giant Trip: $23.44 oop

• Saturday's Shopper's Trip (2 newspapers): Zero oop, paid with gift card

Total OOP: $40.49, Not great, but not bad either, thank God for gift cards :-)

Frugal Finds Friday: Reusing = Cotton Balls

I am always looking for a way to take things that normally make their way into the garbage and use them for something new.  This item only needs a few scissors snips to be transformed from garbage into cotton balls. 

 You know those strips of cotton that are stuffed into the tops of medicine bottles for no real reason, well I save them.  I cut them into cotton ball-sized pieces, and my husband uses them to apply his toner.  

They work great, they're free, and I've saved something from going to the dump!

What about you, what are your frugal finds from this week?

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

Linking up to Homemade Mondays.

ALDI Deals, Starting 01/23/2013

Here are a few of the deals happening this week at ALDI...

• ednesday 01/23 ONLY: Fresh boneless skinless Chicken Breasts $1.69/lb
• Kitchen Living 6 Qt Programmable Slow Cooker $29.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Pizza Pan $2.99 ea
• Happy Harvest Chili Style Diced Tomatoes 14.5 oz $0.59 ea (Use to make this chili!)
• Kirkwood Chicken Wings 4 lb Frozen bag $8.49 ea
• Season's Choice Whole Onion Rings 16 oz $1.99 ea
• Vienna Beef Mini Bagel Dogs (frozen) 12 oz $4.99 ea
• Appetitos Frozen Dips 8 oz $2.49 ea
• Mama Cozzi's Rising Crust Pizza Spinach, mushroom and garlic Pizza 30.3 oz $3.99 ea
• Clancy's Cheddar and Sour Cream Ridged 9 oz or Buttery or White Cheddar Popcorn 8 oz $1.49 ea
• Clancy's Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips 13 oz $1.29 ea
• Clancy's Krinkle cut Kettle Chips Sea Salt or Sea Salt with Black Pepper 8.5 oz $1.79 ea
• Nature's Nectar Raspberry Lemonade All Natural 59 oz $1.99 ea
• Specially Selected Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans 7 oz $2.99 ea
• Choceur Coffee to Eat Truffles, Assorted Varieties 4.23 oz $2.99 ea
• Primrose 4" $0.99 ea
• Celery $0.79 ea
• Baby Carrots 16 oz bag $0.69 ea
• Avocados $0.59 ea
• Grape Tomatoes $1.29/pint
• Broccoli 16 oz pkg $1.09 ea
• Cauliflower $1.09/head

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Apple Crumb Pie

In honor of National Pie Month, I wanted to re-post this delicious all-American apple pie recipe - Enjoy!

This pie is so yummy, and yet so simple to make, that it's kind of a non-recipe. 

I roll out 1 pie crust, I usually use this recipe, but sometimes I just use a pre-made refrigerated one.

For the filling I cook up 4-6 apples (depending on their size) that have been peeled and sliced with a couple tbsp of butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, about a 1/3 c brown sugar, and a couple tsp of corn starch.  I let that cook until the apples are softened, then I pour it into the unbaked pie shell which I've placed into a pie plate.  For the topping I mix about 1 c quick cook oats with a couple tbsp flour, a couple tbsp cold butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and about a 1/3 c brown sugar with a pastry cutter.  Once it is incorporated nicely I sprinkle it on top of the filling, and bake  it in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the topping and crust are a nice golden brown.  

I like mine warm with vanilla bean ice cream!

For more AWESOME temptations, visit Blessed with Grace!
Linking to Life as Mom!

Menu Plan Monday 01/21/2013

This week things should be nice and slow-paced around here, yeah!  I think my menu plan this week will use up a LOT of things from the freezers, plus Joe actually likes everything on the plan, which is always a plus!  Here's what's cookin'...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Bagels

Lunches: Homemade Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Leftover Pork Sandwiches, or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Dinners:
Sunday - Salsa Chicken Bake
Monday - Crock Pot Roast Pork, Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, and a Vegetable
Tuesday - Leftover BP's fried with Onions, Eggs, Sausage, and Toast
Wednesday - Leftover Fried Potatoes and Onions, Pancakes, and Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy
Thursday - Grilled Burgers, Baked French Fries, and a Vegetable
Friday - Homemade Shrimp Alfredo with Linguine, Foccacia Bread, and Steamed Broccoli
Saturday - Out :-)

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Pantry Challenge Update #3: 01/13-19/2013

Well, it's a new week, thank God, so I get the chance for a brand new start.  Hopefully this week will go a little better.  Joe and I are starting to feel like our old selves again, so I should have more energy to do some cooking.  We did use a good bit up from the freezers last week, but I want to make an even bigger dent this week!

Day #13: Sunday I had a slight stomach bug, so we slept in, and skipped breakfast.  We spent the afternoon enjoying the peace and quiet here at the museum, and watched our 2 free Red Boxes, as well as clipped some coupons (me) and played on the computer (Joe).  It was a nice day!

B - none

L - Waffles, Fruit

D - Leftover Pizza

Day #14: Monday I cleaned the house, and helped Joe straighten up his work room desk.  I also worked on organizing some paperwork, and filing coupons.  Overall we got a lot of work done, and managed to relax some in the evening and watch a movie.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Snacks

D - Baked Fresh-Takes Chicken Breasts, with Ranch Potato Wedges and Broccoli with Cheese.  We also finished off the cobbler for dessert.

Day #15: Tuesday Joe had a meeting to go to here at the museum, which I also had to attend, unfortunately.  And of course, instead of it being a 20 minute meeting, it was a 2 hour meeting, so dinner got scraped unfortunately.  Here's what we ended up eating.
B - Cold Cereal/Waffles
L - Fish Patties and Baked French Fries
D - Bob Evans, used a gift card from Christmas to pay, so it cost less than $8!

Day #16: Wednesday Joe and I had a viewing to go to for an older gentlemen's wife we flea market with.  He was very happy to see us, even though no one else knew who we were.  It was late in the evening for some reason, so we ended up doing some shopping afterwards, and brought home some chick-fil-a for dinner.
B - Cold Cereal/Waffles
L - Used the leftover chicken from Monday to make Chicken Parmesan.  I just melted provolone on top of the chicken, cooked up some spaghetti noodles, and heated up a jar of sauce.  It was very tasty, I wish I would have got a picture before we woofed it all down :-)
D - Chick-n-strips Salad with Ranch for me, and an Original Sandwich for Joe, we also shared a cookies and cream milkshake on the way home.

Day #17:  Thursday I thought I was going to die.  I had stomach cramps so bad I literally got light-headed.  After a call to the Dr, I have a Tuesday appointment, oh joy.  Later in the day the pain subsided some, but my stomach was still somewhat nausea from the earlier pain.  Meals were sparse to say the least.
B - Sausage Sandwiches for Joe (which he made for himself), crackers for me
L - Leftover Chicken Parmesan for Joe, Cinnamon Sugar Toast x 2 for me
D - Subs

Day #18: Friday I was still feeling not so hot; I will be glad when the sickness is finally out of this house for good.  Joe and I did manage to get a few things done around the house today, which is always a good thing; I'm even caught up on laundry.  It's a good day!
B - Bagel for Joe and Cold Cereal for me
L - Leftover over Spaghetti with Sausage for Joe, and
D - Burgers

Day #19: Saturday Joe and I took Joe's Grandfather, Pap, down to Easton so we could attend a memorial service.  It was actually a lovely and lighthearted service.  Pap treated us to our breakfast and lunch out since Joe drove us all down.  Joe and I stopped into the Amish Market while we were in Cockeysville, and picked up newspapers in Westminster, when we got home.  The rides down and back were lovely; it was a nice day!
B - Cracker Barrel with Pap, his treat (B. berry pancakes, bacon, and hash brown casserole for me, Joe had a large breakfast platter)
L - Holly's with Pap, also his treat (Joe and I each had some cream of crab soup, and split a shrimp salad sandwich with chips and pickles)
D - Joe had a frozen pizza, and I had some snacks since I wasn't very hungry

Linking up at Good Cheap Eats!

Weekly Spending Report 01/14-20/2013

This week I tried REALLY hard to stay out of the stores.  Here's how I did...

• Wednesday's CVS Trip: $1.97 oop

• Wednesday's ALDI Trip: $8.01 oop

• Wednesday's Rite-Aid Trip: $5.70, Earned $8 UP+Rewards

• Thursday's Shopper's Trip (Honey Crisp Apples): $2.96 oop
• Saturday's Amish Market Trip: $2.30 + $2.49 + $3.13 = $7.92 oop

• Saturday's Shopper's Trip (6 honey crisp apples and 2 newspapers): $10.16 oop

Total OOP: $36.72 - Earned $8 Rewards = Net OOP: $28.72

Linking up to Couponaholic. 

Frugal Finds Friday: Re-using Glass Bottles!

 

 A little spray paint can go a L-O-N-G way in making your pantry look more cohesive, and can make all of your reused glass bottles from spaghetti sauce, salsa, fruit, etc coordinate.  Once I started reading about all the bad things about plastic storage containers, I knew I wanted to start using glass for pantry items.  But who has the money to go out and buy all new glass containers for your pantry, certainly not this gal.  So I started saving glass bottles from items we regularly use, like salsa, pasta sauces, artichokes, and the like. 

1.) I wash them with dish soap and water, 

2.)let them air dry,

3.)and then spray paint the lids so they all coordinate, and make my OCD side very happy!  

I still have a few Ziploc Twist and Lock containers that I use in the freezer, but all my snacks, baking items, beans, extra pastas, are all in my nice reused glass containers.  Not only is it green, but frugal too!

How about you; what are some of your frugal finds for the week?

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday!

Linking up to Homemade Mondays.

ALDI Deals, Starting 01/16/2013

Here are some of the deals at ALDI this week...

• Vanderwall Shower Caddy Assortment Satin Nickel or Bronze $9.99 ea
• St. Cloud PEVA Shower Curtain Liner 70x72" $5.99 ea
• Vanderwall Toilet Tissue Holder $7.99 ea
• Crane 36' Jogging Trampoline $24.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Panini Grill $19.99 ea
• Kirkwood Garlic and Herb Chicken Breasts 40 oz $6.99 ea
• Sistema Lunch Cube or Soup Mug To Go $3.99 ea
• Source Skincare Liquid Hand Soap Pure Protection, or Aloe Vera 7.5 oz $0.85 ea
• Yellow Onions 3 lb bag $0.79 ea
• Carrots 2 lb bag $0.79 ea
• Red Potatoes 5 lb bag $0.99 ea
• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.89 ea
• Fuji Apples 3 lb bag $2.19 ea
• Pineapples $1.89 ea
• Season's Choice Frozen Strawberries 16 oz $1.99 ea
• Season's Choice Frozen Blueberries 12 oz $2.49 ea
• L'oven Fresh Sandwich Skinnys Multigrain, or 100% Whole Wheat 12 oz $1.99 ea

For more AWESOME Deals at ALDI, visit their homepage!

Frugal Finds Friday: Cereal Box Magazine Holders!

Spray Paint and Sealer

+ 

Used Cereal Boxes

=

Magazine Holders!

To make these, you simply cut the cereal box into the shape of a magazine holder.  Then you go outside, or cover the area you are going to spray paint on with newspaper, and open some windows, and then spray paint the entire cereal box (I usually focus on the outside, but you can do the whole inside too if you like).  Allow the cereal box(es) to dry overnight.  In the morning spray them well and evenly with sealer.  Allow the boxes to completely dry, I usually let them set a couple of days for good measure.  Then add a label and fill the holders with your magazines!  I love being able to use old things to make new more useful items!

Easy, green, and frugal organization!

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

Pantry Challenge Update #2: 01/06-12/2013

This week has been crazy.  With the holidays being over and things so quiet here at the museum, I keep thinking about my mom, and how much I miss her.  It's hard.  I'm trying to keep myself busy, but I think that the flu has finally entered the Roger's house.  Joe and I have both been feeling pretty rough the past few days, and then Thursday we went to Joe's grandfather's house and worked our little tushies off there.  Here's how the pantry challenge has been going...

Day #6: Sunday Joe was really suffering for a head cold, which I guess I gave him - whoops.  Luckily we had a lot of leftover food from Saturday, so I reheated some hamburger helper for lunch, and whipped up some taco salads for dinner using the leftover chili.  We ate good and still had plenty of both left for Monday.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Leftover Hamburger Helper

D - Leftover Chili Taco Salads

Day #7: Monday Joe was still feeling pretty rough, but I managed to get the house clean and do some laundry and a little paperwork as well, and Joe spent most of the day resting in the recliner.  It was a nice day.  We ate more leftovers...
B - Cream of Wheat
L - Leftover Hamburger Helper - the last of it!
D - Leftover Chili

Day #8: Tuesday Joe and I worked on some things around the house, and finally had a break from leftovers and I made a pasta bake creation using 2 cups of leftover pasta sauce (1 marinara, and 1 vodka) from the freezer, along with leftover frozen cooked pasta, and a little cheese.  Paired with some frozen garlic bread (our last loaf), and it was quite the meal.  We did some sandwiches for lunch.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Sandwiches

D - Pasta Bake with Garlic Bread

Day #9: Wednesday Joe and I continued to recuperate and worked on some organizing at the house.  I opened up some Christmas ham from the freezer for lunch, and we splurged on some 5 Guys for dinner.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Ham and Cheese Omelets with Toast

D - 5 Guys Burgers and Fries

Day #10: Thursday Joe and I went to his Grandfather's house.  We got some kindling cut up and stored for his wood stove, and I worked on flea market stuff in the basement to get ready for our first flea market this year, next month.  We ate out with Pap for lunch and dinner, and he treated, so that was nice!

B - Cold Cereal

L - Soft Pretzels from the Amish Market

D - Chili's Baby Back Ribs!  :-)

Day #11: Friday we slept in, and Joe went to the gun show near Cockeysville.  I stayed home and got caught up on laundry, and some organizing projects I wanted to get done.  Meals were simple.

B - None

L - None for Me, PB and J sandwiches for Joe

D - Ledo's Pizza (with enough leftover for lunch tomorrow!)

Day #12: Saturday Joe and I went into the world and ran some errands, and did some shopping!  We got some great deals on some things we were in need of like probiotics and Kleenex from CVS, and milk, fruit, and snacks from Giant.  I also got to visit with my sister a little, and we picked up a $5 Little Caesar's pizza for dinner; it was quite yummy!  We spent the afternoon resting, and watching movies, while I clipped coupons.

B - Cold Cereal/Waffles

L - Sandwiches

D - Pizza, Pizza!

For more challenge updates visit Good Cheap Eats!

Menu Plan Monday 01/14/2013

I hope that this week goes better than last.  Last week Joe and I were sick, we were working at and around the house, and tiredness got the best of us both, and we ate a few more takeout pizzas than I wanted to.  But we did eat a good bit from the freezer, which is the point of this freezer challenge.  This week we have a memorial service to attend near the ocean, and we can hopefully get some more organizing done around the house.  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Cream of Wheat, or Sausage Sandwiches/Waffles for Joe

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches

Dinners:

Sunday -  Little Caesar's $5 Pizza

Monday - Baked Fresh-Take Chicken with Ranch Potato Wedges and a Vegetable

Tuesday - Baked Crunchy Fish with Baked French Fries and a Vegetable

Wednesday - Ham, Pepperoni, and Cheese Stromboli

Thursday - Crock Pot Pork Roast with Crock-Pot Baked Potatoes and a Vegetable

Friday - Leftover Pork Sandwiches with Baked Potato Wedges and a Vegetable

Saturday - Memorial Service on the Eastern Shore with Joe's Grandfather, we'll probably get treated to Holly's for driving him down.

Extras: Apple Cobbler, and later in the week Homemade Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report 01/06-12/2012

This week I did do a little shopping.  Here's how it went down...

• Thursday's Amish Market Trip (14.04 lbs Raw Sugar): $20.93 oop
• Saturday's CVS Trip: $1.31, Earned $11 ECB's

• Saturday's Rite-Aid Trip (1-80 ct Advil PM and 3-12 pks Coke, all for Joe): $21.56 oop, Earned $5 UP+Rewards
• Saturday's Giant Trip: $40.36 oop

• Saturday's Lowe's Trip (2 bags cat litter pellets): $8.68

Total OOP: $92.84, well, more than I wanted to spend.  However, the sugar and litter are expenses that should get us through/into February as well.  Hopefully I can curb our spending a little more this week, but at the same time, it feels good to be stocking back up on things we needed, like the probiotics and kleenex at CVS.

ALDI Deals, Starting 01/09/2013

Even though we are doing a pantry challenge at the Roger's house, I might just have to go into ALDI this week for some of these AWESOME Deals, especially on organics!

• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.89 ea
• Pears 4 pk $1.89 ea
• Grapefruits $0.39 ea
• Fuji Apples 3 lb bag $2.19 ea
• Cantaloupe $1.39 ea
• Mangoes $0.89 ea
• Simply Nature Crispy Crust Pizza Uncured Pepperoni or 4 cheese $3.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Toasted Oats Honey or Original 9-10 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Strawberries 12 oz $2.39 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Blueberries 12 oz $3.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Vanilla Yogurt 32 oz $2.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic String Cheese $2.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Spaghetti or Linguine 16 oz $1.29 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Pasta Sauce Marinara or Tomato Basil 25 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Apple Juice 64 oz $2.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Apple Juice Boxes 3-6.75 oz boxes $0.99 ea
• Nature's Nectar not from concentrate Mini Orange Juice Boxes 6-6.75 oz $2.99 ea
• Green and Black's Organic Chocolate Bars Dark 70% or Almond 3.5 oz $2.49 ea

For more AWESOME deals at ALDI, visit their homepage!

Menu Plan Monday - 01/07/2013

This is the second week in our pantry challenge, and things are going great.  We are using up lots of little bits out of the freezers, and the pantry, plus eating some good meals!  Here's what's on the menu this week...

Breakfasts: Cold or Hot Cereals, or Sausage Patty Sandwiches

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, or Canned Soup with Crackers and Cheese

Dinners:

Sunday - Taco Salad made with Leftover Chili

Monday - Leftover Hamburger Helper

Tuesday - Pasta Bake with Leftover Frozen Pasta and Garlic Bread with a Vegetable

Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Omelets with Toast

Thursday - Fresh Take Chicken Breasts with Rice and a Vegetable

Friday - Homemade Foccacia Pizza

Saturday - Beef and Broccoli Freezer Meal with Rice

Extras: Homemade White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report January 1-5, 2012

With the pantry challenge in full swing, I tried really hard to stay out of the stores, and when I did go, it was only for the 'essentials' (= things I needed to make the items in the freezer into meals, and things I needed to keep my husband from having a fit).  Here's what I ended up with...

• Wednesday's ALDI Trip (1 doz eggs, 2 tubs Sour Cream, 1 bag Limes): $4.76 oop
• Saturday's Giant Trip: $55.38 oop

• Saturday's Rite Aid Trip: $19.58 oop (includes some Christmas presents, not pictured), Earned $2 UP+Rewards

Total OOP: $79.72, definitely a little high, but since I haven't really been to the store in couple weeks, not too shabby.  What I purchased should last us a little while, even though we have already almost knocked out an entire 1/2 gallon of milk, yikes!  But I am using up a lot of things from the freezer, which is the real goal!

Pantry Challenge Update - Week #1

Jessica over at Good Cheap Eats is running a pantry challenge this month, and I'm in!  Here's how it's been going so far...

Day 1:  New Year's day we decided to have some family over for dinner.  My dad, sister, niece, and her boyfriend came over and we had a lovely dinner together, and played a couple games of Uno afterwards.  Joe and I had a blast!  We ended the evening with some homemade apple crumb pie and vanilla bean ice cream.
B - Waffles
L - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D - Crock Pot Pork Roast with Baked Potatoes and Sauerkraut, Homemade Apple Crumb Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream

Day 2:  Wednesday was a simpler day, Joe and I worked on some projects around the house, but mostly I was still trying to deal with a horrible head cold.  Meals were simple.

B - Waffles

L - Leftover Pork Sandwiches

D - Subs, Out -- Totally Yucky!

Day 3:  Thursday was more the same; rest, recuperating, and knocking out some small projects.  I used up the leftover baked potatoes from New Year's for lunch.

B - Waffles

L - Fried (sliced leftover Baked) Potatoes with Onion, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (leftover in the freezer from Christmas), and Toast

D - Leftover Pork Sandwiches with Baked French Fries

Day 4: Friday Joe had a meeting to go to, and I was feeling much better!  So, I got quite a few little projects done, as well as got the house tidied up a little bit.  

B - Cream of Wheat for me and Sausage Patty Sandwiches for Joe

L - Snacks

D - Quesadillas

Day 5:  Today Joe and I finally had to go the grocery store, we were out of milk.  I picked up a few other essentials things that we were out of, like PB, since I hadn't been to the store in a few weeks.  We also stopped into Rite-Aid to use my UP+Rewards before they expired.  It was a good day!
B - BK, out - Yummy!
L - Hamburger Helper (trying to get those used up)
D - Crock Pot Chili

All  in all it's been a good week, and I have already cleaned a good bit out of the cupboards and freezer!  Hopefully next week will be even better!

Link Up at Good Cheap Eats and see how others are doing!

Resolutions for 2013!

After the hellacious year 2012, I can only pray that 2013 is better.  Don't get me wrong, 2012 had good times - we did several flea markets, and made double what we usually make at them, we spent a lot of time with family, and Joe and I got pregnant.  However, I think that the bad times far outweighed any happiness that I felt - in July, after weeks in the hospital, my mom died, and then in December at 10 weeks, Joe and I found out that our baby had no heartbeat.  2012 is a year that I cannot wait to move on from to say the least.  I have set some goals for this year, and I am very determined to meet them all, so I kept them vague and simple.  Some may think that that is cheating, I'm calling it being realistic ;-)  I only set 5, here they are...

1. Get healthy and lose weight.  So far I have lost 20 lbs, I am hoping to lose a LOT more.
2. Simplify and organize my life and my home.  I have started with paperwork, and I am plugging along with that.
3. Create more earned income.  We plan to do 12 flea markets this year, as well as start selling on ebay, etc.
4. Spend more time with friends and family.  After losing my mom, I want to make sure I make plenty of happy memories with the rest of my family and our friends.
5. Have a baby/get pregnant.  It's time, and we are ready to start trying again, so hopefully everything will work out this time.

For more 2013 goals and resolutions, visit Simply Rebekah!

Frugal Finds Friday: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Something new I am starting on this blog is a Frugal Finds Friday post each week.  This post may include a great deal from the week, or a recipe or tip that pays homage to frugality.  I will also include a link up for others to share their finds.  Post #1 in a recipe that I have come to love for homemade laundry detergent.

 You cannot get a simpler recipe than this:
1 C Borax +
1 C Washing Soda +
1 bar Soap (I use Ivory), finely grated =

Homemade Laundry Detergent.  I use 1 scoop per load.  The scoop I use is the size of a coffee scoop; it's out of an old Oxi Clean Container, and has been re-purposed.  The detergent doesn't get real sudsy, but our clothes are clean and smell fresh.

Linking up to Homemade Mondays!
Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

How about everyone else, what frugal finds have you?