Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Ground Sirloin in Mushroom Cream Gravy

This recipe has a great flavor, so I wanted to share it with you, however, I feel like it is very meaty.  So, next time instead of using hamburger patties, I'm going to try it with ground beef.  I think that this will allow the meat, sauce, and noodles to mix together better, so you get all the flavors in one bite :)  However, the recipe came together very quickly, and is quite tasty, so without further ado...

2 Hamburger Patties/1/2 lb Ground Beef

1/2 c Heavy Cream

Salt and Pepper

2 tbsp Oil (I used Olive Oil)

1 small Diced Onion

1 pkg Sliced Mushrooms

2 tbsp dried parsley

1.) Fry patties or ground beef, salt and pepper to your liking.  Fry until done, then remove from pan and cover with foil.  Drain grease from pan if any (I use 93% lean beef, so there isn't usually any).

2.) Add oil and onions to pan, cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.  Add mushrooms and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.

3.) Stir in cream, and cook until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.  Stir in parsley.

4.) Return beef/patties to pan and cook on low until everything is nice and toasty warm, about 3-5 minutes.

5.) Serve sauce and beef/patties over egg noodles, or rice, or mashed potatoes, your choice.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Serves 2, but you could easily double or triple the recipe if you needed to.

Linked to the Homestead Barn Hop, Meal Planning Monday Recipe Link-up, One Project at a Time, Thrifty Thursday, the Super Saturday Link Party, the Inspiration Exchange, and Homemade Mondays.

Weekly Spending Report: 04/27-05/03/2014

This week we took Howard with us to the stores, he was such a good baby.  The girls at CVS were so excited to meet him, as they have seen me throughout my pregnancy.  The lady from Giant was pretty excited to see him as well.  She spent quite a bit of time during my pregnancy talking to my stomach.  He was such an angel, and slept really well in the car.

• Tuesday's CVS Trip: Zero oop, Earned $8 ECB's
• Tuesday's ALDI Trip (milk, bread, PB bars, pop-tarts, syrup, hotdogs, and corn chips): $19.96 oop
• Wednesday's Giant Trip: $11.97 oop

• Saturday's Giant Trip (ice cream): $2.50 oop
• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (2 newspapers): $2.12 oop
• Earned $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Earned $6.75 from Amazon

Total OOP: $36.55

Total Earned: $19.75

Amount Remaining for May: $263.45

Linked to Couponaholic!

Tuesday's CVS Trip

Joe and I stopped into CVS Tuesday after Howard's 1 week check-up.  All the girls were so happy to finally meet him.  I have been so thankful for the diaper deals, as Howard skipped the newborn size and went right to size 1.  We have cloth ones, but are waiting for the rest I have ordered to arrive.  Here's what we picked up this week...

2-24 ct boxes Zantac Cool Mint $10.79 - $1.80 Sale - $4/1 MC x 2 - $2 ECB's x 2 = 2/$5.98
2-50 ct pkgs CVS Diapers $9.29 - $2.30 ea Sale - 2/1 CVS Coupon x 2 - $2 ECB's x 2 = 2/$5.98
1 box Reese's Pieces $1.67 - $0.68 Sale - $0.30/1 CVS Coupon = $0.69
+ $0.80 Tax
- $15 ECB's used to Pay
- $6.45 paid with Gift Card
Total OOP: Zero!  Earned $8 ECB's for next time!

Linked to Simply CVS!

May Budget Update

This month I managed to stay under budget even with 5 weeks, which is good since I was over the past two!  I hoping that by the end of the year things balance out, they usually do.  I was able to up our vegetable and fruit in take, host a picnic, and stock up on some great deals.  Here's how the month breaks down...

• Week #1: $36.55 oop, Earned $8 ECB's, $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks, and $6.75 from Amazon
• Week #2: $67.76 oop, Earned $17.99 MIR, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Week #3: $65.59 oop, Earned $29.50 ECB's, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Week #4: $41.59 oop, Earned $9 ECB's, $36.07 Target Gift Card, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Week #5: $78.18 oop, Earned $25.75 ECB's, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Total OOP: $289.67
Total Earned: $158.06
Total Remaining: $10.33
 

April Goals Update

Another good month with lots of progress made, and LOTS of things crossed off the list!  Some of my goals won't get crossed off until December, but that's okay, I really want to work on perfecting those.  Here's how April went down...

Household:

1. Prepare a Nursery! - The nursery is completely done, I hope to share a post soon about it.  I do plan to paint the windows/sills this Spring/Summer, but I feel comfortable crossing this off now. 
2. Do a Deep-Spring, and Deep-Fall Clean in March and November.  As well as keep up with my weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly cleaning chores. - One deep clean down and one to go.  Even with the baby being born this month, I was still able to keep up with my weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly cleaning chores, with the help of my loving husband that is. 

Family:

1. Give birth to baby Rogers, and be the best mom I can be! - Baby Rogers was born on April 22, as Howard Preston Rogers. 9lbs 10 oz, 22 inches long. 
   
2. Try every day to be a loving wife.  Some days this is harder than others. :-) - I feel like this month, this finally clicked for me.  Becoming a mother and seeing my husband and best friend become and embrace his role as a father has made me fall in love with him all over again.  I don't think we have ever been closer or more happy together. 
3. Take a trip to Maine in June with the hubby, and the baby. - Not there yet.
4. Get together with family at least once a month.  (probably for dinner) - With the birth of Baby Rogers, we have had a LOT of family visiting with us, in the hospital, and since we've been home. 

Blogging:

1. Have 2 Freezer/Pantry Challenges (January and July), post updates on the blog, and defrost the chest freezer - One down, one to go!
2. Post my Menu Plan, Aldi Deals, and Weekly Spending Report every week, along with at least 1 other post per week.  This may be an update, a reveal, a recipe, a shopping trip, or a frugal find. - I did really good with this one.  I did my regular posts every week, plus I posted a Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday recipe post every week, and posted several shopping trips throughout the month. 
3. Plan and execute a 31 days post for October. - Not there yet.

Health:

1. Lose at least 20 lbs (I did accomplish losing 20 lbs in 2013 as well, so it seems doable) - After the birth of Howard, in 10 days I have lost 22 lbs.  So I just have to keep it up, my goal is to lose another 60 lbs.  Breastfeeding and eating healthier is really burning the calories!
2. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and do exercise of some kind everyday. - I drank plenty of water, ate a LOT of veggies, and fruit, and did my hip physical therapy exercises everyday, except for when I was in the hospital.  Also towards the end of the month I started going for an evening walk/stroll with Joe and the baby.

Financial:

1. Do at least 6 Flea Markets throughout the year, and list at least monthly on Amazon. - With the baby coming in April, we decided to forgo the flea market we usually set up at.  We did however visit several throughout the month, as well as some nice yard sales, and managed to get some great deals including a baby changing pad, some baby clothes, a couple of gasket jars that I use for food storage in the kitchen, and some cool brass pineapple book ends.  (So far we have done 2.)
2. Earn Swagbucks everyday by completing the daily poll, toolbar log-in, and NOSO offers daily. - did this every day, plus I used the SBTV feature and the offers on the homepage to earn additional Swagbucks.  I earned 4 - $5 Amazon Gift Cards.
3. Set a monthly budget, and coupon and deal shop as needed to stay within our budget. - It was nice to start the month out with an additional $100 I decided to add to the budget.  Joe and I decided that we needed to raise the budget in order to get healthy food for me to eat while I'm breast-feeding as well as any things we might need for the baby, like additional diapers.  It worked out really well.  I posted the monthly totals here.
4. Pay off my credit card by June, and start putting extra onto Joe's credit card every month.  We won't have his paid off this year, but we'll be on the right track to have it paid off within the next year or two.  :) - Still working on this.

Hobby-Related:

1. Catch up my scrapbook.  I'm only about 8 years behind, but I think once I get rolling on it, I should be able to push through and get it done by the end of the year. ;) I also want to start one for the baby, and work on it monthly. - Haven't started this one yet, and probably won't until I get into a better routine with the baby and working.  I'm hoping to be able to get started in May or June. 
2. Try something new at least twice a month and blog about it.  I have a LOT of new recipes and crafts I want to try, and this is the year! - I tried several new recipes this month, and blogged about them here, here, here, and here.  

Linked to Money Saving Mom!

April Budget Update

April we decided to raise our monthly budget to $300 from $200 to accommodate my new healthy eating as a breast-feeding mama, and any baby purchases that we might need to make, like additional diapers. Overall, we went over budget, but we did do a LOT of stocking up, and bought a LOT of diapers, so I'm ok with our spending.  Hopefully it will balance out in the end...

• Week #1: $112.46 oop, Earned $35.91 ECB's, $10 Target Gift Card, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Week #2: $75.32 oop, Earned $16 ECB's, $5 Target Gift Card, $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks, a coupon for a FREE Land O Lakes Spread, $3.80 Easy Rebate from Staples, and $14.05 from Amazon
• Week #3: $90.84 oop, Earned $9 ECB's, $3.80 Easy Rebate from Staples, $10 CVS Gift Card from MyPoints, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks
• Week #4: $37.14 oop, Earned $12 ECB's, $7.99 MIR, and $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Grand Total OOP for April: $315.76
Total Earned: $147.55
Total Remaining: $15.76 over budget :(

Weekly Spending Report: 04/20-26/2014

Last week Joe and I stopped out to CVS and Giant on Sunday before my scheduled induction on Monday night.  Baby Rogers was born Tuesday evening - post coming to introduce him soon.  Here's what we ended up with for the week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $13.46 oop, Earned $12 ECB's
• Sunday's Giant Trip (no picture - 2 frozen pizzas, 2 tubs butter, 2 cups yogurt, bananas, 1 box cat litter): $23.68 oop, Earned $7.99 MIR for the Cat Litter
• Earned $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Total OOP: $37.14
Total Earned: $24.99
Total Remaining for April: $15.76 over budget - I blame the diapers!

Last Sunday's CVS Trip

Last week before going to the hospital to have Baby Rogers, Joe and I stopped into CVS to do the diaper deal, and pick up a few other awesome deals.  I also got my $5 ECB's pharmacy rewards when I scanned my card at the red coupon machine when we first arrived, so that was a nice surprise!  Here's what we ended up with...

2-20 oz Coke Zero $1.89 ea - $0.39 ea Sale - $1 ECB wyb 2 = 2/$2

1 Powerade $1.77 - $0.20 Sale - $1/1 CVS coupon = $0.57

2 pkgs Huggies Diapers $11.99 ea - $3 ea Sale - $3/1 MC x 2 - $1.50/1 CVS coupon +
1 pkg Huggies Wipes $3.99 - $1 Sale - $5 ECB wyb $20 = 3/$8.47
1 pkg CVS Diapers $12.79 - $1.80 Sale - $2/1 CVS coupon - $2 ECB's = $6.99
1 box Frosted Flakes Cereal $5.79 - $3.30 Sale - $0.75/1 MC - $1 ECB = $0.74
2 pkgs Ban Freshening Cloths $3.49 ea - Free Item MC x 2 - $3.49 MIR = 2 FREE + $3.49 Money-maker!
2-4 pks Scope To-go $3.49 ea - $3 ECB's x 2 = 2/$0.98
+ $2.21 Tax
- $4/$20 CVS Coupon
- $17.50 ECB's used to Pay
Total OOP: $13.46

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Apple Pie Bread

I love the combination of cinnamon and apples, it's just such a cozy flavor, and reminds me of sweaters and fire places.  It also brings to mind apple pie, which is more of a summer thing, especially topped with vanilla ice cream - yum-o!  Well, with this bread, you can have the taste of apple pie without the trouble of rolling out pie crusts, or worrying about your ice cream melting too quickly.  This bread requires a few more ingredients than I like to have in one recipe, but they are all things that I keep in my pantry on a regular basis, so it came together quickly, and was delicious.  I will tell you that it can dry out a little faster than other sweet breads, so you'll need to eat it quickly or freeze the second loaf for later use (which works beautifully).  I'm thinking about adding some applesauce to the batter next time and see if that helps.  So, here's how to whip up a wonderful loaf of Apple Pie bread,,,

3 c Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Ground Cloves

3 Eggs

1 c Oil (I use Sunflower)

1 1/4 c Brown Sugar (I use Raw)

1 c Sugar (I use Unrefined)

1 tbsp Vanilla Extract

2 c Chopped Apples (I used 2 Gala Apples)

3/4 c Chopped Pecans (Optional, I did not add these this time around, and it was still delicious)

1.) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Sift together the first set of ingredients (Dry); set aside.

2.) Beat eggs, oil, sugars, and vanilla until well combined.  Add flour (dry) mixture, to wet ingredients and beat well.

3.) Stir in apples (and pecans, if using), until well mixed.  Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans.  

4.) Baked in preheated oven for approximately an hour (oven temperatures do vary so make sure to check for doneness along the way).  Remove from oven and allow bread to cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing loaf to wire rack to cool completely.  Recipe makes 2 large loaves or 4-6 mini loaves (which bake in about 30-40 minutes)

Linked to Meal Planning Monday Recipe Link -up, Homestead Barn Hop, Homemade Mondays, Thrifty Thursday, Super Saturday Link Party, and One Project at a Time!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Chocolate Chip PB Muffins

Joe has loved having sweets in the house again, and I am glad to be feeling well enough to make them weekly.  For a while, I felt like being pregnant was misery, I'm finally getting to enjoy it.  These muffins whip up quick, and are very filling and delicious!  They also only use a few simple ingredients - always a plus!  They do dry out fairly quickly though (like in a couple of days), so I make the 24, and then freeze 12 to thaw later in the week.  This keeps everything nice and moist until it gets eaten.  Here's the DL on these wonderful muffins...

2 1/4 c Flour (I use unbleached)

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

2/3 c Light Brown Sugar

6 tbsp melted and cooled Unsalted Butter

1/2 c Creamy Peanut Butter

2 Eggs 

1 c Milk

3/4 c Chocolate Chips (I used milk, next time I'm going to try white)

1.) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease and flour muffin pan cups.

2.) Mix together dry ingredients (except chocolate chips), set aside.

3.) Mix together wet ingredients.  Blend in dry ingredients until just moistened.  Stir in chocolate chips.

4.) Scoop batter into muffin cups so they are about 2/3's full.  Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes, rotate pan, and bake another 10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  (this may vary based on your oven)

5.) Allow muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Store in an airtight container, or freeze for later enjoyment!

6.) Eat - these are tasty by themselves, or with a smear of butter, jam, or peanut butter on top :)

Linked to Homemade Mondays, Meal Planning Monday Recipe Link-up, Thrifty Thursday, One Project at a Time, the Super Saturday Link Party, and the Homestead Barn Hop!