SERIOUSLY SIMPLE TIPS
-Can't find your computer screen wipe or LCD screen wipes, use a coffee filter.
-Want to make uniform hamburger patties? Use jar lids from peanut butter or mayonnaise. Line with cellophane to make it easier.
SAVE MONEY SAVE TIME
When school is back in session, you might think that you are going to have more time since the kids are back in school. The reality often is that as we are juggling a new schedule and new responsibilities for the kids. Time can get away from us, and when it comes to dinner, that can be costly financially and health wise as we race to grab fast foods, pizza or even quick frozen dinners. For the sake of saving some money and time, I have found some really simple recipes that you can make with a little advanced planning (browning extra ground beef, freezing chicken in sections for meals, making large batches of beans, etc.). This isn't about cooking a month's worth of meals over the weekend, because frankly, I don't have that kind of time nor do I have that kind of space (no extra freezer). I am not suggesting all of these items for the next week or so. If you make a point of having certain items on hand, you don't have to wrack your brains on those mornings that you know you aren't going to have the luxury of time.
BLACK BEANS
Black Beans (2 cups of dry will cook up to about 6 cups) I like this recipe from The Kitchn though I add a teaspoon of garlic to mine. I freeze them in several bags to use in any of these recipes.
1 - Black Bean Quesadilas -Here's a simple recipe from Whole Foods Market. Jazz it up with a bit of the meat from the crock pot chicken tacos or even chop up one of the meat balls in the recipe below.
2 - Simple Black Bean soup from Food.com (a lot like Panera Bread's Black Bean Soup).
3 - Black Bean Enchiladas - This recipe is from Taste of Home. I use corn tortillas instead of wheat, because they are inexpensive and we always have them on hand for quick meals.
CHICKEN
Sale on chicken? Separate and freeze whatever kind you get and work into any of the following crock pot recipes:
1 - Crock Pot Chicken Tacos (This recipe is from Dashing Dish) The only thing that I would do differently is use whatever chicken is on sale. Thighs will be cheaper and tastier. This is a recipe that you can measure out the ingredients into a freezer bag and just load into the crock pot in the morning and cook on low.
2 - Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe - Jeanette's Healthy Living has a great recipe and she has a super idea for putting the chicken on a sweet potato.
3 - BBQ Chicken Pizza- Use part of the chicken from the above recipe and follow this Food Network recipe for the toppings and follow this Old World Pizza recipe for dough from Taste of Home.
4 - Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken - This recipe from Who Needs A Cape is really amazing and super easy to make.
GROUND BEEF or GROUND TURKEY
When ground beef is on sale or even ground turkey, consider some of these recipes that you can make by starting simply with meatballs.
Meatballs - This recipe is from The Meatball Shop. Most of the recipes I have shared are for slow cookers. You do have to bake these first. I don't fully follow this recipe as I do not like to add sauce because it limits me later. Once the meatballs are made simply freeze them into the serving sizes that will work for you.
1 - Meatball Grinder w/ Sausage & Peppers -Add frozen meatballs to crock pot with sauce, peppers (you can buy a frozen pepper and onion blend at Fry's for $1) and Italian sausage. Pile on a sub roll.
2 - Meatball sliders (microwave a bowl of frozen meatballs and place in dinner rolls with cheese & burger fixings.
3 - Mini Meatball Sliders (use the left over meatballs that were cooked in crock pot with sausage & peppers).
4 - Sweet & Sour Meatballs - Got kids? If so you probably have grape jelly. Follow this recipe at All Recipes to make the Sweet & Sour Sauce for the meatballs that you haven't sauced. Add to rice with pineapple chunks and pea pods.
And of course, of course, of course, brown some ground beef and onions (you can even buy those frozen and pre-chopped at Fry's) and freeze several batches for a base for:
1 - Tacos - Follow this link for the taco seasoning recipe you can make yourself.
2 - Chili - (great by the bowl, on a baked potato, or with pasta)
3 - Meat Sauce for pasta (no need for a recipe just add to tomato sauce)
FREE SAMPLE
While supplies last head over to this Garnier Facebook link for a free sample of Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo (the link is in the description below the picture on the Facebook page).
FREE EBOOKS (Remember that these books were free at the time of my posting. Always look at the price before downloading as it can change at any time).
A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr - Bethany House Publishers (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM) (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE)
Heaven Hears by Lindy Boone Michaels - Tyndale House Publishers Inc (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM) (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE)
Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman -River North Publisher (AMAZON) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)
GROCERIES
FRY'S
Pork Loin Back Ribs or St. Louis Style Ribs Buy 1 get 2 Free ($7.99 lb)
Mini Seedless Watermelon 2/$3
Fry's Water 24 pack 16.9 oz Bottles $1.99
Broccoli or Cauliflower 99 cents lb
Iceberg, Romaine, Red or Green Leaf Lettuce 99 cents
ALBERTSONS
Pork Loin Back Ribs Previously Frozen Buy 1 Get 3 Free ($8.99 lb)
New Crop Sweet Corn 8/$1 (first 8, additional 3/$1)
Blue Bell Ice Cream $2.99 (limit 2)
Tilapia Filets Buy 1 Get 3 Free ($9.99 lb)
Honeydew Melon 49 cents lb
SAFEWAY
Farmer John Breakfast Links 4/$5
Green Onions, Cilantro or Red Radishes 2/$1
Lucerne butter 16 oz Salted or Unsalted 2/$5 (Friday only)
StarKist Solid White Tuna 5 oz Selected Varieties 5/$5
Navel Oranges $1.49 lb
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