Printable Coupons

Hey all, as I was looking back through older posts and saw that there was a request for coupons and deals, but I didn't see any links. So I thought I'd throw out one my sister Tori turned me on to. Google "mommy saves big" or go to http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/10/grocery-coupons.html On the general page click on printable coupons and then on the secondary page go to the left hand side-bar and click on the "grocery" tab. Scroll down. There are grocery store specific coupons, but there are also product specific coupons. So if you need Betty Crocker cake mix for a birthday bash, find Betty and see what she has available. Many of the coupons are ongoing as well so you can use them multiple times!

This site is also great for retail coupons as well, and with Christmas coming up a few discounts may save us all a bit leading to more holiday cheer :-)

Fall = Pumpkin

Great Pumpkin recipes to enjoy during the Fall season!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Make your favorite pancake recipe and add 1/2 cup pumpkin for ever 2 cups flour. Mix and make like you would normal pancakes. Serve with syrup!

Pumpkin Cookies and/or muffins

1 box of Spice Cake Mix (may need to add a little flour)
1 can of pumpkin
about 1/3 cup of butterscotch chips or chocolate chips

Directions:
Mix everything in a bowl & bake for cookies.

For cupcakes: fill paper cupcake holder 2/3 the way full (or however you would usually fill up a holder for muffins) bake at 325 for about 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Butter (from Better Homes & Garden)

4 cups Pumpkin Puree

1 1/4 cup pure mapke syrup

1/2 cup apple juice

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1. In a saucepan combine all ingredients. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Cook, uncovered on medium-low heat for 25 min or until thick. Remove from heat and cool.

2. To serve or ladle into airtight jars and refrigerate or freeze for later use. Leave 1/2-inch head space in the jars. Cover & store in refrigerator for a week or freeze up to 6 months.

Great on bread, pancakes & muffins.

Pumpkin Soup (received this recipe from a good friend-so yummy!)

Saute:
1 small onion, chopped
2 t. butter.

Add:
1 can broth.
Boil until soft. Purree. Return to pot with:
1 more can of broth.

Add: 1 14-oz can pumpkin
3/4 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/8 t. black pepper

Cook 10 minutes. At this point, you can refrigerate your mix until just before the meal.

Before your meal, add:
1 C heavy cream
Warm, but do not boil.

Serve with Croûtons

Chili Verde Soup

Recipe Here

Pork chops and Spaghetti

Tuesday Night Denver Dinner Post
Pork Chops over spaghetti with a fresh salad and sparkly juice.
My Grandparents, aka Grammie and Da, have recently moved to Colorado from Ohio and Jeff and I couldn't be happier to be closer to them and to get to see them on a weekly basis. Pictured above is actually a dinner they made and sent home with Jeff and I because we are poor college students (I love grandparents, so understanding and thoughtful :-). As is the case with everything they make it was really wonderful, and we are always greatful when they make extras for us.

If it sounds good to anyone I can get their recipe and post it later.

Chili

Monday Night Denver Dinner Post
Left over Turkey Chili with Cheddar Cheese and Frito's Scoops.To make this one, just substitute turkey burger with beef burger in the normal recipe :-)

Mac 'n' Cheese

Last Weeks Denver Dinner Post
(Sorry I'm a bit behind:-)

1 lb pasta
2 tbl butter
1 tbl olive oil
3 tbl flour
1.5 cups milk
1-2 cups sharp Cheddar
1-2 cups spicy jack
1/4 - 1/2 pkg cream cheese
S&P to taste

Boil Pasta per package instructions
Make a basic rue in the pan with oil, butter and flour. Allow flour to cook a minute before adding milk slowly, whisking as you add.
Allow sauce to thicken while pasta is cooking.
Drain pasta and set aside (do not rinse)
Add cheese to rue starting with cream cheese (as it is the thickest), then stir in remaining cheddar and jack using a figure eight or S stirring pattern to prevent clumps. Sauce should be thick and cheesy.
Add pasta and stir to coat. .
Serve hot off the stove ...or... pour mac 'n' cheese into a casserole dish, add breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese to the top and bake at 350 until top is golden and crispy.

Cake Mix Cookies

If you are looking for a quick cookie recipe-this is it! Plus, you should have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand. Simple and delicious!!

Ingredients:

Any flavor cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

Mix all together. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Minestrone Night!

Thank goodness for cool weather! Click HERE for the recipe.

Saucy Pork Chops...

So pretend the pic looks better. My daughter reminded me to take a picture after we'd already eaten most of the meal. I cut up the PORK CHOPS, which I don't normally do, but I forgot to take them out of the freezer until late. Also, I typically make these in a crockpot, but because of time, I baked them in a covered casserole dish at 350 for an hour and a half.

Mac 'N' Cheese

This is my best friend Stefanie's recipe and one of my favorites.

16oz pkg elbow macaroni noodles
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
16oz-18oz Sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
milk
bread crumbs (I like to use Italian bread crumbs)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Make the noodles per the instructions on the bag.

Sauce:

While the noodles are cooking, in a medium sauce pan put both cans of mushroom soup. Fill the empty cans about 3/4 of the way with milk and swish a round to get extra off sides then pour in pan. (I like to use a whisk when mixing sauce to keep out clumps and it from sticking to the bottom.) Bring to small boil then pour in 3/4 of the grated cheese and cook until cheese is melted.

Once the noodles and sauce is done pour both into a 9"x13" pan. Spread the rest of the grated cheese on top and sprinkle the bread crumbs over that (this will give it a nice top crust when baked).

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 mins or until cheese is melted and a little crispy.

Substitutions:

Noodles: You can use what ever kind of noodles you would like. Sometimes I use bowtie or shells. Also on occasion you come across character, ABC,etc noodles and these can be fun too.
Cheese: Sharp cheddar is the best but as I prefer Colby Jack, I mix together half sharp cheddar and half Colby jack.

Note: I got this recipe from my best friend Stef and her oldest son doesn't like the crust with bread crumbs so she does hers half sprinkled with cheese & bread crumbs and the other half with just cheese. Also, my hubby likes this with pork chops or by itself.

Mya and Lexi's Stroganoff

(Named by Jeff, Pepto Bismal Surprise, but only because of the color!)

1 1/2 lbs beef sliced thin (stir fry style)
1/2 yellow onion
1-2 cloves garlic
(optional 1 bunch sliced mushrooms)
1 tsp paprika
S&P to taste
1 large can crushed tomatos
3/4-1 cup sour cream
Butter Egg noodles

Saute meat and butter in a deep pan or skillet. Add onions once meat is browned, add garlic once onions are soft to prevent burning. Add can crushed tomatos over the top and use spoon to deglaze bottom of pan. add paprika, S&P. Simmer for 40 min (I never do this long but it's Mya's recipe first). Once cooked through reduce heat. Make noodles per pkg. Remove some of the hot sauce and add to sourcream to slowly bring up temp to prevent curdling. Once warm add cream to pan and combine. Poor over noddles and enjoy.

Pancetta!

I've posted this recipe before: Pancetta. Its tasty, cheap and most people love it. There's just enough on box for 2 adults and 2 kids to eat one large serving. (The pic above is our 4 year old's plate.) I'd double it for good eaters. :)