Easter Goodies

Have I ever mentioned I LOVE to bake? I usually only bake for other people as I don't like a lot of sweets enough to make an entire cake or something (an exception would be brownies - I could eat an entire pan by myself!).  So when I get the chance to make some baked goods I jump at it.  For our Easter Service on Sunday, we needed extra goodies for our hospitality table so I made a few things.  

I thought the sunflower cake turned out pretty well.  You can find the directions here but it was pretty easy.  I used a golden butter cake mix, baked in 2 circle pans.  Frost with chocolate frosting (you need 2 jars).  It takes 19 peeps - keeping them stuck together, slightly round them and stick them on the edge of the cake.  Use semi-sweet chocolate morsels and place in the middle for the "seeds" - this part was a bit meticulous, but not too bad. 

These were a PAIN!  I probably won't be making these for another year :)  They were soooo sticky!!  You make rice crispie treats as usual, but then use plastic eggs that have been sprayed with Pam (or Great Value Non-Stick Butter Flavored Spray like I did).  Fill each side of the egg and use your finger (I ended up going to the handle part of my butter knife because the mixture kept sticking to my fingers) and make an indention.  Let cool for a bit then fill with m&m's and stick them together.  You have to shape them a bit and fill the cracks. 

Hannah's preschool is having a fundraiser this weekend and I'm making some more goodies - anyone have any good ideas?

Monday Menu... on Tuesday

We were out at the zoo yesterday (a blog to come on that experience!) so I didn't have time to do this on Monday - oh well!

This week we're having:

Chicken enchiladas, rice and beans - I've been craving these for a few weeks now

Lasagna, garlic bread and a veggie - I haven't made one of these in YEARS! Hopefully we'll have leftovers for at least lunch the next day or dinner and then I won't have to make my roast!

Hot dogs, baked beans, fries perhaps and a veggie - we'll probably have these on Thursday (instead of soccer, Emma has a school play so we need something quick and easy to cook and clean up!)

French Toast Pancakes - Matt's dream is to open his own restaurant - this is one of his menu items 

Shrimp Lomein and Egg Rolls - I never made this a few weeks ago, so I guess we'll make it this week!

Roast - maybe I'll make it this week (the one I had for a few weeks ago ended up turning into pulled pork bbq and it was FANTASTIC!!  I went to check on the roast and it was so incredibly tender that it pulled right off the bone! We poured some bbq on it and it was probably the best bbq I've ever had!)

I've probably planned more than I needed to this week, but better prepared than not, huh?

What are you having this week?

Adventures in Couponing

I've never really been a "couponer".  I found that the coupons aren't usually for anything I "need" or the things I do need, they make me buy multiples when I only need one, or I prefer the store brand which is still cheaper than the national brand with the coupon.  But with a few tips from my sister and a few episodes of Extreme Couponing, I've decided to give it another go. 

I cut coupons for things we need or would want if the coupon makes it cheap enough.  I then compared it to the ads for the stores around us (Martins, Food Lion, Safeway - for some reason, I totally forgot to check Wal-Mart and that's where I do 85% of my shopping!).  Martins is the only store in Culpeper to double coupons, and they happened to have some pretty good deals coinciding with my coupons!  However, I didn't know they only doubled coupons up to .99 cents - NOT $1.  So I was hoping to save an extra $3, but lesson learned and they were still pretty good bargains for a first-time "couponer", imo!

So, Martins had General Mills cereal on sale for 2/$5 and then I had a $1 off two boxes making them $2/each! (I was thinking the coupon would be doubled and I would actually be getting them for $1.50/each)

Duncan Hines brownies were 2/$4 and I had a coupon for $1 off any two boxes.  I picked up marble and double fudge - mmmmmmm.  (Again, I was thinking the coupon would be doubled and it would $1/box)

Finally, we needed 3 different types of salad dressing this week!  Blue cheese for Matt, poppyseed for me (a new friend turned me onto this for sandwiches instead of mayo - scrumptious), and ranch for Hannah (and me when I'm having a weak moment).  Martins had Kraft dressing on sale for 3/$5 and I had a coupon for $1 off any two.  I'm not sure what that makes them (maybe 3/$4?), but still a bargain!

My total before my bonuscard savings was $20.45 and after my bonuscard and three coupons, I paid $11.35 including taxes.  I saved a total of $9.45 - almost half!!

I was pretty stoked despite my thinking that it was going to be $6.45 which would have been an even better steal - but I'm still pretty happy.  I do know that next time, I'll just get these same items at Wal-Mart, since Martin's sales price is the same as Wal-Marts everyday price and since Martin's doesn't double the $1 coupon, I could have saved myself a trip.

Happy Couponing!!

Monday Menu

We had a few nights of leftovers last week, so we have a few repeats from last week!  One day I'll realize I don't need to plan something for all 7 nights, since realistically I don't cook all 7 days!

Monday: BLT's

Tuesday: Pork chops

Wednesday: Burgers-n-fries

Thursday: Quick bite out between practices

Friday: Chicken enchiladas

Saturday: Pop's Pizza

Sunday: Hoppy Easter!

What are you having this week?

Book Challenge

Thanks to my good friend, Casey - I've been suckered into The Goodreads Book Challenge.  There are a ton of people participating and people have set really high goals. I, however, have decided on a measly 5 books.  I have always loved to read and have already read a lot but I don't really have time to read during school, so I'll only really be reading for pleasure over the summer.  I figured having 2 1/2 months months off for the summer will allow me to read 2 books a month and finish the challenge before the fall semester starts! I started a book, Crazy Love, over spring break but wasn't able to finish it - so I'm starting with that one first.  I'm hoping that the girls will see me reading more (and not just fat textbooks) and join in on the fun.

Will you join me in the challenge? 

Monday Meal Plan

It's Monday again!  Here's whats on the menu for the Elliott's this week:

BLT's - made from farm fresh bacon from my mom and step-dad's farm!  

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches - slow cooked all day and then drenched in Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ sauce!

Tacos - hard and soft shell tacos made with restaurant-style taco seasoning! We'll have rice and beans on the side! You can correctly guess that the beef is from that same farm again!  Yummy!

Pork chops - again, farm fresh from the Norma Lee Ranch!  I'm not sure how I'll cook these since they are a bit thicker than the ones I like to fry!

Burgers -n-Fries - for someone who LOVES red meat, I don't like homemade hamburgers, so frozen it is!  They are still tasty with a tidge of pepper sprinkled on top!

Drive-thru run - On Thursdays, Emma has soccer 45 minutes after gymnastics lets out.  So we usually hit the Chick-fil-a drive-thru and eat at the field while we wait for practice to start.   This week, we may do Chick-fil-a again, we may rebel and try something else.  Oh, and if it rains, which it has for 3/5 past Thursdays, something will be thrown together at home!

What are you having this week?

Meal Plan Monday

OK, ok - I'll post my menu for the week!  The last few weeks haven't been anything to post about (and I'm not so sure today is any different :)  But anywho, this is what we're having this week!

General Tao's Chicken, Sweet-n-Sour Chicken & Egg rolls - it's not your typical take out. Aldi makes a fabulous frozen Chinese dinner, and I've been craving it.  It's quick, easy and requires no clean up - my kind of dinner on busy weeknights!

Banana Pancakes - I told you we have breakfast quite a bit for dinner.  I'll most likely have to make "plain" pancakes for the rest of the picky eaters in my house, but I'll be chowing on some banana pancakes and reminiscing on my childhood when my Mom would make these for dinner!

Kielbasa/Mac-n-cheese skillet - another crafty Kraft Foods recipe.  The family gave it rave reviews last time and its another quick and easy dinner.  Those tend to top my list!

Roast - my Mom brought us some meat from their farm so I can't wait to put this in the crockpot with some potatoes and carrots (and a few other things)

Ravioli with marinara sauce - served with some veggies and garlic bread!

What are you having for dinner??