3 Dinners in 30mins

Well 30mins prep time that is. I don't know why I don't do this more often.....I spent 30-40 minutes in the kitchen and had 3 dinners almost done. I made burger patties, meatballs and the guts of a shepherd's pie. We ate the burgers that night, the meatballs the following night and I froze the guts of the shep's pie for another time.

Delicious burgers, I love BBQ!!

Shepherd's Pie. We haven't had this yet so who knows if we'll like it or not!!

Shepherd's Pie

1lb Ground Beef (I used Elk)

4C Mixed Frozen Veggies of Choice

2T Flour

3/4C Beef Broth

2T Ketchup

1 Box Instant Mashed Potatoes - plain

Butter - to taste

Sour Cream - to taste

1/2C Shredded Cheddar - divided

Brown/drain burger. Stir in flour, cook 1-2mins. Add veggies, broth and ketchup cook another 5mins.

Prepare potatoes as directed stir in butter, sour cream and some cheese to taste.

Spoon meat mixture into 8x8 and cover with mashed potatoes. Bake @ 375* for 20 mins, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake another few minutes until cheese is melted.

**To freeze just prepare meat mixture, cool completely then refrigerate overnight before putting it in the freezer.

Yum, these were awesome. A little sweet for a main dish but still very good.

Meatballs

1lb Ground Meat of Choice (turkey, beef - I used Elk)

1/4C Onion - diced

1 Egg White

1/4C Seasoned Bread Crumbs (I used Italian)

1tsp Thyme

1 Clove Garlic - minced/pressed

1/2tsp Salt

Combine all ingredients. Mix gently but well. Shape into small balls. Place in single layer into baking dish (I used a stoneware pan). Bake @ 400* for 15mins.

Sauce

1 Can Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1/4C Ketchup

1/4C Orange Marmalade

2T Brown Sugar - packed

1T Worcestershire Sauce

In small bowl combine all ingredients and mix well. It took me awhile to get all the chunks mixed well. I used a fork to mash and mix then switched to a wisk.

Remove meatballs from oven, drain grease. Pour sauce over meatballs and gently mix. Bake another 15mins. Stirring again before serving.

Girls Crocs for $7.99

Super cute purple mary janes on sale/shipped for only $7.99!! Yea for cheap shoes!!

Go to crocs.com, search for mary janes and once you add it to your cart the price will drop from $9.99 to $7.99.

What can you get for $10.23?

This is what I got:) Albertsons is having a great cereal sale this week. I got all the coupons from the newspaper inserts and used their "double your manufacturer" coupons that were in the ad this week.

(10boxes of cereal, 2lg bottles of bubbles, 2sm bottles of bubbles, face scrub, Easter plates and napkins) Spent $10.23 and Saved $38.59

Oh and lucky me, I still have $4 to spend at Albertsons!!

Incase you were starting to wonder if the only things we eat are cereal, granola bars and fruit snacks.....I do buy lots of fruits and veggies too. They just aren't nearly as exciting as 10 boxes of cereal! Every week I shop different stores for the best deals on produce and typically end up going to 3 stores to get all the best deals.

Chicken Bruschetta Bake

Another picture.....'doesn't do it justice dish'! This was really good and super easy....only 7 ingredients counting water. I'm pretty sure I got this recipe from Kraft Foods, but I can't remember.

Chicken Bruschetta Bake

1 1/2lb Chicken Breasts - cut into bite size pieces

1 Pkg (60z) Stove Top for Chicken

1 Can (14.5oz) Diced Tomatoes - do not drain

1/2C Water

2 Cloves Garlic - minced/pressed

1tsp Dried Basil *I used Italian Seasoning*

1C Mozzarella - shredded

Combine stuffing, tomatoes w/juice, water and garlic in bowl. Mix well and set aside until moistened, about 5 minutes.

Place chicken in bottom of 13x9, sprinkle with cheese and basil or italian seasoning. Top with stuffing mixture and bake @ 400* for 30minutes.

Safeway Rx

If you have a prescription you typically fill somewhere other than Safeway....now is a good time to switch and get a $30 gift card for buying something you already needed!! In their ad that came out last Wednesday there is a coupon (Transfer a Rx, get a $30 gift card) and it doesn't expire until March 30th. So dig in your bingy and find that coupon.....who doesn't need $30 in free groceries

Walgreens Trip

Another successful trip to Walgreens!! And I even took the kids with me:)

The free toothpaste that started it all....Transaction 1:

Sale Price $3.99 -$1 Coupon = $2.99 and received a $4 RR

2nd transaction.....

Shampoo @ $2.49 (in ad coupon) -$1 Coupon = $1.49

Conditioner @ $2.49 (in ad coupon) -$1 Coupon = $1.49

NyQuil/DayQuil @ $5each -$6 in Coupons = $14

2 Chocolate Bunnies @ $.39ea = $.78

-$4 RR from 1st transaction

= $13.76 and received a $10RR

*Did you notice the only things I really paid for here was the medicine?? The Ny/DayQuil total was $14 but the whole transaction was only $13.76:) Good deals, I love them!

** And if you're wondering why I'd buy 4 boxes of medicine.....they don't expire until Sept 2012 and that is how I earned the $10 RR in this transaction.

Last Transaction.....

3 Bottles Sunscreen @ $6.99each = $20.97

-$10 RR from 2nd transaction

=$10.97 and received a $8 RR

*I'm so glad that sunscreen season is here!! And at $3.65 a bottle, that's a steal! So the $8RR was just an added bonus!

Oh and I I found all the coupons (for all 3 transactions) in the newspaper inserts over the last couple weeks. And these items are on sale through Saturday.

Soooo all said and done I saved $46.70 and I still have $8 to spend later!! I think I'll watch Sundays ad and hopefully the Easter Bunny will be able to cash in on some good deals:)

Mushroom Burgers

I've always wanted to try these but never have. Anytime I see a portobello mushroom burger on a menu, I come super close to getting it but am always afraid of being disappointed....no need to fear that anymore. These were delicious!! I will definitely order one out now. Oh and I found this recipe in the Cook This Not That book, I'm still loving this book!!

Mushroom Burgers

4 Large Portobello Caps - stems removed

4 Buns (potato, whole grain, onion etc) - lightly toasted

1/4C Shredded Mozzarella

Red Onion - sliced & rings separated (if grilling onions do not separate rings)

Lettuce

2T Mayo

1/4C Roasted Red Pepper - chopped fine (I didn't have roasted so used fresh)

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

1 Clove Garlic - minced

1T Olive Oil

1T Balsamic Vinegar

1tsp Italian Seasoning

Dash Salt & Pepper

Combine mayo, lemon juice, red peppers and garlic in small bowl. Mix well.

Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir and rub into mushrooms, both sides.

Heat grill or grill pan, med/high. Grill mushrooms cap side down for about 3mins. Flip and top with mozzarella, grill another 3mins or until mushrooms are fully cooked and cheese is melted. While mushrooms are cooking grill or saute onions until they are slightly browned.

Spread bottom bun with mayo mixture, add lettuce, mushroom cap, onions and top bun. Serve immediately.

Balsamic Steaks w/Onions and Mushrooms

Its hard to go wrong with steak and potatoes.....add bleu cheese, onions, mushrooms and a balsamic sauce and it's even better!

Balsamic Steaks:

4 Steaks of Choice - salt and peppered & grilled to perfection

1/4C Bleu Cheese - crumbled

Mushrooms - 8oz or more - sliced or chunked

Red Onion - sliced and rings separated

While the steaks are grilling saute (over med/high heat) the mushrooms and onions in a bit of olive oil until they're slightly browned, 10 mins or so. I use 2 different pans, the onions seem to take a little longer to cook. If you have a grill basket you could do the mushrooms/onions in that also....drizzle them with a bit of olive oil and toss to coat. Preheat your grill basket for a few minutes, toss in the mushrooms/onions and grill about 7mins. Shake basket/gently stir and grill another 7mins or so.

Balsamic Sauce:

2/3C Balsamic Vinegar

1T Olive Oil

1 Clove Garlic - minced

Combine ingredients in bowl. Microwave on high, uncovered for 6-8 minutes....it will boil/bubble etc so make sure there is enough room in your bowl for that to happen. The sauce will thicken, become syrupy and reduce to about a 1/4C. You could also do this in a small pot on the stove.

Place steak on plate, top with mushrooms and onions. Sprinkle with crumbled bleu cheese and drizzle with a bit of the balsamic sauce.

Easy Sanwiches

Use the leftover avocado mix from this or the ranch mix from this along with veggies and thin sandwich bread and you'll get these delicious sandwiches for lunch. They're low calorie, easy to make and way better than PB&J!!

I used the ranch mix on this one with turkey, tomato, cucumber, julienned carrots, mushrooms, red onion and sprouts. But they would be good with anything. I love these sandwich thins and they're only 100 calories!!

Chicken and Veggie Sandwiches

I love this recipe. The cream cheese/ranch mix is delicious and you can use it for so many other things too. We typically use it for sandwiches and wraps (here's the wrap version of this).

Chicken and Veggie Sandwiches

4 small Chicken Breasts

Bread/Buns of Choice (sourdough slices, french rolls etc)

4oz Cream Cheese (fat free is fine) - softened

1T Milk

1 Packet Ranch Dressing Mix

1 Clove Garlic - minced

1 Medium Carrot - cut into julienne strips

Cucumber Slices

Tomato Slices

Red Onion Slices

Alfalfa Sprouts

Avocado Slices

In small bowl combine cream cheese, milk, garlic and 2tsp of ranch mix. Mix well.

Sprinkle chicken evenly with remaining ranch mix (you might not use the entire packet) and grill until cooked through. Refrigerate to cool slightly.

Spread bottom bread with cream cheese mixture. Top mixture with cucumber, tomato, carrots, chicken (if breasts are thick you may want to cut them in half lengthwise), red onion, sprouts, avocado and top bun.

Mango

Here's an easy way to cube a mango:

Stem end up, stand mango on cutting board. Slice vertically on the (flatter side) about 1/2" away from stem to avoid the seed. Repeat on opposite side. Using tip of knife score (do not slice through the skin) the flesh in a crisscross pattern.

Bend the mango so the cubes are raised up. Run your knife under the cubes to release them from the skin.

Chicken and Mango Salad

Signs of a well stocked kitchen.......you can make this salad and only have to purchase lettuce and mango:) This was a big hit at my Book Club, we all liked it. It was even better than I was expecting.

Chicken and Mango Salad

Dressing:

3T Apricot Preserves

2T Cider Vinegar

2t Olive Oil

2T Sugar

1/4tsp Salt

1/8tsp Pepper

Salad:

2 Chicken Breasts - cooked/sliced

1 Package Salad or Baby Spinach

1/2C Red Pepper - diced

1 Mango - cut into cubes

1/4 of a Red Onion - sliced/diced or wedged

2 Hard Boiled Egg Whites - diced

1/4C Sliced Almonds - lightly toasted

Combine dressing ingredients in small bowl, mix well. In large bowl combine all salad ingredients and drizzle with dressing. Toss to coat and serve immediately.

*Can be made ahead - up to 4 or 5 hours. If making ahead to not add the almonds or dressing until ready to serve.

Breakfast for Dinner

Wow, this is one of the best recipes I've tried in a long time....it quickly became my new favorite breakfast for dinner food! I found the recipe in the Cook This, Not That book by David Zinczeko and Matt Goulding. The book is amazing, so many yummy recipes and all of them are low calorie.

Sunrise Breakfast Sandwich

1tsp Olive Oil

2 Eggs

Salt/Pepper to taste

2 Slices Deli Turkey

2 Slices Cheese

2 Slices Tomato

2 Slices Red Onion

2 English Muffin - split and lightly toasted

1/2 Avocado

1/2T Sour Cream

1/2tsp Lemon Juice

Pinch of Salt

**In small bowl smash avocado slightly and add sour cream, lemon juice and salt. Mix well.

Heat oil in non stick skillet over med heat until hot. Add eggs and gently fry until the white is set but the yolk is still runny.

Place turkey on microwave save plate and top with cheese. Microwave 30-45 seconds until turkey is hot and cheese is melted.

On the bottom half of the english muffin place onion, tomato, turkey, cheese, and egg. Smear top of english muffin with avocado mixture and top the sandwich. Serve immediately.

I heart Albertsons

Another successful shopping trip!! I heart Albertsons, sales and coupons!!

15 Boxes of Fruit Snacks: Spent $3.50, Saved $30.85

4 Lean Pockets, 1 Bagel Bites, 2 Lean Cuisine, 4 Juice, 6 cans Tuna, 2 Pringles, 1 Frozen Potatoes, 1 Salad, 1 Onion, 2 Mangos and 1 Sandwich Thins

Spent: $14.65, Saved $36.57

Now that's a lot of food for only $18.15!!

Turkey and Avocado Wraps

The picture just doesn't do this justice, it was absolutely delicious!! I made another one today for lunch. How can you go wrong with turkey, tortilla, avocado and a bunch of veggies?! I've mentioned before my love of tortillas.....just another way to serve them!!

Turkey and Avocado Wraps

6 Flour Tortillas

1 Avocado - halved/peeled

1T Sour Cream

1/2tsp Lemon Juice

1/8tsp Salt

8oz Turkey Slices - thin deli slices

1/4-1/2C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Tomato - seeded/diced

3 Green Onions - diced

1/2 Cucumber - sliced thin & cut in half

2-3 Slices Red Onion - sliced thin & separated

1 package Salad Sprouts (clover or alfalfa)

Avocado Slices

6 Mushrooms - sliced

In small bowl slightly mash the avocado, add sour cream, salt and lemon juice and stir/smash until mixed well. Split mixture between tortillas and spread evenly within 1/4" of the edges. Top tortillas with spouts, turkey, veggies and cheese. Roll and eat.

These can be a little messy, try not too put too much of any one ingredient on each tortilla or you'll never get it to roll up....yes that did happen to me!!

Baked Spaghetti

So easy and a little better than plain old spaghetti. I typically make this with leftover spaghetti and/or leftover sauce. I am happy to report that all that spaghetti sauce I made has now been used up but I do have a few dinners of baked spaghetti left now:)

Baked Spaghetti

Pasta Noodles of Choice

Pasta Sauce of Choice (here's mine)

Shredded Mozzarella

**as much or as little as you need

Cook noodles as directed. Warm sauce. Combine cooked noodles with sauce and put into baking dish top with shredded cheese and bake at 350* or so until the cheese is melted.

If you're cooking from leftover and your spaghetti is cold. Cover with foil before baking. Then bake at 350* for 20 - 30 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 5 - 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Chicken with Avocado Salsa

This was really good. I loved the avocado salsa....you could use it in so many different ways. With fish, chicken, chips....the possibilities are endless:)

Chicken with Avocado Salsa

4 Chicken Breasts - boneless/skinless

2tsp Blackened Steak Seasoning

3T Olive Oil - divided

2T Rice Vinegar

1/4tsp Cumin

1/8tsp Salt

Dash of Black Pepper

1 Avocado - halved/peeled/diced

1 Can Tropical Fruit Salad (papaya & pineapple) - drain & dice

1/3C Red Pepper - diced

3T Red Onion - diced

**You may not need the entire can of tropical fruit salad. Use as much or as little as you'd like. I didn't add the pineapple in mine either, I just used the different colors of papaya.

**To dice an avocado: Cut in half, twist it to pull apart if needed. Remove seed. Without piercing the skin slice the avocado (in skin) lengthwise, repeat crosswise. Scoop out with a spoon. And presto diced avocado.

Lightly sprinkle chicken with blackened seasoning. In large (ovenproof) skillet heat 1T olive oil over med heat. Cook chicken until browned, turning once. Bake chicken @ 375* for about 15 minutes or until done.

In large bowl whisk together rice vinegar, remaining olive oil, cumin, salt and black pepper. Stir in avocado, papaya/pineapple and sweet pepper. Mix well. Serve over chicken.