Kitchen Treasures:Let’s Get Smokin!
Kitchen Treasures
There are truly a lot of great resources out there for finding household bargins for your family. For a long time now, I’ve been wanting to purchase a smoker. Real good ones can run way over $500. In reality, I’d rather spend the $500 on a family trip or something the whole family would enjoy. I have used the Weber BBQ to smoke meats but just think how fun a smoker would be. Freecycle is another great resource for families to find the items they need. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Let’s Get Smokin!
Last week, I put a “Wanted” ad on freecyle for a smoker. A couple of days ago, someone responded that they were given a brand new smoker and they never used it. Jackpot! Yesterday, my husband pick up this brand new smoker with cover in perfect condition. It’s a Brinkmann Gourmet Charcol Smoker and Grill. Generally, these smokers run around $100. It couldn’t come at a better time too. We have a 3-day weekend coming up and I was thinking of smokin some ribs. Truly a great find in my opinion.
There are certainly a lot of tempting recipes that I’d like to try. I’ll share more with you once I actually put this smoker to use.
I love when I find deals like this one!
What are some of your Kitchen Treasure finds?
Real Moms Love To Eat
Yesterday, I was introduced to a new site that has some really good information on how Moms like us can create wonderful healthy meals with organic foods and make the right food choices with our family meals. Beth Aldrich is a subscriber to my A Busy’s Mom’s Kitchen e-newsletter and introduced herself to me. It is a pleasure to meet Beth and I look forward to viewing more of her website.
So far, I’ve enjoyed reading some of Beth’s posts and suggestions on healthy foods. Beth is writing a wonderful book with a 21-day healthy eating section due out I believe early next year. She has asked to feature my Harvest Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup recipe. This is very exciting and truly an honor. I appreciate the wonderful feedback on my site and recipes Beth has given me. I’ll keep you all posted on the book, it will be one I’ll add to my collection….But in the meantime, visit Beth at Real Moms Love To Eat by clicking the link below:
Check out the recipe for Sexy Raw Lasagna. Think I might make this for dinner soon!
Do you have any neat healthy websites that you visit?
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.com.
Visit my new Amazon Kitchen Store for some of my recommeneded appliances, storage and kitchen needs along with some of my favorite cookbooks and aprons to help you with your family meal planning. For high quality kitchen tools for your kitchen, visit www. NoelsKitchen.com
Would you like to join our growing Family Cooking Club? Share recipes and tips with others? Join the Family Meals Matter Cooking Club on Facebook.
Finally A New Theme Kitchen!
So I’ve been debating over the past few months on a new kitchen theme. I wanted to freshen up the kitchen and give my readers a fresh new insight on all of my kitchen ideas, recipes, family life, add some cooking videos and more. This theme was designed after a recent blog critic so my designer and I shared some ideas and she did an amazing job. Thank you Christa! Need a blog lift, visit Christa at Jensen Designs. She’s affordable, communicates very well with her customers, (I dislike when I have to wait for days or don’t hear back from a designer.) and she does an amazing job!
Feel free to leave a comment on what you think of the new design. I’d love to hear from you!
I have more fun ideas coming up and a lot more frugal and easy recipes for busy families coming up a little later so come back and visit the kitchen soon. Can you imagine making a week’s worth of meals for just $100 grocery shopping trip? Stay tuned…..
In the meantime, don’t forget to get your Friday Freebie at Raley’s. This Friday, Saturday or Sunday, spend $10 at Raley’s and get a 3 lb. bag of Raley’s Fresh Apples! Available with online coupons only. Limit 1 per customer.
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.com.
Visit my new Amazon Kitchen Store for some of my recommeneded appliances, storage and kitchen needs along with some of my favorite cookbooks and aprons to help you with your family meal planning. For high quality kitchen tools for your kitchen, visit www. NoelsKitchen.com
Would you like to join our growing Family Cooking Club? Share recipes and tips with others? Join the Family Meals Matter Cooking Club on Facebook.
Healthy Snacks On The Run
This morning I woke up feeling energized and refreshed after a relaxing weekend. This week, it’s back to the office and kitchen with a busy schedule.
Having that busy schedule, means I need to make sure I keep up my energy eating healthy snacks in between meals.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a healthy snack. Apples, carrots, celery, mangos, blueberries, kiwis and pomegranates are all great. These can also be made into juices or smoothies, of course.
Aside from fresh fruits, I also like to choose organic dried fruits and nuts. These can be purchased individually or in trail mixes. As with other foods, there is a wide variety of quality when it comes to things like dried fruits and trail mixes. When I do my grocery shopping, I look for dried fruits and nuts that are on sale so I can make my own trail mix.
One traditional snack food I enjoy that is not usually considered healthy is popcorn. Popcorn can always be a good snack food, if it’s popped naturally and is not topped offr with an artificial butter substitute. Start with organic popcorn, pop it either using an air popper or a traditional popper or pan, using a healthy oil such as canola or sunflower. Top moderately with sea salt and, if you need the butter flavor, a small amount of organic butter or, better still, clarified butter.
These are a few healthy snack food ideas that I enjoy, do you have any favorites?
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.com.
Visit my new Amazon Kitchen Store for some of my recommeneded appliances, storage and kitchen needs along with some of my favorite cookbooks and aprons to help you with your family meal planning. For high quality kitchen tools for your kitchen, visit www. NoelsKitchen.com
Would you like to join our growing Family Cooking Club? Share recipes and tips with others? Join the Family Meals Matter Cooking Club on Facebook.
Friday Freebies and Savings At The Grocery Store
After browsing through some of our local grocery store ads, I thought I’d share with you some great shopping finds. I’ll list them store by store so they will be easier to ad to your grocery list. Please be sure to check your pantry first before you go shopping.
Raley’s is having a Weekend Sale this Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Here’s are the specials:
- Triple Sweet Corn 5 for$1
- 2 Lbs. Juicy Bluberries $3.97 each
- Personal Watermelon 2 for $4
- Kellogg’s Super Sale!: Only $1.99 each when you buy 10-Mix & Match~AND when you buy 10 advertised Kellogg’s products, you’ll get a $10 coupon valid at your next visit!
- Bumble Bee Tuna $0.99
- Ronzoni Pasta $0.99
Safeway is offering great savings along with Super Price Coupons! From Wednesday, July 28th thru Saturday July 31st with a $10 minimum purchase. Here are the top deals:
- Fresh Foster Farms Whole Chicken $0.79 lb
- Sunworld Superior Green Seedless Grapes $0.69 lb
- “O” Organics Salad Blends or Kits Buy One, Get One FREE
- Lucerne Large Eggs 12-ct $0.99 w/coupon, limit 2
- Lucerne Cheese-String or Sticks $2.49 w/coupon, limit 3
- Safeway Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 4lb bag $1.99
- Safeway Macaroni & Cheese $0.49 each
- Ragu Pasta Sauce 2 for $3
I realize that many of you may not have these two grocery stores in your area. This is something new I’d like to try doing weekly for all of you in hopes of offering you more savings each week on your grocery and household needs. Each week, I’ll research different grocery stores to find savings and highlight those stores.
What are some of your grocery store finds for the week?
Happy Friday Friends!
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.com.
Visit my new Amazon Kitchen Store for some of my recommeneded appliances, storage and kitchen needs along with some of my favorite cookbooks and aprons to help you with your family meal planning. For high quality kitchen tools for your kitchen, visit www. NoelsKitchen.com
Would you like to join our growing Family Cooking Club? Share recipes and tips with others? Join the Family Meals Matter Cooking Club on Facebook.
A Busy Mom Planning Meals:What’s New In The Kitchen
For the past few days, I’ve been working on new ideas for the Spring Menu and moving through into the month of May, introducing new tasty dishes along with some of the old. The April Spring Podcast has been postponed for a bit until my voice fully recovers, there seems to be a small frog in the kitchen. I will soon have some tasty menu ideas for you to try in the kitchen for family meal times next week. So be sure and check back.
In the mean time, be sure to check out my some of my recent posts at Eccentric WAHM, I’m sharing with readers:
Sweet Facts And Tasty Tips On Chocolate
How To Choose The Perfect Knife For Your Kitchen
Meal Planning:UnExpected Guests Emergency Planning
Meal Planning On A Small Budget
Highlights
Yesterday was Day 10 for my Amish Friendship Bread, I’ll be baking a different variety using different puddings, nuts, cranberries and raisins and I’ll be making some sourdough loaves from the Sourdough Starter I made. Both types of bread are easy to make and perfect for freezing and pulling out when you need them.
As a busy mom, facing the day to day challenges in the kitchen can be a bit overwhelming. I’ll be sharing some new kitchen ideas and tips and highlighting on some of the old. It’s going to be exciting!
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.
Would you like to join our Family Cooking Club? Share recipes and tips with others? Join the Family Meals Matter Cooking Club on Facebook.
Sign up for my newsletter and get recipes, menu ideas, cooking tips and more delivered directly to you!
Noel’s Kitchen Smarts: Make The Most Of Your Fruit!
Fruit Facts:
Have you ever gotten excited when you start seeing that succulent fresh summer fruit arrive at your local grocery store, fruit stand or farmer’s market? This often translates into purchasing before we know exactly how and when we are going to enjoy the recent arrived bounty. To help you know the best way to keep and enjoy our finest finest summer fruit, please note the following tips.
How to test for Ripeness:
Place a piece of fruit in the palm of your hand and squuze gently. If the fruit has some “give” and it smells sweet, it is ready for you to enjoy… on its own or as part of your favorite recipe or smoothie. If you must wait, store ripe fruit in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
Ripening your Fruit;
Place unripened fruit into a paper bag and close it loosely. Keep the bag at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. The paper bag will encourage the fruit’s natural maturing process. A plastic bag, however, will trap moisture and air which will cause premature spoilage, so always use paper bags.
Storing Fruit
Most fruit, upon achieving proper ripeness, requires refrigeration to maintain its freshness. You should store different varieties of fruit seperately, as storing them together will encourage spoilage. In fact, a fruit bowl filled with all the lovely colors of fruit will spoil fart more quickly than almost any otrher storage method!
Washing Fruit
You should not wash fruit prior to storing it. By washing it, you are striping away some of the natural protections in the skins which allow the fruit to store longer. Once you are ready to eat the fruit, wash it under clean, running tap water–even if you won’t be eating the fruit’s skin.
Now, go out and enjoy all those lucious summer fruits–knowing exactly how to get the most for your fruit-buying dollars!
Noel’s Kitchen Smarts: Featured Recipe Mean Bean Casserole
Kitchen Smarts: Featured Recipe & Tips: Beans
Buy beans from a busy market with a steady turnover. Freshness does count, even for dried beans. Older ones will tend to take longer to cook.
To Store:
Transfer dried beans to a glass jar and stick a couple of dried Chile peppers in with them. The chilies will keep any pantry bugs from invading your beans.
To Sort & Rinse:
Spread beans out in a single layer and pick out any shriveled or discolored beans. Dump beans into a large bowl or stock pot of water and swirl around. Discard any beans that float to the top. Drain.
To Soak:
Cover rinsed and sorted beans with 4 times the volume of cold water and set aside for 6-8 hours or overnight, until beans have doubled in size. When one is cut open, it should be moist all the way through. Drain and cook as desired. Note: Lima and Pinto beans do not generally need soaking.
Featured Recipe-Mean Bean Casserole
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
2 apples
2 medium onions
4 slices bacon
1/2 jalapeno, diced
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 large can pork and beans
Directions:
Peel and dice apples and onions. In a skillet, add ground beef, apples, onions, jalapeno and diced bacon and sauté until onions become translucent. Add barbecue sauce, pork and beans and cook until hot throughout. Serve!
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