Weekly Dinner Menu:September 6-10, 2010
It’s been awhile since I’ve put together a weekly dinner menu online, we were a little laid back on the menus during the summer but now that school is back in session, it’s time to start focusing on routines, homework, menus and more.
Over the weekend, we enjoyed a huge treasure outing. First, we started off with the 30th Annual Labor Day Weekend Yard Sale at the Sierra Presbyterian Church. Throughout the day, we stopped in to check out the small thrift shops. Usually the first weekend of the month, items are 50% off or more. You can usually find me somewhere in the housewares, kitchen or cookbook section. I found some kitchen treasures along the way and some new throw pillow for our couches. Here are a few of my frugal finds:
Sears Roebuck CO. Chef Quality Aluminum Maid of Honor Canisters-$3.00
They are in perfect condition, not sure exactly what year they are from. Can anyone date these?
Pampered Chef Ice Shaver/Sno Cone Maker-$2.50
It’s an older model dated in 1995 before my time as a Pampered Chef Consultant. The only thing missing is the ice maker cups with the lids. I have enough small freezer containers with lids that would work to use as a substitute. I enjoy finding and collecting older Pampered Chef products.
The Pampered Chef Favorites II and Amy Sutherland’s COOKOFF-$0.50
Two more great books to add to my collection. The Pampered Chef Favorites II is from 1994. More great recipes from appetizers to desserts. I love the recipes-Taco Lasagna, Cinnamon Swirl Loaf, Banana Split Brownie Pizza-YUM! Amy Sutherland’s COOKOFF is about her experience as a journalist taking readers on a guided tour of the vast competitive cooking competitions and the people she meets along the way. I can’t wait to read it!
And lastly, I found a Belgium Waffle Maker in perfect condition. Outside is a little faded in color but inside is in great shape. I’ve been wanting a waffle maker for some time now. This is perfect for making waffles ahead of time and freezing them. Kids can pull out of the freezer for a quick breakfast.
Belgium Waffle Maker-$4.00
Okay, enough frugal thrift talking, let’s plan the week’s menu:
Monday: BBQ Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Slow-Cooker Baked Beans, a juicy watermelon and for dessert, a French Vanilla Blueberry cake.
Tuesday: Apple Pork Chops, covered with sliced baking apples.( marinated in refrigerator the night before. This recipe does take an extra 15 minutes to cook, but it’s so worth it. )
Wednesday: Southwestern Sausage Gumbo served over rice.
Thursday: Cooked Pinto Beans with Mozzerella cheese
Friday: Pizza, fresh veggies and fruit platter
Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner–Belgium waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage and apple sauce.
Hope you had a great weekend and have a safe Labor Day!
As always, my quick and easy recipes for Busy Moms can be found on my website Noel’s Kitchen Tips.com.
Visit my A Busy Mom’s Kitchen 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.
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.
A Working Mom’s Easy Weeknight Dinner
If you’re a subscriber to my weekly e-newsletter, A Busy Mom’s Kitchen, you read that this week I’m sharing how mom’s or dad’s can create inexpensive meals for their families that are not only quick and easy but cost less than $100.
Normally, when I’m at the grocery store I can spend just a tad bit over the $200 mark for almost a month’s worth of groceries. Yes, it can be done. You just have to pay attention to what’s on sale and from trial and error know what a good deal is at the supermarket. I see more and more people shopping with lists and coupons these days. It’s good to see people are looking for that extra savings.
My last trip to the grocery store, I picked up some cubed steak. You can pick up a decent package of cubed steak for less than $1.50 for 2 pieces. Serve with a salad and a vegetable and you have yourself a wonderful meal.
I’ve learned how to create a week’s worth of salad with lettuce, carrots and celery to make it last all week and still taste fresh. This I will share with you in a later post.
Vegetables are inexpensive when purchased frozen and still have the required nutrients. Of course you can buy canned vegetables if they are on sale. I’m able to get more side dish meals from the frozen vegetables.
In this easy weeknight dinner, I’ve created a main dish using just 6 simple ingredients.
Cubed Steak with Gravy
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
4-6 pieces of cubed steak
1 large onion, diced
3/4 cup flour
Salt and pepper
1 cup water
Directions:
Place flour on a baking dish, plate or plastic bag. Salt and pepper both sides of cubed steak. Coat the cubed steak with flour on both sides. Save the flour for later, you will be using it for the gravy.
Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Brown cubed steak on both sides, roughly 3 minutes. Once cooked, remove from saucepan. Keep drippings in pan, add onion. Cook onion, for 2 minutes, then add flour, about an 1/8 cup or a little more. Stir while flour browns.
As you are continuously stirring, slowly add water and reduce heat to low. Simmer the gravy until it is the right consistency. at this point you could add the cubed steak back in and simmer for about 5 minutes more or you could plate it and serve the gravy on top as I did.
I served the cubed steak with corn and a salad. You could also serve with rice or mashed potatoes.
Do you have any tips that work for you on shopping and creating inexpensive meals? I’d love to hear them!
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.
Kitchen Gadgets That Make Wonderful Meals
Simple Tuesday Weeknight Menu: Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Greens, with Brown Rice Couscous served on a bed of lettuce with a drizzle of your favorite dressing
Tender Grilled Chicken Breasts make this a delicious meal for your family
Kitchen Gadgets That Make Wonderful Meals
Yesterday while I was out and about, I stopped in at one of our local thrift shops. I’m a sucker for a bargain and I love searching for new kitchen items old and new. While I was there, one of the items I came across was a Stove Top Grill. You place it directly on one of your stove burners and cook directly on it. One of the simplest and most effective cooking gadgets.
I had grilled chicken planned for dinner, but I wasn’t looking forward to grilling outdoors while it was 101 degrees. The grill cost me a $1. I thought to myself, if the results are good, what a bargain! So I decided to experiment and ended up with wonderful results. The chicken and broccoli tasted just like I had grilled them outdoors. Here’s a wonderful and delicious recipe you can create with a stove top grill.
Grilled Chicken Breasts
Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 head of lettuce of your choice
2 cups broccoli
Your favorite dressing
Directions:
Marinate chicken breasts in refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight. Remove chicken breasts from refrigerator 15 minutes prior to cooking, bringing them to room temperature. This allows the chicken to cook evenly.
Preheat your stove top grill for 8 minutes on high heat or per user manual. Reduce heat to medium and place chicken breasts flatly on grill. Grill on each side for 12-15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from grill and place on cutting board to rest for 5 minutes. Slice lengthwise and place on lettuce greens on a platter.
I served the grilled chicken with grilled broccoli and a brown rice couscous. We drizzled a little bit of our favorite dressing on top.
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.
Do You Like Make-Ahead Meal Planning?
For those of you who have downloaded my new FREE Make-Ahead Meal Planning:Cook It Freeze It! Volume One: Beef Recipes E-Book, what do you think of it? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments about it.
I am considering doing more recipes in this series, like chicken, fish and pork, but wanted to see how you felt about this one.
If you have not downloaded yours yet, simply click HERE to get it!
Make-Ahead Meal Planning For Busy Moms:Freeze It, Cook It Free E-Book!
Are you like many of the rest of us, so busy with work and the kids that it’s hard to find time to cook a decent meal for your family each night? Would you like to be able to enjoy a family dinner each night and not have to eat fast food or take-out? Let me introduce you to….
Make-Ahead Cooking for Busy Moms: Cook It, Freeze It! Volume One: Beef Recipes
And it’s yours, absolutely FREE!
I will teach you how to stock your freezer with great meals focusing on one main ingredient that will be ready to throw in the oven or microwave when you get home so that you and your family can enjoy a home cooked meal even on your busiest of days. You’ll always find quick and simple meal ideas for your family at
Combine the tasks of planning meals, buying groceries, and slicing & dicing with FUN tools while assembling healthy meals for your freezer.
It costs a family of four at a full-service restaurant at least $50 for one meal, coctails included! Imagine the savings and quality, family time at YOUR dinner table!
Enjoy 15 pages of simple and easy recipes, fabulous tips and more! Step-by-Step instructions with each easy-to-use recipe-easily print what you need!
Get your FREE copy of
by clicking
HERE: Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Mom’s Freeze-It, Cook-It! E-Book
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.
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A Busy Mom's Guide To Family Meal Planning E-Cookbook is available to purchase NOW – just
$12.95!$8.95
Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Mom's Freeze It, Cook It! FREE E-Book
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