Money Saving Ideas

Here are just a few ideas that I employ to help save money in the long run. 

I make my own laundry detergent (if you would like for me to post the recipe, just let me know)
I use vinegar as laundry softener (if you would like more info, let me know)
I buy dry beans instead of canned beans.  I cook them and then freeze them in 1-2 cup servings and pull them out when I need them. 
I try to hang a lot of my laundry out a clothes line.  Besides the fridge, the dryer is one of the appliances that uses the most energy.

These are just a few ideas that I use.  If you have anymore, please share them.  I believe we would all want to learn ways to save money here and there.

I'm Back

Ok, so I know I have been gone for awhile.  I honestly thought about quitting this blog because I thought no one was reading it.  I figured I would give it one more shot.  I plan on doing a few things differently and see how it goes.  Life has been crazy hectic around here between work and the kiddos.  Hopefully, they will be slowing down soon.  So, please let me know that you are out there in blog land.

Angelhair with Sausage and Spinach

Yum, yum yummy!  This was so good!  This is another recipe from e-mealz.com.  If you haven't checked them out, I highly encourage you to do so.  It has made my life so much easier.  When I first saw this recipe, I wasn't so sure, but I was wrong.  I really do recommend this one.  Hope you enjoy!

Angelhair with Sausage and Spinach

Ingredients:  1lb Smoked Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage

1 cup Chopped Onion

2 tsp Minced Garlic

2 tsp Olive Oil

2 cans Chicken Broth

1/4 cup Water

8 oz Angel Hair Pasta, broken in half

10 oz Frozen Chopped Spinach, thawed & drained

1/3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

In a soup pot, add olive oil, heat through, then add sausage, onion, and garlic.  Saute until onions are tender.  Add chicken broth and water.  Bring to a boil then add pasta.  Cook for 3-4 minutes then add in spinach.  Cook another 1-2 minutes, until spinach is heated.  Add cream, stir, and heat through. 

Wheat Thin-like Crackers

I have been wanting to try to make some more of my food from scratch, both for health reasons and for cost reasons.  When I make these from scratch, there is just 7 ingredients, nothing processed.  I really like these, as well as the rest of the family.  I hope you enjoy them as well. 

Wheat Thin-like Crackers

Ingredients:  1 1/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 1/2 Tbsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Paprika

4 Tbsp Butter

1/4 cup Water

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in a medium size bowl.  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like large crumbs.  None of the crumbs should be bigger than a pea in size.  Next combine water and vanilla and pour into dry ingredients.  Mix together until well combined.  Do not over mix or you will have a tough cracker. 

Work with only a fourth of the dough at a time, and roll out in to a thin sheet.  As thin as you can get without tearing the dough.  Next cut into 1 inch squares and place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet ( I used a baking stone).  Sprinkle with additional salt and bake at 400 for 5-10 minutes.  When the crackers cool, they will crisp up.  I ended up cooking mine for about 8 minutes. 

New Approach?

So, I'm sort of thinking about giving this blog a make over of some sort.  I will still have recipes, but I'm thinking of adding something else.  I was thinking maybe some information regarding not just food prep but also how our food is grown and my thoughts on it.  When I first started this blog, all these people at work were wanting to contribute, but you know how that goes.  So, this has become my own blog.  I just was thinking of giving you some information and then you can make your own choices.  I was also thinking about giving a peek into my life and the way I would love to live.  I don't know, let me know what you think and what you would like to see.  I would really appreciate it.

Spinach and Black Bean Lasagna

Once again, I apologize for the picture.  I got this recipe from a sweet lady at work who is a great cook.  Everyone couldn't stop eating it, so I snapped a picture as fast I could.  I made this for my mother in laws birthday.  Between 4 adults and two kids, there was only 3 pieces of lasagna left.  I know it may sound a little strange, but, please, just give it a chance.  It is so yummy!  It is a little spicy, so if you aren't into spice, you might not care for it too much.  The only person that thought it was too spicy was a 3 yr old.  Hope you enjoy!

Spinach and Black Bean Lasagna

Ingredients:  2 Eggs, beaten

15 oz Ricotta

10 oz Frozen Spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/4 cup fresh Cilantro, chopped

1/2 tsp Salt

4 cups Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded

2 can Black Beans, drained & rinsed

1 jar Pasta Sauce

1/2 tsp Cumin

9 Lasagna Noodles, cooked & drained

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix together eggs, ricotta, spinach, cilantro, salt, and one cup of cheese.  In a separate bowl, mash black beans then add pasta sauce and cumin.  Mix well. 

Start assembling the lasagna in a 13x9 baking dish. 

Spread a little of the bean mixture to coat the bottom of the dish.  Layer 3 noodles, spinach mixture, shredded cheese, 3 noodles, spinach mixture, shredded cheese, bean mixture, 3 noodles, bean mixture, shredded cheese.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until golden and bubbly.  Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting.



Chocolate Cherry Cake with Fudge Icing

I got this recipe from a website I frequent to get good recipes, sisterscafe.com.  This cake is so yummy and easy.  My son loves anything with cherries.  I always make it for his birthday, and this year, I made it for my mother in laws birthday.  Hope you enjoy!

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Ingredients:  1 box Devils Food Cake Mix

2 Eggs

1 can Cherry Pie Filling

1 tsp Almond Extract

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 9x13 inch pan.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients until well blended.  Please only mix by hand, if you use an electric mixer, it will break up the cherries.  Poor into pan and bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Fudge Icing

Ingredients:  1 cup Sugar

5 Tbsp Butter

1/3 cup Milk

1 cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

In a small saucepan, combine sugar, butter, and milk.  Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes while continually stirring.  Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until smooth.  Immediately pour over partially cooled cake.