Getting the Yard Ready

I hope everyone had a GREAT Memorial Day Weekend! We did! Other than watching my youngest in her first parade and a little thing called my birthday, we did A LOT of yardwork. This work included getting our yard ready for summer. The triumphant return of our pool!!!

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Hamburgers

Happy Memorial Day! I can't believe I have never published the classic hamburger! The offical start of summer is as good a time as any:-)

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:



Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Ground Beef hasn't been under $2 a pound since February:-( I broke down and bought some this week. It was on sale for $2.49/lb. (normally $4.39/lb!) at Pick N Save. Oh, an the buns were on sale for $0.88, along with corn on the cob and watermelon!!! Pick N Save knows how to do the holiday right!! I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Hamburgers
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup (3 handfuls), Italian bread crumbs
1 medium onion, chopped fine
4 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp (several drops) Worcestershire sauce,
1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) grated Parmigiano or Romano
1 pinch Coarse salt
1 pinch Black Pepper
6 Hamburger buns

Directions:
1. Place ground beef in a large mixing bowl and punch a well into the center of meat. Fill well with the egg, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire, parsley, cheese, and a little salt and pepper. Mix up ingredients until well combined, yet not over-mixed.

2. Form into patties and grill to appropriate doneness. .

Servings: 6

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 serving.
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 631.6
Calories From Fat (42%) 262.9
% Daily Value
Total Fat 28.68g 44%
Saturated Fat 11.16g 56%
Cholesterol 123.97mg 41%
Sodium 569.58mg 24%
Potassium 716.62mg 20%
Total Carbohydrates 59.18g 20%
Fiber 3.56g 14%
Sugar 5.48g
Protein 33.77g 68%

Recipe Type
Beef, Main Course, Simple Supper

Recipe: $6.58 ($5.92 on sale)
Serving: $1.10 ($0.99 on sale)

Search for Coupons

First Grade Autobiography

This weekend, the whole family enjoyed my youngest's performance in her classroom play. My little singing butterfly. I am calling this a tackle because a lot preparation went into the event for her and for us.

At the end of the play, she read us the autobiography that she had been working on for months. Here her grandparents and older sister are listening intently:


Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Great Meal Deal

What a weekend!! A classroom play, bridging to Brownies, a birthday party and a spectacular choral concert. I am so exhausted that I didn't even get to do a recipe this week. But that's ok, I am still doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:




Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Chuck Roasts were on sale for $2.99/lb. (normally $3.69/lb.) at Pick N Save. You also get carrots, celery and dinner rolls for free!! I grabbed a bunch to make my Pot Roast:-)

Search for Coupons

Pass the Moisturizer

Just kidding...this little guy was the star at a birthday party my daughter attended at a pet store. What a cute idea!!!

Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)

Preparing for Brownies

This weekend, my youngest is bridginng over from Daisy Girl Scouts to Brownie Girl Scouts. In preparation for it, I sewed all her patches on her new uniform:


Correction, my MIL did it. Can you tell which stitch belongs to her and which belongs to me?

I will give you a hint. It took her 20 minutes to do the whole uniform and me 1 hour to do one patch:-)

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Kansas City Style Pork Ribs

This is not for the faint of heart calorie-wish or on your pocket-book but for a party (and when they are on sale), this will hit the spot!!

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:




Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Pork ribs were on sale for $2.79/lb. (normally $3.99/lb.) at Pick N Save. I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Kansas City Style Pork Ribs
Ingredients:
6 slabs pork spare ribs, 3 pounds each
Kansas City Barbeque Sauce, recipe follows

Dry Rub:
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup dry mustard
1 Tbs cayenne pepper
1 Tbs smoked paprika
1 Tbs garlic powder
1 Tbs onion powder
1 Tbs salt
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Kansas City Barbeque Sauce:
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1 (about 2/3 cup)small onion, finely diced
3 cups water
1 cup (2 (6-ounce) cans) tomato paste
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
1. Remove the thin white membrane off of the bone-side of the ribs. Mix together the brown sugar, dry mustard, cayenne, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Massage the rub into the ribs and let sit for 1 hour or up to overnight.

2. If cooking on the grill, place the ribs meat-side down next to medium-hot coals that are about 225 degrees F. The indirect heat will cook them slower, making them tender. Allow to cook for 1 hour. Turn ribs every half hour and baste with the Kansas City Barbeque Sauce. Cook until the ribs are tender, about 3 to 4 hours.

3. If cooking indoors, place in a roasting pan with a rack. Slather the ribs with the Kansas City Barbeque Sauce and tent a piece of aluminum foil over them. In a preheated 350 degrees F. oven, place the ribs, basting with the sauce every 30 minutes and removing the foil for the last 30 minutes and cooking until fork tender, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

4. In a small sauce pot on medium-high heat, heat the oil and add the onion, cooking until translucent.

5. Add the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Add to sauce pan and let simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Use to baste the pork spare ribs.

Servings: 8
Yield: 3 cups

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 4 hours
Inactive Time: 24 hours

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (21.2 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. 3 of the recipe's ingredients were not linked. These ingredients are not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 1354.6
Calories From Fat (56%) 763.71
% Daily Value
Total Fat 84.92g 131%
Saturated Fat 30.75g 154%
Cholesterol 265.36mg 88%
Sodium 1902.6mg 79%
Potassium 1733.97mg 50%
Total Carbohydrates 87.59g 29%
Fiber 3.01g 12%
Sugar 77.37g
Protein 60.98g 122%

Recipe Type
Main Course, Pork

Source
Author: The Neelys
Source: The Food Network
Web Page: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/kansas-city-style-pork-ribs-recipe/index.html
Recipe: $24.19 ($16.99 on sale)
Serving: $3.02 ($2.12 on sale)

Search for Coupons

New Grape Vines

I can't wait for this to cover my pergola this summer:-)

Happy Mother's Day to Me!!!

Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)

Organizing Your Contacts

If you are anything like me, you have contacts EVERYWHERE. I have phone numbers in my phone and email addresses in Yahoo and some in Google and even more in Windows Live Mail. This week, I worked on putting ALL of my contacts in one place!! Reason #557 to love my iPhone...I can sync my phone with Windows Live Mail! Now, I not only have everything at my finger tips but I also know that both have the most up-to-date information.

So, if you have moved recently or changed your phone number, cell number or email address and I am supposed to know it for some reason, let me know. Because now, I can add it easily and I won't ever lose it again:-)

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Orange Chicken Risotto with Blanched Asparagus and Green Beans

This is a spring version of my Garlic Chicken Risotto and it was a big hit!

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:




Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Chicken was on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $4.29/lb.) at Pick N Save. I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Orange Chicken Risotto with Blanched Asparagus and Green Beans
Ingredients:
1 lbs Chicken Breast
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1 Tbs Butter
2 Garlic Cloves
1 Can (10 3/4 oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can (10 3/4 oz.) Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 cups orange juice
2 cups instant rice
1/2 lb Fresh Asparagus spears
1/2 lb Fresh Green beans

Directions:
1. Cut asparagus and green beans into 2 inch sticks and blanche in salted water. Shock in ice cold water to stop the cooking process and set aside.

2. Pound chicken flat and season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Heat oil, butter, and garlic to a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until you get a golden brown color. Add chicken and cook until the chicken is also golden brown (about 5 minutes per side).

4. Deglaze the pan with the orange juice. Whisk in the soups and heat to a boil.

5. Stir in rice and top with chicken.

6. Cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.

7. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and beans and serve.

Servings: 6

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/6 of a recipe (12.9 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 367.45
Calories From Fat (33%) 120.8
% Daily Value
Total Fat 13.69g 21%
Saturated Fat 3.65g 18%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 733.85mg 31%
Potassium 498.8mg 14%
Total Carbohydrates 37.26g 12%
Fiber 2.7g 11%
Sugar 1.74g
Protein 24.35g 49%

Recipe Type
Chicken, Italian, Main Course, Simple Supper

Reviews
5 stars - This is a spring version of my Garlic Chicken Risotto and it was a big hit! - Susan Ewing 4/24/2011

Source
Author: Susan Ewing

Recipe: $10.56 ($7.76 on sale)
Serving: $1.76 ($1.29 on sale)

Search for Coupons

Art Made by the Morning Sun

Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)

Tackling a New Toy

This weekend, I got an early birthday present: my first iPhone!!! I LOVE IT!! I have been wanting one for about 3 years now and now I have it:-)

So, I have been tackling playing with my new toy. It took me a while to set up my calendar but it works like a charm now!!! Yahoo!! It will be much easier to keep in touch with everyone on the go now:-)

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Mango and Black Bean Salsa

This sweet salsa will be the perfect accompaniment to any Cinco De Mayo table:-)

I took a bit of a bloggy break over the last couple weeks. But I am back and doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:




Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Black beans were on sale for $1.00 (normally $1.29.) at Pick N Save. I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Mango and Black Bean Salsa
Ingredients:
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 tbs honey
1 clove garlic
1 tbs olive Oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 mango peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 onion, diced
1 sweet red pepper, diced
1 tbs parsley, chopped

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix lime zest and juice, garlic and honey. Wisk in olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Toss mango, black beans, onion and red pepper with the sauce. Top with parsley.

3. Serve with your favorite mexican dish or with chips.

Servings: 8

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (4.4 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 141.34
Calories From Fat (14%) 19.11
% Daily Value
Total Fat 2.19g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.35g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 128.26mg 5%
Potassium 349.37mg 10%
Total Carbohydrates 26.67g 9%
Fiber 6.12g 24%
Sugar 7.67g
Protein 5.97g 12%

Recipe Type
Appetizer, Mexican, Side Dish

Source
Author: Susan Ewing

Recipe: $3.75($2.26 on sale)
Serving: $0.47 ($0.28 on sale)

Search for Coupons