Supposed to be frugal Friday :)

I was sick Friday so I didn't get this posted but I also wanted to post this I think it's very important. Saving money on meat! Yep meat :) my family loves meat but the price of meat is so expensive. I try to make it stretch. Who says you have to use a full lb of hamburger in a single batch of spaghetti sauce or meatballs ? When I buy hamburger in bulk it saves money per lb. and then when I separate into bags I put approximately 3/4 lb on each bag. For example I take a 5lb package of meat and divide it into 6 bags. Makes it stretch a little more :) or when I make taco meat I add refried beans to it. :) chad says it just saves him time :) I say saves money :) I hope you are able to use a few of these tips and make your meat stretch a little more

Frugal Friday

I wanted to add a little something to my Cooking blog. I love being frugal to help my family save money.  I also love freezer cooking and what do you know the two go hand in hand :)  Freezer cooking saves you time and money.  You don't have to grab take out or buy unhealthy boxed meals when you take a few extra minutes to get things in your freezer..
*Today I am making a large batch of french toast. I buy a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread and cook up the whole thing. I then serve some to my family, as much as they want to eat at the time, then I lay the rest on a jelly roll pan and place wax paper between the layers. I then freeze for a hour to flash freeze it. When that hour is up i place them in a gallon sized freezer bag. And there you have it breakfast ready for a busy morning with only minutes of effort . I

Never Fail Banana Bread :)

Ingredients: 

1 ¾ cup Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup brown sugar or pure evaporated sugar cane
4 bananas mashed
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1 ½ Tbs cinnamon

Instructions: 

1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk, making a well in the center.

2. In another bowl, mash together bananas, butter, milk, and eggs.

3. Add banana mixture to dry ingredients

4. Pour batter into a loaf pan. I like to use mini loaves and freeze a few

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, until bread tests done with a fork or toothpick (comes out clean). If bread is browning too quickly, lay a piece of foil on top of the loaf while it's baking. Reduce time if you are making mini loaves

6. Cool loaf on a wire rack, covered with a clean towel. When cool, slice with a thin knife. Banana bread can be frozen

Yields 1 loaf or 4 mini loaves

Best chocolate chip cookies ever !

My hubby loves these cookies ! I've tried different types he always asks for chocolate chip " cuz you make the best" . So try them see what you think...

Chocolate chip cookies
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup butter flavored shortening
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp Vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 12 oz . bag chocolate chips

I like to pop this into my kitchen aid mixer, but be sure to not over mix or they will become tough.
Preheat oven for 375 .
Cream, butter and shortening for 10 seconds, add sugars , mix another ten seconds, add eggs than vanilla. Cream those all together. Add flour, salt and baking soda while kitchen aid is off. Turn it back on to combine the dry ingredients with the butter mixture just till combined, add chocolate chips just till combined.
I love the cookie scoop and stone for my cookies!!! Anyway scoop cookies with medium cookie scoop and place about 12 on a pan . Bake 10-13 min
Cool on wire rack and repeat till dough is gone. If your family is anything like my hubby the cookie yield may vary depending on how much dough e takes out:). But should yield 4 dozen

Christmas cookies

Here is a platter of cookies I made for chad's co-workers. I will post the recipes soon ;)

Crock pot tortellini soup

This is a recipe I made up and it's so yummy and easy!

1 can diced tomatoes
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 lb Italian sausage cooked
1 med carrot cut ( I jullianed mine)
3 cups spinach torn (optional)
1/2 onion diced
2 tbs basil
1 garlic clove pressed
3 cups water
2 cups frozen tortellini

*put everything in the crock pot but the tortellini . stir and cook on high for 4 hours . Add frozen tortellini 30 min before serving .
Then enjoy with some garlic bread and you've got a great meal

chicken broccoli braid

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2 Cups cooked Chicken

1 Cup chopped Broccoli

1/2 Cup Chopped Red bell pepper 

1 Pressed garlic clove 

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese 

1/2 cup mayo

1 Tbs dill

2tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp salt

dash of pepper

2 packs cresant rolls 

1 egg whites lightly beaten

Combine all the ingredients but cresant rolls and egg whites.lay the mixture in the middle of the cresant rolls
Press all seams together so filling will not leak out. Along outer side of dough, along each of two opposite sides, cut 2 inch strips from end toward center. This will look like fringe along the two longer sides of the dough. Add filling down the center of between the strips. To braid, lift strips of dough, one at a time, across mixture to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends up to seal at end of braid. Brash with egg white.  bake 25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown. Makes 10 servings.