Fresh Strawberry Crumble

We bought lots of strawberries this week so I needed to find something to do with them.  This turned out delicious.  I wasn't sure about using cinnamon but turns out it worked.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/4 cups quick oats

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

2/3 cup cold butter

2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

In a bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.   Stir in the strawberries.  Set Aside

In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.  Cut in the butter so it looke like coarse crumbs.  Reserve about 1 cup for topping.  Press the remaining crumb mixture into a greased 9 inch pan.  

Spoon the strawberries over the crust.  Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture. 

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown.  Serve warm.  Goes great with vanilla ice cream!!

Colored Devil Eggs

So going with the color theme, I decided to do the same with Deviled Eggs.  Only I didn't want to color the yolks too.  That looks a bit icky.  So I hard boiled the eggs.  Removed the yolks and soaked the whites.  I only did a few to see how they looked.  I really like them and think they will look pretty awesome on the table.

Rainbow Jello Mold

For my Dad's party, the decor and the food are all going to be brightly colored.  As much as possible.  So I practiced making this jello mold and it didn't come out to badly for a first shot.  I need to do it a bit slower I think and find a darker green and brighter yellow.

It was really easy.  Just spray your mold lightly with cooking spray.  Then make all your jello.

You will need :

1 package each of purple, blue, green, yellow and orange.  Then 2 packages of red.  Also 1 container of Cool Whip.  

Make all your single packages of jello with 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.  Use 2 1/2 for the red.  

Let it cool some before you start adding to the mold.  

When you are ready, start with the purple.  Add 3/4 cup of the jello to the mold and set it in the fridge.  Add 2-3 tbsp of cool whip to the rest of the purple.  Wait 15 minutes and carefully poor it on top of the first layer.   Continue with the rest, waiting 10 - 15 minutes between each new addition.  Did I mention you need something else to do while you are doing this?  I added the colors in this order: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and then red.  

Let it set overnight.  When you go to unmold , set the mold into hot water, briefly.  Not enough to melt it, just to loosen it.  Wipe off the excess water then flip onto your serving plate.  Careful, you don't want it to bounce onto the floor!  It is really slippery!!

Apple Fritters

Made apple fritters from scratch.  They came out pretty great.  After some practice.  The directions said to form the dough into a ball and drop into the oil.  Well that is easier said than done.  The dough is sticky and I ended up with some kind of funny shaped fritters.  But they tasted good.  That counts, right?

Here is what you need:
1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp melted butter
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1-1/2 cups chopped apple

for the glaze:
1 cup of confectioners sugar
1 tbsp milk (about, may need more to get consistency you want)

Here is what you do:

Mix all your dry ingredients together.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the apples.  Combine well but try not to over-mix.  Gently fold in the apples.  You might need a bit more milk if your dough is too solid, but add the apples before you add more milk.  The apples will loosen your batter some.

Heat up your oil to 375 degrees. You can check to see if it is ready by dropping in a little bit of dough.  If it rises right away, you are good to go.  Place a few balls of dough in the oil.  Watch carefully for them to turn golden brown, then flip them to cook until they are done.  About 45 seconds to a minute per side.  Experiment with one before you cook the rest.

I set mine on a paper towel for a moment to soak up any oil.   Then rolled them in the glaze.  Transferred to a rack to drip and cool enough to eat.  Then watched them disappear!

Mini Lemon Meringue Pies

These are so simple and taste fantabulous.  Have to really love desserts that look impressive and only you know how easy they were to make.

You will need:

Cooking spray
12 oz refrigerated sugar cookie dough
3 egg whites (room temp if you can, better for the meringue)
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
pinch of salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon pudding

Preheat your oven to 350
You can use a mini muffin tin or regular size muffin tin.  Depends on the occasion and whether you want them bitesize.  Should make 24 with the mini and 8-10 with the regular.  Whichever you choose, be sure to generously spray it.

Place some cookie dough in each compartment, pressing it up the sides to form a cup. Bake until the edges are golden brown, about 10 minutes.  Less for the smaller ones.  It will puff up in the middle but will sink in after you take them out of the oven.  Let them cool about 30 minutes IN THE TINS.

Beat your eggs whites in a clean, dry bowl with the mixer on high for about 30 seconds.  Until they are frothy.  Add your cream of tartar and salt.  Beat on high, gradually adding the sugar about 1 tbsp at a time, until glossy and stiff.  Only takes about 3-4 minutes.

With the cups still in the tins, fill each one with lemon pudding.  Top each one with a tbsp of meringue.  Broil on low until golden.  30 seconds to a minute.  Careful they will burn fast.  Or, if you have a kitchen torch you can use that.  Like I did.  I love playing with my torch and use it every chance I get.  :)

Let them rest for about 15 minutes and then you can transfer to a serving plate.  Gently sliding a knife around the edges is all you should need to do to loosen them.

Try not to eat too many.  I dare ya!!

Beer in the Rear Chicken

Wow things have been crazy busy so far this week. I can not believe it is Wednesday already.  I have a cold that is kicking my butt though I am trying not to let it slow me down.  I am still getting things done, but I am crashing earlier which has cut down my online time.

Tuesday night for dinner I made a roast chicken.  I think the first time I saw it done this way was watching Paula Deen.  Finally decided to try it.  I took a can of beer and split it with the chicken.  I drank my half, then after rinsing the chicken and pulling out the giblets, I sat the chicken on the can.  I had to move it around some before I was able to get it to sit straight on the can, but it held up the entire time it was cooking.  This was the moistest chicken I have ever had.  The only other thing I did to it was mix together some fresh basil and butter then press it up under the skin.  Spreading it around as much as I could without tearing the skin open.  As the chicken cooked, the beer evaporated some.  This kept it really moist.  I definitely recommend it.  Though you might not want to play around with the chicken before you cook it.  My daughter said I need a hobby.

My CVS trip and how it worked

This was a small trip.  Only wanted a few things.  I paid $2.98, before tax for all of this and here is how I did it.

First buy this:

NaturRelief Chewable Tablets 30 ct $8.49 w/ $8.49 ECB (Extra Care Bucks)

= $8.49

Used $1/1 NatuRelief Product 03/11/2012 SS Insert (exp 09/30)

Used $5 ECB from the CVS Beauty Club ( Earn $5 for every $50 you spend)

Pay $2.49 out of pocket and get back $8.49 in ECB

Then buy this:

Buy 2 Act Total Care Sensitive $3.99 

Buy 2 Right Guard Body Wash 13.5oz 2/$6.00

Buy Trident 3 pk $2

= $15.98

Use (2) $2/1 Act Total Care Sensitive 4/15 Inserts

Use (1) $2/2 Right Guard 4/15 Inserts 

Use (1) $1/1 Trident or Dentyne 3 pk

Used $8.49 ECB from the first transaction

Pay $0.49 out of pocket and get back $2 ECB for Act + $2 ECB for Right Guard

Finally buy:

Buy 2 Kelloggs Raisin Bran Crunch $5/2

= $5

Use $1/2 Kellogs  

Pay with $4 ECB from Step 2

$0.00 out of pocket  :)

You can find a lot of scenerio suggestions for the stores online. They work great as a guide and then you can change them up to get what you need.  :)

Strawberry Coconut Cake

I found this recipe on the Driscoll's page.  I love strawberries.  Combined with coconut and I could not resist.  Not quite as pretty as the one on their site, but it came out pretty well.  And the taste was fantastic.  All those people that say you can not tell the difference between a  box mix and a cake made from scratch, I challenge them to try this cake and say that.
Strawberry-Coconut-Cake

French Onion Beef Stew

So far the menu is working well. Ok, so it has only been one day.  But I have hopes that I will keep it up.  For dinner tonight I made the French Onion Beef Stew.  It is more a soup than stew, but calling it French Onion soup with Stew Beef doesn't sound great.  Even though that is exactly what it is.  It was also delicious.  The broth is amazing.  The recipe calls for a 14.5oz can of low-sodium chicken broth.  In place of it I used the new Knorr's Homestyle Chicken stock.  Mixed it up with 3 1/2 cups of boiling water then added it to the crock pot.  First time I have used it.  Really good and really simple.

Here's the recipe.  Make sure you splurge at the bakery and get a nice fresh loaf of crusty bread.  It is worth it!  I also subbed mozzarella cheese for the Gruyere.  I like the gooey :)

Serves 4
8 sprigs of fresh thyme, plus 1 tsp leaves
1 14.5 oz can low sodium chicken broth
1 cup apple juice
4 medium carrots cut into 1/4 in pieces ( or cheat like me and buy the baby carrots already cut)
2 onions, thinly sliced - thin is important here
1 1/2 lbs lean beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1/2 in pieces
kosher salt and pepper
3 tbsp all purpose flour
4 thick slices of country bread
4 oz Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated

Tie a piece of thread or kitchen twine around the thyme sprigs and place them in a 5-6 quart slow cooker.  Add the chicken broth, apple juice, carrots and onions.  Mix to combine
Season the beef with 1/2 tsp each of the salt and pepper; sprinkle with flour. Add the beef and any excess flour to the slow cooker and mix to combine.  Cook, covered, until the beef and vegetables are tender, 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.

When the stew has 10 minutes left to cook, turn on the broiler.  Place the bread on a foil lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with the cheese and remaining tsp of thyme.  Broil until the cheese starts to brown, 1-2 minutes.  Spoon the stew into bowls and top with the toast.

 This really was easy to make.  Who doesn't like to come home to a house that smells wonderful after leaving dinner in the crock pot?

Cake Mix Cookies

I have heard people talk about making cookies with cake mixes.  I couldn't imagine how that would taste.  I don't normally use mixes unless I am in a hurry.  But I was curious.  So I tried it with a strawberry cake mix. I only wish I had tried it a long time ago.  When Megs was a kid, this would have been a handy recipe to have.  Takes hardly any time.  And is not expensive.  Cake mixes are always on sale.  You can use any flavor.  Just add 2 eggs and 1/3 cup of oil.  Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use about a tablespoon of dough for each cookie.  My oven runs hot so they were done in 5 1/2 minutes.  They do turn brown fast when they are done so keep an eye on them. Let them sit about 2 minutes then transfer to rack to cool completely.  You can leave them as is, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or make a thick glaze to frost with.  I did that.  Powdered sugar, milk and a touch of vanilla.  I like adding the vanilla to cut the sugar taste a bit.

I do have to warn you though.  they are very addicting.

Let's see how this works

So I was up until almost 3am figuring out a menu for the week and finding he recipes I wanted.  Even made a grocery list.  It will be interesting to see if it really does save money to do it this way.  Have to figure that if it keeps me from running to the store everyday it should save some, right?  No impulsive donut purchases.  Plus if it isn't on my list....

Maybe I am a bit compulsive about that, but that trick I do know saves money.  Taking a complete grocery list into the store with you.  Force yourself to stick with it.  You CAN walk past the bakery and you CAN walk past the ice cream.  It does not work if you take a pen with you and write things in either.

Today I will pull the coupons I need and go shopping tomorrow.  Have to go pick up my papers for this week.  3 coupon inserts in there today.  :)

Italian Sausage Bisquits

I borrowed a recipe from Riches to Rags and made a few changes. They look amazing with meatballs but I prefer the sausage.

Italian Sausage Bisquits




1 can Pillsbury golden layers biscuits - each pulled into 2 layers
10 fully cooked italian sausage - sweet or hot, your preference, cut in half
1 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 T. parm cheese
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 c. marinara sauce




Heat oven to 375. Separate biscuits into 2 layers. Place 1 sausage half and mozzarella cheese into each biscuit, wrap dough around it and seal edges. Place seam side down into 9 inch round cake pan. Sprinkle with parm cheese, garlic pwd. and italian seasoning. Bake 18-20 min or until golden brown. Serve warm with warm sauce. Add some pasta and you have a great meal!!!

Now that I am here.....

I have so many ideas rambling about in my head. So many projects that need to be done. I figured that by writing about them I might even get myself organized. The biggest project right now is planning for my Dad's 80th birthday party. Over the hill and old jokes just seem a bit much for 80. So my sisters and I are going with bright colors and a picnic theme. I am searching for recipes and decorating ideas that will keep things upbeat, fun and different. At the same time, saving money with coupons whenever I can. Yes, I am one of those. The one you hate to be in line behind at the grocery store. It takes some work, but you really can save quite a bit with coupons. There is so much help online to guide you. Hopefully, I can help be one of those guides.

I have many recipes to share too. I love to cook and try new things. But have really been stuck in a rut lately. I open the freezer in the morning and look for something to take out for dinner. Then try to figure out something to do with it. I decided that I am going to attempt to do this a bit differently. Make up a menu on the weekend to use for the week. Use the grocery ad for inspiration and then actually use the recipes I have collected. Turn meals into fun rather than a chore. I will share the recipes as I use them. I would love to try at least one new recipe a day. I wonder how many days in a row I can do it?

One of the great things about couponing is that you find out about new products right away. I just printed out coupons for Crystal Light Mocktails. Never heard of it? Neither had I until I saw the coupon. Everyone keeps telling me I need to stop drinking so much Diet Pepsi. Guess I will just have to suffer with low calorie Margaritas!! Just another benefit of couponing. :)

Time to work on this week's menu.