Slow cooker "Baked" sweet potatoes.

I can't believe it, three posts in one week!  I am on a role!  I want to share my new favorite way to eat sweet potatoes. I placed 4 medium sized sweet potatoes in my slow cooker, I drizzled a little olive oil on top. (next time I may try coconut oil) I then shook a few very generous shakes of pumpkin pie spice on top. They cooked on low for 4 hours to absolute perfection. Now, when we eat sweet potatoes for the holidays, my husband usually bakes them with brown sugar, cinnamon, syrup, coconut and loads of butter. They are amazing, but not healthy at all. I did want a healthy alternative to putting butter on them.  I decided to take 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, two tablespoons of honey and a couple of healthy shakes of that pumpkin pie spice and blended it all together. We put it on the potatoes and it was amazing!  I also plan to keep the coconut oil mixture in the fridge for many other goodies to come. I hope you all enjoy my new favorite Paleo side dish.

Honey Mustard Slow Cooker Chicken

I am a huge fan of my slow cooker. I use it a few times a week. It is so convenient to throw something in while the babies are napping and have it perfectly done when the hubby gets home. I don't usually follow recipe directions, I tend to take an idea and just go with it. I love honey mustard chicken so I went ahead and made my own. This recipe can easily be converted to Paleo by making your own mustard. ( I plan on doing that very soon with this recipe here)

My plan was to make it ahead of time and cool it so we could eat it over salad. We did do this and it was very good, but I couldn't stop tasting it right out of the slow cooker. I was afraid we weren't going to have enough. Next time I'm going to double the batch. Here is what I did.

3 tbsp sweet hot mustard
3 tbsp regular mustard

1 tbsp honey

1 garlic clove 

1lb of chicken breast

I blended the ingredients together and poured them over the chicken. I cooked it for six hours on low because I wanted it to fall apart, but 4 hours would be sufficient. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!  Next time I will take a picture too!

Money Saving Tips- Food

 


Hello Everyone! Annette here :) I'm starting a new series of posts on ways to save money. Let's face it times are hard for a lot of people and we should always be good stewards of what God has given us.
 Tip #1- Keep a well stocked Pantry having simple pantry items on hand at all times will ensure you always have something to throw together for dinner and will help you avoid those last minute grocery store runs... you know the ones where you go in for 1 or 2 items and come out with 20! Stock up on pantry items when they are on sale so you won't have to pay more later. Also with a full pantry you don't have to worry about going out in that freak snow storm or flood... those things don't happen often around here but, you should be safe rather than sorry:)

Tip #2- Make it yourself! It's no secret that pre-package items cost more and often times include unhealthy ingredients. There are a ton of recipes online and on pinterest for homemade mixes and other pre-packaged items. Have you seen the inflation on prices of things like a ranch dressing packets? I recently made a ranch seasoning mix from Budget Savvy Diva (if you don't follow her on pinterest you should) and it was fantastic! No more expensive ranch packets for me. I never buy pancake mix or bisquick because pancakes, waffles, biscuits and dumplings are very easy to make homemade. I know what fat/oil I am using and I can make them whole wheat. You can also freeze homemade pancakes and waffles to make your own eggos. I will admit I do buy brownie and cake mix pre-packaged when they are on sale (nothing else ever seems as moist). I am planning on making up some different mixes in the near future. I will do an update with recipes once I see how they turn out.

Tip #3- Can it (or freeze, or dehydrate)! Home canning is a great way to save money. It definitely has some up front costs but, the equipment should last you a long time (if not a lifetime). A lot of times you can find mason jars at thrift stores and you my be able to find canning equipment on Craig's list or at estate sales or garage sales. Soon the only extra cost you have will be the disposable lids (which are cheapest at Wal-Mart). I also suggest getting a canning book, my favorite is "The Ball complete book of home preserving" it contains information on canning and freezing. Canning can provide your family with quick and easy meals so you won't end up wasting your money on unhealthy fast food. When you pressure can you are able to jar up whole meals. So far I've done: Beef stew. Chili con carne, ham and bean soup and chicken soup. I've also canned chicken breast, beef chunks, pork chunks and diced ham that can be thrown into an easy soup or casserole. Freezing and dehydrating are also good ways to preserve food and save money. I got an older dehydrator from my dad and plan to use it on this year's fruit and veggie harvest.

Tip #4- Grow a Garden. Every little bit helps whether all you have room for is a couple of potted tomatoes or multiple raised beds. Lettuce and kale are very easy to grow and do well in containers as do most herbs. I have strawberries on my back patio in pots and a little 3ft X 5ft garden in the front. I have lavender, lemon thyme, sage, Echinacea and lemon verbena in one half and Kale that will come back in the spring in the other half. I usually plant lettuce and zucchini in the spring. My parents have raised beds at their house and we grow tomatoes, green beans , corn, zucchini, and yellow squash. This year we are going to try potatoes in a trash can (this could be done even if you only have a patio). I am also lucky that my parents have 2 plum trees, 2 apple trees, a peach tree and 2 new pear trees. Last fall I asked my friends (via facebook) if they had any pear or apple trees that needed to be picked and if they had fruit to spare or even wanted at all. I was able to get both fruits and canned up some delicious pear butter and applesauce. Every fall I see fruit just rotting on the ground. Be brave! Knock on your neighbors door and ask if you can pick their tree. The worst they can say is no. You can also offer to pick the fruit and split it with them providing them with free labor and you with free fruit, it's a win/win. If you find yourself unable to plant some of your own veggies, you can join a CSA (which I plan on doing this year) and shop at your local farmers market. Also if you have a freezer try buying 1/4 cow or pig from a local grower. It is often less money per pound and raised much more naturally. Furthermore see if your land zoning allows you to keep your own chickens... I would if I could. Fresh eggs daily :)

Tip #5- Shop Sale Ads and Discount Stores I almost never buy anything unless its on sale or at a discounted price. Plan your meals around the weekly sale ads (I personally don't meal plan very well instead I buy what's on sale and then get creative) and buy extras of items that are a great price now to save for later. Meats, peppers, avocado, berries and breads can all be frozen for later use. Do your research and know your prices- it's the only way to know if you're getting a good deal or not. Don't forget to shop discount/overstock stores. I get some of my best deals at Grocery Outlet, Deal's Only and Big Lots (yes big lots has a great dry and canned food section). The Dollar Tree sometimes has good deals too but you have to be careful, just because it's a dollar doesn't make it a great deal. The same goes for Costco/Sam's Club/Cash n Carry just because it's wholesale doesn't make it cheaper, divide the product out by volume or weight compared to a normal size item. Some items I have noticed that are always less expensive in wholesale are: nuts, oils (olive and coconut), quinoa, splenda (but not sugar) and many spices, yeast, and baking powder. Don't give into impulse buys, sometimes... ok a lot of the time I find myself putting things in the cart I don't need. Right before I check out I always re evaluate what is in my cart and most of the time I end up putting something back.

Tip #6- Don't use Coupons on Items you don't Normally Buy!!! I am not saying using your coupons is a bad thing, but why would you get a product you don't normally use and or like just because they are cheap? You will end up spending more in the long run. Coupons are very hyped up right now, but using them on products you would be buying anyway can save you money. I get a free paper on Tuesdays that come with the smart source coupon book. I go through it and clip the ones I (or my mom) might use and I keep them in my purse. If you think you're going to be getting $800 worth of groceries for free think again. It takes multiple transactions and tons of coupon inserts and 8 hours in the grocery store to do that. It's a full time job! Plus when ladies on TV accomplish this amazing feat they shop at stores that match coupons to take more money off and they end up with 100 boxes of hamburger helper. Personally I don't think it's worth it. I am happy if I save 5-10 bucks on things I'd buy anyway. Some people do have great success with the Walgreen's and Rite Aid rewards programs. I just never shop at those stores.

Tip #7- Don't Throw your Food Away. Research and learn the truth about "sell by" and "best by" dates on your food. The USDA requires food manufactures To date all food items even if they are safe to eat past that date. All canned food is safe to eat after the "date" on the can as long as the can is not damaged or bulging. However the nutrition quality may decrease a bit and the food may start loose some texture, flavor should be fine. If any type of food tastes "off" it should not be eaten. For dinner the other night I had a can of solid tuna steak dated from 2011, it was perfect! I used to freak out about dates until I did my own researched and discovered most dates on food products are false. Truth be told this morning I had eggs that were dated Jan 14th, they tasted delish! You can test egg freshness by submerging them in a glass of cold water, if it sinks it's fresh if it tilts up somewhat it's borderline and needs be used and if it floats it's old. I personally never test mine and I've never had a rotten egg. Any dairy products should last seven days after the sell by date and I keep anything cultured (yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk) up to 14 days after the date, it's already full of good bacteria. Do you have a bunch of milk that you can't drink up before it will go bad? Make buttermilk by adding a little cultured butter milk to it and let it sit on the kitchen counter for 12ish hours. I encourage you to look up a tutorial on-line. Now that its cultured it will last for weeks! Just keep re culturing and you'll never need to buy buttermilk again. If you have veggies going south freeze them until you have enough to make a soup, veggie, or meat stock. You can also freeze the ends of your onions, celery, and carrot ends and peels to make stock because your gonna toss them out after the stock is done anyway. When I make stock I just rinse, chop and throw everything in the pot skins and all. Save all your meat bones (steak, whole chicken carcass, pork chops, bone in roasts, ham) in a freezer bag and when you've collected enough, make your family some super healthy bone broth. Is your garlic or fresh herbs going to go bad? Chop them up and mix them with olive oil. Then freeze it in ice cube trays. Just pop one in the pan while your cooking and you've got fresh herbs and garlic! I have a specific ice cube tray set aside for this purpose, garlic scented ice cubes do not sound very good to me :). Save your bacon grease, it has amazing flavor! I keep mine in a small glass dish in the fridge. It's great for frying up potatoes or eggs, put a little in your refried beans, use it to sauté veggies like green beans or collards, swiss chard or kale, or use it to make country gravy. Even I have my limits and I am very careful with raw meat and I also only allow cooked meat seven days in the fridge after cooking or opening of package (lunchmeat, hot dogs). If after a few days no one wants to eat the leftovers, toss 'em in the freezer for a homemade TV dinner or save all the odds and ends of roasts to make a kitchen sink soup (that's what I call my throw in anything I've got soup). Re-purpose leftovers, just go into google and type in "what to do with leftover ____" and an abundance of ideas will pop right up. In the USA we throw away 96 billion pounds of food, that is half of the food we produce. I really could go on and on about the environmental impact and the fact that people are still going hungry in the US. Instead I strongly urge you to rent the documentary DIVE! living off America's trash, it is an incredible movie. Don't over load your (or your kiddos) plate. You can always serve seconds but no one wants to eat food someone else has picked through, so it ends up in the trash. Finally if the veggies are too far gone (mushy and/or moldy) compost it! Egg shells can be composted too :)

I really hope these tips can help you lower your food bill and encourages you to try some things you maybe have not considered before. If you have any tips I haven't thought of please feel free to leave a comment. May God bless you and your families! <3 Annette

Pantry Staples...and More

Hi Guys! I'm (Annette) back! I just wanted to write a little post on something I feel can provide your family with security and help you live a more frugal life. What is it??? A well stocked "pantry" I put it in quotations because there are a few items on my list that need refridgeration. Having these items on hand can help make your life easier and insure you can always feed your family a homecooked meal. Fast food is expensive and bad for you and those impromptu grocery store runs always end up costing much, much more than expected. So here it is my pantry list, it may seem long but I always stock up on these items when they are on sale. Feel free to use this list as a guide line and get items your family likes :) DRY GOODS: White and Wheat Flour, Sugar (white, brown, powdered), Cornstarch, Cornmeal, Dry Milk Powder, Salt and Pepper, Noodles (I prefer Whole wheat), Rice (brown, white, wild, jasmine... whatever. You like), Quinoa, instant potatoes or ready made rice/noodle sides (if you like them), Beans/Lentils, Oatmeal, Cereal, Peanut Butter, Yeast, Baking Soda, Baking powder, dry fruit (raisins, craisins, apricots), and Nuts. Extra spices, cocoa powder and extracts are good to have on hand as ,well. Canned/Bottled Goods: Oil/Shortening/Lard, Vinegar, canned Tuna and/or Chicken, cream soups or dry mix equivalent (look up magic mix), canned Beans, canned Fruits and Veggies, canned Soups, Stews and chili, canned Tomatoes (whole, diced, stewed, sauce paste), and pasta sauce. FRESH/FRIDGE/FREEZER: Onions, Garlic, celery, carrots, potatoes (with these veggies you can make a ton of different soups and stews. Make use of that crockpot!), Eggs, Cheese, Milk, Butter, frozen Chicken Breast and Ground Beef/Turkey, Apples and Bananas (both can be used in baking or hot cereal if they get a little old). I know it's a lot but you most likely have most of these items in your home already. Make a list of the ones you don't and buy on sale. With prices rising every little bit helps :) I hope this post helps you inventory your own pantry. with the winter storms coming it couldn't hurt having a full pantry. Please leave any suggestions or items I. May have overlooked! Merry Christmas! Have a blessed holiday season! <3 Annette <3

The Tree Topper

Hubby and I returned from our weekend away rejuvenated and refreshed.  It was so nice to get away together and even nicer that it happened to fall right around our eighth anniversary.  We did, however, miss the kids so much that we came home early on the last day.  Baby girl did great, I was a bit worried having never been away from her.  The boys had a blast as well, Grandma B spoiles them and even though I stocked the fridge with all their favorite fruits and veggies, her donuts and cupcakes won out.  That's ok, what are grandparents for if not to spoil their grandkids. I did remind her though, that she wasn't able to send them home after sugaring them up, she paused for only a brief second and the grandma in her won out! (My parents do the same darn thing!).

          So Thanksgiving is passed and it's on to Christmas!  Yay!! My favorite time of year. Sure it's crazy and and every store you go into from here to New Years will be packed, but there's so much more to it.  I was thinking about that tonight as we decorated with the kids.  My boys really got into the tree decorating this year, even to the point of being upset when all the ornaments were on!  The night went from Christmas decorating to an all out wrestling match with Daddy, his two boys and baby girl!  I was recording it so I was immune from the attacks, it ended with daddy calling a truce.  If the boys broke it they forfeited all their presents and if Daddy broke it he had to buy them the 3DS they want.  Amazingly we had a pieceful bedtime.
         When The hubby and I got hitched a few years back, his wedding present to me was a few bags FULL of Christmas decorations. I have to admit my barely twenty-one year old, incredibly immature self was a bit disappointed. I had envisioned diamonds for my other fingers. After all, their were nine left.  My disappointment was short lived and I was won over by how cute and Christmassy our very first apartment looked.  If you don't count college dorms ( I use the term 'dorms' loosely) this was our very first place away from our parents and those Christmas decorations helped make our apartment feel like a home.  This was especially hard for me since my family was two states away.  The one thing he didn't buy was a tree topper.  This we were to do together.  It was so special to be picking this out with him. We didn't have a whole lot if money, so we needed something on the cheaper side yet still nice and have meaning.  We found the most beautiful Cross.  Of course the cross Christ was crucified on looked nothing like this one, but we wanted that symbol atop our tree to remind us the real reason we celebrate.  We use Christmas Day to celebrate that tiny babies birth, but so many people leave Him in that manger.  At least until Easter.  We need to remember every day that that baby grew up, walking in the perfect will of His Father; He came to this earth to die for wretched sinners like you and me.  He didn't have to, but He did.  I no longer have to fear death because Jesus is my victory; yes I will die, but I will be immediately made alive in Him.

       I love to see my children's face when they receive gifts, the way they light up is priceless. The only Gift that my children really need is Jesus.  Toys and games are fun for now, but an eternity of hellfire awaits them if they do not have Him. I know, what a terrible thought, but it's the absolute truth.  I pray God gives them the gift of salvation more than I pray for anything else.
  I look forward to this joyous season.  As my babies get older activities such as baking cookies and wrapping presents are much more fun.  It's nice having little hands to help.  We have plans to make all sorts of yummy and fun goodies together, and involve some friends and family in the fun also.
My oldest said to me today ' Mom why is daddy working so hard so we can have presents?  We don't need presents we just need to spend time together '  I replied that he's right and we will be spending a lot of time together.  Quickly he responded ' but two or three presents would still be ok!'  Oh how I love these little monsters!

Guest Post: "Frugal Holiday Shopping," by nina the mom

Thanks Melissa & Annette for inviting me to post today!

First, a little about me.

I am a stay at home mom and wife… and boy do I love it!

We have a 13 month-old son, Little Guy, as well as another little boy who will debut sometime late January 2013.

My husband {Handsome} and I are dedicated to living well and debt-free, which can be difficult in this day and age,
especially on one income, am I right?

We just moved to Sunny Island, Washington from Retirement Community, Idaho.  {Quite a change, but we love it!}

I have a passion for all things crafty, cooking, baking blogging, and organization… not that I’ve
mastered any of these things, but I
like learning, bettering my household, and as a believer being a good steward of the blessings in my life.

Today I am sharing about frugal holiday shopping, as well as announcing the Grand Opening of nina the mom’s Etsy store!

Since Handsome and I both like having nice things, I have taken on the role of bargain hunting,
even (and especially) in my every day shopping.

I am very purposeful in planning purchases, researching online, and not settling for
less. {Settling for less is the downfall of being frugal. Don’t settle, friends!}

I don’t take the time to clip every coupon I see, mainly because I find that coupons
don’t save me much money.

It can be a real drain on my time to clip, print and keep coupons for things that
aren’t an AMAZING deal.  {So, I don’t.}

Christmas is just around the corner and we all know that Black Friday is THIS Friday.
We have a pretty specific budget when it comes to buying gifts.

We love to buy gifts for others, but honestly it can be a huge financial burden. 

So, we look at our finances and decide what we can spend and budget accordingly.

Since we like to get our loved ones the nicest, most thoughtful gifts we can afford,
I use a few tricks to help me find the best deals, that way we get the biggest
bang for our buck.

First of all, Black Friday is a crazy shopping opportunity.

Let’s start off by taking some tips from Old St. Nick…

Come on, you know.  Make a list; check it twice.

Start with that list.

Planning is the key to frugal shopping!

It will deter you from frivolously spending money just because things are a “good
buy.”  Remember we’re buying thoughtfully, not randomly.

So BUDGET!  
Figure out what you can afford to spend, then brainstorm about what you’d like to buy for people.  {Don't leave off items just because they aren't quite in the budget, you never know what you might be able to find on sale!}  I usually have a few ideas for each person, which gives me flexibility in my shopping to get something I think they will enjoy for a great deal.

Now checking it twice. 

Let’s start with those store ads: 
Most stores have had their Black Friday advertisements out for a while.

Black Friday is a website has just about every store's Black Friday ads.

They have the normal prices of each item next to the Black Friday deal, so you can
see how nice of a deal it actually is.  {and if it’s worth getting up at 4am to save $2}

You can compare prices of different stores and make a wish list of the things you
really like.

Lots of stores will be having Black Friday sales online, so check those out to see if
you can snag free shipping, skip the masses, and stay in your jammies a
little longer.

Now take your list and get to browsing online:

I have a few frugal sidekicks that I turn to first when shopping online.

TheFrugalGirls.com

NoMoreRack.com

I love The Frugal Girls!
Their website is full of all kinds of specials, and I love to open their daily emails!

You can check out great photo deals (free prints, photo books, and photo gift deals).  They have a coupon database and lists of current specials on just about anything.

It’s amazing; it’s genius… I wish I had come up with it.

No more rack is pretty awesome, too. They work similarly to Overstock, so when the stock
runs out, it’s gone.

They offer free shipping on your first purchase (woohoo) and charge $2 for every
item after that… not too shabby!

REMEMBER when you’re shopping online that you can usually add a promo code to make your
purchase even cheaper.  I always Google “Wherever
Promo Code.” Usually retailmenot.com has a good stock of coupon codes.  I almost always find one for free shipping or a percentage off of my purchase.

Places like Walmart and Costco have great online deals and offer free or super cheap
shipping on lots of items.

I adored Costco for free shipping on baby diapers when Little Guy was really little. 
Because who wants to take a newborn to town, much less Costco?

AND, my dear Washingtonians, who doesn’t LOVE skipping a trip to Costco when
the Canadian dollar is worth so much??
{I went to Costco last Sunday… I’ll just say that I wish they could also ship boneless, skinless chicken breasts to my house.  If they could do that and throw in one of their turkey ciabatta sandwiches, I don’t think I’d ever step foot into a real-life Costco again.}

The great part about online shopping is you can browse without pressure to buy anything, "wander" without catching that hacker’s cough, or even change out of your yoga pants!

If you want to skip the Big Box Store route, it’s always fun to make things for people.
Who doesn’t love something homemade?
It just screams “I love you so much that I spent hours making this just for you!!”

You can find lots of tutorials online for just about anything.  {Pinterest and Youtube are great resources.}

And, if you’re not in the craftiest of moods, you can always buy a handmade item for
someone else.  I’m talking craft fairs and Etsy.

If you haven’t heard of Etsy, what rock have you been living under it’s a place
online where people have individual stores to sell their homemade items.  I think there are some great finds, so check
it out. Etsy.com

{Most Etsy shops will even make special orders.}

I opened a new Etsy shop this year, but since becoming pregnant I have
neglected it so much. {shame… I know}

I did manage to sell at a few craft fairs, which was a hoot.

Starting today, I am hosting a Grand Opening Black Friday sale, and you should check it out!  Everything is on sale!

I specifically specialize in crocheted items, and have sold specialty baby hats
to several photographers.  {What is cuter than a newborn?  Snuggle them up in a cozy
elf hat, stick ‘em in a basket, and you’ll know.}

I stock hats in 3 styles: “Frosty Weather” (which is a cozy beanie), “Gnome” (with a pointy top), and “Elf” (with a long tail).  These hats are made with very soft, thick yarn (Lion Brand Hometown USA).  They are available in 50 colors and in every size from newborn to adult.  I can make them in single colors, multi-tone and for $2 you can add a bow, buttons or “cubby
ears.”

I also make “Buttonable Petite Scarves.”  These
are great for moms like me, who don’t want to be strangled by their baby with a
long, flowing scarf.  They are made with
the same Lion Brand yarn and you can choose how many buttons (1-3) you would
like on the end.

My shop also features adorable baby onesies (available in premie-24 month sizes).

For the boys, I have “Little Man” onesies that have been remade with a bow, neck tie,
or vest and tie.  For the little ladies, I have “Ballerina Baby” onesies that have an adorable, ultra-soft tutu attached around the waist.

As we all prepare for holiday shopping, whether this week or in the weeks to come

remember these simple tricks to make a list {and check it twice}, be creative and most of all, be joyful.  We have so much to be thankful for.

Y       love. love. love        

Nina the mom

My new obsession... HOME CANNING!

I love love love home canning! It's only my second year canning and it has been such a great experience with a lot of work, a little failure, and quite a bit of success. I wish I could enthrall you with tales of Grandmotherly wisdom and advice that I learned when I was knee high to a grasshopper but, alas that is not how my story goes. Don’t get me wrong I adore/adored my grandmothers and they did give me great advice just not about canning. They were city girls... one could barely cook at all. So when I decided to start "putting up" aka canning our garden harvest I was on my own. luckily I wasn’t really alone... thank you internet, bloggers and you tube! Be careful though there are some really unsafe recipes and advice out there. I always refer to my Ball Blue Book and other reliable recourses. there are two types of safe canning, hot water bath canning and pressure canning. You can only use hot water bath canning with high acid foods like fruits, pickles, and tomatoes (with added acid). pressure canning must be used with low acid foods like beans, meat and most veggies (unless pickled). at first I was a little scared... I didn't want to kill my family and friends with botulism! Hearing the little pinging sound of my first jars sealing quickly quelled my fears and I was hooked. I recently just canned my first jars of chicken breasts and chicken stock.

It is a great feeling knowing exactly what is in my canned foods and saving our garden fruits and veggies for all year long. I hope this post inspires you to start Conning soon, trust me you'll love it! <3 Annette If you have any questions please feel free to ask… I’ll try to answer the best I can :)