Mama knows best : trash can tip!

We as mamas have to be innovative and thrifty all in the same beat. Somehow we find new ways of doing things that save us money, time and maybe if we are really blessed.... sanity!

This weeks tip comes from Traci who has an awesome deals blog :) You can check it out here!

Here are a tip that I use to help keep my sanity:

To save time when taking out the trash, I keep about 4 – 5 trash bags in the bottom of each trash can. Then, when I pull out the full bag, another one is right there and I pull it out and put it back into the can. This way, I am only running around the house looking for trash bags once a month.

Do you have a money/time/sanity tip to share? E-mail me at everythingmom@live.com !

Giant Eagle Bargain recipe of the week: Easy Italian Chicken

Anything with "easy" in the title of a recipe catches my eye. Mama's are too busy to be slaving over a stove for hours at a time! Serve over rice and a green veggie for a complete meal. Hope your family enjoys.. happy eating y'all!!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. W/C means with coupon.

Easy Italian Chicken

8 chicken legs, halved (On sale $.79/lb) $2.37
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil $.10
salt to taste
1/2 cup water

In a large skillet, brown the chicken pieces in oil and cook for about 15 minutes over medium heat.

Crush garlic cloves and squeeze over chicken. Cover skillet and cook over low heat for 10 minutes each side. Remove cover, sprinkle with red pepper flakes and salt to taste, add water and simmer over low heat until water evaporates and the chicken pieces are sticky and yummy!

Total Cost of Meal: $2.47

Add rice (Knorrs on sale $1) Total Cost of Meal: $3.47

Add rice and fresh Broccoli (On sale $.99/lb) Total Cost of Meal: $4.47

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Meijer Bargain recipe of the week: Super Simple Chicken Dinner

I am all about simple and easy so this recipe jumped out at me! I usually buy boneless chicken breasts but the prices of bone in chicken is just too good to pass up! Feel free to add extra spices......Happy Eating!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. W/C means with coupon.

Super Simple Chicken

4 bone-in chicken breast halves, with skin (On sale $99/lb) $1.50
4 tablespoons butter $.25
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish or roasting pan. Mix butter and seasonings together. Spread on Chicken.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Total Cost of Meal: $1.75

Add Butter noodles (Barilla on sale w/c $.39) Total Cost of Meal: $2.14

Add veggies (Green Giant on sale w/c FREE) Total Cost of Meal: $2.14

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Kroger bargain recipe of the week: Tender Pork Roast

Yeah Fall!!! To me fall means pies, decorations, football and crockpot cooking !!! This recipe has gotten RAVE reviews so I am super excited to try this out. I plan on using the leftovers for pork quesadillas or tacos. Happy eating Y'all!!!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand.

Tender Pork Roast

1 (3 pound) boneless pork roast (On sale $1.28/lb) $3.84
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (Hunts on sale $1) $.34
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground mustard

Cut roast in half; place in a slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F-170 degrees F. Remove roast to a serving platter and keep warm. If desired, skim fat from pan juices and thicken for gravy.

Total Cost of Meal: $4.18

Add mashed potatoes (10 lb bag on sale $2.99) Total Cost of Meal: $5.18

Add mashed potatoes and salad (Dole on sale $.98) Total Cost of Meal: $6.16

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

A Teachers View: Cooking with Kids

I am blessed to live next to a elementary school teacher who loves my kids and we love her!! She has multiple education degrees and is the first person I run to when I am worried about speech, development or anything learning related!! She has agreed to write a weekly post for me on some common concerns involving little ones and just great tips! If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com.


Cooking with Kids

I love cooking with kids! There are so many great reasons to do it. First, hello, there’s food involved. Second, kids are usually more willing to eat something if they helped make it. Third, there’s a lot of learning that can go on as you mix up a batch of something yummy! The possibilities are endless!

Preschoolers

Have your preschooler help you count out eggs, put in cupcake liners, pour premeasured ingredients, count the number of cups you need, fetch metal or plastic utensils, put dishes in the dishwasher

Early Elementary Grades K and 1st

Have your kiddos count out cupcake liners, scoop dry goods like sugar or flour, set a timer, break eggs (into a separate container of course!), scrape sides of a mixing bowl, mix something by hand like brownies or meatloaf (realizing you’ll have to finish the job)

Middle Elementary Grades 2nd and 3rd

Have kids write the grocery list, help you shop and compare prices, figure out how to double a recipe, demonstrate simple conversions (“I need a cup of milk, but only the ½ cup is clean. How many should I use?”), measure and add ingredients, cut soft items with a plastic knife

Late Elementary Grades 4th and 5th

Shop and stay within a budget, use more complex conversions (“I need 2 cups of milk, but only the 1/3 cup is clean. How many do I need?”), run an electric mixer with supervision, spoon or pour mixtures into vessels, follow a simple recipe

Cooking with kids gets them into some family fun but also works on math, social studies, science, and fine motor skills.

Happy Cooking!

Menu Plan Monday: Are you chicken?

Once again I am excited to try some yummy chicken recipes!! I have been getting some great deals on chicken lately, sweetening the deal:) I hope y'all have a very yummy week!

Monday: Honey Mustard Grilled chicken, corn on the cob, salad

Tuesday: Fish and Mac & cheese

Wednesday: Ground beef tacos, re fried beans, Spanish rice

Thursday: Easy Chicken cacciatore, noodles, crescent rolls

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Leftover night- if its in the fridge you can have it, but mamas not cookin!!

Sunday: Cheeze It Chicken, green beans, roasted rosemary potatoes