Giant Eagle Bargain Recipe of the week- Almost stuffed peppers

Boy, does my hubby love stuffed peppers! I love them too but what I don't love is how long it takes to make them! I am so excited to try this recipe because it sounds like the "real thing" without the work. Feel free to add your own spices or veggies to this. I plan to put mine over noodles! Happy Eating Y'all!

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

Almost Stuffed Peppers

1 pound ground beef (On sale $1.80 a lb) $1.80
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained .89
1 large pepper cut into 1/4-inch slices (On sale 2.99 a lb) .99
1 medium onion, thinly sliced .60
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice (Rice a Roni on sale 8 for $10) .30

In a large skillet, brown beef; drain. Set beef aside and keep warm.

In the same skillet, combine water, tomatoes, pepper, onion and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender.

Stir in rice; cover and remove from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in beef; return to the stove and heat through.

Total cost of Meal: $4.58

Add noodles Total Cost of Meal: $5.08

Add noodles and garlic Bread ( Texas Toast on sale 2 for $5) Total Cost of Meal: $5.91

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Doctor drama....

I decided after getting sick various times over the last couple of months that I needed to break down and get a physical. After having two babies, I want to be preventative in the care for myself. The thought of letting something go that I could have taken care of drives me crazy.

I met my new doctor who was simply lovely. She was very thorough and I congratulated myself on getting references, asking other doctors that I knew and making a wise decision. Surely, God has led me to this wonderful women who would keep my body in working order. I was going to love having a a doctor that was close and compassionate! What a blessing.

At the end of the exam she asked if I had gotten a tetanus shot lately. I shrugged my shoulders, smiling saying I wasn't quite sure. She then smiled just as sweetly saying that I would be getting one today. My eyes narrowed as the doctor started to look more sinister in the florescent lighting. Hmmm...

The nurse came in and gave me a sympathetic look. She informed me that this shot could really hurt and I could be sore for a couple weeks. I wanted to tell her that my son was 8'14 and I pushed for 1 1/2 after the epidural wore off so I could handle a little shot but refrained.

She gave it to me and I felt like a champ. It wasn't that bad, I could handle pain! I went on about my day. Grocery shopping, cleaning. I did notice a little ache start to creep up my shoulder but I thought... it will get better! I'm tough! I was just trying to thank God for providing such a thorough doctor!

By dinner time the little ache had turned into a full on pain. I couldn't lift anything (have you ever tried to lift a 3 year old with one hand.. uggg ) I had to use my left hand to physically make my right hand pass something. ( Very visually entertaining, I assure you!) I started to get aggravated at the all consuming pain. Maybe this doctor has a dark side... maybe she left my room and hunched her troll shoulders, threw her head back and let out a "mwaaaaa ha ha ha"

By bedtime I was almost in tears. The Advil had helped a little but I thought the best thing to do was to just turn in for the night. My hubby was in the backyard talking to our neighbor about the bee problem. I went into the bedroom to get my Jammies on. I took my shorts off, painfully I might add, and then started to take my shirt off.

I managed to get the shirt halfway off. (It was the most painful thing I have experiences since my daughter decided to make her entry into the world like a bullet.) I managed to get my arm halfway up. The shirt was over my face and as I was slowly trying to get my arm lifted the buttons on the front of my shirt, snagged on my nose. Did you hear me people?!?! I had a button stuck up my nose.

Please picture the scene. I was standing in my undies, shirt stuck over my head, button snagged on my nose and my arm hurt so bad that it was trapped in the sleeve. I started to panic. I felt a little bead of sweat start to form. I couldn't yell for my hubby, the kids were asleep. I couldn't maneuver to the door because he was on our back porch talking to our neighbor. The site alone would ensure that the man would have nightmares for a long..... long time.

I managed to throw myself on the floor with only a little thud. I somehow worked the button out of my nose and this freed the good arm to pull the shirt off. I sat on the floor for a few minutes thinking about the devil woman doctor that did this to me.

So take my advice people. If someone perfectly nice asks you if you have had a tetanus shot lately, say yes.

And the Winner is.....

And the winner is for the Tilty Cup sippy cups is..............

Becky!!!

( random number org picked #14)

I will be e-mailing you girl. Congrats!

Meijer Bargain Recipe of the week- Parmesan Chicken

Meijer has chicken drumsticks on sale for .99 a lb! Every time I look at them I think of hot wings... not exactly kid friendly. Then I found this recipe. Since drumsticks are perfect for little hands to hold and eat, I am super excited to try this out! Happy Eating Y'all!!

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

Parmesan Chicken

12 chicken drumsticks (On sale .99 a lb) $2
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese (Meijer brand on sale $2.50) $2.50
1 egg (On sale .98) .08
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

In a shallow bowl, mix together salt, pepper, and cheese. In a separate bowl, beat egg until lemon colored. Dip chicken in egg, coating well. Roll in cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, or until brown.

Total cost of Meal: $4.58

Add Freshlike Veggies ( On sale $1) Total Cost of Meal:$5.58

Add veggies and butter noodles ( Barilla on sale .79) Total Cost of Meal:$5.97

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Works for me Wednesday- Mom I'm bored edition

I am a blessed woman indeed that my kidlets don't know what the word bored means ... yet. I can always tell when they are bored, however when they start to whiiiinnnnnneeeee and roll around on the floor. :)


To keep the whining to a minimum, I try to keep a couple craft items on hand. Potatoes stamps are easy, fun and cheap. You simply need some fabric paint, a couple of potatoes and fabric of your choice. ( You can also use Acrylic paint and paper... any cookie cutter will do as well!)

I found white flour sacks towels at the dollar store. I then cut a potato in half and pressed a star shaped cookie cutter into the exposed part of the potato. I cut away the out side excess and whalah! A perfect star stamp! The round part that they stamp with is perfect for little hand too!

I then let my little guy stamp to his hearts content. He had a blast and now I have a Forth of July towel that makes me think of my little guy every time I look at it! (He practically beamed with pride while showing my hubby.) The whole project cost $1.10 and kept my toddler entertained!

Big kids can get into the fun too... like Mamas who get bored :)

For more boredom busters visit We are that Family!

Don't forget!!!

Don't forget to leave a comment to win 2 Tilty cups!!

I will be drawing the winner tomorrow!!!

Kroger Bargain Recipe of the week- Crock Pot London Broil !!

Kroger is having their "meat mania" this week. (I try to stock up during these really good sales. London Broil is one of my favorites.) We usually marinate it over night, grill it and then slice into thin slices. This recipe I found however, would be perfect for one of those still cool Ohio days. Happy Eating Y'all!

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

London Broil for the Slow Cooker

1 1/2 pounds London broil (On sale $2.69 a lb) $4.05
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup .99
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt

Place the London broil in a slow cooker; add the garlic, mushroom soup, water, basil, oregano, and salt; cover; cook on low 6 to 7 hours.

Total Cost of Meal: $5.04 (Reduce the costs by using leftovers for shredded beef tacos!)

Add Salad (on sale .98) Total Cost of Meal: $5.70

Add salad and cheddar broccoli rice (Knorr on sale $1) Total Cost of Meal: $6.70

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A Teachers View: Summer School???

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. If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com

My Child has to go to Summer School?!?! In Elementary School?!?!

As the school year winds down, many teachers are sending out recommendations for summer school. If your child gets ones, don’t panic!

At the primary elementary level, summer school is not punishment, it does not mean Billy did not pass 1st grade. The intend of primary summer school is usually one of two things: 1) to help get a child over that final hump to be ready for the next grade or 2) to help a child maintain the progress he/she has made all school year. Studies show that students can lose as much as an entire reading level over summer vacation as well as math skills. The goal of primary summer school is to prevent that loss.

At the intermediate elementary level, things are a little different. Summer school may be used to reinforce what was taught over the school year, to work on specific skills such as Achievement Test preparation, or to combat a failing grade. Again, the goal here is to help the kids be successful for next fall.

Summer school is usually only a couple of weeks for a couple of hours a day. The summer school teachers I’ve talked to tell me there is a lot of work being done, but the kids also really enjoy themselves.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Grilled Lemon Herb Pork Chops, Rice, Grilled Bell Pepper

Tuesday: Taco Mac and Cheese, Green beans, Crescent Rolls

Wednesday: Leftover night- If its not movin, you can have it!

Thursday: Shrimp Kabobs, Ranch cheesy potatoes, Grilled Asparagus

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Quick and Easy Mexican Chicken, Spanish Rice, Re-fried Beans

Sunday: BBQ pork chops, Corn on the cob, salad

Bargain recipe of the week- Taco mac and cheese.

I am trying to keep the recipes simple this week. Mama's are tired, tired people! The kiddos are sure to love this recipe and you are sure to love the ease of preparation! I freeze half of this and have it at a later time reducing the cost. Happy Eating y'all!

Velveeta Taco Mac & Cheese

1 lb. ground beef (On sale $1.69 a lb) $1.69
1/3 cup Salsa ( On sale Natures Basket organic salsa on sale 2.79) .47
1 box Velveeta shells and cheese (On sale $2) $2

1 package taco seasoning .80

Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in 2 and 3/4 cups water, salsa and seasoning. Bring to boil; stir in macaroni. Cover; simmer 10 minutes or until water is almost absorbed. Add Velveeta; stir until melted.

Top with crushed tortilla chips, chopped green onions and tomatoes, if desired.

Total Cost of Meal: $4.96

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Tilty cup review and giveaway!!

Recently I had been asked to product review the new Tilty cup. Its a cup that is DYE Free, BPA Free, PVC Free, Pthalate Free, pure polypropylene, and is dishwasher safe. Its design is supposed to help little ones learn to drink from a sippy cup with more ease and comfort.

When I received my Tilty cup in the mail I looked at it a long time..... it has this slant in the middle of the cup. I was wondering how it would work? It didn't take me long to realize that the little slant helped babies not have to tilt their head back or to tip the cup up. I don't know about you but one of the hardest things about getting my babies to start sippy cups is teaching them they have to lift the cup up. Often they get frustrated and so does big mama!

I also see the value in using it when you are trying to teach a child to go to a big cup. They don't have to tip it in the air and there is no valve so it would leak a little. They get the idea very quickly and drink from it like a regular cup. You could easily take the lid off after a week or so with more ease than a traditional cup.

Its not fancy but it my opinion very practical. You can get a 2 pack for $6 which makes it a great value as well!

To add to my excitement the Tilty cup people have given me a 2 pack to give away! If you would like the chance to win it, just leave a comment and I will draw the winner on Wednesday! Good luck girls!

Meijer bargain recipe of the week- Quick and Easy Mexican Chicken

I love recipes that take 30 minutes or less. That's just about the amount of time I have to prepare dinner without someone being attached to my leg or throwing their little body on the floor in a heap of hunger. :) This recipe seems so simple that I had to try it out... happy eating!

Check out Stretching a Buck deals here to see more deals at Meijer. I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. W/C means with coupon.

Quick And Easy Mexican Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (Meijer chicken on sale $7.99 for 64 oz) $1.92
1 cup salsa (On sale $1 W/C free!)
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (Sargento on sale 3 for $6) $1
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 pinch ground cumin

Preheat oven to 375 degrees .

Heat a greased skillet to medium. Rub chicken pieces with garlic, salt, pepper and cumin to taste and add to hot skillet. Cook until brown on both sides and no longer pink (10 to 15 minutes).

Transfer meat to 9 x 13 inch baking dish or casserole dish, top with salsa and cheese and bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes (until cheese is bubbly and starts to brown.)

Total cost of Meal: $2.92

Add Salad (Dole on sale .98) Total cost of Meal: $3.90

Add salad and frozen veggie (On sale Meijer brand 5 for $5) Total cost of Meal: $4.90

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Kids crafts: Garden Rocks!

I love my little garden. What made it even more lovable this year is that my 3 year old helped me plant almost every seed / plant! He dug holes, placed the seeds and covered them up. To mark the spots where we had planted things we put sticks in the ground.

Fast forward a couple weeks later and the sticks are hard to see if they are still there. This makes it very difficult to know what is weed and what is a new veggie springing to life.

Since I am always looking for cheap crafts for the kids to do I killed two birds with one stone. I got out my outdoor acrylic paint that is both UV and water proof and some old paintbrushes. (You can find this at any craft store and usually on sale)

I sent my three year old on a rock scavenger hunt. ((If your super lucky this will buy you 10 minutes to read that chapter in the book you have been meaning to read!)) I then let both my kids paint their rocks any color, any way they want. I won't even get into the call to poison control when my daughter decided to test some out.... yes, I could win mother of the year. Good times.....

They had a ball! I even did my own rocks and almost had as much fun!! We let them dry and then we all marched out to our garden. We removed the sticks and placed a rock by each spot we planted something. Now we know exactly where to look to see if all our hard work payed off. We also have a very colorful garden!

For more WFMW ideas vivit We are that Family!

Kroger bargain recipe of the week- Grilled lemon herb pork chops

Kroger has pork loin on sale for $1.78 a lb which is an awesome price!! If your anything like me you just stand there staring at the big log of meat. The only way I have made a pork tenderloin is the way God intended... in the crockpot! So I am going to be brave, march my tushy up to the butcher and ask him to cut them into pork chops. Happy Eating!

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

Grilled Lemon Herb Pork Chops

1/4 cup lemon juice .80
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 (4 ounce) boneless pork loin chops (Pork Loin on sale $1.78 a lb) $1.78

In a large resealable bag, combine lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt, oregano, and pepper. Place chops in bag, seal, and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. Turn bag frequently to distribute marinade.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Remove chops from bag, and transfer remaining marinade to a saucepan. Bring marinade to a boil, remove from heat, and set aside.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill pork chops for 5 to 7 minutes per side, basting frequently with boiled marinade, until done.

Total Cost of Meal: $2.58

Add Salad (Dole on sale .98) Total cost of Meal: $3.32

Add Salad and White corn (Green Giant sale 10 for $10) Total cost of Meal: $4.32

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!