30 Meals in 30 Days

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Here is recipe number 2 in the series.  I hope you enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

Total prep time: 45 minutes

Total cooking time in oven: 30 minutes

1.5-2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breast

Vegetable or canola oil for browning the chicken

1 pack of taco seasoning

Additional salt, pepper, or garlic salt

1 package of cream cheese, regular sized package

8 flour tortillas, burrito size, about 7-8 inches across

1 lb of shredded mexican cheese

1-2 cans of mild enchilada sauce, each can is about 10-14 oz.

NOTE: I am typing this by memory, so please excuse any minor mistakes I may make.  Make this recipe “yours” by adjusting the seasoning or the amount of meat or cheese as you see fit.

1.) Put 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet and heat.  Take the chicken breasts and place them into the skillet and brown on one side, on medium high heat, about 5 minutes.  Flip the breasts over and brown for another 2-3 minutes.  Then remove the breasts from the pan, place on a plate, and cut the meat into cubes/chunks.  After cutting up all the breasts, put them back into the frying pan, shake your taco seasoning and additional salt, pepper, or garlic salt, if desired, on the chicken.  Add 2-3 tablespoons of water, and stir to mix the chicken and seasonings.  Finish thoroughly cooking the breasts, until they are white all the way through, no pink.

2.) While the breasts are cooking, cube the cream cheese, into about 12-15 cubes.

3.) When the breasts are done cooking, keep the chicken in the pan and add the cubed, cream cheese to the chicken.  Turn the heat to medium low, allowing the cream cheese to melt around the chicken.  Stir the chicken and cream cheese occasionally, to thoroughly mix.

4) After the cream cheese has melted completely and the chicken and cream cheese are mixed, turn off the heat from the pan, place the pan to the side, keeping the chicken in the pan.

5.)  Open the can of enchilada sauce and pour just enough sauce into your 9×13 pan to cover the bottom, not too thick of a layer, but not too thin, either.  Put both the 9×13 pan and can of enchilada sauce to the side.

6.) Place a tortilla on a plate, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of shredded, mexican cheese onto the tortilla and spoon about 3-4 tablespoons of chicken mixture onto the tortilla (use your judgement for the amounts of chicken and shredded cheese that you would like to use for each enchilada).  Spread the shredded cheese and the chicken down the middle of the tortilla (like you would if you were stuffing a burrito).  Roll the tortilla so that the seam of the rolled tortilla is face down.  Place the rolled tortilla in the 9×13 pan.

7.) Repeat step 6 until you do not have any more tortillas to fill.

8.) Pour the remaining can of enchilada sauce over the filled tortillas in the 9×13 pan.  Then, sprinkle the tortillas with any remaining shredded cheese.

9.) Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, just long enough for the enchilada sauce to bubble and the shredded cheese inside the filled tortillas to melt.

10.) Remove from the oven and enjoy!  Top with sour cream, if desired. This recipe makes approximately 8 enchiladas.

 

I AM BACK!!!

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After a lonnngggg hiatus away from blogging, I am back.  With school starting back, it meant back to work, back to homework with the girls, and back to the go, go, go of tight schedules all week.  As I have mentioned before, I have four girls ages 3-12 and they each have some type of activity/extracurricular in which they participate.  My oldest is on a competitive cheer team, my 8 year old is on a swim team, and my 6 year old is going to participate in Girl Scouts this year as a Daisy.  Thankfully, my 3 year old is just along for the ride, getting in where she fits in.  I have been roped in to being a Daisy leader for this year.  I also volunteered my husband and I to be occasional Sunday school teachers at church.  I feel as if am being pulled in 100 different directions.  There is NO down time at my house.  I crave time to just sit and stare into space or at a TV or just to lay and not think about what is coming next, did I prepare lunch, lesson plans, Daisy plans, projects/homework, etc.  This blog entry today is actually turning out to be a vent, as I type.  Sorry about that, but just keepin’ it real.  Hopefully, I will not duck out again for two months, but who knows.  Sometimes life will swallow you up for awhile.  But, now that I am back, I will continue with my 30 meals over 30 days, starting…NOW:)

Free Chick-Fil-A today!

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Today is Chick-Fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day, http://www.cowappreciationday.com/.  Anyone who comes dressed head to toe in a cow outfit will receive a free combo meal.  Those who prefer to wear a partial cow outfit (hat, sunglasses, mask, etc) will receive a free entree (sandwich).  This is so much fun for kids and such a great way to enjoy a frugal, family dinner.  My kids and I will definitely be participating today:)

30 days of easy dinners is here!

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Picky, picky, picky.  These three words describe my family’s eating habits to a T.  They don’t like leftovers most days, they want variety, I want it to be healthy but frugal, some do not like fish/seafood, some don’t like the way the chicken/meat looks(???).  UGGGHHH!  Deciding what to cook daily is a chore for me.  In order to cut down food costs, for the past year I have started trying to plan out meals at least for the week.  It really does help me with regards to my food budget, but ESPECIALLY with regards to my sanity in answering the question, “what’s for dinner”.  With school starting in the next month or so, at least here in Georgia, I have already started panicking when thinking about the hectic weekdays and trying to get dinner prepared for my busy family.  So, I decided to do a “30 days of dinner” series.  Each day I will post a dinner that I have tried or want to try, that hopefully will be quick and easy to prepare.  I don’t know about you, but I hate recipes that call for ingredients that I NEVER buy and would never have in my pantry, so I have tried to eliminate recipes like that.

Here’s the first one from my friend Angie in Houston, Texas: Texas-Style Enchilada Casserole.  Enjoy and let me know how you enjoyed the recipes!

TEXAS-STYLE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Texas-Style Enchilada Casserole Recipe

  • 1 pound ground chuck
  • 1/2 medium-size red onion, chopped
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
  • 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 (2 1/4-ounce) can sliced ripe black olives
  • 1 cup mild enchilada sauce $
  • 1/2 cup sour cream $
  • 1 (8-ounce) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
  • Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, finely chopped red onion
  1. Cook first 3 ingredients in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain well.
  2. Place beef mixture in a large bowl. Stir in tortilla pieces, next 4 ingredients, and 1 cup cheese; spoon mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 cup cheese.
  3. Bake at 400° for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Serve casserole with desired toppings.
  4. “Lightened Texas-Style Enchilada Casserole:” Substitute 1 pound ground sirloin, 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup light sour cream, and 1 (8-ounce) block 2% reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese. Proceed as directed.
  5. Shredded chicken breast or ground turkey can be substituted for beef in this recipe.

Aldi deals for July 5-10, 2012

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ALDI USAHere is just a quick reminder of the deals at Aldi’s for the next few days.  I will post the new week of Aldi’s deals Wednesday, July 11 in the morning.

PRODUCE:

Mushrooms-$0.79/package

Multi-colored, sweet peppers, 3-pack-$1.99

Grape tomatoes-$0.99

Yellow onions, 3-lb bag-$0.79

Baking potatoes, 5-lb bag-$1.49

MEAT:

Kirkwood frozen, chicken breasts, 3-lb bag-$5.49 ($1.83/lb)

Ground beef, 80/20-$2.99/lb

Kirkwood fresh chicken breasts-$1.99/lb

Kirkwood fresh chicken drumsticks and thighs-$0.99/lb

OTHER:

L’oven white hamburger or hot dog buns, 12-oz package-$0.79 each

Happy Farms sliced cheese, american or swiss, 12 oz. package-$1.49 each

PurAqua purified drinking water, 24-16.9 oz bottles-$2.29 each

Tuscan Garden salad dressings, 16 oz-$1.29 each

 

 

 

 

Household Uses for Vinegar, 21-30

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Here is a continuation of 40 household uses for vinegar:

21. Kill bacteria in meat. Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.

22. Prevent cracked eggs. Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.

23. Steam away a microwave mess. Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.

24. Repair DVDs. If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.

25. Get those last drops. If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.

26. Rinse fruits and vegetables. Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water.

27. Brighter Easter eggs. Before your kids dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.

28. Loosen a rusted screw. Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.

29. Remove gum. To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.

30. Keep cheese from molding. Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Ways to Save Money on Groceries

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Saving on groceries is one of the quickest ways that I can make my money stretch each month.  I tried couponing last year while on summer break and while I did pretty well for about 3 months, burnout hit, and then school started and I just did not have the time or energy for full out coupon use.  I still use coupons now and then, but it is much easier for me to just try to find BOGO deals at Publix, some good deals at Kroger, use Aldi, and hit Costco for some items.   So here are some tips to save on groceries, with or without coupons.

1. Buy seasonal produce

Fruits and vegetables don’t carry as high a price tag when they are at the peak of their growing season. In addition to being a good value, seasonal produce also tastes best because it’s picked in its prime. To find a list of seasonal produce, visit fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org, which is run by the Produce for Better Health Foundation.  I have just discovered the Forest Park Farmers Market and the Farmers Market on East Ponce de Leon Avenue here in Atlanta.  The produce is usually much cheaper than a standard grocery store and I can buy in the bulk that I need.  Plus, I feel good knowing that I am helping to financially sustain farmers directly.

2. Go semi-vegetarian

Meat is a big-ticket item, so cutting back can lower your costs. Try vegetarian swaps such as canned white beans (rinsed and drained) in pasta sauce instead of ground beef, or black beans in place of part of the chicken in a stir-fry. Aim for at least one meat-free meal a day. When you do eat meat, try to decrease your portions by at least 25 percent.

3. Prep your own food

You pay for convenience with precut fruits and veggies such as bagged lettuce, presliced apples and shredded carrots. Buy produce uncut, and when you get home from the store, spend 15 to 20 minutes chopping it. Fill baggies and containers with the prepped fruits and veggies so they’re easy to grab.

4. Season yourself

Preseasoned dishes such as ramen noodles and Rice-A-Roni cost more, and are higher in sodium, than homemade. Buy plain rice and noodles, and add your own herbs and spices. For example, mix garlic, Parmesan and olive oil into plain brown rice. You will save about 60 cents a serving.

I will have more coming this week on how to save money at the grocery store, without coupons, and inexpensive, quick-to-cook dinners.

 

 

Back to School Supply Deals-Week of July 8-14, 2012

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Here are some of the better back to school supply deals that are now beginning. (3SHKXY6RQ6C2)

TARGET:

Crayola Dry-Erase Crayons, 12 ct., $4

Crayola Markers or Colored Pencils, 10-12 ct., 99¢

Fiskars 5 Inch Kid’s Scissors Pointed or Blunt Tip, $1.50

Poly Portfolio 2 Pocket, 50¢

Poly 1 Subject Notebooks, 75¢

Sharpie Permanent Markers or Pocket Highlighters, 2 ct., $1

STAPLES-TEACHERS PLEASE NOTE-teachers are now only permitted to buy up to 2 of the penny items, with a $5 purchase.  Any penny supplies above the 2 per person limit will ring up FULL price, with the full price being credited back to you in the form of rewards, on a Staples Teacher Rewards card.  So, for example, if you buy 5 rose art crayon 24 packs, 2 of the packs will ring up for $0.01 (for a total of $0.02), and the other 3 packs will ring up for $1 each (for a total of $3) and then the $3 will show up on your staples teacher reward card for future purchases.  This is a HUGE change from last year, when teachers were permitted to buy up to 25 of each penny item.  I went this morning to the Staples store in Savannah, Georgia and the manager explained the new rule.  I opted to pass on Staples this year, due to the new rule.  I can find school supplies cheaper at Walmart/Target/Dollar Tree without all the “tricks”.  You decide what works best for your pocketbook.

RoseArt Crayons, 24 pk., 1¢ with $5 minimum purchase

Staples School Glue, 1¢ with $5 minimum purchase

BIC Round Stic Ballpoint Pens, 8 pk., 1¢ with $5 minimum purchase

Staples 8.5″x11″ Multipurpose Paper, 20 lb, $6.99 (qualifies for $6.74 easy rebate, results in $0.25 cost to you)

HP 8.5″x11″ Photo Paper, $9.99, limit 4 ($0.50 instant savings and $8.99 easy rebate, results in a $0.50 cost to you)

Staples #2 pencils, 72 pk., $5

Staples letter/legal-size SureFIT blue storage boxes, 4 pk., $5

Staples Pink Block Erasers, 3 pk., 50¢

BIC Great Erase Dry-Erase markers, fine tip, 4 pk., 50¢

Slider Pencil Case, 50¢

Sharpie Permanent Markers, fine tip, black, 5 pk., $1

Staples Glue Sticks, 4 pk., $1

Westcott 5″ scissors, 2 pk., $1

25% Off All Backpacks

Scotch Super Glue Gel, $4.29 (qualifies for $1.39 instant savings and $2.99 easy rebate, results in it being free to you)

Really Useful Box, .14 L, 25¢

Paper Mate Sharpwriter Mechanical Pencils, 5 pk., 25¢

Crayola Washable Markers, Crayons and Watercolors, $2

Staples Poly-cover composition book or 1-subject 8″x10.5″ notebook, 70 sheets, $1

RoseArt Classic Washable Markers, 10 pk., $1

Staples 3-hole Binder Punch, $1

Staples Mini Stapler, $1

Westcott Preferred 7″scissors, $1

Scotch Gem Magic Tape, $1

Writing pad, 5″x8″, $1

Staples Postscript mechanical pencils, 12 pk., $1

Sustainable Earth 1-subject notebook or composition book, 100 sheets, $2

Quartet Re-Writables Dry-Erase markers minis, 6 pk., $2 w/ Dispenser, $2

Staples Hype highlighters – yellow, 6 pk., $2

Zebra Sarasa retractable gel pens, medium, 5 pk., $2

Locker Planet Locker Accessories, $2

Post-It 2″x2″ mini cube, 400 sheets, 2 pk, $3

Kleenex Standard Facial Tissue, 2 pk., $3

Plastic storage box with buckle-up lid, $6

Staples All Strata Pens, 5 pk., $2

B2G1 Free Any 5-ream or 10-ream case

Scotch Expression Tape 2 for $3

Staples #10 envelopes, Pull & Seal, 25 pk., $1

Staples Small binders clips, 25 pk., $1

Pilot B2P Retractable Ballpoint Pens, 15 pk., $5

Staples 2013 Desktop Calendar 22″x17, $4.99 (qualifies for a $4.99 easy rebate)

40% Off Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Product

$3 off Brawny Big Roll Paper Towels, 12 pk.