what we're eating this week...

Well after lots of Thanksgiving food all weekend, I think we need something NOT involving Thanksgiving leftovers for a few days! Although it was yummy, time to mix it up....

Monday: Sloppy Joe's (recipe below)
Tuesday: Veggie Chili in the Crockpot with Cornbread (recipe below)
Wednesday: Spicy Orange Chicken and rice
Thursday: Crescent Wrapped Lasagna
**...a couple changes I make to this recipe that work out well, I use the Crescent seamless dough sheets from Pillsbury (2 cans) which is the same as Crescent Rolls but without the seams so one less step for you! And I use fresh mozzarella instead of shredded...much creamier!
Friday: Buffalo Chicken Rolls
Saturday: Beef and Veggie Stew in the Crockpot  (see recipe below)
Sunday: Turkey and Noodles (see recipe below) with Heavenly Rolls

Recipes:
Crock Pot Sloppy Joe's (I took a recipe from a cookbook and made it my own and they are YUMMY!)
-1 lb ground beef or turkey
-1 sm Green Bell Pepper chopped
-1 Sm Vidalia Onion
-2-4 cloves garlic minced or through garlic press
-1 cup ketchup
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp mustard
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vinegar
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
-1 Tbsp + 1 rounded tsp brown sugar
-1 tsp chili powder
-salt and pepper to taste
Brown meat with onions and garlic. Mix all other ingredients in Crock Pot. Add meat/onion mixture to Crock Pot (if it looks to thick add up to 1/4 cup water, too thin add up to 1/4 cup more ketchup) Cook on Low for 5-6 hrs or High for 3. Makes about 4 servings

Cornbread Cake (got this recipe from a friend a few years ago and have not made regular cornbread since)
-1 Jiffy Cornbread mix
-1 Jiffy Yellow Cake mix
-3 eggs
-1/3 cup milk
Mix all ingredients, will be slightly lumpy. Grease baking pan. Bake on 400 - 410 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes. It will brown before it's actually done so if it looks done be sure to check the middle with a toothpick and it will come out clean when done. It may sink a bit in the middle. Can only know done-ness by toothpick test, not color. Makes 8x8 pan of yummy-ness!!
***UPDATE: I decided to try this recipe making muffins because my favorite cornbread pan now has a crack in it. They turned out great and were a lot faster. I did the recipe the same and at 405 degrees it only took 15 minutes.

Beef and Veggie Stew in the Crockpot  (a random improv creation...I think I make it different each time but here's my best guess at a recipe...)
-Approx 2 lbs beef cut into bite size pieces (I use cube steak because I like the texture better)
-2 tbsp flour
- 2 cans beef broth
-1 can tomato soup
-2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
-1 28oz can diced tomatoes
-1 chopped onion
-3 chopped/minced cloves of garlic
-4-5 potatoes (peeled and cut into cubes or bite size pieces)
- bag of frozen mixed veggies
- salt and pepper to taste
In the crockpot, toss beef with flour until it is coated. Add onion, garlic, potatoes, beef broth, tomato soup, diced tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on low for 6-8 hrs and high for 3-5 adding frozen veggies about half way through.


Turkey and Noodles (adapted from my sister Holly's recipe)Leftover turkey I froze at Thanksgiving
1 bag frozen Egg Noodles (must be the frozen kind, not dry egg noodles!)
2 cans chicken or veggie broth
Boil Egg Noodles as directed but use chicken broth instead of water. Half way through the boiling time, add shredded chicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. Eat over mashed potatoes and be prepared to be amazed :)

week in photos...

well, not much to show for our week! We all spent most of the week sick and although we did have a great thanksgiving with Josh's brother and his family, I forgot to take pictures! So here are a couple from this weekend......

syd posing in front of our Christmas tree
(which we've had up since last Saturday :)

and here is a pic of my progressively growing belly...been meaning to post the progress for a while but kept forgetting!  And I have to say, I feel WAY bigger than I look in that last picture :) Only 15 more weeks to go until we get to meet our little guy!

Bzz Agent post #2: Truly Awesome Cookies!

Ok, another Bzz Campaign I'm in (see post below for further explanation) is The Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies from Kroger. With my Bzz Kit (that they provide me to help me spread the word) I received two boxes of these cookies and let me just tell you....they are incredible. If you like Chips Ahoy (which are my fave store bought cookies), you would LOVE these cookies. What makes it even better is the list of ingredients...it's stuff you would use to make your own cookies! If you have a Kroger near you, buy a box of these.....you won't regret it!

An introduction to being a Bzz Agent and Meijer's photo canvas! :)

I've been meaning to write a blog on this for ages, so....

First, let me tell you a little bit about Bzz Agent. It's basically a community of consumers that spreads the word about new and/or upcoming products. It's something I volunteer to do and in the mean time I typically get to try new products and share new products/coupons for free :) (more info on Bzz Agents here.)

I'm a Bzz Agent and my latest campaign is kind of exciting as I love taking photos and love when I can find one good enough to hang on the wall. Have you ever heard of turning your photos into a canvas wall hanging? I've heard of it but never done it...and now I get to!

So if you have a Meijer near you and would like to try this as well, print this coupon  for 10% off and give it a shot.  Could make a great Christmas gift!! (let me know if you do, I'd love to hear how yours turns out as I try to pick the perfect photo for mine!)


Here's an explanation of how to do it...
Meijer's new Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print service makes it fast and easy to turn your photos into canvas works of art. Here's how it works:

1. Bring a digital version of your photo(s) to your local Meijer store, or scan your image in-store. The HP kiosks can take CD, USB, memory stick duo, MiniCD, RS-MMC, SD and XD
2. Upload your photos to the HP photo kiosk and select "Photo Products"
3. Select "Posters, Canvas, & Banners" and then Select "Canvas"
4. Choose a canvas size, add your image, and check image resolution (adjust or crop as desired)
5. Once you're finished, select "Add to Cart" and follow the "Checkout" process
6. Click "Proceed to Cart," order your print and take your receipt.
7. Present your receipt and a printout of the unique coupon on your Campaign Homepage to pick up your discounted 11x14 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print the next day.

thrifty tip tuesday

Well it is one yucky day out today and the yuckiness is hanging around inside too as we're on day 3 of fevers with Sydney and just an all around not feeling great with her and I. Luckily Josh is still feeling good so hopefully we'll get past this soon....and hopefully soon enough to enjoy some Thanksgiving grub!!

Here are the deals I'm finding this week. Obviously there are TONS of Black Friday sales and deals so here are a few that are not in that category which will hopefully add to all the deals you get this week :)

- "Like" AMC Theaters on Facebook and click on the coupon tab on the side to print a coupon for free small popcorn valid 12/2-12/4

-GREAT deals at Bath and Body Works, including free item with purchase of $10 or more  (see this post from Deal Seeking Mom)

-"Like" Seattle's Best Coffee on Facebook and receive a free sample and $2 off coupon

- 5 free holiday cards from Mypublisher.com plus free shipping!  (offer ends tomorrow!!)

-Get Twilight Saga movie FREE from Blockbuster Express (click here to find one near you). Use code: TWILIGHTSAGA. (exp 11/30)

-Free Waffle coupon from Waffle House  (exp 12/16)

-Get cheap gift certificates from Restaurant.com by getting 80% off using the coupon code SHOP at check out!! AND you can give away $10 egift cards with their Feed it Forward program here

-$10 off $20 purchase at Smokey Bones restaurants   (exp 11/27)

-"Like" Hallmark on Facebook and receive a $5 off any $10 purchase at a Hallmark Gold Crown Store

-

thankful thursday

In this season of thankfulness, it definitely prompts my heart to focus in a bit more on what I am grateful for and when I do that I see that I have too many things to list! Here are just a few that are standing out to me today...

1. That our baby boy is growing and healthy as far as ultrasounds and measurements can tell. I'll be 24 weeks on Saturday which means approximately 16 weeks until we get to meet this little guy!!! So I'm thankful that it's a short time until he comes and also thankful for the 16 weeks we get to enjoy life with Sydney before life gets a little fuller ;)
2. I'm so thankful for Josh and Sydney. I'm very grateful for the friend, companion and husband Josh is. I love who God has created him to be and I love him more each day. I'm so very thankful for who Sydney is. She makes us smile daily She has such a sweet and tender heart and I CANNOT wait to see what God does in and through her. She amazes me.
3. What is really standing out to me today is how good God is and how THANKFUL I am for His faithfulness. I read this entry of My Utmost for His Highest today and it brought me back exactly one year ago when I read the same entry. A year ago today, I was in a much different place (in every way...mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically). I was coming off of one of the hardest things I've ever been through (which some of you know about, those who don't....sorry not the time or place to share) and this particular entry from that devotional spoke to me like nothing else. It was a call, a challenge. It was a fork in the road. It was time to choose....will I choose Christ and what he wants for me or will I give in to what I want to feel, how I want to deal with things? Will I let him heal me and be obedient to the steps of healing he was calling me to or would I let myself give in to anger, self pity, bitterness and hurt? Well praise God, because he gave me the strength to choose Him and I have seen the truth in what Oswald Chambers was saying....as I was obedient, I saw the promises and nature of God come to life before my eyes. It brings tears to my eyes today to think about how kind, gentle, and faithful God has been in this healing process over the past year. So I could not be more thankful for that! My favorite part of that entry is when he quotes the hymn "My goal is God Himself" ....
"My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
'Tis His to lead me there—not mine, but His—
At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So as I chose a year ago, I choose again......my God...at any cost, by any road.

thrifty tip tuesday

Here are a few good deals for the week....

FREE Curly Fries at Arby's  (TODAY ONLY)

Best deals this week at CVS      (from Deal Seeking Mom)
*Lots of Black Friday Extra Care Buck deals to look forward to next week too!!

Bath and Body Works $10 off $30 purchase (exp 11/20)
and Free gift with full size Signature series purchase this Saturday   (from Deal Seeking Mom)

Buy one get one free holiday drink at Starbucks   (November 17–20 from 2–5 p.m)

20 free holiday cards from Staples  (Exp 11/19)

$10 off $25 purchase today and tomorrow at JC Penny or jcp.com      (exp 11/16)

5 free cards plus free shipping from Mypublisher.com  (exp 11/22)

what we're eating this week....

After a great weekend with company, mama's taking the night of cooking off ;) But here are the delectable recipes we'll be enjoying later this week....

Tuesday: Creamy Tortellini
Wednesday: Chicken Divan
Thursday: Taco Night!
Friday: Veggie Chili with Cornbread (recipe below)
Saturday: Biscuits and Gravy (I use this white sauce recipe and add cooked ground sausage and pepper)
Sunday: Leftovers or Pizza!


Recipes...
Cornbread Cake (got this recipe from a friend a few years ago and have not made regular cornbread since)
-1 Jiffy Cornbread mix
-1 Jiffy Yellow Cake mix
-3 eggs
-1/3 cup milk
Mix all ingredients, will be slightly lumpy. Grease baking pan. Bake on 400 - 410 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes. It will brown before it's actually done so if it looks done be sure to check the middle with a toothpick and it will come out clean when done. It may sink a bit in the middle. Can only know done-ness by toothpick test, not color. Makes 8x8 pan of yummy-ness!!
***UPDATE: I decided to try this recipe making muffins because my favorite cornbread pan now has a crack in it. They turned out great and were a lot faster. I did the recipe the same and at 405 degrees it only took 15 minutes.

lack of blogging...

We've had a busy couple of weeks which has obviously resulted in a huge lack in blogging. However, not too much to report from the gap of no communication.  Josh's parents are visiting right now and we're enjoying our weekend with them. We have another doctor appointment on Tuesday where we'll get to catch another glimpse of our baby boy! (the couldn't measure a few things in the last ultrasound so need to do another one). He is a very active boy and his firm kicks have been waking me up in the early morning hours. Well...until next time, here are a few good recipes to leave you with....

YUMMY Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter center  (I know I've posted this recipe before but I just made them this weekend and it was a reminder of how DELICIOUS these cookies are!!)

Buffalo Chicken Rolls

Pork Tenderloin with Preserves   (made this with Apricot Preserves and it was yummy!)