BARGAINS BARGAINS EVERYWHERE!

Well good morning everyone! It’s the dreaded TAX day! Have you gotten your taxes completed and mailed in yet? Me… done, not worried… gonna have a better day than most people LOL! So how you doing today, really? So glad you came by! Here, would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Let’s chat shall we…

I’m sorry I am a bit tardy today… I’ve already been a busy camper. I dropped off the kids at school and stopped by the little store I told you about, Zieglers, because they have whole fryers on sale again for 79c a pound. Picked up some birds and a beautiful pork roast for $1.09 a pound… it was inspiration for dinner LOL! Then I came home and set up the beloved crocks, threw some birds in the oven to roast, chopped veggies, etc. and now I am here for your entertainment! LOL! I have 2 crock’s of todays recipe, Carnitas, going, one of a mesquite beef stew, a T-bone marinating, chickens roasting, chicken legs soaking, and ribs resting LOL! I still have to make some homemade Pico De Gallo and do some other things but it will be interesting. I also want to run to Food Town at some point today because they have leg quarters on sale for 29c per pound in a 10lb bag! WOOHOO! Its chicken roundup/stockup time! I have no problems with that because boy can these people eat some chicken LOL! I also heard HEB has chicken THIGHS on sale 5lbs. for $5… so I might try going there too… as my dad is a serious thigh lover- nothing but thighs LOL! We shall see… I think I might also squeeze in trying to make some jelly (if I even have pectin LOL)! The rest of this week I think will be a “Use-it-before-you-lose-it week”! So got some marathon cooking ahead gang! FUN FUN!

Ok my little bargain hunters… you may not be able to get the good meat deals at Zieglers or my Food Town, but you need to watch your emails for the Home Depot Garden Club email… guess what you get free this time! A TREE! Yes you heard me… Buy 1 Get 1 FREE TREE!!!!!!! OMG I am so super stoked! Remember I talked about planting a tree for Earth Day… well there ya go! There are lots of places to get free stuff this tax day! Check this out!

Free treats and more for taxpayers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Few truths are more universal: No one likes to pay taxes, and everyone loves to get things for free.

Restaurants and other retailers are offering freebies to reduce people's angst over their income taxes -- which must be postmarked or e-filed by Thursday.

From cupcakes and pancakes to dinners and coffee, the offers are meant to help people feel better as they help companies drum up business. No paperwork or proof is required for most of the offers.

Ice cream chain MaggieMoo's is giving away pieces of its new ice cream pizza in its second annual tax day giveaway. The company won't say what it cost to give away thousands of free scoops of ice cream at its 160-plus stores in 2009, but a spokeswoman says such promotions bring in new guests and new sales.

"They'll have free ice cream and then they'll get a drink or a smoothie or something else or take home an ice cream pizza," says Jenn Johnston, senior vice president of marketing for NexCen Franchise Management, the parent company of MaggieMoo's, Pretzel Time, The Athlete's Foot and other chains.

Here are some of the freebies and discounts on offer for tax season 2010.

-- FREE COFFEE AND TREATS

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza -- ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese -- at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

-- DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

-- STRESS RELIEF

HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an appointment. Find a location at http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.

Now sticking with the Earth Day, recycling to me is fun and helpful. I am a big believer in repurposing things that still have life! SO, guess what today’s idea for a craft is? It’s a use for those old coats… either you or the kids outgrew them but you can’t bare to get rid of it? Well now you won’t have to (Hmmm… wonder if I am actually contributing to the hoarders of the world LMAO! J/K)!



Craft Idea of the Day: Recycled Coat Messenger Bag

Materials:

1 old, full length Parka.
Any bright lining, contrast fabric you want
Matching Sewing thread and machine

Directions:

1) Lay out your coat flat on floor and take a good look at it, imagining it in peices, not a whole.

2)Cut a large front section with pocket to be the front of the bag.30cm wide x 40cm long.

3)Cut a long back piece to be the back of the bag, including the part that will fold down over the front.
30cm wide x 60cm long. plus a matching size in the contrast fabric.

4) Cut the sleeves cut to width 20cm, for the side panels, I included the cuff buckle.

5)Cut 68cm length of buttonhole section from down the front of the coat as a handle. Plus a matching length of contrasting fabric

6) Sew the two ends of sleeves together, leaving the cuff end as the top part of bag sides.

7) Attach front panel(with pocket) to what you designate as front of side panels, fold over any spare at top and sew, do this double thick stiching.

8)Attach contrast fabric to back panel (face both back to back, stitch, turn right way round) and do same to buttonhale handle.

9) Stitch back panel to side panel so you have a long flap hanging over the front.

10)Attach handle to side panels, add velcro to front as easy fastener.

Isn’t that just slouchy cool? Ok its time to eat ladies and gents! Tonight is another slow cooker love affair LOL! One of the things I am making is a “fix your own taco” bar tonight, because after UIL, I anticipate some of the kids “coming home” for dinner and celebrations LOL! One pot, I am making Carnitas. Carnitas means 'little meats' and is traditionally fried then braised. This recipe is made much easier using the slow cooker but the results are just as tasty. This makes a great filling for tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. This filling is also great combined with your favorite barbecue sauce and served on buns



Slow Cooker Carnitas

Ingredients

3 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon garlic powder or 4 fresh minced garlic cloves
3 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth

Directions

Mix together salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.

Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

Ok kids… my house smells amazing already and I think I need to go check my golden yard buzzards LOL! Then maybe do some sewing while the kitchen works for me… I know its hard to slave all day in the kitchen to make my family a fabulous feast and still get so much else done LMAO! Gonna think about running to grab some more birds and bird parts while the hubby guards the pots LOL! Dunno yet what the day will hold in store for me LOL! Either way, it will be interesting! So be safe, have fun, and I’ll meet you back here tomorrow! HUGS!