CLOSING GRILL MARKS

Good morning everyone! How are you this bright and sunny Sunday? I am very tired. It was a late night at the Band Banquet last night. I want to thank you all for the comments yesterday. You guys made me cry! But it was a good cry. Its nice to know that something I am doing is truly appreciated. I got a few great pictures to share with you (had severe camera issues last night so couldn’t get as many as I wanted UGH!).



After work yesterday, I made a coupon run with some of the coupons that are going to expire at the end of the month. Everything in this picture (and I forgot to add a few things) was bought using a coupon. The total before hand was almost $170.00 and when I was done, I paid less than $50 for everything! YAY! I received some awesome savings in the mail and the paper and I had to use them. For instance, I had $1.50 off Secret deodorant which was $1.88. 38 cents for deodorant works for me! Then I had coupons for $1.50 off Old Spice deodorant and I paired them with a Buy 1 Get 1 Free, so I ended up paying 88 cents for both roughly! Colgate and Crest toothpaste tubes were $1.50 each and guess who had $1 coupons LOL! Fruit chillers were 88 cents each after $1 coupons. Reynolds Recycled foil was 68 cents after $1 coupons, Raid was $1.12 after $1 coupon. Gain was $3.97 after coupon, and the Febreze fabric refreshers and air effects were all $1 each after $1 coupons. I got a 16 pound bag of cat food and 5- 3.5 pound bags of Friskies with coupons and inside those bags are MORE coupons with a real LONG expiration date (so guess who is filing those away! LOL). PLUS the coupon flyer in the cat food says they are going to be changing the looks of the bags soon and they look like they may make some super cute purses!!!!! SOOO guess who’s gonna be on the lookout for the new bags! LMAO! The Whiskas were free and the Velveeta cups were free too with $1 coupons! The 9lives 4pks were only 42 cents after my $1 coupons and the Niveas were 97 cents after coupon. The always and Charmin were the most expensive things at $3.97 each after coupon, but hey… some things you just have to have! LOL BUT the Always at least had a bonus box, so that made getting it a little easier to handle LMAO! And the travel disposable coffee cups were $1.15 after my coupons. The last thing I found was the Gillette Mach 3 Turbo blades. Now we all have the handles, but if you have ever seen the refill blades are rather expensive! $12 for 5 blades YIKES! Well I had $4 off ANY blades that I thought I was not going to get to be able to use… UNTIL I went to check out! They had 2 blade travel packs for $4.78!! WOOHOO! Now 78 cents for blades I CAN HANDLE LMAO! I got all I had of those and proceeded to check out! I had some awesome finds and I am gonna place ANOTHER coupon clippers order super pronto for more great coupons! I am finally getting ahead and replacing some of my super stockpiles. It feels so good! I just wish I could stockpile the cat food LMAO but they eat it too fast LMAO!



OK it was on to the banquet last night. OMG look at this beautiful cake!! I think I want to make one just like this for Madison’s birthday (or have this lady make one just like it! LOL)! Music notes and super yumminess like moist little heaven in your mouth!



Here is Madison with Mrs. Mac! I couldn’t help but chuckle that DD is taller than her but doesn’t Mrs. Mac just look like the sweetest thing?? Well she is! She was at every game, every concert, every performance, and well… just everywhere! She took care of the uniforms and plumes and everything! She did a lot and she will be missed!



This was one of the centerpieces they had on the tables. They are slightly cute… although I think I could have done such a better job than this! I know, I can be a bit of a craft snob LMAO! This to me says that someone just threw it together with no real thought or imagination… typical for this booster. We had an incident with one of the “booster moms” last night that I won’t go into, but let’s just say she needed to be smacked a few times!



Here is DD after she got her award. She was quite proud of herself. And you can see my brother in the background making all kinds of goofy faces. I swear I can only get a few good pictures of that boy where he isn’t either doing something wretched with his face or he’s flipping the bird! Gotta “LOVE” little brothers! (See me rolling my eyes LOL)



Here is DD’s BFF/my other main “adopted band kid” Katie after she got her award. She is growing up to be a very wonderful young lady… she has a new job she will be starting soon, so I won’t get to see as much of her… I’m sad but she has to grow up and I am not like some moms who can’t let go of their kids. I say GO!!!!! LMAO…



Ok now here is the problem with being such a dang good cook. I can’t go hardly anywhere to eat without saying (at least twice LOL My kids pointed this out) “Mine is better” LMAO! The banquet was catered by a local restaurant named Gio’s. And while their food was better than last years catering, I still could have made better! LMAO! This was their Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Not bad, but not the best either. Don’t even try to eat that bread without cracking a few teeth. And they slopped too much dressing on the salad! YUCK!



This was their lasagna. Again, nothing to write home or change your britches over, but all in all it, was edible LOL! DS14, however, wanted nothing to do with it LOL. He hated it so much that we had to make a B-line for McDonalds to get him some burgers and fries on the way home. I’m not surprised that he took a bite and said oh heck no LOL.



This is the DD after I had just made a joke about something and everyone was laughing (and loudly) LOL! She was so pretty last night and so grown up. Wow, I tell ya I feel older (and pop another gray hair) every time I look at her! Pretty soon she will be driving and I will hardly ever see her! Wow…

So there you have some glimpses into our night out. For the most part, we had fun. There were a few incidents that left us either very upset or very hurt. But we each deal with them in our own way. A few of my “kids” weren’t there last night. I found out there was another Quinceañera going on last night that some of the kids had to attend instead. It was a very busy night around town LOL!

If you haven’t guessed, I have the day off again and probably Wednesday too, so I am going to try to make a dent in the green crate today and Wed. I also need to run to the store for a few things I forgot to get… including my dang roses at Home Depot! UGH! LOL but when I am done with the running, I will be crafting. So what are YOU going to craft today? Me? Well… not sure really. I might try the doo rags or a few other items. OR I might try this neat little idea on for size… well its not really “little” LOL as it would have to be rather big LMAO… and I wonder how my landlord is gonna feel about it LMAO! Anyway, this is a terra cotta pot idea (I told you I LOVE terra cotta crafts) that would be good for a yard or even a patio/garden.



Craft Idea of the Day: Terra Cotta Garden Birdbath

You can choose what size terra cotta pots and trays you want to use. Glue them together with clear caulking, let dry at least 24 hours. Whitewash with thinned out white acrylic paint. Let dry about an hour, then paint what ever you want on it, or just blend paints, that is also nice. I liked the leaves and frogs on mine. It is really whatever you like. Let it dry 24 hours then spray with sealer. You really should let it dry 24 hours then spray again and let dry another 24 hours. Fill and watch the birds play in it.

By Sheri from Stockton, CA

Ok folks, its that time again! Time to make your mouth water with my closing grill marks for the week. Have you enjoyed this theme? Want another? Today I am gonna show you something tender and sweet and good to eat! Lamb… now if you haven’t tried it, I suggest you do. It is a delicate meat but oh so tasty! And for dessert… going basics with some fruit. Nothing is supreme to fresh fruits with cream! Oh boy oh boy!



Southwestern Lamb Chops

Ingredients

1 cup orange juice
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped*
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
3/4 cup halved, sliced sweet onion
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
1 cup fresh orange sections
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
8 lamb loin chops (1-inch thick)

Directions

In a saucepan, combine orange juice, jalapeno, cumin, salt if desired and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture begins to simmer. Stir in onion.

Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; add to the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minute or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. Stir in oranges and cilantro; keep warm.

Grill the lamb chops, covered, over medium-hot heat for 12-14 minutes, turning once, or until a meat thermometer reads 140 degrees F rare; 160 degrees F, medium-well; or 170 degrees F, well done. Serve with orange sauce.



Grilled Peaches and Cream

Ingredients

4 peaches, halved and pitted
2 tablespoons clover honey
1 cup softened whipped cream cheese with honey and nuts
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

Preheat a grill for medium-high heat.

Brush peaches with a light coating of oil. Place pit side down onto the grill. Grill for 5 minutes, or until the surfaces have nice grill marks. Turn the peaches over, and drizzle with a bit of honey. Place a dollop of the cream cheese spread in the place where the pit was. Grill for 2 to 3 more minutes, or until the filling is warm. Drizzle with additional honey on top and serve immediately.

Ok everyone, I hope you have had a great time and I invite you to come back tomorrow for more wonderful adventures of the Frugal Mom! I know its been a real joy sharing my days with you and I look forward to more great adventures to share! So until tomorrow… HUGS!