ADVENTURES WITH PIZZA

Howdy Do all my little cowpokes out there! How are you today?? I am doing pretty good except for a bothersome heat rash! Oh yes folks, its that time here in Texas! 90 degrees makin’ you sweat gotta hate the humid heat weather time! LMAO! But today my landlord should be putting in a new AC unit in the bedroom, so HOPEFULLY that will help! Now I just need one in the kitchen and all will be well… except the electric bill LMAO!

Ok, I’m letting everyone know now… be on the lookout because the new Home Depot Garden Club email is awesome! Buy 1 Get 1 Free ROSES!!!!! OMG I so want more than one of these as I have been wanting to start a rose garden in my front yard for so long! Mom, do you want your rose coupon? LMAO! Anyway, it also has a $10,000 Powerade/Home Depot sweepstakes so make sure to enter that too! Great email this month! I love the Home Depot Garden Club! If you haven’t joined yet, what in the world are you waiting for?!?

Oh, I have to tell my little dinner story! Yesterday when I got home, I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was still too hot in the kitchen to really do a lot of cooking like I really need to! I have GOT to get a new AC unit in there LOL. Anyway… we decided to go out for dinner since the DS18 was gone, no extra kids over… Just Frank, Madison, Alex, and myself. So what did we do for dinner? PIZZA! Cheap and don’t have to heat the house even more Cici’s Pizza. Granted they may not have the “best” food in the world, but its cheap and Alex likes it and the location near us is “disabled friendly” lets say. Not to mention I had a coupon, so I was trying to be “fast food-ily” frugal! LMAO!



So we loaded in the car and headed out. We get there and pay and begin down the buffet. Now if you have been there before, you already know that you can special order things. Well these very nice young ladies behind the counter asked if we needed anything and I told them of Alex’s love for the Alfredo pizza and how he can eat 4 whole ones by himself LOL! So this young lady named Chloe made sure to hook him up with the pizza! He was covered in Alfredo slices LOL!



Then Alex said Chloe’s name and I was stunned! So I asked her if she would mind taking a picture with him. She was all for it! Even though you aren’t supposed to take buffet home, they gave Alex a box to put his leftovers in cause he couldn’t quite finish it all… he had maybe 1 out of 4 pizzas left! She took real good care of my special little man! THANKS CHLOE!



Ok so everyone is thoroughly sickly stuffed of pizza and we let the kids go play the arcade games. I give them $1 each and they take off (Madison holding Alex’s hand of course). Well Alex loves to play those claw machine games… ya know the kinds with the stuffed animals inside? He won himself a Ben 10 “dude” LOL! I tell ya that boy gets all the luck! Maybe I should teach him some card tricks and go to Vegas like on Rainman! LMAO!

So I came home last night and made a new scrub to wear to mom’s today LOL. I think she will like it. I have been making new ones every so often so she doesn’t get bored with my clothes LOL! I have been making lots of them since I am her temporary “nurse-maid” as Dad calls me. Makes me wonder if I should look into home health as a profession once she is well… dunno will have to sleep on that LOL! Now are you in the mood to craft today? You DO realize tomorrow is Mother’s Day RIGHT?? Have you made a card? Sewn a gift? Children, you are running out of time! Ok, well here is a neat idea that shouldn’t take you too much time or money to do.



Craft Idea of the Day: Recycled Potpourri Jar

Approximate Time: 15 minutes or less

Supplies:

baby Food Jar (2.5 oz.)
tulle
rubberband
potpourri
ribbon
flower or bow
hot glue gun
hot glue
Sharpie marker
dip container lid
scissors
newspaper

Instructions:

Cover your work area with newspaper. Fill a clean baby food jar with potpourri.

Use the dip container lid as a stencil. With a Sharpie marker, trace a circle around the dip container lid on the tulle. Make sure you have newspaper underneath the tulle. Cut out the circle of tulle and put it on top of the baby food jar.

Wrap the rubberband around the top of the jar to keep the tulle in place.

Hot glue ribbon around the top of the jar to cover up the rubberband and then hot glue the flower or bow on the front.

I made these as a little gift to give each woman in our church for Mother's Day. My sister gave me the baby food jars. The tulle came from wedding decorations that were going to be thrown away. I saved the rubberbands from my Sunday paper.

I made about 65 jars and only paid for the potpourri. It was $1.00 a bag at Dollar General and I used 3 bags.

I had a bunch of small ribbon flowers that I bought at the Goodwill in a bag of crafting supplies. These jars cost less than 22 cents each to make.

These would make good gifts if you were having a mother/daughter dinner before Mother's Day. You could sit a jar at each table setting.

They smell wonderful. But if you have allergies like me, you might want to take an allergy pill before starting this craft if you're going to make a bunch.

By Dana from Normaville, PA

**Just a note: If you don’t have baby food jars, I am sure small canning jars or other glass things would work. The Dollar tree sells glassware by the single piece.

Ok friends, its time to eat! YAY! My favorite subject… FOOD! OK, so with Mother’s Day coming, what are you making for dinner? WHAT?!? You haven’t thought about it? OMG must I do everything for you? LMAO just kidding… Treat your mamma right with a little home cooking… And DON’T FORGET to do the dishes afterwards too! LOL!



Pork Chops with Blackberry Port Sauce

Ingredients

6 (4 ounce) boneless pork loin chops
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 shallots, minced
2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
3/4 cup sweet port wine
3/4 cup blackberry juice
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons water
2 cups fresh blackberries

Directions

Season the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and pan fry the chops until they are lightly browned and no longer pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). Set the chops aside.

Heat 1 more teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet, and cook and stir the shallots and thyme until the shallots start to become translucent, about 1 minute. Pour in the port wine, blackberry juice, chicken broth, and balsamic vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, scraping off and dissolving any brown flavor bits from the skillet into the sauce. Cook until reduced by a third, about 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch and water into a paste, and stir into the sauce. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, and stir in the blackberries. Simmer until berries are hot.

Return the chops to the skillet, and turn to coat with sauce. Serve hot, topped with sauce.

Well kids, that’s it… the conclusion to another blog. Oh don’t cry… I’ll be back tomorrow LOL! Mom is home now and she insists I don’t come over before I have a cup of go with all of you wonderful people! LMAO… so join me again tomorrow for more great times of the Frugal MOM. HUGS!

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!