Christmas present time! You need to start planning/buying NOW!!!!

yep, I usually start as soon as Christmas is over, but since we were so tight this year, I am starting wayyyy late, but not too late to get some GREAT deals!

We were at Big Lots yesterday- this is a new fav place since they have a "clearance" section for food and we have gotten some GREAT deals there! a box of 30 lunch size mini oreos for $2- got all 3 boxes they had! a box of 2 BIG bags of raisin bran for $2 I think, got all 3 boxes of those too! not to mention boxes of wheat thins ($1.50 I think, and it was a BIG BIG box-great for snacks or lunches for the kids), cookies, etc.

Anyway.....We got one of those "mr clean auto dry car washing" thingies. I bought one for dad a couple years ago for cmas, and I believe it was near $20.... Got this one for $4!!!!! Yes!!! Got one for us, that looks like a "regular price" for them, so may go back next week and get a few more for the men on our list, and as "dirty santa" gifts for parties.

Found my fav present.... a "cocomotion"... in the clearance section of Walmart. Think it was $10 or less... it is a neat thing that is a pitcher that heats up the water/milk, and mixes the chocolate into it, all at once. It is sooo good and frothy too! Ain't nothin better on a cold winter day!

Go to walmart and start stocking up on stocking stuffers, and clearance presents for your fav charity. Not just toys for kids, but if you are giving to a charity like "the toy store" here in our town, they are also looking for adult presents, pillows, blankets, small appliances, etc. We try to put $10-$15/mo toward gifts for our charity. You can sometimes get a LOT for that price! At least 2 things sometimes!

www.brylanehome.com is a GREAT website for great home items. If you sign up for emails and join their website, you will get codes from time to time, buy ANYTHING and get..... free.... I have gotten a wok set, knife set, big blanket, small blanket, nice bags, etc. So, if you need a pillow, or something, go ahead a shop the clearance section there, then get the free item- the most a free item has "cost" me is $10+ shipping (not much, and on the free item it's free!) and I got curtains out of the deal, which I needed anyway, so it was a good deal! I have even used these free items (including a pearl necklace for $1, and it was a real one!) as "basket auction items" for school functions. I was a big hero and it didn't cost me anything! (right now in clearance they have a "pink patchwork quilt throw" for $4.99, regularly $29.99, and that I got free with purchase last year)

www.bathandbodyworks.com is another of my fav sites. They will send you emails with great deals (buy one get one free body wash/soap is right now, up to a $12.50 savings), or buy ANYTHING and get something free (one year I got the kids bluejean bags, and they were big, for getting like a $5 item per bag!). These are great (esp the bags) for teacher gifts.. they get so much "stuff", but to get them something they can use up (I even got one super soft socks and a smelly candle and gave it to her "just because I had it"). I will even fill these up when I have an abundance of "stuff" (like candles, lotion, etc) and give to the teachers "just cuz I wanted you to know we appreciate you".

Recipes for week of Aug 17, 2009

Ok, here's the recipes to go with the meals (I will post mock mashed potatoes and homemade taco seasoning tomorrow):

Cheese Nachos- aka Nacho cheese dip

1 large block Velveeta style cheese
2 pkgs light cream cheese
1-2 cups milk (at least) to desired consistancy (the more milk you add, the thinner it is, and less likely to harden up when cool, and it goes farther!)
1 lb ground turkey/beef
1 pkg taco seasoning (or homemade)
1-2 cups salsa (your choice)

take velveeta, cut up into small squares and put into crockpot, cut up cream cheese and put in crockpot, add milk and salsa to crockpot, turn on low (or high if in a hurry)

Brown ground turkey/beef in pan, drain, add pkg taco seasoning to beef- DO NOT ADD THE WATER TO THE MEAT- and stir until all meat is combined with seasoning consistantly. Add meat mixture to crockpot. stir to combine. Stir occasionally until all cheeses are melted.

Serve over tortilla chips (or Dorito style chips) and top with your favorite taco seasonings -lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, chilies, sour cream, black beans, etc....

This can also be used as a dip for get togethers, when I do, I double it, because it WILL all be eaten- bring 2 bags of tortilla chips... they will be gone. Always a crowd pleaser!

Garlic/dill bread-
An old recipe from my grandma ;)

1 loaf french bread, sliced lengthwise, on the side to make 2 flat pieces
1/2 cup mayo (optional, but ooooohhhh so yummy!)
2 sticks butter, or margarine, softened
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
garlic powder to taste (2T or so)
Salt (1/2 tsp or to taste)
dill

cut bread and put on baking sheet. Combine mayo, softened butter, garlic powder and salt until mixed completely. Spread equally on both bread halves, take it to the edge. Top with a generous sprinkle of dill. Bake at 425 for 15-20 min or until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool before cutting into 2" rectangles. YUMMMMMMM

Cheese/bacon openface sandwiches
This my parents used to do when I was a kid....now I know why... it's soooo cheap!

hamburger buns
slices of cheese (american or swiss squares)
bacon

Bake bacon in the oven at 425 for 20 min or until cooked to desired doneness. This will make the bacon flat and easier to make all at once.

open hamburger buns on baking sheet so cut sides are up. place one slice of cheese on each 1/2, and an X of bacon on top of that. Bake at 375 until cheese is melted and bubbly. If desired, before the cheese is put on, butter each 1/2 of bun.

Menu plan week of Aug 17, 2009

Well, I MUST do this tonight, because I have all the groceries bought for the week and I need to put down somewhere what I was thinking for meals this week. Not to mention that Paige's bday is monday (9 yrs old!) so, I have "special food" decided for that day.

Monday- Paige's bday! 9 yo
Breakfast: biscuits and gravy/ sausage/milk
Dinner: Corn chowder, open face cheese/bacon sandwiches on hamburg buns

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Sausage/eggs
Dinner: Baked chicken leg/thigh quarters (with taco spice on them), mac and cheese, green beans

Wednesday:
Breakfast: Toast or cereal/sausage
Dinner: cheese nachos * recipe to follow* with lettuce, sourcream, black olives, black beans, etc

Thursday:
Breakfast: Pancakes/sausage
Dinner: Spaghetti, garlic/dill bread *recipe to follow*

Friday:
Breakfast: Sausage/eggs/toast
Dinner: BBQ chicken baked in oven, rice, "mock mashed potatoes" (made with cauliflower)

Saturday:
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: at Opry Mills Mall- build a bear workshop bday party/burger king after
Dinner: Pizza from Aldi or walmart