Winter Burgers

On a lighter note.... my last post was pretty heavy. Thank you for your great comments. I feel very passionate about raising good daughters, I've got 3 of them.

Here in North Texas we've been lucky with some summer like weather.

Yesterday it was 83! Crazy for mid-January.

When the temperatures rise.... it's grill time!

I discovered some wonderful burger seasoning. It's only $1 and it's AMAZING!

I've tried all kinds of burger recipes but nothing beats this seasoning pack.

It's super easy, just mix in with 1 pound of ground beef and make into patties then grill.

I HATE the feel of mixin up raw meat so I always wear disposable plastic gloves.

YUM!

This isn't my photo but sure looks ready for a summer grilling party!

If you don't have warm temps don't worry you can broil burgers in your oven or put in a frying pan. Still good just missing a bit of the smoky flavor.

Menu Monday & Homemade Crouton

A good friend of mine owns a bread company.

Let me tell you.... they make some fabulous bread!

We were over for a playdate and what does she pull out and make with leftover bread from the bakery? Homemade croutons.

We all ate them up for a yummy snack.

Let me share how easy they are to make:

1. Take some bread and slice into squares
2. Toss with EVOO and sprinkle with garlic salt and mix
3. Bake for 15ish minutes at 375They are heavenly, easy and cheap!
   Now on to dinner time, we have a mexican food theme. I didn't really plan it this way these things just sounded good.

Monday: Frozen Stouffers Cheese and Bean Enchiladas with side salad and homemade croutons.

Tuesday: Grilled Sandwiches with a side of leftover Taco Soup

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs with a side salad

Thursday: Clean out the freezer and fridge meals... who knows?

Friday: Pizza Buffet. I discovered California Pizza Kitchen pizza's at the grocery store... yum! I get a veggie, supreme, and speciality and we have our own buffet. The pizza's run about $5 each but for $15 it's still cheaper than hitting the real deal.

Saturday: Taco Night

Sunday: Kung Pao Chicken with Veggies. I use the wanchi ferry meal kit and add in a package of mixed veggies.

Coupons Anyone and a Heavenly Recipe

I have to make a confession. I stopped using coupons about 2 months ago....(gasp). Yes Frugal Jen hasn't been so frugal at the grocery store.

Honestly I just don't have the time or energy right now. I just buy whats on my list and I still am hitting my budget amount. Except for the time a couple weeks ago when I had an instant craving for Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream and waffle cones.

I stumbled across some awesome online Kraft coupons for cream cheese, Velveeta and other yummy snacks. http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Products/SuperValu.aspx

Speaking of Cream Cheese. I have to share the BEST recipe my friend Ashlee shared with me. She did better than share she made me a batch of these Heavenly Lemon Delights (that's my made up name for them).

1 C powdered sugar
6 oz cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice2
(8 oz) cans Crescent dinner rolls
Preheat oven to 375.

In bowl combine first 3 ingredients until smooth. Separate crescent dough into triangles. Place 1 rounded teaspoon of mixture on wide end of each triangle. Roll up to opposite point. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Combine glaze ingredients until smooth and drizzle over warm rolls.

Glaze:1 C powdered sugar1 tsp margarine1 tsp lemon juice (I had to use a lot more lemon juice to make it thin enough to drizzle)

Menu Monday

Looking forward to a calm and peaceful week, a mom can dream right?

Monday: Make your own Toastatos. Topped with beans, cheese, lettuce, ground beef, salsa, guac, sour cream

Tuesday: Meals on the Go - PB sandwiches and fruit

Wednesday: Chicken and Rice with Crescent Rolls
Easy recipe: 3 chicken breast cooked and shredded
2 cups of cooked rice
Scoop of butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup of chicken broth
Mozz Cheese

Mix together and bake for 25 minutes at 375. Love this!

Thursday: Left over ck and rice

Friday: Make Your Own Pizza Night

For more recipes visit www.orgjunkie.com

Menu Monday

We've had some crazy weather here in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. Last week we had a morning snow shower. The kids were really bummed they had to go to school.

Later that day we headed to the mall I realized Will needed a winter coat his little light weight jacket wasn't going to cut it. Cold weather makes me think of soup..... especially Nana's Taco Soup.

Monday:Crock Pot Taco Soup. Easy and yummy recipe.

Brown ground beef and drain. Add to crockpot on low with 1 can of black beans, 1 can of red kidney beans, 1 cup of frozen corn (tastes better than canned), 1 can of rotel and 2 cans of crushed tomato's (the fire roasted with garlic). I blend the tomato cans together in the blender, I don't like big chunky tomato stuff. Then I add 1 packet of taco seasoning and 1 packet of ranch dressing seasoning and finally 1 1/2 cups of water.

I usually cook in the crockpot for about 4 hours. It is so good!

Tuesday: Leftover Taco Soup

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs ( I skipped this one last week)

Thursday: Take out from Little Caesar's Pizza we have an event that night. Cheap and easy 2 pizza's for $10.

Friday: Chicken Stir Fry and Veggies.

Last week I received a bottle of olive oil from mom select to review. I used it with some seasoning for leftover chicken wraps last week. If you see it in your grocery store I highly recommend it. The brand is California Olive Ranch. So many of my recipes call for EVOO so it's a pantry staple. The bottle also looks great out by the stove.

For more menu monday recipes visit the org junkie.

Easy Holiday Pretzel Rod's

Last week I hosted our neighborhood women's annual cookie exchange. Well this year I kinda cheated I made chocolate pretzel rods instead of cookies but they were still a hit.

Here are my pretzels on the table before the other guests and sweets arrived.

Notice another chalkboard paint creation? I spray painted a plan plate so I could display it for occasions with a personalized message. Let me share how I make the pretzels..... Here is what you need.

I melt the candy melts in the microwave in a tall plastic cup then I dip and lay out on foil.
I put sprinkles on when they first come out. See I had a little helper.

Then I melt another color candy melt in a plastic bag in the microwave and snip off an end and drizzle.

This is my easy signature dessert or treat when I have parties or need to bring a dessert. You can change the color for different occasions. Think baby shower pink or blue with white dots.

Menu Monday

Monday: Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Chips on the go. We are skipping the weekly grilled cheese sandwich too similar to the paninis for tomorrow.

Tuesday: Grilled Panini's - shredded pepper turkey from deli, red and green pepper slices, mushrooms (for hubby not me), provolone cheese, avocados and bacon. Just a dash of Italian dressing. All put together and melted on the George Foreman grill (love this gadget). Served with a side of Pasta Salad.

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Thursday: Chicken and Rice - I have some cooked shredded chicken from the freezer I will throw in the skillet with a bit of EVOO and season with Kickin Chicken seasoning. 2 cups of cooked rice, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1/2 a can of chicken broth mix with chicken. Top casserole with mozzarella cheese and bake. The seasoned chicken makes the dish flavorful and a bit spicy. Served with a side salad.

Friday: Make your own pizza's back!

A friend gave me a packet full of new recipes. I am going to pick a new one each week to make... starting next week. She's an instructor at my gym and is in amazing shape. So the recipes are good but also healthy.

Also hoping the weather here in North Texas changes cold so I can make some yummy crockpot recipes (side note: did you know crockpot comes up on spell check as wrong but suggested spelling is crack pot????)

Favorite Recipe - Mexican Lasagna

I am a little late posting my "Go-To" recipe from Kelly's Korner. Better late than never right? Somehow that is becoming my new motto.

This is a recipe I made up, enjoy!

I live in Texas and we LOVE our mexican food.

Jen's Tex- Mex Lasagna

Here is how it's done:

What you need:

2 cans of red enchilada sauce (I use Old El Paso brand)

1 package of flour tortilla's

1 pound ground beef

1 small can of corn

1 can of black beans

1 package of shredded cheddar cheese

Optional: diced red and green peppers

Cook and drain the ground beef

Return beef to skillet add corn, black beans, and peppers (I usually add garlic powder and ground cumin to season)

In a 9 X 13 glass cooking pan add a little enchilada sauce

Start layer with tortilla's torn in big pieces

Layer 2 beef mixture

Layer 3 top with cheese

Layer 4 top with tortilla's

Layer 5 top with enchilada sauce

Continue layers until you run out of space or meat. Top the very top with tortilla's and enchilada sauce and top with cheese

Cover with foil and Bake 375 for 35 minutes or until bubbly. I use a convection oven so cooking temps vary.

Enjoy! We serve with chips and guacamole. This freezes really yum! I usually make a double batch and put on in the freezer.

Menu Monday

Before my weekly menu I have to show you my family on the 4th! We had a great day with a family swim party followed by the fireworks.

Let me share my menu:

Monday: Grill Burgers and Tator Tot's

Tuesday: Left over Brisket Sandwiches and chips

Wednesday: Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs - I haven't used this recipe in a while

Thursday: Left over meatballs in an Italian sub (Husbands old college favorite)

Friday: Pizza and a movie night. I think I will pick up $5 Little Caesar's Pizza.

Menu Monday & Weekend Finds

I had a great mothers day! I awoke to breakfast made by my husband and kids. What a special treat! We headed off to church, the nursery was closed for mothers day. I got a little extra time with little miss who has quite the personality. She calls the cry room at our church the "snack room".

Let me share what's for dinner at our house, then keep reading for my garage sale finds:

Monday: Grilled Burritos, a big favorite in our house. Let me share....

What you need:

Big Tortilla's

Cooked Rice (I used Knor Spanish Rice)

Shredded Cheese

Black Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

Refried Beans (I used Old El Paso Fat Free)

Chicken (I used the Oscar Meyer Southwest Strips)

Jalapenos

Sour Cream

Salsa

1. Lay out the tortilla, top with refried beans smooth around.

2. Add the rice, cheese, black beans, chicken, jalapenos and anything else you want to add.

3. Fold into a huge burrito.

4. Spray with cooking spray and put on the grill. (We use the George Foreman Grill)

5. Once cooked top with sour cream and salsa.

We also add Guacamole for an extra treat!Take large tortillas fill with black beans, refried beans, shredded cheese

Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Tender Sandwiches (we enjoyed them so much last week) Just take tyson chicken tenders in buffalo style and put on bread, top with cheese, lettuce and ranch dressing.

Wednesday:Spaghetti and Meatballs with salad and garlic bread

Thursday:Frozen Pizza

Friday: Burger and Grilled Chicken on the grill.

For more menus visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/

These are my garage sale finds this weekend. I got all these frames for $4 (all solid wood)! I plan to paint and distress. Look for the transformation this week.

Tuesdays Tip- Freezer Food

Freezer Food Recipe Exchange

I am always looking for great freezable recipes. I am known (often) to get tired of cooking and decide to just go out to eat. When we go out to eat I tend to overeat and pick high calorie choices. We also spend money at least $30! If only I had a live in cook and nutritionist here at home. Oh yeah we do... it's me mom.

For those nights I don't want to cook I like to have a meal in the freezer ready to pop in the oven.

Favorite Freezer Ready Meals: Jen's Mexican Lasagna and
Chicken Tetrazzini (I found this recipe in Southern Living)
What you need:
1 (16 oz) package of thin spaghetti
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 cups cooked chicken (I use boiled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken shredded)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (reduced fat)
1 can of cream of chicken soup (reduced fat)
1 can of cream of celery soup (reduced fat)
1 (8oz) sour cream (light)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook pasta
2. Toss cooked pasta with chicken broth
3. Stir chopped chicken and next 8 ingredients in a large bowl
4. Add cooked pasta
5. Spray 2 cooking dishes (11 X 7 ) size with cooking spray
6. Fill cooking dishes
7. Top both with cheese
8. Put in freezer
9. When ready to cook set out on counter for about an hour to defrost a little
10. Cook covered with foil at 375 for 45 minutes or until bubbly (I check every 15 minutes)

What is your favorite freezer meal? Please post a recipe on your blog and leave a comment here so we can find your recipe.

Menu Monday

I had a wonderful weekend. On Saturday night I got a special date night with my hubby (Posh Josh) you will understand the nickname soon.

The kids were off to his mom's house. He made reservations for dinner. Knowing I am a frugal girl I am expecting On the Border so we can share fajitas and have a few drinks. No... he made reservations at Boi Na Braza a Brazilian steakhouse. Are you kidding me, they do not offer coupons and it is very expensive! Posh Josh insisted we needed to treat ourselves like we used too. So I gave in without resistance... what a wonderful night we had. We sat at this nice table all dressed up for 2 hours with no high chairs or children throwing food.

After dinner we headed to the movies, again no coupons. We saw The Knowing. Very creepy movie. I enjoy doomsday movies, no chick flicks for me. What a wonderful splurge date we had! Thank you Posh Josh!

On to my menu for the week:

Monday: Make your own pizza. We are using ready made pizza crust this week. Toppings include hamburger, pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapenos (my favorite)

Tuesday: Hot Dogs (Only Hebrew National) and Tator Tots for the boys, I have a dance recital meeting with the girls.

Wednesday: Client Dinner for Hubby's work... I think Gloria's or PF Chang's. Wow, we are on a roll!

Thursday: Grilled Burritos, a big favorite in our house. Let me share....
What you need:
Big Tortilla's
Cooked Rice (I used Knor Spanish Rice)
Shredded Cheese
Black Beans (Drained and Rinsed)
Refried Beans (I used Old El Paso Fat Free)
Chicken (I used the Oscar Meyer Southwest Strips)
Jalapenos
Sour Cream
Salsa

1. Lay out the tortilla, top with refried beans smooth around.
2. Add the rice, cheese, black beans, chicken, jalapenos and anything else you want to add.
3. Fold into a huge burrito.
4. Spray with cooking spray and put on the grill. (We use the George Foreman Grill)
5. Once cooked top with sour cream and salsa. We also add Guacamole for an extra treat!

Friday: (Good Friday) This is a special day for Christians (we are Catholic and yes we are still considered Christians. I get that question a lot because I was raised Baptist and changed churches as an adult)

We will be fasting and only eating one large meatless meal. Since the whole family will be out of work and school we will have a big lunch. Maybe eating Pizza or Fish Sticks. We have both I'll let the kids choose.

Hope you have a wonderful week, what's your favorite planned meal this week? For more menu's check out www.orgjunkie.com

Thrifty Thursday- Easy Banana Bread

I was checking my email yesterday when I got a reminder that Thursday I am scheduled to bring snacks to my journal group. Oh no! How did I forget? I found this out just as I finished making a meal to take to a new mom at church. Now, I have to figure out what snack to bring!!

So what did I do? I searched my pantry...nothing..no cookie or bread mix. Then, I looked over and saw some brown banana's. Bingo, banana bread from scratch! Well almost ... I had some Bisquick. I got online and found this recipe . And guess what? I had all the ingredients!! I ran out of sugar so I added a little brown sugar instead. As a little bonus, I used up the rest of my Hershey mini morsels. It turned out great! This was my first attempt to make banana bread from scratch (it wasn't out of a box mix)! I am so excited I spent $0!!!!

What is your favorite frugal snack to bring to meetings or gatherings?

Menu Monday

Whew, after a busy weekend of birthday parties for my daughter I am exhausted and stuffed. As I write this post I could go for a week without eating... too much birthday cake and ice cream for me.

Monday: Leftover Chicken Stir Fry, I tried the Green Giant Szechuan frozen kit just added chicken. Yummy and easy!

Tuesday: Make your own meal - my husband will be traveling so most likely sandwiches or spaghetti o's for me and the kids

Wednesday: Baked Ziti double batch, I am taking some to a friend who just had a baby. Here is my recipe for a single recipe:

1/2 package of Ziti Noodles (cooked)
1 Can of spaghetti sauce
1 small can of tomato paste
1 pound of cooked ground beef (lean)
Mozz cheese

Mix the everything but the cheese together, top with cheese then cover with foil then bake 350 for about 30 minutes.

Then enjoy!!

Thursday: Grill burgers and baked tator tot's

Friday: Frozen fish from the fish fry a couple weeks ago, yes I will bake and not eat frozen

I need your help, I am in a cooking rut and need new recipes, please share your favorites!!!

Menu Monday - Yum Recipe!

Spring Break this week! That means a busy week with the kids at home!

Monday- Frozen Pizza (I am all about easy, we are getting Kate's photo's taken by B4Photography today)

Tuesday- Jen's Mexican Lasagna, here is how I do it:
What you need:
2 cans of red enchilada sauce
1 package of flour tortilla's
1 pound ground beef
1 small can of corn
1 can of black beans
1 package of shredded cheddar cheese
Optional: diced red and green peppers

1. Cook and drain the ground beef
2. Return beef to skillet add corn, black beans, and peppers (I usually add garlic powder and ground cumin to season)
3. In a 9 X 13 glass cooking pan add a little enchilada sauce
4. Start layer with tortilla's torn in big pieces
5. Layer 2 beef mixture
6. Layer 3 top with cheese
7. Layer 4 top with tortilla's
8. Layer 5 top with enchilada sauce
9. Continue layers until you run out of space or meat. Top the very top with tortilla's and enchilada sauce and top with cheese
10. Cover with foil and Bake 375 for 35 minutes or until bubbly. I use a convection oven so cooking temps vary.
11. Enjoy! We serve with chips and guacamole. This freezes really yum! I usually make a double batch and put on in the freezer.
    

Wednesday- Grill Burgers outside and French Fries (It is going to be 85 degrees!)

Thursday- Eating out with the kids or spaghetti and meatballs (frozen one's)

Friday- My dad is making his specialty of frying fresh fish, grilling corn and baked potato's

For more recipes check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/

Wasteless Wednesday

Good news on my kitchen crisis, I found another one to order so fingers crossed my kitchen will have counters tomorrow!

With our current kitchen crisis and only a microwave and oven I am in need of easy meals. My wonderful mother made us the best potato cheese soup last night with crescent rolls. She put them in individual plastic disposable container so we had no clean up. It was such a relaxing way to end the day. I wanted to share this recipe you can reduce the fat by using all light items which I hope my mom did.... oh well I am going to the gym this morning.

POTATO CHEESE SOUP
1 stick margarine
1 medium onion chopped
1 cup grated carrots
½ cup chopped celery
4 cans Campbell Potato Soup
1 lb. (16oz) grated Velveeta cheese
4 cups milk
1 16 oz. container of sour cream

Melt margarine in skillet or microwave. Cook onions, carrots and celery in margarine until soft.

In Crockpot, place cans of soup, cheese, milk, and sour cream. Stir in onions, carrots and celery. Salt and pepper. Let cook on low for several hours. Stir from time to time.

A welcomed meal amongst the dining room storage mess!

My Wasteless Wednesday Tip of the Day: Reuse and save containers! I always save cool-whip (the best storage containers) and butter bins. These are especially great for taking food to friends when they are sick or have a new baby. When they are done eating they can simply throw away instead of worrying about delivering back to the wonderful cook.

If you find yourself in need of these throw away containers don't buy them at the grocery store they are usually $4 a pack go to the dollar tree or dollar store they have the same one's for $1.

Menu Monday-Recipe Queso

Updated: I wanted to share this recipe with the recipe swap on Grocery Cart Challenge. What a great site!

Yesterday I experimented and made a new queso, my own made up recipe, put all my favorites in... it was soooo good! Here is how to do it:

Jen's Taco Queso
-1 pound of Velvetta
-1 can of rotel (blended with the blender... I don't like chunks)
-1 can of refriend beans
-1 can of black beans rinsed and drained
- 1/2 packet of taco seasoning
- 8 oz of sour cream
-1/2 pound of cooked ground beef

Melt and serve with chips it is so creamy and yummy.

This is our dinner menu:

Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs with garlic bread (this is my first try making meatballs)

Tuesday: Crockpot Salsa Chicken in tortilla's with a side of rice and beans

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Tator Tot's

Thursday: Pilgrims Pride Buffalo Chicken Tenders (got them with a free coupon, I had a bad experience so they mailed me free coupons), Mashed Potato's and Corn

Friday: Make your own Pizza

For more Menu Planning Monday visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/

Weekend Edition- What's for Dinner

I realized I don't post weekend meals, I grocery shop on Fridays and plan my meals for the following week on Thursday. So I will share what we are having this weekend.

Saturday- Burgers and Tator Tots for hubby and kids (I have a girls wine party, so much fun!!) Each girl is assigned a type of wine to bring along with a food choice. Well I got Riesling which I don't normally drink, I am a red wine girl. I have to show this ... look what I am bringing as my pairing with wine.... chocolate covered pretzel sticks.

Sunday- Chicken Parmigiana (ck breast marinated in Italian dressing then covered with bread crumbs then baked) and Spaghetti with Prego Roasted Garlic Sauce

On a serious note.... I came across a blog this weekend that I thought I would pass along. I wish I had been reading it for a while because she has a great blog... but I found it today more importantly when it was most important to find it. Please read and say a prayer for her little baby girl.

Frugal Recipes

I've had some request from my menu this week. I will post my recipes each week with my menus.

We tried the chicken Alfredo this week for the first time. It was the best Alfredo ever, plus it is lower fat. Here is the recipe http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/fettuccine-alfredo-chicken-111228.aspx . I get a lot of recipes from www.kraftfoods.com sign up for their free food & family magazine with tons of recipes.


This is one of my easy favorites my my mom.
Nana’s Taco Soup –Jennifer Rudd

What you need:
1 pound of ground beef cooked and drained
1 can of black beans (drained)
1 can of pinto beans (drained)
1 can of red kidney beans (drained)
1 can of mexicorn (drained)
1 powder packet of ranch dressing mix
1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1 can of rotel
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 cups of water

I blend the tomatoes and rotel in the blender I don’t like chunky tomatoes.
Put all this in a crock pot and cook on low for 3 hours and 1 hour high. Top with shredded cheese. We eat with nacho chips.

Thrifty Thursday

I found a great site for cheap meal ideas. She posts dinners that are $5 or less. Check it out! http://www.5dollardinners.com/

Do you have any other sites that list cheap recipes? Leave a comment and let me know.