Happy Thanksgiving!!! Enjoy a Day of Blessings!!

Thanksgiving...on $50???

Recently, while reading a holiday magazine, I came across an article on how to create a Thanksgiving dinner for ten people under $100. "That's easy", I thought, "give me a real challenge!" So Thanksgiving under $50 was born. Now you may have already done your Thanksgiving dinner shopping but Christmas is just around the corner, and then New Year's so with all the parties and hosting you'll be doing, here are a few ways to keep your budget in check.
- First, keep your main dish around $15. Think it can't be done? Think again. Whole turkeys and hams are usually around $0.79 a pound during peak season but that doesn't mean you're stuck with just those options. A big lasagna, a bag of chicken, or a large roast can easily be transformed into a mean main dish!
- Then, choose one or two killer appetizers. Think a yummy homemade dip or cheese platter with fruit. You don't need the chips/dip AND the veggie platter AND the fruit!!
- Keep your drink selections to a minimum. It's amazing how quickly your drink tab can add up! Choose a main beverage like iced tea or lemonade and water and call it a day! 
- Keep side dishes simple. Potatoes, casseroles and salad go a long way.
- Don't go crazy with dessert. So many times, people are so full by the end of a big meal, they either decline dessert altogether or choose something small. So keep dessert options basic. Apple pie a la mode or brownies and cookies are enough!
Lastly, keep your eyes peeled for coupons around the holidays. I always get great coupons from Vons in the mail and from Target with my receipt. Just this week I got a 4-pound bag of chicken breast with a FREE marinade, bag of rice and veggie. At Target, I've gotten several $5-off coupons towards groceries. Shop wisely, keep your menu simple and you will save!!! What are you making this year???

Holiday Dinner

What do you make year after year for your holiday dinner? Turkey? A ham? Something less traditional? Well, this year, being in my streamlined mode, I decided to make Thanksgiving and Christmas easy. No stress, no fuss even though I am hosting family. I promised myself that after years of being tense and terse prior to those holiday get-togethers, I would finally let go. No more scouring aisle after aisle in search of the perfect gift that does not exist, no more going over budget to make more treats and purchase "one more gift", and no more running like a chicken with it's head cut off in the hour before guests arrive for dinner. What's the point? Are people coming over to critique my housekeeping and cooking skills or to fellowship, laugh and share their blessings of the year? Exactly. So everyone is pitching in and I am keeping our meals pared down to a couple good appetizers, a mouth-watering main dish and a handful of homemade sweets. I'm going to focus on making memories this year and developing traditions for my children. I want them to look back on the sweet treats made in the kitchen with mommy and remember the fun, not the stress on my face when the powdered sugar was spilled or the frosting was smeared. And I want them to remember what the reason is behind the season. Here's to living in the moment! 

A Christmas Nightmare

Saturday night was the Bass Pro Shop opening night for their Christmas Wonderland. They were going to have carolers, milk and cookies and coloring books for the kids, fun activities and of course, visits with Santa. Although we'd been fighting the sniffles and I would have rather been in bed, we waited patiently for Daddy to come home so we could go. Dressed in their Christmas best, my kids were bouncing off the walls, eager to get out the door and on with the fun. Only fun was not to be had right away. First, walking into the shop, we realized that there was just no way we were going to see the big man. The line was wrapped halfway around the store, and the store is HUGE. So with my daughter in tears, we walked around, trying to engage the kids in the activities...letters to Santa, remote control cars, the carousel and shooting range, all to no avail. They had one-track minds that night, Santa.
So after a failed attempt at making the night better, we tried to console the kids with the milk and cookies...that they had run out of. Not to be deterred, we bought the kids a snack and took a little break. As my daughter continued to fight tears, we were about to give up and head out when, wouldn't you know it, the line had eased up. Finally! We got in line and while the kids watched The Elf on the Shelf to pass the time, we were there before we knew it! A cute picture and a chat with Santa and we were on our way. Our night was salvaged and after I popped some Thera-Flu and headed off to bed, I was relieved that somehow what started as a Christmas disaster ended a fun family night! And you better believe we are heading back with the free kids meal coupons we received!! I highly recommend going now that opening night is over and things have settled! http://www.basspro.com

                                                  Finally happy after their visit with Santa!

Starbucks Copycat Cakes

I simply adore Starbucks coffee cake. It's moist, full of flavor and that topping is to die for. Crumbly and sweet and full of cinnamon, it's a splurge on the rare occasions I actually go to Starbucks. So I considered myself lucky when I stumbled upon the recipe for it a couple years ago and I've been making it ever since. It's what I bring for potluck breakfasts and brunches and something I like to have on hand for a snack. It is definitely a treat though, as it's full of sugar and butter and quite frankly, I don't even want to know the calorie count. Ignorance is bliss. Anyway, I've been thinking about making small loaves of this for my neighbors this year for Christmas but decided to do something a little different. I thought a chocolate spice cake would do the trick and let my fingers do the walking in search of a perfect recipe. As luck would have it, and thanks to my Pinterest obsession, I found another Starbucks copycat recipe! This one is a Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf that sounds amazing. I've never actually had it at Starbucks but I gave it a try and it was awesome!! Soft, chocolaty, with the slightest bit of kick thanks to ginger, cloves and cinnamon, it is perfect with a cup of coffee. Here are the recipes for both cakes...which is your favorite??

Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
pinch ground cloves
pinch of ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 350F and thoroughly grease a 9×5″ loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, waiting until the previous egg has been completely incorporated before adding the next. In a medium bowl, sift together all purpose flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, water and vanilla extract. Working in two or three additions, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture to the sugar mixture. Begin and end with an addition of the flour mix. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. In a small bowl, whisk together topping ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, cocoa powder and ground cloves. Sprinkle evenly on top of the loaf cake.
Bake at 350F for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
Cool completely before slicing.
Adapted from http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2009/02/chocolate-cinnamon-loaf-w-sugar-spice.html

Coffee Cake

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix (plus ingredients on back of box)

2 Sticks cold salted butter

2 1/4 Cups flour

1 1/2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1 3/4 Cups sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla

Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Prepare cake mix in large bowl according to directions on box. Spray 2 9X13 loaf pans or one 9X13 pan with non-stick spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until center is just barely set. While cake is baking, prepare crumb topping. In large bowl of electric mixer combine, butter, flour, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla until all crumbly. Immediately after cake is removed from oven, break crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers, sprinkling over top. Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes (topping will begin to look a little less wet/raw). Let cool fully then dust with powdered sugar, using a sieve.
Cut into squares and serve.
I like to serve this one chilled, like they do at Starbucks!!!


Adapted  from http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Copycat-Starbucks-Coffee-Cake/11265/

This Week's Menu

This week I decided to ditch my boring and blah "same-old, same-old" dinner routine. I had gotten a recipe recently that both my sisters raved about and decided to give it a shot. It was a sweet potato and black bean taco dish but being that my hubby is a carnivore through and through, I decided to twist it up and add some ground chicken, some extra veggies and make it my own. Now, I hate to admit this, but aside from throwing some frozen sweet potato fries in the oven here and there, I've never made a sweet potato. Boy, was I missing out! I simply diced the potato and cooked in a skillet with some olive oil for about ten minutes, until the potato was soft. My son wanted a taste and LOVED it just that way, plain and simply. But I wasn't done. I added some onion, garlic, chopped red pepper and ground chicken to the mix. Then, as if that wasn't hearty enough, I threw in some Mexican rice to seal the deal. Not only did this dish taste great, but it yielded a ton...enough for two meals! I urge you to try sweet potatoes if you haven't! They will add body and texture to meals and are also chock full of vitamins a and c and picky kids will go for them!! So here it is, this week's menu, including the tacos:

Friday: Chili
Saturday: Dinner out!
Sunday: Sweet potato tacos/black beans
Monday: Grilled cheese/fruit smoothies
Tuesday: Teriyaki chicken burgers/oven fries
Wednesday: Pasta/garlic bread
Thursday: Leftovers

Here's the original recipe for the tacos! http://www.oprah.com/food/Roasted-Sweet-Potato-and-Black-Bean-Tacos-Recipe

Great Gifts for $10 or Less!

This year, I'm streamlining my gift-giving and trying to keep my gifts simple, practical and thoughtful. Also, I'm trying to avoid a ton of unnecessary "extras" and use our Christmas cash wisely. Here are a few inexpensive but useful gift ideas:
- Gift cards to coffee, fast food, the movies...etc. I can't think of anyone who would not appreciate this. If you include babysitting in the deal, even better!! We are all watching our spending these days and it's nice to be able to treat yourself!
- Bake something!! Giving a homemade gift is priceless and neighbors, co-workers, and friends alike will appreciate a goody. Think outside the box, though- instead of more cookies or brownies, make something like granola or jam or create a do-it-yourself baking mix. Don't forget the packaging!Cellophane and a ribbon go a long way!
- Splurge on quality votives and tuck them into a clear gift bag with chocolate kisses and a few gift basket shreds (don't forget the ribbon!!). For under $5, you've got the perfect gift for your hairdresser, your kid's teachers or the women in your bible study or bunco group. It's a great gift for a group as it's inexpensive but looks pretty and come on, who won't use a candle??
- For parents and grandparents, buy a holiday themed frame and add a picture of your kids!
- Buy small, hand-picked boxes of See's Candies chocolates for everyone. Or choose from a TON of gifts under $10 and let's not forget the best part...the free sample!!!

           

Happy shopping!! Got any other ideas for under $10???