All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth!

My beautiful daughter just lost her second tooth in a week! I can't believe how fast time has gone and my baby girl is that big already! I really need to stop calling her my baby girl and call her my big girl now!

I was helping her brush her teeth and her right bottom middle tooth has been super wiggly the last few days. It has a new tooth growing in behind it, so I knew that it was a matter of time before it fell out. Well, I told her that she could pull it out if she wanted to! I watched as she pulled it and then we both jumped up and down screaming! 

She can't wait to go to school tomorrow and tell all her friends and her teacher that she pulled out her tooth!  She put her tooth in her tooth pillow and Mommy and Daddy, aka "The Tooth Fairy", will put a dollar in there for her!

She turns 6 in a few weeks, so I told her that she is probably not going to have any teeth for her party! She was actually excited! LOL! 

Ah, the joys of parenting! Now, I have that song stuck in my head, All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth, my two front teeth, my two front teeth! 

My Qing Adventures This Week

Here are my Qing (couponing) adventures for this week.  I found some good deals.  I follow The Frugal Find on Facebook and get her emails everyday. She is an excellent page to follow for the deals. I also follow totallytarget.com and they are specifically for Target, which is one of my favorite stores. Target allows you to stack Qs (coupons).  That means, that you can use a TQ (Target coupon), which is found on their website, and a MQ (manufacturer coupon) together, making for even a better deal!

Target shopping trip 4/25/12

Total OOP (out of pocket) $21.79, total savings this trip $23.13

Let me break down the deals for you.

-Hostess donuts on sale for $1.89 - $0.50 MQ = $1.39 each

-Carefree panty liners $0.99 - $1 MQ = $0.01 overage

-Tums Refreshers $2.49 - $0.75 TQ = $1.74

-One A Day Women's Vitamins $6 - $2 MQ = $4

The One A Day Women's Vitamins were the best deal! They had a price cut tag marking them down from $14.49 to $6! When I scanned them, they still came up at the $14.49 price. I asked an associate and she said they would sell them to me for the $6 price, but she took the price cut tag off the shelf! LOL! They had a $2 peelie, a MQ stuck on the package, so I got them for $4!
-Revlon easy smooth callus shaver, beauty tool 
$4.99 - $2TQ - $1 MQ = $1.99
-Method cleaners on sale for $2.69 - $1 MQ - $1 TQ = $0.69 each
-OxiClean Pre-treater $3.09 - $0.50 MQ - $1.50 TQ = $1.09
-Green Works wipes 
$2.36 -  used 3 $1 MQ - used 2 $1/2 TQ = $2.08 for 4 items
The wipes are $2.36 x 3 = $7.08.  $7.08 - $3 in MQs and $2 in TQs = $2.08 for all 4 items, because you get the dish soap for free! 
-Green Works dishsoap $2.34 = free
Target is running a special purchase: Free Green Works Dishwashing Liquid when you buy 3 Selected Green Works Items
-Headbands (out of the dollar bin in the front) $1

-Up allergy medicine $3.69

Vons shopping trip 4/27/12

Total OOP $4.41, total savings value 78%

The Ken's 12 ounce salad dressings are on sale for $0.99.  There is a MQ for $1/1 Ken's dressing from SS (Smart Source) 3/11, expires 4/30/12.   I used 4 MQs, getting the dressing for free! The Lucerne Greek yogurt was on sale for $0.89 each.  So, I paid $4.41 for the yogurt.

Vons shopping trip 4/27/12

Total OOP $0, total savings value 100%

Again, I used 3 MQs, getting the salad dressing for free! They actually paid me $0.03 to take the dressing! Wow, I have never been paid to take something home! 

Well, I try my best at couponing. I have a great support group of friends who also couponing! You gals, know who you are!

 

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole

This week, I am on a roll. I tried out another new recipe tonight.   I called my mom and asked her if she and my dad would be my guinea pigs for dinner tonight. ;) So, my parents came over and this is what I made for dinner.

Cheesy Enchilada Casserole
(Recipe from Just Get Off Your Butt and Bake)
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/10/cheesy-enchilada-casserole.html

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 large onion, chopped or season with Onion powder or minced onion
2 1/2 cups salsa
1 can (15 ounces) black beans or red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium taco seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
6 flour tortillas (8 inches)
1 small can of drained corn, or about 1 1/4 cups of frozen corn (optional)
3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream *Note: I used 1/2 cup
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in the salsa, beans, dressing, sour cream, corn (optional), taco seasoning and cumin.
Spoon a generous layer of meat mixture on bottom of 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Place a flour or corn tortilla on top of meat mixture. Layer with half of the meat mixture, and cheese. Repeat as many layers as you like.
The last & final layer should be a healthy dose of grated cheese.
Cover with foil that has been sprayed with pam or other and bake at 400° for 25 minutes, or until hot & bubbly.
Let stand for 5 minutes before topping with lettuce, tomato and cilantro. Yield: 8 servings. 


First off, I used ground turkey. I cut the onion up and mixed it in with the turkey to cook.  Once that was cooked, I mixed in the corn, black beans, ground cumin, taco seasoning mix, salsa and the Italian dressing (which I found so odd to be in a Mexican style dish). 

 Isn't this mixture so pretty?!?

After this, I mixed in the sour cream.  You put a layer of meat on the bottom of the casserole dish, then put cheese on top of that. 

This was the first layer 

I placed two wheat tortillas, side by side on top of this layer. Then you repeat the process.  Meat, cheese, tortilla, meat, cheese, tortilla. I only used 4 tortillas, but it worked. 

 This is what it looked like after all the layers had been put on.

I covered it with foil that had been sprayed with cooking spray, and baked it at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.  

We all really liked it! We ate it with tortilla chips. It could very easily be made into a warm dip, without the tortillas! My mom said that on a scale of 1 to 10, it was a 12, so that was a very nice compliment!  My husband came home for lunch and ate a good portion of it! He loves lasagna and this is kind of like a Mexican lasagna.   

 This is all that is left of it!  

I will definitely be make this again! Another great new recipe for my family! Thank you again, Pinterest! 

Pork Stroganoff

Pork stroganoff???? Yes, I said pork stroganoff! 
 
So, for Crock Pot Tuesday this week, I did a variation of beef stroganoff.  We are not huge beef eaters, but we love chicken, turkey and pork. So, I was trying to think of a way to make beef stroganoff, but with a different kind of meat.  While I was at Sam's Club, getting some groceries, I saw some pork stew meat and decided to use that instead. 


So, I kind of went off this recipe and a recipe that my friend had given me. 
http://crockingirls.com/recipes/main-dish/beef/beef-stroganoff-with-cream-cheese.html

Beef Stroganoff with Cream Cheese
1 & 1/4 pound cubed beef stew meat
2 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 chopped onion
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 c. water (or a little more if you want saucy).
Dash of garlic salt
8 oz cream cheese (cut up)
Egg noodles or Amish noodles

Directions:
In slow cooker, combine uncooked meat and all ingredients EXCEPT cream cheese and noodles.
Cook on low setting for 8 hrs or high for about 5 hrs.
Approx. 15-20 min before serving, add the cream cheese; stir occasionally until melted.
Approx. 10 minutes before serving, add uncooked noodles, push down in sauce to get lightly coated; replace lid, but stir occasionally until noodles are soft and ready to eat.

I cut the pork stew chunks a bit smaller, for my kids.  I mixed the 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup with 1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix, instead of using an onion.  I added the worcestershire sauce, the garlic salt and the water.  I put the meat into the crock pot and then poured the soup mixture on top. Set it on low for 8 hours. 


After about 6 and a half hours, it was super bubbly and the meat was breaking apart with a fork.  I cut up the cream cheese and folded it into the meat mixture, until it melted.   By the time that I had served it, the stoganoff was kind of one big mushy mess, but it totally tasted delish! I made egg noddles and then poured the stroganoff mix over the top of them.   


It was super yummy!

A Coupon Exchange, 100 degree weather and 15 Bean Soup

A Coupon Exchange
Today, my coupon group met at my friend's house for a coupon exchange.   Eight ladies and eight kids under the age of 4 makes for a fun time!  LOL!  I met another lady from our group whom I had not met before. We all exchanged coupons and talked about life (as any group of women would do!), as our kids played away!
We collected coupons from our friends and passed on ones that others were looking for. It is so nice to be a part of a group like that!  

This is my box of I don't want coupons! My friends in my coupon group make fun of me, because even the coupons that I don't use are organized! It sure does make it so much easier to look for a certain Q (coupon), when my friends need one! 

100 Degree Weather

I live in the Coachella Valley. For anyone who knows the Palm Springs area, you know that our summers are horribly hot! Well, that unfortunate heat is upon us! Today, we peaked at 100 degrees! It makes for no fun when the air conditioner in your car is not working.  Blah!  My son and I were boiling, and this is just the beginning!  I had plugged in a clip on fan, into the cigarette lighter with an adapter. I then clipped it to the passenger seat headrest and aimed it right at my son.  I will be hot, as long as my kids are cool! It was so warm, it did little to help, but it was something!  I am SO NOT looking forward to this summer. I am going to get my A/C fixed, so my kids don't have to suffer in the heat.  And me either for that matter! ;) 

15 Bean Soup

 

Last night around 1am, I put my 15 bean soup in a pot of water to soak overnight. The bag said that they should soak overnight or at least 8 hours. I left them soaking all night and almost all day and some of the beans were still hard.

15 different kinds of beans... they sure are pretty! 

 The ham bone and some ham (from the ham that I made in the crock pot on Sunday for dinner)

 

Some of the ingredients and a little something extra, the jalepeno

Hurst's 15 Bean Soup Recipe

Yield: approximately 3 quarts.  Serves 14-16.

 

1 pound of ham, ham hocks, or smoked sausage

1 cup onion, chopped

1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon chili powder

juice of 1 lemon

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

Traditional method

Soaking:  Place beans in a large pot, cover with 2 quarts of water.  Allow beans to soak overnight or at least 8 hours.

1. After soaking, drain water, add 2 quarts water and ham.

2. Bring beans to boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 2 1/2 hours.

3. After simmering, add onion, tomatoes, chili powder, lemon and garlic.  Simmer for another 30 minutes.

4. Add contents of ham packet 1 to 2 minutes before cooking is completed. Salk and pepper to taste.

Heidi's method

I soaked the beans for almost 15 hours. I put the rinsed beans and the ham and ham hock in the pot and brought it to a boil.  Once it was boiling, I added everything in, plus 1 jalepeno for extra flavor. I made a double batch, so 2 of everything.  I let it simmer for a little over 2 hours and then added the flavor packets when there was about 15 minutes left on the timer.  

The finished product! It was super yummy! 

This was my first time making this soup, and if I don't say so myself, it was SUPER tasty! It was 100 degrees today and I make hot soup for dinner!  Oh well, it was worth it, and I ate 2 bowls and so did my husband!

Crock Pot Tuesday: 4/17/12

On the advice of an old friend, I am starting my first blog! This blog will entail my life as a crock pot cooking, scrapbooking, couponing, mom and wife!  

Who knows if anyone will even read this, but I am starting anyways! And so let the adventures begin!

I have now deemed Tuesdays, as Crock Pot Tuesdays.  I tried out a new recipe, Chicken Cordon Bleu.  For those of you who are on Pinterest, here is my pin of the recipe. 

http://pinterest.com/pin/75505731222520468/

Here is the actual link for the recipe.

http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/02/slow-cooker-chicken-cordon-bleu.html

Ok, chasing rabbits for a second here, I am THOROUGHLY addicted to Pinterest! It is my go to website for recipes, craft projects, DIY projects, sewing tips (even though I don't sew, but would love to learn), the list could go on and on!   If you don't know what Pinterest, let me explain it to you!  

From their about section on pinterest.com: "What is Pinterest? Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.  Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests." 

Ok, back to the recipe!  I had actually cooked a ham in my crock pot on Sunday (another recipe I found on Pinterest), which came in handy for today's recipe.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

recipe from:  AllRecipes.com 

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 

1 cup milk 

4 ounces sliced ham 

4 ounces sliced Swiss cheese 

1 (8 ounce) package herbed dry bread stuffing mix 

1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom.

Layer chicken breasts over the sauce.

Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese.

Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers.

Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle butter over stuffing.

Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High.

I took the cream of chicken soup and mixed it with a can of milk (just filled the soup can to the top with milk and mixed it with the soup).   Poured enough of the soup to cover the bottom of the crock pot.  I was being a good girl and following directions!  My crock pot is a six quart, so it only fit three chicken breasts on the bottom.   So, I placed the chicken breasts on top of the soup, cut a wedge of ham and put that on top of the chicken and then the slice of swiss cheese on top of that.  Repeat with all three chicken breasts.  Pour a more of the soup on top of those. Then I placed two more chicken breasts on top of those and repeated the process.  I then poured the rest of the soup over the top of everything. I dumped the stuffing over the top of it all. I used Great Value chicken flavored  bread stuffing (6 ounces).   I melted the butter and poured it over the top, and realized you could never go wrong with more butter and just used the rest of the cube.  Set the crock pot on high for 3 hours and go! 

I made brussell sprouts with a cheese sauce to go with the chicken. I have to admit, that it turned out pretty darn good! It was super rich and had great flavor! It was very filling! My husband and daughter liked it! My son, who is almost 3, kind of picked at it. He is going through sort of a picky stage.  The chicken was so tender it was breaking apart while I was trying to serve it! I couldn't even eat all of my chicken, because it was so rich! So so good though! 

Well, that is my adventure for the night! Please stay tuned in for 
more Adventures of me, Heidi the Happy Homemaker!   Thanks for reading!