Raising a Family on a Budget

Home Economics for Real Life

Note About Cleaning Out the Freezer

Our freezer. Not what it looks like at the moment, but this is a photo from the annual round of Freezer Tetris when our side of beef arrives in the fall.

For me, part of nesting is organizing the pantry & the freezer to make sure that we have enough groceries on hand for the first week or two after the baby is born.  Since I won’t feel up to grocery shopping for sometime, I did my last big trip yesterday since my dad is in town, and had one major problem when I got home – no room in the freezer for what we purchased.

Luckily, I was able to squeeze everything in there last night so it wouldn’t defrost, but the freezer was in need of some TLC, so this morning, I tackled the chest freezer in the basement as well as the freezer attached to our fridge in the kitchen.

Here are a few tips for cleaning out the freezer:

  1. Play the TETRIS theme music while organizing. It helps!
  2. Take everything out of the freezer first, and only put back what is still good
  3. Items that are not labeled are trash – don’t try to figure out what they are unless you are practicing for an upcoming Fear Factor Tryout
  4. Even if it is recognizable, if it isn’t labeled toss it. Who knows how long its been in the freezer (are they this years peaches or last years?)
  5. Items with dates more than 1yr old are also trash
  6. When throwing out a lot of stuff from the freezer, its better to do so the day before trash pick up so it doesn’t sit outdoors in the garbage cans for too long (oops! My stuff will be out there until Monday)
  7. Place trash items in small plastic bags (shopping bags) to help contain messes as things melt.
  8. When bringing all of those little trash bags up from the basement (or out of the kitchen to the curb) rely heavily on child labor. It saves you a lot of time & energy, and young children enjoy helping.
  9. When having to wait 4 days until trash day, placing items in a variety of small plastic bags to go into the trash will hopefully prevent flies, stink, and the neighborhood critters (not limited to cats and raccoons) from getting into everything, as will an outdoor trash can with a heavy lid.  Place said trash can away from any possible open windows, and do not store in an attached garage where potential stink can waft into the house.
WHEW!
One hour later, I can now find stuff in both freezers, and I even have a few open shelves in case I do anymore shopping (I do still have the Entenmann’s Groupon to use before next week, and if you haven’t grabbed it yet, its still available!).

 

{Recipe} Homemade Buffalo Sauce & Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

I am having some very odd cravings lately, and today’s hit around 7am – Buffalo Chicken!  I don’t care for most prepared buffalo sauces because they taste very vinegary to me, so I opted to make my own.  Here is the recipe for anyone looking to try a new Buffalo Sauce – maybe in time for the Superbowl this weekend!

:: Buffalo Sauce

  • 1/2 c Frank’s Red Hot
  • 1/3 c butter
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder (add more if you like it garlicy)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper (more if you like heat, I only used a 1/4 this time but will add more when I make this again)

Melt the butter in a small pot.  Reduce the heat to low.  Add the spices and stir them in so you don’t get lumps.  Add the bay leaf.  Then, carefully pour in the Frank’s Red Hot.  If the butter is boiling before this point, remove from heat so that it doesn’t bubble out of the pot and burn you.  Whisk everything together and allow to simmer 1-2 minutes.  Remove the bay leaf, and use on wings or as a dipping sauce or in your favorite recipe!

For me, that became a Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese!

buffalo grilled cheese

I was making a buffalo chicken grilled cheese & a regular grilled cheese which is why there are 2 sandwiches in the photo.

:: Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

  • 1 cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
  • enough buffalo sauce to coat the chicken
  • 4 slices of sourdough bread
  • Bleu Cheese Dressing (I like Marzetti’s Ultimate Bleu Cheese)
  • Bleu Cheese crumbles (optional) – to taste
  • 8 slices of sharp cheese – I used Cooper Sharp from the deli
  • butter for cooking

In a bowl, combine the cooked chicken breast and the buffalo sauce to coat.  Stir in the bleu cheese crumbles (if using) and 1 spoonful of the bleu cheese dressing.  If you don’t care for bleu cheese dressing, you could use ranch or mayo.  Stir so everything is mixed together.

Build your sandwich.  Two slices of cheese on the bottom, a layer of buffalo chicken, and 2 more slices of cheese on top.  Butter the top slice of bread, but don’t put on the top slice  just yet.

In a frying pan, melt some butter.  Place the open-face sandwiches in the pan and cover with a lid.  Cook on med-low until the cheese starts to melt and the bread is getting toasty. Put the second piece of bread on each sandwich, and flip.  Cook on the second side until the bread is toasty and all of the cheese is melted.

Allow sandwiches to cool for 1-2 minutes before slicing.  Serve with additional bleu cheese dressing for dipping.  I never said this was healthy or low fat.  

You can also make mini sandwiches using the appetizer breads that you can find at the deli and have a spin on the usual buffalo wings for the big game!

 

Do you want to get paid for shopping online?

Picture 1

Ebates is offering a new referral promotion!

For each new friend you refer to Ebates from 1/1/13 and 3/31/13, you will earn $5 and they will each get a $10 gift card to the store of their choice (from a limited selection).

You will get a $40 BONUS after you have referred four friends during this promo period.

A qualifying referral is someone who signs up with Ebates, and makes a purchase of at least $25 through Ebates during the promotional period.

Right now there are thousands of companies offering you cash back for shopping online.  My favorites …

  • Drugstore.com — 12%
  • Target — 2%
  • Kohl’s — 6%
  • Snapfish — 10%
  • Amazon — up to 4% (depends on dept)
  • Vistaprint — 5%
  • Redbox — 7%
  • and so many many more!

It pays to shop online, and who doesn’t love to get paid for something that you were going to do anyway!

{Ebates} Get Paid to Shop Online!

Picture 1

Ebates is offering a new referral promotion!

For each new friend you refer to Ebates from 1/1/13 and 3/31/13, you will earn $5 and they will each get a $10 gift card to the store of their choice (from a limited selection).

You will get a $40 BONUS after you have referred four friends during this promo period.

A qualifying referral is someone who signs up with Ebates, and makes a purchase of at least $25 through Ebates during the promotional period.

Right now there are thousands of companies offering you cash back for shopping online.  My favorites …

  • Drugstore.com — 12%
  • Target — 2%
  • Kohl’s — 6%
  • Snapfish — 10%
  • Amazon — up to 4% (depends on dept)
  • Vistaprint — 5%
  • Redbox — 7%
  • and so many many more!

It pays to shop online, and who doesn’t love to get paid for something that you were going to do anyway!

Setting Daily Goals

As many of you have noticed, I post my top 5 goals for the day on the Raising A Family On A Budget facebook page.  I have found that by sharing my goals, I feel more accountable for actually getting stuff done.  There have been times that I’ve wanted to do things for weeks, and it isn’t until I write down the goal and have the accountability of saying it out loud that it actually gets done.

As we move into 2013, I plan to continue sharing my daily goals list with you, and you are always welcome to share your list as well.  Having that accountability of having it written down and having other people know what your goals are can benefit us all.

My daily list is usually 5 things that I want to get done.  This does not mean these are the only things I’m working on during the day.  Every day involves a myriad of tasks that need to get done, but these are the 5 on my “hot list” for the day.  Depending on my mood, and everything that is going on, sometimes accomplishing a hot shower before noon is a goal!  And, that is absolutely ok.

With each stage of life, things change and we need to be willing to accept that none of us are super human.  There are only 24 hours in a day, no matter how much we try to cram 36 hours of stuff into it, it just won’t happen.  Some days, I may have only 2 or 3 goals, and that’s ok.  You have to be realistic and do what works for you, but not so much that you get burned out (hence while I have been MIA for the last few weeks).

Housework continues to be my nemesis.  I’m taking 2013 to take care of myself, take care of my family, organize the house, remove clutter from every aspect of my life, and learn to live on less.

I am going room by room so that I do not get overwhelmed nor do I burn out and decide that I’m not going to do it anymore.  For an item to make it onto my daily list, it needs to move me towards one of my umbrella goals for the year.  By breaking down my larger goals into smaller bite sized pieces, all things can be achieved.

Here is to a productive 2013, where we all reach out goals!

 

 

 

Moroccan Chicken Tagine

At my husband’s Christmas party a few weeks ago, they had a delicious Moroccan Chicken dish.  I loved the sweet heat and warm earthy spices that I just had to try it on my own.  After a little grocery shopping for a few spices, I decided that today was the day to make this hearty dish.

Tagines in Moroccan cuisine are slow-cooked stews braised at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce.  Since tagines are usually cooked in earthenware over low heat for a long period of time, a slow cooker is a fair replacement for the cooking vessel however, it leads to a few more steps in the cooking process, such as browning the meat first and building the sauce before adding it to the pot.

 

Holy mise en place!

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Getting Organized: Revisiting the Household Notebook

It seems that every January, I decide that I want to get more organized.  Last year, I started utilizing a Household Notebook and it made a big difference – while I was using it.

For 2012, I have decided to revamp the Household Notebook and am interested in hearing what you keep in yours.  I know I need to update my calendars and my daily schedule, but I also want to include my gardening schedule, my children’s school schedule, and price book.

My plan is to take January to get on track for the rest of the year, and start implementing everything in February.  More of a slow roll out instead of doing it all at once.  My focus for this year is to not take on too much and burn out which would not be good for anyone.

How do you plan on getting organized this year?

Homemade Christmas: Toffee Popcorn

Instead of baking cookies for everyone this year, I have decided to make chocolate drizzled toffee popcorn.  I am getting ready to make a batch for the friends I am going to see tomorrow.   I don’t have nuts on hand, so this will just be toffee popcorn, but you can add up to 2 cups of your choice of nuts.  Peanuts are a huge hit in our house, but my brother really likes when I use walnuts.

::  Toffee Popcorn

10 cups popped popcorn (12 cups if not using nuts)
1 cup pecan halves, toasted (optional)
1 cup whole unblanched almonds, toasted (optional)
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine popcorn and nuts.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, honey and cream of tartar; stir until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 300°-310° (hard-crack stage).

Remove from the heat.  Stir in vanilla and baking soda until mixture is light and foamy (be careful – when you add the vanilla it will spontaneously boil, so pour it in and step back to avoid the spatter). Immediately pour over popcorn mixture; toss gently using two buttered spatulas or wooden spoons. Spread into two baking pans lined with Silpats or buttered parchment. Press gently to flatten. Cool completely.

Drizzle with melted chocolate.  Break into pieces.

 

Yield: about 2 quarts.

NOTE: There is a reason that sugar work is referred to as culinary Napalm.  Be careful when cooking and working with your toffee.  Keep a bowl of cold iced water near by at all times so if you get any of the toffee on you, you can instantly plunge your hand into the water.

Recipe: Cheesy Sausage Muffins

Cheesy Sausage Muffins

Last winter, I received the $5 Dinner Mom’s Breakfast & Lunch Cookbook, and this was one of the first recipes I tried out in writing my review of the book.  This has quickly become one of my favorite cookbooks, and my favorite freezer friendly breakfast.

As we prepare to receive our side of beef in the next few weeks, I am busily using up items in the freezer.  Today I decided to use up the sausage and cheddar cheese that have been in there.  This recipe scales beautifully.  I made a triple batch of these with the intention of freezing them for breakfasts for the next 2 weeks.

Cheesy Sausage Muffins
Yields 12
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 lb bulk pork breakfast sausage
  2. 2 cups of AP flour
  3. 2 tsp baking powder
  4. 1 tsp salt
  5. 2 eggs
  6. 1/4 cup oil
  7. 1 cup milk
  8. 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
  3. In a large skillet, brown the sausage, crumbling as you cook it.  Drain and set aside to cool.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.  Make a well in the middle, and pour in the eggs, oil and milk.  Mix until a batter just forms.  Fold in the sausage crumbles and shredded cheese.
  5. Fill the prepared muffin wells to the top with batter.  Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until they begin to turn golden on top.
  6. Serve warm with fresh fruit for breakfast or with soup for a light lunch or dinner.
Notes
  1. To freeze the muffins, make sure they cool completely, then place in a freezer bag. Place in the freezer. When you are ready to have the muffins, allow to defrost on the counter, and then warm them up in either the oven or microwave.
Raising a Family on a Budget http://www.raisingafamilyonabudget.com/

Household Notebook: Part 2

Originally posted in January 2011.

 

This week we will start to put together our Household Binders so that we may begin using them as a resource in our daily lives.

Did you do your homework, and brainstorm a list of ideas for what to include in your family’s notebook?  If not, take a few minutes now to read over Household Notebooks: Part 1 for some ideas.

What materials will I need to get started?

You will want to start with a 3-ring binder (smaller is better and will keep you from going overboard), some tabbed dividers, and clear page protectors.  These are the basics.  Look through your child’s unused school supplies, and you may find everything you need right there, otherwise check out your local dollar store to see what they have before hitting up your local big box store.

I found a 2 inch binder filled with stuff I don’t need any more, so I am going to repurpose that to be our Household Notebook.  I have some tabbed dividers and page protectors ready to go, too.  Now to begin assembly & filling all of those page protectors with useful information.

Remember simplicity is key.  If you fill your Household Notebook with so many resources and pages that it is bursting at the seams then your family will not be able to utilize it as a resource because you will be too overwhelmed.  Less is more in the beginning and you can add more sections later as your family gets comfortable utilizing this new resource.

My Household Notebook

I have decided that for our family the following sections will be included in our first Household Notebook.

  1. 2011 Planner – This section will include calendar pages for each month in 2011 that includes important events, appointments & holidays.  I will also have year at a glance pages, and yearly planning pages in the back of this section to use as a quick reference.
  2. Daily Docket – This is a customizable daily checklist of what needs to be accomplished.  Each day is its own page, and I plan on having 1 week’s worth of dockets filled out in a page protector at a time. Here’s a sample as to what my Daily Docket looks like.
  3. Chore Charts – This will include my daily & weekly chore lists, my monthly/semi-annual chore chart, and chore charts for the children.
  4. Menu Plans – Each week will be its own page.  I hope to get in the habit of planning breakfast, lunch, snacks, & dinner for each week in advance of the start of the week.

For now, I only plan on these four sections, but I know that as I get more comfortable using my Household Notebook and get myself and the family into a routine this will evolve.  I plan on reevaluating the layout, form, and function of our Household Notebook once a month, for the first few months, to make sure it is still meeting my family’s needs.

I can already see the possibility of creating new sections for coupon insert schedule, price book, coupon policies of my favorite stores, sales trends, website topics, wishlists, and for my Mary Kay business.

Printables for Your Household Notebook

It’s time for you to fill your family’s household notebook with all of the things that you need to keep your family organized.  To save you some time, here are some printables for you to use.  Each item is available as a PDF.  You are welcome to use these for your PERSONAL USE.  If you are a blogger, you are welcome to link to this feature on your site (please do not make the download available on your site).

As I create more pages for my binder (or that I think may be helpful to others) this list will be updated & reposted.

Additional Resources

There are so many websites out there dedicated to helping you set up a household notebook.  Here are a few that I have used as a reference while creating my own Household Notebook.

  • Organized Home – Great articles about putting together a household notebook, what to leave out of it, and printable resources
  • momAgenda – You can purchase customizable, ready-made organizers or got to their printables page (link on left side bar) and download pages for your household notebook
  • Money Saving Mom – Crystal’s video blog about her very simple Homemaking Binder.  Proof that simple is better.
  • Keeper of the Home – A tour of Stephanie’s Homemaking Binder.