Search: label/Frugal%20Recipe%20Box

Frugal Recipe Box ~ NEW AND IMPROVED COMING SOON!

by Deborah on January 25, 2010

Yesterday I posted a Giveaway HERE and asked if any of you had any suggestions for Frugal Living And Having Fun to leave it in the comment section when you entered the giveaway!

Well two of our wonderful readers left a comment that I thought was a WONDERFUL idea!!

They asked if the recipes from my Frugal Recipe Box HERE could be in a list by title of the recipe instead of having to scroll down through all the recipes!

So, over the next couple of days, I will be working on getting that done!

I will have a picture of a recipe box, and when you click on the box, it will bring you to a list of my recipes in alphabetical order. I will also include a print feature so you can print the recipe out.

How does that sound? Once again, comments, suggestions, and concerns that you all leave on this blog help to make Frugal Living And Having Fun a better place to be.

Thanks for being the best frugal friends!!

~ Deb ~

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This week’s Menu Plan Monday is going to feature a new recipe I came across in December’s All You Magazine. This recipe is wonderful, because all the ingredients to make it are staples most of you will have on hand at all times. With the holiday season approaching, and busy schedules ahead, I thought you all may like an easy Coffee Cake recipe. Coffee Cake is good for all times of day…”smile” Breakfast, Evening Snack, and all other times in between. This cake whips up in no time making it great to serve guest on a busy schedule. ~ Enjoy~

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Sour Cream Coffee Cake
December All You Magazine
Serving Size 8

STREUSEL:
1 cup walnuts, very finely chopped
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of salt

CAKE:

2 cups cake flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 TBSP Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
12 TBSP (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract

GLAZE:

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 TBSP milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat over to 350 degrees, Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan. Make streusel: In a bowl, combine walnuts, both sugars, cinnamon and salt; set aside.

Make cake: In a bowl, whisk together both fours, baking powder and salt. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat both sugars and butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition, then beat in egg yolk. Beat in half of four mixture, until just combined. Stir in sour cream and vanilla, then fold in remaining flour mixture. Do not over mix. Batter will be thick.

Spread two-thirds of batter evenly in Bundt pan. Sprinkle streusel over, then top with remaining batter, gently spreading batter until streusel is entirely covered. Bake until a tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cake cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out of pan onto wire rack to cool.

Make glaze: Sift confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl, add milk and vanilla and mix with a fork until smooth. l Drizzle glaze over top of cake, allowing some to drip down sides.

NOTE: For more Frugal Recipes Visit Frugal Living And Having Fun’s, “Frugal Recipe Box”.

For More Menu Plan Monday ideas, go HERE

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Menu Plan Monday

by Deborah on November 16, 2009

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Wow! It has seemed like months since I last thought about planning a menu.

However, my daughter is home from the hospital, and I’ve given my self a few days of very little expectations, and now it is time to get back into high gear! Are you all with me on this one people? “smile”

As we previously talked about on Menu Plan Monday, planning is key to sticking to any well thought out grocery budget. You could be working very hard at cutting your grocery bill down, but if you don’t have a plan, it will fail.

The easiest way to get into the habit of menu planning is to sit down with your family and come up with about 15 recipes that you all enjoy and can agree on. Write them down and rotate these meals during a two week period. Fill in some of the meals with small meals such as sandwiches and soup, leftovers, and “new” recipes from my Frugal Recipe Box, magazines, and cookbooks and the like.

One of the main reasons, among many, that menu planning works so well at keeping your grocery bill down, is because you can watch your favorite grocery stores for ingredients to your main recipes to hit rock bottom prices. You should know right off the top of your head all the staples your main recipes call for. So when you see them hit rock bottom prices, like I am seeing this week at Target, you can jump right on the chance to stock pile these items for pennies on the dollar. If you look at this picture of my last grocery trip, you will see several items that I stock piled.

Let’s take the Progresso Beef Broth as our example for today. I use beef broth for several of my favorite recipes. However, buying beef broth can easily drive up the cost of a recipe. So when I saw a Catalina deal that included the beef broth, my mind immediately started calculating how low in price I could snag the broth for. As you can see by my shopping trip, I probably bought the broth for 1/10 of the regular price. I only bought (7) because that was all they had on hand, but *don’t forget the rain checks.

So as you can see with the above scenario, by knowing my main recipes, I can maximize my buying power on staples that I know I will need. Once you start doing this, you will quickly get your mind to do this automatically. If I didn’t know my recipes staples, I may have over-looked buying the beef broth at rock bottom prices, and would spend $2.49 the next time I needed it, instead of pennies on the dollar!

Other reasons Menu Planning works are:

~ Removing the temptation to go out to eat.
~ Eating healthier meals.
~ The ease of nice meals even after a busy day.

We could go on and on with all the reasons we should menu plan. However, we will stop here for today. In the future I would like to do a series on, “The importance of eating as a family, and how to make it a special time of day.” I think our culture is starting to loose the importance of the, “family meal”, and I would like to write several little articles on trying to hang on to the family meal time, and how to make it special by getting your children involved in the menu planning. If you have any comments or suggestions on this topic, I would love to hear from you.

Let me close by giving you two links to two new recipes I’m going to try this week!

Back to a full week’s worth of recipes next Monday! For now, enjoy the article and these two new recipes!

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Chicken Chowder Recipe

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Broccoli-Bacon Casserole with Cheesy Mustard Sauce

For more Menu Plan Mondays, go here.

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Menu Plan Monday

by Deborah on October 19, 2009

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How are your menus coming along?

I hope these, “Menu Plan Mondays” here at Frugal Living And Having Fun, have inspired you to do better with your menu planning.
Here is my menu for this week!

Monday ~ Wild Rice And Turkey Casserole

Tuesday ~ Out to eat with some great friends that were in my wedding party 21 years ago!!!
Kids will have Pantry Surprise with Dad

Wednesday ~ Chili Pie

Thursday ~ Anniversary…not sure what we are doing yet!! “smile”

Friday ~ Taco Soup

This weekend is a very busy weekend so I am leaving it up in the air. However, if I try something fun, I’ll post it. Always feel free to send me your favorite recipes!!

**For more Frugal Recipes Go Here to my, Frugal Recipe Box“.

Go here for other Menu Plan Mondays.

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Frugal Recipe Box ~ Arizona Skillet

by Deborah on October 4, 2009

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This week I’m going to be featuring many recipes with Beans! Beans are very economical, easy to make, and are on sale this week at my favorite grocery store, Shaws.

Here is a great recipe that is both Frugal in time and in money!! Enjoy

Arizona Skillet
(8 servings)

2 Tbsp. oil (Olive is best)
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 can (16 oz. can) Kidney beans *Drained and Rinsed
1 pkg. (10 oz.) Frozen corn kernels
2 cans (14 1/2 or 16 oz. each) diced tomatoes *Including Juice
8 oz. Elbow macaroni *cooked and drained
Monterrey Jack Cheese, (Shredded)

In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add Kidney beans, corn, and tomatoes with juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally *about 15 minutes. Toss with macaroni. Sprinkle Cheese to taste.

Money Saving Tip: When beans go on sale $ .50 or less, plan to buy a case of each type of beans you and your family enjoy eating. This will allow you to make very healthy meals at a moments notice. *As we say here at Frugal Living And Having Fun….”It’s Better Than Fast Food”! You can always visit “Frugal Recipe Box here for your favorite recipes

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Shaws Coupon / Sale Match-Ups! 10/2 ~ 10/8

by Deborah on October 1, 2009

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As always go Here, Here, and Here to print coupons before going to the grocery store to maximize your savings!

Go here to print Shaw’s Printable Coupons and Here to see this week’s ad!

NOTE: This week Stop and Shop has 4 Dollar Doubler coupons. THESE CAN BE USED AT SHAW’S TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS!!

Below are some great deals at Shaw’s this week!!


Front Page Cantastic Sale
**I LOVE when Shaw’s has this sale. I will buy my fresh fruits and vegetables and live off my stock pile this week so I can put all of my grocery money toward stocking up on the Goya Beans!!

NOTE: Canned beans have not been this low in awhile, so if you and your family enjoy beans, PLEASE stock up. I will be listing several recipes this week using beans!! Go Here to see recipes using beans I already have listed. Enjoy!!

Campbells Soup 3/$2.00
Use $1.00/10 (9/13 Smart Source)

College Inn Broth 4/$3.00
Use $1.00/3 (9/27 Red Plum)

Del Monte Vegetables 5/$4.00
Use $1.00/5 (9/20 Red Plum)

Del Monte Fruit 3/$4.00
Use $1.00/5 (9/20 Red Plum)

Campbell’s Condensed Soup 10/$10
Use $1.00/5 (9/13 & 9/20 Smart Source)

Hunt’s Pasta Sauce 10/$10

Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk 10/$10

Del Monte Tomatoes 10/$10
Use $1.00/5 (9/20 Red Plum)

Campbell’s Select Soup 3/$5
Use $1.00/2 (9/20 Smart Source) or $1.00/4 (9/13 Smart Source)

Tuttorosso Tomatoes 10/$10

Shaw’s Olives 10/$10

Hormel Chili 4/$5

Hunt’s Manwich 4/$5
Use B2G1 FREE (September All You Magazine)

Crystal Light Drink Mix 2/$4 ~ Save $1.00 (in-ad coupon back page) ~ Use $2.00/2 (9/13 Smart Source)

Progresso Vegetable Classic Soup 8/$10.0
Use $ .50/2 (9/13 GM) or
Use $1.10/3 Cans Printable Coupon Here. or $1.10/3 Printable Coupon Here.
STACK: $1.00/10 Printable Shaw’s Coupon Here

Healthy Choice 3/$5

Goya Beans 2/$1

Shaw’s Chunk Light Tuna $ .88

Bumble Bee or Starkist Albacore Tuna $ .88

Green Giant Vegetable (4-pack) 2/$5

Pastene or Redpack Tomatoes 10/$10

McCormick Black Pepper 4-5 oz. $2.99
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Back Page Special: Earn $5.00 At Checkout once items are purchased to be used on your next shopping visit when you purchase $20.00 in participating items below!

Folgers Coffee $6.49
Use $1.00/2 (9/20 Red Plum)

Dunkin Donuts Ground coffee $6.49

Pillsbury Cake Mix 10/$10

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Frosting 2/$3
Use $1.00/2 (9/27 Red Plum)
Final Price $ .50 each

Pillsbury Quick Bread Mix 3/$5

Pillsbury Brownie Mix 19 oz. 10/$10

Pillsbury All Purpose Flour 5lb $1.69

Pillsbury Cookie Mix 2/$3

Pillsbury Brownie MINIS 7 oz. 2/$4
Use $1.00/2 (9/27 Red Plum)

Jif Peanut Butter 2/$7 & Smucker’s Preserves 2/$5
Use $1.00/2 (8/9 Red Plum) **Coupon is for one of each!

Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening Sticks $2.99

Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil 2/$5

Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk 2/$4

Smucker’s Uncrustables 2/$5
Use $1.00/2 (8/9 Red Plum)

Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes 2/$3
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Buy 3 Red Baron Frozen Pizza 3/$11.00 ~ Earn a coupon for (3) FREE RED BOX Movies at checkout.

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Meat:
Shaw’s Boneless Chicken Breast $1.99
Fresh Half Boneless Pork Loin $1.69
Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops $1.99

Produce:
Fresh Asparagus $1.88lb
Shaw’s McIntosh Apples 3lb $1.99

Dairy:
Yoplait Yogurt 20/$10
Use $ .50/6 Printable Coupon Here. or Use $ .50/6 Printable Coupon Here. OR
Use $ .40/6 (8/9 & 9/13 GM) OR Use B4G1 FREE (9/20 Smart Source)
STACK: $1.00/10 Shaw’s Printable Coupon HERE

Hellava Good Dip $1.79
Use $ .50/1 coupon here or
Use $1.00/2 coupon (8/30 Smart Source)

Friendly’s Ice Cream 1.5 quarts B1G1 FREE

Kraft Cheese Singles 2/4.00
Use: In-ad coupon (back page) Grocery

4C Bread Crumbs 10/$10

Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding 10/$10
Use $1.00/4 (October All You Magazine)
Final Price $ .75 each.

Uncle Ben’s Country Inn rice mixes 4/$5
Use $1.00/3 (9/13 Red Plum)

Snacks: n>
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Baked Snack Crackers 10/$10

Sun Shine Cheez-It 2/$5.00

Keebler Sandwich Crackers $1.69
Use $ .55/1 Printable Coupon Here.
Final Price $ .59 (If doubled)

Bread:
Shaw’s Sandwich Bread B1G1 FREE
Fiber One Bread B1G1 FREE
Thomas English Muffins B1G1 FREE

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Menu Plan Monday

by Deborah on September 28, 2009

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Menu Plan Monday

I am going to start doing a Weekly Menu each week and sharing the recipes I use.

The weeks I stick to a menu, things go a lot smoother in our home. It is also a great way to stick to our $75.00 a week grocery budget, and utilize the food we have in our wonderful stockpile.

Most meals I make can be made between $5.00- $7.00 (buying items on sale)

For some reason when I plan ahead I love being in the Kitchen cooking along side my daughters!
When I fail to make a menu, I find cooking a chore!! “smile”

For those of you who have never done a menu, I encourage you to start doing so.
Later this week, I will be writing an article on Menu Planning. So be sure to check back.

If you would like to join me in my Menu Plan Monday, leave a link or a comment with your Menu every Monday here at Frugal Living And Having Fun!

This week, I plan to make all recipes from my Frugal Recipe Box. Click on the recipe link to go straight to recipe!

Monday: Beef Stew in the Crock Pot

Tuesday: Chicken Lasagna

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes

Thursday: “Left Overs” With some fresh vegetable on the side

Friday: Taco Soup

Saturday: All Day Birthday Part (Cookout)

Sunday: Open to eat with Family and Friends

To see other great Menu ideas, see orgjunkie.com. Enjoy!

If you have a great recipe you would like to share with our readers, please leave me a comment below, or send me an e-mail @ contact @ Frugal Living And Having Fun (no-spaces)

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