Crockpot Recipes

I am determined to use my crockpot more often. I find the evenings less stressful when I use it. It is also a great way to create delicious, healthy meals that wont bust the family budget.
Here is what we are having tonight:

Crockpot Barley Casserole


1 cup uncooked pearl barley
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 1/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chopped celery
1 green pepper -- chopped
1 onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- minced
2 cups broth

Combine in the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until barley and vegetables are tender.

Serve with wheat rolls.

Oatmeal Bread

I have come up with a recipe for oatmeal bread that my family loves. It is sturdy enough to cut thin and still use for sandwiches.

3 cups water
3 cups oats
1 Tbsp sea salt
2/3 C molasses
5 Tbsp flax
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup warm water
6 1/2 c white flour

In a large saucepan, heat the water, oats and salt until it bubbles. Add molasses, flax and wheat germ. Let cool til lukewarm.

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine yeast mixture, oats mixture and 2 cups flour. Stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl. place dough in bowl and turn once to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in warm place for 1 hour.

Deflate the dough, divide into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 loaf pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until loaf tops are golden brown and the bottom of a loaf sound hollow when tapped.

Target deal for Glade scented oil candles

Yesterday I read on http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/ that there was a good deal at Target for these candles. So I tried it and it worked. I already had all of the coupons needed so I didn't have to look any farther than my coupon organizer for everything I needed. I had 2 BOGO coupons for the candles, and 2 $2 off coupons. With the sale being $2.50 each for them and you get a $5 Target gift card for buying 4 of them, it was a sweet deal. I paid $1.43 total, including tax, and got a $5 gift card. Plus, the great thing is that these would be perfect Christmas gifts for teachers, neigbors and others that you would just like to give a little something to. I hope some of you can put this deal together too and start building a "gift closet". I have a small closet set aside for wrapping paper, ribbons, and things that I pick up here and there on a good deal that I can use for gifts. It is so nice to know that if I have forgotten a birthday, or just want to give a gift, that I have a stash to choose from in the closet verses going to the store in a pinch and spending a lot more for something.

Kmart Double Coupon Days! YAY!

Here is what we bought at Kmart today.
We spent $29.56. With coupons and sales prices, we saved $78.05! We love double coupon days!




We also want to encourage people to visit www.couponmom.com You can get a free ebook about coupon shopping that will be very useful. With the economy the way it is, more people are using coupons and this ebook will inform you on how to use them wisely and to your best advantage.

The kids are napping, so I will go put away all of my great deals now!

Shopping at Albertsons

Here is most of my stash from Albertsons today. I spent $56.68 and saved $87.49!
Ground beef, chicken and pork roasts are good deals this week. I cook it all up at once and freeze in meal size portions. It makes it so much easier when I am cooking dinner.
I took my coupons to walmart and spent less than .75 on these kotex and wet ones.....
Albertson's isn't going to let me take their Sunday papers on Monday anymore.... Does anyone know of any cleaver ways of collecting the coupons from the Sunday papers? I am going to ask the ladies in bible study to save them for me and my new good frugal friend.

The Couponizer Giveaway

The Common Sense with Money blog is giving away a Couponizer! Neat! There is nothing worse when shopping than being disorganized! Go there now and sign up for a chance to get it! http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/

Frugal Friday

I just finished putting together my children's play room. I must say that I did buy the train table at the Goodwill for $15. Otherwise I accumulated all of the other big pieces for free. I got the shelving from freecycle, my aunt just gave me the table and 2 chairs (which inspired me to create this room for them), just about everything else, including the toys, have been gifts over the years or hand me downs. Now I just have to hang original "Art" on the walls. Maybe it is time to use some of that end roll paper we got free from the local newspaper and the bucket of markers we got from freecycle last year...... You don't have to spend much money if any to have a nice place for your kids to play and learn.

Works for Me Wednesday

I have set up my coupon/price book folder. I have used things that I already had at home. There is a section for non-food coupons, food coupons, rebates, receipts and my price book. I will soon add the formulas that will let me know how much it costs to make things from scratch. Then I can compare prices at the store(sales and coupons) with what it costs to make it. Right now, I know that it costs me $.32 a serving to make my cream soup from scratch. So if I can get cans of it for less than that, it is a good deal. If not, make it from scratch...... So I need to get out my measuring cups and spoons to figure out all of the other things I make from scratch. So this is my binder..... WORKS FOR ME!

Here is the recipe for cream soup mix:

2 cups powdered milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup chicken bouillon

1 tsp. onion pwd.

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp pepper

Combine and store in an airtight container. To use for any recipe calling for a can of cream soup, mix 1/3 cup mix and 1 1/4 cup water. Boil for a few minutes, stirring often.

This recipe is from the Miserly Moms book.

Homemade Window Cleaner

I made window cleaner this morning, washed the windows with it and really like it. There aren't any streaks, just really clean windows. I mixed 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 tsp liquid dish soap. Then I put it in my new spray bottle and labelled it. Viola! I even used my rag that used to be Kevin's T shirt. How frugal am I??? :)

For more frugal tips, visit Frugal Friday.

Making Laundry Soap from Scratch

I wanted to try it for a while now, and I finally did. I made my own laundry soap and I really like it. I have 2 gallons of soap for under one dollar. I really like the feeling and smell of clean without the perfume smell. I got the recipe from the Living on a Dime newsletter. Here it is:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap-grated,
6 cups water
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
Heat the water and soap in a large pan until dissolved. Stir in washing soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. In a 3 or 5 gallon bucket, ad 1 quart of hot water, then add the soap mixture. Mix. Add enough cold water to make a 2 gallon mixture. Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. The soap will gel. Use 1/2 cup for each load.

Stir or shake before each use.