Free Stuff

I sign up for free samples often. I usually just watch the blogs on my side list because they will announce when there is a new sample out. I also use a junk email address and I never use my real phone number, if one is required, which isn't very often.

Anyway, in the last 6 weeks I've received:
Proctor and Gamble sample pack with 4 OTC samples
Bare Naked Granola sample
2 Huggies Diaper
Parents Choice Formula sample
$5 off Luvs Coupon
Sample of Honey Nut Cheerios
Sample of Total
Sample of Kashi Cereal
Awesome Full size Lip Balm
Fancy Feast Cat food sample
3 DVDs from Fisher-Price
Stickers from Pullups
Secret Deoderant sample
Full size Oil of Olay sample
6 Tampons
8 Pads

Basically something every couple of days. It sure makes the mail a lot more fun.

Meal Plan

Nothing too exciting:
Chicken Noodle Soup
Meatloaf and baked potatoes
Acapulco Casserole
Homemade pizza

2 Recipes I Love

This is the recipe I use for homemade pizza crust:

Ingredients
1 pkg active dry or fresh yeast
1 tsp honey
1 cup warm water, 105-115 degrees
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for brushing

Directions
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 1/4- cup warm water

In a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine flour and salt. Add the oil, the yeast mixture, and the remaining 3/4c of water and mix on low speed until the dough comes cleanly away from the sides of the bowl and clusters around the dough hook, about 5 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead by hand 2 or 3 minutes longer. The dough should be smooth and firm. Cover the dough with a clean damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes (when ready, the dough will stretch as it is lightly pulled).

Divide the dough into 4 balls, about 6 ounces each. Work each ball by pulling down the sides and tucking under the bottom of the ball. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Then on a smooth, unfloured surface, roll the ball under the palm of your hand until the top of the dough is smooth and firm, about 1 minute. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest 15 to 20 minutes. At this point, the balls can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Place a pizza stone on the middle rack of the oven and preheat oven to 500 degrees.

To prepare each pizza, dip the ball of dough into flour, shake off excess, and stretch. Press into an 8" circle, lightly brush with oil, add toppings. Slide onto stone (I use parchment paper on the stone) and bake until pizza crust is nicely browned (10-12 minutes).

(from Wolfgang Puck)

Best Ever Chicken Fajitas
4 Tbs vegetable oil
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/2 md sweet red pepper, in strips
1/2 md green pepper, in strips
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onions

In zip-lock bag combine 2 Tbs oil, lemon juice, and seasonings. Add chicken, seal and coat, refrigerate 1-4 hrs.

In large skillet saute pepper and onion in remaining oil. Remove and keep warm. In same skillet cook chicken and marinade over med-high heat for 5-6 minutes. Return pepper mixture to chicken and heat through.

Enjoy!

Meal Plan

Here is my Meal Plan for the last 3 weeks. If anything looks exciting let me know and I'll pass on a recipe.

Week 1:
Tostados
Steak and Everything Sandwiches
Chicken Parmesan
Mexican Chicken Soup

Week 2:
Chicken Enchiladas
Lasagna
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Shoyu Chicken
Meatloaf and Au Gratin Potatoes
Lima Bean and Ham Soup

Week 3:
Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice
Spaghetti
Chicken Fajitas
BBQ Pork Sandwiches
Homemade Pizza
Chili

Win a Trip to Disneyland

One day I will take my kids to Disneyland. I may leave my husband at home, since he is a hater. However, if I were to win a trip I would consent to take him. He could watch the newborn while I had fun with the boys.

Sweet Life in the Valley is having a contest for a lucky family of four (hmm, which of my kids would I leave at home?) to visit Disneyland. Here are the links with the information and entry forms: sweetlifeinthevalley andoutandaboutwiththefamily.

CityDeals.com

I like to go out to eat. The problem is that I can't afford to go out to eat. The only way I can justify it is if I have a coupon, discount, or certificate of some sort.

One place I've found some great discounts is at CityDeals.com.

They sell discounted certificates to a bunch of places nearby. As you browse, you'll notice that some of the discounts aren't that great **$25 California Pizza card for $24.49** What's that about? I usually only pick up the deals that are 50% off or greater, and I only do it if they are offering free shipping, which they are right now.

A current promotion is for a $20 gift certificate to Quizno's in Provo for $10. My husband works near there, so I got one for him.

Anyway, check it out, and see if there is anything that interests you.

Menu Planning

I have a confession to make. I have not been a good menu planner over the last few years. A few weeks ago some friends of mine got together to learn about menu planning. Two friends presented different ways they plan their menus. For the last three weeks I have tried out one of the plans, somewhat successfully.

6 Week Menu Plan

First: Brainstorm all the meals you make. We used the categories: beef, chicken, pork, miscellaneous, and side dishes. Ideally you are looking for 42 different meals, 6-7 of which should be super easy ones (think grilled cheese and canned tomato soup).

Second: Plug the 42 meals into a 6 week menu chart. (I only did 2 weeks worth on mine so I could try it out). Obviously you vary the types a meals per week, adding in the easy meals on your busy nights. Also, if you have a Sunday dinner tradition of mashed potatoes and roast, or Friday pizza night you wouldn't need to think of as many meals.

Third: Make a grocery list of every item you need for that weeks worth of meals. I admit I planned most of my meals by things I had on hand, so I didn't need to buy too many items.

PROS: Wide variety of meals (no more spaghetti and tacos every 3 days), know exactly what's for dinner and you have the ingredients on hand, and if there is something someone doesn't like it won't appear in the rotation for another 6 weeks.
CONS: Some meals I can't economically make on the week planned. One of the reasons I didn't plan farther than 2 weeks ahead is because I needed to reserve the right to see what items I could buy for cheap that week. (It didn't make sense to need mushrooms for a meal that would cost $2.99/8 oz when I knew I could get them for $1.00 if I could wait for a sale).

I admit I loved having a plan. I have been in a dinner rut for a long time, so it was nice to know I had 14 meals planned. I'm not sure I'm ready for a full 6 weeks though, it seems too daunting for me. I will try to plan a months worth and then switch meals around if I can't get the ingredients I need cheaply enough.

September Spending Report

I spent more than I had this month: $377.45. Not what you want to hear from someone who thinks they are great at saving money. Oh well, I hope to do better in October.


Here is the spreadsheet