Yearly Archives: 2010

Menu Plan Monday & Recipe for “Food for Life/Ezekiel 4:9 Tortilla Pizzas”

Posted on by
7


Now that our son is home from his freshman year of college, I’m cooking more.  He’s taking a couple of college courses this summer, and so I try to have lunch ready when he gets home.  When it’s just me and my husband, most of the time we get our own lunch, pack something for lunch at work or eat left-overs.  Sometimes I’ll cook frozen baby lima beans or black-eyed peas and have those with something.  But now, I’m fixing regular lunches which is great because we’re enjoying having our son home for the summer!  This is what I have on the menu so far.

MONDAY:

Lunch – “Food for Life Tortilla Pizzas”  (This is a simple recipe I made up because I wanted a healthier, yet simple, pizza crust.  And it’s perfect for hot days here in Texas when I don’t want to heat up the oven to bake a pizza!)  Here’s how to get COUPONS for Food for Life products.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Food for Life/Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Tortillas (You can buy these at Central Market or a health food store with grocery section.)
  • Pizza sauce
  • Reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
  • Olive oil
  • Simple toppings

DIRECTIONS: Preheat your griddle with a little oil.  Fold or cut the tortillas in half.  Then fold or cut each half into thirds.  (I found it’s much easier to have the pieces already cut beforehand than to wait until after cooking the whole tortilla.)  Then top with pizza sauce, cheese and simple toppings that don’t need to bake in the oven.  Cook on medium to medium high heat just until the tortilla crust is a little crispy and the cheese is melted.  Be sure and watch so it doesn’t burn.

We each take a couple of pieces and then I put more on the griddle.

Supper – Chicken tenders, cauliflower, green peas, and left-over banana pudding from yesterday

TUESDAY:

Lunch – Hot dogs, carrot sticks

Supper – Salmon patties, corn, green beans

WEDNESDAY:

Lunch – Turkey sandwiches, Veggie chips

Supper – Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli and salad

THURSDAY:

Lunch – Black bean & cheese nachos, salsa & chips

Supper – Chicken pasta, salad and garlic bread (made with hot dog buns)

FRIDAY:

Lunch – (don’t know yet)

Supper – Green Enchilada Casserole, guacamole & chips

READ MORE RECIPES

XBOX 360

Posted on by
3

XBOX 360

Our kids love to play video games.  I’m speaking mainly of our son and son-in-law although our daughter, Christi, plays sometimes, too, when she’s not busy on the computer working on her blog.  We’ve seen all the different gaming systems come out through the years, one of the newer ones being the xbox 360.  The cool games they showed at E3 included the Kinect which does not even need a controller…the person playing is the controller!  I would really like to play using the Kinect sometime!

Friendly Friday: 6/25/10

Posted on by
11


Welcome to Friendly Friday!

Remember, YOU can host the link list on your blog too! (Sorry it wasn’t working last week, but it is definitely working this week!)  Just click “Get the code here…” at the bottom of the list. Hosting the list is a great way to get even more traffic to your blog and make every Friendly Friday even more beneficial for everyone.

Thanks for joining the Friendly Friday celebration hosted by Christi at Frugal Novice, Xenia at Thanks, Mail Carrier and Charla at Healthy Home Blog! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more friends in blogville, get more blog followers and follow other great blogs out there.

To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a minute to follow them through Google Friend Connect – this is a good way to keep up with other blogs, but also lets us show support to each other! Please DO NOT list your giveaways here, links must be to either your homepage or your Friday posting. All others will be deleted.

When people comment on your blog and let you know they’re a part of Friendly Friday, return the favor and follow them back. This way everyone gets traffic and followers out of participating, and it’s a win-win situation. We would love for you to also grab our Friendly Friday button and post it on your blog and/or in a post – the more bloggers that find out about Friendly Friday and participate, the better!

Spotlight on Friendly Friday Followers!

We love your participation and want to show it! In addition to gaining followers, each week we’ll select three blogs at random and will feature links and a write-up for those blogs in the content of next week’s Friendly Friday post. There are so many seriously wonderful blogs out there, and this will be a great way to highlight some of those each week. Say hello to the lucky chosen 3 for this week (and feel free to stop by and give them a little extra love):

Do you have Blogmania? Ally at The Mommy Diaries does! She’s hosting an event in September called Blogmania, filled with lots of giveaways. Ally is the mom to an adorable little girl that she shares photos of from time to time. She also posts product reviews and giveaways on a regular basis. If you visit her blog, you’ll see that it looks like a desk any one of us might sit at – nice and cozy!

Danelle at Mom Outnumbered is the mom to three boys and is the only female in her house – she’s definitely outnumbered! Her blog is a fun look into her always-eventful life – from getting glasses, to hiking, to cooking together, to finding fun things to do as a family. Her posts are always filled with vibrant photos and are fun to read.

Krysta at Learning Coupons is a 22-year-old college student with a love of coupons. After all, who appreciates the need for saving money better than a college student? She has learned to use coupons and sales to get food for free – something I’d love to get better at. Krysta shares her grocery store bargain finds with us, and also provides helpful links to resources for samples and coupons.

Continue reading →

Royal Kona Resort in Hawaii – Family Friendly

Posted on by
1

Family vacations are something that we have treasured throughout the years.  It’s a time when a family can get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily routine in life.   If cell phones and technological devices can be kept to a bare minimum, or better yet can be turned off completely, then the family can focus on quality time together.  It doesn’t have to be at a resort, even the simplest of vacations can accomplish bringing a family even closer together.

Several years ago, our family went to Hawaii for a vacation we will never forget.  Beautiful scenery surrounded us almost everywhere, and we had a lot of fun as a family visiting the abundance of sites and attractions on four of the islands.  When we were on the Big Island of Hawaii, we stayed at the Royal Kona Resort pictured above.  My husband was able to get a significant discount through AAA Travel, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this resort.

The Royal Kona Resort gets a top rating from us.  The resort, which sits on the oceanfront overlooking Kailua Bay, provides a perfect vantage point for a spectacular view.  We thoroughly enjoyed sitting by the pool and watching the waves crash against the shore which sent huge sprays of water up into the air.  Our kids especially enjoyed watching this.  The evening was so pleasant sitting outside that it was hard to go inside.

Once inside, our rooms were spacious and nicely decorated.  We slept well and were ready for sightseeing the next day.  Before heading out on our adventure, we had breakfast in the charming open-air restaurant pictured below.  The spectacular view of the Pacific along with the scrumptious breakfast made for a wonderful ambiance the family still remembers.
Once we had breakfast, we were ready to head out for the day.   We headed first to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach (this is due to the constant volcanic activity of the island) to see the huge Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

Then we headed on to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:


Even though the terrain was bare in spots from the volcanic ash, it was a neat experience to be that close to an active volcano:

Next we visited the Ola’a Rainforest and went for a hike, enjoying the natural beauty of this lush forest.  Our daughter, Christi, and I walked at a slower pace:

After a long day of sightseeing, we headed back to the resort.

For anyone interested in visiting the Royal Kona Resort, they are a family-friendly, non-smoking hotel (they do have a designated smoking area).  They are conveniently located, being within walking distance of International shopping, historic attractions and restaurants.  Besides having a split-level swimming pool, they also have four lighted tennis courts.  And one of their popular amenities is the hosting of a luau (a Hawaiian feast) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  To contact them, you can call 800-22-ALOHA (222-5642).

* Note:  This post was completely my opinion.  I was not compensated in any way by the Royal Kona Resort.

$490 SAT Test Prep Course GIVEAWAY at Frugal Novice

Posted on by
1

This is an AWESOME giveaway at Frugal Novice.  Christi has the opportunity to give away a $490 SAT TEST online practice course to help students prepare to take the test!    It’s so easy to enter the giveaway.  All you have to do is go to Frugal Novice, scroll down to where it says “How to Enter,” click where it says “Follow Knewton on Twitter,” and then leave a comment letting Christi know that you’ve done that.  That’s all you have to do!  If you’re not familiar with Twitter, it just takes one minute to join.  There is absolutely no obligation, and you don’t have to do anything else with Twitter if you don’t want to.

People!  If you have children or grandchildren, this is an excellent way for them to increase their chances for college scholarships.   It’s such a wonderful way for them to study because they actually see their instructor in a virtual classroom, take practice tests online, and they get an explanation of why an answer is wrong , which is extremely helpful to keep them from making the same mistake on the real test.   Parents receive emails about the student’s progress so they know how their child is doing.  This really sounds like a great course!

FREE Breakfast @ Whataburger Tomorrow!

Posted on by
Reply

When you’re out and about between 7-10 am tomorrow morning, you can get a free “Breakfast on a Bun” from Whataburger.  And if you like things really spicy, you can get jalapenos and picante added for free!
I may get mine with bacon instead of sausage, I haven’t decided yet.  We rarely have either because of the fat & cholesterol factor, so it’s a treat when we have either one.

Gift Idea for the Graduate

Posted on by
3

CONGRATULATIONS  GRADUATES!

Do you wonder what to give someone who has graduated from high school and is going on to college?  Well, I have a great idea for you.   I’m having a giveaway for a $50 Gift Card to Family Dollar.  (Go here to enter the giveaway.)

These are some of the items that a college bound student might want to get if they receive the gift card:

  • Area rugs ($20-22)
  • Lamps
  • Storage containers
  • Stackable  plastic drawers
  • Bathroom items
  • Cleaning items
  • Paper goods
  • Snacks
  • Non-perishable “college food” (Ramen Noodles, Mac & Cheese, microwavable foods)
  • Cereal & breakfast foods
  • More snacks
  • Cokes, water, etc.
  • Popcorn & did I mention snacks?

Friendly Friday: 6/18/2010

Posted on by
21


Welcome to Friendly Friday! Remember, YOU can host the link list on your blog too! Just click “Get the code here…” at the bottom of the list. Hosting the list is a great way to get even more traffic to your blog and make Friendly Friday even more beneficial for everyone.

Thanks for joining the Friendly Friday celebration hosted by Christi at Frugal Novice, Xenia at Thanks, Mail Carrier and Charla at Healthy Home Blog! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more friends in blogville, get more blog followers and follow other great blogs out there.

To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a minute to follow them through Google Friend Connect – this is a good way to keep up with other blogs, but also lets us show support to each other! Please DO NOT list your giveaways here, links must be to either your homepage or your Friday posting. All others will be deleted.

When people comment on your blog and let you know they’re a part of Friendly Friday, return the favor and follow them back. This way everyone gets traffic and followers out of participating, and it’s a win-win situation. We would love for you to also grab our Friendly Friday button and post it on your blog and/or in a post – the more bloggers that find out about Friendly Friday and participate, the better!

Spotlight on Friendly Friday Followers!

We love your participation and want to show it! In addition to gaining followers, each week we’ll select three blogs at random and will feature links and a write-up for those blogs in the content of next week’s Friendly Friday post. There are so many seriously wonderful blogs out there, and this will be a great way to highlight some of those each week. Say hello to the lucky chosen 3 for this week (and feel free to stop by and give them a little extra love):


Is there a mom out there that doesn’t feel like she’s trying to figure out how to do it all? At A Mom’s Balancing Act, Jenna and her adorable children give their honest, well-written opinions on products and services for parents, children and babies. Not to mention coupons, deal and money-saving tips that everyone can use and enjoy. You won’t want to miss the huge array of wonderful reviews and giveaways that are going on, especially right now during Jenna’s Gearing Up For Summer event!

How often do your kids say, “Ewww… is that for dinner?” In a quest to create more edible-looking meals for her children, The Bush League Cook was started to document one mom’s life and cooking experiences. Mixed in with her tasty-looking recipes and Profound Conversations that she has with her children (which are quite humorous), you’ll find her 100 Cooking Goals, many of which I would also like to try… particularly the completion of #87: Serve banana splits for breakfast. Yum!

There’s no way to visit Aubut Family and not leave with a smile on your face. Cassandra shares everything about life with her fun kids to random facts about herself to touring her gorgeous Arizona home to her love of pink and animal prints. You also can’t miss the long list of great reviews and giveaways going on and with Cassandra’s humorous and personal writing style, you’ll want to return just to see what product or post she is sharing with her readers next!

Continue reading →

Just a Couple of Pounds

Posted on by
1

Well, I weighed this morning, and I’ve gained a couple of pounds.  I’m not going to be looking for the most effective diet pills but I do plan to cut back a little on snacking and make sure I always buy Yogurt Blends instead of real ice cream.  There’s a lot less fat and calories in the yogurt versus the ice cream, and it tastes great.  And I try to drink water and tea sweetened with Stevia, plus I want to walk more for exercise.  So that’s my plan!

Wedding Planning Guide

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve always heard that June is the most popular month for weddings, but recently I read,  according to the American National Center for Health Statistics, that July and August have actually had more weddings than June for three years in a row now.    Summertime is still the busiest season for weddings.  All the details from the location, bakery, and florist to wedding favors and whether to use rice or bird seed must be planned ahead of time.  To ensure a well planned wedding & reception and to reduce the amount of stress, it is wise to follow a wedding planning guide with time frames for each detail of the wedding.

(picture of Rings by Alena Kratochvilova)

Menu Plan Monday 6-14-10 & Recipe for Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli

Posted on by
5

We’ve been in the mood for a lot of spicy foods recently because of allergies.  There’s just something about the warmth of the spice that is soothing to a scratchy or sore throat.  So you will notice a couple of Mexican dishes.

By the way, I want to mention two great giveaways that are going on for gift cards.   My daughter, Christi, from Frugal Novice has a $25 gift card for groceries at your favorite grocery store, and Healthy Home Blog (that’s me) has a giveaway for a $50 gift card to Family Dollar which can be used on anything in the store.  (ideas: children’s clothes, groceries, gift for a recent graduate, etc.)

OK, now on with this week’s menu:

Monday Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tuesday Easy Cheesy Beef Enchilada, black beans, guacamole

Wednesday Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli (This is a favorite of my husband’s and our son’s.  It’s quick & easy and also inexpensive to make!  It’s also lower cholesterol than the made from scratch version which is good for my husband.  Note the ratio of butter to olive oil.)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 box Chicken Helper  Fettuccine Alfredo  (on sale for $1)
  • 1 large 12 ounce can chicken breast  ($1.58 for Walmart’s brand)
  • 3 tablespoons butter (I only use 2)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 14 ounce package of frozen broccoli florets  (around $1 for Walmart’s brand)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup hot water

Melt butter.  Add olive oil and chicken in a skillet, cutting up the chicken into smaller pieces.  Add the water, milk and chicken helper.  Mix according to directions on the box, adding in the Parmesan Cheese and parsley.   Bring to a boil. Top with the frozen broccoli.  Reduce heat, cover and cook for 12 minutes, stirring every 3 or 4 minutes, until the broccoli is tender.

Here it is before I cover with the lid to cook:

.

Thursday Homemade Pizza & salad

Friday Leftovers

Frugal Novice: $25 Gift Card for Groceries Giveaway!

Posted on by
1

This is a great giveaway at The Frugal Novice because it’s a $25 gift card for groceries, and you get to choose where you want to buy your groceries!   All you have to do is sign up for a free trial at “Food on the Table,” but you are not committed in any way nor do you give any credit card info.  So it’s totally risk free!

The cool thing is that you have 30 days of using “Food on the Table” for free.  That’s one whole month free!

It’s so easy!  Here’s what you do:

  • Enter your zip code
  • Enter your favorite local grocery store
  • Answer a few questions about food, “What are you in the mood for this week?”

Then, “Food on the Table” suggests recipes.  You choose which ones.  They tell you what ingredients are on sale at the grocery store you chose.  And they even tell you how much money you will save by buying the sale items!  Then they organize your shopping list by categories.  Wow!  It sounds like a lot of fun!  Remember, it’s free for one month, and you get to be in the drawing for a $25 gift card to the grocery store of your choosing.

This giveaway ends at The Frugal Novice midnight on 6/17/2010.