I Saved with Coupons

I love to watch Extreme Couponing!  Not because I want to have rooms and rooms of products but because I want to learn how to feed my family for less!  I know there is a way to save but the savings never seem to add up.....Until today!

I coerced my husband to go with me and with grocery list in hand and coupon binder in tow, we made our way to Ralphs.  Now keep in mind that no one really likes to go grocery shopping with me because I tend to spend way too much time in the store.  I stroll the isles, find the products I need and then check prices, package size and then compare which is the better deal.  This takes time and frankly my family would rather do other things. 

Today, I'm sure my husband just wanted to get in and out.  We walked in and right away, he wanted to know what was on the list so we could just grab and go.  We pushed our way through the crowded store and picked up the items on the list that included:  Ground cinnamon, a gallon of milk, a box of chocolate donuts, 2 containers of ice cream, 4 tubes of Pillsbury Crescent rolls, 2 tubes of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, 9 boxes of Green Giant Frozen Vegetables, 4 boxes of General Mills cereal, 2-10 lb. bags of potatoes, 1 pkg. Rosemary, 1 stalk celery, 1 qt. Egg Nog. and a 19-lb. Turkey.  I had my manufacturer coupons as well as my Ralphs coupons. 

At the register, all scanned items rang up at  $127.08.  I made sure my husband saw that amount.  Then the Ralphs Club Card brought it down to $53.73.  Then my coupons brought it down even further to $39.43.  My husband was very impressed and happy.  So was I!  I couldn't believe I bought what I did for less than $40.00. 

I must say that as I sit and clip all the coupons each week, I ask myself, "Is this all worth it?"  Well today made it all worth it.  I just hope I can continue to save this much money each and every week.

Thank you to all who graciously hand their coupons over to me each week!  My family and I appreciate it so much!  Until next week....HAPPY CLIPPING!

Cinnamon Rolls (Check your ingredients)

Today I decided to take my bread maker out of the storage cabinet and make (for the first time) homemade cinnamon rolls.  I gathered my ingredients for the dough and placed them all in my bread maker and turned it on to do its thing.

My son gets so excited when we do new things and he couldn't stop checking the little window to see what was happening in there.  An hour and 20 minutes later, the machine beeped and it was on to the cutting board to roll out the dough and spread it with butter, cinnamon and sugar.  Next we rolled the dough and cut into circles, put it in the greased baking pan to rise for an hour.

Hour's up and now it's time to put those babies in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  So exciting I can't wait to try them.  The timer goes off and they're ready to glaze.  For some reason though, the glaze is clumping up and not thining out.  I pour it over some and go for the taste.  Ummm, not the soft, sweet cinnamon rolls I was expecting.  I check the container and I guess in my rush to finish these off, I used Corn Starch instead of Powdered Sugar.  Oh no!   I quickly take them out of the baking pan and mix a batch of glaze (using the sugar of course) and pour it over the rolls. 

Now we're talking.  Soft, warm, sweet cinnamon rolls just like I imagined.  So easy to make but please make sure you take out the sugar and not the starch!

Bread Maker Cinnamon  Rolls

DOUGH:

1 Egg & enough water to make 1 cup  (water should be 80°)

1/4 Cup Oil

1/3 Cup Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

3-1/2 Cups Bread Flour

1-1/2 tsp. Active Dry Yeast

OPTIOINAL ADD-INS:

1/2 Cup Walnuts (optional)

1/2 Cup Raisins (optional)

FILLING:

1/3 Cup Butter softened

1/3 cup sugar

2 TBL. Cinnamon

GLAZE:

1/2 cup Powdered Sugar

3 TBL. Milk

1/4 tsp. Vanilla

Put all "dough" ingredients in bread machine in order listed. Program machine to DOUGH setting and start.  When machine beeps, you can add the optional add-ins.

When dough is done, place on a lightly floured surface and roll dough in a 12 x 18 inch rectangle for approximatley 18 rolls.    Spread dough with butter.  Sprinke with cinnamon/sugar mixture and roll tightly, jelly-roll style, starting with the longest side and cut into one inch slices.

Place in greased baking pan and let stand in a warm place for 1 hour or until double in size.

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until done

Mix glaze ingredients until smooth and drizzle over top. 

Enjoy!!

Persimmon Cookies

Today seemed like a perfect day to bake.  My cousin gave me a few persimmons and one was just ripe for baking.  I gathered my ingredients and began.  I think these cookies turned out pretty yummy.  I just hope they last long enough for the rest of the family to try them:)

PERSIMMON COOKIES

1/2 cup margerine or butter

1 cup sugar

 1 egg
1 tsp.baking soda
1 cup persimmon pulp
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream margerine or butter and sugar until blended.  Add egg,  persimmon pulp and baking soda. Mix well. Add sifted dry ingredients, nuts, chocolate chips & raisins. Drop on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Interest in Pinterest

A few weeks ago, my niece and my sister were talking about this new addiction they have.  PINTEREST!  My niece sent me an invitation to join which I ignored....until recently.  I didn't know what it was, didn't care, and especially didn't have time for one more thing to take up my time. 

I tried looking at the site but didn't get it.  Just a bunch of pictures that made no sense to me.  I didn't really care to spend my time looking at other people's "boards" with their "pins."  What do I care what other people like or are interested in. 

I have so much in my life that takes every ounce of time I have, I really didn't want anything else to complicate my routine or sometimes lack of.  I do alot of searches on the web for things like card ideas, gift ideas, recipes, etc.  When I find something I like, I usually add it to my favorites.  The trouble with that is I'm pretty visual and when I want to look at something I've saved in my Favorites, it just seems a little overwhelming because I have to read through all the folders and find what I'm looking for.

I decided to look at Pinterest again and try to figure out what this thing is all about.  I set up an account, set up a couple of "Boards," and looked through a couple of things.  Basically, it seems like a visual "Favorites Board."  When I find something on the web I like instead of saving it a favorites folder, I "Pin It" to a Board I've created within my Pinterest account.  I can create as many Boards (or Folders) that I want and then pin my information on the Board.  I can now go to my account, look at my boards, and refer back to the things I've saved by seeing the actual picture of what it was.  Sounds a little confusing but I love it.  It's like having all these bulletin boards with pictures or names of sites pinned on them.

Although I do love it for being more interesting than my Favorites, it's not something I would become addicted to.  From what I understand, there are actually people who spend hours on this site just looking things up.  I do have a life and a full one at that but I do love when something can simplify things and Pinterest is one of those things.

Holiday Baking Under Way!

Well, today I'm officially starting my holiday baking.  Every year, 2 days before Christmas, I can be found in my kitchen covered in flour and surrounded by my KitchenAid mixer, bread pans, measuring utensils and a sink full of dishes.  Because of all the baking I do, I am usually washing all the dishes while the goods are in the oven, preparing for the next batch of goodies to mix.  I'm usually so stressed because time is running short and there are always a million things yet to do.   It's messy, hectic and not very enjoyable.

This year, I am starting my baking early.  Today in fact!  I had some bananas that were just ripe for baking and I decided to make a couple of batches of banana nut muffins.  The house is cold and what better way to warm it up than by turning on my oven.  I'm gonna wrap the muffins and seal them in bags with my Seal-a-Meal and put them in the freezer until Christmas. 

My cousin gave me a bunch of persimmons and I just happened to have found a recipe book full of persimmon recipes and will try those out as well.  My son loves to be in the kitchen helping and learning and it serves as a great math lesson as well. 

I don't know if I'm getting smarter with age or if it's just the fact that I missed a whole season last year of baking.  My oven quit the week before Thanksgiving and I went the whole season without baking:(  After almost a year without an oven, maybe I'm just excited to be able to bake.  Whatever the reason, I plan to enjoy this Christmas to the fullest.  The time I would have spent in the kitchen baking, I can spend with my kids having fun!