tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88562958203589376152024-02-08T04:22:53.159-08:00A Screaming PennyThe Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-38637387042639553542008-10-11T10:14:00.000-07:002008-10-11T10:22:03.164-07:00Menu 10/12-10/18<span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast/Snacks/Dessert:</span><br />Pumpkin sheet cake with cream cheese icing<br />brownies<br />ham & cheese omelet roll<br />cappuccino muffins<br />granola bars<br />Amish baked oatmeal<br />pumpkin doggy treats (for those of the canine variety)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch:</span><br />french dip sandwiches<br />make & freeze burritos<br />turkey chili (leftovers)<br />ribs, mac & cheese (leftovers)<br />homemade pepperoni pizza<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Dinner:</span><br />beef skewers, spaghetti squash, roasted redskins<br />pork fried rice (with fresh ginger from the commissary!)<br />pot roast, homemade mac & cheese (crockpot)<br />chimichangas, spanish rice, refried beans<br />swiss steak, mashed potatoes, green bean packet (crockpot)<br />red beans & rice<br />steaks, twice baked sweet potatoes, corn<br /><br />There's a lot of beef on my menu this week...we just found out we're getting discharged from the Navy so we have anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to eat everything in our freezer or lose it. I was given a ton of beef so I am trying to use that as well as all the leftovers.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-15917807082778954102008-10-03T16:33:00.000-07:002008-10-11T10:22:14.106-07:00Menu 10/5-10/11Mark is kinda sick so I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner with broth from some bones I had frozen, and drumsticks (frozen) from a chicken I had roasted. It was really good! Who knew drumsticks had so much meat on them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast/Snacks:</span><br />cappuccino muffins<br />filled muffins<br />granola bars<br />popovers<br />bacon crescents<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch:</span><br />Philly cheesesteak sandwiches (made from one of the free roasts), cream cheese dip, carrots<br />pizza calzones<br />buffalo chicken pizza<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner:</span><br />delicious drumsticks, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots<br />BBQ beef (made from one of the free roasts), corn on the con, mashed potatoes (crockpot)<br />pork chops & potatoes, green beans<br />turkey chili, rolls<br />chicken stew, rolls<br />sliced beef (leftovers from philly cheesesteak sandwiches), spaghetti squash, gravy, salad<br />chicken helper (found in the cabinet. Who knew?), salad<br /><br />I'm sure you've noticed that I don't add a lot of lunch and breakfast selections. Lunch, when I don't cook, is leftovers. I have a freezer full...I could not cook lunch for a month and Mark and I could eat solely from the freezer! We're trying to eat the leftovers to make room for leftover turkey from Thanksgiving (how many times can one person say "leftovers" in a paragraph?!).The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-22937728502669830572008-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:002008-10-03T10:26:32.156-07:00BlondiesI originally called this recipe peanut butter brownies. My husband informed me that they're called <span style="font-style: italic;">blondies</span>...who knew? Anyway, whatever you call them, they're soft, moist and just so delicious! I sprinkled peanut butter morsels on top before baking, just to be pretty.<br /><br />1/2 cup peanut butter<br />1/3 cup margarine, softened<br />2/3 cup white sugar<br />1/2 cup packed brown sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />1 cup all-purpose flour<br />1 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C ). Grease a 8x8 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, cream together peanut butter and margarine. Gradually blend in the brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla; mix until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the peanut butter mixture until well blended. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven, or until the top springs back when touched. Cool, and cut into 16 squares.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-42891849458116266332008-09-28T15:44:00.000-07:002008-09-28T15:56:32.972-07:00Free food!A dear friend's husband dropped some meat off at my house today. He left 5 beef roasts (one was pretty large...will make 2 smaller ones out of it), 2 pkgs beef tips and 2 prime rib steaks. I guess I'll be making those soon :). Obviously I'll make pot roast from the roasts...I'm not sure what else. Allrecipes.com, here I come!The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-42100559888871024562008-09-25T18:02:00.000-07:002008-09-25T18:12:36.733-07:00Menu 9/28-10/4I'm so glad it's fall! It's my favorite season. I love all the scents and foods...the smell of pumpkin bread (my mom is famous for this!) and apple pie just makes me wanna dance. Here's my menu plan for the next week. I have at least one friend who's going to use the same menu for her family. Let's see how it goes!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast:</span><br />Amish baked oatmeal (this is a staple now!)<br />cappucino muffins (didn't get around to them last week)<br />filled muffins<br />steak and eggs<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch:</span><br />Chicken alfredo pizza<br />spinach quiche<br />Corndog muffins<br />teriyaki<br />bacon cheeseburger calzones<br />BLCT's (bacon, lettuce, cheese and tomato sandwiches)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner:</span><br />Steak fajitas (bought 2 large cheap steaks last week; made 4 smaller ones out of them. 2 are for steak and eggs, one is for this dinner and one is for backup in the freezer)<br />oven chicken chimichangas, refried beans, spanish rice<br />sloppy joes, coleslaw, fries<br />bean soup, cornbread, onions<br />mini meatloaves, asparagus, mashed potatoes<br />southwest chicken packets (broccoli and rice inside)<br />beef stew (contains red potatoes and carrots)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snacks:</span><br />granola bars<br />french silk pie<br />chocolate peanut butter bars<br />buttermilk donutsThe Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-55326234058564584092008-09-23T10:01:00.000-07:002008-09-23T10:07:47.384-07:00Spinach QuicheWhen I was pregnant, Mark and I took a trip through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Stonington</span> Village. I remember the day; we had just found out that the baby was a girl. We found this cute little store while we were there. The owner and her late husband had opened the store when the kids left home and, even though he had passed on, the wife wanted to continue what her husband started. He made this incredible quiche that she continued making fresh daily. The other day I remembered tasting that light, fluffy, cheesy quiche and though, "Well, I'm sure I can figure it out!". Here's my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">crustless</span> version of a spinach quiche:<br /><br />4 eggs<br />3/4 c frozen chopped spinach, thawed<br />1/8 tsp each salt, pepper and garlic<br />1/4 c <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mozzarella</span> cheese<br />1/2 c cheddar cheese<br /><br />Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs in a shallow pie pan. Mix in spices, spinach and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mozzarella</span>. Coat spinach evenly with egg mixture. Top with cheddar cheese. Place in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs have set.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-59635007856573366602008-09-20T19:39:00.000-07:002008-09-20T19:45:46.554-07:00Menu 9/21-9/27<span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast:</span><br />Pancakes<br />Amish-baked oatmeal<br />cappucino muffins<br />hearty breakfast<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch:</span><br />Spinach and cheese quiche<br />buffalo chicken pizza<br />minestrone soup<br />leftovers<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner:</span><br />Spaghetti and meatballs, green beans<br />red beans and rice, salad<br />pork fried rice, egg rolls<br />fried catfish, coleslaw, fries<br />roasted chicken (save leftovers for pizza), salad, roasted broccoli<br />steaks, baked potatoes, fresh sweet corn<br />beefy lentil veggie soup, buttery rolls<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snacks/Desserts:</span><br />Apple pie<br />pumpkin butter cake<br />cinnamon cookies<br /><br />Good news! Only spent $48 this week :). Still over my budget but less than I thought it might be.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-25279822773823939992008-09-17T20:22:00.000-07:002008-09-17T21:29:37.501-07:00Amish Baked Oatmeal1/4 cup butter<br />1 large egg<br />3/8 cup brown sugar<br />3/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />3/4 teaspoon vanilla<br />1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or cinnamon<br />1/8 teaspoon salt<br />1/2 cup milk<br />1 tablespoon milk<br />1 1/2 cups oatmeal (regular or quick)<br /><br />Melt butter. Grease 1 1/2 quart baking dish and drop in eggs and beat well. Add brown sugar, baking powder, vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon, and salt. Mix well, no lumps. Whisk in butter and both measures of milk, then add oats.Stir well, and refrigerate overnight.Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 35-45 min, or until set in the middle.Serve hot with warm milk poured over.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-67221637407267013202008-09-13T09:59:00.000-07:002008-09-13T10:07:52.668-07:00Menu 9/13-9/20<span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast:</span><br />Amish baked oatmeal<br />pumpkin muffins<br />strawberry oatmeal<br />big breakfast<br />Amish baked oatmeal<br />pumpkin muffins<br />cereal<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch:</span><br />homemade pizza<br />ham sandwiches, chips & carrots, dip<br />loaded baked potatoes<br />grilled cheese, tomato soup<br />goulash<br />potato soup<br />leftovers<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner:</span><br />stuffed peppers, salad<br />crockpot macaroni and cheese, brown sugar ham, roasted broccoli<br />tuna casserole (made by Mark!)<br />beef stew, rice<br />sloppy joes, fries<br />spaghetti carbonara, green beans<br />spaghetti, salad, fresh corn<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snacks:</span><br />brownies<br />pumpkin muffins<br />chips, carrots & dip<br /><br />My goal is to spend around $30-$40 this trip. I usually spend about $50+ so we'll see how it goes. I'm using what I already have and go from there. I got a really good deal on ground beef last month so I still have about 2 1/2 lbs in the freezer. I'm buying a lot of little things, plus a small ham and cat food.<br /><br />I'm making a lot of things homemade as usual, so stay tuned for more recipes as I make them.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-90434261920914987882008-09-09T18:07:00.000-07:002008-09-09T18:09:17.434-07:00Spinach Dip8 oz spinach, thawed<br />8 oz cream cheese<br />4 oz mozzarella cheese<br />1/4 tsp cumin<br />1/4 tsp onion powder<br />1/2 tsp paprika<br />1/4 tsp garlic<br /><br />Mix all in a bowl. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until cheese is melty and bubble. You can also nuke this in the microwave for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melty. Serve with crackers or carrots to dip.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-89254386353965177172008-09-09T18:03:00.000-07:002008-09-09T18:07:09.668-07:00Sloppy JoesI don't know anyone who really likes the powdered sloppy joe mix, or the can. I decided to try to make my own and I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself :). I serve this with hand-cut and fried potatoes.<br /><br />1 lb ground beef<br />2 5.5oz cans tomato juice<br />1 tbsp ketchup<br />1/2 c onions, chopped<br />1/2 c green peppers, chopped<br />1 tsp mustard<br />1 tsp chili powder<br />1 tsp onion salt<br />1 tsp garlic powder<br />1 c water<br /><br />Saute ground beef, onions and peppers in a large sauce pan. Drain. Add all other ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-65526225289455784012008-09-09T18:00:00.000-07:002008-09-09T18:03:40.924-07:00Turkey ChiliI hate how most chilis taste heavy and greasy. Here's a great alternative: ground turkey. It's leaner and cleaner than ground beef...and, it's cheaper.<br /><br />2 lbs ground turkey<br />1/2 onion, chopped<br />2 cloves chopped garlic<br />1 tbsp chili powder<br />dash paprika<br />dash cumin<br />1 28oz can tomatoes<br />1 can black beans<br />1/4 can water (use bean can)<br /><br />Combine first 6 ingredients in a large stock pot. Saute until turkey is browned and onions are clear. Keep the mix moving or garlic will scorch. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30 minutes or until reduced by about half.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-43802654456820153122008-09-09T17:55:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:59:25.746-07:00GoulashMy husband has never liked goulash, so I made it a mission of mine to make some that he would like. Guess what-I did it!<br /><br />1 lb ground beef<br />1/2 c chopped green peppers<br />1/4 c onions<br />2 c cooked macaroni<br />1 tb paprika<br />1 tsp. onion soup mix<br />1 small can crushed or diced tomatoes<br />1 can tomato soup<br />1/2 c milk or water<br />2 tbsp olive oil<br /><br />Saute peppers and onions in olive oil. Add ground beef and paprika. Saute until brown. Add onion soup mix, tomato soup, tomatoes and simmer on med-low heat for 10 minutes. Add pasta and water/milk as needed. Cook until macaroni is tender.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-65074842130245797232008-09-09T17:51:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:55:31.280-07:00Emeril's EssenceI can't ever find spice mixes that are just right for me. Most are too spicy or sweet. So, I've learned to create my own. This is my version of Emeril's Essence without all the heat. You can add more cayenne if needed.<br /><br />2 1/2 tb paprika<br />2 tb salt<br />2 tb garlic powder<br />1 tb black pepper<br />1 tb onion powder<br />1 tb cayenne pepper<br />1 tb dried oregano<br />1 dried thyme<br /><br />Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Sprinkle on chicken or mix in meatloaf.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-56248258436136798772008-09-09T17:48:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:51:27.803-07:00ColeslawI hate coleslaw. Well, I hate the stuff people put in it that's not supposed to be there. I mean, pickles and pimentos? I'll stick to the normal creamy coleslaw. The cabbage is enough veggies for me! Here's my recipe for coleslaw. It's the only kind I'll eat.<br /><br />1 bag shredded cabbage<br />1/2 c mayo<br />1 c ranch dressing<br />salt & pepper to taste<br /><br />Mix all ingredients together. Add more mayo or ranch if mix is too dry. Best if served with great burgers :).The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-69159616495186892862008-09-09T17:32:00.001-07:002008-09-09T17:45:11.885-07:00What to keep in your freezerThere's a few things I keep in my freezer. I use all of these things monthly and make sure I restock them--if I don't, I'll always wish I had them on hand.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Veggies:</span><br />frozen peppers<br />chopped spinach<br />peas<br />carrots<br />chopped onions<br />celery<br />corn on the cob<br />corn kernels<br />broccoli<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meats:</span><br />2 lbs. ground beef<br />6 chicken breasts<br />6 pork chops<br />1 lb ground turkey<br />1 lb bacon<br />1 pkg sausage links<br />beef tips<br />beef roast<br />smoked sausage<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Misc:</span><br />brown gravy<br />spaghetti sauce<br />breadcrumbs made from toasted bread<br />chicken broth<br />beef broth<br />vegetable broth<br />wonton wrappers<br />puff pastry<br />strawberriesThe Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-12634516458413042852008-09-09T17:17:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:46:21.891-07:00Banana BreadI made banana bread this week for our snack. I've tried a few different recipes and this is the best one:<br /><br />1/2 cup margarine, softened<br />1/2 cup white sugar<br />1/2 cup brown sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1 1/2 cups mashed banana<br />2 cups all-purpose flour<br />1 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/4 tsp each cinnamon and nutmeg<span><br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x5 inch pan. </span><span>Cream margarine and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, then bananas and nutmeg and cinnamon. Add flour and soda, stirring just until combined.</span><span>Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 1 hour (or till toothpick comes out clean). Remove from pan and let cool, store in refrigerator or freeze. </span><br /><br />I made this in just a loaf pan, but try it as a bundt. I'm going to try that next time.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-57479146609382479582008-09-09T15:15:00.000-07:002008-09-09T18:35:40.733-07:00The secret to cooking success is...a well-stocked pantry. If you ask me, there's nothing worse than being in the middle of making a fabulous meal and realizing you're out of something. Sure, substitutions are nice, but I like to be prepared. I married a boy scout, ya know! Remember...a well-stocked pantry is useless if you don't rotate your stock. No, you can't keep Crisco for four years...at least, I wouldn't. Make sure you use what you have and replace it. Always use the older stuff first. This is what my pantry ALWAYS has in it, and what I think everyone should have on hand. This is an all-inclusive list, but buy only what you use.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baking items:</span><br />granulated sugar<br />light brown sugar<br />confectioner's sugar/powdered sugar<br />all-purpose flour<br />baking soda<br />baking powder<br />pancake mix/Bisquick<br />salt<br />chocolate chips, semisweet and white<br />cocoa<br />vanilla<br />brownie mix<br />cake mix<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breads and cereal:</span><br />White bread, toasted, chopped and frozen as breadcrumbs<br />tortillas<br />hard taco shells<br />chex cereal<br />cheerios<br />quick oats<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Canned items:</span><br />diced tomatoes<br />crushed tomatoes<br />tomato sauce<br />tomato juice<br />stewed tomatoes<br />tomato paste<br />black beans<br />tuna<br />cheddar cheese soup<br />sweetened condensed milk<br />evaporated milk<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Condiments:</span><br />Soy sauce<br />A-1<br />ketchup<br />yellow mustard<br />spicy brown mustard<br />mayo<br />pickles<br />Worcestershire sauce<br />Tabasco<br />salsa<br />teriyaki sauce<br />BBQ sauce<br />Spaghetti sauce<br />lemon juice<br />lime juice<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pastas and rice:</span><br />spaghetti<br />angel hair<br />elbow<br />rotini<br />fettucini<br />fusilli<br />brown rice<br />white rice<br />instant rice<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spices:</span><br />basil<br />thyme<br />marjoram<br />rosemary<br />dill<br />garlic powder<br />onion powder<br />cumin<br />chili powder<br />paprika<br />oregano<br />ginger<br />dried mustard<br />cinnamon<br />peppercorns for the pepper mill<br />nutmeg<br />curry powder<br />salt<br />pepper<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Misc:</span><br />red potatoes<br />yellow onion<br />red onion<br />head of garlic<br />fresh herbs<br />peanut butter<br />jelly/jam/preserves<br />olive oil<br />vegetable oil<br />red wine vinegar<br />balsamic vinegar<br />white wine vinegar<br />rice wine vinegar<br />black beans<br />pinto beans<br />navy beans<br />chicken and beef bouillonThe Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-77218248091510857662008-09-09T15:07:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:46:39.211-07:00Pot roastI love my crockpot...let me just say that. Fix-and-forget is an incredible talent when you're trying to juggle everyday life and its lovely atrocities which always seem to pop up around dinner time. So, in addition to menu planning, my crock pot saves the day. Throw almost anything in there and it'll be yummy! Tonight, we're doing pot roast.<br /><br />1 small pot roast<br />2 cloves garlic<br />1 small onion, peeled<br />1 packet onion soup mix<br />2 cups beef broth<br />2 cups water<br />6 small red potatoes, chopped<br />1 1/2c chopped raw carrots<br /><br />Combine the first 6 ingredients in the crock pot. Cook on low overnight (12-14 hours). 2-3 hours before you plan to serve dinner, add potatoes and carrots. Also, check for salt to see if you need to add some. Cook on High until dinnertime. Serve with warm cornbread muffins.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856295820358937615.post-4335799886957977922008-09-09T14:38:00.000-07:002008-09-09T15:06:54.778-07:00The infamous introI love to cook but I'm a horrible baker. Quite a few of my friends ask me for recipes, so I've decided to create a blog just for those which will also include my tips on budgeting and frugality in your everyday life. Trust me, all of my recipe are easy peasy or I wouldn't make them...I don't have time to waste any more! I hope you enjoy reading and (hopefully!) making them. I'd love to do a recipe swap with anyone who's interested, too.The Lewis Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16999266986809263881noreply@blogger.com0