Another successful shopping day!

I went grocery shopping today using my coupons. It was wonderful. (minus the fact that i had to bring my 2 four year old twins, they did okay, but honestly I feel that the government should provide a nanny to all mother’s with young children for this sort of thing. You and I know we would both probably spend more money shopping if we didn’t have to drag our screaming kids around. There you go, Obama! you want to stimulate the economy? There is your solution.)

You can read about my shopping experience  here.

Be sure to share any you have too!

-Jami

Grocery day tomorrow….

 

Tomorrow is Wednesday, who knows what that means?…………

Anyone?…………………

Anyone?…………………….

Grocery shopping day!

My palms get all sweaty just thinking about it. Good luck to all of the couponers. Be sure and share your success.

Canceled

 

Sadly, there was no Domestic Divas meeting this month. It seems everyone decided to be born or knows a loved one who was born in the month of February (or at least close to it).

Mindy’s Birthday fell on the very day, Keelee was gone on her B-day to Cancun (poor thing) so she celebrated with Brooke and some friends on the first Monday of February also.

Shanelle went to dinner for her father-in-laws  Birthday, Brooke Rechtenbach wasn’t feeling so great, Amber had lots to do so that left little old me.

I didn’t want to take up Lindsay’s night just to entertain me alone so I called her and we decided to postpone until next month. So sorry Linds! Hope we didn’t put you out too much.

Our next meeting I will be bringing around a sign up sheet so we can all take turns hosting (only if you want to) so we will know in advance what to plan on. I will also gather everyone's information (phone number, address, e-mail/blogs etc) so we can contact each other.

So girls….

Til next month.

Remember we are still meeting at Lindsay’s home at 7:00 p.m. and will be sharing dessert recipes….yum yum yum! Call me for more details

-Jami

Appetizers, and coupons!!!

The month of January was dedicated to appetizer’s. Brooke Firth picked this idea so she could have some ideas for yummy snacks to make for the Super Bowl. We ended having some fun and yummy treats.

We also were lucky to have Tori (Brooke's friend) come and teach us one of THE most amazing things I think I have ever learned. Tori has a blog called she shops smart, and it has pretty much changed my life. I have a new found love, it goes by the name of, COUPON. Now hear me out before you throw any stones…. I’ve never been much of a coupon clipper. Too much work, chasing around town, and I wasn’t ever sure if i was actually getting a good deal, because sometimes the brand names,even with a coupon are still a bit more or about the same as the generic brands. So I felt like if I just shop at Wal-Mart at by only the generic, I was doing pretty good, right???? WRONG!!!!!!!! In fact, A BIG, HUGE, FAT, WRONG!!!

After on week of using coupons I will NEVER by anything again without a coupon again. Just to give you an idea about what I am talking about, my first trip to Smith’s (I say first because after i realized it worked I went back for more) I spent $112 and saved $108. WOW!!! I went back for more, then I hit up Harmon’s and Albertson’s because I was addicted.

You wouldn’t believe the food I have in my house right now and the money I saved. I get teary eyed just thinking about it!

To sum it up in a nut-shell, you are pretty much just combining a manufacturers coupon with a stores sale price and saving amazing bucks! you order Sunday papers only, check a special web site that shows you all the deals, figure out what you want to buy that week, and then go shopping with your coupons. It is SO SIMPLE!!!! a win win situation, you can’t go wrong, and even better…..there is no catch, that’s it. Just save money and end up with tons of groceries!!!

I highly recommend doing this.

Anyways…..back to our appetizers…..

Here they are.

Meatballs by Mindy Burbidge

16 oz. jar of salsa

18 oz. jar of grape jelly

40 oz. bag of frozen home-style beef meatballs

Put the ingredients in a large pot or crock pot. Stir and simmer until the meatballs are warm.

yummy and simple!

Nellie’s Salsa by Shanelle Spackman

1 can of black-eyed peas (drained)

1 can of white corn (drained)

2 avocados (chopped)

6 Roma tomatoes (diced)

bunch of cilantro (leaves only, roughly chopped)

juice from 1 lime

1 package of Italian dressing mix (prepared according to package)

Throw all ingredients in a bowl, toss together. Serve with Tostitos, Hint of lime chips.

a must at all our Blake family BBQ’s!

Tortilla Pin Wheels by Lindsay Smith

1 C. sour cream

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 can chopped ripe olives

1 can chopped green chilies, well drained

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 C. chopped green onions

garlic powder (to taste)

seasoned salt (to taste)

5 flour tortillas (10 inches) room temperature

Salsa

In a large bowl, beat the first 8 ingredients until blended. Spread over tortillas. roll up tightly. Wrap each with plastic wrap, twisting ends. refrigerate for several hours.

unwrap, cut into 1/2 inch – 3/4 inch slices. (electric knife works best) Discard ends

yummy!

Spinach Artichoke Dip by Amber Howard

3 lbs. of fresh spinach

1/2 gallon of whipping cream

2 1/2 lbs. artichoke hearts

3 lbs. cream cheese

1 C. fresh parmesan cheese (shredded)

20 dashes of Tabasco Sauce

3 Tbs. white pepper

garlic salt (to taste)

Mix all ingredients in a crock pot or sauce pan. Serve with Tortilla chips or French bread.

*you can definitely half this

Chips and QuesoDip by Brooke Rechtenbach

1 Block Velveeta Cheese (big or small depending on how much you want to make)

1 lb. Hamburger or Sausage

1 jar of Salsa

Brown and drain your meat. Mix all ingredients until melted. keep heated and serve with tortilla chips.

It was a wonderful evening! Thanks for all the yummy recipes girls and of course…….don’t forget the coupons!

-Jami

What would Christmas time be without Treats?

 

 

We had a fun time at Amber's house this month swapping yummy Christmas treats. Lots of sugar, carbs laughter & good conversation (as always)............seriously, how could we have gone wrong?!?!? We did, however miss some of our comrades. Some out with illness, some had prior engagements. But even still, just the 5 of us, made for good times!!!

 

 

Here are the treats we all shared:


Christmas Pretzels by Amber Howard

1 pkg. Square Pretzels
1 pkg. Rolo's Candy
1 pkg. Pecans

Place unwrapped Rolo on pretzel. Bake on a cookie sheet at 200 degrees for 3 minutes. Remove from oven and then push a pecan on top of a Rolo. Put in a cold place unti chocolate cools. Enjoy. Other candies can also be used such as kisses, M&M's etc....



English Toffee by Brooke Firth

1/2 C. chopped toasted almonds or pecans (for bottom layer)
1 C. butter (salted)
1 C. sugar
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
3 Tbs. water
3/4 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. chopped toasted almonds or pecans (for top layer)

-Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and sprinkle 1/2 C. of toasted almonds in the pan on the foil. In heavy saucepan melt butter. Add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat to boiling.

Cook and stir over medium heat to 290 degrees using a candy thermometer (soft-crack stage). Watch carefully and stir, it can burn easily after 280 degrees. Remove from heat and pour mixture over the nuts in the pan immediately. Let stand 5minutes or until firm but still hot. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let stand for 1 to 2 minutes. When softened, spread chocolate over mixture. Sprinkle the chocolate with nuts. Chill till firm. Break into pieces. Store tightly covered. Makes 1 1/2 pounds.




CARAMEL by Jami Weight

Ingredients
1 C. butter (2 sticks)
1 16 oz. pkg. brown sugar (2 1/4 C.)
2 C. Heavy Cream (if you do not have heavy cream you can substitute 1, 14oz. can of sweetened and condensed milk)
1 C. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

-Butter a cookie sheet before hand to have it all ready to poor in caramel.

-Put butter in a sauce pan and melt on low. Add brown sugar, cream, corn syrup and mix with a wire whisk. Then raise the temperature to medium-high. Stir until it boils. Once it boils, clip on candy thermometer to pan, and reduce heat to medium. Continue to boil and stir until it reaches 236-238 degrees. Immediately pull it off from heat. poor in vanilla and stir. Then poor into prepared buttered cookie sheet. Cool. Cut and wrap in wax paper.

*you can add anise oil and black food coloring paste (both found at Robert's) instead of vanilla to make black licorice caramels, which are a favorite.

*(I dipped pretzel braids in my caramel, drizzled them with white chocolate and milk chocolate then sprinkled crushed pretzels on top for a yummy treat)




Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn by Brooke Rechtenbach

Ingredients
3 bags of microwave popcorn (popped and old maids removed)
2 Cubes butter
1/2 C. corn syrup
1 1/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. Chocolate chips
1/2 C. white chocolate chips
1 Tbs. vanilla

Directions
In a saucepan melt butter, corn syrup, sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until it reaches 228 degrees. Remove from heat and add 1 TBS. vanilla. Stir and then pour over popcorn. Stir until well coated. Place on a cookie sheet. In microwave, melt 1/2 C. chocolate chips and 1/2 cup white chocolate chips separately. Stir melted chips. Drizzle both melted chocolates over popcorn. Let harden.

Apple Pie Caramel Apples by Mindy Howard

Ingredients:

6 apples

1 (14 oz.) package of caramels

2 Tbs Milk

1 (12oz.) bag of white chocolate chips

1 cup of cinnamon sugar

6 wooden sticks

Directions

Wash and dry apples then place wooden sticks in the apples. Melt caramel and milk over low heat or the microwave. Dip each apple into the caramel and let firm up completely. Melt white chips in microwave. Dip each apple in chocolate and let excess drip off. Let cool slightly, but before it is completely hard, roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Sit on wax paper and or greased cookie sheet and put in fridge to harden completely.

 

Technorati Tags: treats

It's all about the SOUP!

The month of November was Jami's turn to host. She chose, soup as this month's theme. Everyone brought one of their favorite soup recipes, enough to share with everyone, and also a sample of the yummy soup. She found herself surrounded by a house full of lovely girls, delicious aromas, savory soups and some fine and funny conversations! Thanks to all the Domestic Diva's who came and supported the spreading of yummy recipes! and here they are.....just for you!





Drum roll please...






"The Printshop" Cheese Soup by Brooke Taylor

A yummy recipe that came from a one of her family's favorite restaraunts.

1/2 C. diced carrot
1/2 C. diced onion
1 C. diced potato
3 stalks celery (chopped)
8 oz. Cheeze Whiz
5 Chicken Boulion Cubes
6 C. water
5 Tbls. Butter
3/4 C. flour
3/4 C. Peas

-Put all vegetables (except peas) in a pot, cover with water, boil until tender. Drain and set aside.

-Put flour and butter in a pan and cook for a couple minutes to make roux. Slowly add water. Add boullion cubes, cheese, and stir til dissolved. Add diced vegetables and peas. As soon as the peas are tender, the soup is complete.




Taco Soup by Amber Howard

1 lb. hamburger (or chicken)
1/2 small onion (chopped)
1/2 green pepper (chopped)
15 oz. can Kidney Beans, undrained
15 oz. can Black beans, drained
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
11oz. can of corn, undrained
15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
2-8oz. cans tomato sauce

-Brown hamburger& saute onions, then ad all other ingredients and heat through. To serve: Line bowl with corn chips (Frittos) add soup, top with grated cheese, olives, sour cream. Serves 8 - 10 people.



Bacon, Cheese & Potato Chowder by Mindy Howard

3 C. fat free milk
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of potato soup
2 c. of frozen Southern-Style hash browns
1 C. sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
3 slices bacon (crispy cooked, drained and crumbled)
1/4 C. thinly sliced green onions

-Mix milk and soup in large saucepan. Stir in hashbrowns. Bring to a boil on high heat stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 min. Stirring Frequently. Ladle into bowls. Top with cheese, bacon and green onions.




Zuppa's Tomato Basil Bisque by Jami Weight

1/4 C. Butter
1/2 yellow onion diced
3 minced garlic cloves
1 rib of celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 (16 oz. Cans) of diced Tomatoes
1 can of whole artichokes
2 Qts. of chicken stock
1 C. Heavy Cream
1 Bunch of fresh basil
Salt & Pepper to taste

-Saute carrot, garlic, onion and celery in butter. Add Tomatoes, artichoke and stalk. Simmer for 45 minutes. Puree with a hand blender or blender. While soup is being blended, add fresh basil leaves. Return to pot and add cream. Heat through. Serve with orzo pasta on top.

Technorati Tags: Soup