My little girl's room, the before

Okay so my big goal for 2009 is to go through each room in the house and declutter, organize and decorate! So, I am starting with my little girl's room first. I thought I would share with you what her room looks like now. Warning: this post contains lots of clutter!

These are my boxes of things that need to be hung, painted, etc.
I have an idea for what is going to go above her bed, you'll just have to wait and see

This is the "catch all" corner

Wow, I could have at least done her laundry before taking this picture. Oh well it will make the after picture look that much better, right?

We only have to 2 bedrooms in our home, but they are both large bedrooms as you can see. I am hoping by posting this that it will really get me motivated to get this room all finished! Pray for good weather, lots of energy, and long naps and I might just be able to pull this off! Stay tuned....

Superbowl Snacks

I thought I would share some great snacks for the big game on Sunday. What super awesome snack do you always eat on Superbowl Sunday?

( I just realized that I have posted a bunch of recipes, the snacks end at cucumber punch)

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts

INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound bacon, cut in half
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Wrap 1/2 strip of bacon around each water chestnut. Combine ketchup and sugar in a small bowl and mix together; dip each wrapped water chestnut into this mixture.
Place water chestnuts in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish and bake covered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp

Seven Layer Dip

Seven Layer Dip

INGREDIENTS
2 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup salsa
garlic salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
4 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
2 cups shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives - drained and finely chopped

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, mash the avocados. Mix in lime juice, cilantro, salsa, garlic salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and taco seasoning.
In a 9x13 inch dish or on a large serving platter, spread the refried beans. Top with sour cream mixture. Spread on guacamole. Top with tomatoes, green onions, Mexican-style cheese blend and black olives.

Ranch Cheese Ball

Ranch Cheese Ball

2 8 oz. cream cheese
1 1 oz. ranch dressing mix
2 ½ c. shredded cheese

Mix above ingredients together and form into a ball. Can roll ball in crushed Dorito chips or chopped pecans.

Cucumber Punch

Cucumber Punch

2 cans frozen limeade
2 2 liter 7up or cherry 7up
1 cucumber, sliced

Combine limeade and 7up in a large bowl and add crushed ice. Top with sliced cucumbers.

Maple roasted chicken and sweet potatoes

Maple Roasted Chicken and Sweet potatoes

Ingredients:
1 lb. chicken tenderloins
1 small onion, cut into strips
1 giantly large sweet potato, cut into thin pieces
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/3 c. maple syrup (must be the real thing, nothing coming out of a lady’s head)
1 tsp. kosher salt
Ground pepper
6 sprigs fresh thyme ( can use dried just use less)
Opt. oregano

Toss chicken, potatoes, and onions in the olive oil. Sprinkle the rest over the top. Bake at 425 for 45-60 mins.

*If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, give the dish a hefty sprinkle of brown sugar over the top before baking, it’s still yummy.

Yummy chicken tenders

Yummy Chicken Tenders

Marinade:
1 egg
1 c. buttermilk
1 ½ tsp. garlic salt

Mix ingredients in a large Ziploc bag add chicken and massage marinade into chicken. Let marinade for a least 1 hour in the fridge

Breading:
1 c. flour
1 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp. baking powder
Opt. parmesan cheese

Take marinaded chicken out of the bag and cover one tender at a time in breading. Fry in a hot (but not too hot or will burn on the outside) pan filled with oil. Dip chicken tenders in ranch, BBQ sauce, etc.

Chile Verde

Chile Verde

3 lbs. pork stew meat
2 poblano chile peppers, seeded and chopped
¼ c. vegetable oil
½ onion, chopped
1 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ yellow pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ Tbsp. salt
1 lb. tomatillos, husks removed
Ground pepper to taste
¼ bunch cilantro, chopped
½ Tbsp. ground cumin
4 c. chicken broth

Optional: can roast peppers

In a large pot sear pork in vegetable oil until golden brown. Remove pork from pot and cook the chopped onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper. Saute until tender. Season with cumin. Transfer meat and onion mixture into a crock pot. Add chicken stock and chopped peppers. Simmer fro a while. Puree tomatillos and cilantro and add to pot and simmer for 30 – 45 mins. Transfer to a large pot and make a roux of flour and water to thicken. Pour into flour tortilla top with cheese and can smother with more cheese and chile verde.

Pulled Pork Terriyaki

Pulled Pork Teriyaki

2-3 lb. pork shoulder
½ medium onion
1 ½ Tbsp. minced garlic
6 c. chicken stock
2 Tbsp. rosemary
1 jar Seal Sama teriyaki sauce
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt

Place all ingredients in crock pot and simmer for 6 hours on high. Remove roast from pot and let cool. Shred pork meat and place the meat in a medium sauce pan and pour Seal Sama teriyaki sauce. Bring to a boil then remove from heat and serve.
Can serve on hamburger bun or salad, etc.

Grocery deals 1/28- 2/3

I guess I will probably still let you in on what I am buying week to week based on what is a good price for food storage items, and fresh produce. I will also still try and give you some recipes that you can use based on what is on sale for the week. I don't think I'll provide the links for coupons because pinching your pennies does that for you.

Albertson's:

-green onions .79
-Nabisco crackers 1.99 plus get free cheese when you buy 3 boxes
-Orville popcorn buy 1 get 3 free! (plus I hear they have coupons in the store so keep your eyes open for those)
* Popcorn is a good food storage item so stock up on these ( listed as an expanded food storage item for December in my monthly food storage plan)
-Alb. frozen juice concentrates .99 with in ad coupon
-Tony's frozen pizza 2.00
-Culinary circle pizza buy one get one free plus free two 2 liters of Dr. Pepper
- Chicken breast boneless, skinless 1.77 lb.
-Arm and hammer laundry detergent 3.49 with in ad coupon
*I love to use this detergent when washing towels, it really gets that yucky musty smell out

Lins:
-roma tomatoes .69/lb
-milk 2.00
-Tropicana OJ 2.88
-2 lb. carrots 2/$4
-grapes seedless red and green 1.49 lb.
-country style boneless pork ribs 1.29/lb
-butter 1.79

Recipes:
*For the grapes that are sale you could use this recipe
*For the pork you could use this recipe, or this recipe
*For the chicken that is on sale you could use this recipe or this recipe

Pinching your pennies

Sorry I have been slacking on the grocery deals lately but I've just found that pinching your pennies has the ad and links to coupons on their site so go check them out! They will save you tons of time and money, no excuses for not saving on groceries they have done all the work for you. I like to go to the state forums. Choose your state and then click on the grocery store ad for the week. I also like to go to the grocery guide that list all the items that are on sale. I like to go here to check out other stores such as K-Mart and Family Dollar.

Thank you pinching your pennies for saving me tons of time and money!

Tip Tuesday { Keep drains flowing }

This tip comes from All You magazine, February 20, 2009 issue:

Keep drains flowing
Sprinkle 1/4 c. baking soda in the drain, followed by 1 cup vinegar. Let sit for 15 mins., then flush with a pot of boiling water.

Check it out 1/25

*Organized, functional and great looking pantry
*Get your McDonald's valentine coupon book
*Darling framed monogram
*Another cute framed monogram
*Necklace organizer
*Embellished tea towel
*Button heart valentine card

Tip Tuesday { Pick up glass shards }

So I've decided to give you guys a tip a week from my huge overflowing binder full of misc. tips. I know I have a little obsession with stuff like this. So, for today this tip is coming from First magazine, August 15, 2005 issue.

Pick up glass shards in seconds

Next time a glass is shattered during dinner-party mahem, use a slice of white bread to pick up hard-to-see splinters in a jiffy. Simply flick a bit of water onto the bread, then slowly wipe the floor with it, wet side down. The sticky, porous quality of the bread attracts and lifts the tiny shards that a broom misses, so the floor is clear-and safe- in a flash.

I wish I would have turned to my book of tips when we (meaning my husband, but I'll take part of the blame) broke 3 bowls last weekend. I didn't get mad because it means I am that much closer to a new set of dishes!

Beef Stroganoff

This recipe is one of my childhood favorites:

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:
½ c. chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp. butter
1 lb. ground beef
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¼ tsp. paprika
1 c. sliced mushrooms
2 cans cream of mushroom
1 c. sour cream

Saute onion and garlic in butter. Add ground beef, flour and seasonings. Cook until browned add mushrooms and cream of mushroom soups. Simmer for about 10 mins. Add sour cream simmer until warm and serve over rice or noodles.

Check it out catch up-1/18

* Customize a wooden magazine holder
* Hang bows on a hanger
* Roman shade tutorial
* Love this picture ledge
* Cute christmas breakfast for kids
* Tips for organizing your freezer
* Darling flower tutorial
* Cute children's apron
* How to plan your 3 month food storage supply
* Must have crafting tools
* How to make a grocery budget
* Cute nursery
* Great organizing ideas for small spaces
* Cute winter wreath
* Cute framed winter decor
* Love this repurposed dresser
* Also love this inspiration board
* Cute clock makeover
* Diaper wipe case tutorial
* Cute pom pom flowers
* Felted sweater quilt
* Beatiful veggie and dip
* Cute kiddie table and chairs
* So cute pillow
* Great DIY spice rack
* I want these prints
* Cupboard door turned to tray
* Bulletin board with shutters
* How to make pom poms from yarn
* I love this headboard a lot!
* Pouring your own concrete coutnertops
* Cute apron made from cloth napkins
* Great clearance shopping hints
* Butterfly collage

Wow, I know this was a long one. I had a lot of catching up to do from the holidays but now I get to clean a lot stuff out of my folders. Enjoy!

Food Storage- January

Food Storage Month by Month

January

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007

Basic Storage:
· Macaroni and spaghetti noodles 12 lbs per person
· Beans 20 lbs per person

Expanded Storage:
· Macaroni and cheese
. Crackers (graham, saltine, etc.)

Nonperishable item:
· Toothbrushes
. Toothpaste
. Floss, etc. (oral care items)

My guilty pleasure

Okay so I don't really have TV shows that I just have to watch. Don't get me wrong I do enjoy a show now and then but I am not really devoted except for......

Yes I admit that I get all crazy like Tuesday evenings (and sometimes Wednesdays too). I am obsessed with this show! I love it, it makes me all giddy! I even make sure that dinner is a simple easy to make, easy to clean up meal on Tuesday nights so that I can sit down and watch American Idol. My poor husband, he has had to endure me through this year after year. Dang if I only had DVR!!