Spaghetti Sauce

This is a much anticipated recipe from certain members of my family who love my spaghetti sauce.  It is definitely a favorite in our house and it freezes well (when there’s some leftover 🙂 )

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Turkey $2.00

1 Onion minced (I just toss it in my food processor so that I don’t cry while cutting it) $.25

2 cloves garlic $.02

28 oz Tomato sauce (used my homemade recipe) $.50

28 oz. Crushed Tomatoes (used my homemade recipe) $.50

small container of Tomato Paste $.50

1 1/2 TBS of Italian Seasoning or a combination or Oregano & Parsley $.03

2 heaping TBS of brown sugar $.10

Total for sauce: $4.15

Directions:

Brown turkey, onion and garlic until turkey is cooked through and onions and garlic are tender

Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for about 1 1/2 hours until thickened and flavors have combined

Serve hot over your favorite pasta and enjoy!

Freeze leftovers in a labeled freezer container.

Teriyaki Pineapple Pork Chops

I love it when I am experimenting with dinner and it actually turns out delicious!

Ingredients:

Pork Chops (enough for your family, I used 3 since my kids split one) $3.00 (Click here to see how I buy inexpensive pork chops)

3 TBS Yoshida’s Teriyaki sauce (or any brand that you like) $.21

1 can pineapple $.25

1 cup cooked rice $.50

1 bag of Steamfresh corn $1.00

Total Cost of Meal for family of 4 = $4.96

Directions:

In a shallow dish place the thawed out pork chops and 3 TBS Yoshida Teriyaki sauce and let marinade for 20 min.

You can either barbeque them or broil them in a broiling pan.  It’s hot in California so I tend to BBQ my meat.

Once the meat is cooked through, place a few pieces of pineapple on it and let it cook a little longer, so that the pineapple gets a little cooked too

I cook my rice in my rice cooker while the meat is on the BBQ and the steam fresh corn cooks in a bag in the microwave.

Super simple and super yummy dinner!

Homemade Strawberry Freezer Jam

I have always wanted to make my own freezer jam, but thought that I didn’t have the time.  It was so quick and easy that now I understand why so many people do it!

Ingredients:

4 Cups Strawberries (B1G2 FREE $4.99 for all + had 2 cups left over)

1 Cup sugar ($.50)

2 packets liquid pectin ($3.99)

Total cost: $2.60 each for 3 containers

Directions:

Cut and puree strawberries until smooth in food processor

Bring Strawberry puree and sugar to a boil in saucepan and add liquid pectin

Let simmer for a few minutes until thickened

Let mixture rest in the pot until cool enough to put into freezer safe containers

Let sit out at room temp. for 24 hours and then put into freezer until desired use.

Great Deals for Michaels: Week of 5/6-5/12

10% off entire purchase, including sale items coupon (Sunday May 6th-Tuesday May 8th)

40% off one regular priced item coupon

25% off entire purchase Wall & Tabletop frames, Framed Art & Display Cases, including sale items coupon

40% off + bonus coupon 15% off entire purchase Bead Gallery Strung Beads, Bead Landing Pearls, Bead Landing Lampwork

25% off entire purchase Yarn, including sale items coupon

50% off + bonus coupon 20% off your entire custom framing order coupon

12″x12″ Open Stock Paper $.20 each

40% off Entire Stock Craft Storage

BOGO FREE Entire Stock Floral Stems

Ashland Summer Bushes $1.49 each

50% off Entire Stock Open Back Frames & Framed Art

B2G1 FREE Entire Stock Wilton Bakeware

50% off Celebrate It 360 Purple Label Ribbon

Ott-Lite Craft Caddy Lamp $39.99 each

These are some of our favorite deals this week at Michaels, please let us know what you found!

Meals-On-The-Go Series: Turkey Wraps 2 Ways

We are going to be starting a new series for all of the busy families out there, who feel like the only thing they have time for is to stop by fast-food for dinner.  I understand this because I have been there many nights!  While there are many healthier options out there for families, it still doesn’t beat having something that you made ahead and planned to take with you.  With a busy sports season in the spring, many of my friends have told me that they would love to have the option of a quick meal that they could bring with them to games, practices, etc.

Homemade Chicken Stock Recipe

While there are many chicken stock recipes out there, this one is my favorite.  It was one I came up with a few years ago after trying several batches and not being satisfied with how they came out.

Keep in mind that I have an enormous stock pot that I purchased at the thrift store for $3.00. Score!  I would highly recommend finding something like this, or you can just reduce the amount that you put in the recipe.

Ingredients:

6-8 Frozen leftover chicken breast carcasses from deboning chicken, click here for video tutorial (free, since leftover from chicken that I used)

3-4 large peeled carrots, cut into thirds ($.50 for all at asian market)

4 celery stalks, cut into thirds ($.30 for all at asian market)

1 whole onion, peeled and cut into chunks ($.25 at asian market)

3 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole ($.10 at asian market)

26 cups of water (for my huge stock pot)

Directions:

Place all ingredients into the stock pot together and boil for about 1 hour, stirring a few times.

Reduce heat and simmer for another 3 hours.

Place a large fine mesh caulunder over a very large bowl and drain all ingredients over it, separating the ingredients from the stock.

Let the stock cool and then place the bowl into the fridge until it’s fully cool.

If there is any film at the top then scrape that off.

You can measure out your stock into whatever increments you think you will use the most.  I have found that I tend to use the larger increments for soups and other recipes, so I put 2 cup increments into freezer bags and freeze them flat in trays so that they stack neatly once frozen.  You could also freeze some in ice cube trays for recipes that only call for a couple of TBS of stock.  Then you put the cubes into a freezer bag and label accordingly.

Total for 18 cups of chicken stock was $1.15, which makes it $.06 per cup!  Much better than even getting it couponing and there is no salt added at all!

Happy cooking!

Michaels: Lowest Prices of the Season Ad

These are actually some of the lowest prices and the best ad I’ve seen ever at Michaels.  Now is a great time to stock up on crafts to keep you and your kids busy for the summer, or just fun project ideas.  Listed are just some of the great deals.  See your ad or your local store for more fabulous prices!

40% off any one reg. priced item coupon

60% off custom framing order + 15% off sale price coupon

25% off entire purchase Celebrate It 360, Basic Narrows, Basic Basic, Sheer Creations, Home & More, and Mega Ribbon coupon

60% off Home Collection Wall Frames

55% off Tabletop Frames and Portrait Collection Wall Frames

50% off Collage Collection Wall Frames and Black Hang Your Own Gallery and Gallery Double Float Wall Frames

50% off Recollections Stickers and Embellishments

50% off Recollections Tools

40% off Entire Stock Photo and Scrapbook Albums

8 1/2″ x 11″ Value Pack Paper $2.50 each

12″x 12″ Open Stock Paper $.14 each

60% off Artist Gallery Wrapped Canvas

50% off Prismacolor

50% off Strathmore Brown 400 Series Sketchbooks

50% off Hardcover Sketchbooks and Journals

50% off Entire Stock Artist Easels

50% off Ott-Lite Lamps and Bulbs

T-Shirts $2.00 each

50% off American Girl Crafts

40% off Entire Stock Melissa & Doug

Wilton Candy Melts $1.99 each

Modeling Clay $.99 each

50% off Bead Gallery Strung Beads

50% off Value Pack Foam

50% off Entire Stock Craft Storage

Craft Smart Paint $.29 each

Sugar ‘N Cream Yarn $1.00 each

White Foam Board $.99 each

1″ Foam Brushes $.05 each

60% off Ashland Spring Bushes, Garlands, Stems and Signature Accents

50% off Entire Stock Trees

50% off Entire Stock Ashland Greenery and Hanging or Potted Plants

60% off Closeout buys Wedding Invitation Kits and Accessories

Michaels 2 Day Sale: 4/6-4/7

FRIDAY ONLY

50% off any one regular price item coupon

SATURDAY ONLY

30% off entire regular price purchase coupon

2 Day Sale

Crayola Kits 50% off

Artist Gallery Wrapped Canvas 50% off

Licensed Character Stickers 50% off

Bead Gallery Strung Beads, Bead Landing Lampwork 50% off

12″x12″ Scrapbook Case 50% off, $4.49 each

10-Drawer Rolling Cart $34.99 each

Ashland Jar Candles and Warmers $3.33 each

FolkArt Acrylic Paint $.79 each

Photo Boxes $1.66 each

Open Stock Sharpie Permanent Markers $1.00 each

12″x12″ Open Stock Paper $.20 each

Ashland Spring Bushes $.99 each

How to Stretch a Tight Budget

I know that when your budget is already tight, it is hard to think of couponing or doing anything that seems like spending money in order to save. Here are a few ways I have been able to stretch a budget that is already tight.

Reevaluate your spending, look over household expenses and find ways to cut back. I have found that when things get tight I can look over our budget and find that things like phone services, cable, eating out and other expenses can be changed to save money or cut back all together.

Great Deals for Michaels: Week 3/11-3/17

40% off one regular priced item coupon

Additional 15% off your entire custom framing order coupon

25 % off entire purchase all & tabletop frames, framed art & display cases coupon

40% off Recollections: Stickers, stamps, 180 & 240 sheet paper pads, blank cards, tools, albums, adhesives, glitter, ink pads and storage

8 1/2″ x 11″ Value Pack Paper $3.33 each

12″ x 12″ Open Stock Paper $.16 each

Ashland Spring Tulip Stems $1.49 each

40% off Ashland Spring Bushes and Stem, Garlands, Trees, Garden Collection Greenery and Handcrafted Floral Arrangements

50% off Ashland Signature Accents

40% off Bead Gallery Strung Beads & Bead Landing Lampwork

11″x 14″ Matted to 8″ x 10″ Document Frame $4.99 each

Charter Hill Wall Frames $4.99 each

Collectibles and Display Cases $4.99 each

Collage Wall Frames (excludes Life Moments frames) $4.99 each

50% off Open Back Frames

Craft Smart Acrylic Paint 2oz. $.50

Don’t forget to check out class schedules and project ideas while you’re there!

These are some of the great deals we found this week, please let us know what you found!