Life As Mom hosts Frugal Friday and this week I thought I would share.
A whole chicken is about the best deal available for a main dish. You can usually find them for $.79 per pound (wait until they are on sale) so a 3 to 4 lb bird costs around $3.00. I usually cook mine in the crock pot or roast in the oven during the winter. We eat it for supper one night and then I get all the meat off the bone and freeze what meat is left.
I will usually use the saved meat for a casserole and still have a little to make a single serving of chicken salad.
After the meat is off the bone, I return the carcass to the crock pot, add celery leaves, any carrots or onions that are on the verge of going bad, and about a cup or so of water. I cook that for several hours on low.
If I roasted in the oven, I would add all the items to a pot on the stove and cook there.
I then put it in the fridge overnight and the fat will rise to the top. I skim it and then strain it. Then I put it into container and freeze it. I usually get at least 4 cups of delicious broth to use later in casseroles or as a soup base.
For more frugal tips, check out Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Menu Plan Monday-July 13
I know I say this a lot, but we didn't do too well on our menu last week. With the kids gone we ate out a little more than normal. I did try this and it was YUMMY! And very easy to make. I would highly recommend it. I halved the recipe and ended up with two meals to put in the freezer on top of what we ate.
We grilled out Saturday night and threw a few peaches on the grill. They were yummy too and we want to try them again with ice cream on top. I also had one tomato left from what a friend gave us from his garden and made Alex a treat he had on our honeymoon. The first night at our dining table most everyone chose an item on the menu that was basically tomatoes, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and pepper on a plate (kind of like Caprese salad). That became the favorite appetizer for the table (except me of course) and our waiter would have it on it's way when we arrived each night. I make it for Alex maybe once every three years and really should do it more often. It's easy and more importantly, he loves it. I didn't have fresh mozzarella, but he still enjoyed it.
This is a getting back to normal week before a very busy week next week. So I'm trying to use up things in the freezers. They are so full that I can't buy anything frozen that is on sale. Not a big deal because I have more than I need, but Publix has big deals this week on ice cream treats and I have coupons to match. I bet if I take them out of the package I could squeeze them in. Hmmmm.....
On to the menu!
- Sunday breakfast-Amish baked oatmeal (YUMMY!) with fresh peaches for me and Alex, cereal for girls
- Sunday lunch-tacos (use meat mixture from freezer)
- Sunday supper-pick up pizza
- Monday breakfast-muffins (from freezer stash), bacon
- Monday lunch-macaroni, carrots and dip, fruit
- Monday supper-shrimp bisque (from freezer) over rice, corn on cob, peas, bread
- Tuesday breakfast-muffin tops (from a box), apples
- Tuesday lunch-McDonald's with friends after free movie
- Tuesday supper-crock pot chicken, glazed carrots, roast potatoes
- Wednesday breakfast-waffles
- Wednesday lunch-Applebee's with friends after story time (free kids meal coupons!)
- Wednesday supper-take to church: green beans with potatoes, dessert, tea
- Thursday breakfast-eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits
- Thursday lunch-sandwiches, fruit, veggie
- Thursday supper-pork loin, hash brown casserole, green beans, bread
- Friday breakfast-cinnamon toast, apples
- Friday lunch-chicken nuggets
- Friday supper-meat loaf, mashed potatoes, veggie of some sort
- Saturday breakfast-french toast
- Saturday lunch-BBQ sandwiches, chips
- Saturday supper-hamburgers/hot dogs, roast potatoes, salad
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Camp Part 2
After a long week, we drove up Friday afternoon to Camp Wiregrass to bring Lillie home. She was excited to see us, especially Camille. Alex said that as he and Camille walked up to the Pavilion, Lillie ran out and they hugged. I was in the cabin packing all the wet, dirty clothes.
Not much to say except that Lillie had a wonderful time. I know she missed us, but I think she would have stayed another week.
After eating supper with her, we headed to chapel and the skit shows for each cabin. It was really cute and we got to watch the girls interact together. After watching so many girls at school this year be mean and catty, I was so pleased to see how nice all these girls were to each other. There weren't the typical cliques and and they all seemed to get along. It was definitely a great experience.
I'm posting a few pictures that my friend Laura took. Laura is the nurse a few weeks each summer at camp and her daughter was in the bunk across from Lillie. Laura grew up with Alex and she and her husband were both in our wedding and lived next door to us in Dothan. We love this family dearly and I was thrilled that she was there this week with Lillie.
Camille liked the top bunk and says she can't wait to go to camp.
Lillie's name on the cabin door. All we taught her about defacing property out the window!
All those table manners we taught her right out the window!
Alan Watkins (director) giving Lillie her first mail of the week.
Girls in the Navajo cabin get mail from their counselors.
Navajo girls before banquet.
A few Navajo girls.
Lillie and the boy who "took" her to banquet. He has a name, but I do not care to acknowledge that fact.
Shaving cream fight.
Navajo girls doing their skit.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Be Careful What You Say to Your Kids (It May Come Back to Embarrass You Later)
Okay, I'm a little hesitant to post this. This is a family-friendly blog you know.
Last night as I was getting ready for bed, the phone rang. I answered and was greeted by one of Lillie's camp counselors who is also a friend from where we used to live. I immediately thought Lillie had fallen off the top bunk.
She said all was okay, but she wanted to clear up something Lillie had said. Great, I thought! What now? She said that Lillie had mentioned getting private time at camp and all the counselors said you don't get private time. I think I missed part of the conversation, but I think they were getting ready to go to the showers and Lillie was talking about privacy in the shower.
She kept going and said that Lillie insisted on the private time. She said, "My mommy and daddy get private time in the shower every day!!!" What she forgot to say was that Daddy locks the door when he takes a shower and sometimes Mommy locks the door for her shower so they can have PRIVACY.
Well, my sweet friends (Lillie's counselors) thought they would get some good-natured ribbing in for that comment.
When I told Alex, he just hung his head and said, "Private time ALONE in the shower." Somehow I doubt we have heard the last of that one.
But even though I was a little embarrassed I got to talk to Lillie! She is having the best time. Her counselors say she just lays in her bunk and giggles.
She told me about the banquet they were having tonight. "You have to have a date to the banquet, can you believe we have to have a date. I'm going with Dylan." I told her she better make sure Dylan is gone by the time we get there Friday night. Daddy was not too thrilled. But he did say that the highlight of camp for him was always asking a girl to banquet night. I guess like father, like daughter!
I can't wait to pick her up tomorrow night and hear all about her week, "date" and all!
Last night as I was getting ready for bed, the phone rang. I answered and was greeted by one of Lillie's camp counselors who is also a friend from where we used to live. I immediately thought Lillie had fallen off the top bunk.
She said all was okay, but she wanted to clear up something Lillie had said. Great, I thought! What now? She said that Lillie had mentioned getting private time at camp and all the counselors said you don't get private time. I think I missed part of the conversation, but I think they were getting ready to go to the showers and Lillie was talking about privacy in the shower.
She kept going and said that Lillie insisted on the private time. She said, "My mommy and daddy get private time in the shower every day!!!" What she forgot to say was that Daddy locks the door when he takes a shower and sometimes Mommy locks the door for her shower so they can have PRIVACY.
Well, my sweet friends (Lillie's counselors) thought they would get some good-natured ribbing in for that comment.
When I told Alex, he just hung his head and said, "Private time ALONE in the shower." Somehow I doubt we have heard the last of that one.
But even though I was a little embarrassed I got to talk to Lillie! She is having the best time. Her counselors say she just lays in her bunk and giggles.
She told me about the banquet they were having tonight. "You have to have a date to the banquet, can you believe we have to have a date. I'm going with Dylan." I told her she better make sure Dylan is gone by the time we get there Friday night. Daddy was not too thrilled. But he did say that the highlight of camp for him was always asking a girl to banquet night. I guess like father, like daughter!
I can't wait to pick her up tomorrow night and hear all about her week, "date" and all!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July Fourth Fun
To celebrate the Fourth of July, we headed up to Lake Eufaula to enjoy some time with Alex's family.
His sister and her family were there. They have two little girls (4 and 2) and his brother was there with his two girls (16 and 10). His aunt and uncle also joined us. We had a full house this trip, which means a lot of fun!
The girls enjoyed coloring, playing games, watching Tom and Jerry, and of course swimming and tubing.
I didn't get any tubing pictures because I stayed at the lake house with Camille. She had such a break down on Memorial Day that I didn't make her ride the boat this trip.
All in all it was a fabulous weekend that included seeing family, eating delicious food and ended with taking Lillie to camp and leaving Camille with grandmother. I'm spending a few days getting our school room ready, cleaning the house and running errands that are easier without children.
His sister and her family were there. They have two little girls (4 and 2) and his brother was there with his two girls (16 and 10). His aunt and uncle also joined us. We had a full house this trip, which means a lot of fun!
The girls enjoyed coloring, playing games, watching Tom and Jerry, and of course swimming and tubing.
I didn't get any tubing pictures because I stayed at the lake house with Camille. She had such a break down on Memorial Day that I didn't make her ride the boat this trip.
All in all it was a fabulous weekend that included seeing family, eating delicious food and ended with taking Lillie to camp and leaving Camille with grandmother. I'm spending a few days getting our school room ready, cleaning the house and running errands that are easier without children.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Camp Part 1
Well, the day finally arrived for Lillie to go to Camp Wiregrass. She has been waiting for her chance to go for a couple of years now. And Sunday was the day.
We had spent the long weekend at the lake (post on that later) so we took her from there on Sunday afternoon.
We checked her in, unloaded the car, and set up her bunk. She picked the top so that's just another thing for Alex to worry about this week. There are several girls from the church we went to in Dothan (kids of our friends) so she has met a lot of the girls already.
And we are thrilled that Ms. Pam, Ms. Angie, Ms. Tammy and Ms. Cara are the counselors. These are all friends of ours from Dothan or FWB. And for all you Camp Wiregrass fans...she's in the Navajo cabin.
We stayed for supper and chapel and then told her good-bye, for the third time. Each time she hugged us and said good-bye like she did this every week. We told her to have fun and she said, "I will." I think she was already having the time of her life!
Can you tell I have never been apart from her this long? I usually love for the girls to spend time away with grandparents but I can always talk to them. Not being able to call her everyday is hard.
I'm only a day into this and already missing her and imagining all the fun she is having! I can't wait to see her on Friday night and hear all about her week. I'll post part 2 after we pick her up.
Until then, pray that she stays safe (and does not fall off the top bunk), has fun, and grows in her love for Jesus.
**As most of you know I do not care too much for camp in the summer. It's HOT (the pavilion thermometer read 100) and there are lots of bugs...two things I cannot stand! I was comforted to see one of the counselors bringing in a stand-up air conditioner. And outside her husband had industrial strength bug spray that he was using around the perimeter of the cabin and windows. Maybe I could hack camp if I stayed in Ms. Pam's cabin...
We had spent the long weekend at the lake (post on that later) so we took her from there on Sunday afternoon.
We checked her in, unloaded the car, and set up her bunk. She picked the top so that's just another thing for Alex to worry about this week. There are several girls from the church we went to in Dothan (kids of our friends) so she has met a lot of the girls already.
And we are thrilled that Ms. Pam, Ms. Angie, Ms. Tammy and Ms. Cara are the counselors. These are all friends of ours from Dothan or FWB. And for all you Camp Wiregrass fans...she's in the Navajo cabin.
We stayed for supper and chapel and then told her good-bye, for the third time. Each time she hugged us and said good-bye like she did this every week. We told her to have fun and she said, "I will." I think she was already having the time of her life!
Can you tell I have never been apart from her this long? I usually love for the girls to spend time away with grandparents but I can always talk to them. Not being able to call her everyday is hard.
I'm only a day into this and already missing her and imagining all the fun she is having! I can't wait to see her on Friday night and hear all about her week. I'll post part 2 after we pick her up.
Until then, pray that she stays safe (and does not fall off the top bunk), has fun, and grows in her love for Jesus.
**As most of you know I do not care too much for camp in the summer. It's HOT (the pavilion thermometer read 100) and there are lots of bugs...two things I cannot stand! I was comforted to see one of the counselors bringing in a stand-up air conditioner. And outside her husband had industrial strength bug spray that he was using around the perimeter of the cabin and windows. Maybe I could hack camp if I stayed in Ms. Pam's cabin...
Menu Plan Monday-July
After a short week last week, I have the luxury of planning just meals for me and Alex for most of this week. Lillie is at camp all week and Camille is with Alex's parents for a few days. We are taking advantage of this quiet time around here and eating out a few meals. I'm also going to try a new meal that's been on my menu twice but has never gotten made. It takes longer than most of my meals so I think that is why I haven't made it yet. We'll see how it goes.
Next week should get back to normal with a full week of more well-planned meals. Hope you had a great holiday weekend while celebrating our country's birthday! For more menus check out Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.
- Monday supper-eat out
- Tuesday breakfast-get up and cook biscuits, eggs and bacon for me and Alex (hopefully)
- Tuesday supper-Macaroni Grill's Penne Rustica, salad, garlic bread
- Wednesday breakfast-pancakes and sausage for me and Alex
- Wednesday supper-eat out
- Thursday breakfast-egg sandwiches for me and Alex
- Thursday lunch-Alex off-hot dogs
- Thursday supper-homemade pizza
- Friday breakfast-waffles
- Friday lunch-grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches
- Friday supper-out/go get Lillie
- Saturday breakfast-out for donuts to celebrate Lillie and Camille's return!
- Saturday lunch-barbecue sandwiches for me and Alex/grilled cheese for girls
- Saturday supper-pork loin/hash brown casserole/peas/bread
Next week should get back to normal with a full week of more well-planned meals. Hope you had a great holiday weekend while celebrating our country's birthday! For more menus check out Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.
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