Sad days

The past few days I have been very sad.  Thursday Oct 3 would have been my anniversary - 4 years. That leads to thinking and missing Greg.

Apples Apples and more apples

New product Jif Whips

I recently saw a commercial for Jif Whips.  A supposedly light peanut butter.  And being a confirmed peanut butter fiend I had to try it.  $3.59 with no coupon, 11 grams of fat; 2 being saturated fat, 60 milligrams of salt and 11 grams of carbs.

Ok not the best thing in the world to eat but oh so yummy.  I choose the peanut butter and chocolate. When I purchased it it was "healthier" than the Nutella.

I will look for coupons but will buy it again without.

Thank you for reading, Laura

Home clean up

So now I am back home and the clean up had started.  First have to get out all the cobwebs. Of course the first room I went into was the former man cave and smack right into a cobweb.  Eww gross!!!All cleaned up. Eww!!  Because you know I can't see them.

Then outside on the patio, messsy but not to awful bad.  My baby brother cleaned that up, Thank you Rob.

In the garden were some plants that apparently sprouted after last years garden; 2 tomatoe plants (with baby cherry ones) some collard greens and a bunch of cat poo. (darn stray cats). And a tree full of apples :)

Working on getting everything cleaned up and reorganized.  My neighbor is planning on tilling the garden for me once the tomatoes are all done.  And the plans for 2014 garden are milling around in my head.

So I am back home

Life has begun.  Not quite sure how to go one without Greg but I have survived the past week alone here. The house is so quite with no one to help make any noise.  And I do get to watch whatever TV I want whenever I want like this morning at 5:30 am.

And since my freezer took a break a few months ago, I have an empty freezer to fill back up.  But I am not really shopping. with all the canned goods I have no need to shop.   And since my meals tend to end up lasting for 3 days - really no need to cook. 

I did do some cooking at my parents house and found out something (the hard way). I do not care for beer can chicken.  But I do have a few other recipes to try out.

Back home

I've moved back home.  I'll start posting in the next couple of days.

Life for the past 5 monrgs

What can I say? first I go into the hospial, then my hsuband passes away. then during my surgery I have a stroke then rehab. Time has healed my wounds (barely) and I am ready to resume life and my posting.  Bear with me for a short bit of time and I'll be back.

Recipe review Spicy African chicken stew

Spicy African chicken stew

Pillsbury Casseroles, Soups and stews

Oct 1994

Q Tbsp oil

1 lb. chicken cut in 1 inch pieces

1 ½ cup chopped onions

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 (28 oz) can whole tomatoes, undrained but chopped

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

½ tsp chili powder

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

3 cups cooked rice

½ cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped

Heat oil in large dutch over or large pan until hot.

Cook chicken, onions and garlic for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

Add in tomatoes, peanut butter, chili powder, salt and red pepper flakes.

Bring to boil and reduce heat.  Simmer covered for 35 minutes.  Serve over rice and sprinkle with peanuts. 

 6 servings

Review: this meal was ok, nice flavor even with cutting down the red pepper for hubby's flavor issues.  I probably won't make this again.

Thanks for reading, Laura

Today's freebies and the hitchhikers

So not free but Christmas markdown and we all know (or now you know) that I collect rubber ducks.

 

Today’s freebies from the weekly grocery trip:

Gallon of milk (Mperks from Meijers)

2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (actually I made 50 cents off these thanks to 2 75 cents manufacturer coupons and a $1 ecoupon)

bar of Lava Soap

2 Reach toothbrushes ($2 manufacturer coupon and a great sale)

1 Reach Floss ($1 manufacturer coupon)

3 Powerade Zero ($3 off 10 e coupon)

1.25oz bottle Diet Coke (coupon on the 12 packs)

1 Good N Natural bar (free coupon)  I really like these they make great snacks for after work

10 oz can Red Gold tomatoes (Catalina)

thank

Slow cooker Enchilada Casserole

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 3 hours

Serves: 4

9 6 inch corn tortillas

15 oz canned enchilada sauce

1 15 oz can black beans; drained and rinsed

2 cups frozen corn

2 ½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Toast tortillas, turning once, until lightly spotted.

Reserve 2 Tbsp sauce

In a bowl combine rest of sauce and beans

Spray the insert with non-stick spray

Layer 3 tortillas along bottom, you may need to break them up to fit your insert.

Spread with half of the bean mix.

Cover with some of the corn and then 1 cup cheese

Repeat one more time

For third set of tortillas place them in and cover with the reserved sauce and the last of the cheese.

Cover with lid and cook on low for 2-3 hours.  You want the cheese melted and the edges crispy.

 Looks good doesn't it??  My review is that it was very yummy but really get those tortillas crispy.  I think that crispiness adds to the dish.  Now hubby is a carnivore and I knew as is this would not make him happy; So I broke into my home-canned chicken and added it with the sauce and bean mix.

Menu plan for Dec 30 2012 - Jan 5 2013

First of all happy New Years to all.  May 2013 be your best year for whatever you endeavor.  I did something different with the plan this time with 5 days off of work I didn't plan what days to cook what.

On this weeks menu is:
Macaroni & cheese (homemade)
Slow cooker Enchilada
Salisbury steaks and mashed potatoes
African Stew (looks so good - it has peanut butter in it)  and yes I will post the recipe once I make it.
Ham & cheese casserole

Extras to make on the side:
dried beef cheeseball
Cobb salad
banana bread

Looks like I am one day of main meal short but I'll figure out something to fill in that day.

Thank you for reading,  Laura