GREAT Penzey's Spice Deal

***MADE CORRECTION TO THE CODES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY LISTED...IF YOU TRIED IT BEFORE AND IT DID NOT WORK, TRY IT NOW. THE CODES ARE RIGHT***

i love this company and their spices...they are the best that I have ever used. here is an excellent deal.

1. Add any item (with a cost) to your Cart. Cheap option would be the Penzeys Empty 1/4-Cup Jar for $0.79.

I chose the bag of cajun spice...it is a 4 oz bag of spice for 4 bucks and some change...well worth it trust me...your chicken will thank you!

2. Add Free Kind Heart Gift Box to Cart. Enter in the coupon code box on the cart check out screen 82440C.

3. Add Free Penzeys Forward 1/2 Cup to Cart. Enter in the coupon code box on the cart check out screen 15958C.

4. Add Free Teacher's Gift Box to Cart. Enter in the coupon code box on the cart check out screen 83018C.

5. Choose slowest shipping option at $3.95

My total came to around $10 and I got over $40 worth of spices shipped to my door! Gotta love Penzey's!

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penzey's...a delicious experience

spent the weekend with my stl besties...thought you might want to "meet" them...they are some of my most favorite people in the whole world.

while i was there we went to penzey's. it is a spice store that i wrote about HERE

let me tell you...it was perfection. it was in a old building in a quaint part of a st. louis suburb. hardwood floors, wood crates, organization, and the smell...oh my! before we went i had prepared mr. dc for the trip. he knew that i had cleaned out the spice cabinet before we left. here is what i purchased while we were there.

just some of the bottom rack in the above picture

i bought these spices in bags, (you will see a picture below) because if you purchased in the bag you got a larger quantity for a cheaper price. i knew i had jars at home that would hold the spices. the store had all kinds of mixed spices, dressing mixes, and rubs.

i reused some of my existing bottles and removed the label from the bag that it came in so i could have the information for the spice

that sandwich sprinkle is straight from above...

these bags show how the spices came packaged

i would love to eventually have the entire spice cabinet be a penzey's spice cabinet

in the store they had all kinds of recipe cards for the taking, highlighting certain spices or blends to use in the recipe.

penzey's also has a catalog that has so many amazing recipes. i highly recommend subscribing HERE. and if you need spices let me tell you, penzey's is the place to buy. i found the company to have extremely reasonable prices and the quality is superior! i would buy the spices in the bag if you are going to have it shipped. and if you live near a penzeys, CHECK HERE, jump in your car and go NOW! what is holding you back. it will make you hApPy:)

one more little tidbit...a dash of penzey's almond extract in your coffee is deliciously decadent...thanks for the tip nanc:)

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menu planning

menu planning is certainly a hot topic right now and with good reason. it definitely saves money and makes the day go a little smoother in regard to the evening routine. however, i just can't commit to a plan that i set on sunday for the entire week, because usually by monday what i planned on sunday for monday sounds about as appetizing as a card board box. the benefit of the couponing and stock piling is that i usually have all the ingredients that i need without a last minute trip to the grocery. so here is my plan for the menu around these parts.

monday: soup day

tuesday: beef and potato day(the beef type will vary and the way potatoes are served)

wednesday: breakfast day

thursday: Italian day

friday: chicken day

saturday: leftover day or if there are none a quick frozen something or sandwiches(hot on the griddle)

sunday: appetizer night...fun snick snack stuff with some healthy veggies and fruit on the side

what i like about this plan is it gives me a little guideline to think within but i have the freedom to chose within the guideline what sounds good. for example, instead of on monday thinking what out of all the foods in the world am i going to fix i just think..."what soup sounds good tonight?"

i don't know if this thought process will be helpful for you, but it is for me. what is your plan for tackling meals at your house?

HERE are some meal plan templates that are already created. they might be a good fit for you if you want to take the time to look through them.

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apples

today was applesauce and dried apple day. i tried a new method to make the applesauce in the crock pot. it worked lovely. i peeled and sliced the apples, covered the bottom of the crock pot with water, added sugar (about 1/4 cup for every 5 apples) you may want to add more to taste. i also added cinnamon, not sure how much, just covered the top of the apples. i let those suckers cook for about 8 hours and the house could not have smelled more like a home. it was lovely. the dried apples were just peeled, sliced, and put in the dehydrator. we like to eat dried apples for snacks and use them for dried apple pies. you should really try the applesauce. it was really easy and the smell in the house was so worth the little effort that it took.

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crockpot chicken with chipotle rice

here is the recipe that i used for the rice tonight. i didn't have the soy oil so i totally left it out. it was still delish. really good, almost as good as chipotle.

this morning i threw some chicken breasts in the crock pot with some water and this packet of seasoning, which was free at kroger a couple of weeks ago. it was falling apart tender juiciness when i took it out to shred and add to the rice tonight. super easy and very yummy.

WARNING...do not judge this dish by its lack of color. a single color palette on a plate can be delicious too. this was really yummy. i highly recommend one color meals every now and then.

cooked the rice with the above recipe. shredded the chicken, stirred the two together and it was a very simple yummy meal. let me know if you try it.

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messy monday on tuesday

here is what we had for dinner tonight. one of my new "go to" sides is a mix of sweet potatoes and russet. toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and let them go in the oven for about 35 minutes on 400. also prepared the roast in the oven instead of the crock pot today. i browned it with a little red wine that we had left over and then made a broth with garlic, onion, and water. it was delish and very tender. cheeks loved the spinach. her palate cracks me up. she just loves healthy options. it makes a mother smile. the bread loaf was one i picked up in the deli at the market. i have found that if i can get my meat going early in the day the rest of the meal comes together really quickly. what is your hardest obstacle to overcome when making a meal?

the cookies greeted the kids when we got home from school...needless to say the cookies might explain the loss of appetite the boys had at dinner.

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okra fritters

yesterday the okra plants were bursting with okra to make fritters. i used paula deen's recipe found HERE and i added a little sweet paprika to the flour mixture as well. i think that you could substitute your favorite salt mix to the flour and get a very similar result. the fritters were yummy, everyone ate them, just a nice change to mix up lunch a little bit.
i sliced the okra.
buttermilk bath before dousing in the flour breading

i fried the okra in small batches so i did not have to use so much oil. i also think that the okra cooks more evenly in small batches. unless you have a deep fryer, then big batch away!

i let the fritters "drain" on a baking rack for a few minutes after i salted them to get rid of the excess oil. they were really yummy. i highly recommend them if you get a chance to get some okra.

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counter balance

this was the counter balance for the gazillion chocolate dipped pretzels i ate the other day.

strawberries and spinach from the garden

pecans from a family friends tree in TN

balsamic dressing made from scratch with just a few ingredients, but boy was it yummy!

just trying to counter balance some of the ridiculousness of the pretzels

because i just can't say no to them.

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bacon

a friend introduced me to this way of preparing bacon, and i don't think that i will ever go back to the frying pan. i throw it in the oven on a cookie sheet and bake it for about 10 minutes at 350. then i turn on the broiler to crisp up the bacon. we like it crispy around here. if you watch it and don't burn it, it is the best bacon you have ever sunk your teeth into. the mess is so confined too. no bacon grease splatters and the cookie sheets just rinse right off. just thought you might want to know. do you have any easy cooking tricks that you use?

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strawberry jam and the hunt for pastel perfection

i know titles that sound like weird movies are weird, but i couldn't help myself...

assembly line for the jam

the food processor has revolutionized canning. watch for one at a yard sale or on craig's list. really it is a must. you can also use a blender if you do not "overblend".

those strawberries were just gorgeous! they are on sale for a really good deal in many stores right now. it would be a good time to make enough to last a couple of months. i made about 16 pint size jars with 10 lbs of strawberries.

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my sous chef

you will find this stool pulled up to the counter in our kitchen many afternoons with a junior sous chef affixed to the top. do you like help in the kitchen? i found this little gem at a yard sale a couple of years ago for $3(the stool not the jr. sous chef). isn't she a beaut!
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time saving tip

not sure why this idea hadn't hit me before, but while i was cooking dinner last nights i had the not so brilliant idea of rinsing all the fruit and veggies for the meal at the same time. i am a genius on a very minuit level. uses less water too!
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let me introduce you

to a chocolate delight you will not want to miss. this sweet little nugget of deliciousness is by far worth the short amount of time that it takes to make vs. tearing open an envelope. hot cocoa you don't want to miss...

1 can of eagle brand milk

i never really measure the amount of cocoa i add to it but if i had to guess i would say about 7 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the eagle brand milk. add about 1/4 cup of the mixture to the bottom of the cup. pour hot water (the temp you like to drink cocoa at) over the mixture. add some redi-whip if it's handy. if not the drink stands alone. no need for the fluff. oh and those sprinkles, those little gems are left over from graeters ice cream shop and they are heavenly too!

the carmel corn is not to shabby either
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box of cream cheese

would you look at this cute appetizer for christmas.

read all about it HERE

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more blueberries

we went pickin again. our oldest favorite fruit is blueberries so naturally when the opportunity presented itself to pick again we jumped on that bandwagon. i froze the majority of these. they are great for blueberry pancakes and blueberry syrup, smoothies, or just eating the frozen berries as is. lately we have had a lot of pancakes and the syrup that i have been making is a simple syrup with fruit added. delicious and much better for you than the alternative. while i am flipping the pancakes i put 3/4 cup water and 1/2cup sugar on the stove in a saucepan. reduce the mixture. once it thickens add fresh fruit (i add quite a bit of fruit) and let the mixture lightly roll boil for about 3 minutes. stir it though, you don't want it to stick. it is delicious and adds a whole new level to pancakes or ice cream for that matter.

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pesto

i made some pesto tonight from the abundance of basil that is in the garden.

here is the recipe that i used.

http://elise.com/recipes/archives/001329fresh_basil_pesto.php

it is excellent and super easy. it took me less than 5 minutes to make it.

i froze some to use on some pasta later this week or next.

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banana pudding

i enjoyed some delicious banana pudding this week with some friends. the recipe came from my mother-in-law (MIL) and was her mother's recipe. it is it the best pudding i have ever had. i didn't know that pudding could be made from scratch until i met my MIL. you have to try it. the effort that it takes, which is very little, is so worth the end result. i made the little banana flower using a vanilla wafer, sliced the edges of the banana pieces to make petals, and a mint sprig. wait until you are almost ready to serve the dessert to add the pretty little flower or your banana pieces will brown.

recipe:
vanilla wafers
bananas (about 3)
1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons flour
2 cups of milk
3 egg yolks
1.5 capfuls of vanilla

cook sugar, flour, and milk until thick
stir frequently and use medium heat
add the egg yolks (beat before you add)
add the vanilla while stirring in the yolks
cook an additional minute after you add the yolks

layer the dessert with the wafers first the bananas then pudding. repeat the layering until you are at the top of the dish you choose to use. i always double this recipe to make a larger dish. you will want to. trust me!

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a friend gave me a few yummy salad recipes. thought you might like them.
CRANBERRY APPLE LETTUCE SALAD

2 bags hearts of Romaine lettuce
3/4 cup dried cranberries (craisins)
6-8 oz. cashews- whole or pieces
4 oz. fancy shredded Swiss cheese
2 red apples- cubed

dressing
3/4 cup sugar (or less)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 t. dried mustard
11/2 T chopped red onion (I omit)
1 T salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2 T poppy seed (or less)

Try to mix the dressing at least 2 hours ahead.
Cut apples and add dressing just before serving.


CRUNCHY PECAN SALAD

1 bag hearts of Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup craisins
1/4 cup green onion
1 can mandarin oranges- drained
3/4 cup broccoli

4 T butter
1 pkg. ramen noodles Brown these 3 ingredients in pan for 5 mins.
1 cup chopped pecans

dressing
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
11/2 t soy sauce
pepper to taste

Try to mix dressing at least 2 hours ahead. Pour on just before serving.

cube steak

ok, so we bought a 1/4 of a cow in late summer and i am now trying to figure out what to do with the "cube steak" part of the cow. who knows what to do with cube steak because what we ate tonight was as tough as my tennis shoe.
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my favorite vegetable-right now

these yummy asparagus were devoured by my family on thursday night. we had taco potatoes, fresh fruit, and these bad boy spears for dinner. i prepared them using olive oil, salt, and pepper. chop the bottom off (the best way to determine where to cut is to take each end of a spear and snap it. where the spear naturally snaps is close to the location that you should chop. you can usually chop about 1/2 in. closer to the bottom). anyway back to the prep...chop, place a on cookie sheet with sides. generously drizzle with olive oil. salt and pepper to taste. place in the oven on broil for 5-7 minutes. watch it. your oven may be different than mine. asparagus is 99 cents a pounds today at kroger. get some for tonight. yummy!
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