Bento Lately...

I have been packing here and there, so this is not a straight week of bentos. We did get a new box this week so Sissys was excited about that!

This is a late morning, rush lunch. Sometimes you just have to throw it together! Literally!
Sissy had a turkey sandwich, strawberries, and yogurt. She took water to drink.

It was packed in a regular sandwich container from the Dollar store.

This is one of Brothers lunches

He had a strawberry, Baybel cheese, raisins, cantaloupe, and YaYas banana bread. He had water to drink.

This is Brothers lunch he had Apples, mixed dried fruit, and a PBJ puzzle sandwich, with water to drink.

Sissys snack was cantaloupe,grapes, and strawberries.

Her lunch that day was yogurt,pretzels,cutie,Babybel cheese, and salami, with water to drink.

Sissys snack this day was blueberries,cantaloupe, and grapes.

This was packed in one of my favorite snack boxes, this is also a Lock&Lock box.

This was Sissys lunch she had Ham, Cheese cubes, Carrots, Strawberry-Banana Fruit Leather, Air popped popcorn and Watermelon balls. This day she took chocolate milk to drink.

All packed up, I love that I can get these 2 packed with a drink in this lunchbox!

For Brother- Tuberz yogurt, air popped popcorn, 1/2 banana, turkey dog with ketchup
(I decided against the yogurt after I took the picture)

Sissys snack- Blackberries,Apples, and Fruit Trail Mix

This is another one of our favorite snack boxes.

This is one of Sissys lunches- On this day she took a cutie, blueberries,carrots,cucumbers,Babybel Cheese and Goldfish. She had chocolate milk to drink. 

I was super excited about this lunchbox! I had my eye on it for awhile but, when I found it on Craigslist in my area, I had to get it! I wasn't sure what I was going to pack in it, the novelty boxes like this one are normally the hardest to pack! 

This is what we ended up with on the first pack. String Cheese and Ham, Blueberries and Grapes,Cantaloupe and Watermelon, and Crackers.  (I did not tell Sissy about this, so when she came home she told me how surprised she was when she opened her bag,she thought Momma had gone "nuts"! 

And the last one of the week was Brothers. He had a half of a PBJ star shaped sandwich, Pretzel Thins, Strawberry-Banana Fruit Leather, and Watermelon. He had water to drink. 

Kroger Mega 4-18-13

I have had a couple different people tell me they miss seeing my shopping trips so I thought I would post this one from todays trip. I think I did pretty good, Saved $80.67(63%)

2 Pine sol: On Mega $1.79 each
 Used 2-$1 printable coupons
Paid .79 cents each

2 Downy Unstoppables: On Mega $3.99 each
 Used 2-$2 coupons from paper
Paid $1.99 each
(These are normally $4.99 each)

4 Tresemme(2 Shampoo and 2 Conditioner): On Mega: $2.33 each
 Used 2-$3/2 coupons from paper
Paid .83 cents each

6 Minute Rice: On Mega $1.29 each
 Used 5-.50 coupons that doubled and 1-.50 printable coupon that doubled
Paid ,29 cents each

3 bags Kraft Cheese: On Mega $1.99 each

3 whole chicken: $3.95
                             $3.70
                             $3.85

5 Pampers Wipes: On Mega .99 cents
 Used 2- .50 cent printable coupons that doubled
2-FREE and others .99 cents each(I used these as fillers)

Oranges: 4.99
 Used $1 Kroger coupon
Paid $3.99

2 Kroger Eggs-.99 cents each

Coleslaw: $2.50

2 Gain Fireworks: On Mega $3.99 each
 Used 2-$2 coupons from paper
Paid $1.99 each

2 Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner: On Mega .99 cents each
 Used 2-.75 cent printable coupons
Paid .24 cents each

2 409 cleaners: On Mega $1.79 each
 Used 2- $1.50/1 printable coupons
Paid .29 cents each

2 Campbell's Go Soup: On Mega $1.69
 Used 2- $1/1 coupons
Paid .69 cents each

Paid:$50.36
Tax:$4.16
SAVED: $80.67(63%)

Homemade Strawberry-Banana Fruit Leather

I love easy homemade recipes that use up items that I already have on hand! The other day I had some strawberries in the fridge that got ignored most of the week due to Spring Break from school, so I decided to do something with them and came up with this recipe by looking at many different ones. These are great for a lunch box treat! :-)

Strawberry-Banana Fruit Leather 

1 Container Strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 Bananas

1. Cut up strawberries and put in a small pot.

2. Add sugar and water and cook on medium heat until mixture is bubbly and strawberries are very soft.

3. Pour mixture into a blender and add bananas, blend until smooth.

4. Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

5. Cover to pans with parchment paper and divide the mixture between the two. Use a spatula to even it out as much as you can on the pan.

6. Put in oven for about 3.5-4 hours, rotating pans every hour.

7. When done it should be slightly sticky but not wet at all.

8. The way you cut it out and wrap it is your preference but this is how I did it, both ways. I also stored these in a ziploc bag in the fridge.

Both kids loved these! I will be experimenting with more soon too! :-)

Menu 4-14/4-21-13

Enjoying this beautiful weather, kids and I went and fed the ducks at the park. :-)
Getting all the patio furniture out and grilling steaks today.

Monday:
Egg and Ham Sandwich
Bento/Juice
Schnitzel,Taters,Green beans, Tomato&Onion

Tuesday:
Juice
Bento/*Daddy's Choice*
Low Country Grill

Wednesday:
Juice
Bento/*Daddy's Choice*
Grilled Chicken,Squash and Zucchini, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato

Thursday:
HB Eggs,Tomato, Avocado, and Turkey Bacon
Juice/Bento
*Game*  Hot Dogs,Chili, and Chips

Friday:
Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit
Juice/Bento
Freezer Meal

Saturday:
* YaYas
       Choice*
?

Sunday:
Biscuits,Eggs, and Sausage
?
Meatloaf, Taters,Peas, and rolls

*Spring Break Fun*

I knew that I didn't want to hear "I'm bored" from Sissy at all while she was on Spring Break so I tried to keep her as busy as I could, and for her to have lots of fun!

The first day of Spring Break her Best friend Savannah came to spend the night with us. 

Best friends since Kindergarten! 

That night they made their own pizzas(One of Sissys favorite things to do when having a sleepover)

Saturday morning I tried a new recipe for breakfast that was a hit, Sausage Biscuit,Egg and Cheese Breakfast Ring. If you haven't tried it yet, you are missing out. Here is the recipe,Sausage Biscuit,Egg and Cheese Breakfast Ring

The next day we went to a local Ranch.  

We drove a 3 mile loop around the ranch to see all the different animals. They come right up to your vehicle to be fed. The kids loved this part! 

Lots of fun for the kids and they loved being up close to all of the animals! 

The next day was Easter! 

Monday was a mixture of cleaning the house and "re-grouping". 

Tuesday Sissys other friend Olivia came to stay with us. Big Daddy had this day planned out since I had to work. 

He took them to a local place called "MagiQuest" 

On the lower level they did Black-light putt putt golf and on the upper level they went on a magic quest with wands. 

To top the day off Big Daddy took the girls to see a movie that night...

Goofing off in the lobby before the movie! 

Sissy spent Wednesday-Saturday with YaYa doing their thing.(Sewing,crocheting,etc...)

On Saturday we decided to go to the park and have a picnic! 

We had lots of fun with Ya Ya and then we left Brother with her!! Ha Ha 

We finished up the weekend with baseball practice, Big Daddy took his girls on a date night to our favorite Mexican restaurant and a trip to Wal-mart for some Spring stuff(new welcome mat,etc..) and Sunday was a day of relaxation! 

Sissy said that it was the best Spring Break she ever had(this is her 3rd) so I am happy with that! Great week! Bring on Summer! :-) 

Stuffed Pepper Bake

You know that feeling when you know you forgot something but you can't remember what?
Well I remembered what after everyone had made their plate..So as this won't win any picture awards, I can assure you it is very tasty and a good way to use up peppers from the garden!

STUFFED PEPPER BAKE 

2 cups peppers,chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 can tomato sauce
Salt, to taste
Pepper,to taste
Garlic Powder, to taste
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

1. Cook ground beef and 1/2 of onion in a skillet until meat is browned. Drain and leave in colander.

2. Add peppers and other half of onion to the pan and allow to cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

3. Add ground beef and onion back to the pan and add Salt,Pepper, and Garlic Powder to season it all.

4. Add rice and tomato sauce and stir well. Heat through.

5. Add 1 cup mozzarella and stir to combine.

6. Spray casserole dish with Pam and add the beef and pepper mixture. Top with 1 cup mozzarella.

7. Cook at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and dark.

This is a very tasty dish that just takes a few minutes to throw together!

Hope everyone has plans to get out and enjoy the sunshine! :-)

Menu-Week of Spring Break

We had a great Easter day! The rain stayed away long enough for the kids to do their hunt,and we had some yummy homemade Lasagna!

We also celebrated YaYas birthday! Happy Birthday YaYa!

Big Daddy got me some awesome flowers for Easter!

Sissy is on Spring Break this week so things could jump around here and there. Lots of things on different days,but this is the plan...

Monday:
Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Bento
Pot Roast with Cornbread

Tuesday:
Juice/Muffins
Sandwiches with Fruit Salad
Taco Bar

Wednesday:
Juice/Cereal with Fresh Fruit
Quesadillas
Freezer Meal

Thursday:
Scrambled Eggs,Avocado, and Tomato
?
Stuffed Pepper Bake with Corn

Friday:
Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit
L.O.
Freezer Meal

Saturday:
CLEAN
   OUT
      FRIDGE

Sunday:
?
?
Beans,Cornbread,Sauerkraut and Wienies,Taters, Tomato&Onion Salad