Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

3 large sweet potatoes
1lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup frozen corn,thawed
1 can tomato sauce
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt x2
1/4 tsp  coarse pepper x2
2TBSP butter
1TBSP milk

Scrub and pierce sweet potatoes; place in microwave for 10-12 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until done, drain, Add the corn,tomato sauce,cinnamon,nutmeg,allspice,1/4tsp salt and 1/4tsp coarse pepper.

Place in a greased baking dish, set aside.

When cool enough to handle, cut potato in half; scoop out the pulp and place in a small bowl. Mash the potatoes with butter,milk,1/4tsp salt, and 1/4tsp pepper. Spread evenly over meat mixture.

Bake, uncovered, at 350degrees for 25-30minutes or until heated through.

This is a great cold Fall night dinner!
FYI: If you do not like pumpkin pie you will not like this! It has a similar taste. :-)

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes

• 2 cups whole-wheat flour (I use King Arthur’s organic white whole-wheat flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 ¾ cups  skim milk (or whatever you have on hand)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted + butter for frying
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed(I pulled these from my freezer stash)
• 100% pure maple syrup for serving

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Stir until well mixed and then make a hole in the center of the bowl by spreading the flour mixture to the sides of the bowl.

 Pour the honey, eggs, milk, and 2 tablespoons of melted butter into the well, then gradually whisk from the center outward until the ingredients are well combined but still a little lumpy. Do not over mix the batter. Very gently fold in the mashed bananas (and/or other berries).

Preheat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Place some butter in pan to melt, then ladle 1/4cup of the pancake batter into the pan.

When the pancakes bubble in the center and the underside is golden brown, use your spatula to flip them.
 Cook until the 2nd side is golden brown

 Serve with warm maple syrup and a side of fruit. And freeze the leftovers for another day!

Sunday Shopping Catch Up

I have a few trips from here and there that I wanted to share with y'all today! The sales really have not been good enough to do a post every week...I am hoping that they pick up soon!

Walgreens:

2 Huggies Slip On diapers: $9.49/$2RR
 Used $3 Coupon

2 Children's Advil: $6.99
 Used 2-$2 coupons + the cashier scanned a Walgreens $2 coupon that doubled to $4/2

3 Knox papers- $6

Total O.O.P: $21.44
Tax: $2.98
SAVED: $25.50

CVS:

2 Huggies Slip-On Diapers: $8.99
 Used 2-$3 coupon + 2-$2 CVS coupons

2 CVS Band aids- FREE from Magic Coupon Machine

2 Caramello Candy Bars- FREE from Magic Coupon Machine

Carefree Pantyliner- FREE from Magic Coupon Machine

Total O.O.P: $7.28
Tax:$2
SAVED: $33.83

WALMART:

4-Pull Up Wipes- $1.64
 Used 4-$1 coupon
 Paid .64cents each

4-White Cloud Wipes- $1.50
 Used 4-$1 coupons
 Paid .50cents each

4 Degree Deodorants- 97cents
 Used $1 coupon
 FREE+ .03 cent MM

2 Benedryl Sticks $2.38
 Used 2-$2 coupons
 Paid .38cents each

Air wick $4
 Used $4 coupon
 FREE

Total O.O.P= $8.74
Tax= .54cents
SAVED= $20

KROGER:

5 packs Carolina Pride Bacon: $2.14
 Used 5- .50cent coupons that doubled to $1each
  Paid $1.14 each

2 packs Lunch Meat 1.99
 Used 2- .50cent coupons that doubled to $1 each
 Paid .99cents each

4 packs Cocktail Sausages: $1.99
 Used 4- .50cent coupons that doubled to $1 each
  Paid .99cents each

2 Smoked Sausage $1.99
 Used 2- .50 cent coupons that doubled to $1 each
 Paid .99cents each

Skillet Steak marked down to $3.76

Total O.O.P: $26.64
Tax: $2.26
SAVED: $32.75(57%)

KROGER:

4 Dawn(large) Dish Soap: $2.99/Mega $1.99
 Used 4- .50cent coupons that doubled to $1each
 Paid .99cents each

4 Febreeze sprays: $2.99/Mega $1.99
 Used 4 $1 coupons
 Paid .99cents each

4 Febreeze Set and Refresh $2.99/Mega $1.99
 Used 4 $1 coupons
 Paid .99cents each

Rolls $1.33

Doritos $2.28

1% Milk on Mark-down $2.49
Whole Milk $3.39

2 Ground Beef: $6.27
Ground Sirloin on Mark-Down $3.68

3 Gerber Graduates: $6.80
 Used $1/3 coupon

Chili Powder $2.79

Pimentos  .89cents

2 Kroger Cream Cheese $1.39 each

French Fried Onions $2.49

3 Horizon Chocolate Milk $1 each

Sauerkraut $1.15

4 Tomato Sauce .55cents each

3 Campbell's soups $3.57

8 Velveeta Shells and Cheese $2.19/On sale $1.99
 Used 8- .50cents coupons that doubled to $1 each
 Paid .99cents each

Lettuce .99cents

2 Kroger Frozen Corn $1each
 Used .40cents/2  coupon

Ham Steak $3.05

Mushrooms $1.99

Cucumber .79cents each

Apples $1.65

Total O.O.P- $80.64
Tax- $7.66
SAVED- $37.36 (33%)

3 Planters Trail Mix on Sale 3/$5

2 Milky Way
 2 FREE coupons from Magic Coupon Machine

Used $5ECB from an online survey

Total O.O.P $0
Tax: $0
SAVED: $11.35
   5 items for FREE :-)

Menu Plan 9-5/9-11-11

Monday:
Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes(New) w/Fresh Fruit
L.O.s
Sweet Potato Shepard's Pie(New)

Tuesday:
Granola Cereal w/Fresh Fruit
Bento/Grilled Cheese w/Applesauce
Roasted Chicken w/Roasted Veggies

Wednesday:
Egg&Sausage Sandwich
Bento/Southwest Chicken Salad
Taco Salad w/Corn on Cob and Watermelon

Thursday:
Plain Yogurt w/Honey and Fresh Berries
Bento/End of Summer Corn Chowder(New)
Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin w/Teriyaki Rice and Egg Rolls

Friday:
Breakfast Burritos w/Oranges
School/L.O.s
YOYO

Saturday:
Cereal
YOYO
Chicken Nachos  w/Salsa and HM Guacamole

Sunday:
Scrambled Eggs,Whole Wheat Toast w/Jelly and Turkey Bacon
Taco or Corndog Muffins(Freezer) w/Carrot Sticks and Fresh Fruit
Loose Meat Sandwiches w/Applesauce

Healthy Loose Meat Sandwich

This meal is fast, filling, savory and healthy.  This recipe is a mix of loose meat, Sloppy Joe's and S.O.S.  So very good and healthy alternative! :-)

Here is what you will need:

2lbs lean ground beef
6 cloves garlic, minced
1tsp sea salt
1/2tsp coarse black pepper
1 cup red onion, chopped
1 cup red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
4 stalks celery,chopped
1-15oz can tomato sauce
2 cups low sodium beef broth
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground mustard

Brown ground beef,garlic,salt and pepper in a large skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes or until almost done. Add onions, peppers and celery.Saute another 10 minutes until beef is fully cooked and onions are translucent.

Stir in tomato sauce,broth, honey,vinegar, chili powder and ground mustard. Let come to a boil and then turn the heat down to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Serve over toasted sourdough bread. We serves this S.O.S style with a piece of pepper jack cheese under the meat!

*I got the original recipe from Saved by the Egg Timer  go over and check it out, her pictures are A LOT more appealing  :-)

DIY Taco Seasoning

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 Tablespoon sea salt

Put all ingredients into a jar and shake!

*3Tbs=1 packet of seasoning
*It has to be in a pretty jar! :-)
* I got this recipe from one of my favorite websites Heavenly Homemakers

Menu 8-29/9-4-11

Hello Folks! I am back! I am sorry that I have not posted...I just got behind while we were getting in our new routine for school.Sissy is getting settled into First Grade with no problems and loves her new teacher!

 So, now I am back and I have a bunch of posts that I need to get put up! I have Homemade Taco Seasoning, Healthy Loose Meat Sandwich, Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup, Giant Breakfast Cookies, Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Wheat Biscuits and many more!!! I'm excited to share these with you! :-)

For now I am going to share this weeks menu! We really do not have that much going on, Sissy and I have a birthday dinner date planned with her best friend and then she is out of school Friday for Labor Day weekend.

Monday:
Cereal
Bento/Tuna Saladw/Crackers
Taco Pasta

Tuesday:
Peanut Butter Toast w/Fruit
Bento/L.O's
Indian Summer Casserole(New)

Wednesday:
Scrambled Eggs,Toast and Turkey Bacon
School/Chicken Salad
Eat out for Girls/ Macaroni and Ham Steak for Boys(Per Request-hopefully with some kind of veggie)

Thursday:
Cereal
Bento/Salad
Chicken w/Stuffing and Green beans

Friday:
Oatmeal w/Fruit
L.O's
Tuna Casserole

Saturday:
Biscuits and Gravy w/Eggs and Sausage
Ramon Noodle Mix
Spaghetti w/Green beans and Toast

Sunday:
Cereal
YOYO
Meatloaf,Taters,Peas and Rolls (Big Daddy wanted to switch for Beans and Cornbread)

Menu 8-15/8-21-11

Hey guys!! I am so far behind this week! Sissy starts school this week so I have been trying to do things with her and get ready for school. I stopped by tonight to drop of the menu while dinner is finishing up.

I do have some shopping trips and recipes coming this week. And I am sure once Sissy starts back to school Brother and I will get on a better schedule.

Here is what we are having this week:

Monday we had:
Biscuits
Crescent Pizza Rolls
Southwestern Spaghetti Pie (New)

Tuesday:
Bagels and Fruit Salad
L.O.s
Eat Out?

Wednesday-1st Day of School-Sissy's requests:
Biscuits and Eggs
Bento/Panzanella
Grilled Hamburgers w/Sweet Potato Fries and Baked Beans

Thursday:
Cereal
School/Quick Wedge Salad
Sweet Country Skillet

Friday:
Oatmeal w/Fruit
Bento/Chickpea Taco Salad
Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken

Saturday:
French Toast w/Turkey Bacon
YOYO
Avocado Chicken Tacos

Sunday:
Cereal
YOYO
Steak and Gravy w/Taters, Corn and Rolls

**Meals that are highlighted are links to the recipes! :-)

Menu 8-8/8-14-11

So this post is going up late this week,and no shopping trips...the reason? Sunday was a HORRIBLE day full of snotty attitudes, yelling, spending too much and then losing a $100 bill!!! >:-( Ugh!!

Today is a new day and the start of a new week so I'm just moving on! :-)
So here we go, this is the last full week before Sissy starts school.

Monday:
Yogurt w/ Granola
HM Chicken Nuggets(Freezer) w/Fruit and Veg
Meatless Mexican Lasagna

Tuesday:
Good Morning Gorp w/Fruit and OJ
Bento
Grilled BBQ Chicken,Corn on the Cob and Twice Baked Potatoes

Wednesday:
Scrambled Egg Nests
HM Pizza w/Salad
Loose Meat on Toasted Sourdough

Thursday:
Oatmeal w/Fruit
Bento
Pancakes and Turkey Bacon(Carry-Over)

Friday:
    ?
* Hoping to do something on this day! :-)

Saturday:
Breakfast Cookies w/Applesauce(Carry-Over)
Hot Dogs on Grill
Smoked Sausage w/Corn on Cob and Veggie Kabobs

Sunday:
Biscuits and Gravy w/Sausage and Eggs
Chicken Nachos w/Bean Dip and Guacamole
Schnitzel w/Taters, Peas and Rolls

Cabbage Pie

2 Pie Crust
1 package Cream Cheese
1 large head of Cabbage
2 large Onions
Salt and Pepper
2 cups cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp Olive Oil

Shred cabbage. Slice Onions

Heat Oil in large skillet, add cabbage (it will cook down) cook until tender.
Heat Oil in separate skillet and cook onions until tender.

Poke holes in pie crust and bake as directed until light brown. Let cool 10 minutes then spread cream cheese(room temp) on bottem and sides of warm crust.

Mix cabbage and onion mixture add salt and pepper.

 Pour in to pie crusts and top with cheese.

Bake until cheese is melted and bubbley.

This is one of my FAVORITE Comfort foods!!! Yum Yum! Thanks YaYa!