Daily Archives:

November 10, 2014

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Checkerboard Cake Recipe!

Good afternoon, savvy savers! This afternoon I found my family a bit down in the dumps, this combined with my needs to prepare a menu and plan meals for the week, and as I had already completed my coupon shopping this morning, left me in need to find something to cheer my family up without leaving my home, or kitchen, for that matter! Voila! A one-bowl chocolate cake recipe! Most of you, like myself, will have most of these ingredients on hand, and the end result is amazing! I also am a fan of any cake preparations that requires one bowl, and I surely do not feel like emptying the dishwasher at present!

Why call it Chocolate Cherry Cordial Checkerboard Cake? Because it is essentially a Cupboard Clearing Cake. Topped with, you guessed it, Oreos. In a checkerboard pattern. Simple. Easy. Fun. This cake is sure to cheer up even the grumpiest gus. If you’re looking for a recipe to whip up this season, be sure to check out my recipe below:

Cupboard Clearing Cake:

Ingredients: 

2 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2) Grease and flour two nine inch round pans.
3) In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer.
4) Stir in the boiling water last. The batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
5) Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick.
6) Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients for Icing and Assembling Cake:
2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Nutella
1 can cherry pie filling
Oreo cookies, or other cookies on hand.

Directions: for Assembling
1) In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
2) Next, in a large glass bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk.
3) Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy; adjust consistency with more milk or sugar if needed.
4) Fold in Nutella, and let icing rest in bowl, at room temperature for five minutes.
5) Place 1 cake round on cake stand, adding half the contents of one can of cherry pie filling on top, then top with second cake round.
6) Ice cake, then place remaining cherry pie filling centered on top of the cake, when finished crumble Oreos around the top, and reserve several to rim bottom of the cake.

Enjoy!

Battle-Of-The-Bulge, Budget Style: Gardening To Lose Weight

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Hello again, savvy savers! Today I am starting another new blog series, Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style! I will be focusing on ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle while be able to afford clean, organic, obtainable foods! I believe this series can be worthwhile for many, who like myself, wish to get more in shape, not through crash-dieting but by small attainable lifestyle changes!  All of the changes I propose will be free or affordable, and most meals and plans will contain couponed savings or deals! Fads are fancy, but coupons are a commitment! With that said, here is where I am currently: I have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. I am looking to lose 60lbs., find affordable non-gym membership options for working out, and change the way I consume food; this includes meals, snacks, and splurges!

Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 198 lbs; I am down one pound since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today this changes! Spring has sprung, and so shall I! I have taken up yoga, and have started working out with a pedometer on as well!

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For my 8th post, I wanted to discuss a new measure I have implemented to help in my healthier lifestyle choice, gardening! Did you know that according to the American Heart Association, gardening 1 hour daily will burn up to 400 calories, and considering that the average weekend project tales 4-6 hours, and that maintaining your yard weekly, in warmer weather, will take nearly 1 hour a day, you would, on average burn upwards of 2,400 calories a week! An entire days worth of calories! This is a staggering number! For me, I make sure to water the plants, lawn, and mow as often as I can, as its no longer a chore for me, but an exercise! I love that performing tasks for  hobby can lead to better health!

How awesome is that? For a small, simpler routine,  here is my suggested, and used, gardening workout routine:

  • Pull weeds in 1 flower bed for 10 minutes
  • Rake mulch back into place in all beds, as needed, for 10 minutes
  • Fertilize roses, bushes, and low-lying shrubs for 10 minutes
  • Manually edge 30 feet of driveway, sidewalk, or straight-edged areas, 20 minutes
  • Water front flowers beds, 10 minutes

Also, adding the additional several hours per week that will be consumed by raking, gathering, and bagging Autumnal leaves, will help you lose an additional 150 calories, per two hour session! 

So, by my routine, all of which I can accomplish before 8 am, or after 6 pm, and will burn 400 calories! No gym membership or lawn service needed! This is an awesome way to put on a few podcasts, listen to a cd, or just have some time to yourself, and your yard, for nothing more than time! I also keep my Shih-Tzu, Sassy with me while gardening to lose weight; I have metal screw-into-the-yard hooks in various places in my yard, which I leash and harness Sassy to, and move her from area to area; so I can bond with my fuzzy-love, lose weight, and clean my yard at the same time!  This is one of my favorite ways to burn extra calories, while creating a more serene home for my family and myself!

Also, if you are looking for other ways to save money, lose weight, and maintain your yard, beds, and landscaping, be sure to check out my frugal garden tips, here! 

Here’s to the Journey!

Misty

Weekly Menu: Feeding A Family of Four, for Only $24.19!

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Good afternoon, savvy savers! Here is my weekly menu, for which was derived from couponing deals, freebies, and cupboard cooking; I will be feeding a family of four this week for only $24.19!

This week we will be having:

Meatless Monday’s:
Breakfast: Mini meatless mushroom frittatas (substitute the sausage for pan fried mushrooms), Fruit cups, and Juice.
Lunch: Grilled Cheese sandwiches, with Humus dip, sweet potato chips, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Walnuts and String Cheese.
Dinner: Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sliders, Green Beans, Baked Potatoes, with Corn Muffins, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Taco Tuesday:
Breakfast: Cereal of Choice, Milk, and Apple Slices
Lunch: Freezer Cooking Chicken and Dumplings, carrot sticks, and Crystal Light
Snack: Trail mix.
Dinner: Taco Tuesdays!
Dessert: Brownie Ice Cream Sundaes Sandwiches.

What’s On Hand Wednesday:
Breakfast: Yogurt with granola, and juice.
Lunch: Taco Salads, with juice.
Snack: Grapes and apple slices.
Dinner: Stuffed Pork Roast, with roasted garlic and potatoes, with pita bread, and steamed spinach.
Dessert: Homemade flurries, with leftover brownies.

Thrifty Thursday’s:
Breakfast: Cereal of choice, with fruit cup, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled Mushroom and Leftover Pork Roast Paninis, Crystal Light, and Sweet Potato chips.
Snack: Hummus and crackers, with grapes.
Dinner: Turkey Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus topped grilled chicken,and tossed salad, with milk.
Dessert: Chocolate Cupcakes, with Cream Cheese Icing.

It’s Finally, Friday:
Breakfast: Homemade Greek Yogurt Smoothies.
Lunch: Tossed salad, with walnuts, grapes, blueberries, left over chicken, and  homemade Greek dressing.
Snack: Granola and fruit cup.
Dinner: Kosher Dogs, With Slaw and Chili, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Pineapple slushies.

So Glad It’s Saturday:
Breakfast: Blueberry Pecan Freezer Cooking Pancakes, with sausage, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled Chicken wrap and Crystal Light.
Snacks: String Cheese and grapes.
Dinner: Grilled hamburgers, with steamed corn on side, pasta salad, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Neapolitan Trifle

Service Sunday:
Breakfast: French Toast Casserole, with Milk, and Blueberries.
Lunch: Grilled Kielbasa sausage , baked mini macaroni and cheese cups, with Crystal Light.
Snack: Grapes and walnuts.
Dinner: Crockpot Cola-BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches, steam veggies, and milk.
Dessert: Homemade 7-11 Slurpees, with sugar-free syrup!