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Nicole

1-Hour Freezer Cooking: Chicken and Dumplings!

Freezer Cooking: Couponed Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings!
Serves 8
Good morning, savvy savers! I hope this weekend will be a good, productive, yet time for you all! Today finds us with yet another one of my weekly freezer cooking recipes, this time my Couponed Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings! I use chicken from Zaycon, or on sale mid-month at Winn-Dixie, and my other ingredients from the Dollar Tree, and am able to make recipe for under $5.00, which feeds 8; this recipe creates two freezable meals to feed 4.
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Total Time
6 hr 30 min
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
6 hr
Total Time
6 hr 30 min
Ingredients
  1. 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves; cut into bite size chunks.
  2. 2 tablespoons butter
  3. 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
  4. 1 onion, finely diced (or use blacnhed or bagged frozen onions)
  5. 2 Cups Flour
  6. 1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  7. 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
  8. 2 Tablespoons Vegetable oil
  9. 1 Cup Luke Warm Water
  10. 1 Teaspoon dried parsley
  11. salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Take 2 gallon size Ziploc bags and mark the contents of your bag.
  2. Divide chicken, condescend soup, onions, and salt and pepper up, between 2 gallon size Ziploc bags.
  3. Once ingredients are in bags, seal bags, making sure the majority of the inner air is released from the bag.
  4. Freeze bags horizontally and flat, while freezing, 4-6 hours.
  5. Once bags are frozen, they can be turned vertically to create more freezer storage.
  6. Bags last up to one year in freezer.
Variation: You can prepare and freeze your dumplings ahead of time, in a smaller pint size baggie, separated, frozen, and then place the smaller baggie inside your larger baggie, too. If you wish to make and freeze dumplings
  1. Start by sifting flour and baking soda in a separate bowl, and then add your oil, water, and parsley, until a dough forms. Let the dough rest on your counter top for 10 minutes. Then divide dumplings, using knife, to make 1 inch squares.
  2. Freeze squares in smaller baggies.
When ready to cook
  1. 1) In a Crockpot, add the chicken halves, cut into chunks.
  2. 2) Next, add your onions and soup to the Crockpot.
  3. 3) Cook the mixture on high for 6 hours.
  4. 4) On the 5th hour, add your dumpling packs, or if preferred, start to make your dumplings. Start by sifting flour and baking soda in a separate bowl, and then add your oil, water, and parsley, until a dough forms. Let the dough rest on your counter top for 10 minutes.
  5. 5) 30 minutes before completion, break your dough into small pieces, and add to the Crock Pot. Cook additional 30 minutes.
  6. 6) Enjoy!
The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/
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Non-Food Items I Freeze To Save Money!

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Hello again, savvy savers! If your anything like me, you are always on the lookout for new ways to save! Today finds us with a new list of things I am currently freezing, all non-food items, to save money in 2015:

  1. Pantyhose: Frozen pantyhose are less likely to develop runs as you are putting them on. The fibers are constricted by the cold and more resistant to handling, which is how many runs occur. Store your hose in the freezer until right before you need to wear a pair, and save $3-$10 a pair, by prolonging the life of your hose!
  2. Batteries:  All batteries can be helped by being placed in the freezer, especially rechargeable batteries, as their nickel-metal hydride can expect to see a life expectancy extension of 90% or greater! So be sure to store your batteries in the freezer until you need to use them. 
  3. Seeds:  Seeds stay fresher in a frozen state and often will germinate more effectively after being frozen; please click here to see my seed store post!
  4. Candles: Candles actually burn better, and for longer, if they are lit after being frozen, especially soy and beeswax candles. Store your candles in the freezer until you want to use them. If you will not use them for some time after a special occasion, place them back in the freezer until the next use. The thicker the candle width, the more freezing will extend burning life.
  5. Moisturizers: Keep eye, face, and neck creams and moisturizers in the freezer. Remove them to get what you need, then place them back inside. Your creams and moisturizers last longer and work more effectively, for up to five years.
  6. Dust Mites:  If you or someone in your family has a dust mite allergy, put pillows, curtains, small rugs, pillowslips, stuffed animals, linens and other small mite-infested items into sealed plastic bags and then into the freezer for at least 24 hours, will kill those pesky little buggers. If your child has lice, you can put no-wash items in the freezer to kill the lice. 
  7. Denim: Don’t wash your raw, dark rinse denim pants, and instead freeze them for twenty-four hours to kill any bacteria or mites just as well as washing them can.
  8. Hard Drives: If you experience a hard drive crash, place the hard drive into a sealed plastic bag, then place it in the freezer for 5 hours. Remove, replace, restart your computer and quickly back up your data; the low freezer temperatures allow heat damaged files to be accessed, only until the drives come to room temperature. 
  9. Sealed Envelopes: If you need to re-open sealed envelopes, place the sealed envelope in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Then gently insert your finger beneath a corner of the seal and open it. This method also allows stamps to be removed from mail, too! 

Here’s to saving,

Birthday_Cake22

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Wednesday Ways to Save: What To Buy In January!

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Hello again, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways to Save, I wanted to share with you my list for the things to buy in January here at The LadyPrefers2Save!

Here’s what to be on the lookout for:

  • Laptops; online outlet stores are offering laptops and net-books as much as 60% off!
  • Office supplies, even if you do not have school-age children; remember that most office supply stores will also price match ads!
  • Summer apparel, with shorts and sleeveless shirts up to 70% off.
  • Patio furniture & grills, up to 75% off; check your store managers for items being tucked away in the back of stores on clearance only to be marked up come April!
  • Christmas, Hanukkah, and Autumnal Decor; many large and small retailers will start the season with 75% off savings, then go back up to 25% off for the holidays, especially craft stores!
  • Turkey, Lamb, and Ham; with the holidays now past now is the time to purchase them at under $0.10/lb at Walmart, for Easter and Summer Cookouts!
  • Holiday toys; All major retailers have already released their perspective top-ten lists for the must-have holiday toys, and many can be paired with manufacturer coupons, purchased now, and stored for priced half of what they will be Black Friday! 
  • Cola; cola pricing will be lowered this month and will double in price for the upcoming Super Bowl party season!
  • Crawfish, Boudain, and Cajun-themed entree items; purchase items now for 2/3 less than they will be at the end of the month in preparation for Mardi Gras!
  • Baking Mixes; after holiday baking mixes, sets, decorations, cupcake liners, and the like will be up to 85% off at discount stores such as Dollar General.
  • Gym Memberships; chain gyms will slash prices for memberships to monopolize on Resolution List dieters. Be sure to price/contract shop before signing up for contracts. 
  • Credit Cards; this month marks the month when creditors are more likely to grant credit and lower interest rates right before the start of tax season. 
  • Tax Software: Prices will be half of what they will come the last week of this month! Plan ahead! 
  • Linens: Winter flannels, thicker comforters, and down products will be marked down by as much as 75% off at mass retailers starting this week! 
  • Journals, Planners, & Agendas: Expect to see prices at mass retailers, especially bookstore chains, up to 90% off!

What to Wait To Purchase:

  • Furniture: February is semi-annual furniture market and trade shows, and retailers will need to unload goods starting next month, which can mean savings for you up to 75% off!
  • Vehicles: February marks the annual start of all new cars on the market, and 2013 models and older will be further marked down by as much as an additional 25%!
  • TV’s: Wait for April to skip Super Bowl tv mark-ups! 

What I will be purchasing:

  • A Birthday cake… as I will be turning the big 3-2 on the 13th! 

 Here’s to Saving,

Birthday_Cake22

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Tutorial Tuesday: Weatherizing Your Stockpile!

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Good afternoon, savvy savers! For this weeks Saving To Go, With A Cup of Joe series post, I want to discuss ways to properly winterize your stockpile! Why is this necessary? Well, if your stockpile is anything like my own, than your stockpile is a large investment in both your home and family, and deserves the proper amount of planning and preparation. So, in hopes of being able to preserve your precious goods, and hard earned dollars, here are my suggestions for winterizing and weatherizing your stockpiled goods:

  1. Canned goods: Canned goods cannot be allowed to freeze. When canned goods freeze, they stand the chance of cans bulging, which can cause the seam and lid failure, which can cause food-borne illnesses, not to mention  to fail, changes in product texture, flavor, nutrient factors, and product color. Most canned goods are packed in a solution of salt or sugar, which lowers their freezing point, but canned goods should not be stored below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Before temperatures freeze this season, avoid storing foods where the temperatures will reach below freezing.
  2. Insecticides: Products in foam-based product cans should be stored in warmer climates.
  3. Soft Drinks, Coking Oils, and Cleaners: Freezing can have adverse effects on liquids such as soda, cooking oil, soap or detergent. Basements are a great place to store these goods. Frozen detergents and cooking oils can be brought back to room temperature by placing them in trash bags, at room temperature, and then storing accordingly.
  4. Dried Foods: Foods that are dehydrated or freeze-dried will actually last longer in the cold since there is no water in them to freeze, or can be frozen in deep freezes! This also applied for flower and plant seeds.
  5. Paper Products: Household goods, such as paper towels, plastic cups and utensils, razors, floss and toothbrushes, can be kept in cooler climates in your home.
  6. Produce: Some produce such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and apples will actually keep longer stored in bins in cooler climates or sheds; be sure to check produce weekly, and any sign of age the produce should be composed, especially potatoes, which can emit deadly gases if left to rot over several months.

So, I hope these tips will help you keep your stockpile in tip top shape this winter!

Here’s to saving,

Birthday_Cake22

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Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Homemade Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa Mix
Serves 6
With Winter weather in the air, a cup of cocoa always hits the spot for me! So for this weeks Making More Out Of Monday Meals, I want to share how I make my own blend, for two-thirds less than commercial store blends, and tastes better than Starbucks! Here's how to make it...
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Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 4 Cups Truvia (table sugar can be substituted)
  2. 3 Cups Cocoa
  3. 1 1/4 tablespoon Kosher Salt
  4. Skim Milk as needed, per cup
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well.
  2. Store the mixture in an airtight container; I use canisters from the Dollar Tree.
  3. For individual servings, pour 1 cup milk into a microwave-safe mug.
  4. Microwave on high just until hot.
  5. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve; usually takes one minute.
  6. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to scald the milk; add mix as needed.
Notes
  1. This mix is as delicious as it is economical. I am able to buy the ingredients at my local Sam's Club for under $7.00, with the exception of the Kosher Salt and canisters which I purchase at my local Dollar Tree, which makes a years worth of cocoa for my family. Compare these savings to the individual packs of Swiss Miss, and you will save 85% off shelf pricing! Here's to saving!
The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/
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Battle-Of-The-Bulge, Budget Style: Lose Weight With Housework!

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Hello again, savvy savers!  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!

For this weeks Battle-of-the-Bulge, Budget Style post, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite ways to exercise, and that is with basic, everyday housework! Consider the amount of time you spend each week completing the following, and you will see how much extra pounds you will be able to shed!

Here is a simple guide as to how many calories you can earn by completing each chose for 15 minutes:

  • Carpet sweeping, sweeping floors: 39 calories
  • Mopping: 43 calories
  • Multiple household tasks all at once, light effort: 26 calories
  • Dusting: 26 calories
  • Washing dishes, While standing: 22 calories
  • Vacuuming: 43 calories
  • Butchering/Freezer Cooking Prep: 85 calories
  • Cooking and Canning: 17 calories
  • Serving food: 26 calories
  • Feeding animals: 26 calories
  • Putting away groceries: 26 calories
  • Carrying groceries upstairs: 111 calories
  • Food shopping: 22 calories
  • Ironing: 22 calories
  • Doing laundry: 17 calories
  • Putting away clothes: 22 calories
  • Making the bed: 17 calories
  • Moving furniture: 85 calories
  • Scrubbing floors: 48 calories
  • Sweeping garage, sidewalk, and outside of house: 51 calories
  • Watering plants: 26 calories
  • Playing with children: 26 calories
  • Carrying small children: 34 calories
  • Elderly & Disabled Adult Care: 51 calories
  • Playing with pets: 26 calories
  • Bathing pets, while standing or kneeling: 43 calories

Here’s to better health,

Birthday_Cake22

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Saving To Go, With A Cup of Joe: Save With Online Billing Cycles

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Good morning, savvy savers! This past holiday my husband and I spent some time discussing our financial goals for 2015, and one area we both agreed could use a little tweaking was our monthly budget, as we both opted to up our percentage of donations and to cut an additional 10% of our monthly spending to contribute to a new retirement fund. So, last week upon searching, researching, and looking over my monthly bill book, I realized that part of the amount needed for my new account was already in reach! Let me explain…

Three years ago, when I was first married I was given the opportunity to switch from working in my traditional office, to working my clerical position from home. With these new changes, came a new pay cycle, a cycle which was maligned with my current utility and housing bill cycles.  My pay cycle had changed, which meant that my bills were now coming in during a time of the month when I had the least cash flow. I wasn’t prepared for this change, so I called up my major creditors and asked to change my billing cycle dates. To make sure I was keeping with my new pay cycle, I also decided to sign up for auto-pay instead of continuing to pay by mail.

Why auto-pay? 

  • Changing my billing cycle to auto-pay forced me to pay my essential bills right away, and pay down debt.
  • I also contacted my local Credit Union and Employer, and had the remaining bulk of my paycheck directly deposited into my savings account.
  • These steps allowed me to know exactly how much money I had left over in my discretion fund every month.
  • I then immediately knew how much cash I would have left for my envelope savings system. 

So here’s how these two simple changes will benefit your financial future:

  1. Eases the impulse cash bind: When you align your billing cycle dates with your pay dates, you reduce the risk of impulse purchasing power, as your extra cash you have not needed for mortgage or rent, car payments, insurance, groceries, gas, etc., can be immediately used to fund your savings account.
  2. How this helps: When your bills are paid as soon as your paycheck comes in you cut your ability to impulsively spend.
  3. Saves money: If you send in payments through the mail, you’ll pay the cost of envelopes, stamps, paper, bank checks, and gas to drive to the post office; broken down you can except to pay around the following:  $0.02 envelope + $0.49 stamp + $0.02 paper + $0.05 check + $0.32 gas = $0.90 per bill paid via U.S. mail. That’s about $0.90 per bill that you could be saving each month. Why should you be paying extra to pay your bills?
  4. Keeps you safer: Auto-pay offers you the added layers of safety through data encryption and keeps sensitive data out of your trash can, where unscrupulous individuals could potentially use your statements and information in an effort to steal your identity.
  5. Repair credit score: The more timely you are about paying bills, the better your credit score will become over time; you can increase your credit score by as much a few points each month!
  6. Card rewards: I have two emergency family credit cards, two cards whose reward balances are used for hotel travel for my husband and I.  Sending in your card payments by check doesn’t help you accrue any type of reward. Converting bills to auto-pay and choose a rewards credit card to pay with, you accrue reliable rewards each month. However, these rewards are only valuable if you don’t cancel them out with interest from carried balances.
  7. Saves yourself time and stress: When you align your billing cycle dates with your pay dates, you only have to spend time paying bills once per month.
  8. Helps you take control of your finances: When you are unaware of when your bills hit each month, you can prevent the hidden, unnecessary charges from overdraft or insufficient funds charges, which can range from $10 to $30 per transaction!

All of these steps have helped to save my family $174.00 last year, and as I plan to continue this trend, will help me to come that much closer to recouping my 10% extra savings goal for 2015! 

Here’s to saving,

Birthday_Cake22

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