All Posts By

Nicole

Freezer Cooking Session & Recipe: Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes!

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Hello again, savvy savers! Today finds us with another awesome recipe, and today’s recipe features two of my favorite cooking elements, healthy cooking, and affordable freezer-cooking methods! Today I will be sharing with you my recipe for Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes! Something to note, I do not buy pre-made pancakes, I generally make pancakes in larger batches, seasonally, freeze them, and eat them on weekends as part of my Weekly Menu Series. I find that homemade pancakes not only taste better, but make me feel better, as they are not loaded with unnecessary ingredients; I make 48 pancakes for $3.35 and these pancakes freeze for up to six months at a time! This is a savings of 75% off the average price at Walmart and Target! Please note, the original recipe makes 4 servings; we are making four batches and freezing.

 

 

Here’s how I make them:

 

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 Cup Wheat Germ
8 tablespoons white sugar, or splenda
8 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons salt
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
1 cup Butter Pecan Flavored Coffee Creamer
8 tablespoons coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon per pan, per batch
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
1 Pint Blueberries, Fresh or Frozen

 

Directions:

1) In a large bowl, mix flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2) In a separate bowl, mix milk, extracts, creamer, and eggs.

3) Make a well in the center of your first bowl, and pour in milk, egg and oil. Mix until smooth, then let sit for 2 minutes.

4) Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.

5) Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake.

6) After 1 minute, add six blueberries to each pancake, let sit an additional minute, and then flip.

7) Brown on both sides, and serve hot.

8) For immediate serving, top with greek yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.

 

 

 

To Freeze:

1) Let pancakes sit on plate to cool for 1 minute.

2) Transfer pancakes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or baking liner.

3) Place in freezer for 1 hour, or until stiff.

4) While your pancakes are freezing, prepare ziplock baggies for the pancakes; labeling unfilled baggies is best.

5) After 1 hour, place 4-6 pancakes in each bag, making sure to remove any excess air pockets, and then re-freeze.

6) Remember to add the batch to your freezer inventory list, and keep it on rotation until used.

7) To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds!

8) Enjoy!

 

 

Things I Freeze To Save Money!

 Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to post about some of the items in my home, that I purchase in bulk and freeze, for savings down the road!

Here are few things here, that I freeze:

1) Cheese: Freeze blocks of cheese for up to a year; shredded cheese works well also, and you can prevent clumping by adding a dash of corn starch prior to freezing! Remember to let cheese thaw on counters before refrigerating, after freeing!

2) Pancakes: I make large batches bi-monthly and freeze servings in snack baggies, as needed; I save $30.00 annually by doing so for breakfast!

3) Bananas: I freeze banana, peeling on, and use for smoothies and bread; to use, microwave for 30 second, cut the peel tops, and squeeze out!

4) Rice:  I cook monthly batches of rice in my rice cooker, and then freeze for quick night sides.

5) Pies: I always bake pies in multiples, then freeze covered in wax paper, then bagged in large gallon ziploc; these last up to a year.

6) Corn: I freeze corn, husks and silk intact. in gallon ziploc, and then pull out to grill when needed; fresh corn in the winter is amazing this way, when paired with 4/$1.00 summer pricing! Be sure to compost scraps!

7) Pasta: Whenever I cook pasta, I usually cook the entire box and then freeze portions as needed for nightly meals.

8) Flour: I store my flour, double bagged, in my freezer to prevent infestations in summer.

9) Mashed Potatoes: I always freeze unused mashed potato portions, in smaller snack bags, up up to two months in my freezer!

10) Stock: I always boil and use leftover bones to make stock. Once stock is made, let completely cool, strain, and then place in ice trays to freeze; I like to add herbs to mine and seasoning as well. To store, pop the cubes in snack baggies for up to a year!

11) Uncrustables: I make my own uncrustables by using biscuit cutters to cut sandwiches, crimp the edges with a fork, and freeze in lunch bags up to a year; I save $42.00 annually by doing so.

12) Potato Chips, Crackers and Pretzels: I keep my snacks in smaller bags, frozen for up to a year, and thaw for one hour before serving.

13) Milk: I buy milk on sale and freeze for up to a season; also note you should shake up milk before drinking after freezing!

14) Eggs: When eggs drop in price to $0.99 a dozen at Walgreens, I stock-up, crack eggs, and put portions in snack bags to freeze for recipes down the road!

15) Lemon/Lime Juice and Zest: I often freeze lemon juice from my potted citrus trees, in ice trays, then transport cubes to snack baggies for up to a year; as well as freeze the zest for homemade stove-top potpourri in winter!

16) Hamburger: I often cook extra ground beef and turkey, then freeze the extra seasoned amounts in snack baggies for recipes, especially in the crockpot for later on!

I hope these money-saving tips help you, as much as they help my family!

Here’s to saving!

Savings On The Go With A Cup Of Joe: Itemized Bill Books!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Savings On The Go With A Cup of Joe series post, I wanted to discuss one of the easiest ways I have found to save my family money, an itemized savings book.

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I purchase a 4-column pad, from Office Depot, and use this book to keep a log of my monthly expenses!

The book holds all my expenses at a glance. I divide the book as follows:

Space 1: Expenses Named

Column 1: Amount Owed, Per Month

Column 2: Amount Paid, Per Month

Column 3: Interest Accumulated (If Any)

Column 4: Balance Owed

I find that having an actual book helps keep me accountable for my expenses. I like the feeling of physically writing down what I owe each month, seeing how much interest I pay, how much I am able to pay, how high or low my owed balances are, and see a crossed off column as bills are paid-off!

This is one method that has helped me stay financially responsible, and I hope it might help you as well.

Here’s to saving!

Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style: Working Past The Pain Of Working Out!

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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 weight 191 lbs; I am down tw0 pounds 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 finds my continued yoga, meditation, walking my dogs, using a pedometer, portioning my meals, and now I also measure myself monthly, using seamstress tape!

For today’s ninth installment in this series, I want to discuss a way I Have found to push through the pain of exercising. If you are anything like me, then losing weight was as much an aesthetic change, as a needed, life affirming chance. One thing that has hindered me is the physical pain, the exhaustion, and the sheer effort that occurs from exercising. Here is a list of ways I have found to push past the pain while exercising:

1. Count To 100:  Focus on the steps you are taking, the vaporous breaths, and concentrate on nothing else.  Count to 100 over and over again. This mental exercise can be extremely helpful during times when workouts never seem to end.

2. Find A Catchphrase: Find a mantra that resonates with you. It can be one word or a whole paragraph. Something that you find soothing to repeat over and over again until your workout is through or you get a true second wind; my keyword is happy, as in, “I am exercising to get back my happy.”

3. Picture Your Goals: You must have a reason for exercising. Call on those goals when you’re at your breaking point. Think about the pants that you can’t wait to fit into or the health gain you will receive, and even the way you will be able to just live, longer, better, and without pain and difficulty. Think small, attainable goals.

4. Put It Into Perspective: Compare your workout time to the rest of your day. Let’s say your exercise session is 45:00 minutes long. That leaves 23 Hrs and 15 Min out of your day that you haven’t dedicated to exercising. Your workout session really isn’t a lot of time in comparison to the rest of your day. Next time you want to drop a workout for one day to the next, consider that every time you workout you are losing the negative seconds, minutes, hours, and days that you spend in pain, in discomfort, and in a body less than you deserve. Learn to make the most out of your time, so you can make the most of your life.

Here’s to your health!

Weekly Reflections: Highs and Lows For The Week Ahead!

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Hello again, savvy savers! I wanted to end my weekly posts by bring the week to a close with a post about the reflections on this past week.

The highs for the week:

Starting to add new crafts to my online ETSY store!
Finishing two review novels; these reviews can be found here!
Losing two pounds.
Trying to expand my family!
The start of painting and redecorating my living room, dining room, and kitchen.
Continuing a daily devotional.
A visit for Memorial Day’s from the MIL & SIL!
Celebrating being out of graduate school for the next three months!

My lows for the week:

The trials and tribulations of a family members dementia, and eye surgery.

My quote for the week:

“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” –Thomas Jefferson

My inspiration for the week:

Being able to not shop for any groceries, and living off of our stockpile!

My humor for the week:

My ability to take the changes that have come with being in my 30′s with a grain of salt!

Goals For The Coming Week:

Lose 1 pound, organize my basement, craft room, and stockpile, walk the fur-babies a 1/2 mile a day, have all blog assignments done on time, finish four product and boxed subscription reviews, oil paint for a few hours, take one hour for myself each night, and sleep 7 hours nightly!

Happy Sunday!

Weekly Menu: Feed A Family of 4 This Week, For Only $28.39!

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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 $28.39!

This week we will be having:

Monday
Breakfast: Mini meatless mushroom frittatas, Fruit cups, and Juice.
Lunch: Grilled Cheese sandwiches, with Humus dip, sweet potato chips, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Walnuts and String Cheese.
Dinner: BBQ Chicken, Green Beans, Baked Potatoes, with Corn Muffins, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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

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.

Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal of choice, with fruit cup, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled Mushroom Paninis, Crystal Light, and Sweet Potato chips.
Snack: Hummus and crackers, with grapes.
Dinner: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus, grilled chicken,and tossed salad, with milk.
Dessert: Dutch Cocoa Cupcakes, with Cream Cheese Icing.

Friday
Breakfast: Smoothies.
Lunch: Tossed salad, with walnuts, grapes, blueberries, 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.

Saturday
Breakfast: Pancakes, with sausage, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled Chicken sandwiches, with Sweet Potato chips, and Crystal Light.
Snacks: String Cheese and grapes.
Dinner: Grilled hamburgers, with steamed corn on side, pasta salad, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Coffee Shop Pudding Trifle

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: Hot fudge sundaes, with splenda fudge topping!

Gardening Update, 6/1!

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Happy Sunday, everyone! Here is this weeks gardening update!

This week I was able to plant the other half of my herbs, including my lavender, thyme, basil, lemon grass, parsley, bay leaves, and mint. Also, the tomato sprouts are coming up and in a week, should be able to be thinned, and then planted outside! Even in the face of all the horrific storms this week, everything was thankfully spared, and growing right on schedule! As for the other areas of my year, we have had nearly constant rainfall, so tilling and further planting has been on standstill, for the next three posts, I should have plenty to share; I will be planting both my potted and upside varieties next weekend. Aside from rain, and the largest amount of pollen I have ever seen (we have composted four trash barrels full), out pots of Green beans are beautiful, as seen above!

Also, the squash plant, though small, is growing! In addition, my mum plants from last fall have doubled in size, and will have sucker that need to be plucked in the next few weeks! This week to come I will be planting my hill of strawberries, starting potato and sweet potato towers, as well as creating a summer butterfly flower bed!  As well, my $1.00 rose bushes from Fred’s Super Dollar have thus far produced some of the most beautiful roses I have ever grown, as seen above. They are just so lovely, and I will be giving some today to my wonderful Grandmother for Mother’s Day! I also love my free lattice, as it was recycled from discarded pallets, and works just as well as anything purchased at my local supercenter! I feed my roses a special homemade blend, which i will be blogging about in the weeks to come!

Here’s to next week!