So here are some contests I have found this morning to possibly help you out :)
Good Luck All!
Sobey's Holiday Helpings
Extreme Couponing Canada
The Reebee App is my new favorite app for my iphone! It is all your local flyers on your phone! (I have yet to use it for price matching but will try soon)
You can get the FREE app here https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/reebee/id558297215?mt=8
and don't forget to like them on Facebook! Reebee
OK so hopefully you can win some stuff but back off from that $2500 Sobey's gift card.... It's gonna be mine!!!!!
Happy Contesting!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Trick them again! Cereal "cake" for the picky ones.
I like to save money and make cool stuff.
When we lived up north the grocery store close by was (still is) a little pricy. I needed Rice Krispies for the kids group night and I was not going to pay $7 for a little box. No freaking way! I came home with 3 bags of marshmallows and no cereal. WTH was I gonna make with those 99 cent marshmallows?
I opened the closet and I had honey combs, granola and about 2 cups of frosted flakes. Screw it, I am calling it cereal cake! Oh, I was a creative lil momma and didn't even know it! Here I am 12 years later and my kids will eat any cereal! Even Raisin Bran because of that cake.
You know how to make rice krispie bars right? Same recipe but any other cereal.
I use:
1 bag of mini mashmallows
1 tbsp margarine
1 box of cereal.
Microwave the marshmallows in a safe bowl, on med power, add the margarine half way through and in total I think I melt for about 90 seconds? But it depends on your microwave. Just keep an eye on it.
I take it out, add cereal BUT I put margarine on the wooden spoon so it doesn't stick as bad to the spoon! Then I coat a lasagna pan in margarine (just a bit) and my hands as well so I can flatten the mixture in the pan!
How is this healthy? I can make this with Multi Grain Cheerios, Honey bunches of Oats, Raisin Bran, heck any cereal and kids will eat it! Remember it is the NAME of things that freak them out. If you call it "Cereal Cake" rather than Raisin Bran bars they will probably eat it. They like cereal and they like cake and you want them to get more fiber in their diet... WIN WIN!
Yes, you can do this GFCF if you get the ingredients at the health food store (done it!). Enviro Kids cereal works well in this!
Combos my guys love:
(The boxes are around 400 grams)
1/2 box frosted flakes, 1/2 box puffed wheat
1/2 box raisin bran, 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I have used sweetened carob chips too), 1/2 box rice krispies
1 box of honeycombs, 1/2 cup of dried fruits chopped (pineapple and apples are what I usually have on hand)
1/2 cup coconut, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup choc chips, 1 box of cheerios
Get creative! Mix it up, dried fruit, coconut, chocolate bars cut up for a special treat (Just a note... Banana chips are a little tough for this recipe but, I have a use for them later on in one of my posts.).
Just make this and cut it up, wrap 'em and put them in the lunch box. Announce that there is cereal cake in their lunches! They will love it and you have saved a few bucks (32 bars for about $5 rather than 8 small bars for $2) plus you have outwitted them yet again! And really that is what it is all about right? lol
Just a thought:: Search online or in the flyers for a coupon or two to get the cereal for next to free :) Save more $$$!
When we lived up north the grocery store close by was (still is) a little pricy. I needed Rice Krispies for the kids group night and I was not going to pay $7 for a little box. No freaking way! I came home with 3 bags of marshmallows and no cereal. WTH was I gonna make with those 99 cent marshmallows?
I opened the closet and I had honey combs, granola and about 2 cups of frosted flakes. Screw it, I am calling it cereal cake! Oh, I was a creative lil momma and didn't even know it! Here I am 12 years later and my kids will eat any cereal! Even Raisin Bran because of that cake.
You know how to make rice krispie bars right? Same recipe but any other cereal.
I use:
1 bag of mini mashmallows
1 tbsp margarine
1 box of cereal.
Microwave the marshmallows in a safe bowl, on med power, add the margarine half way through and in total I think I melt for about 90 seconds? But it depends on your microwave. Just keep an eye on it.
I take it out, add cereal BUT I put margarine on the wooden spoon so it doesn't stick as bad to the spoon! Then I coat a lasagna pan in margarine (just a bit) and my hands as well so I can flatten the mixture in the pan!
How is this healthy? I can make this with Multi Grain Cheerios, Honey bunches of Oats, Raisin Bran, heck any cereal and kids will eat it! Remember it is the NAME of things that freak them out. If you call it "Cereal Cake" rather than Raisin Bran bars they will probably eat it. They like cereal and they like cake and you want them to get more fiber in their diet... WIN WIN!
Yes, you can do this GFCF if you get the ingredients at the health food store (done it!). Enviro Kids cereal works well in this!
Combos my guys love:
(The boxes are around 400 grams)
1/2 box frosted flakes, 1/2 box puffed wheat
1/2 box raisin bran, 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I have used sweetened carob chips too), 1/2 box rice krispies
1 box of honeycombs, 1/2 cup of dried fruits chopped (pineapple and apples are what I usually have on hand)
1/2 cup coconut, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup choc chips, 1 box of cheerios
Get creative! Mix it up, dried fruit, coconut, chocolate bars cut up for a special treat (Just a note... Banana chips are a little tough for this recipe but, I have a use for them later on in one of my posts.).
Just make this and cut it up, wrap 'em and put them in the lunch box. Announce that there is cereal cake in their lunches! They will love it and you have saved a few bucks (32 bars for about $5 rather than 8 small bars for $2) plus you have outwitted them yet again! And really that is what it is all about right? lol
Just a thought:: Search online or in the flyers for a coupon or two to get the cereal for next to free :) Save more $$$!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Saturday Baking Project... Tie Dye Cake!
We have had a LONG weekend. Yesterday was a PA Day so the boys were home. So today I got on Pinterest early and found some baking ideas that seemed easy.
A lot of the ingredients, I didn't have so, I kept searching. VIOLA! I found this blog called EasyBaked and started searching through her posts, ohhhhing and ahhhing at the gorgeous pictures and then I saw it. The Tie Dye cake!
Oh I knew I had enough stuff to make my own version!
You can get the recipe for this awesome creation on EasyBaked!
These were our results!
I used the Wilton Cake Decorating colors for the batter (I never have actual food coloring in the house thanks to a mess with it a few years ago!). I had sky blue, lemon yellow and terra cotta colors. The kids said it looked like melted crayons lol
We separated the batter into 3 bowls and mixed each color, I poured the colors into the pan and swirled them with a toothpick.
32 minutes at 350F and POOF magically we had a super cool cake :)
I let it cool and then mixed the leaf green coloring with Betty Crocker cream cheese icing. It's pretty good! The boys really liked it (Ty has had 5 pieces so far! That rarely happens!) So, you can say this recipe was Autism Approved! :D
Now, to try one from scratch again, maybe?
I know I will be checking out and trying more recipes from EasyBaked soon!
A lot of the ingredients, I didn't have so, I kept searching. VIOLA! I found this blog called EasyBaked and started searching through her posts, ohhhhing and ahhhing at the gorgeous pictures and then I saw it. The Tie Dye cake!
Oh I knew I had enough stuff to make my own version!
You can get the recipe for this awesome creation on EasyBaked!
These were our results!
I used the Wilton Cake Decorating colors for the batter (I never have actual food coloring in the house thanks to a mess with it a few years ago!). I had sky blue, lemon yellow and terra cotta colors. The kids said it looked like melted crayons lol
We separated the batter into 3 bowls and mixed each color, I poured the colors into the pan and swirled them with a toothpick.
32 minutes at 350F and POOF magically we had a super cool cake :)
I let it cool and then mixed the leaf green coloring with Betty Crocker cream cheese icing. It's pretty good! The boys really liked it (Ty has had 5 pieces so far! That rarely happens!) So, you can say this recipe was Autism Approved! :D
Now, to try one from scratch again, maybe?
I know I will be checking out and trying more recipes from EasyBaked soon!
Friday, November 16, 2012
BOGO Starbucks.... YES!!!! Nov 15-18 only (2012)
Oh you know what my FAVORITE Christmas/Yule/OMG IT'S NOVEMBER activity is? The annual Starbucks Holiday Drink weekend! Yesterday it started... and today, tomorrow and Sunday between 2-5pm when you buy ONE Holiday fave, you get the second one FREE!
I load the kids in the car, we motor across town to Starbucks and we load up on peppermint mocha lattes, caramel apple tea (made with apple juice!) and eggnog lattes, steamy good hot chocolate (even can be made with soy milk!), chug 'em back and plan out which drink we will get the next day!
Yes, friends, we are Starbuck geeks! One of my favorite gifts is the VIA packs in my stocking (Santa puts them there!) so Mommy can survive the week between Christmas and New Years!
So who else is going to Starbucks this weekend?
What are you gonna get? I had the Peppermint Mocha Latte yesterday, I am thinking Eggnog or Creme Brulee today :)
Here is the beverage list so you can drool... I mean decide before you go lol
I load the kids in the car, we motor across town to Starbucks and we load up on peppermint mocha lattes, caramel apple tea (made with apple juice!) and eggnog lattes, steamy good hot chocolate (even can be made with soy milk!), chug 'em back and plan out which drink we will get the next day!
Yes, friends, we are Starbuck geeks! One of my favorite gifts is the VIA packs in my stocking (Santa puts them there!) so Mommy can survive the week between Christmas and New Years!
So who else is going to Starbucks this weekend?
What are you gonna get? I had the Peppermint Mocha Latte yesterday, I am thinking Eggnog or Creme Brulee today :)
Here is the beverage list so you can drool... I mean decide before you go lol
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Faked Crab Cakes
The blogger app on my iPhone ate my post :( I will re-add shortly! (I have disciplined the phone... It is in time out)
The finished product :)
The finished product :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I didn't take a FRIGGIN picture!!!
I am sorry.
I haven't forgotten about you. I just get busy with Autism and crafts and life... I have lots to always share, I just forget.
So, what did I forget to take a pic of?
My SUPER awesome new casserole!!!
The other night I made a good ol' fashion bone in ham (it was delicious and I got a pic of THAT!) but, holy leftovers Batman! I had to think fast and get creative on Sunday afternoon! All I could think was "What the hell am I gonna make with left over ham that these guys will eat?"
I googled, I found nothing. I went through my Pinterest and nothing. I was standing in my kitchen thinking... "Ok girl, you got tons of food... something has to go with...." There it was. 3 boxes of Kraft Dinner Sharp Cheddar.
"Oh, casserole? Yes? Ok ok don't get too excited, it will turn to fear! what can go in this casserole?"
I opened the fridge, there was the ham, out on the counter it went.
Then the block of cheddar, yup we need that.
What else? What else? And there it was. Like the foodie angels pushed it forward saying "USE THIS!!!"
Frank's red hot sauce.
Ah ha! Casserole of AWESOMENESS in the making!!!!
Indigo's NO PANIC leftover Ham Casserole
3 boxes of Kraft Dinner Sharp cheddar
2 cups of leftover ham (I used a lot you probably don't need this much)
1 cup of shredded cheese
a dozen shakes of Parmesan Cheese
I cooked the mac and cheese according to package directions and made it up like you would to eat it BUT I poured in 1/4 cup of Frank's Red Hot Sauce! Stirred like a mad woman! Then I poured the mac and cheese into a lasagna pan... made it all even and feeling like Paula Deen! lol I diced up the ham and sprinkled it on top and then sprinkled a BUNCH of shredded cheese! MMMMM It looked good! but, what else can I use??? Do I have parm cheese? Oh hell yes I do! SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE! I shook some parsley flakes on top, popped it into the oven at 350F for 30 minutes and VIOLA! Dinner was served! I got 6 thumbs up (2 from each kid) and only one serving as they devoured it!
Absolutely going to make it again (and again and again... you get the drift lol)
Hope this inspires some creativity in your kitchen!
I haven't forgotten about you. I just get busy with Autism and crafts and life... I have lots to always share, I just forget.
So, what did I forget to take a pic of?
My SUPER awesome new casserole!!!
The other night I made a good ol' fashion bone in ham (it was delicious and I got a pic of THAT!) but, holy leftovers Batman! I had to think fast and get creative on Sunday afternoon! All I could think was "What the hell am I gonna make with left over ham that these guys will eat?"
I googled, I found nothing. I went through my Pinterest and nothing. I was standing in my kitchen thinking... "Ok girl, you got tons of food... something has to go with...." There it was. 3 boxes of Kraft Dinner Sharp Cheddar.
"Oh, casserole? Yes? Ok ok don't get too excited, it will turn to fear! what can go in this casserole?"
I opened the fridge, there was the ham, out on the counter it went.
Then the block of cheddar, yup we need that.
What else? What else? And there it was. Like the foodie angels pushed it forward saying "USE THIS!!!"
Frank's red hot sauce.
Ah ha! Casserole of AWESOMENESS in the making!!!!
Indigo's NO PANIC leftover Ham Casserole
3 boxes of Kraft Dinner Sharp cheddar
2 cups of leftover ham (I used a lot you probably don't need this much)
1 cup of shredded cheese
a dozen shakes of Parmesan Cheese
I cooked the mac and cheese according to package directions and made it up like you would to eat it BUT I poured in 1/4 cup of Frank's Red Hot Sauce! Stirred like a mad woman! Then I poured the mac and cheese into a lasagna pan... made it all even and feeling like Paula Deen! lol I diced up the ham and sprinkled it on top and then sprinkled a BUNCH of shredded cheese! MMMMM It looked good! but, what else can I use??? Do I have parm cheese? Oh hell yes I do! SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE! I shook some parsley flakes on top, popped it into the oven at 350F for 30 minutes and VIOLA! Dinner was served! I got 6 thumbs up (2 from each kid) and only one serving as they devoured it!
Absolutely going to make it again (and again and again... you get the drift lol)
Hope this inspires some creativity in your kitchen!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Kiss me I'm... OH WAIT! What did you eat today?
Lotsa "kisses" going around today! It's St. Patrick's Day! (And yes, I am actually Irish. I am not faking that lol) ♣
Today I was reading a couple of articles online and I started thinking, ALLERGIES! Not tree pollen and pet dander but food allergies (I love food. Can you tell?). So today is more of a public service announcement.
People who's children have actual food allergies are a little hard core when it comes to things like cross contamination, hidden sources for that allergy, what you serve at your home for food. Here are a few little statistics and info bits to stew over while snacking or sipping on one of my previous recipes :)
• Just because you "washed" something does not mean the allergen does not exist on that dish/utensil anymore.
•It takes 1/44,000th of a drop of peanut oil to cause an anaphylactic reaction in someone who is allergic to peanuts. That is inconceivable to the human eye. Too small to see or taste or comprehend.
•Steak knives, bread knives and anything with a seraded edge is GREAT for hiding allergens and bacteria... better soak those puppies in some bleach/soap/water mixture before scrubbing.
•Cutting mats are bacteria cesspools! Replace them every 3-6 months. Really.
•Change your sponge for dishes! I mean it! Buy a 12 pack for a buck and use a new one every time you do dishes! It isn't very environmentally friendly but neither is the bio hazard waste that is accumulated when you end up i the hospital over something that could have been prevented. Not only are the sponges gross after a use or two... they easy trap little microscopic amounts of food in them and BOOM cross contamination can happen! It sounds insane but, it happens.
•If you use a toaster for bread with wheat or milk in it, you can not use that same toaster for GF or CF or GFCF bread. Ever. The bread sticks to the grill inside, cross contamination will happen! Every bloody time!
•There is dairy, nuts, soy, wheat, ALLERGENS hiding in everything! Lac = milk so does Whey, Skim Milk, Milk ingredients, Cheese, Cheese powders, Lactic Acid, Lactylate, Lactate... all of these would send my child over the edge! And they are in chips, crackers, some juices, vitamins, cakes, baking mixes, margarines, food spreads, deli meats, sausages, hot dogs, frozen foods, fries... I could go on for days. Reading labels is not always good enough. Some more education into what chemical based ingredients are is KEY!
•When in doubt, SO OLD SCHOOL! Cook a roast with the carrots, potatoes and onions in the pot with the roast! Natural flavor with NO CONTAMINATION! YAY!
Many spices and seasoning "blends" are contaminated with allergens. Salt and Pepper to taste is usually (but not always) safest. This dinner though, is 99% of the time SAFE for all who aren't vegan (that's another post though lol)
•Yes, I bring my own foods alot! Some people will be offended but trust me on this! They will be way MORE offended when you or your child end up puking on their floor due to an allergic reaction or having a reaction while still at the dinner table.
•Learn to cook and have the dinners and potlucks and events at your house! It would be easier in the long run and true friends would go out of their way to help you out, others can go straight to hades :) If they don't "get" it they can find others to play with.
•When in doubt, look it up! This is a great site to find out what is safer (nothing is 100%) when eating out! Whatcha got in that burger?
•Last but not least. What you eat stays with you. It's in your mouth and on your lips. If you wiped your hands on your shirt or dropped some well, it's there too! Always think before you hug and kiss or shake hands. WASH your hands, hand sanitizer is great and all but washing is best with LOTS of soap and warm water!
Now just air kiss your Irish friends and fam today :) ♣
Today I was reading a couple of articles online and I started thinking, ALLERGIES! Not tree pollen and pet dander but food allergies (I love food. Can you tell?). So today is more of a public service announcement.
People who's children have actual food allergies are a little hard core when it comes to things like cross contamination, hidden sources for that allergy, what you serve at your home for food. Here are a few little statistics and info bits to stew over while snacking or sipping on one of my previous recipes :)
• Just because you "washed" something does not mean the allergen does not exist on that dish/utensil anymore.
•It takes 1/44,000th of a drop of peanut oil to cause an anaphylactic reaction in someone who is allergic to peanuts. That is inconceivable to the human eye. Too small to see or taste or comprehend.
•Steak knives, bread knives and anything with a seraded edge is GREAT for hiding allergens and bacteria... better soak those puppies in some bleach/soap/water mixture before scrubbing.
•Cutting mats are bacteria cesspools! Replace them every 3-6 months. Really.
•Change your sponge for dishes! I mean it! Buy a 12 pack for a buck and use a new one every time you do dishes! It isn't very environmentally friendly but neither is the bio hazard waste that is accumulated when you end up i the hospital over something that could have been prevented. Not only are the sponges gross after a use or two... they easy trap little microscopic amounts of food in them and BOOM cross contamination can happen! It sounds insane but, it happens.
•If you use a toaster for bread with wheat or milk in it, you can not use that same toaster for GF or CF or GFCF bread. Ever. The bread sticks to the grill inside, cross contamination will happen! Every bloody time!
•There is dairy, nuts, soy, wheat, ALLERGENS hiding in everything! Lac = milk so does Whey, Skim Milk, Milk ingredients, Cheese, Cheese powders, Lactic Acid, Lactylate, Lactate... all of these would send my child over the edge! And they are in chips, crackers, some juices, vitamins, cakes, baking mixes, margarines, food spreads, deli meats, sausages, hot dogs, frozen foods, fries... I could go on for days. Reading labels is not always good enough. Some more education into what chemical based ingredients are is KEY!
•When in doubt, SO OLD SCHOOL! Cook a roast with the carrots, potatoes and onions in the pot with the roast! Natural flavor with NO CONTAMINATION! YAY!
Many spices and seasoning "blends" are contaminated with allergens. Salt and Pepper to taste is usually (but not always) safest. This dinner though, is 99% of the time SAFE for all who aren't vegan (that's another post though lol)
•Yes, I bring my own foods alot! Some people will be offended but trust me on this! They will be way MORE offended when you or your child end up puking on their floor due to an allergic reaction or having a reaction while still at the dinner table.
•Learn to cook and have the dinners and potlucks and events at your house! It would be easier in the long run and true friends would go out of their way to help you out, others can go straight to hades :) If they don't "get" it they can find others to play with.
•When in doubt, look it up! This is a great site to find out what is safer (nothing is 100%) when eating out! Whatcha got in that burger?
•Last but not least. What you eat stays with you. It's in your mouth and on your lips. If you wiped your hands on your shirt or dropped some well, it's there too! Always think before you hug and kiss or shake hands. WASH your hands, hand sanitizer is great and all but washing is best with LOTS of soap and warm water!
Now just air kiss your Irish friends and fam today :) ♣
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