Debt Snowflake Challenge Week 3 Update

Welcome and Happy Friday to everyone! TGIF, right? I hope everyone had a successful week of snowflakes. If you haven't joined yet I suggest you hop on over to Moms Plans and see what our host Melissa and other participants are up to. It is never to late to start!

It was a pretty decent week for me here in the country. Hubby received a small raise in his pay that was unexpected and we decided to just keep on budgeting like it wasn't there. So my total snowflakes for the 3rd week of the challenge is $ 93.20. It breaks down to $26.20 from the raise and $67.00 profit from baking. Not bad at all! I'm getting very excited to find more ways to snowflake as we go.

I love checking in with everyone participating to congratulate or encourage each week. It is wonderful knowing that the same is there for me when needed. Melissa, your hard work in hosting is SO APPRECIATED! YOU ROCK!!!!

Tomorrow I will update my progress in 2012 The Year of Zero. Frugal in Florida is chronicling her year of zero. Go HERE to check it out! I'm going to make those facial wipes just as soon as I use up my stash! What a great idea!

Have a great weekend! Hugs, Deb!

First Tablescape Thursday in Ages

Welcome and Happy Thursday to you! It has been SO LONG since I posted a tablescape or linked up with Susan at Between Naps On The Porch , if you are new to tablescaping hop on over there and see what you are missing! Prepare to fall in love!

My oldest daughter who is recently out of the Army and living in Colorado Springs was passing through last week on here way to see a friend in Tennessee and decided to stop in for a quick over night visit.

So I scurried around and set a very simple and frugal table for us all to enjoy a rare meal together. We had Cranberry Cherry pork tenderloin, mashed buttermilk potatoes with rolls and salad. For dessert I made Snicker doodle sandwich cookies and ice cream.

So here it is, a little table for a cold weary traveler.

Well I guess it wouldn't have killed me to run a iron over the table runner. Everything else on the table  consists of thrift shop and items I have has for ages. The table runner was a 50% off deal from Target! Gotta love that!

Enjoy all the tablescapes today and don't forget to tell Susan thanks for hosting! Hugs, Deb!

Parmesan Crusted Talipia

Welcome all! Thanks for stopping by. I am doing something quite shocking today. A recipe post! WOW, hunh? I feel ashamed really. I have fallen into that old "mechanic doesn't want to work on his own car after work scenario". But no more I say. I have a bunch of great things to share with you so by golly I'm going to suck it up!

This is such a easy recipe. Very yummy and budget minded too! My youngest daughter requests this for her birthday dinner. You may notice in the picture a lei around the plate. That was from her luau dinner last year.

Parmesan Crusted Talipia

1 package of frozen talipia fillets( I get mine at Aldi)

2 eggs

1/4 cup of milk or buttermilk

2 cups Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup parm cheese

2T lemon pepper seasoning

2 teaspoons garlic powder

Olive oil for frying

Mix all dry ingredients in a shallow dish and set aside. Mix egg and milk in a dish big enough to hold talapia. The Aldi package usually yields 7-8 fillets. Rinse the fillets and place in egg mixture, coat them well and let set for a few minutes. In the mean time add a few TBS oil to pan on medium heat. Roll your fillets in bread crumb mixture and let rest while pan is heating. Just about 3 minutes on each side and they are perfect. Drain on paper towels and serve with lemon wedges! Easy peasy! They are very delicious to boot!!!!

This is a very forgiving recipe you can change it up anyway you want, use corn meal, panko or any fish friendly spices or herbs.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I have never tried it in the oven. If you decide to, let me know how it turns out for you.

Enjoy your Wednesday! Hugs, Deb!

Weekly Menu Plan The Late Edition

Hello there everyone! Hope you weekend was wonderful. I am getting a late start on the menu plan this week. That dead fridge really messed up the menu plan last week. We had to eat different things to clear space and beat the clock with the perishables.

So here is the plan for this week:

Chili Lime roasted pork sirloin chops
Creamy Corn casserole
cottage cheese


Homemade Pizza
Salad

BLT's
veggies and ranch dip
oven fries

Honey Brown Sugar Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans with Caramelized Onions

Grilled Chicken
Steamed Rice
Asparagus

Hopefully this week will go off without too much kitchen chaos. Hop on back tomorrow and I will be posting a easy Talipia recipe. Make sure you stop over to see Susie and link up you menu plan or just get some great ideas!
                                                                           Hugs, Deb!

Debt Snowflake Challenge Week Two Still Plugging Along

Hello everyone, HAPPY FRIDAY! It's time to link up with Melissa at Moms Plans for the Debt Snowflake Challenge. Participating has been really motivating for me. If you haven't been by to check it out I suggest you scoot on over there ASAP. I am staying accountable and learning new ideas too. Much love Melissa!!!!!!

I am slowly plugging along in my second week. The death of the fridge is still stinging in the area where our Emergency Fund once lived. All the more reason to eliminate debt, right? RIGHT! Build old EF back up to its former glory and LARGER!

The snowflake total for this week is $80.97. It breaks down to baking profit, $67.00, Rounding hubby's pay to nearest ten $8.97 and a $5.00 deposit from my bank for a customer satisfaction survey. They are tiny but rolled together they are mighty!

I'm hoping to get that grocery budget tamed too. There are some really great deals this week so I'm hoping for a under budget trip this week!

How are your snowflaking efforts going this week? Cant wait to stop by and visit everyone! Have a wonderful weekend! HUGS! Deb

Murphy Stopped By Today!

Welcome all! It has been a very unfrugal day here in the country! OUCH! I woke up to a horrible screeching sound in the middle of the night. It was my kitchen nemesis, the REFRIGERATOR! This side by side beast has been a thorn in my side since I bought it almost nine years ago!

                                                    photo credit- convergence.com

It has made noise and broke down on a nonstop basis. I have had it repaired 4 times under warranty, 2 times under the extended warranty(one rare time it ended up being worth it to purchase a extended warranty!) and 3 times out of our pocket, all small things of course.

But today was different. The compressor locked up and a horrible smell filled the kitchen. I am glad its dead, really I am. I just wish it didn't take our emergency fund with it. I just had it built back up from the September dryer fiasco. Will we ever surpass the initial $1000? Feeling defeated toady but maybe tomorrow I can be thankful we could replace it. Sigh!!!

Ever wonder why Murphy loves to visit in January? He needs to lose my address. Dave said he will try to move in. Have you had a visit from Murphy lately? So much for a spend free day!

Well, I am off to wait for the delivery men. Have a great, calamity free day!
                                                                     Hugs, Deb

Weekly Menu Planning #2

It's week 2 already. I guess this year is going to try to fly by me too. While I might not be able to control time, at least I will be organized and frugal as possible.

The house is finally back to normal schedules and the older kids are gone. So hopefully my grocery budget will creep back down. The bad news is I am $15.79 over budget this week and for week one $22.34 bringing my negative total to $38.13. BOOO!!!! I keep telling myself it isn't too bad considering we had New Years Eve and company.

Now back to regular life! Phew!

I am dusting off some family favorites this week. My family got neglected in the weeks leading up to the holidays due to my busy baking season. So this is our menu this week.

Parmesan Crusted Talipia
Roasted Asparagus
Baked potato


Sticky Chicken
Cheesy Corn casserole
Spinach salad with lemon vinaigrette


Homemade Pizza with whole wheat crust
Pepperoni for the kids
Canadian bacon with pineapple and jalapenos for hubby and I

Leftover night (Probably Wednesday)


Ham and beans with homemade cornbread
(made with yummy ham bone from the holidays)


Soup and salad (french onion and some crusty bread)

One night for sure we will be running around like maniacs and just forage through the refrigerator. Does anyone else do that? Oops. told on myself!

So that's the week in food. What's cookin' in your neck of the woods? Have a wonderfully frugal week!!! 

I just wanted to add that I will be linking up with Susie at SusieQTpies Scraps of Life for Menu Planning Monday. I just love her blog and am so glad I found it. Go check her out!
                                                     Hugs, Deb