THRIFTY THURSDAY

Evening Everyone..

Had a very prosperous day.. I got 2 big jobs done today when I actually thought I would only accomplish one.. Thank you Kimberly for helping me get that done.. Also landed a new contract so was a good money day for sure. This recipe is for Lindsay and Kelly as they are experimenting with their Christmas gift but as you can see it can very easily be adapted to a regular oven preparation..

Acti-Fry Chicken

with Pineapple

Ingredients

• 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips (about 1 cm x 3 cm/1/2 x 11/4 in)

• 1 spoon cornflour, plus extra to coat the chicken strips

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 spoon sunflower oil

• 1/2 spoon ground ginger

• 1/2 spoon mild curry powder (or choose medium, if you prefer)

• 250 g (9 oz) canned pineapple pieces (drained weight) in natural juice, drained (reserve the juice)

• 2 spoon light soy sauce

• 250 ml (9 fl oz) cold water

• 1/2-1 spoon light soft brown sugar, or to taste

• 2 spoon reserved pineapple juice

Directions
In a large bowl, lightly coat the strips of chicken with a mixture of cornflour, salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the ActiFry pan, then drizzle the oil evenly over the chicken.

Cook for 5 minutes.

Mix the ground ginger, curry powder and pineapple pieces with the soy sauce in a bowl, then pour this mixture evenly into the ActiFry and leave to marinade for 5 minutes.

Add the water and sugar.

Mix 1 ActiFry spoonful of cornflour with the pineapple juice in a small bowl, until smooth. Add this to the ActiFry.

Cook for a further 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and tender.

Serve with cooked, seasoned basmati rice.

Thrifty Thursday

Change all your incandecsent light bulbs to CFL(compact flourescent lights) Will not be long and you will not be able to buy any of the old type of light bulbs...

Organizing today..

Desk Drawers and File Drawer

Remember a few days ago when I said to clean the top of your desk well today how about the drawers in your desk... I know that my friend Pat has already done hers so here are some tips for the rest of you..
Before you begin I am sure that the hanging folders are bulging at the seams, nothing is in order, and most of it is just out-dated trash. I wonder if you could fit anything else in them. Probably not....At least the top of your desk is still clean right!!!!

1. Clean out the drawers first. If you like pretty, go out and buy new hanging folders. I like pretty! Get all of the supplies you may need before starting... i.e. Hanging file folders, labeler, manilla folders, and maybe a movie for the kids to watch while you meet this challenge.

2. Schedule in 2-3 hours for this project with no interuptions so a babysitter might be a good idea , maybe some Grandparenting might come in handy. I bet this will take you 2.5 hours.

3.Put on music, this will help with the impatience of wanting to get it done.
4. Start with purging all un-necessary papers. I really mean go through EVERY piece of paper and toss what you dont need. You'll be amazed at what you throw out. (This will take the longest, but you can do it!). Remember to shred personal information and do not toss.

Defined-benefit plan documents

Pension-plan documents from your current and former employers.

Estate-planning documents as well as copies of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that you have in your safe-deposit box. You should also make sure your executor have copies.

Life-insurance policies.

Safe-deposit box inventory and note the location of the box and your keys. Update the list once a year or as you add or remove documents. You should also keep photocopies at home of any documents you have stored in the box in case you need to refer to them..

5. There should not be anything in the filing cabinet at this point. Hang your new folders.
6. Now you can get out your labeler (or a good pen if you dont have a labeler).

7. Label all categories and stick them on the file folder.

8. Make sure to alphabetize your hanging folder. Its much easier when you go to find something.

Examples of Main Categories:
Insurance
Bank Accts.

Health Records

Utilities
Loans

Income taxes
Resumes
Investments
9. Now you will need your manilla folders and place however many you will need in each of the Main Category hanging folder...

10. The manilla folders are for you sub categories.

Example of this is

File Folder is Main Category... labeled Banks

Manila folder is Sub Category...labeled Royal , CIBC, BMO etc ( One for each one)

+++Make sure you alphabetize the sub categories within each hanging folder.+++

File Folder is Main Category ...Labeled Insurance

Manila Folder is Sub Category ...Home, Life, Auto, etc
File Folder is Main Category ...Labeled Utilities

Manila Folder is Sub Category... Gas, Electric, Water, Phone, Cable etc
I think you get the picture here. :)

11. Now, go at it. Start filing! Its as easy as that!

You will be proud of youself after you have completed this task. Your life will be much simpler. Make no excuses to get started. I bet this project does not cost you more then $30.00

If you are staying home and not having to drive anywhere , pour yourself a glass of wine and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Enjoy

Cheers

Granny

CROCKPOT WEDNESDAY

MORNING EVERYONE
It is a beautiful day up here. Not a cloud in the sky and all the roofs are covered in frost.. Yesterday morning I heard the birds , not this morning too cold today for them..Hope you all got some seed out for them.. I know that some of you have heard that seed attracts rats and that can be true with some kinds. But if you go to a nursery or Buckerfields or those of you in Langford can go to Valleyview they will let you know what kind to use to not attract Rats. I got a new client yesterday so I am getting together a quote for them this morning then I am off to Victoria to have dinner with Grumpys mom at her new home..She is now in assisted living and enjoying the friends and activies so that make me feel warm inside..

PENNE PASTA AND LENTIL SOUP



2 (19 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained
1 (1 lb) pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 chopped zuchinni
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/4 t basil
1/4 t garlic
1/4 t oregano
½ t salt
1 (12 oz) bottle vegetable juice cocktail
1 C water
1/2 C uncooked penne pasta(does not seem like a lot but it is enough)

How to Make It:

Place the beans, mixed vegetables and tomatoes into a 6qt crock pot.
Sprinkle in the basil, garlic, oregano and salt.
Pour the vegetable juice cocktail and water into the mixture and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on the low setting for 7 1/2 hours.
Stir in the uncooked pasta and increase the heat to high.
Recover and cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes or until the pasta is tender

Your organizing today will be

Under the Bathroom Sink
I know that I have been telling you to get containers and baskets at the $ store..Well last night I made a salad and had bought the lettuce leafs in one of those plastic containers that have the lid on top and thought wow this will be great for under my bathroom sink . Can stack one on top of each other and they are clear and once labeled can see what is in the containers... This has become my new storage containers , not real heavy but will do the job in my workshop and craft room. So lets get started.

-Take everything out from wherever you put your medicine/vitamins
-This is an important step... throw out all expired medicine & vitamins.
-Wipe it all out
-Categorize your medicine into sub-categories:
-Examples are -first aid, wraps, childrens meds, pain & fever, eyes/ears/nose/skin)
-label your containers

Those of you with small kids will be wanting to put the container with meds in a cupboard that is out of reach..This is also a good spot to put your reference books for medical care..Mine are where my cookbooks are so I think I will be moving them to under the bathroom sink...
Well back to work and talk to you later... Lindsay you get your Te-fal recipe tomorrow....
Enjoy
Cheers
Granny

TIPSY TUESDAY

EVENING EVERYONE

Another hectic day today, getting an order finished and delivered so now I am cooking a nice dinner for Grumpy he is going to be a bit late from work so that worked out perfect.. Tonight I am going to bake some cookies and muffins then they will be nice a fresh for when we have a ritual tea time at 8:00. I have not tried this recipe but it sure did look good. If you do not like avocado you can eliminate that and just use the tomatoes and cheese.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN

4 chicken breasts, skinned, split and boned

2 tbsp. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

8 slices tomato

2 avocados peeled and sliced

8 slices Swiss cheese
Pound chicken breasts between sheets of wax paper. Rinse and pat dry. Melt 2 tablespoons butter with garlic and brush meat. Season with salt and pepper. Broil, turning occasionally and basting with butter until golden brown. Top each breast with 1 tomato slice, 3 or 4 avocado slices and 1 slice Swiss cheese. Put under broiler 60 seconds to melt cheese.

Taste chicken with meat thermomater to make sure it is 175 degrees.

Tipsy Tuesday

The best way to store fresh celery is to wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in the refrigerator--it will keep for weeks.

Your organizing today is the SPICE CABINET

1. Take everything out of your spice cabinet
2. Wipe it clean!
3. Go through all of the spices and look at dates. There will be a lot of expired stuff in there!
4. Now grab your organizing baskets/bins and start catergorizing.
5. If you have a labeler you can use it here.
7. Now put it all back, nice and neat
Great Job!

For only a buck, you can get a ton of baskets from the dollar store. If you catergorize them in separate bins like:
1 Cooking spices
2. Baking spices
3. Grilling spices
4. Bulk spices
5. Baking
6. and a shelf for condiments & baking misc.

Make sure you label them at the front of the basket where they will be visible.Labeling the tops of your spices makes it easier to find what you need. Time saver for sure! Not pat yourself on the back cause how good does that look and easy to pull out and use..

Enjoy

Cheers

Granny

MENU MONDAY

Morning Everyone
Had a relaxing day yesterday...decided to make a meat loaf for supper with salad..now I have some cold meat loaf for a sandwich today for lunch. This week is going to be simple recipes and hopefully delicious...some I have made and some I have not . Today is a full work day for me..I have also posted a tefal actifry recipe for Kelly and Lindsay. Those of you without a Tefal can easily adapt the recipe to your own style of cooking

MONDAY ...Chicken Parmasan
TUESDAY...Penne Pasta and Lentils
WEDNESDAY...Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Chili
THURSDAY...ActiFry Chicken with Pineapple

FRIDAY...Lasagna Soup

Chicken Parmasan

Ingredients
4 slices whole-wheat bread (or bought bread crumbs)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
4 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 egg whites
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 (6 ounce) skinless boneless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
Olive oil cooking spray
1 jar good-quality marinara sauce (about 3 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons (1/2-ounce) shredded Parmesan

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the bread in the bowl of a food processor and process until fine crumbs are formed, about 25 to 30 seconds. Put the crumbs on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, until golden. (You will wind up with about 1 1/3 cups toasted crumbs.)
In a medium bowl, toss the crumbs with oregano, garlic powder, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and milk together. In a third bowl stir together the flour, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Dip each piece of chicken, 1 piece at a time, in flour, shaking off excess, then egg, then bread crumbs, shaking off excess.
Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. Place breaded breasts in a glass baking dish and spray on each side with cooking spray, about 5 seconds total per side. Bake breasts until cooked though and crumbs are browned, about 15 minutes. Top with marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbling.

I like to toast my bread crumbs that way it does not make the coating on the chicken soggy ..

Organizing challenge is TOYS

The key is to containerize EVERYTHING! Plastic shoe boxes are a wonderful invention. If it falls under the toy category, you can containerize it (unless its jumbo size... then stear clear). You need to have a container for all of the following toys in the toy room... and label them all. Remove all toys from their original boxes/containers (yes, I know that was hard to do) and put them in the plastic boxes. It will be much easier to stack and easier for the kids to utilize. I do not mean the board games just ones like
1. Polly Pockets
2.Little People
3. Mr. Potato Head
4. Fisher Price Loving Family
5. Play Food
6. Play dishes
7.Coloring Books
8.. Crayons/Markers/Paints
9.. Dress up Shoes
10. Horses
11. Matchbox Cars
12.Barbies
13. Flash Cards
14 Playdoh Tools

To containerize dvds, cds, and video games you need to use the containers that the stationary stores carry are made for holding these items. Put the movies on an inventory list in alphabetical order and once that is done then put a number down each one on the side of the list. Then number the movie sleeve with the same number that shows on the inventory list. if you can put 12 movies in the file box number that 1-12 and then the next box 13-25 etc. Its really easy for the kids to find a movie to watch. They just look on the clipboard find the number and voila..

Myself personally I would get rid of the boxes that the movies come in just put the dvd's in a paper sleeve , imagine how much space you would save .....

This will make it so much easier for the kids to put things away .. Most kids do not mind picking their toys up it is just that they get so confused when they are not sure where everything goes..For those of you who do not have kids that can read the labels how about you do it with different colours of paper labeled on the containers and then when you help them you can tell them what goes in what colour...make sure you put the name of the items on the box as well a good way for them to start to learn new words.

Well off to the dungeon to work today...Kimberly has a day off and coming up to give me a hand ..

Enjoy

Cheers

Granny

SIT DOWN SUNDAY

Morning Everyone

Another foggy day up here on the mountain..But I must say it does make for a great picture...Today is a football day... Want to see the Seahawks win and Grumpy is excited that his Packers won and my Leafs lost in a shootout won last night.. :0(

The appy plate I made last night was real good..we had homemade chicken wings, dry ribs, smoked salmon log and some carrots, celery and cherry tomatoes... Made to much but that is okay we will probably have a snack while watching the games today...Here is a picture of my platter..

Not sure how all of your Sit Down Sundays have been going I know that we have sort of been off the track a bit with cooking the Roasts and Yorkshire but will get back on it in a couple of weeks.

Got a bit of a hectic week next week with a couple of large work orders so I now know that the holidays are over and it is back to the grind...It is nice to work out of home but sometimes a one man show can be demanding...

No Challenge today cause you should probably still be doing your pantry...Hope it is looking good and you know you might of even found something that you forgot you had .

How about an extra 3C's this week.. Sounds good to me here it goes. I know that some of you followers are cricut owners..You do not need to have a cricut to do craft but I thought it would be good for kids to give their friends at school and not be to expensive.. Winners sells lollipops that are sugar free and about $2.99 a package and I think there are 25 in each bag.. I have attached the site to get you to the tutorial

http://myhandmadehappiness.blogspot.com/2011/01/kids-valentines-cards-with-cricut.html

Cheers

Granny

SHOPPING SATURDAY

Afternoon Everyone

We went for our Sat coffee at our local Serious Coffee. They have the best Broiche and different herbal teas.. Sit by the fireplace , read the paper and just have a great 1/2 hour of doing nothing. Grumpy headed down to Victoria to check out how the car is coming , I am home sitting by the fire and getting appy's ready for tonight and watch the hockey game. Back still not 100% ...Here is your shopping list for this week;

THRIFTYS
Sunlight washing soap buy 1 get 1 free
10 lb bag of russett potatoes $2.99
Green pepper $.99 per pound
Roma Tomatoes 4.99 per lb
Ragu Pasta Suce 700ml $1.99
VH Cooking Sauces 2 for $5.00
Bisquick.. 2 for $5.00

SUPERSTORE

$1.00 coupon on hot bbg chicken

Kraft Cracker Barrel Cheese 500 grams. $6.49 limit of 2

Triscuit and Ritz Crackers $1.68 limit of 2

Miracle Whip 890 ml $2.97 limit of 2

Kraft Salad Dressings $1.97 limit of 6

Bestselling Books 40% off

Red peppers 4 per bag $1.99

20 lb bag of red or russet potatoes $4.88

COUNTRY GROCER ( STARTS ON SUNDAY)

Heinz soup 2 for $.88 tomato is good for cooking

Kraft Grated Cheese 200 g $3.97

Large Cauliflower 2 for $5.00

Avacados 4 for $5.00

Baby Nugget Potatoes $1.67 lb

SAFEWAY

Source yogrt buy 1 get 1 free

Kraft dinner buy 1 get 1 free

Piazzas Pizza buy 1 get 1 free

Shred Cheese Kraft 380 g. $6.99

Sunlight dish soap buy 1 get 1 free

Fresh Express Salad kits 2 for $7.00

WALMART

Ground beef tubes. $1.97 great for making meatloafs

Seedles oranges $.77 lb

Kelloggs cereals 275g-475g 3 for $5.00

Alymer Tomatoes $1.00

Purex 12 Double Roll $5.48

Bananas $.77 lb

Fresh Pinapple $2.97 each

Boneless Chicken Breast $10.00 per pack

Maple Leaf Bacon $3.97 each

Dempster Wholegrain Breads $2.87

Fresh boneless Pork Seasoned Roasts $8.00 (Chili spiced real good)

Chees Whiz 1kg $6.97

Glad freezer or storage bags $2.98

Fast and Fancy Uncle Bens $.88

Latch boxes for Organizing Challenges $5.00 (set of 3)

Here is your Organizing Challenge for today. I have saved it for today cause it might take you 2 days to do so today and tomorrow will work out good. It is your:

PANTRY

Mine always seems to be an eyesore.I hate not knowing what is inside my pantry . I find these 6 tips might help you get it organized.

1.Clear, Discard & Sort

Remove all the items from the pantry and place into boxes based product similarity (i.e. cereals, snacks, canned soups, pasta, baking products, etc.). In the process, check expiration dates and throw away products that have expired {recycle the container / packaging if possible}. These boxes are only temporary until you sort and put in the containers that you want in your pantry.

2. Clean pantry shelves and floor with a damp towel.
3. Make it Pretty.Use decorative storage containers to hold certain items {i.e. tea, rice, flour } to help you maintain a clutter-free pantry. I particularly like baskets, tins and jars to hide unsightly items. You can go and get some Mason jars for your glass container and the $1.00 baskets all in one colour . It is much easier to pull out a basket that holds you pastas, soups or seasonings..

4. Arrange it with the most used baskets in the front of the shelf and eye level except for heavy items should be at floor level or bottom shelf. If you do not have a large pantry and room in your linen closet you could always use the floor of the linen closet to hold your large containers of flour and sugar....

5. The baskets at the back of your shelves should be larger and labeled so that you know what is in them to get at those baskets all you have to do is pull out the front baskets..Now Livi got her Cricut for Christmas so labeling now for her should be no problem and know that she can make her jars and basket labels look great...

6. Cookbooks in a basket that fits from front to back is a very handy way to get a your books..largest book at the back and smallest at the front. If you have a floor to your pantry this is a good spot for them as well or the bottom shelf.

I hope this helps you out with the pantry and another tip would be for you to write down everything that is in your pantry and then tuck that list in a front basket and each time you take something out you can cross it off. This is a list that you should be checking each time you go shopping like I had said in one of my first posts cause that stops you wondering if you have it at home...

Well talk to you tomorrow as I am going to call my Girlfriend Marilyn as it is her birthday today and she is in Tulsa at the Chili Bowl , that is a sprint car race,but I know that they are also very Chilly there as well.

Cheers

Granny

FAST FOOD FRIDAY

Morning Everyone

Not much happening today , my back is still tender hopefully resting this weekend will get it back to snuff...If not off to the clinic..It has sure been foggy up here the last couple of days looking outside I can not see the hills , just makes everything gloomy.. Gloomy day think I might make some cabbage rolls for the freezer...

TACO SALAD

1 lb. ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning mix

1 head of lettuce, cut in long lengthwise strips

3-4 sliced scallion

3-4 diced fresh tomatoes

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup corn chips

Fat free Catalina salad dressing

tortilla bowls (optional)

Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain fat, add taco seasoning mix and prepare as directed on package. Set aside.
In a large salad bowl combine: cut lettuce, sliced scallions, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, seasoned ground beef, corn chips, and salad dressing.

Toss gently and serve immediately in tortilla bowls

Your organizing challenge today is The Coat Closet

I thought today would be the perfect day to conquer a closet... the coat closet if you have one. If you don't, then organize another closet in your home. Anyways... this is a "hot spot" for me because I dont have a lot of storage in my house so this is where it all goes. Our coats which we have way to many get hung with Grumpys on one side and mine on the other . Again take everything out and replace all the hangers with sturdy plastic one not those flimys metal ones they are not very good for a heavy winter coat. Sweep out the dust bunnies and if you also use this closet to put your shoes or boots in maybe a plastic boot tray for the floor..Time to use your containers on the top shelf that will hold mitts and scarves and for us games as well.. I do not think I have played a board game in years but we do play Mexican Train. I feel like I have made a world of new friends. You are all special to me and I hope you keep coming by to "visit". Tommorrow you challenge is a big one but one I know you have been wanting to do for quite sometime...

Still have a Pay if Forward 2011 Sock Monkey.. come on board...

Enjoy

Cheers

Judy