Category Archives: Cooking

Healthy Food how to cook. cooking, food, tasty Tuesday, and recipe post with food photography Family cooking

Menu Planning Monday

May 30, 2016 superexhausted

Since I have been back working out side of the house the hardest thing has been making dinner when I get home. I feel like planning our meal is more Important now then ever before. I have my son set up meals but that means I have to have all the directions written out.

This past weekend was memorial day. It was great weekend for burger and corn. We are extending it a few more days with an easy meal.

Tuesday: Hot Dogs, tater tots

Wednesday: Crock Pot Taco Chicken

Thursday: Pizza

Friday: Ravioli

Enjoy your week

Cooking, Product Reviews

My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

May 1, 2016 superexhausted 1 Comment

My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save : Several years ago when our family budget challenging because I decided to stay home with the kids. I discover Aldi’s which at the time no one I knew shopped there, I did because it was less expensive. As the economy changed more and more of my friends discovered the secret of Aldi’s . I have actually learned Aldi’s is the parent company of everyone’s beloved Traders Joes.. yes it is true.

Here are Just some of my favorite items I purchase on a regular basis.

Clancy’s Potato Chips $1.49 Just as good as Lays and saves you a fortune if you have 5 teenage boys show up at your home.

Simple Nature Organic Salsa $1.89 it is organic salsa, it was loved by my entire family.

Savoritz Saltines Crackers $.75 They are very good my kids eat them with cream cheese or peanut butter , they are great and way cheaper than brand name Saltines at $2.49

Basics Salad Dressing $ .89 (Italian or Ranch) great for marinades or dips.

Friendly Farms Greek nonfat Yogurt $.69 (2.79 for 4) verses name brand $3.89

Happy Farm Shredded Cheese 4Cups $3.29 (grocery store is 2 cups for 2.49= 4 cups $5) even on sale $1.89 store sale $3.78

Benner Classic Tea Bags Individual Wraps $1.89 vs Lipton $5.00

Bakers Corner Double Chocolate Quick muffins $1.89- I makes these muffins in 12 pan cupcake pan and send them to swim team. The recipe is for 6 muffins but spreading them out works better for us. They mix has chocolate chips which makes them super yummy and a favorite in our home.

Fit & Active Peach Ice Tea $1.69 This is comparable to Crystal Light or Whelches Peach Tea I actually Like the Fit &Light over the Name Brands not as sweet. Please note they usually run out.

Sundae Shop Ice pops (with or without sugar) 24 count $2.19

Simply Nature Organic Black Beans $.79

I love Aldi it is one of my favorite place to shop. Once you find your favorite it can save you thousands of dollar a year. I love to cook and saving on great items makes me really happy. I have more favorite to share with be sure to check back next week for more of my favorites.

Check out my post on how to save big at Target!

Linking up to Motivation Monday

Cooking

Meal Planning with Teens

March 13, 2016 superexhausted

Daylight savings time always messes me up. I never know what time it is. I never really understood the purpose of daylight saving ..because of Farmers and longer time in the field but it is unnecessary. This morning I think my Iphone changed but the clock I have which changes automatically is pre 2008 so my clock turns automatically a few weeks prior to the current week of March 13th so I seriously was so confused this morning.

I finally figured it out feeling like a confused child.

This week is a fun week the schools Talent show. I have my moms group and my sons volunteer. It is also St Patrick’s Favorite so My favorite Holiday Meat! Corned Beef!!

Meal Planning with Teens

Monday : Pork Chops, Rice and Black Beans

Tuesday: Roasted Chicken Mac n Cheese

Wednesday London Broil, egg noodles, cauiflour

Thursday: St Patrick day Corned Beef, Potatoes and Cabbage

Friday Taco Night, Re-fried Beans, Yellow Rice

Saturday: Pasta Night red sauce with sausage

Linking Up with Motivation Monday and Menu Plan Monday

Cooking

Meal Planning with Teens

March 9, 2016 superexhausted

Meal Planning with Teens: This week is busy! I had a mean plan set up but did not get a chance to share it til today. This week my daughter has practices for the talent show and also the church play audition results. We are excited for her this week. My son is doing alot after school so he has been busy coming and going. I have been busy looking for a full time job, which has been a daunting task. My husband has been home at a decent time every night so sit down family meals are really important to connect with all they moving parts in our family.

This Saturday I am hosting my sons friends a delayed birthday. He has requested homemade Shrimp Spring Rolls, Pot Stickers, Fried Rice. He decided when I made them a few weeks ago it was his preferred birthday meal with his friends. It is less work then the homemade sushi party we did a few years ago.

Meal Planning with Teens

Monday: Asia General Taos with white rice and store bought egg rolls (quick meal)

Tuesday: Baked Chicken, Cauliflower, Rice a Roni (my son loves it it was a processed treat)

Wednesday : Quiche Ham and cheese and Spinach Quiche

Thursday; Pork Chops, Cauliflower, Tator Tots

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Homemade Shrimp Spring Rolls, Pot Stickers, Fried Rice

This next week is busy so I am looking for great Planning ideas that I can get on the table.

Cooking

Tips for Budget Menu Planning with Teenagers

February 15, 2016 superexhausted

Tips for Budget Menu Planning with Teenagers: We are back to a somewhat 1/2 busy life. Swimteam is over and no more 5am practices, I have to drive him too. Also hopefully he will start to eat a little less but with a son that is over 6’1” at 14 that might not change. Also this week he turns 15, which makes me really sad to know he is growing up so fast.

Since things are currently slow with my superhero cape business I try to be keeping an eye out for great deals. I love Aldi and many grocery stores have wonderful deals on meat. Which my family loves their protein is my biggest expense. I know Shoprite puts chicken on sale 40% off every few weeks, Fresh Market has Chicken Breast and Fresh Farm Raised Ground Beef on sale for $3.99 a lb every Tues. If I am out towards Fresh Market I make it on a Tuesday.

A few weeks ago I was able to pick up a Ditz and Watson semi bone less ham for $9.08 for 16 lb. I also purchase a smaller ham for 8lb for $5. We made soup, steaks, and breakfast for a week on the 8 lb ham. When I went to the store the hams were on mangers special. They we not expired till April, the manger just need the room. The large ham we will save for Easter.

I find my deal my deals early morning after 7am I go right after I drop my son off at school. I know many bloggers say late at night, but mornings always work best at my stores.

How to menu plan on a budget with teens:

Monday: Rack of ribs (sale $5.30) Loaded Baked Potatoes ($2.00) and Saute Spinach ($2)
Tuesday: Tacos Venison (free), Rice ($1), Cheese ($1), Salsa (fridge)
Wednesday: Chili : Beef 1/12 Pound ($5) Beans 2 cans ($2.79) Onion (.50)
Thursday: Aisa Style chicken thigh ($4 /8 thighs) and Fried Rice (left over rice from Tues with broccoli )
Friday: Soup Potato Cheese and Broccoli

Breakfast:
Eggs sandwiches, Banana Smoothies, eggs and avocados

Lunches :
My husband: does leftovers altering days,
My son: started bringing sandwiches
My daughter: loves cold cereal in a bag with veggies and fruit- Everyone get a brown paper bag of stove top popcorn. (made fresh every morning)
Me: Spinach salad, with varieties of topping, been, nuts, olives

Afterschool snack:
Ready made soup, fruit, home banana bread, cupcakes, gram crackers

That is this week:
Be sure to check out my $40 Amazon Gift Card and Dark Rising Book Giveaway

Cooking

Warm Shrimp Nest Salad

February 3, 2016 superexhausted

This Shrimp Nest Salad is lovely shrimp served on top of spaghetti squash pancake served with Ragu sauce on a bed of baby arugula that was tossed in balsamic vinegar sprinkled with creamy goat cheese. A healthy option that tastes of a splurge.

1 24oz Jar of Ragu 7 Herb Thick and Chunky
1 Spaghetti Squash
4 oz Parmareggio Cheese grated
2 Eggs
8 oz Shrimp – cleaned, deveined, butterfly
¼ teaspoon of Minced Garlic
4 cups Baby Arugula (2 -4oz packages)
Balsamic Vinegar
8oz Goat Cheese crumbled
1 tablespoon Butter
¼ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Pepper

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
2. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, place face down in shallow glass pan, with water to cover bottom of pan ,
3. Roast Squash in oven 45 min till skin is fork tender. (I recommend roasting night before so has time to cool in refrigerator)
4. Scrape out the spaghetti squash into bowl (should be stringing) allow to cool
5. Drain any liquid off squash, Add 2 eggs, parmareggio cheese, salt, and pepper mix
6. In a preheated frying pan add little butter, Place small amounts of squash mixture flattening in to small (size of your palm) pancakes (too big you won’t flip)
7. Fry carefully till both sides are golden brown, remove set on side
8. Place Ragu in a pot and bring to temperature
9. Take shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper sauté in a pan with garlic till pink and non translucent cooked
10. Lay baby arugula on plate, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar
11. Stack Spaghetti Squash Pancake, Ragu Sauce, Shrimp, and sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles.

Printable version Warm_shrimp_nest_salad

Enjoy

Cooking

Menu Planning Monday

January 25, 2016 superexhausted

This week is starting out with school being off from the big snow we had, Thanks Josha, everyone is home on Monday. Though I am looking forward to being able to sleep in 3 days in a row. These weeks meal plan is easy homemade food.

Monday: Shepard’s Pie

Tuesday: Perogies and Kelbasa

Wednesday: Potato soup

Thursday: Baked Chicken, potatoes, asparagus

Friday: Pasta and sausage tomatoes

Cooking

How to Budget Meal Planning with Teens

January 18, 2016 superexhausted

How to Budget Meal Planning with Teens: This week has been fun another 3 day weekend. The Kids are home for MLK day, I stitched up some hats for my daughter service project at school here are the instruction one seam fleece hat on my old blog. With the weekend off I am busy feeding my big teenage all weekend. He is swimming everyday.

Check out my Madeline Pans purchased from a thrift store. I love them they are so pretty. Here is recipe I used to make the Madeleine Cookies. I would like to say I had more to take a photo but they have a short 24 shelf life, the family gobbled them up. I love finding great cooking and baking item at a thrift store or good will it saves you money and the older ones are seasons. Let someone else pay retail. It allows me to try out new ideas in cooking and baking with out the investment.

What to feed my family and stay on a budget ? Because of the colder weather I love soups and my family is a big soup eaters. The key is a great filling starch soup like potato or split pea. Add a loaf of bread and it is a fantastic meal

How to Budget Meal Planning with Teens:

Monday: Homemade spring rolls $ 9 and steamed dumplings $6 clear broth seaweed soup
Tuesday: Split Pea Soup $6 (ham bone in fridge) and Homemade bread $2
Wednesday: Swimteam Pizza Fundraiser $18
Thursday: Pork chops $5, Rice $2 and Black Beans $1
Friday: London Broil $7, Roasted Potatoes $2, and Roasted Cauliflower $3

Link up with : Organizing Junkie and Motivation Monday

Cooking

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

January 9, 2016 superexhausted

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

You might recall that I have been to some great Macys Culinary Council Events over the past few months. There is a new event coming up this next Thursday and you can come! Macy’s Culinary Council Ming Tsai and Todd English are hosting cooking demo and cookbook signing. I adore these James Beard Award chefs. Every Saturday I watch Mings Kitchen on PBS, he is really refreshing with his goal is to “Make People Happy with food.” I also love Todd English’s approach to food, he looks at food as a total experience bringing exception food that please your palette. I am really looking forward to learning from both these masters.

The one thing about the Macys events, I know always walk away with great “take-aways” from the Macys Culinary Council Chefs. You too can come and learn this Thursday! At the Macy’s City Center (location the old Wanmakers Building next to city hall) I love these event because not only is it a small crowd but they are super fun with music and food, so come with a friend. Macys provides cocktails and samples of all the food Chefs Ming Tsai and Todd English prepare in the cooking demo. I hope you come and join me.

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

• Macy’s Center City
• Culinary Council Chef Todd English and Chef Ming Tsai
• Philadelphia, PA
• Thursday, January 14th – 5:30pm
• Make sure you RSVP through this EventBrite link to reserve your seat for the event Click Here http://macyscookingdemophilly.eventbrite.com
• Tickets to the event are FREE

Plus, with any purchase* of $35 or more in the Home Department, receive a $10 gift card, a special gift, and a chance to take a photo with the chefs.**

Read more here for all the extra details!

Todd English is a renowned chef and restaurateur, author, and Emmy-nominated television star based in Boston, MA and New York City. He is a four-time James Beard Award winner and inductee into the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who in Food and Beverage in America.” Todd has authored four critically acclaimed cookbooks, with his most recent, Cooking In Everyday English released in October 2011. I hope they serve this Todd English cocktail recipe is this Peach Frizzante Martini

Ming Tsai is the James Beard Award-winning chef/owner of two restaurants – Blue Ginger and Blue Dragon. Also an Emmy Award-winner, Ming hosts PBS-TV’s Simply Ming, now in its eleventh season. Ming is the author of five cookbooks, including his latest Simply Ming In Your Kitchen. I am really hopping that they serve Ming Tsai Handmade Dumpling with shrimp and bean filling because I really want to watch him make them.

I truly enjoy the intimate feeling of these events. Hope to see there on Thursday and make sure you say hello!

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

Cooking, LIfe

Meal Planning 1 4 2016

January 4, 2016 superexhausted

Welcome New Year. May people pick a work that embodies the object for the year, My friend Hillary Chybinski always tells me about her word for the year. So this year I decided to pick a word. Since this is my 1st time having an objective or theme word. I decided to pick something I need to work on.

So..

My goal or word for the New Year is to “Finish”. I am great at starting things but loose interest .. it might be the kids lack of interest or myself diagnosed Adult Attention Deficit. I am going back and finishing old sew projects or finish all those blog post I hope to bring to you.

This past weekend I worked on several old projects. I finished some pj bottoms that have been sitting next to my sewing machine for my daughter. I also worked on a quilt I started in 2003, I really don’t love the pattern but I am determined to finish because I already have so much time invested.

This week I hope to finish a few more projects. I will be sure to share them with you as I go.

So are you doing a Resolution or Word of the year?

Meal Planning

I am back to meal planning after a month of no planning, I get very use to meal planning when I am not planning my family does not run as smooth, I get a lot of what are we eating and I never have the right food in the house. I am going to try to planning out a little more at one time trying to schedule out 2 weeks and plan better.

Monday : Pulled Pork with homemade potato wedges

Tuesday : Chicken Thighs with rice and black beans

Wednesday: Ravioli soup from SmallTownWoman

Thursday: Fried Rice with chicken and pork (re-purposing left overs)

Friday: Homemade pizza

Have a Great Week and enjoy the fresh start of the new year!

Linking up to Organizing Junkie Menu Planning and Motivation Monday

Superexhausted

Category Archives: Cooking

Menu Planning Monday

My top 10 Favorite Things to buy at Aldi and Save

Meal Planning with Teens

Meal Planning with Teens

Meal Planning with Teens

Meal Planning with Teens

Tips for Budget Menu Planning with Teenagers

How to menu plan on a budget with teens:

Warm Shrimp Nest Salad

Menu Planning Monday

How to Budget Meal Planning with Teens

How to Budget Meal Planning with Teens:

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

Macy’s Philly hosting Ming Tsai and Todd English cooking demo

Meal Planning 1 4 2016

Meal Planning

This is my super life uncensored