Cranberry Pecan Muffins

We have like 100 little bags of dried cranberries.

The kids don't really like eating them right out of the bag so I decided to find a way to use them.

I found a recipe for Cranberry Pecan Muffins.

I added some coconut, because I had it and it sounded good.

YUM!

Especially if you put butter on them.

You should make some! 

Especially if you have like 100 little bags of dried cranberries.

I joined The Grocery Game - Again

A couple of years ago a friend told me about The Grocery Game.  It sounded wonderful so I signed up.  At the time it would only cost me $1.  I figured, at that price, I was willing to give it a try.  I think I saved some money, I can't really remember.  But, recently I rejoined.  It cost me $15 this time, but I knew it was worth it.  I paid $10 for the first store I chose and $5 for the second (each store after the first would cost $5).  Honestly, I think it's worth it.  But, don't be alarmed!  If you would like to join then it's FREE for you for 4 weeks!  Simply go to https://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Free_Trial.cfm?function=order&smt=0&srm=1 and sign up.  If you say that I refered you (vernitta_w at yahoo dot com) then I get a couple of weeks free (if I refer a certain number of people)

Not sure what I'm talking about?
The Grocery Game is a website that can save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill each month. Log in, spend a few minutes with a pair of scissors, and you're off to win The Grocery Game!
When you play, you'll get a weekly list (called Teri's List) of the lowest-priced products at your supermarket matched with manufacturers' coupons and weekly specials -- advertised and unadvertised. The Grocery Game does all the hard work and research, and presents it to you in a straightforward format.
It's not a contest or really a game.  It's just a way to save money on groceries and other household items.

A couple of days ago I got my list and coupons together and we headed off to Safeway.  But, things were not going as I had planned.  There were things that were supposed to be on sale, based on my list, that weren't.  I had the wrong list!  Why?  Because we lived in one zipcode, but shopped in another.  Yes, there was a Safeway in our zipcode, but this one was closer.  But, even though I had the wrong list we still saved $45!  $45 people!  I was so excited!  But, at the same time I was disappointed.  Disappointed, because if I had had the right list we could have saved even more money.  If you join I recommend putting in the zipcode of the store that you frequent instead of your's, just in case you don't live in the same zipcode.
  
Now on the list that I had printed out it had said that Del Monte Fruit Naturals Cups were on sale for $1.  But, guess what?  I had found a coupon that wasn't listed for Buy 3 get a $1 off!  Doesn't that sound wonderful!?  So go and find other coupons.  Do you have favorite brands?  Go to their website and sign up for their newsletter.  Google " 'favorite product' coupons" and see what you get.  You would be surprised.

Also, sign up for newsletters from your favorite restaurants.  Jarrod and I like to go to Chevy's.  We signed up for their newsletters and about 2-3 a month we get a coupon for "Order one combo and the second (of equal or lesser value) is only $2.99" (sometimes $3.99).  Their combos are so big that it's two meals.  So we end up spending roughly $16.49 on four meals.  That's less than $5 a meal!

Also, take a look at this website.  Jarrod had googled "feeding a family for a week"  (He was looking for more information about this.) and found this.  It is what got me interested in couponing again.  That, and I saw my sister, Rebekka's, posts on facebook about using coupons.

Not My Favorite Week

Ugh!  This week!  I'm hating this week and I'm eager for it to be over.
Thursday, I think it was, we got a letter on our door letting us know that there will inspections this week.  The day before that we got one saying a meeting has been scheduled for us with the manager of the place we live in.  Also, there is a guy that's going to come and inspect our fire sprinklers... tomorrow.  So that left me Friday day, Saturday, and today to make this place shine.  Let's just say that it's an exhausting thing to do when you have 2.5 tornadoes living with you. 
It's the end of today and although my house is cleaner, it's still not what I would call clean.  The guy starts inspecting each place at 7:30 in the morning.  That leaves me somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour and a half to finish everything.  I should be in bed right now, but I'm in a little bit of pain (Aunt Flo) and I don't want to lay there stressing about the manager leaving another note on our door saying our place is too cluttered and she needs to inspect it again.  Only for her to not show up, but leave another note saying she's coming and still not show up.  Yeah, she really did that.  It stresses me out every time.  I hate living here.  I hate the invasion of privacy.  But, I guess I have to deal with it until God moves us.  No telling when that's going to happen.  Certain things have taken place (I've been asked not to tell yet) that might change our plan of moving to New Mexico.  So now that's up in the air.
We've been having some awesome services at church!  We are in the middle of transitioning from one building to another and we've been having revival services Sunday night, Thursday night, and Friday night.  Along with the normal services Sunday morning and Wednesday night.  That's the light that shines during this week. 
Oh, and I have a dreaded doctor's appointment Thursday.  I don't want to talk about it.  I just want this week to be over. 

Ingredient of the Week - Oregano

Tonight I threw stuff together and called it enchilada casserole.  But, it wasn't really a casserole. 
I browned some meat, threw in crushed garlic, chopped, fresh oregano, and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles.  Before that, though, I had cut up some corn tortillas and fried them just to add some moisture in my cast iron skillet I got for Christmas.  I mixed all that together, sprinkled cheese on top and threw it into the oven.  I served it with guacamole, sour cream, and cheese dip.  Afterwards I wished I would've remembered to add the can of corn and make some rice.  And, buy a can of refried beans.  But, that's what I made tonight with oregano.  My husband just told me he didn't notice any in the food tonight.  I'm thinking this one doesn't count.

Ingredient of the Week - Week 2

Oregano!

Oregano is an important culinary herb. It is particularly widely used in Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Latin American, and Italian cuisine. It is the leaves that are used in cooking, and the dried herb is often more flavourful than the fresh.

Oregano is often used in tomato sauces, fried vegetables, and grilled meat. Together with basil, it contributes much to the distinctive character of many Italian dishes.

It is commonly used by local chefs in southern Philippines when boiling carabao or cow meat to eliminate the odor of the meat, and to add a nice, spicy flavor.

Oregano combines nicely with pickled olives, capers, and lovage leaves. Unlike most Italian herbs, oregano works with hot and spicy food, which is popular in southern Italy.

Oregano is an indispensable ingredient in Greek cuisine. Oregano adds flavor to Greek salad and is usually added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies many fish or meat barbecues and some casseroles.

In Turkish Cuisine, oregano is mostly used for flavoring meat, especially for mutton and lambs meat. In barbecue and kebab restaurants, it can be usually found on table, together with paprika, salt and pepper.

The dish most commonly associated with oregano is pizza. Its variations have probably been eaten in Southern Italy for centuries. Oregano became popular in the US when returning WW2 soldiers brought back with them a taste for the “pizza herb”.
 
Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids.  Additionally, oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. Both of these characteristics may be useful in both health and food preservation. In the Philippines, oregano (Coleus aromaticus) is not commonly used for cooking but is rather considered as a primarily medicinal plant, useful for relieving headaches and coughs.