Our cheap eats meal of the day

I thought I might share tonight's cheap and easy eats.

We have access to some good quality Amish raised poultry through a local grocery chain. They raise the chickens with no junk pumped into their systems (antibiotics, hormones, etc). I picked up a 10# bag of leg quarters for .69/#. Today I cooked it all up in two batches in my crockpot.

At dinner time I deboned some of the chicken and mixed it with my taco seasoning (recipe posted below). We then made quesadillas with the chicken and some cheddar cheese. I served them with corn, sour cream taco sauce, a can of refried beans (never learned to make these, any suggestions?) and tomatoes. The family was satisfied.

My taco seasoning- the pouches at the store never were quite right, we really like this mixture better

4 parts chili powder
1 part oregano
2 1/2 parts cumin
3 parts onion salt
2 parts garlic powder

Why I don't follow Flylady

I promised almost a week ago that I would write out why I will never do flylady. It seems that she and I have one major differing of opinions that I just can't get over. You know how it is, no matter how much you love some people they just have this one *thing* that they see so completely different from you that the two of you just can't seem to get along? Well that would be the way it is for Flylady and me. She is a wonderful person with a great way of keeping your home clean, I would recommend her to anyone. However, I personally will not follow her methods. I may use some of her ideas here and there, but I will never be a full fledged flybaby (her term for those who follow her methods).
So, after all of that, what you may ask, is the big issue that keeps me from being a flybaby?


Are you ready?


I know this will be hard to believe, but it is true...




She expects me to wear shoes. Inside the house! -and not just any shoes either, they have to have shoelaces.

Now, you would have to know me a little better to understand how big of an issue this is for me. I don't like to wear shoes. In the house its bear feet, or in the winter when the temps are cold I use slippers and socks. When I go somewhere I wear sandals or the like. Since I do live in an area that gets snow in the winter I also have a pair of boots that I will wear if the snow is at least an inch or more. *But* the only reason I even own a pair of shoes with laces is because I wanted to start walking more often last year. I only wear them if I am going for a walk, alone and fast. Usually anymore with the neighborhood going downhill those walks are only on the treadmill. Other then that I do not wear them at all.

So there you have it. The reason hwy I will never be a flybaby. I hope you all don't hold it against me. ;)

Doesn't this look wonderful?

I saw this recipe on a tea company's website. I know people have versions that use graham crackers as a base but this looks even better. I would definitely use dark chocolate for the topping.

Shortbread Base
Preheat oven to 300°. Grease and line an 8" x 12" baking pan. In a bowl combine 6 oz. flour and 2 oz. sugar. Cut in 4 oz. cubed, cold butter til crumbly and forms a stiff ball. It does take a bit of time. Do not add liquid. When ready, press the dough evenly into the baking tray. Bake for approximately 20 minutes in a cooler than usual oven. When done, set aside to cool.

Toffee Filling
In saucepan melt 4 oz. butter with 3-1/2 oz. sugar. When the sugar has dissolved, add 2 tblsp corn syrup and 7 oz. condensed milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. It will thicken and become golden in color. As soon as this happens, spread it over the shortbread and allow it to cool.

Chocolate Topping
In a microwave or over a pan of hot water, melt 7 oz. chocolate (milk or dark, your choice) with 4 tblsp. water. Stir til smooth and pour over the toffee. Let it set for an hour or more before cutting. Lasts about a week in the refrig (if you're lucky).

Thursdays Thankful Thirteen (5)

I tried to send this through last night (all Thursday Thankful posts should really be posted *on* Thursdays, you know?) but my internet was not working for some reason. So here it is, on Friday-

I thought I would focus this week's edition of my thirteen things I am thankful for on different aspects of my job as wife/mother/homemaker/home teacher:

1) Serving my family- to many being able to serve others is not something to be thankful for, but I feel blessed by God to have the chance to serve those I love.

2) Being the one who gets to see my children's eyes light up the first time they 'get' a concept they are learning.

3) Sharing a special bond with my husband like I share with no other.

4) the knowledge that Dan and I are committed for life.

5) I can be myself and they will still love me anyway :)

6) the flexibility being a stay-at-home home schooling mom offers.

7) Not having to wake up every morning and rush off to work.

8) I get to spend lots of time with Dan and the kids.

9) My husband is very supportive and empathetic when I am troubled.

10) I am thankful that God guides me through this all and gives me the wisdom I need to do my job.

11) That my family's love is big enough to cover my mistakes, they don't hold grudges.

12) For my husbands strong desire to be the provider for his family, even now while he is unable to work.

13) for the networkk of friends I have to support me, give me advice and pray for me.

God's blessings

Today I got a great blessing from God. I spent four hours fellowshipping with a friend from church. She is a wonderful lady and it has been quit awhile since we last got together. She then watched my children for almost an hour while I went to the grocery store. We wont mention the fact that she is Mexican and served me her wonderful but simple Mexican rice and some bean soup for lunch. I wonder if she would mind me posting her rice recipe here? She then gave me the leftovers to take home to Danny.
By the way, someone asked why I don't post pictures here. I have (check the archives for the Pictures with Baby Day amongst a few others) but not recently. I guess that is the nudge I need to get me to post some more often.

Reading Books

My oldest is 2/3'rds of the way through with the book Anne of Green Gables. I think she will have read it through in a week's time. She is really enjoying it and when I told her that there were at least 6 or 7 more books in the series she was thrilled. She is following her mother in her choices of reading material. I not only read all of the Anne books, but also read every other book by L. M. Montgomery our local library had.
Then there is the library of classics we have. My mom said that they are abridged but they don't say that anywhere so I am not sure. It is a set of hardbacks and includes stuff like Moby Dick, Jane Eyre, Last of the Mohicans, etc. This very set of books was read by my mom, myself and now Charlotte has worked her way through a few of the stories.
I could still read any of the above books- Anne or the classics. I also really like Beverly Lewis' books on the Amish people or any sort of historical fiction.

Ebates website

A few months ago a neat website was brought to my attention- Ebates.com If you sign up with ebates and then go shopping online through their website you earn cash back on everything you buy. I bought some things at Office Depot and earned 3% cash back and then went to Puritans Pride and earned 7% cash back. Right now Ebates is offering a deal- anyone who signs up through my link and buys something from a store through Ebates will earn themselves $5 and also earn me $5. I figure if they pay you to shop online then what is not to like about it? Plus they also send out an email every week of stores that are offering special deals and every day you can go to their site and see who is offering double cash back.