Easter Crafts and Recipes

4 Apr posted by

I absolutely love Easter.  It’s a time to celebrate a Savior who is risen.  It’s also a time to celebrate new life and spring.  At our house, we do lots of fun food crafts to celebrate Easter.  We also whip up some tasty treats and dye easter eggs.  Since Easter is just a few days away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite family crafts and recipes as well as some favorites from around the web.

Make sure to check them all out.

Easter Peeps Tutorial

Cocoa Krispies Nests

Resurrection Rolls

Dangling Egg Wreath & 6 Other Cute Easter Crafts

Instructions for boiling and dyeing eggs and lots of great recipes

Easter Popcorn Munchies

I love the idea of Easter Popcorn Munchies.  I’m actually planning on making this and putting it in cute bags to add to my girls Easter baskets.  It’s a great way to make the baskets look a little fuller without breaking the bank!

Make sure to check out all these fun recipes and crafts!  You’ll be able to spend precious time with your kids making memories (and tasty treats)!

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Filed Under: Crafts, Recipes

Chicken Pot Pie: A Quick & Easy Dinner Solution

21 Dec posted by

Mmm...chicken pot pie!

I don’t have a huge stockpile. I live in a small house with no pantry and very little cabinet space which means I don’t have a whole lot of room for food storage. And although I don’t have a whole room of my house devoted to my canned goods and toiletries, I’ve learned first hand how important it can be to have an emergency food supply.

Before you start asking for emergency preparedness advice, I should probably tell you my food supply is not for true emergencies. I don’t keep freeze dried food on hand, but having a few meals in the freezer and having the ingredients to throw together a quick meal has saved my sanity time and time again.

One of my favorite go-to quick and easy meals is chicken pot pie. It takes less than 5 minutes of prep time and then you can just throw it in the oven for 45-60 minutes.

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up a chicken pot pie.

  • 2 cups chicken (I cook chicken in the crockpot and then I freeze it in 2 cup increments) You could also use rotisserie chicken if you’re pressed for time.
  • 1 large can or 2 small cans Veg-All (drained) OR 1 bag frozen vegetables (if you use frozen vegetables, it may take longer to cook)
  • 1 small can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 small can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crust (I always use Pillsbury)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix chicken, veggies, and soup together. Place pie crust in pie pan and fill with chicken mixture. Place second pie crust on top of chicken mixture and pinch edges of pie crusts together. Place slits in pie crust with a knife. Bake for 45 minutes to 60 minutes or until mixture begins to bubble.

Voila! You have a meal you can easily throw together in case of a dinner emergency!

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Filed Under: Recipes

Thanksgiving Resources: Recipes and Crafts

21 Nov posted by

Thanksgiving is just a few days away!  While many of you are all set and ready to go for Thanksgiving, some of you may still be looking for a fun craft or a tasty recipe!  I’ve put together a list of some fun Thanksgiving Resources!

Oreo Turkey Pops (pictured above)

Free eCookbook – The Ultimate Thanksgiving eCookbook from Mr. Food.

Free eCookbook – 25 Scrumptious Pies & Desserts for Thanksgiving and Beyond!

Free ebook – 24 Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes and Fall Craft Projects featuring 54 pages of Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas and Thanksgiving decorations.

Free eCookbook – 38 Best Soup Recipes and Hearty Stews Substitute turkey for chicken in these recipes for a great way to use up your leftover turkey!

13 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

No Bake Pilgrim Hat Cookies Here’s a fun project to do with the kids and a great time Easy enough for the kids to make on their own and a great way to keep them busy while you put the finishing touches on dinner! My girls whipped these up in no time.

No Bake Acorn Cookies Another project that kids can do on their own or with an adult! They’re super easy and require no prep work! Another project that I had my kids do. Easy and yummy!

For more fun Thanksgiving ideas, check out my Thanksgiving Ideas Board on Pinterest!

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Filed Under: Crafts, free ebooks, Recipes

Free eBook: Betty Crocker Best of Summer

8 Jul posted by

Free Betty Crocker ebook

Right now you can download a free Betty Crocker Best of Summer cookbook.  This is a great way to add some variety to your summer menus!

Click here to download your free ebook!

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Filed Under: cookbook, Freebies, Recipes

Free Diabetic Recipe Book

8 Jul posted by

Join Diabetic Connect and get Free Tools to manage your Diabetes.  You’ll get a free recipe book for diabetics with more than 60 delicious, healthy recipes.  Each recipe has 10g of carbs or less per serving!

You’ll be able to prepare recipes like Savory Italian Grilled Chicken, Pepper-Lime Chicken,  Grilled-Glazed Salmon, Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Cups,  Teriyaki Kabobs,  Flourless Brownies, and more! Yum!

Click here to get your Free Recipe Book for Diabetics!

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Filed Under: cookbook, Freebies, Recipes

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baker’s Challenge {Giveaway}

27 Jun posted by

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baker's Challenge

I don’t think I mentioned it on my blog, but in March, I gave up gluten.  Over the past few years, I’ve read that going gluten-free can be beneficial for people with lupus, but being the carbaholic I am, it didn’t seem like a fun idea.  This past winter, my Lupus was as bad as it’s ever been and I was looking for any solution that didn’t include more drugs…so I gave up gluten.  I’ve actually been amazed at how good I’ve been feeling, but eating gluten-free hasn’t been easy.

If you or a loved one has started eating gluten free, you’re probably aware that baking can pose a unique set of challenges.  Thankfully, Betty Crocker has risen to the occasion with a great line of gluten free baking mixes.

And to make things even more fun, they’ve teamed up with GlutenFreely.com to offer the Betty Crocker Bakers Challenge: Gluten Free Recipe Contest.  Check out the details and share your gluten-free recipe before June 30th for a chance at $5000.

I’m excited about the Gluten Free Recipes I’ve created thanks to Betty Crocker!  I’d share them with you, but I’m trying to win 5000 bucks too! :-)

Gluten Free Cake Mix, Gluten Free Cookie Mix, Gluten Free Baking Mix, Gluten Free Brownie MixWanna check out these baking mixes first hand?

Buy It: GlutenFreely.com is offering 20% off  Betty Crocker Baking Mixes during the month of June.

Win It: Betty Crocker in conjunction with My Spark is offering a Gluten Free Baking Prize Package to one lucky Simplified Saving Reader.

Ways to Enter:  For each entry, please leave a comment on this post sharing what you did (i.e liked me on Facebook, follow on Twitter, etc).  Comments left of my Facebook wall, on Twitter, or sent via email will not count.

  1. Subscribe to Simplified Saving by Email
  2. Subscribe to Simplified Saving in a Reader
  3. “Like” Simplified Saving on Facebook
  4. Follow Simplified Saving (@SimplifiedSavin) on Twitter
  5. Follow Simplified Saving on Google Friend Connect (scroll all the way down to the bottom).
  6. Share this giveaway on Facebook (Click on the share button at the top right of this post)
  7. Tweet this and leave a comment with a link to the tweet:  Check out the @bettycrocker #glutenfree baking prize pack #giveaway from @simplifiedsavin! http://ow.ly/5r6mz  #gf #gfree #myblogspark (This can be done once daily!)
  8. Put my pretty Simplified Saving button on your site and leave me a link. (The code for my button can be found by scrolling all the way down to the bottom of this site.)

The Fine Print: If you already subscribe, like, or follow me, that counts as well! Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments that just say “I want to win” or “Thanks for the giveaway” will be disqualified! This contest will end on July 28th at 11:59pm Eastern Time. This giveaway is limited to US residents only 18 years old and above. Winner will be chosen at random using “And the Winner Is…”

Disclosure: Betty Crocker provided me with a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking Prize pack in conjunction with My Blog Spark.  All opinions are my own and are honest and true.


Filed Under: Baking, Gluten Free, Recipes

Taste of Home $5 Sale is Back!

6 Jun posted by

Shop Taste of Home

Woohoo! The $5 Taste of Home sale is back! This is one of my favorite sales during the year and is a great time to stock up on birthday and Christmas gifts.  Taste of Home has amazingly good cookbooks, so check them out and if you see one you want, I’d snag it now since many of the $5 books sell out!

Click here to check out all the $5 books!

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Filed Under: Baking, cookbook, Recipes

Free eCookbook: Let’s Get Grilling

2 Jun posted by

Mr Food

We’ve been grilling like crazy at our house this week!  If you’re hoping to keep your house a little cooler during this crazy hot weather, download this FREE Let’s Get Grilling ebook for recipes and grill safety tips! They even have a recipe for a Grilled Banana Split and a S’mores dessert! YUM!

Click here to get your free copy of Let’s Get Grilling!

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Filed Under: cookbook, Freebies, Recipes

Taste of Home Magazine 3 Years for $9.99

28 May posted by

Taste of Home Magazine 3 years for $9.99

If you’re always looking for new recipes, you’ll definitely want to check out Taste of Home Magazine.  This is my favorite magazine for finding tasty recipes that my family loves!

From now through Monday, you can get a super hot deal on Taste of Home Magazine.  You’ll pay only $9.99 for a 3-year subscription when you use code MEMORIAL at checkout.  Amazon offers a 1 year subscription to Taste of Home for $12.98, so you’re saving a ton!

There are limited quantities available, so make sure to check it out soon!

Click here to get Taste of Home Magazine!

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Filed Under: magazines, Recipes

The Ultimate Sandwich Extravaganza

15 May posted by

Ultimate Sandwich: Tempting Turkey Sandwich from SimplifiedSaving.com

There are 2 things my family loves….food and a good competition* so when I had found out I’d be participating in the Black & Decker Ultimate Sandwich Contest, I was over the moon.  (*My family loves more than just food and competition, but those 2 things rank high on the list of things we love.*)

I knew I would have to create the perfect sandwich, but I wasn’t sure where to start.  I had so many great ideas running through my head.  Do I go for sweet, savory, gourmet, kid-friendly and on and on the list went.  I decided that my best chance of coming up with an award-winning sandwich was to assemble a group of taste testers and get busy.

I whipped up 10 different sandwiches…  I used different fillings and different breads.  I asked my “judges” (my husband, my 2 daughters, and my brother who just arrived home from college for the summer) to take notes on each sandwich and rank them when all sandwiches were finished.

I expected to have differing opinions because they each have such different tastes.  What I didn’t expect was for every single person to choose the same winner.

If you’d like to create this Ultimate Sandwich at your house, here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

  • Nutty Oat Bread
  • Deli Shaved Turkey
  • Sliced Apple (I used Gala)
  • Deli White American Cheese Sliced Extremely Thin
  • Bacon
  • Mayonnaise

Instructions:

Ultimate Sandwich: Tempting Turkey by SimplifiedSaving.com Bacon in the Black & Decker 2

This photo was taken through the window of my Countertop Toaster Oven.

To begin, spread bacon slices on the tray of your toaster oven and broil until crisp (approximately 2-3 minutes per side).
While bacon is cooking, spread one slice of bread with a very thin layer of mayonnaise.
Ultimate Sandiwch: Tempting Turkey by SimplifiedSaving.com
Add some shaved turkey.
Ultimate Sandiwch: Tempting Turkey
Place sliced apples on top of the turkey. (I use a crinkle cutter to give my apples a little more texture.

Place 2 slices of cheese on top of turkey and apples.

By now your bacon should be done and looking quite tasty.  Add 3 slices of bacon to your sandwich.

Place your second slice of bread on top of the bacon and put it on the tray of your Countertop Toaster Oven.  Place tray in toaster oven and toast for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown.

Take the Ultimate Sandwich out of the toaster oven, place it on a plate and serve with a smile!

This post was written for Family Review Network and Black & Decker who provided the complimentary product for participation in this contest.

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Filed Under: Family, food, Recipes

Free Mother’s Day Recipes for Brunch & Dessert Ebook

6 May posted by

RecipeLion

Are you planning brunch for your Mom this Mother’s Day?  You’ll want to check out the 12 recipes in this free Mother’s Day Recipes for Brunch & Dessert ebook.  This 28 page ebook contains great recipes like Lightened Up Classic Quiche Lorraine, Strawberry Stuffed French Toast with Syrup, and Lemonade Pie.  Even if you’re not planning on cooking for Mother’s Day, these recipes would serve you well at an event in the future.

Click here to get your free ebook!

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Filed Under: cookbook, food, free ebooks, Freebies, Recipes

Taste of Home $5 Cookbook Sale

26 Apr posted by

My favorite cookbook sale is back!  Taste of Home is having their $5 Cookbook Sale again and they have lots of great cookbooks to choose from.  This sale only happens once or twice a year and  many of these cookbooks are 80% off!  I love how easy the recipes are to follow and the meals come out tasting like you’ve worked all day in the kitchen!

Whether you’re looking for meals that can be made in a slowcooker, vegetarian delights, baked goods, diet foods, or comfort food, Taste of Home has a cookbook for you!

Click here to start shopping!

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Filed Under: Baking, cookbook, Recipes

Cocoa Krispie Easter Treats

23 Apr posted by

Tomorrow is Easter and we have a big family get-together planned.  My girls asked if we could whip up some Cocoa Krispie Easter Treats to take with us.  I’m pretty sure they were just hoping we’d have lots of extras that they could eat tonight!

Here’s what we used to whip up our little Easter treat nests:

  • 5 tablespoons butter or margarine (I prefer butter, but we had some margarine in our fridge so I used that today)
  • 7 cups mini marshmallows
  • 9 cups Cocoa Krispies Cereal
  • 1 bag Easter Colored Egg Shaped Peanut Butter M&Ms (You could use any egg-shaped candy)
  • 2 packages of Marshmallow Peeps chicks

You can do all of this over the stove using a large pan which is what I would normally do, but since we have a zillion things going on, today is a microwave kind of day.

1.  Melt butter and marshmallows in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.

2.  Once your marshmallows are a gooey and creamy consistency, stir in your Cocoa Krispies.  Mix them up til they are well coated.

3.  Spoon mixture into greased cupcake or muffin tins and fill til almost full.

4.  Using your thumb, press down in the middle of each treat to form the shape of a nest. (You’ll want to use either a piece of wax paper or you’ll want to coat your thumb with cooking spray.)

5.  Let your nests set (this will take about an hour) then pop them out of the muffin tins and place them in a cupcake paper.

6.  Add a few eggs (M&Ms or other egg shaped candies) and top with a chick.

These treats are sure to delight the kids and the kids at heart in your family!

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Filed Under: Recipes

Free Easter Recipes eBook

1 Apr posted by

RecipeLion

Easter is only a few weeks away!  If you’re not sure what you’re cooking this year, (or even if you are and you just want some really yummy recipes) check out this free Easter Recipe ebook!  It includes recipes for baked overnight french toast, roast beef quiche, and chocolate cream easter eggs as well as other tempting recipes.  My mouth was seriously watering the whole time I was scrolling through this (and now my stomach is growling too)!

Click here to get your free Easter recipe eBook!

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Filed Under: free ebooks, Freebies, Recipes

St. Patricks Day Recipes & Crafts

16 Mar posted by

Favecrafts

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow.  Do you have anything special planned?  Make sure to download your free St. Patrick’s Day ebook for fun crafts and recipes!

Click here to download!

Go here to checkout all the other freebies I’ve posted recently!

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Filed Under: Crafts, Freebies, Recipes

Free Recipe eBook: Blue Ribbon Casseroles

10 Mar posted by

Mr. Food eCookbook

Right now Mr. Food is offering a free Blue Ribbon Casseroles ebook.  I’m a big fan of casseroles and these look like they’re going to be awesome!  I can’t wait to try the Crunchy Turkey bake.  We eat turkey at our house pretty regularly, so I’m excited about a new way to use the leftovers!

Go here to checkout all the other freebies I’ve posted recently!

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Filed Under: cookbook, free ebooks, Freebies, Recipes
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