Grilled Ginger, Mustard Chicken Wins!

Last week ginger/mustard chicken won the recipe poll! I'm just now getting to upload this recipe because we were out of town from Thursday-Tuesday! There is not a recipe poll this coming week because I am doing a "Help me Name this Blog" poll instead. Be sure to check out This post for a chance to win a $10 target gift card!



MaeMae decided she just wanted the corn!


Warning: This is not for the faint of mustard lovers :)
Grilled Ginger Mustard Chicken  (Makes 2 servings)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
2 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. honey +more for drizzling
Dash of: black pepper and cayenne

-In a small bowl mix: mustards, EVOO, herbs and 1 tsp. honey.
-Grill chicken about 8 minutes total, flipping once. Depending on thickness of breast. Brush with mustard mixture the last 4 minutes.
-When cooked through, pull off of the grill and drizzle with honey.

Nutritional Info: 1 chicken breast is 3 WW pts (All the other ingredients are 0 pts except honey. However 1 tsp for 2 servings was to too small to calulate)

Friday's Freezer Friendly Food- Zucchini

I love fresh zucchini out of a summer garden! I was so upset when mine died. But I had a friend and my mother in law give me several from their garden's. I ate several fresh and others I froze! I plan to use it in breads, muffins, soups and a vegetable lasagna! I filled each bag with 2 cups because that is the quantity several of my recipes call for.

1. Start with fresh zucchini, any size. Julianne with a mandolin or food processor.
2. Put julienned zucchini and 1 tsp. salt in a colander in the sink and allow to sit for 30-45 minutes. This allows extra moisture to drain off.
3. Freeze 1 1/2 cups- 2 cups in ziploc bags or containers. (I got 6- 1quart bags)
4. When ready to use, I suggest thawing in a colander again.
I already used some for zucchini oat muffins for my Mom's Life meeting today :)

I used 2 medium and 1 large



About 12 cups of julienned zucchini



Finished muffins :)

Help Me Name this Blog!!!

I am Very excited to be hosting my first give away= A $10 Target gift card (one of my favorite places to shop/coupon!) Changes are coming to this blog-possibly a new name if that is what YOU decide!

What you need to do to be entered to win the 1 and only $10 Target gift card:
1. VOTE! Notice in the right side bar a poll "Help me Name this Blog"~ Please cast your vote 1 time for the name you think best sums up my blog.
2. Leave a comment on this post that you voted! (You must leave me a comment because I have no way of tracking the names of people who vote)
(If you are not a current follower- Please sign up to "follow" this blog, vote and then leave a comment. Be sure to leave an email for me to contact you; especially if I do not know you personally)
3. Wait 1 week (September 1st) for the winner to be picked randomly & announced here!
--Poll will be open until 7:00 AM on September 1st

$15 of Free items!

It has been a long time since I've posted about some of the free things I've scored.
This week equals:
Pudding cups= $1
Jif To go= $2.29
Snickers= $1
CVS brand body wash= $4.54
Shampoo= $2.55
Band aides= $3.59
All this Free PLUS another $31 saved this week with coupons!!! My savings this week was $46.

Happy Couponing!

Friday's Freezer Friendly Food- Pancakes

I almost always make a special breakfast on Saturday mornings. I love making extra pancakes to freeze for Mae to eat through out the week!

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes
2 eggs
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 c. skim milk
2 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
3 over ripe bananas, mashed

-Combine all ingredients and stir just until combined.
-Cook in a small amount of oil.
-Eat right away OR place in a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in freezer for about 2 hours or until frozen completely. Then transfer to a ziploc bag.
-Reheat for 45 seconds in microwave.
(3 WW points each)


(Sorry not a very good picture-I had to snap it quickly so I could feed Mae)



Bye Bye Paci!

Last week while I was staying at my Mom's for a week I decided to break off the marriage of MaeMae & paci!
Some of you will say "What? Already? She's only 16 months!" Others are saying "What? She still was using one at 16 months?!?!"
Ahhh, the pacifier war is a huge debate among mothers.  I don't really have much of an opinion except I loved the job it did :) Just before 9 months paci was forbiden to come out of her crib. I knew I wanted to start limiting it and she didn't even notice it gone. Around 12 months I thought I'd take it away but I didn't even try, I just couldn't! I was reliant on how fast it put her to sleep. I would give paci to her and immediately her eyes would become heavy and she fell asleep. I wasn't ready to give up several nights of sleep for both of us!
A couple months ago I noticed she'd fall asleep with out in the car and at grandma's. I knew she didn't really need it anymore. This realization kind of made me sad~ one more milestone that proves she isn't a baby anymore :( I knew while out of town would be a good time to wean her of paci. I was certain I would get little or no sleep. I prepared myself for the worst, but I tell you my lil girl is the BEST BABY IN THE WORLD! Every single night she went to bed about 2 hours later than normal, totally wore out from playing with cousins, and didn't cry at all! I'd put her to bed and she was asleep before I could leave the room. She didn't even miss her best friend. She did just fine! Weaning paci, like everything else with this child has been a so easy. I'm so lucky! Love you, MaeMae!


A few pictures of remembrance:

My week in Indiana

I spent a week in IN helping my mom and mother-in-law preserve the yields from their gardens. I feel like I accomplished a lot and learned even more~

Saturday= Arrived in town and got right to work--- Froze 39 quart size bags of sweet corn at Stoners.
Sunday= Froze 18 (estimate) quart bags of sweet corn for my mom. And another 42 quart bags at the Stoners. 3 bags of frozen carrots. (All the work done by Jackie but I got to reap the benefits) And we dug up potatoes in the Stoner garden.
Monday= Canned 14 pints of beets with my mother
Tuesday= Canned 14 quarts of potatoes with Jackie
Wednesday= We took the day off and went to Shipshewana! It was so fun! The only pictures I have of the week are from Wednesday, check them out on FB! I loved the bulk store, E & S. I got so many spices and cooking staples at a considerably lower price!  I was in heaven!
Thursday= Froze 25 lbs. blueberries and made 3 cups of pesto that I froze. I also dried basil in my dehydrator but it did not add up to much--Maybe 1/3 cup?
Friday= Packed up and headed back to Peoria.
Disclaimer: I did not bring all this back to Peoria w me!!! Ken about died b/c he thought I brought back 81 bags of corn! Ha, no---this is just what we accomplished!
I think I could have stayed another week and still been kept busy! I really need to go back when my two favorite woman are canning tomatoes, salsa, applesauce and apple butter. We'll have to see what Ken has to say about me going back.......
I also managed to get in some fun time= I saw several of my aunts, had lunch at my grandma's, spent the day with my best friend, multiple lunches at Culvers with only 2 of my many SIL, shopped some with Mom and attended a visitation for a friend who lost her father in law tragically. It was heart breaking--but oh so good to see her! Continuing to Pray, Lizzy!
And would you believe now at home my work continues? Yesterday, I made a huge batch of homemade Frappuccino that is able to be frozen for later use {Thanks Aunt Sharon- check out her BLOG HERE!). Today, I am making homemade bread crumbs. And tomorrow I plan on making homemade yogurt!!! At this rate I won't have to go to the store until February :)

Do you can, freeze or preserve? Leave me your useful tips!