Looking for a grain-free cookie that’s packed with protein and on the healthier side? These flourless chocolate cookies will not disappoint! You probably won’t even notice the hidden ingredient that adds protein to these delicious, chocolatey cookies!
Recipe from my sister, Olivia
Why You’ll Love This Flourless Chocolate Cookie Recipe
I whipped up a batch of these earlier this week, and my entire family said they were “the best cookies ever”. My brother wanted to eat them in one sitting. 😉
No one could believe the cookies were completely grain-free… and that they had a full can of black beans in them!
These cookies are:
- gluten-free
- grain-free
- soy-free
- dairy-free (if you use dairy-free chocolate chips)
- egg free
- vegetarian
- vegan (with vegan chocolate chips)
- packed with protein and nutrients
- loaded with good fats
- super easy to make
- delicious!
The best part? They freeze really well so you can make them ahead and just pull out a few when you have a hankering for something sweet!
Ingredients for Chocolate Flourless Cookies
- 1 can black beans (15 ounces), rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup cashews (I used roasted/salted)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
How to Make This Black Bean Cookie Recipe
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Place all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a food processor, and process until very smooth. If there are chucks of black beans on the sides of the processor, use a rubber spatula to scrape them back into the mixture, and process again until they’re combined.
3. Remove blade, and stir in chocolate chips.
4. Using a spoon, drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.
5. (Optional) Decorate with sprinkles.
6. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes.
7. Let cool slightly before placing on wire racks to cool.
Tips for Making Black Bean Cookies
You’ll need a good food processor or blender for this recipe — a normal stand mixer will not work.
Also, if there are chunks of black beans on the sides of your food processor, use a rubber spatula to scrape them back into the mixture, and process again until they’re completely combined — you don’t want chunks of black beans in these cookies, only pureed black beans!
It’s OK if there are a few chunks of cashews though.
Flourless Cookies Variations and Substitutions
For a little extra crunch, try mixing some chopped cashews into the batter with the mini chocolate chips — and if you have dairy issues, feel free to omit the chocolate chips completely (or use dairy-free).
These might taste amazing with a little sprinkle of coarse sea salt on top of each cookie!
How to Store Flourless Chocolate Cookies
If you don’t eat them all in one sitting, you can refrigerate them in a sealed food storage container or zip-top bag.
To freeze, place cookies on cookie sheets and freeze for 2 hours. Remove from cookie sheets and place in freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Flourless Cookies Made With Black Beans Note:
Ingredients
- 15 ounce can black beans rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup cashews I used roasted/salted
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Place all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a food processor, and process until very smooth. If there are chucks of black beans on the sides of the processor, use a rubber spatula to scrape them back into the mixture, and process again until they’re combined.
- Remove blade, and stir in chocolate chips.
- Using a spoon, drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets.
- (Optional) Decorate with sprinkles.
- Bake in preheated oven for about 10 minutes.
- Let cool slightly before placing on wire racks to cool.
Nutrition
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Last chance to sign up for my 4-Week Blog Coaching Program!
Just a reminder that registration for my Blog Coaching Program closes tomorrow evening at midnight!
After years of making a full-time income from blogging, and after many people begged me to re-launch my coaching program, I’m thrilled to be opening the door again on my very popular Blog Coaching Program!
This 4-Week Program is specifically designed to teach you how to:
- increase your traffic
- significantly boost your blog income
- produce better and more consistent blog content
- rediscover your joy and passion for blogging
- still have a life outside of blogging!
You Have a Story That the World Needs to Hear
One of my greatest desires is to help women live up to their fullest potential in life. I believe that we were all created for a specific purpose, that all of us have a unique perspective on life, and that we all have a story that the world needs to hear.
But the world can’t hear it if they don’t know that you exist, which is why I designed this blog coaching program. I want to help you get your stories, your wisdom, and your perspective out to the world.
I want to give you the tools and the motivation you need to take your blog to the next level, to use your gifts and talents well, and to find the fulfillment that comes when your passion and your profession intersect.
I want to teach you the lessons I’ve learned from failure and success, share secrets I’ve uncovered for building traffic and monetizing your blog, give you encouragement and motivation for when you’re feeling exhausted and burnt out, and provide accountability and cheerleading to help you live out the purpose for which you were created.
Join My 4-Week Blog Coaching Program!
Through March 9 only, I’m inviting you to join me and a group of other bloggers for a private 4-Week Blog Coaching Program. This program is for you if you are:
- A newbie blogger who wants to learn how to monetize your blog, produce consistent and inspiring content, and grow your readership.
- An intermediate blogger who wants real, actionable advice to help you increase your income and develop a more effective social media strategy, all while having a great work-life balance.
- Any blogger who is stuck in a blogging rut and paralyzed by the overwhelming noise of advice from “online experts” — who wants clarity and tangible steps to move forward and reach their blogging goals.
Ready to get out of the blogging funk and take your blog to the next level? Read all about the program & sign up here.
Any questions about the coaching program? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer it promptly!
I can’t WAIT to have you join me on this journey!
P.S. Registration is limited and is only open through March 9, 2018. This 4-Week Blog Coaching Program begins on March 12, 2016. After you register, you will get instructions on how to access the private Facebook Group, details on when the online workshops will be, along with a survey to fill out so we can assess your needs and tailor the program to meet them. Go sign up here!
Note: This is likely the only time this year we will be offering this program.
3 Tips to Throw a Rockin’ Party on a Bare Bones Budget
Guest post from Kelli of Freebie Finding Mom:
Whether it’s a birthday, a new baby, or a wedding anniversary, life offers us plenty of moments worth celebrating and commemorating. Unfortunately, if you’re on a tight budget, finding the funds to do those moments justice can be a challenge.
Don’t despair; there are simple steps you can take take to ensure your special day is filled with joy instead of financial anxiety. From birthday bashes to baby showers, here are 3 tips to help you throw a rocking party on a bare bones budget!
Tip #1 – Use Free Printables
The Internet is filled with free printables that can help out with nearly every single facet of your party.
Regardless of what kind of party or event you’re hosting, a quick Google or Pinterest search will turn up tons of appropriate printables for things like invitations, decor, and games.
For example, if you’re throwing a baby shower, snag a set of these free printable diaper raffle tickets. They encourage guests to bring diapers, something every mom-to-be is in desperate need of, in exchange for a chance to win a prize.
In addition to saving you money, these printables can save you time. Instead of carving time out of your schedule to hit up a party store, you can take care of business right from home!
The cost for these printables? Paper, ink, and perhaps your email address. That’s it.
Tip #2 – DIY
If saving money is your main priority, it’s time to DIY.
Obviously, DIY projects may cost you more time than store-bought alternatives, but they’ll definitely help relieve the strain on your wallet.
DIY projects can help out with every area of your party from the food to the favors. For example, if you’re throwing a child’s birthday party, consider DIY mini pizzas as the food. The kids will have a blast decorating their own pies and you’ll save on those delivery fees.
DIY party favors like Mason jar play-dough are a frugal and fun option that are much more exciting than cheap plastic toys or sugar filled treats.
When it comes to DIY, the trick is to get creative.
For each aspect of your party, take a moment to ask yourself “How can I make this?” If you need centerpieces consider snagging Mason jars or vases from the thrift store and filling them with colorful wildflowers or found nature objects. If you need entertainment, turn to the Internet for free playlists from Spotify or Pandora.
If you aren’t a DIY diva, I feel your pain! I can be pretty dangerous with a glue gun myself. Luckily, plenty of DIY projects are stunningly simple. However, if you encounter something that is beyond your skill level, ask a crafty friend or family member to donate his or her time to the cause, perhaps in lieu of a gift.
Tip #3 – Opt for Generic Themes Over Brand Names
Okay, this last tip mostly applies to children’s birthday parties, but it can save you so much money that I just had to mention it. Are you ready?
Avoid those Disney princesses and superheroes like the plague! 🙂
Elmo, Eeyore, Elsa, and Iron Man (I couldn’t think of a superhero that starts with “E!”) come with a brand name price tag that’ll blast your budget to smithereens. Instead, opt for generic party themes like:
- Dinosaurs
- Favorite colors or rainbows
- Animals
- Beach or underwater
- Cars and trucks
Opting for these more generic themes will save you money on decor, invitations, and potentially even food, and trust me, your kiddo will still have a fantastic time!
Are you ready to rock and roll all night (or at least until 8 PM)?
You don’t need the budget of an internationally known rock star to throw an epic party people will talk about for years to come.
Nope, just use these 3 tips to save big on your next bash!
Kelli Bhattacharjee, the proprietor of freebiefindingmom.com, is a former investment professional with nearly ten years of experience who has a passion for showing others how to live a frugal yet fabulous life.
Gretchen’s $62 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4
Aldi
1 loaf Bread – $1.49
1 box Granola Bars – $1.49
1 pkg Frozen Peas – $0.95
1 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $1.19
1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99
1 pkg Crackers – $1.69
1 Italian Dressing – $1.29
1 gallon Milk – $1.87
3 pkg Strawberries – $1.19 each
2 dozen Eggs – $1.37 each
1 lb Asparagus – $1.49
2 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each
1 Frozen Orange Juice – $1.19
1 bag Spinach – $1.49
1 pkg Tortillas – $0.99
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 bag Green Grapes – $2.38
1 pkg Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $2.39
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.19
1 lb Butter – $2.45
1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.99
Total: $40.70
Dillons
I used Clicklist again this week since I had a few free e-coupons PLUS a coupon to waive the Clicklist fee.
2.13 lbs Bananas – $1.04 (I’ve resorted back to buying these at Dillons even though they are more expensive. Every time I purchase them at Aldi, they go bad within a couple of days. Anyone else have this issue with Aldi bananas?)
1 pint Blackberries – $0.99
1 lb Kroger Ground Chuck – $3.99, used $1.10/1 e-coupon – $2.89 after coupon
1 lb Heritage Farm Sausage – $1.99
1 Lindt Chocolate Egg – $0.89 (I had a free e-coupon for this but it didn’t come off so I ended up paying for it. Ugh!)
2 Moms Best Cereals – $1.67 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.67 each after coupons
2 Kleenex Bundles (4 pack) – $5.99 each, used $10/2 e-coupon AND $1/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.49 per bundle after coupon and rebate (I was SO excited about this deal! I’ve never gotten Kleenex this cheap before!)
1 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls – $1.57, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Powerbar – $1.67, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Simple Truth Granola Bars – $1.50
1 Thomas Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $1.99
2 Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream – $2.99 each, used 2 $0.75/1 printable – $2.24 each after coupons
1 Psst Sugar – $1.59
1 Psst Oyster Crackers – $0.79
2 Hormel Natural Choice Snack Packs – $0.99 each, used $1/2 e-coupon – $0.49 each after coupon
Total after coupons and rebate: $21.65
Total for both stores: $62.35
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Eggs & Spinach x 3
Bagels x 2
Cereal x 2
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrots, Grapes x 2
Macaroni & Cheese, Sliced Strawberries
Turkey Sandwiches, Blackberries, Sliced Cucumbers
Crackers, Cheese, Veggies, Fruit
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Grilled Chicken, 30 Minute Rolls, Green Beans
Dinner with our Lifegroup (I’m bringing brownies & ice cream for dessert.)
Meat Potato Quiche, Biscuits, Steamed Asparagus
Waffles, Sausage, Eggs, Juice
Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Homemade Bread
Southwest Rollups, Cheesy Rice Casserole, Steamed Peas
Out to eat
How a Family of 5 Lives in a 700 Square Foot Home
Is your family currently living in a small home, or you like the idea of downsizing to a smaller space?
Be sure to check out Ronni’s inspiring post about how their family of 5 lives in a 700 square foot home! In this post, she walks you through a tour of their smaller home and how they make it work!
A Peek Into Our Life This Past Week (+ an update on how I’m doing on my 2018 goals)
A Peek Into Our Life This Past Week (+ an update on how I’m doing on my 2018 goals)
Welcome to my weekly post I share a peek into our lives, talk about things I’m loving, share links to interesting articles or helpful ideas I’ve collected throughout the past week, and just talk about whatever is on my heart! ?
I spent this weekend at a ladies’ retreat with women from our Discipleship Group. The retreat felt stretching to me on many levels — we’d be staying in a small room with 7 women for two nights, it would be a really intensive experience requiring us to share openly and deeply, I likely wouldn’t be getting a lot of sleep, and (as a small group leader) I’d need to be doing a lot of pouring in to other women.
I knew it was going to be a stretching experience — and I already felt tired and worn down from our move and the last few very full weeks. But I went into the weekend with the spirit of newfound confidence God has given me… and you guys, it was SO amazing!
Yes, I didn’t sleep at all as well as I do at home, but I had energy to pour into women the entire retreat. Yes, there were awkward moments, but I challenged myself to show up fully and engage with the awkwardness.
And I committed to go first when it came to vulnerability. I can’t even begin to tell you how freeing it was for me to not hold back or self-protect like I usually do. And then to not allow myself to psycho-analyze what I had said or wonder if I had over-shared or if I had scared people off by how gut honest I was.
I shared a lot of things with these women that I have almost never opened up about. Things that I’ve been embarrassed about and wanted to hide and pretend didn’t exist. And you know what? I realized that my willingness to be so vulnerable when it is really hard for me to do so not only opened the door to much deeper relationship with these women, but it also gave them the courage to share honestly and vulnerably with me and with our group.
Want to develop deeper relationships? This what I’m learning: Go first — show up, volunteer, be the initiator, don’t wait to be invited. Look for those who are hurting or struggling or new or feeling left out or feeling awkward or sitting on the sidelines and reach out to them. Focus on how you can bless others. Don’t hold back, put on a mask, pretend, or hide who you truly are. This is where real relationships and community start to happen!
When we moved to TN 3.5 years ago, we went from being home owners to being renters again. It was the wise financial thing to do for a lot of reasons, but it meant downsizing in many areas — especially when it came to the bedroom situation.
Our kids all shared one little room and you could barely walk in it once they had their dressers and beds in it. It wasn’t ideal, but we wanted them to be part of the debt-free journey with us — and that meant we all made short-term sacrifices for long term benefits.
We promised them that when we bought a new house, they would all get to have their own space and we would let them outfit their space however they chose.
When we moved last week, we gave them each an Amazon budget for their room and they have had the time of their lives picking out room decor, ordering it, and putting their rooms together. It’s been so fun to witness as parents!
Our hope is that they won’t forget these lessons… That short-term less-than-ideal situations are okay. That you don’t have to be embarrassed to have your friends over and let them see your crowded, not-so-nice bedroom that you share with all your siblings. That if friends judge you or make fun of you for this, they are probably not the kind of people you want to spend a lot of time around. That patience pays off. And that when you have to wait for something for a few years, it makes you appreciate it a lot more.
Let me give you all a little dose of online reality. See that first picture? That’s our formal living room in our new house.
You could look at that picture and think, “Wow! This woman is amazing. She just moved and her whole house is already unpacked and set up and perfect!”
You could concoct a complete story in your mind about me and my house and my perfect, put-together, idealistic life. You might even start feeling inadequate and comparing your reality and where you are at to this one picture on social media that I posted.
See that messy room? That was how my room looked for at least 4 days after we moved. Bed and dressers not put in the right place yet (we are planning to move our bed to the other wall and get rid of our dressers — once we get the closet organized!), piles of clean laundry, boxes, bed unmade, and random other messes.
These photos were both my reality at the same time. With both, you could have concocted a completely different story.
And that’s what happens when we create a big story based upon one small snippet of someone’s life that they share on social media.
As Brene Brown so wisely says, “In the absence of data, we make up stories.”
Remember that we all have beautiful, amazing parts of our life and we all have messy parts of our life (whether literal or figurative). None of us have it all figured out, none of us are perfect, and social media is only a small snapshot into someone’s life.
So never compare your reality to a tiny little picture of someone’s life that you see on the internet. ❤️
She won first place in her grade in the Speech Meet Finals! (Swipe right here to watch part of her presentation here.)
I’m so proud of this girl. She’s fought through a lot this past year (anxiety, hurt, rejection, and much more — some day I’ll share more of the journey we’re walking through) and we love seeing the amazing young woman she is becoming and the healing and growth God is working in her. We can’t wait to watch God’s plans for her life continue to unfold.
One thing we know, life will always be full of adventure and beauty and creativity with her around! ❤️
Something BIG is stirring in me right now. I don’t have all of the words just yet and I’m only beginning on this journey — but I’m so excited about what is unfolding.
I’ve told myself for a long time that I’m an introverted person who is a homebody and who doesn’t host things or initiate. I told myself that hosting and initiating weren’t my gifts or my personality. And I’ve lived under this and let it hold me back in all sorts of areas.
In relationships, in community, in work, in taking risks, in living out my full potential, in leading, in being honest, in vulnerability, from holding my head up high and owning the gifts and strong personality God has given me.
It was safer to hide behind the mask. It was safer to convince myself that I wasn’t the type to step out and step up and initiate and lead.
But y’all, I’m learning that I have stuffed and stifled a big part of who I am — because of fear and because of lies I’ve lived under.
I sat in my car with a friend the other day and she looked at me excitedly as she heard me talk about inviting this friend to this thing and getting together with that friend and initiating something else and being involved in this other thing and helping lead yet another thing and she said, “What is going on?? I don’t even think I know you anymore!”
And I looked at her and said, “I’m tired, but oh so happy! I’ve held back for so long. But I think this is actually who I am!”
I feel like I’m having an identity crisis. But it feels so right. And I can’t wait to see where it leads.
Quote from @laracasey
2018 Goals Update
Personal Goals
1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.
**Progress: 13 books read so far this year
2. Read through the entire Bible.
**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am all caught up— yay!
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
**Progress: 12 notes written so far this year
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 86 miles run so far
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.Jesse and I went to NYC together in January.Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
**Progress: I’ve finished one book so far.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.
**Progress: We nailed down dates for our trip!
8. Go on a family road trip.
Financial Goals
9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.
10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)
Business Goals
11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.
12. Launch 5 new courses.
**Progress: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January and Content Creation 101 launched in February. We launched the 4-Week Blog Coaching Program this past week and we’re currently working on a new YourBloggingUniversity.com course that we hope to launch in a few weeks.
Links You Should Check Out:
How We Paid Cash For Our House — I shared very honestly in this video all the details on how we paid cash for our house that we recently purchased. (If you missed it, be sure to also check out my post this past week on One of the Lowest Places of My Life.)
20 Quick & Easy Make-Ahead Meals for Moms — I shared some of our favorite go-to meals for busy nights.
Stop Making Excuses — Need a laugh? Check out how I managed to get in my run the past week (we finally got the treadmill taken apart and into the workout room in the basement).
Are you a blogger? Through March 9 only, I’m inviting you to join me and a group of other bloggers for a private 4-Week Blog Coaching Program. This program is for you if you are:
- A newbie blogger who wants to learn how to monetize your blog, produce consistent and inspiring content, and grow your readership.
- An intermediate blogger who wants real, actionable advice to help you increase your income and develop a more effective social media strategy, all while having a great work-life balance.
- Any blogger who is stuck in a blogging rut and paralyzed by the overwhelming noise of advice from “online experts” — who wants clarity and tangible steps to move forward and reach their blogging goals.
Ready to get out of the blogging funk and take your blog to the next level? Read all about the program & sign up here.
Slow Day: Week 9
Welcome to my weekly Slow Day post, inspired by Monica from The Homespun Heart. My Word for 2018 is Slow and, in the spirit of that word, I’m taking one day each week (Wednesday) off — I’ll be unplugged and offline and plan to move at a slower pace, take time to do things that refresh me, and just really focus on being present and savoring the moment.
I’m posting this on Sunday instead of Saturday because I was at a Ladies’ Discipleship Retreat all this weekend (more details on that in my Peek in Our Week post which will go up tomorrow!)…
On our way to school drop-offs…
Kathrynne tied for 3rd place in the Science Fair so we got to sneak in the ceremony where they announced the winners and surprise her!
I was supposed to bring snacks to Discipleship Group. I had all these ambitions to bake something, but alas, reality sunk in and I just picked up stuff at Kroger!
We’ve been talking about Identity in our Discipleship Group right now. This week’s lesson really impacted me. You can read more of how here.
After Discipleship Group, I met a friend for lunch. Then, I came back home to take a quick nap — and then it was back to pick up kids from school and to take Silas to testing (he’s likely switching to Kaitlynn’s school next year and they needed to do admissions testing for him).
When I came home, Stephanie from Cheapskate Cook brought us a yummy dinner (how kind was that??) It meant so much to us — and I was thrilled to have some homemade bread since I haven’t made any because of the move.
Then it was off to tackle piles and piles of laundry and moving stuff.
After dinner, I met one friend at a coffee shop for dinner and then another friend for a quick hour after that (since we haven’t seen each other for a few weeks and were desperate to catch up. Sometimes, you just have to squeeze in friend time when it works! This cute coffee tree was at Starbucks!
Brigette’s $43 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $43 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
After taking an inventory of our refrigerators, freezers, and pantry, I decided we didn’t need much in the way of groceries this week. We hosted a large gathering this past weekend, and not only did I make too much food for it, but people who brought food left the leftovers at our house. We have all kinds of odds and ends and fresh produce that needs to be used up at my house! So a quick trip to Aldi was the extent of our grocery shopping this week. AS far as meat goes, we will be using frozen meats from the freezer.
Aldi
Sandwich Bread – $0.65
4 dozen Eggs – $3.92
1 pkg Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $3.49
2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10
1 pkg Cream Cheese – $0.65
5-lb bag Jasmine Rice – $2.85
1 bag Broccoli Crowns – $1.29
3 1-lb bags Asparagus – $4.47
1 bag Frozen Raspberries – $2.09
1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $1.75
2 cartons Strawberries – $1.98
1 Cauliflower – $1.85
1 tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.79
1 bag Green Grapes (2.62lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $2.59
1 64-oz Orange Juice – $1.59
1 32-oz Half and Half – $1.59
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.59
1 64-oz carton Almond Milk – $1.98
1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.75
1 jar Green Olives – $0.89
Total: $43.90
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Cereal, Oatmeal, Toast, Fruit, Fried/Boiled/Scrambled Eggs, Veggie Omelets, GF Bagels (for Mom only ;))
Lunches
Baked Potatoes with Cottage Cheese, Fruit
Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar (Canned Chicken, Romaine, Organic Spring Mix, Variety of Chopped Fresh Veggies, Craisins, Shredded Cheese, Dressing) x 2
Macaroni and Cheese, Carrots, Fruit
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Fresh Veggies with Dip, Strawberries x 2
Leftovers
Dinners
Individual Supreme Pizzas (served on Homemade English Muffins), Asparagus
Fluffy Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Creamy Milk Rice, Roasted Parmesan Broccoli, Easy Whole Wheat Bread (I’ll make a double batch)
Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs served over Rice, Asparagus, Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Build-Your-Own-Burritos (Seasoned Ground Venison, Shredded Cheese, Lettuce, Avocado, Salsa, Black Beans on Tortillas), Steamed Cauliflower
Actually Delicious Turkey Burgers (I am picking up a Ground Turkey order from Zaycon this week – it will be on my grocery post next week), Baked Potato Wedges, Cucumbers (planning to look for some type of cucumber salad recipe in my Trim Healthy Mama cookbooks)
Spaghetti, Roasted Zucchini, Fruit Salad
One of the lowest places of my life
Thanks for your patience with me as I’ve not been posting as much in the past two weeks. We’re almost completely done with moving and I hope to be back to normal life and a normal blogging schedule on Monday. Today, I worked on all sorts of odds and ends of moving projects and also packed up to leave for a weekend retreat with my Discipleship Group. So instead of the lengthy post I had hoped to write, I’m going to share something I posted on Instagram last night in hopes that it might encourage some of you.
Some of you may not know this, but when I started MoneySavingMom.com, I was at one of the lowest places of my life.
Jesse had lost his job, I had just gone through a really difficult pregnancy, I was trying to figure out how to juggle a business & a toddler & newborn, I had postpartum depression, we were new to the area and desperately longing for more friends and community, our marriage was hanging on by a thread, our bank account was almost drained dry, and we were just so d-o-n-e.
We were tired of living on beans and rice.
Tired of the stress of not having wiggle room in our budget.
Tired of wondering if we’d ever have a stable paycheck.
Tired of the constant frustrations in our marriage.
Tired of trying to build an online business.
Tired of feeling like we had worked so hard and scrimped so long and we had very little to show for it.
Yes, I started MoneySavingMom.com because people had been begging me to blog more about how we were living on such a tiny budget. But I also started it because I was hoping we could turn it into some desperately-needed extra income.
I look back and realize that were it not for being in such a hard place, I never would have been inspired to start this blog.
I never could have imagined that this same blog would end up being our family’s main income source, that it would open up the doors to book deals and speaking opportunities and dozens of amazing relationships and getting to support a ministry near and dear to our hearts in South Africa, and allow us to pay cash for a house… and would put us in a position that Jesse wouldn’t need to work outside the home and we wouldn’t have to stress about a paycheck or bills!
If you are in a really rough season right now, if you just want to give up and throw in the towel, if you are so tired and done and over it, can I just encourage you? Don’t give up! You never know what this seemingly awful place might be preparing you for!
By the way, you wouldn’t be reading this post right now if it weren’t for that intensely dark and lonely season of our lives! 🙂
Top Things to Stock Up On in March
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
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Freezer Friendly Meals for Busy Moms (20 Ideas!)
Need a few easy freezer meals to stock for busy weeknights? This is a list of my top 20 best freezer meals that we love as a family!
Family Freezer Meals to Save Dinner on a Busy Night!
Say goodbye to stressing over what to make for dinner and how to fit meal prep into your day!
Making dinner ahead of time has the power to transform your family’s evenings. These freezer-friendly dinner recipes are SO easy, and you won’t believe the difference it makes in your home.
The Best Freezer Meals
These are 20 of my go-to freezer-friendly meals…
1. Easy Individual Chicken Pot Pies — This recipe is a great freezer-friendly one-dish dinner idea. These pot pies can be made quickly, frozen for later, and easily reheated in the oven or microwave. They’re also super portable!
2. Easy Individual Mini Meat Lasagnas — These individually-sized lasagnas are such an easy go-to dinner idea, and they freeze really well! They work amazingly well for busy schedules and hungry boys. They’re also great to make and deliver to a family in need of a hot meal.
3. Savory Crescent Chicken Pockets — This was one of my favorite meals growing up. This is a must-try recipe. Trust me on that!
4. Bean & Cheese Burritos — I adapted this recipe from another site years ago, and it’s become such an easy family favorite! Great for lunch or dinner.
5. Spaghizza Recipe — This recipe comes from my sister Brigette. It’s a unique twist on pizza and spaghetti that’s simple to put together and can be made up ahead of time. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s great to serve when you have company with small children.
6. Homemade Chicken Salsa Pockets — These are a huge hit with everyone in our family. They are always gone in a flash!
7. Barbecued Meatballs — My great grandmother passed along a love of barbecue meatballs to our family — and it’s a recipe we’ve made over and over again. We love to serve these with twice baked potatoes, homemade rolls, and tossed salad.
8. Taco Meat — Taco meat is SO versatile and frugal, and you can stretch your taco meet further with handy add-ins. Just quickly cook up the mixture, and then it’s ready to cool and freeze for later.
9. Ham & Cheese Pockets — This meal was a staple during Jesse’s law school days. I resurrected the recipe a few years ago and we still love it!
10. World’s Easiest Make-Ahead Marinated Chicken Recipe — Looking for a delicious but super simple chicken recipe? This World’s Easiest Marinated Chicken Recipe is it!
11. Green Rice Casserole Recipe — My mom has made this recipe for as long as I can remember and I’ve always loved it. Everyone in my family gobbles it up and usually asks for more!
12. Lasagna Casserole Recipe — A number of years ago, I reimagined our regular lasagna recipe, substituting rotini noodles for lasagna noodles. We dubbed it Lasagna Casserole, and it’s been a staple recipe at our home ever since.
13. Southwest Roll-ups — This recipe is so simple, uses inexpensive ingredients, and freezes really well.
14. Southwest Chicken Casserole — We tweaked our Southwest Roll-ups recipe and came up with this casserole. It’s a huge hit with the whole family!
15. Green Chile Enchiladas — These creamy, cheesy enchiladas are easy to put together and freeze beautifully. Pair them with Spanish rice, a tossed salad, and some chips and salsa for a simple, budget-friendly company meal that will feed a crowd!
16. Spaghetti Pie — One of my Mom’s crowd-pleasing recipes that is perfect for company! Although Spaghetti Pie is similar to lasagna in taste, it’s cheaper to make and quicker to assemble.
17. Taco Pie — This twist-on-a-taco recipe has always been a hit at our house! The original recipe came from the Once-A-Month Cooking cook book — a resource my mom and sisters and I often relied on during one of our marathon freezer cooking days.
18. Meat Potato Quiche — My family ate this for Christmas brunch when we were growing up. It’s a very flexible recipe and great for company. You can even make it up the night before and wait to cook it until the next morning – freeing up your kitchen time to do other things.
19. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole — This recipe is delicious, filling, frugal, and so freezer-friendly!
20. Easy Freezer-Friendly Homemade Pizza Dough — This one is sort of a bonus recipe, because if you make pizza dough ahead of time, it drastically cuts down on time spent in the kitchen to make fresh, homemade pizza! This pizza crust recipe has been my go-to recipe for years. It’s so easy to make — and it’s really hard to ruin. In fact, I’ve made it dozens upon dozens of times and I don’t think I’ve ever messed it up.
More Easy Freezer Meals!
- 7 Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Pancake Recipes (Plus Tips & Tricks!)
- 9 Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Recipes to Simplify Your Mornings
- My Top 7 Favorite Freezer-Friendly Muffin Recipes (Plus Grain-Free Options!)
- 8 Delicious & Healthy Freezer-Friendly Snack Ideas
- 7 Freezer-Friendly Dessert Recipes
- 13 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes {Freezer & Budget Friendly!}
What are some of your favorite make-ahead dinner recipes? I’d love to hear!
FREE One Week Menu Plan!
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
How We SAVE In Order To SPEND More on Travel
Guest post from Sarah of Mom With A Map
Last year, our family spent roughly 100 nights away from home traveling! I’m often asked how we manage to do it, and my answer is very simple… we SAVE more in our day-to-day lives in order to SPEND more on travel.
Here are a few things that helped US save more so we could spend more on travel.
We Made a Monthly Budget:
This is the key to everything. We not only have a detailed monthly budget, but we stick to it!
I love the expression “failing to plan is planning to fail.” Being Type A, I thrive on a plan. My husband, on the other hand, thrives on spontaneity. Unfortunately, when it comes to a budget, the two personalities don’t mix.
We NEED to sit down each month to decide how we’re going to spend our money that month. I love Dave Ramsey’s philosophy of directing every dollar. Being consistent budgeters allows us to save money each month for travel.
We Plan Our Food:
Similar to our budget meetings, we also spend quite a bit of time planning our meals. This does NOT mean we sacrifice the quality of our meals. But it does allow us to carefully consider the food we bring into our home and eliminates a lot of waste.
I shop at multiple stores in order to get the best food at the best price. I also stock up when our staples are on sale. And (probably most importantly) food planning displaces the need for last minute meals out.
Of course, we still budget to eat out. However, it’s a much more controlled activity than just realizing we have nothing prepared for the next meal.
We Limit Our Children to One Sport Per Season:
For multiple reasons, our family has a strict 1-sport only per season policy.
Besides benefiting from a less congested schedule, we also save a lot of money. Sports and equipment adds up! Not to mention, with our travel schedule we typically end up missing a week or two of every season. It feels much less wasteful if we’re only participating in 1 activity.
We Shop Year-Round:
It might sound counterintuitive, but I shop year round.
Knowing our future needs helps me purchase items on a better deal. Rather than spending extra for items last minute, I plan ahead. For example, I buy a lot of our clothes during end of season sales. By sizing up and anticipating what my children will need the next year, I’m able to give them a new wardrobe at a fraction of the price.
Similarly, I’m always on the lookout for gift items. Whether it’s for my own children or others, I love stocking up when I see awesome prices.
I’ve found that purchasing last minute gifts often requires me to go over budget. By assessing our future needs and shopping year-round, I’m able to save our family quite a bit of money over the course of a year.
We Use Piggy Banks:
Speaking of gifts, my children get them at Christmas and birthdays. Other than that, they’re on their own for “wanted” purchases. Our family rule is that if a child wants something that isn’t on my list — whether it’s a new toy or a pack of gum at the grocery check out — they can purchase it with their own money.
Not only does this save our family considerable amounts of money, it also teaches our children budgeting, wants vs. needs, and to more carefully consider money spent.
We Watch Rates:
This is my least favorite practice to execute, but the one I feel the most satisfaction in when I’ve successfully made the call. I almost always contest rate increases on anything from a cell phone bill to doctor’s bills to insurance.
Often providers will increase rates without any warning. While it might not seem like much for one month, rate increases can really add up over the course of the year.
Most of the time I’ve found that a simple phone call can bring the rate right back down — sometimes even lower than we were paying prior to the increase! While the hassle is annoying, it’s a great way to save money each month.
We DIY:
For the most part, we “do-it-yourself” our home. Although we are not super handy by nature, we’ve found that YouTube can be extremely helpful when dealing with an issue.
Several times, we’ve replaced a small part for a fraction of the cost it would take to call in a professional. Likewise, my husband recently replaced a part on his car. It was a fix that cost $30 and took about 10 minutes. At the auto shop he was quoted $365 for the EXACT same solution.
We Use Loyalty Programs/Apps:
Like most families, even though we budget and work hard to save extra money for travel…we still spend money. And, dare I say, we even splurge from time to time!
For us, though, it’s important that even when splurging we are somehow saving money. By taking advantage of various loyalty programs (ex. punch cards at certain ice cream stores) or apps we put on our phone (Starbucks or Chick-fil-A) we are able to earn free treats every once in a while.
This might sound like a lot of work, but honestly, we didn’t begin implementing ALL of these things in our house at once. Start with one or two, and before you know it, you’ll have saved enough for a small vacation.
And nothing motivates more than success!
Sarah is the author and creator of Mom With A Map, and is dedicated to documenting the tips and adventures of traveling with family. She wants to show her kids the world, and along the way, encourage other families to do the same. She loves giving people insight and ideas for travel, and showcasing her passion for family travel.
Stop making excuses
Our treadmill wouldn’t fit into the room it’s supposed to go into in our new house without being taken apart (4 different guys tried getting it in on Saturday without taking it apart and it didn’t work).
We haven’t had time to make that happen yet, so instead, we set it up in the hallway for the time being so that I can still exercise until Jesse has a chance to take the treadmill apart and get it into the workout room.
Is it ideal, no. But it works and it means I’m getting in a run every day — even while we’re in the middle of getting settled into our new house.
It’s so easy to make excuses and not do something because the set up or conditions aren’t ideal. We can rationalize that we will get on a budget when we make more money. Or we say that we’ll invite people to come over for dinner when we have a more organized home. Or we’ll sign up for that workout class when we can start getting up earlier.
It’s so easy to make excuses and wait for perfect conditions. The truth is, the perfect conditions are probably not coming. So instead of pining away our life waiting for them, let’s just get up and start doing the best we can — creating a budget based upon our current salary, inviting a friend over for coffee and letting that motivate us to clean up a little bit, or setting our alarm clock earlier and going to bed earlier so we can actually make that early morning workout class.
No more excuses. Start today. Your conditions might never be ideal, but today is a great day to stop waiting around and starting doing some of those things you plan and hope to do in the future.
Gretchen’s $53 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4
Aldi
2 dozen Eggs – $1.55 each
1 pint Blueberries – $1.79
1 Cottage Cheese – $2.29
1 Yeast – $0.95
1 Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate – $1.19
1 gallon Milk – $2.08
1 Grape Jelly – $1.39
1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.79
1 lb Butter – $2.45
2 Avocados – $0.39 each
1 pkg Roma Tomatoes – $1.29
1 pkg Grapes – $1.14
1 Half & Half – $1.99
1 Lettuce – $1.29
1 pkg Spinach – $1.49
Total: $25.01
Dillons
5 boxes Kellogg’s Cereal – $1.49 each, used $3/5 e-coupon AND $0.60/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.77 each after coupon and rebate
1 Yoplait Yogurt – $3.99, used $2/1 e-coupon (no longer available) – $1.99 after coupon
2 Mom’s Best Cereal – Marked down to $0.79 each
2 Kraft Cheese – $1.99 each
1 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bars – $1.99, used $1/1 printable – $0.99 after coupon
2.92 lbs Bananas – $1.43
1 Chamomile Tea – $2
2 bags Frozen Veggies – $0.88 each, used $0.40/2 e-coupon – $0.68 each after coupon
1 loaf Bread – $1.49
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup – Marked down to $0.25
1 Clif Nut Butter Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
2 pkg Gevalia K-Cups – Marked down to $0.99 (I was so excited to find a whole shelf of these marked down!)
1 pkg Gevalia Mocha Latte K-Cups – Marked down to $0.99
1 pkg Kroger Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.37, used $1.25/1 e-coupon – $3.87
1 pkg Stonyfield Smoothies – $2.99, used $2/1 printable AND $1/1 Ibotta rebate – Free after coupon and rebate
2 bags Apples/Oranges – Marked down to $0.99 each
1 Cantaloupe – $1.50
Used $0.50/1 Ibotta rebate for any item
Total after coupons and rebates: $28.74
Total for both stores: $53.75
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Toast & Eggs x 3
Cereal x 4
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Grapes, Carrots x 2
Crackers, Cheese, Fruit, Veggies x 2
Cheese Quesadillas, Tossed Salad
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Chicken Parmesan Casserole, Steamed Peas, Bread
Mac & Cheese, Steamed Cauliflower, Avocados
Baked Ziti (meatless), 30 Minute Rolls, Green Beans
Salad Bar, Banana Muffins
Savory Crescent Chicken Pockets, Fruit Salad
Meat Potato Quiche, Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins, Cantaloupe
Out to eat
What I Read & Watched This Past Week
Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.
Since we were in the middle of moving, I didn’t do much reading or watching this past week. But I did stay up too late a few nights watching the Olympics (I think I’m too old for the Olympics — especially if they are going to be showing all of the best stuff LIVE at 10-11:30 p.m.!) and I also read 5 Months Apart: Facing Infertility With Faith and Grace.
Someone in my life is currently walking through some of the things in this book and I thought it would be insightful to read. While the book kind of skips around in the storyline and I think it could have used tighter editing, I still think it would be a valuable read if you are facing unexplained infertility, in the middle of fertility treatments or the adoption process, and/or know someone who is.
The author doesn’t sugarcoat struggle involved with infertility and fertility treatments, as well as the adoption process. She doesn’t give pat answers or cliche phrases. She addresses the very real and raw pain that infertility causes and miscarriage can cause and gives you better understanding for women who are walking this road.
How I Find Time to Read
People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.
I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.