Frugally Blonde put together a list of Top Things to Stock Up On in March.
Summer Bucket List
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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.
What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?
(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
Shared Feb 25, 2018
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A Peek Into Our Lives This Past Week (+ an update my goals for 2018)
A Peek Into Our Lives This Past Week (+ an update my goals for 2018)
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! ?
3 1/2 years ago, when we made the huge move from Kansas to Tennessee, it felt like we were starting over from scratch — and it was scary!
We had lived in Kansas all our lives, our parents and grandparents and most all our siblings and their families were there. Because of this, we had people we could call and we knew they’d help us at the drop of a hat.
We knew only a handful of people when we moved to TN, we didn’t have any family here, and there were a lot of days when it felt lonely and sad and we wondered if we’d made a big mistake in uprooting our family to move here.
And yet, we truly felt God had led us to this state, to this city, to make this move.
So we forged ahead in faith that He had called us to this and He was going to provide community and support and friendship for us in this new city.
It hasn’t been easy. It’s meant putting ourselves out there — a lot. It’s meant pursuing friendships that we’d hoped would pan out that haven’t. It’s meant continuing to reach out and invite and show up, even when it was awkward.
But it’s been so worth it. Because this week — as moved to our new house — and we had friend after friend reach out and show up: to bring food, to offer to help clean, to help us load and unload, to invite us over for a meal, to let us borrow their vehicles, to text and see if we needed anything, to come over and help us with decorating, to offer to hang pictures, to come over and just celebrate with us… we realized just how much community and friendship and support we have here. That we truly have those people in our lives that will help us at the drop of the hat.
And we’re reminded once again that you have to experience the awkward in friendship in order to experience the awesome in friendship.
We’re so inspired to look for more ways to be that same kind of friend and support to others. To be willing to take risks. To not wait for an invite, but to be the initiator. To be okay if someone says no or a relationship doesn’t turn out like you hoped. Because all those seeds of friendship, when watered and nurtured and fostered and tended to, will grow into strong relationships and friendships that are SO worth the effort!
Jesse found these pictures as we were packing up for the move this past week.
If I could go back to the young couple we were in these pictures, I would have so much I would want to say.
Superficial things like, “Don’t wear white, girl. It’s not your color.” And, “For the love of all that is good and right, please keep your brows and don’t decide soon after these pictures are taken that you should over-twease them for 5 years!”
But also, much more weighty things like, “The next 7 years are going to be rough. They are going to stretch you far beyond what you feel capable of handling. You’re going to want to give up.
“Your idealistic visions of what marriage and family and life are supposed to be are going to come crashing down in pieces. You’re going to feel confused and scared and angry.
“But you’re going to be okay. In fact, you’re going to be more than okay.
“All those broken pieces are going to turn into something more beautiful and meaningful and deeply fulfilling than you could ever imagine.
“You’re going to learn about how much your Heavenly Father loves you. You’re going to begin to understand the depths of grace.
“You’re going to fall more in love with this man than you ever dreamed you could on your wedding day. You’re going to have three kids who are going to bring so much amazing life into your life.
“And you’re going to experience depths of joy and life you had no idea were possible.
“So when those hard times come — and they are coming! — don’t give up. Hold on. The best is yet to come. God is going to redeem those hard and humbling places in a more incredible way than you can ever imagine!”
I posted this on Instagram this past week:
Last night was not one of our finer family moments. There was tension and anger and unkind words and hurt — on all sides.
When things had cooled down and the kids had gone to bed, Jesse and I stayed up late trying to work through our own frustrations at each other. We finally did — and I’m grateful because it turned into a really healthy and productive conversation about some current fears we both have.
A few years ago, after a night like last night, I would have gone to bed and struggled to sleep — beating myself up over how I had failed. Last night, I acknowledged where I had made mistakes, apologized, and then rested in the truth of the Gospel: Jesus doesn’t expect me to be a perfect mom or wife or person. He knows I will fall short in my own strength.
The Gospel isn’t for perfect people; it’s for sinners. Christianity isn’t about what I need to do for God; it’s about what He’s already done for me.
So when I make mistakes, it’s a reminder of how much I need to remember and rely on Jesus. Instead of beating myself up or living in shame, I can acknowledge my sin, ask for forgiveness, rest in God’s unshakeable love for me, and ask the Holy Spirit to empower as I go throughout my day.
Today is a new day, a fresh start, another opportunity to remember how much I’ve been forgiven, to walk in His Spirit instead of my own strength, to rest in His finished work on the Cross, and to live as loved!
I felt led to share this with you all because I thought maybe some of you needed this reminder, too?
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: 10 notes written so far this year
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 80 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’re currently working on a new YourBloggingUniversity.com course that we hope to launch in March and we’re also launching another Blog Coaching opportunity next week!
Slow Day: Week 8
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.
Each Saturday, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day — and I’ll let the pictures almost 100% speak for themselves, instead of giving many explanations. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!
My morning started on the treadmill — like usual!
These girls… always being crazy together! They have so many inside jokes and I just love it!
After Discipleship Group, I worked on moving projects and listened to this episode of the The Chalene Show.
Then, I went and picked Silas up from school and we went on a little Starbucks date.
Next, I picked the girls up and we headed over to the new house to unload and unpack some things.
And then Kaitlynn and I made charcoal facial masks while we watched the Olympics!
Shared Feb 24, 2018
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Large Family Freezer Cooking Day | 15 Dozen Oatmeal Muffins, Burgers, and more!
Large Family Freezer Cooking Day | 15 Dozen Oatmeal Muffins, Burgers, and more!
Jamerrill has a great post up sharing about her Large Family Freezer Cooking Day.
If you have a large family, I think you’ll be inspired by this post! She made 15 dozen oatmeal muffins, burgers, tuna cakes, and much more!!
Shared Feb 23, 2018
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Brigette’s $80 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $80 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
2 pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.18
2 3-ct pkgs Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.70
1 pkg Kiwi – $0.99
1 bag Fresh Green Beans – $1.39
1 pkg Blueberries – $1.79
1 pkg Strawberries – $1.95
3 Avocados – $1.17
1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $0.99
1 3-head pkg Garlic – $0.79
1 bunch Bananas (2.72lbs @ $0.34/lb) – $0.93
2 heads Cauliflower – $3.58
1 bag Mini Cucumber – $0.75
1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.29
1 pkg Bagels – $1.79
1 loaf Bread – $0.65
3 pkgs English Muffins – $2.97
4 dozen Eggs – $3.92
2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98
1 16-oz carton Whipping Cream – $1.55
1 can Black Olives – $1.05
1 canister Decaf Coffee – $2.99
1 carton Quick Oats – $2.29
2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18
2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.72
1 4-ct pkg Applesauce Pouches – $1.85
1 jar Strawberry Jam – $1.79
1 canister Baking Cocoa – $1.75
1 large jar Salsa – $1.89
1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99
2 16-oz bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.98
1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95
1 Chocolate Cake mix – $0.85
Total: $66.64
Harris Teeter
5 boxes Rice Krispies – $8.95, used $3.00/5 printable – $5.95/5 after coupons
4 boxes Kraft Macaroni and Cheese – $1.08
2 pkgs Tortillas – $1.29
1 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $1.97
1 5-lb bag Pillsbury Bread Flour – $3.39
Total: $13.68
Grocery Total for the Week: $80.32
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Lazy Monkey Bread, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (Birthday Breakfast Choice for my 4-yr old)
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Cereal, Toast, Breakfast Burrito, Bagels with Strawberry Cream Cheese (I got this free with a coupon last week), Oatmeal, Fruit, Fried/Scrambled/Hard Boiled Eggs, Veggie Omelets
Lunches
Macaroni and Cheese, Applesauce Pouches (Birthday Lunch Choice)
Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar (Romaine, Assorted Chopped Fresh Veggies, Olives, Shredded Cheese, Craisins, Avocados, Chopped Fried Bacon, Hard Boiled Eggs, Dressing) x 3
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Peppers, Fruit
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
McDonalds, Chocolate cake with Sprinkles, Ice Cream (Birthday Dinner Choice)
Dinner at a Friend’s House (I’m bringing Butterhorns and Fruit Salad)
Finger Food Fellowship (I’m hosting a large group of church friends. Everyone is contributing by bringing finger foods. I’m making English Muffin Pepperoni Pizzas, Strawberry Bars – recipe from a Taste of Home Cookbook, a Raw Veggie Plate with Dip, and No Bake Cookies)
Burritos (Tortillas, Seasoned Venison Meat, Shredded Cheese Salsa, Shredded Lettuce, Black Olives, Homemade Guacamole. We don’t like sour cream. 🙂), Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Turkey Gravy over Rice (using up my last package of cooked turkey in the freezer – I always roast several turkeys over Thanksgiving when we can buy them at low prices), Green Beans, Butterhorns
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins (double recipe), Steamed Carrots
Baked Potatoes topped with Fried Bacon and Shredded Cheese, Green Beans, Leftover Easy Whole Wheat Muffins
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!
Whole wheat banana muffins are the best snack!
Last week, I wanted to use up a bunch of over-ripe bananas. So I took our favorite Banana Bread recipe and made it into muffins instead.
I used whole wheat flour and added chocolate chips — because everything’s better with chocolate, of course! (If you’ve been following for any length of time, you know who much I love to add chocolate to everything!) 😉
They were so delicious… though I won’t tell you how many I ate over the course of a few days! At least I made them with all whole-wheat flour and bananas… so they are totally healthy, right?? 😂
My only regret is that I didn’t make more because they freeze so well!
Ingredients for Banana Muffins
- 2 cups flour (I used whole-wheat, but you could use all-purpose)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 bananas, mashed
- 1 cup sugar (I used turbinado)
- 1/2 cup oil (I used melted coconut oil)
- 2 eggs
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
How to Make Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use paper liners.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
4. In a smaller bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla.
5. In another bowl, mash the bananas.
6. Add wet ingredients and mashed bananas to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
7. Stir in chocolate chips, if desired.
8. Pour mixture into muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
9. Cool in pan for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
10. Enjoy your warm muffins, or cool completely and place in a food storage container for later.
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Muffins
Can you freeze whole-wheat banana muffins?
Yes, simply let them cool completely and place them in a zip-top bag.
How do you defrost whole-wheat banana muffins after freezing them?
Pull out as many muffins as desired and thaw on the counter for a few hours or defrost them in the microwave for 20-45 seconds.
How ripe should the bananas be for muffins?
Your bananas should be covered all over in brown spots that smell very fragrant. You can wait longer until the bananas are completely brown or even black on the outside for the most flavor.
What are the health benefits of banana muffins?
Banana muffins are a good source of vitamin E, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and essential minerals. They also have a good amount of carbohydrates for extra energy!
Recipe
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour or all purpose
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 bananas mashed
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil or vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 3 Tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
- In a smaller bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk.
- In another bowl, mash the bananas.
- Add wet ingredients and mashed bananas to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips, if desired.
- Pour mixture into muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
- Enjoy your warm muffins, or cool completely and place in a food storage container for later.
Notes
Feel free to make a double or triple batch if you have a bunch of bananas
These muffins freeze wonderfully — just let them cool completely and pop them into a freezer bag or storage container with a tight-fitting lid.
Nutrition
Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 73IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
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Shared Feb 21, 2018
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“I never expected we’d still be living on the same budget — 9 years later!”
“I never expected we’d still be living on the same budget — 9 years later!”
Guest post by Katie of Embracing a Simpler Life
Early in our marriage, my husband and I used the cash-envelope system to carefully track each dollar we spent.
I was in grad school, and we were saving to buy a house.
When I quit my job two years later to become a stay-at-home mom we also quit shopping (except for Aldi and clearance at the thrift store), so a simple spreadsheet was an easy budgeting solution.
As one child became two, and as two children became three, we continued working hard to budget, save, earn extra income, and plan. We were thrifty, and yes, it was a strain.
Last year, we moved to a new place, became debt-free, started homeschooling, and my husband gave up the predictability of a salary in favor of pursuing his own businesses. There is less security and much more potential for him now. All our past diligence has opened the door for this move, but it has also put us right back where we’ve always been — on a careful budget.
Currently, we use a budgeting app to track all our spending. We are thrifty, and, if I’m honest, it’s still a strain.
The truth is, I did not expect to be on the exact same budget 9 years into our marriage.
- I thought that all our hard work and diligence would have lead to some sort of breakthrough in our monthly spending.
- I thought I would be picking out cute clothes for my kids at Target instead of relying on consignment trade-ins.
- I thought I would have my house all set up with decorations, organizers, and furnishings, not balancing on the edge of the bathtub to get a near-full-length view of my outfit and shoving kids’ shoes into broken plastic drawers.
However, as I’ve grappled with contentment again (for the umpteenth time) in recent months, I see that my concept of contentment has been rooted in the belief that it would be temporary. I wasn’t prepared to be grateful and happy tracking every dollar for the long haul, I was just sort-of holding my breath until things would be different.
That day hasn’t come.
And so I’ve been thinking. What does it mean to be content, really content, in a socially-connected world filled with beautiful farmhouse kitchens, backyard patios draped with string lights, and beautiful beach vacation photos?
What does it look like to be grateful when life doesn’t meet the perceived status quo?
And actually, I think I’ve figured something out.
For me, I’ve realized that true contentment flows from believing in God for His unseen, eternal promises. You see, when I set my heart on heaven, I am trusting that God has prepared something unspeakably better than anything I could have on this earth.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 says, “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” (NIV)
In this life, I run the risk of becoming consumed with the accumulation of more, bigger, and better.
If I’m not careful, the desire for possessions can pull me in like an ocean current, and which could cause me to unintentionally devote my life to acquiring things that could never replace the peace, hope, and joy I’ve found through my contentment in Christ.
I feel the undertow every day.
But here’s the truth:
“More” focused living leads us to encumber ourselves with debt, which in turn prevents us from giving generously to the needs of others. We work extra jobs to afford that mortgage and those upgrades on that new vehicle. We feel we must have two handfuls because they look oh-so appealing, so we toil and chase the wind to have them.
“More” focused living leads us to consume our minds with what we want and how we are going to get it. We devote hours upon hours to dreaming and shopping, either browsing in stores or online. What do we really gain from all our striving after so many wants and desires?
They might make us happy for the moment (they’re not bad in and of themselves at all), but all the pleasure we take in our possessions and experiences is as fleeting as the wind. That new car will soon be stained and scratched; that new furniture will be nicked; that new outfit will cease to delight us, and that vacation, a distant memory.
So, I’m learning what it means to find tranquility in what I do have, and to thank God for it! And I’m learning to allow God to be the guardian of my desires and to trust Him as He guides us down a path of simplicity and trust right now.
Katie Bennett is a blogger and podcaster at Embracing a Simpler Life, and author. Her newly released devotional, Heavenly Minded Mom: 90 Days to Embrace what Matters Most, calls mothers to a new way of seeing life, by seeing it in light of eternity. Get Katie’s free scripture writing plan here: 30 Days to a Heart Set on Heaven.
Gretchen’s $54 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4
Aldi
1 frozen Orange Juice Concentrate – $1.19
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89
1 Chunk Cheese – $1.79
1 tub Oven Roasted Turkey – $2.39
1 Half & Half – $1.99
1 Oyster Crackers – $0.79
1 Ranch Dressing – $1.29
1 Spaghetti Sauce – $0.99
1 bag Spinach – $1.49
1 pkg Green Peppers – $1.69
1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99
2 dozen Eggs – $1.55 each
1 bag Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29
1 bag Potatoes – $2.49
1 box Breakfast Bars – $1.79
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 bag Vine Tomatoes – $1.49
2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each
1 lb Butter – $2.45
1 loaf Bread – $0.89
1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.99
3.14 lbs Bananas – $1.38
2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each
1 gallon Milk – $2.08
Total: $46.89
Dillons
1 Simple Truth Breakfast Bars – $1.50
1 Old El Paso Dinner Kit – $2.99, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Breakstone Cottage Doubles – $1.25 each, used Buy One, Get One Free e-coupon – $0.62 each after coupon
2 Chobani Yogurts – $1.25, used Free printable (no longer available) and Free e-coupon – Free after coupons
1 Hershey’s Gold Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Kroger Frozen Cauliflower – $1.19, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
2 Kroger Snack Medleys – $1 each, used $0.50/2 e-coupon – $0.75 each after coupon
1 Kroger Potato Chips – $1.25
1 Kroger Kettle Chips – $1.39 used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.89 after coupon
1 Kroger Brown Sugar – $0.99
1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.29, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.89 after coupon
1 Old El Paso Green Chilies – $1.49, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning – $0.85, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Old El Paso Refried Beans – $1.59, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate
Total after coupons and rebate: $8.01
Total for both stores: $54.90
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal x 3
Eggs & Spinach x 3
Waffles, Eggs, Juice
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Veggies, Chips x 2
Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies x 2
Cheese Quesadillas, Applesauce, Carrots
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Snacks (We’re having friends over for a game night and everyone is bringing snack food. I’m making chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, a veggie tray, tortilla roll-ups and chips.)
Spaghetti, Homemade Bread, Green Beans
Salad Bar, Banana Muffins
Papa John’s Pizza (We’re having friends for dinner and I decided to just make it easy on myself.):)
Venison Roast, Potatoes, Carrots
Tacos, Steamed Cauliflower
Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Peas
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.
What I Read Last Week
I read Sisters First — the story of Jenna and Barbara Bush. I found their accounts of growing up as the granddaughters of a President and then the daughters of a President to be really fascinating. They did a great job of sharing stories of the wonderful things, hard things, and crazy things that come along with being in this position.
The book also did a great job of shying away from politics and just focusing on telling the stories of what it was actually like to grow up in their world. I found it interesting, intriguing, and inspiring and was glad I read the book.
What I Watched Last Week
Jesse and I went on a date and saw Black Panther. It was very different from the other Marvel movies and we didn’t enjoy it as much. It was okay, but definitely not one that I would say is worth seeing in the theater — unless you have MoviePass! 😉 It was fun to see all of the African undertones, since we love South Africa and the people there.
We also went to see The Post — a movie I have wanted to see for some time. It was a fascinating look at some parts in history that I actually didn’t know a whole lot about (Jesse, on the other hand, knew pretty much ALL of it… but I call him a walking encyclopedia ;)). While it wasn’t 100% historically accurate, there was a lot of truth and accuracy in it and I thought the film was well done. Not a must-see movie, but well done and one that I was happy I watched.
(By the way, we got MoviePasses for Christmas and we have fallen in love with them. You just can’t beat $10 per month to be able to see one movie of your choice every single day. Read my in-depth review of MoviePass here.)
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.
What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?
(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
Ever dreamed of starting a blog? Sign up for my FREE class!
Do you want to start a blog but you feel overwhelmed by all the steps involved? Do you wish someone could hold your hand and walk you though the process?
I’m SO excited that I’ll be offering another highly popular LIVE online blogging class on Tuesday, February 20, 2018!
In this class, I’ll teach you:
- The one habit you should begin today if you want to set up a successful blog (it might surprise you!)
- The few key things you need to have in place to get your blog up and running (it’s a much shorter list than you might expect!)
- 5 simple ways people are making a part-time or full-time income from blogging (& how you can, too!)
- Plus, I’ll be hosting a LIVE Q&A at the end of the class to answer your burning questions!
This class will be packed with information, instruction, and inspiration. If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or you are in the process of setting up a blog, this class is for you!
I’ll be hosting one LIVE class at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. EST on February 20, 2018. The class will be around 45 minutes long (plus the time for live Q&A at the end!).
Register for my LIVE Blogging Class for FREE here!
P.S. Can’t make the live class? Go ahead and register because I’ll send you a replay link once the class is finished!