Of Course, Saturday and Sunday my daughter works part-time so we keep it easy. Last year for the first time I cooked a bird for Thanksgiving. I used Ina Garten’s plan and worked beautifully. Below will be a link to Ina Garten’s video she did when she first shared her tips for a Stress-Free Dinner Party.
For this, I used four chicken breasts you can use thighs if that’s what you like. Or hey, mix them together just make sure they get to the 165* internal temperature. That is critical.
Below will be a link to a recipe I found on Pinterest which will be comparable to the dressing.
If you are inside you may want to take this approach.
Lay chicken on a grill you put on your stovetop or whatever you have that can put the marks on the chicken. Finish it in the oven because the smoke can be a problem. I used a pre-mixed salad with everything in it because trying to buy everything would have costed more. If you are feeding a crowd then buy things individually. (If you have a Cuisineart then use it and forget the oven.)
If you can do this outside then there is no need for the oven.
I hope y’all will try this and post below the results.
I am going to take the rest of today to reflect and focus what I need to do for God and His Holy Son Jesus. Laundry is caught up and I have an idea for Monday’s 1940’s dinner.
I got inspired when I woke up and seen the sun for the first time this week. Yes! It has been dark and gray.
Psalm 56:13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
A few years ago I was going through life with no optimism or even looking forward to the sun rising. My heart had been hardened by the insanity of Domestic violence. Along with the sentencing hearing that took almost a year to get to. Plus we had to send out Pomeranian Trix to fly with the angels after she died. So yeah, things were pretty dark. I had evicted God and his Holy Son Jesus from my heart.
After a couple of years living like this, I finally got it. I need our father in heaven and his Holy Son Jesus in my heart and my life. Once I let them back in my life and heart the light of God and Jesus became a comfort. Ever since my daughter was born I have had this thing I do when things are heavy and stressful I will start to sing the chorus for “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N Roses. Usually, it’s when my daughter is evolved. It reminds me that there is someone out there I can call on for help.
What do you do to remind you to walk in the light of God and His Holy Son Jesus? I look forward to reading and sharing tips with each other.
Alright, it’s that time of the week again. Thursday Sales search. I do enjoy doing this so hey why not share it and maybe help someone save money. Remember these ads are mainly for the area of Michigan where we live. All sodas have a $.10 deposit which we are required to pay upfront.
Aldi’s
Always check your local Aldi’s for their Wednesday (or whatever day) special. Yesterday was Honeysuckle Turkeys at $.59 per lb. For the Butterball fans your going to be happy. They start at $.87 (limit 2) on a 10 – 22 lb bird. Pretty good. The baking and casserole supplies are an excellent deal. Their pie dough is $.99 for two. I do have a video that I will put a link to below. It’s super easy and this recipe has yet to fail me.
Pie Crust
Whipped topping is $.69. You can’t buy the heavy cream for that. So that is a good deal. Croissants are $.79 each and they are worth every penny. I say go for it. They have their stock on sale at $1.49 for Organic and regular. Here is where you want to take advantage of the organic being at the same price as the regular. They also have their Cream Cheese at $.79 each again worth every penny. It is comparable to the Kraft brand. Remember, if you don’t have to pay the extra for name brands, don’t. Aldi cranberry sauce is $.89.
Let’s start with their deal and I mean deal on 24 packs of colas. You do have to buy 2 in order to get them for $4.99 (plus state-required deposit). However, with Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving around the corner, I would say it’s a great deal. A Kroger turkey is starting at $.37 per lb. Not bad limit 2 so let’s enjoy the deal.
That is what you can buy in one run. If you need to go back and get two more, wait till tomorrow. With a $25 dollar additional purchase which I think would be your meal supplies. They have post cereal at 2/$5 and Kelloggs at $1.49 each 10 oz and up box. This does include Betty Crocker fruit snacks. Their 3-day digital coupon sale would cover your pie needs if you buy them frozen. Remember, Ina Garten’s rule of thumb is, Make something, Buy something, and Assemble something. So the pies are in the buy something category.
Fruit sale is Raspberries or Blackberries at 4/$5. Not bad. They would be enough to make a pie. Tortino Pizza and Pringles are $.99 when you buy ten of these items. So you could buy five pizzas and five pringles. The last item here is the Smokies. The little sausages in a sauce. Oh, my gravy…. My mom did this every year. The Kroger brand is 2/$5. I am thinking about it.
They came through for us again, kind of. They a Buy 5 and Save 5 sale on 1,500 items which means you could stock up for the holiday baking and cooking supplies. Next week they will have their turkeys for $.33. To make this work you could get basic supplies with this sale and combine them with what you bought a couple of weeks ago with the last 1,500 items on sale. That’s pretty much it.
Yep! I got a shelving unit that is nice. It is really nice, but not big enough for what I need. I am debating about which shelving unit to buy that will be big enough for what I need. My anxiety is saying “what if”! Where was that when I ordered the other one! Anyway, I will make the new shelving unit work because I will be using it for all of my baking or canning supplies.
It’s that time of year. Holiday shopping and rushing from one store to another. Black Friday shopping is like an open-air insane asylum. This brings the question of how to keep our kids safe and give the teens a bit of freedom.
Here are a few tips to use. I do look forward to reading what y’all share.
Have a designated check-in time. This would include a pic with the store logo. Repeat each time they switch stores.
Have a set gathering time and point. Rather it’s in front of a restaurant or just a point in the mall. No exclusions. Everyone must meet at this time and at this point.
Of course, if you are lucky enough to live in a really small town you can adjust these tips as applies to your family. I miss living in a small town. It’s easier to go and shop when you know pretty much everyone. In small towns, you don’t have the abductions because everyone knows a stunt like that will have dire consequences.
I look forward to reading your tips. Please feel free to share what you do as parents.
For the teens that may come across this. Understand this isn’t about controlling where you go. It’s about making sure you don’t become one of the 500k kids that go missing every year. Only 1% will come home.
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