I am not going to lie!  I am tired!  It just seems like the days are running together with very little time in between.  I know that I am not getting as much done as I should.  I have a sick kid, and that never makes a day easy!

So, I am going back to that old reliable chicken that we were all so glad to get on sale for $1.99/lb the other week!  I am telling you. Chicken is one of my go to meats!  It is so easy and versatile.  I always buy a ton when it goes on sale and I stuff it in the freezer.

I am all for quick, cheap, and super simple clean up!  This meal has all of those elements.  It is so easy I feel kind of guilty for not making a bigger mess in the kitchen OK….No I don’t, but it sounded good! This week, your hubby could even help out with dinner! It’s that easy.

Here is the meal deal for the week!

Citrus Herb Chicken

Citrus Herb Chicken Printable Version

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tsps dried basil
• 1 TBSP Citrus peel ( Lemon, Lime, or Orange)
• ½ tsp. salt
• Pepper to taste
• Bell pepper, squash, other veggie (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, or grill to medium high heat.

Center one chicken breast on a small sheet of aluminum foil (about 9×12).  Repeat for each one.

Combine basil, citrus peel, and salt; Sprinkle over the chicken.

Top with veggies, or slice of citrus.

Bring up foil sides.  Double fold top and ends to seal packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Bake 16-18 minutes on a cookie sheet in over or grill 11-13 minutes in covered grill, or until chicken is cooked through.

Serve with rice, potatoes, veggies, whatever your heart desires!

TIP

You can alternate herbs and citrus.  Use Cilantro and lime, or Oregano and Lemon.  There are a million combos!

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Anyway, In my efforts to eat better and save money, I came up with this quick and easy dinner.  It is super simple.  Really delicious, and low in calories! Added bonus…everybody will love it!

Here is the detailed recipe with (Hold Your Breath) …the matchups and grocery list after! Yes, it is back! I have matched this recipe with the Publix sale this week! You can make it for a whopping $2.27 a person…that includes salad!  You could make it for less if you have some of the ingredients on hand.

Here ya go!

Italian Pasta Toss

Printable Version HERE

• 2 Cups Cooked Chicken cut into bite sized pieces (about 2 breasts)
• 1 cup Italian Salad Dressing
• 1 box pasta cooked (Shape of your choice)
• 1 bag frozen veggies (again your choice…I like broccoli)
• Shaky Cheese (Grated Parmesan) Optional

Directions

In a large skillet mix 2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breast chopped into bite sized pieces, 1 cup Italian Salad Dressing, 1 box of pasta cooked al dente (I used Bow Ties), and frozen veggies ( I chose Broccoli).

Cook over medium heat until heated through.

Serve! Top with cheese if desired!

Yes, its that easy!

My kids loved this.  The little one ate 2 bowls.  I also, halved the recipe since it was just the kids and I eating.

**TIPS

Cook Chicken when you bring it home from store.  Place in freezer bags for quick meals, or salads!

Cook pasta the night before, so you just have to toss it all together! You will have dinner in 10 minutes!

Change it up! Use a different type of veggie and salad dressing for a different taste!

This is super kid friendly!

Meal Deal!

Michelle at I Heart Publix is kind enough to post the Publix ad and Matchups early!  So, here is your shopping list (with sale prices and coupon matchups) for Publix this week (1/7 through 1/13).  Go HERE to see the whole ad with matchups!

You could make this meal cheaper by using items you have on hand, or shopping another store.  Also, since BOGO’s ring up differently in other states, I thought I should let you know these are the Florida prices.

Here is what you are going to need.

*(2 bottles) Ken’s Steak House Dressing or Lite Accents, Assorted Varieties, 7 or 16 oz bottle, (Excluding 8 oz Salad Dressing), BOGO $3.29

*(2 boxes)Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Pasta, Selected Varieties, 12 to 16 oz box, BOGO $1.79

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Short Cut Chicken and Dumplins

Printable Recipe Here

• 2-3 large chicken breasts or 2 lbs chicken
• 1 package Mary B’s Dumplings from the freezer section
• 64 oz chicken broth or water with chicken bouillon
• salt and pepper
• 

—————————————————-

These are so super easy.

In a large stock pot, heat broth or Water with Chicken Bouillon to boiling. Add chicken.

Boil about 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. I had some left from when I made it homemade, so it didn’t cost me anything.

Remove Chicken from pot and set aside.  If it is on a bone remove and discard bone.  Otherwise just cut/tear into bite sized pieces.

While Broth is boiling, drop dumplings in one at a time, stirring so that they don’t stick together.

Once all dumplings are added: cover, turn heat down and cook for 35-45 minutes.

After the 35 minutes add the chicken back to the pot.  Stir and Serve!

Makes delicious Chicken and Dumplings!

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This one is a great meal for anytime! It’s a everybody in the crockpot meal, with an Asian flair.

Oh, and while I am thinking about it, I am shamelessly plugging my POM Wonderful recipe.  CLICK HERE to vote for my Pomegranate Citrus Pork Chops.  If you want to know all the details.  GO HERE.

Crockpot Pineapple Chicken

Printable Version Here

• 3-4 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts (about 2 lbs)
• 1 can pineapple in juice (tidbits, rings, chucks…it doesn’t matter)
• 1 medium onion
• 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

Cut up onion and place it in the bottom of the crockpot.

Place chicken on top of the onions.

Then dump the pineapple (juice and all) on top of the chicken.

Then add the soy sauce and the chicken broth.

Put the lid on and cook on High for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

There will be plenty of sauce in the crockpot to serve with the chicken!

Serve over rice, and with veggies.

Here is an idea!

Cut up chicken after cooked.  Mix with steamed stir fry veggies. Place both over rice, and top with sauce from the crockpot.   Makes your own homemade rice bowls that are so yummy, and less calories than the store bought ones!

This meal is naturally Gluten and Dairy Free!

The Meal Deal

I am doing this bits and pieces, because that is how I cook.

The chicken breasts were on sale at Publix last week for $1.79/lb.  They are also on sale at Winn Dixie this week BOGO at $4.00/lb, so that makes them $2.00/lb when you buy 2 packs. Chicken breast freeze well, and there is no reason you shouldn’t stock up when they go on sale like this.

The pineapple was in my pantry.  I bought it when it was BOGO a couple weeks ago.

The Veggies are the Steamfresh asian mix.  I got them free when I purchased the meal deal at Winn-Dixie this week.

Rice is a staple at my house.  I buy a huge bag that lasts forever!  It costs us pennies to serve rice with a meal.

The Chicken broth has been on sale a lot with the Holidays.  I purchased this very inexpensively right before Thanksgiving.

So, While I can’t give you an exact price. You can see how cheap and easy it can be to pull a meal together when you shop the current sale and stockpile your groceries.

Want more great crockpot recipes?  Check out Smockity Frocks Crockpot Recipe Linky!  It is full of deliciousness!

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I am sticking with the Fall flavors, because here in Sunny Hot Florida that is the only way I can make it feel like Fall.  I had the kids outside this afternoon and we had Popsicles and actually had to come inside because it was too hot to play.  They are talking about busting out the slip and slide this weekend.  Crazy kids!  Well, we have been known to be found in the pool in November here in Florida.  Just crazy weather!

I hope you guys are enjoying the Fall!  I know I sure enjoyed the Caramel Apple Pork Chops last week.   So much so, that I entered them into the Publix Apple Recipe Contest.  Cross your fingers for me.  If I win….I can guarantee a giveaway!

I have a couple more Halloween treats up my sleeve before Saturday!  I will post them before the weeks out.  Don’t forget to enter the 2 giveaways I have going this week.   I can’t wait to get my hands on those business cards!

Alright,  I couldn’t resist using my ole’ faithful crock pot again this week.  Cranberry sauce is a weakness in my house.  If there is a can we will eat it!  This time is no different with this great Cranberry Chicken Recipe!

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken

Printable Version Here

• 1 Whole Chicken or 4 Chicken Breasts
• 1 Can Cranberry Sauce (whole or Jellied)
• ½ cup orange Juice
• ¼ cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1TBSP Corn Starch or other thickening agent

In a small bowl mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  

Rub the mix onto a whole chicken.  Make sure you rub it under the skin as well.

Pour ½ cup Orange Juice into Crock pot.

Place Sugar rubbed chicken in the crock-pot with the juice.

Spoon Cranberry sauce over chicken.  Cover and cook 5 Hours on High or 8 Hours on Low.

After the Chicken is finished remove it from the Crockpot and let it rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Why is it Crockpot Meals are never that Pretty?!

While resting whisk in 1 Tbsp of Corn Starch into the drippins in the crockpot.  Crank the crock pot on high until thickened.  Makes some awesome gravy to serve the Chicken with!

Serve with rice or potatoes, and of course who could forget the circle cranberry sauce!

Meal Deal

Ya’ll better hold on to your hats cause this is a good one!  Even better for you folks that get double Q’s!

A huge thanks to my buddy Michelle at I Heart Publix!  I don’t know how to thank you for all you do!

As always these are the prices for this weeks Publix sale.  You could find these items cheaper elsewhere.  This is the cost if you were to go out and by what you would need today!

~4-5 lb Whole Chicken $0.99/lb =$4.00

~(2) Cans Cranberry Sauce $1.25 each (estimate)

~ (4) Green Giant Frozen Vegetables, Assorted Varieties, 14 to 24-oz pkg, or Corn on the Cob Nibblers, 12-ct pkg, BOGO $3.49
-$.50/1 PRINT
-$1/2 from 09-13-09 SS
-$.40/1 from 10-04-09 SS & 09-13-09 GM
-$4.00 Off the purchase of Four (4) General Mills or Nature Valley Products, Assorted Varieties, 5-oz pkg or larger

~(2) Uncle Ben’s Country Inn Rice, Assorted Varieties, 6-oz box, BOGO $1.49
-$1/2 PRINT
-$1/3; $1/2 from 09-13-09 RP

~(2)Fresh Express Salad Blends, Assorted Varieties, 4.5 to 12-oz bag, BOGO $3.99
-$.55/2 from 10-14-09 SS
-$.55/1  PRINT

~Go HERE to print a $3 off $15 printable for Rite Aid (valid 10/26 – 11/3)Printing for zip 77277

If your store accepts Rite Aid as a competitor

Use the

• $3 off $15 Printable
• (2)$1/2 from 09-13-09 SS for the Green Giant
• -$4.00 Off the purchase of Four (4) General Mills or Nature Valley Products, Assorted Varieties, 5-oz pkg or larger
• -$1/2 PRINT
• ( 2)-$.55/1  PRINT

After Coupons your total will be $7.86

Divide by 4

That is $1.97 per person!

Plus you will have

• 3 extra Green Giant Veggies
• 1 Uncle Ben’s Rice
• 1 Extra Bag of Salad

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I have also given up on fast food and dining out in general.  Some restaurants can’t even tell you if their foods contain allergens.   Much less offer gluten free or dairy free alternatives.

In my search for Gluten Free Foods I found a package of Ians Chicken Nuggets.  They cost me almost $7 for the box!  What was in side was depressing! 10 of the smallest chicken nuggets you have ever seen, and they didn’t even taste that good!  That is almost $1 a nugget!  Crazy Prices!

Everyone should eat healthier, but in this country healthy is considered “Specialty food”.  Why is that?  Why does it cost us so much to feed our children organic, healthy food?!

Well, I am making it my personal mission to help you guys feed your kids healthy and affordably!

My crew wanted chicken nuggets for lunch today!  I was out of them in the freezer and thought that this was a  perfect time to take pictures and show you guys how a half an hour in the kitchen can get you 90+ chicken nuggets in your freezer!

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Gluten Free Dairy Free

Printable Version Here

• 3 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Bread Crumbs ( See How to make your own here!  Even GFCF!)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp water
• Vegetable Oil

Directions

These are so easy you will wonder why you didn’t make them sooner!

Take a large skillet or fryer and heat oil to around 325-350 degrees.

In a medium bowl place 2 cups of bread crumbs.

In another bowl beat the 2 eggs and water.

Now, take you chicken breasts and cut them into bite sized pieces. You can make as many as you want.  I usually cut up at least 3 lbs at a time.

After chicken is cut up dip it into egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip off.

Then roll it into the bread crumbs.

Then drop into the hot oil.

You may have to refill your egg and  bread crumb bowl if you are making a lot of chicken.  I had to refill once.

If you are going to eat these immediately,  fry until cooked through.

If you are making them to go into the freezer, you will only want to fry for a few seconds on each side and then remove from the oil.

Place chicken on a paper towel or on baking racks so the oil can drain off and the chicken can cool.

Once the chicken is cool.  Place in a large freezer bag.  Label the bag with the directions below. Freeze until ready to cook.

To cook.  Place in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the nuggets.  

Can be stored in the freezer for 3 months.

Great for quick dinners instead of drive through! These are really good!  They taste like Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets!

Also great to throw in baked pasta and make a quick baked chicken Parmesan pasta!

With the 3 lbs of chicken breasts I got roughly 90 chicken nuggets!

For you GFCF moms out there…you just saved a fortune on specialty food!

I bought my chicken at WinnDixie this week.  They are BOGO!  So I got 6 lbs for $14.  Not too bad!

Even if you don’ t need a GFCF diet, think of how much you would save compared to a drive through or those expensive bags of frozen chicken nuggets.  This way you know what you are feeding your family!

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Like many of you, I love to cook!  I want my family to all sit down at the dinner table together and enjoy what they are eating.  I want my kids when they get older to remember all of the delicious meals mom cooked.   I would love to learn how to make some of these gourmet recipes you see on the Food Network.

Then….reality sets in!

…….(As the kids run by, chasing the dog with a stuffed animal hanging out of his mouth!)

So, we as Moms today have a unique challenge.   We need to make healthy, delicious meals that are cost effective and not time consuming!  Is that even possible?!  I think it is.  It just takes a little prep work and “A Few Short Cuts”!

At my house I am not too over scheduled yet!  I see it coming in the not so distant future.  The only extra curricular activity we have right now is my oldest daughter’s soccer.  My son wants to do a sport next season.   The little one already thinks she does a sport.  (We just let her pretend !  Whatever makes her happy!)

I have 2 nights a week that we have practice at 6 PM.  I understand that the large majority of parents work outside of the home and 6PM sounds reasonable.  To me, it is difficult.  We have to leave the house be 5:30.  The kids have to be done eating by 5.  Half the time they aren’t even hungry that early.  If we wait until after practice it would be 8PM.  Too late! We are just going to have to learn to adjust!

The easiest things on those nights are Crockpot suppers!  I can throw it in the crockpot in the morning, and not worry about it again until dinner time.  In my opinion everyone should have a RIVAL CROCKPOT!!!  Do you think that Rival got the point?  I have an email in to them about a giveaway.  I would love to give my readers a chance to win a new CROCKPOT!  It wouldn’t hurt to upgrade mine in the process!  It has seen better days!  I was told that my request was sent to the “Manager of Corporate Philanthropy”.   I want a fancy title like that!  All that person does is give stuff away but it sounds so much better the way they put it!

Anyway,  here was my solution for tonight’s meal!

Rubbed Down, Slow Cooked Chicken

PRINTABLE VERSION HERE

• Whole Chicken
• 1 Tbsp Seasoned Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• Whatever floats you boat!

This could NOT be more simple!

Take chicken and remove gizzards, or whatever awful stuff they put inside.

In a bowl mix all of the above spices.  If you see something you don’t like, leave it out.  Don’t see something you want?  Add it!

I came up with this blend myself, and it was the best roast chicken I think I have ever had in the crockpot!

Rub the spices all over the chicken.  I lift the skin and rub it underneath on the breast too!  It really absorbs the flavor better!

Now place in crockpot, cover and let cook on high for 4-5 hours, or on low for 8.  Remember that you want the meat thermometer to read 170 degrees.  That way you know your bird is cooked!

If I had my preference I would cook it on high for the 4-5 hours.  The chicken was very moist, sliced easily, but wasn’t over cooked and falling apart.  It tasted like a rotisserie chicken from the deli, but better!

I am sure it would be just as good on low, but would probably fall apart more due to the low temperature for such a long time.

You could get this ready the night before.  Place the chicken in the fridge with the spices on it.  I bet it would be even better after the flavors absorbed!

I served the Chicken with White Rice and Broccoli.  It was really great! You could change it up and serve with any veggie, or a potato even! I am adding biscuits to the meal total.  They would go great with this meal!

Meal Deal

As always, I would like to give credit where credit is due.  I couldn’t give you such great prices if it wasn’t for Michelle at I Heart Publix!  She has helped a ton of us save a ton of money!  These are prices for the current week at Publix.  You know that your cost could be lower if you have these items in your stockpile, or you have found them somewhere else cheaper.  I am leaving out the cost for the spices.  I had mine on hand.

Whole Chicken $0.79/lb (5 lb bird = $3.95)

Birds Eye Steamfresh Frozen Vegetables, 10 to 13 oz bag, or Corn on the Cob, 4 ct bag (including steam and serve trays), 50% off

– $1/2 Steam n’ Serve Blinkie
-$1/3; $.35/1; $1/2; $.50/1  from 09-13-09 SS
-$1/4 PRINT

I don’t know how much these cost.  Last time I checked I think they were around $1.25 during the 50% off sale.

Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, 16.3 or 17.3 oz can, 4/$5
-$1/2 Honey Butter Grands – Better at Home Booklet
-$1/3 from 8-09-09 GM
-$1/3; $.35/1 from07-12-09 SS
-$1/1 PRINT
-$1/2 PRINT
-$1 off Pillsbury Biscuits Or Bread, WYB (1) Progresso Soup, Any (Publix Coupon) – 09-13-09 SS

Rice…I don’t know….Let’s estimate $1.25 for a small bag.

$1 off McCormick Spices { Go Here and use zip code (28451)}

————————————————————————————————————————-

• $3.95    Chicken
  
• $1.25     Frozen Veggie…could be less with coupons
• $0.25    Biscuits with $1 off printable PRINT
• $1.25     Rice

Grand Total of

$6.70

Divide by 4

That is $1.68 per person!

I did better than I thought!  I didn’t think that this week would turn out so hot!  Take that Publix sale paper!

Enjoy your Chicken and come back Saturday morning for “Snack”urday!  I promise it will be up ON TIME this week!

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