Some of this week's cooking

One morning I baked a batch of blueberry muffins from a Betty Crocker mix bought on sale for .99.

I used a Pinterest tip about how to increase the flavor by adding the blueberry juice from ththe can that is usually discarded as part of the water.  This made the batter quite purple but once it was baked,  the  muffins were almost normal color and they did have a stronger pleasant blueberry flavor.

Heidi in Holland says this a very common meal in the Netherlands.  It is potato cubes simmered until tender and then mixed with sautéed onion and sliced sausage with a can of drained green beans.  

I haven't made this in a while. It tasted very good and is a nice dish for the beginning of Autumn.

Heidi mostly blogs about stitching these days and has a very sweet blog

Stitched Memories in Time

This is French Bread Pizza inspired by a YouTube video by DivasCanCook.  

The loaf of bread is cut lengthwise from top to bottom, then opened and flattened.  Brush with a little garlic butter and bake for 10 minutes until it just starts to toast.  Then add the desired toppings and bake about 15 minutes more.  Her video is really good but just 3 minutes or so,  so if you want to try this pizza,  her instructions are quick and just right.

That's what's been cookin' in my kitchen.  

Homemade hybrid version of noodles -rolled dumplings

I made these a couple weeks ago and several of you requested my recipe.

My mom and grandmother made really good egg noodles and my mom also made big fluffy dumplings and smaller rolled dumplings.  

But the recipe I use most is from another Marine wife and I got it from her about 25 years ago.  It was her Texas grandmothers recipe.

My noodles are a little bigger and chunkier than other homemade noodles I've had and they are smaller than rolled dumplings so that is why I say they are a hybrid.  

That's my handwriting, can you decipher it?  I'll type it below with a few comments,

For the chicken part,  cook either a whole chicken or whatever chicken pieces you like, in a big pot.  Cover with water and season with any of these - pepper, thyme, celery seed, carrot, onion, garlic, parsley, dill, poultry seasoning and chicken boullion.  (I have never used all those at once, I do like fresh celery, carrot and onion, salt and pepper and then I add boullion if needed). 

Simmer the chicken until very tender and then remove any bones and skin and strain the broth.

For the noodles or dumplings,  I start them early in the day and let them dry on the countertop all day.  This is not necessary, I just like them this way.  

2 cups of flour, 

1/2 t salt

1 t baking powder

Crisco shortening - size of an egg (that's about 1/4 of a cup, but old recipes were written that way) 

Cut the shortening into the flour and salt until it is like fine crumbs. 

Stir in 1/2 cup water.  

Now knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth.

Roll out thin and cut into small squares or noodles, however your family likes.

Now is when I move them onto clean towels and let dry.  

To cook, put the noodles into the simmering chicken and broth. Stir lightly, keep simmering and keep the pot covered,  they should be done in about 15 minutes.  

This recipe is a little backwards - I start the noodles to dry in the morning. Then when it is maybe 2 hours until meal time, I start the chicken and broth.  

To make it a 1 pot meal, I like to add carrots, peas, corn and some finely chopped potato.

Also, I usually increase the noodle part by 50% to 3 cups of flour, 3/4 t salt, 1 1/2 t baking powder, and 3/4 cup water, and Crisco the size of 1 and 1/2 eggs.

If you have a little helper, it will take longer and more flour will end up on the floor- but it will be more fun. 

To do list, some sewing, new nail routine and CVS

This is going to be a jumbled up post!

First my to do list for this week

Last week I got quite a bit of sewing done.  

I finally finished the aprons for me that have been in progress for at least a month.

I also sewed up more napkins from some thrifted tablecloths- I am not sure how many but if they are all clean, they won't fit in the drawer.  My husband really prefers cloth napkins and these red ticking ones are his all time favorite.  They are almost as thick as denim but very soft.  

This little Kristoff tunic is on this week's list but I made it Sunday night.  I used the same online tutorial that I used last year to sew this same tunic for the same grandson.  But he grew and needed a bigger one to wear to see Frozen On Ice with his other grandparents.  

I hope to never have to go to a nail salon again and am trying these new products on my nails and so far, my nails are harder and good enough for me.  

OPI Nail Envy to strengthen, OPI Avoplex oil for cuticles and a Tweezerman 6 way file - I really like this file!  All items were ordered from Amazon.  

CVS - lots of sales this week 

The products I liked were so big in the ad, I had to use both sides of my notebook paper.  

I got 6 bottle of Clorox and used $1/2 coupons and got back $5 ECB. 

The Suave was buy 1 get 1 50% off and I used Buy 1 Get 1 free coupons that were in yesterday's paper and got back $4 ECB.  

Tide and Pantene were on the Proctor Gamble Buy $30 get $10 ECB and I used $4/2 Pantene coupons and $2 Tide coupons.  

I spent almost $22 cash but before coupons it was $67 and I got back $19 ECB.

Today is a child free day for me so I better sign off and get busy on that list now.  

Have a good week everyone! 

To Do List times 2

I thought I posted last week's list but apparently I didn't.

I did manage to get the  majority of boxes checked and I'm pretty happy about that.  

I didn't finish the 3 aprons that have been in progress for weeks but i did get a lot done on them.  

I didn't go to the nail salon, I have another plan for my nails and I'll let you know if it works.

This week's list ---

The fabric tape is from Dollar Tree and the stickers are Mary Englebreit, passed on to me during my parents downsize.  

Have a good week everyone. 

And I'll be updating soon with how I make homemade noodles / rolled dumplings.   

CVS - one from last week and one from this week

This first transaction from is from last week's CVS sale ad so it can't be done right now, but there is a similar deal this week on Puffs tissues.  

I started with $13 in extracare bucks and wanted to stock up on facial tissue.  I had coupons from last week's newspaper for the Kleenex.  

I bought a 6 pack of paper towels, 12 boxes of tissues and 2 sodas.  After coupons I spent $8.99 and got back $5 extracare bucks.  

I almost didn't go to CVS this week but I watched LASavings8 YouTube video about her shopping deals and we were up and dressed in plenty of time to go to church so we stopped on the way.  

As usual, fixed up my list of deals I wanted to do by clipping the product feature from the weekly ad and gluing them to a sheet of paper,  then I use a paperclip to attach my coupons, extracare bucks and CVS card.  

Organization is the key to getting the best deals! 

2 toothpaste, 2 tooth brushes, 4 little eye shadows,and a bag of candy. 

I didn't buy much but am so glad I went.  I spent just 73 cents and got back $7 extracare bucks!