What's Cookin' on Denby?

Blogging takes time, so does meal planning!

2014-07-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in my life since I last posted...in November of 2013! I really do want to start being more consistent with my blogging. I have started a new job, which I love, and that has made my life so much better! I no longer have to work in the evenings, being on call or making late home visits. It is such a relief knowing that when I come home in the afternoons (at 3:00pm) I do not have to leave my family! With that being said, I am going to become more vigilant about posting on my blog.

I have gotten off track with meals and have found myself going to the store more frequently than I should, maybe it is because I am home in the evenings? I am not sure. Having four kids and not planning out meals it not a good idea. My goal is to not go to the grocery store more than once a week. So here is the meals that I plan on serving my family this week:

Sunday: Vacation Bible School will feed my gang/husband is working
Monday: Vacation Bible School for kids/husband is working
Tuesday: Vacation Bible School for kids/husband is working
Wednesday: Potluck dinner at park, I am taking this: Crockpot Mac & Cheese
Thursday: Loaded Nachos
Friday: Breakfast Burritos with Sausage & Eggs, Cooked Apples
Saturday: Grilled BBQ Chicken, Peas, Fresh Fruit

I might make some Thai Chicken in the crockpot, just so my husband will have something to eat for dinner, on the days he is working.

Pampers Gift to Grow Points, FREE!

2013-11-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

Add 10 free Pampers Gifts to Grow points with the following code:

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This code is valid through December 2, 2013.

Free Subscription to Working Mothers

2013-06-03T18:06:00.002-07:00

Get your subscription now...for FREE!

Free Sample of Garnier BB Creme

2013-05-23T14:00:00.003-07:00

Free Garnier BB Creme Sample! Get your sample!

Red Robin Royalty

2013-05-22T06:06:00.002-07:00

Have you signed up for Red Robin Royalty? If not, you should! You can get a free burger on your birthday or a 10th item FREE! Check it out: https://royalty.redrobin.com/

Farmer's Markets

2013-05-21T18:14:00.001-07:00

I must say that I have not been going to the Farmer's Market much over the past few years. I went this past Saturday and found these plants for $2.00 each! I'm so excited and hopeful that they will produce some tasty vegetables this summer. Two days before the Farmer's Market, I had gone to the local supermarket and purchased three tomato plants, smaller than the ones I got at the Farmer's Market, for $4.49 each! I couldn't believe how much cheaper the Farmer's Market was in regards to the plants. I must say I'm excited to go back and see what they have next Saturday!

Want to find a Farmer's Market near you? Check out http://www.farmersmarket.com/

50 cent Corn Dogs at Sonice on 5/23!

2013-05-21T18:07:00.004-07:00

Stop by any Sonic location on Thursday, May 23, 2013, to get $0.50 Corn Dogs.

2013-05-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

Here is another code for your Pampers Gifts to Grow account! Use code: TWITB5T17PAEM13 to add 5 FREE points to your account. Expires 5/22/13.

FREE Pepsi Next Coupon

2013-05-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

Spin the "Wheel of Levy" and possibly get a FREE Pepsi Next Coupon in the mail!

Nescafe Taster's Choice Free Samples

2013-05-19T05:03:00.002-07:00

Get your FREE SAMPLE which includes six sticks from Nescafe! Limit two per household and one per person!

2013-05-19T04:57:00.001-07:00

Free Samples of Tampons

2013-05-19T04:50:00.001-07:00

Airing My Clean Laundry

2013-01-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

As I begin 2013, I want to make a point to be more "Green." One of the ways we have started to conserve energy is to hang our laundry. We are doing so inside this winter and my hope is that i can continue doing this throughout the year. My husband hung a shower curtain rod, from Lowes, in our laundry room. We hang all of our pants, shirts, PJ's, and jackets in there to dry. I sometimes fold the towels in half and hang them too. If the rack is too full, I hang the towel over the corner of the door to dry. Our clothes dry within 24 hours, so I can do about 1 to 2 loads a day.

For the smaller items such as underwear and socks, we use a drying rack.

My husband and I have cut our use of the dryer down from 6-10 loads each week to 1-2 loads. We are saving lots of $$$ this way! We also use only cold water in our washing machine, so that is also helping keep the cost of laundry down.

The Best Ever Hot Chocolate

2013-01-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

I came upon this recipe on the internet (cooks.com) one cold, winter's day as my children were playing outside in the snow. We were out of hot chocolate packets from the store, so I thought to myself, "I'm going to make some from scratch!" I was very pleased with the result. I don't remember my mother's tasting like this as a child. I remembered a watered down, coca drink! My kids and husband thought it was the best they've ever had! I hope you feel the same way once you try it!

The Best Ever Hot Chocolate Recipe:

1 Tbsp Coca Powder

2 Tbsp Sugar

2 Tbsp Water

1 Cups of Milk

1 tsp Vanilla

Mix the coca powder, sugar, and water together. Heat over the stove for about one minute. Whisk in the milk and vanilla. Continue stirring occasionally until you have the desired temperature.

Don't forget to add marshmallows to this wonderful hot chocolate!

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for the amount of people you will be serving!

FREE 25 PAPA POINTS!!!

2012-12-31T16:37:00.002-08:00

When you place an online order for Papa John's pizza and use code PAPASGIFT, you get a bonus 25 points added to your Papa John's rewards account! It takes 25 points to get a FREE pizza- so next time you order, dinner's on them! The order must total at least $12 and you will be able to use the 25 in point rewards 24 hours later. Offer is valid until January 7th

My Household Goals for 2013

2012-12-31T16:28:00.002-08:00

Household Goals for 2013

January: Finish Painting Foyer, Give 4 toys away, Save $300 for VACATION

February: Paint Kitchen, Give 4 toys away, SAVE $600 for VACATUION

March: Paint Dining Room, Give 4 toys away, SAVE $300 for VACATION

April: Fence the yard, Give 4 toys away, Save $300 for VACATION

May: Put in new door in family room, Plant Garden, Give 4 toys away, Save $300 for VACATION

June: Buy Used Car, Mulch the front, Give 4 toys away, Save $300 for VACATION

July: VACATION, Give 4 toys away

August: Paint Office, Give 4 toys away, Save $100 for Christmas

September: New Garage Doors/Paint Floor in Garage, Give 4 toys away, Save $100 for Christmas

October: Take Wallpaper down and paint downstairs bathroom, Give 4 toys away, Save $100 for Christmas

November: Carpet basement, Give 4 toys away, Save $100 for Christmas

December: Save for Christmas!!! Give 4 toys away, Save $250 for After Christmas Sales

Happy New Year, Folks!

2012-12-31T16:27:00.000-08:00

I hope 2012 has been good for you, as it has been for my family. I'm looking forward to this new year and all the things we have planned! I hope to blog more often, now that life seems to be settling a bit, so check back frequently!

FREE JCPENNY HAIRCUTS CONTINUE!

2012-09-10T08:21:00.002-07:00

JCPenney is bringing back the free hair cuts offer again, starting November 4th!

JCPenney received such great response to their Back-to-School Free Haircuts deal in August (they gave away 1.6 million hair cuts!) that they are bringing it back as a permanent promotion, on Sundays, starting November 4th. Just call your local JCPenney to make a hair appointment for your children (grades K – 6th).

You better believe I will be calling for my kids! My children got great haircuts at our local JCPenny store this August.

French Toast Casserole

2012-09-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

This is another wonderful recipe that I found on Pinterest. I made this French Toast Casserole last Sunday and it was a hit! This is very easy to make and your family will just love it!

Recipe taken from: http://sheldonrachel.blogspot.com/2009/03/french-toast-bake.html

Ingredients:

1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
1 cup brown sugar
1 loaf Texas toast
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Melt butter in microwave & add brown sugar, stir
2. Pour butter/sugar mix into bottom of 9 x 13 pan and coat the bottom of the pan
3. Beat eggs, milk, & vanilla
4. Lay single layer of Texas Toast in pan
5. Spoon 1/2 of egg mixture on bread layer
6. Add 2nd layer of Texas Toast
7. Spoon on remaining egg mixture
8. Cover & chill in fridge overnight
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (covered for the first 30 minutes)
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar
11. Serve with warm maple syrup, if desired.

When serving, flip the french toast over so the brown sugar and butter are on top! Enjoy!

Self Portrait

2012-09-06T06:49:00.003-07:00

Looking for a great idea to entertain your kids on a rainy day? Or maybe a quite activity for the older kids during nap time? This was such a neat idea I found on my favorite website, Pinterest!

Directions: Have your child trace their hands and feet on the paper. Then have the child draw in their body.

My Alex is such a artist, don't you think?

Free Haricuts for Kids at JC Penny in August

2012-07-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Call your local JC Penny to see if they are offering FREE haircuts to kids during the month of August. Call soon because they are filling up appointments! I got four appointments the week before school so my children can go to school with a "normal, stylish" haircut rather than a Mommy haircut!

Baked Zucchini Sticks with Carmalized Onion Dip

2012-07-20T19:29:00.003-07:00

Making French Fries out of Zucchini is such a great way to get rid of the not so favorite vegetable! I really enjoyed this recipe! I hope you do, too!

I took this recipe from King Arthur Flour...Check it out!

Free Sample of Shampoo

2012-07-20T19:27:00.002-07:00

Enter for a FREE Sample of Garnier Fructis!

http://garnier.consumerproducts.us.com/social/vipsampling/home/invite_register/502892906

Goals for the Week

2012-06-24T18:50:00.002-07:00

I have found that if I set daily or weekly goals in my personal and professional life, I get more accomplished! Maybe it is because I like seeing things marked off the list. Here are the top ten things I hope to get accomplished this week:

1. Unpack at least three boxes each day (we just moved less than 1 month ago).
2. Do at least one load of laundry per day.
3. Clean the bathrooms.
4. Vacuum the house every other day this week.
5. Clean out the van.
6. Clean off counter tops in the bathrooms (I unpacked bathroom boxes, but left junk on counter tops)
7. Sleep at least 8 hours per night.
8. Get up at least three mornings this week (at 6:00am) to walk before the kids get up.
9. Drink 1 glass of water before I have coffee or breakfast every day. Then continue to drink at least 6 more glasses throughout the day.
10. Read each child one book or chapter per day.

Menu for the Week

2012-06-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Chicken Curry, Rice, Salad
Fresh, Homemade Blueberry Pancakes, Cooked Apples, and Bacon
Chicken Sausages, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, Grape Salad
Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, Applesauce
Spaghetti, Salad
Hamburger Stroganoff
Friday- Dinner Out
Saturday- Dinner Out