Shopping on a budget! Ross!

Hi, its been so long since I have blogged!  I have been so busy cooking and volunteering at the kids
schools!  I wanted to share this great find I got at Ross last week for $7.99.  Yes you heard that right!  $7.99.  I love a great deal and I love sharing with friends!!!!  It's warm here in Florida so I paired this dress with my old heels I have had for over 10 years!  When it gets chilly I would def pair this with leggings and my J Lo boots I got at Kohls a few years ago!  You don't need deep pockets to look great! 

Easy Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Paleo/Low Carb/Gluten Free)

Tonight I tried out this new recipe in hopes that it would be tasty.  I did choose to substitute the Coconut Milk or Organic Heavy Cream.  It was delish and easy to make!  I got the recipe from https://www.grassfedgirl.com/chicken-broccoli-casserole/.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil divided

4 cups fresh broccoli florets

1 medium white onion

Sea Salt and pepper

8 oz sliced mushrooms ( I left these out since Justin does not eat mushrooms but next time I am adding them)

3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (I cooked my chicken in the crock pot, shredded very easy)

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup full fat coconut milk (Organic heavy cream will also work)

2 eggs

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Cooking Directions:

Preheat over to 350.  Grease a casserole dish with half the coconut oil and set aside.  Steam the broccoli until just barely cooked and set aside.  In  a saucepan  melt the coconut oil, brown the onions and season with salt and pepper.  Add the mushrooms, saute until cooked and move the pan  from heat.  Transfer the broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and shredded chicken to the casserole dish distributing evenly.  Mix the chicken broth, coconut milk (or heavy cream), eggs, nutmeg with a generous pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl with a whisk and pour it over the contents of the casserole dish.  Make sure the mixture is spread evenly and all the contents are covered.  Please the casserole dish in the oven and cook for 35-40 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

Garlic Spinach

Here is a recipe I found on http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-garlic-spinach.    I love anything green and garlicy!  I made this tonight as an extra side to go with my philly stuffed peppers I made last night.  This was delish!  I would suggest doubling this recipe!

CLEAN EATING GARLIC SPINACH

(Makes 2 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large shallot, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups fresh spinach

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the shallot and garlic in a pan with the olive oil and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add the spinach and cook until it is properly wilted.

                                   

Philly Stuffed Peppers

Here is the recipe for Philly Stuffed Peppers.  I have made this before and honestly have no idea why I have not made it more often.  It is fairly easy, minimal ingredients, and tasty!

Philly Stuffed Peppers from http://www.primalblueprintpublishing.com/books/primal-cravings/

2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced ( I left these out since Justin does not care for mushrooms but next time I am using them !!!!)
1 pound ground beef
2 T hot sauce (I use 3 TBSP)
3T Worcestershire sauce
4 bell peppers, any color
4 ounces provolone cheese (optional)
Butter for the pan

     

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. Cut each bell pepper in half lengthwise.  Remove the stems and pick out the white membrane and seeds.  Place peppers on a baking sheet and bake until tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt a T of butter over medium heat.  Add onions and mushrooms and sauté until the onions are slightly golden in color.  Remove from the pan and set aside.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
   
   
   
   
   
4. Add ground beef, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and salt to the sauté pan.  Cook until the meat is browned, making sure to let any liquid that releases from the meat evaporate.  Add onions and mushrooms back to pan.  Stir to combine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
   
5. Remove any water that’s accumulated in the baked bell peppers.  Evenly stuff the ground beef mixture into each pepper half.                                                                                                                                                                                        
   
6. If using cheese, top each pepper with it and pop them back into the oven long enough to melt the cheese.                                                      
   

I served mine over Organic whole grain rice/quinoa blend which was delish!  When making my Quinoa, I use Organic free range chicken broth ($1.79 at ALDI) in place of water for added flavor!

What to wear.....

What to wear for $25

Dress from Forvever 21   $10.90 (Blue, Gray, and Black color options)

Shoes from Old Navy $12.94 (Tan, Black, Blue color options)

Pair this with a long necklace and bangle and your ready to go without breaking the bank!

Winn Dixie Deals

So I was at the beach planning my meals when I saw a facebook post about Winn Dixie's organic brand "Full Circle" having a closeout sale.  Since Winn Dixie was on my way home I decided to stop over.   I found some great deals on items we eat normally and the expiration dates are well into the future so nothing will be wasted!  Here is what I got for $48!

Every Item is Organic......

1 Oatmeal $1.59 each

3 bags Quinoa $1.57 each

Tortilla Chips .72 each

2 Cereal $1.74 each

1 Berry Cobbler snack bars .87 each

3 Baked Beans .37 each

1 can refried beans .89 each

2 jars of salsa $1.49 each

BBQ snack crisps $.94

1 jar of pasta sauce $.75

5  packs of applesauce .70 each

I also got 10 packs of cookies for 1.64 each bag!

Bath and Body Works Deals

So the Bath and Body Works Semi Annual sale is on!!!!  I went yesterday to pick up a few items..mainly candles and a few lotions!  I also had a $10 off $40 coupon!  Score!

Here is what I got:

3-Lotions/Body Wash $3.33 ea
3-Hand Soaps $3.00 ea
3-Med candles $3.33 ea
1-Large Candle $12.50
1-Large Candle Holder $4.50

Total $46 - $10 coupon = $36

Fresh Market Tuesday Deals

Today I changed things up a little and hit The Fresh Market for a few items.  I rarely ever shop there although they have several great deals each week including the Ground Chuck and Chicken Breast deal!  Here is what I got for $26............

Antibiotic Free Chicken Breasts $2.99 per lb!  I got 3.63 lbs = $10.86
Ground Chuck $2.99 per lb!  I got 3.97 lbs = $11.66

Squash .99/ lb (Great deal)
Fresh Salsa $2.99

Thai Cashew Chicken

Here is a Pinterest recipe I found almost two years ago and am just now making.  It was pretty good I must say!  I would suggest prepping  (chopping veggies and getting all of your stuff out).

Here is the recipe:  http://fastpaleo.com/recipe/thai-cashew-chicken/


                                   

                                   

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breast, You can  use chicken tenders so they cook quickly 
• 2 heads of baby bok choy, slice into long strips
• 1 small head of broccoli, chopped
• 2 large or 4 small carrots, sliced in half moons
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 cup of chicken stock, divided
• 1/2 cup of toasted cashews
• 1 Tablespoon of arrow root powder
• 2 Table spoon of coconut aminos - 1 teaspoon of thai chili powder or 1Tablespoon of red pepper flakes if you don't have the thai chili powder - Salt and pepper to taste - source of quality fat for cooking the chicken

- in a dry nonstick pan over medium heat toast up your cashews. This should only take about 5-7 minutes. Keep an eye on them, they will burn.
- in a large skillet heat 1 T of fat, I used bacon grease.
- salt and pepper your chicken and add it to the pan, cover and let it cook for about 5 minutes per side until cooked through and no longer pink inside
- take chicken out and set it on a cutting board.

slice chicken thinly against the grain
- in the same pan over medium heat add all your veggies
- add in the coconut aminos and some salt and pepper
- toss veggies and let them cook for about 7 minutes until they are crisp tender

                                 

- add 1/2 cup of the stock to the pan
- in a separate small bowl.

add the other 1/2 cup of stock and arrow root powder, stir till completely dissolved and add to the pan of veggies
- add in cashews, thai chili powder and chicken back into the pan to heat up again

- let cook and the sauce thicken for about 3 minutes
- the heat level is relative add more or less to your taste
- add salt and pepper to taste
- serve over cauliflower rice (I used Organic Quinoa).

 

ENJOY :)

 

  

Recipes, Meal Planning, and Grocery Shopping.....

 This post is about how I grocery shop, meal plan, etc.  I always "plan" each week but this time my goal was to plan even better, mainly dinners for this post.  

Tips:  Normally I try to purchase and plan 2 weeks worth of meals.  When I buy my fresh veggies, I tend to use those up the first 7-8 days and then rely on my frozen veggies for the other meals down the road. We do run out of fruit each week so I will put back about $10 for fruit out of my budget which usually consists of banana's, apples, and strawberries.

So first off I went through all of my recipes.  I have hundreds printed and 3 cookbooks I refer to.  I also try to find recipes that call for the same ingredients for the most part.  I usually do this Wednesday night.  Once I find everything I want to make over the next 2 weeks, I get my notebook out and start writing down all the ingredients I need.

Next I head out to Costco (or wherever you choose to go) and grab my meat/frozen veggies/frozen fruit.  I normally try to do this Wednesday afternoon or Thursday as its not very busy compared to Friday and Saturday.  Most times I just buy meat there but I def check out the frozen veggies/fruit for deals, etc.  Water is also cheaper there.  Paper goods are also a great deal when you combine with an instant manf cpn.  This time around I needed TP and Paper Towels.

Paper Goods/Cleaning $28.68

Toilet Paper $18.99 - $4.30 Instant Cpn = $14.69 (This will last 4 weeks) = $3.67 week
Paper Towels $17.79 - $3.80 Instant Cpn = $13.99 (This will last 8 weeks) = $1.74 week

My meat /egg/frozen fruit purchase:

Costco Food $102

24 Pk Organic Eggs $6.99 = $3.50 week(This will last 2 weeks)
4 packs Bacon $8.99 = $2.24 each pack (This will last me 4 weeks)
Boneless Thighs Organic $19.36 = 2 meals
Ground Beef Organic 4 lbs $21.99= 3 meals
Organic Strawberries  4 lbs $10.59 = $2.64 week (This will last 4 weeks)
Organic Chicken Breast  $18.51 - $3 instant man cpn = $15.51 = 2 meals
Pork Tenderloin $18.04 = 2 meals + 2 days of leftovers for Justin and I

Next, I hit Aldi for a lot of my produce and I always shop on Friday or Saturday.  I make sure I have my notebook and pen and get everything on my list.

Here are the veggies I picked up for my meals............

ALDI

Pineapple $2.19

2 bags of frozen broccoli florets (to use later down the road when my fresh veggies are all gone) $1.19 each bag

Organic Banana's $1.38

Lemons $.35 each

Bag of Mini multi colored peppers $2.49

2 pack bell peppers $.99

3 pack tomato .99

Blueberries $2.49

Strawberries $1.69

Mushrooms .99

Granny Smith Apples $2.99

Pack of 4 squash $1.69

Pack of 4 Zucchini $.99

Organic baby carrots $1.49

Pack of 5 sweet pot $1.99

Organic Chicken Broth $1.79

Total $27.23

Here are the dairy items I picked up.

ALDI-

Almond Milk $2.29

Moo Tubes $1.79

OJ $2.09

1/2 G 1% Milk $2.19

Van Yogurt $1.89

Greek Yogurt $3.89

Organic Arugula $2.49

Total $16.63

ALDI- WATER $2.49

Good luck with your shopping!

Southwestern Chicken Skillet Dinner

I made this recipe tonight and it was very tasty!  I got this off of pinterest ...here is the link to the recipe http://stlcooks.com/2014/05/southwestern-chicken-skillet-dinner/

Week Night Dinners..Egg cups...

Here are some dinners I have made recently.  I like to post foodie pics so I can reference them when I am looking for recipes later down the road.....these are pretty easy!

Organic Green Beans, Organic Quinoa, and Organic Chicken

(Courtesy of Cost Co)

Paleo Pepper Steak & Steamed Broccoli

Get the recipe here:   http://savvyshoppergiles.blogspot.com/2012/08/paleo-pepper-steak.html

Salami Egg Cups & Bacon

Kale Salad with Steamed Burgers

Get the Kale Salad recipe here:  http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/kale-salad-warm-cranberry-vinaigrette-recipe/

Organic Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Asian Slaw Salad, and steamed Peas w/ Mushrooms

Get the chicken recipe here:  http://savvyshoppergiles.blogspot.com/2014/10/paleo-honey-mustard-chicken-thighs-with.html

Steak, Organic Quinoa, and Zucchini Pesto Noodles

For Pesto Noodles recipe click here and scroll to the bottom:  http://savvyshoppergiles.blogspot.com/2014/08/thai-basil-beef-balls-pesto-zucchini.html

Dinner Recipes....

Here are a couple of recipes I made this week!  Pretty easy and yummy!  Clean eating too!

Kabobs with organic chicken and grass fed steak with a side of Broccoli, Bacon, Cashew Salad.


Broccoli, Bacon and Cashew Salad

http://www.thepaleodieteatingplan.com/Recipes/Broccoli-Bacon-and-Cashew-Salad.pdf

Ingredients:

1-2 broccoli, cut into florets and stalk diced 
3 rashes of bacon, fat removed, diced 
½ cup toasted cashews 
1tbs oil 

Instructions:
Boil broccoli in water on high heat for 5‐7minutes or until tender and cooked through. 
Remove water and place broccoli in a large serving bowl. 
Cook bacon in a frying pan for 4‐5minutes or until crispy. 
Remove bacon from pan and place into serving bowl along with broccoli and cashews. 
Combine well. 
Serve.

Next I made this yummy recipe!  Spicy and Sweet Chipotle-Honey Baked Chicken with a side of Kale salad with warm cranberry almond vinaigrette.  Beware this is spicy but oh so good!

http://paleonewbie.com/spicy-sweet-chipotle-honey-baked-chicken-wings-recipe/

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 - 2 lbs chicken wings (pre-cut)- I used chicken breast and thighs-skinless
• 1/4 cup honey
Chipotle Seasoning Mix
• 1 tbs chipotle powder
• 1 tbs coconut sugar
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dry mustard

1. In a small bowl prepare the dry Chipotle Seasoning Mix – stir to combine
2. Place chicken wings on small wire racks, and set inside a foil-lined cookie sheet to catch drippings
3. Generously coat all sides of the wings with the Chipotle Seasoning Mix
4. First bake at 400ºF for about 35 minutes
5. Next baste the chicken wings with honey
6. Continue baking an additional 10 minutes at 400ºF
7. Remove from oven and coat one more time with honey

KALE SALAD WITH WARM CRANBERRY ALMOND VINAIGRETTE

This healthy kale salad is topped with a warm cranberry almond vinaigrette.

PREP: 2 MINS COOK: 8 MINS TOTAL: 10 MINS

Http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/kale-salad-warm-cranberry-vinaigrette-recipe/

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• 1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons honey
• juice and zest of half a lemon
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• 1 bunch kale, very thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• (optional) 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot and saute for at least 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Then add cranberries, red wine vinegar, honey and lemon juice and zest, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss the kale with olive oil and an extra pinch of salt, and massage kale with your fingers for 1 minute until tender. Add in the cranberry/shallot mixture and almonds, and toss to combine. Serve topped with crumbled cheese if desired.

Skinny Taco Flatbread

Tonight I made a new recipe I found on Pinterest.  It was pretty easy and tasty too!  Here is the recipe and the link http://www.skinnymom.com/2013/06/23/skinny-taco-flatbread/  FYI-we were both STUFFED after eating this.

Ingredients

• ½ lb extra lean ground sirloin (look for 90% or less)--I used Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef
• 2 tomatoes, diced (1 cup)
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• ½ can fat-free refried beans
• ¼ cup sliced black olives
• ¼ cup diced jalapeños
• ¼ cup green chillies, diced
• ½ onion, finely diced
• ½ cup reduced-fat, shredded Mexican cheese
• ½ cup tomato salsa
• Taco Seasoning or use store bought but look for low-sodium option and only use ½ of mix and ¼ cup water.
• 4 Flatout® Flatbread Soft 100% Whole Wheat Wraps (I used Flat Out Artisan Pizza Crust-Spicey Italian)
Optional Topping*:
• reduced-fat sour cream- I did not use sour cream
• *Optional ingredients are not included in nutritional calculations.
• 
  

ENJOY :)