Menu Planning: Food on the Table - FREE for LIFE membership! Hurry this won't last long!

Hurry, this won't last long!!  Sign up for the Food On the Table premium plan - FREE for a very limited time.  And by free, I mean free for life!  Food on the Table is an easy meal planning service that is based on sales at local grocery stores.  You can find thousands of easy, healthy recipes - save money by knowing the items that are on sale - simplify your shopping experience with a well organized grocery list that can be printed or sent directly to your mobile phone.

Usually the free part of the membership only provides limited recipes and planning for no more than 3 meals a week.  Premium membership costs $5/month for a lot more recipes and unlimited meal planning - and right now, you can get this for FREE for life!  Use promo code FEBFREE (valid only for the month of February, as long as  it hasn't reached its limit).

Sign up today because it will be gone FAST, and you may not get a deal like this again....

*RARE* Dr. Praeger's printable coupon (gluten free fishies!)

Dr. Praeger's makes gluten free potato crusted fishies for kids, and they are good! My kids love them, and it's an easy and fun way for them to get their fish source!  Very kid friendly!!  Just pop a few in the toaster oven, and you have a healthy lunch or dinner full of omegas for your little kids growing brain.

If you go to the Dr. Praeger's facebook page, you can print a .50/1 coupon that can be used on any product. (you should be able to print 2) There are a lot of other Dr. Praeger's products available - I usually buy them from Whole Foods.  The large box of fishies is priced at about $7.99 at my local Whole Foods, and .50 cents doesn't seem like much, but it all adds up! 

 

This is a great product for those who require gluten free diets.

Monday Menu Planning

Meal planning is the best way to save money on your groceries and be stress-free when it comes to the dreadful question "What should I make for dinner?"  Here is an excellent site that helps solve that problem by making meal planning a piece of cake!  

Food On The Table is filled with recipes that are organized by main ingredient, and rated by users who have tried it.  There is a "meat-free" category for those who are vegetarian, or just prefer to go meatless for the day.  You choose which meals you would like to make, and it creates a grocery list which you can print for your next trip to the store or send to your phone.  You also have the option to print out the recipes for the week.  

Sounds great right?  And this is a free service!  

Check it out!

Freezing hot dogs for single use

My daughter LOVES hot dogs!  I usually buy the organic hot dogs by Applegate Farms, because they do not contain nitrates.  And although they are organic, it doesn't necessarily mean they are healthy enough to eat everyday.  If I freeze the entire pack, it becomes a frozen brick, making it impossible to seperate just one hot dog at a time.  So... I've come up with a clever way to freeze a pack of hot dogs for single use.  Watch and learn!

You will need some waxed paper, a freezer ziploc bag, and a pack of hot dogs.



Lay out a piece of waxed paper, approximately 18 inches long (it doesn't have to be exact - just eyeball it) and space 3 hot dogs near side.

Fold the other half of the waxed paper over top of the 3 hot dogs.  Then place the remaining hot dogs inbetween the first set of hot dogs.



Fold the extra edges of the waxed paper around the hot dogs and slide them into a quart sized freezer bag.  I like to clip the packaging and stick that in the bag as well, so that I know exactly what it is later on.  Pop it in the freezer and you're all set!

Now when your kids ask for a hot dog for lunch or dinner (or if you're craving one yourself) you can easily take just one or two out of the freezer without having to defrost the entire brick! 

Greek Kebabs, Tzatziki and Lemon Garlic Potatoes - OH MY!

If you feel like cooking Greek for dinner, here's some recipes that will come in handy!

Pork Kebabs

Pork shoulder cut into cubes
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp crushed fresh garlic
dash or two of ground pepper
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/4 c olive oil

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl.  Add cubed pork and toss to coat.  Let marinate for 2 hours.
Thread cubes onto skewers and line them up on a foil-line baking sheet (coated with cooking spray to prevent sticking).  Broil in your oven, turning occasionally to cook evenly.  You can also fire up the grill!



Tzatziki Sauce
1 1/2 c plain lowfat Greek yogurt
2 small cucumbers (peeled and seeds sraped out)
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 fresh garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp dried mint

Peel cucumbers, slice down the center (lengthwise) and scrape out the seeds.  Grate the cucumbers and put into small bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. 

This recipe makes more than enough for this meal.  It works great for a healthy salad dressing too!




Lemon Garlic Potatoes4 small red potatoes
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
5 Tbsp lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp dried oregano
dash of pepper

Mix ingredients in medium bowl.

Wash potatoes well.  Leave skins on and chunk into "bite size" pieces.  Add to bowl and toss to coat.

Heat a dash of olive oil in a frying pan.  Add potato mixture to pan and cover.  Fry until potatoes are tender inside and crispy outside.  You may also roast them in the oven on a foil lined roasting pan (sprayed with cooking spray) at 425F for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until tender and browned. 

I used 4 small red potatoes, which was perfect for my small family of 4.  I don't like leftover potatoes, because they don't reheat well.  You can up the ingredients if you need a larger amount.

Serve with the tzatziki sauce and some fresh cut tomatoes!