I Trade!

Did you know?

That I am a member of the Pittsburgh Trade Alliance! This great organization allows businesses to work with each other using trade dollars. I’m even working on having our home’s carpets cleaned in a green fashion!  You can join the Trade Alliance too— just let them know that Alaina & Company sent you over!

Giggle + You = Awesome!

Now you can advertise your family friendly blog, site, etc on Giggle Talk!!!

Contact me for more information.

alaina AT dinkerandgiggles DOT com

Lite the grill!!!

The barbecue grill is a wonderful invention. When the weather is warm,
you can leave the stove altogether and head outdoors. Here are a few
ideas on how to prepare a complete meal for your family using only your
barbeque grill.

The Grilling Packet~ One way to cook a meal on your gas barbecue grill is to use grilling packets. Grilling packets are constructed using aluminum foil. With the
creation of non-stick aluminum foil, using a grilling packet is healthier and easier than ever. Grilling packets can be used for vegetables and other side dishes. Meats can also be placed in packets. Packets allow what’s inside to cook in its juices. The circulating steam cooks the contents without drying them out. Make sure to keep track of cooking times to avoid burning your food. Packets are a good idea when everyone wants the same thing but with slightly different touches. In this instance, each packet becomes an individual serving. Be sure to keep vegetables and
raw meats separate to avoid cross-contamination.

The Side Burner~ Gas barbecue grills with side burners add another element to the
grilling experience. Rice or beans can be cooked outdoors as well. The saucepan should stay covered to avoid bugs or insects flying into the pot. You can even boil white potatoes for a homemade mashed potato side dish.

The Prep Area~ Most grills offer an extra prep area on one side. This space can be
used to arrange the food as it comes off of the grill. Each person can sit their plate there and have dinner served up with a smile.

Grilling is not the experience it once was. Now, barbecue equipment is much more user friendly. An entire meal (even dessert-try some grilled fresh pineapple over ice cream) can be prepared on the grill in less time than it would take in the house using a stove. And, ot’s a great excuse to get some fresh air and use your patio furniture!

Find family friendly product reviews, information and support from a variety of different moms from all walks of life at Moms Talk News ~ Joining is free and only takes a moment-but the resources last a lifetime!

Desperate Cooking for Tight Budgets

Have you decided to cut corners anywhere you can in order to pay bills and save money? Do you need to feed your family this week with little or no money, or the ability to go grocery shopping? Don’t panic! You might just have enough on hand to get through.

Here’s how: Grab paper and pen.

Walk through your kitchen, taking inventory of everything you have in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer, organizing your list into categories, such as meats, vegetables, pasta, etc.

Sit down and think creatively. Consider what veggie and/or pasta you can team with which meat to make a meal. Broaden your normal menu; be brave enough to serve some things you maybe wouldn’t normally serve. Think outside the box and serve breakfast for dinner!

Carefully write out your meal plan for the week, and be diligent to stick to it!

Here are a few kitchen budget-savers I’ve learned:

Eggs can really stretch a dollar! Breakfast casseroles, quiches, or just plain scrambled eggs with cheese are always hits. If you’ve got a handful of hash browns or a potato you can shred up, that will stretch them too. You’d be surprised how just a few slices of bacon, or a piece or two of ham that wouldn’t be enough by themselves can work for a dish like this!

If you’ve saved small amounts of burger, sausage, chicken, pork or bacon and frozen them in baggies, you’re really doing good! Even ½ - 1 lb can be stretched in many dishes to feed a family!

Bisquick (or generic baking mix) is a lifesaver – for pancakes, biscuits, potpies, dumplings, and crusts.

If you have staples on hand such as flour, sugar and oats, you can mix up your own muffins or granola bars for breakfast, sack lunches or snacks for after school or in the car when you’re on the run (lots cheaper than stopping off for fast food!)

Use those lonely boxes of Jell-0 and pudding for desert or stretching lunch boxes. A can of fruit or a little sliced up fresh fruit can jazz up the Jell-O. If you find some Cool-Whip in your freezer, the kids will think you’ve gone all out for them!

Make a pot of soup or a potpie with the little bits of vegetables you have left in the frige or freezer.

Use that rice with some carrots, mushrooms and green pepper to make a stir-fry (almost anything goes!) If you don’t have any meat, use a couple eggs instead.

Think you can’t do anything with one small carton of yogurt? You can make smoothies using it plus a handful of frozen berries, or a banana (over-ripe works best) and a shot of juice or milk.

A can of cream of celery, mushroom, or chicken soup can stretch a little meat a long way! Use it in the crock-pot or for a casserole, serve with a vegetable and some noodles, rice or biscuits and you’ve got a delicious meal!

Think you’ve got nothing for desert? Just a few apples dipped in peanut butter, or some oranges scrubbed and quartered on a plate are great. How ’bout that lone cake mix – make it as is, or add a can of crushed pineapple and brown sugar on the bottom for a pineapple upside-down cake.

Odds and ends of bread, or the crusts you’ve saved in the freezer can now be used for French toast, homemade stuffing or croutons, or bread pudding.

Thinking to toss out the last of that potato chip or Doritos bag? Don’t! Use those crumbs on top of a casserole for added crunch and flavor!

You’ve heard the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”? Being desperate in the kitchen is how I’ve come up with these tips. As you stroll through your own kitchen, you too, will concoct clever ways to put delicious meals on your table without breaking the bank.

About the Author: Sandra Jensen is a dollar stretching mother of four boys. She’s learned a trick or two about feeding a hungry family on a budget. Grab her ebook, Freezing It and Loving It, today!