Food Storage Recipe - Southwestern Chili Mac Casserole

 

  

                                                Southwestern Chili Mac Casserole

   

                                             1 pound ground beef

                                             2 cups of uncooked wagon wheel pasta 

                                             2 cups of water 

                                             1 can chili beans , do not drain

                                             8 ounce jar of nacho cheese sauce

 

                                    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

                                    Lightly grease the casserole dish or spray nonstick cooking spray.

                                    Cook the ground beef , breaking it up very well, and drain.

                                    Stir in the remaining ingredients. 

                                    Cook until heated through and then put into the casserole dish.

                                    Cover tightly.

                                    Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the pasta is tender and sauce is bubbly.

                                   

 

Food Storage Recipe - Ravioli With Sausage & Peppers

                   

                                                  Ravioli With Sausage & Peppers

                                       1/2 of a 25 ounce pack of frozen ravioli 

                                       2 cups of frozen bell pepper and onion stir fry mix

                                       1 26 ounce jar of chunky spaghetti sauce

                                       8 ounce of smoked sausage , sliced

                                       1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese 

            In a Slow Cooker combine all of the ingredients except the Parmesan cheese, mix well.

            Cover and cook on low for a few hours.

            Serve , sprinkle the cheese on top of each serving. 

Smart Grocery Shopping Can Save You Money

 

 

            Going to the grocery store today can be a very stressful time. Here are a few tips to try and keep the stress level down. Meal planning can help keep you within your budget. A meal plan and these tips can help a bit. 

Clip Grocery Coupons - Every little penny helps. The more you use them, the more the savings add up. 

Take Advantage Of Sales - Read the local newspaper and the grocery store ads. This is also a great way to stock up on items that you use a lot of. Watch for the sales and plan your meals for the week around what is on sale.

Write it down  - Make a list of what you need. Take the list with you to the grocery store and this will help you to not make unnecessary purchases. 

Organize - Keep your pantry and freezer organized. This helps a lot with saving money. If your pantry and freezer are organized then you know what you have and what you need. 

Save On Meat and Cheese - Meat and cheese that is already cut and cubed will cost a bit more. Buy the meat and cut it into cubes or stir fry strips yourself.  Block cheese can be shredded or cubed easily. This can save a bit on of your grocery budget. 

Buying whole chickens can be a money saver.  Also be on the lookout for family packs that you can break down and freeze into multiple packs for multiple meals.

Convenience foods can add up. You can make your own smaller packs of items from buying larger packs. Example: Don't buy the box of small bags of chips. Buy a big bag and make your own smaller bags. 

last and most important rule to save money grocery shopping - IF YOUR FAMILY WILL NOT EAT IT , DON'T BUY IT!

   

 

Recycle Used Candles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gather all of your partly used candles and place them in a metal coffee can or a pan that you can just use for melting candles in. Melt the candles down in a double burner style, coffee can inside a bigger pan with water boiling in it. Remove all of the wicks with a fork. Place a longer, new piece of wick into the center of the mold that you are using as you pour the wax into it. When the wax cools and sets completely remove it from the mold. Now you have a new bigger candle. You can get Candle Wicks online for a pretty low price. This is a great way to always have candles of a good size and not throw any candles out. Melt them down and reuse the wax. 

The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster

Food Storage Recipe - Potato-Bacon Soup

 

                                                           Potato- Bacon Soup

 

                                       2 cans of chicken broth 

                                       3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 cubes

                                       1 medium onion , finely chopped

                                       1 teaspoon Dried Thyme

                                       6 strips of bacon , chopped

                                       1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

 

                      Combine the broth , potatoes , onion, and Dried Thyme in a big pot , bring to a boil. 

                      Reduce the heat and boil until the potatoes are tender.

                      While the potatoes are cooking fry up the bacon until crisp.

                      Add the bacon to the broth mixture.

                      Season with salt and pepper to taste.

                      Serve in bowls and top with the shredded cheese.