Mar 15, 2013

Easy Homemade Hummus Recipe!

Mar
15
2013
Friday

Hummus is one of my absolute favorite frugal recipes.  It’s SO easy to make and it’s good with a variety of veggies and perfect for pitas and homemade falafels!

This is the recipe that I use the most.  I tried figuring out a good recipe that didn’t use Tahini but, in my opinion, you just have to have the Tahini.  I know that some people enjoy the flavor of Peanut Butter instead of Tahini, but I was not a fan of that switch.  Let us know in the comments below if you have a Hummus recipe that you would like to share too!

If you can’t see the recipe below, click here to see it!

Easy Homemade Hummus Recipe!

Author:
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 6

Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

Ingredients
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 can Garbanzo Beans OR ¼ lb. of dried Garbanzo Beans, cooked
  • At least ½ cup of juice from the can (or from cooking the beans) depending on how thick/runny you like your hummus
  • 4 Tbsp. Lemon Juice (preferably fresh)
  • 3 Tablespoons Tahini Sauce
  • ½ tsp. Salt (more to taste if desired)
  • 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp. Ground Cumin
  • Black Pepper (if desired)
  • Chopped Parsley for garnish

Instructions
  1. Mix all of the ingredients (except parsley) in a food processor or high-quality blender (like a Vitamix or Blendtec).
  2. Top with a few garbanzo beans, parsley, and some drizzled olive oil.
  3. Serve!

 

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.
Jan 31, 2013

Healthy Chicken Mole Taco Recipe!

Jan
31
2013
Thursday


 

Healthy Chicken Mole Taco Recipe!
Getting bored with the same old tacos? Try out this recipe- the cocoa and spices give the tacos a unique, sweet and savory taste…plus they are full of nutrients and low in fat and calories!

Author:
Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 1 tsp Canola oil
  • 1 Large onion, chopped
  • 2 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbs Unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tsp Chili powder
  • 1 tsp Ground cumin
  • ½ tsp Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Sugar
  • ½ tsp Dried oregano
  • ⅛ tsp Salt
  • 1 (14.5 oz) Can no-salt added diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15.5 oz) Can no-salt added black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 C Cooked chicken breast (skinless and boneless), chopped
  • 8 (6 inch) Whole wheat tortillas, warmed
  • 2 cups Shredded romaine lettuce
  • ½ cup shredded Reduced-fat monterey jack cheese

Instructions
  1. Add oil, onion and garlic into large skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for about 7 minutes (until onions start to brown)
  2. Add next 8 ingredients (cocoa and all spices/seasonings). Stir for 1 minute (until fragrant)
  3. Add tomatoes to the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 8 minutes (stir occasionally, sauce should thicken slightly)
  4. Stir in beans and chicken (try using rotisserie chicken to save time), return to simmer and cook for 3 more minutes
  5. Spoon ¾ cups chicken mixture on each tortilla, top evenly with lettuce and cheese

Nutrition Information
Serving size: 2 tacos Calories: 373 Fat: 10g Saturated fat: 2g Trans fat: 0g Carbohydrates: 52g Sugar: 5g Sodium: 938 mg Fiber: 25g Protein: 35g Cholesterol: 37g

 

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.
Dec 11, 2012

Printable Mom & Dad Date Night Cards For Stocking Stuffers!!

Dec
11
2012
Tuesday

Out of all of the Christmas presents that our kids received last year, I think this one was their favorite!

On Christmas morning each of the older 2 kids (we’ll be doing it with the older 3 this year) received 12 envelopes in their stocking.  Each envelope had a month of the year written on it (January through December) and inside each of the envelopes was a date card for a date with either mom or dad!

They put the envelopes away in one of their dresser drawers and when January 1st rolled around they got to open the first one!  One of the kids got a specific date with me and the other got a specific date with Ryan (to be scheduled for sometime that month).  Then when Feb 1st arrived they did the same thing (and again on the first of each month throughout the year!)

You guys… I knew that the kids would at least like the idea.  But I had no idea just HOW MUCH they would LOVE it and look forward to the first day of every month – all the way up through December!

It was a huge hit for our family so I wanted to share with all of you the cards that I made for us to use this year in case you wanted to do the same thing!

I put 12 specific dates with mom, and 12 specific dates with dad (so that those who are single parent families can have enough for the whole year!), and then I also left some blank ones on the end of each one in case you wanted to add something that I didn’t have listed on ours.

My recommendation would be to print these out on nice cardstock paper so that they will stay in good condition.  Last year I did this at the last minute and didn’t have any cardstock so I printed it out on regular paper and then glued it onto colored construction paper.  Let me know if you have any other ideas for how to implement this!

Just click on one of the buttons below to download the PDF file for either date nights with mom or date nights with dad!

Printable Date Night With Mom Cards

Printable Date Night With Dad Cards

I would love to hear any other ideas for how to use the cards!  I was thinking these would make great Valentine’s Day gifts too!

Follow Me on Pinterest

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, gifts-throughout-the-year idea for non-kids (this would actually be perfect for your kids to give to YOU) then check out this Christmas Coupon Book put together by my friend Jen at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam!

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.
Dec 5, 2012

20 Unique Ideas For Gifts in a Jar!

Dec
5
2012
Wednesday

Gifts In A Jar - 20 Unique IdeasIt’s usually around this time of year that many of us watch our list of people to buy gifts for grow and grow…and we wish that we had a creative, meaningful, handmade gift idea that people would love without making a huge dent in our wallets!  I am always impressed by gifts in a jar- they are unique, personal, pretty and useful at the same time :)

Here are 20 of my favorite gifts in a jar ideas with my top 5 unique ideas at the top!

Just click on any of the images below to repin them to your Pinterest account! And don’t forget to…

Follow Me on Pinterest

:)

 

1.  Pamper Yourself Gift Jars- These adorable jars filled with bath and body items are perfect for so many people…and they are filled with items that we often can buy for FREE or deeply discounted with coupons!  What woman wouldn’t love this gift, and how much fun would they be just to put together?!?

 

 

2.  Apron in a Jar- Do you have a recipe that you are known for or want to flaunt?  Turn it into a shabby chic gift super easy by printing it out on a cute note card and placing it in a jar with a sassy apron!  The recipient will love it and it couldn’t possibly be easier!

 

 

3.  Play Dough Snowman Jars- Do you have any children on your lists whose parents swear up and down they do not have room in the house for one more toy?  This idea is perfect and can be used to keep kids busy on a snowy day at home!  The recipe for the playdough is simple, and decorating the jars can be a fun craft that your own kids can help out with!

 

4.  Sewing Kit in a JarIf you have a crafty person on your list, this is a great gift idea!  It’s just so pretty to look at…I would have to use it as a decoration because I would feel bad taking  anything out of it! :)

 

 

5.  Homemade Pancakes in a JarEdible gifts in a jar are really popular, and your options are endless!  You can put anything from dry ingredients for cookies, cocoa, soups, breads, or in this example pancakes, along with instructions in a cute jar with embellishments and you are set!  It’s such a great way to give a handmade gift that people will actually use…and it won’t set you back more than a few dollars and a little bit of your time ;)

Source: tidymom.net via Rachel @ on Pinterest

 

6. Cinnamon Honey Butter In A Jar

 

7. Cowgirl Cookies In A Jar

 

8. Curried Lentil Soup In A Jar

 

9.  Dulce De Leche In A Jar

 

10. 365 Hugs In A Jar

 

11. Butterscotch Pecan Cookie Mix In A Jar

 

12. White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge In A Jar

 

13. Double Chocolate Brownies In A Jar

 

14. Hot Fudge In A Jar

 

15. Sugar Scrub In A Jar

 

16. Homemade Salsa In A Jar

Source: sunset.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

 

17. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Quick Bread In A Jar (and I love that they used a milk jug!)

 

18. Spiced Pecans In A Jar

 

19. Homemade BBQ Sauce In A Jar

 

20. Caramel Bourbon Vanilla Sauce In A Jar

Follow Me on Pinterest

For all of the latest hot deals, printable grocery coupons, store deals, restaurant & retail coupons, freebies, samples, and a lot more be sure to sign up for the Surviving The Stores Email Newsletter, Like STS on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter! Be sure to also follow our recipes and other DIY finds on the STS Pinterest Page!

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.
Nov 20, 2012

20 Do-It-Yourself Holiday Wreaths!

Nov
20
2012
Tuesday

One sure sign that the Holidays are coming is seeing everybody’s wreaths go up!  They are so pretty and really brighten up a doorstep…but they can also be really pricey- unless you make them yourself ;)

Here are 20 different styles of DIY Holiday wreaths as well as links to the tutorials of how to make them!  Make sure to let us know which is your favorite…and send along a picture if you decide to make one yourself!

#1. Ornament Wreath!

 

#2. Upcycled Magazine Wreath!

 

#3. Hydrangea Wreath!

 

#4. Doily Snowflake Wreath!

Source: marthastewart.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

#5. Toilet Paper Roll Wreath!

Source: seeyoutheredesign.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

#6. Candy Wreath!

Source: gwynnwassondesigns.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

#7. Monogram Wreath!

Source: designsponge.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

#8. Fabric Wreath!

Source: modabakeshop.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

#9. Gumdrop Wreath!

 

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.
Oct 14, 2012

20 Creative Ways to Decorate with Pumpkins!

Oct
14
2012
Sunday

It’s pumpkin season…and pumpkins can be used for many different decorating ideas throughout the fall season in more ways than you would think! If you love pumpkins but are bored with the traditional carving and lighting them, why not give one of these ideas a try!

All of these ideas are embedded into this post from Pinterest, so be sure to click on the picture(s) below that you like to repin the image to your Pinterest account so that people following you on Pinterest can go to the original source with the instructions!  :)

#1. White and Jute Pumpkins

 

#2. Mumkins!

 

#3. Thankful Pumpkins!

 

#4. Sweater Pumpkins

 

#5. Staircase Pumpkins!

 

#6. Pumpkin Candy Containers!

 

#7. Cinderella Pumpkins!

 

#8. Monogrammed Pumpkins!

 

#9. Designer Pumpkins!

 

#10. Nailhead Pumpkins!

 

#11. Stocking Pumpkins!

 

#12. Pumpkin Candlesticks!

Source: bhg.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

 

#13. Pumpkin Owls!

Source: bhg.com via Rachel @ on Pinterest

 

#14. Mickey Pumpkins!

 

#15. Pumpkin Soup Tureen!

 

#16. Pumpkin Mantle Decorations!

 

#17. Pumpkin Pedestals!

 

#18. Pumpkin Place Cards!

 

#19. Pumpkin Candle Holders

 

#20. Pumpkin Coolers!

BONUS: Decorating A Pumpkin With Duct Tape!

Print this post This post may contain affiliate links. Click to view full disclosure policy.