20 meals for $150 or less.

How do you feed a family of four for less than $200/month? Many would say it's impossible, but it's not. I have a menu that will feed a family of four 20 meals for $150. My family eats one of these meals each week night, and has a leftover day on Saturday. This leaves only 5 days per month that must rely on the $50 surplus. Often times, we have dinner with family on that last day per week. By swapping meals with family, we are able to maximize that $50.

Here's my shopping list. I choose to make most of my purchases at Costco, because it is where I can maximize my budget.

NOTE: There are always leftovers from my shopping list. I always have excess potatos and rice, as well as other ingredients.

1 big package of chicken breasts (contains 6 – 1 lb packages)

1 big package of ground beef (about 5 1/2 to 6 lb)

1 package of beef for stew (about 4 lbs)

1 - 5 lb bag of baby carrots

1 - 15 lb bag of gold potatoes

1 - 6 ct package of avocados

1 - 40 ct bag of 6″ tortillas

1 - 36 ct bag of Costco bakery dinner rolls

1 - 4 lb package of frozen broccoli

1 - 18 ct package of eggs

1 - 6 lb package of spaghetti noodles

2 pack Prego pasta sauce

2 pack Kirkland salsa

1 - 24 oz. container Parmesan cheese

1 - 4 lb bag of rice

1 - 8 ct package of canned corn

1 - 8 ct package of canned black beans

1 - 8 ct package of canned tomatoes

1 - 6 pack fresh peppers

1 box mangos

And, here are my recipes.

NOTE: I do reuse recipes through out the month. Many of the inredients are interchangeable, so you do have some freedom with which recipes you reuse.

Rice with Corn & Black Beans

• Quinoa (or rice)
• Can corn
• Can tomatoes (subbed for the diced tomatoes and green chilies)
• Can black beans
• optional – diced pepper
• Optional – garlic, lime, cilantro

Beef & Broccoli Stirfry

• 1 lb. stew beef
• 1 lb. frozen broccoli
• Baby carrots on side, or cut up and mixed in with the stirfry
• Quinoa or rice on side
• Mangoes on side

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except rice/quinoa and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker.

Meatballs & Spaghetti

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 Egg
• Spaghetti sauce
• 1 lb spaghetti noodles
• 4 dinner rolls

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken & Potatoes

• 1 lb. chicken breast (chopped)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-6 potatoes
• 4 dinner rolls

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except the dinner rolls and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

• 1 lb. beef stew
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-6 potatoes
• 4 dinner rolls

Note: to package for freezer, combine all ingredients except the dinner rolls and add to gallon size freezer baggie. Freeze. Let thaw overnight in fridge before adding to slow cooker. Add enough water to cover, then slow cook.


Potato & Egg Breakfast Tacos

• 8 eggs
• 4-6 potatoes
• 8 Tortillas
• Salsa
• 1 Mango
• 1 Avocado, on side or mixed in

Ranchero Chicken – makes 2 meals worth

• 2 lb. chicken breasts
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 8 tortillas for 1 meal and rice/quinoa on side for other meal
• Side dish, can black beans
• Avocado, on side or mixed in

Note: to freeze, let the cooked chicken cool and then add to freezer baggie. Freeze, then thaw and use at a later time.

Beef and Bean Soft Tacos

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can tomatoes
• 1 avocado
• Salsa
• 8 Tortillas
• Rice or quinoa on side

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

• 1 lb. ground beef
• optional – diced pepper
• 1/3 jar of Prego pasta sauce
• 1 lb. spaghetti noodles

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesean

• 1 lb. chicken breast
• Pasta sauce
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
• 1 egg
• optional – mozzarella slices
• 4 dinner rolls

Grilled Chicken with Mango & Avocado Salsa

• 2 chicken breasts (sliced into tenders)
• 1 avocado
• 2 mangoes
• optional – diced peppers
• 4 dinner rolls

The Truth About Your Nursing Diet

The truth about nursing is that it's hard. It's hard to get up every two to three hours, and it's hard to get through that first month of pain. It's hard to nurse on the go, and it can definitely be hard to stock pile your milk.

It's a struggle for many women, but it is definitely worth the perseverance. It is worth the scheduling, and the strict diets that many follow. The benefits more than outweigh the downsides. It can help you drop that baby weight, it provides needed nutrients and antibodies for your baby, and it can help you bond tremendously.

Here are some tips that I learned while breast feeding:

Diet. It's not just "Die" with a "T" The things you eat and drink have dramatic consequences for your supply. Here is the science behind it. (If you don't want to know the why, feel free to skip ahead).

While you are adjusting to your new baby, you are usually not sleeping well. You are getting up multiple times during the night, and this is causing fatigue during the day. Fatigue during the day will cause the body to crave quick fixes that will get you going. The downside is that you will quickly crash, and crave more sugar infused junk. The cycle starts here. Massive amounts of sugary intake can severely decrease the amount of necessary minerals that the body needs to sustain energy. Minerals like Manganese, Chromium, Magnesium, and Zinc are crucial in the breakdown of complex carbs. These complex carbs are what will break down and create the needed glucose to sustain our energy levels. Failure to break these down also perpetuates weight gain. There is your quick science lesson for today.

Now that you know the science behind it, here are some power foods that will help combat mineral loss, and increase your energy throughout the day.

Oatmeal. No there is not a definitive study that proves oatmeal will boost your supply, but countless moms, including myself, will swear by it. It has iron, complex carbs, and plenty of protein. We know that iron deficiency has been a proven cause of supply loss in breast feeding, and the complex carbs and protein will keep you feeling full and energized. Oatmeal has also been linked to postpartum constipation relief due to it high fiber content as well. You'll need the old fashioned rolled oats for this, not the instant.

Eggs. Studies have shown that women who eat two eggs for breakfast rather than a bowl of cereal have shed weight much faster post-partum. Want some extra iron? Add some spinach and make an omelet. If your baby starts to get fussy after you incorporate eggs, back it off to a couple times a week.

Nuts and Seeds. These are full of the good fats that mommies and babies need. They are also packed with protein. Try to stick to raw nuts because they haven't had any damage in the roasting process. Some studies show that if you soak them in water overnight and let them air dry the next morning, you can boost protein absorption by up to 30%. Totally worth the time if you ask me. If you are on the go, add some dried fruit and make a quick trail mix.     I know, I know... what about nut allergies? Studies show that unless there is a history of nut allergies in your family, or children this is not likely to cause a new allergy through your breast milk. Don't give them directly to your baby until they are at least a year old though.

Legumes. Lentils, peanuts, dried beans, and chickpeas are all sources of protein that we tend to forget. They have an added benefit of being a natural detoxifier.  A great quick snack is hummus and raw veggies.

Avocados.  About 75% of an avocados calories come from healthy fats. One avocado has 60% more potassium than a banana, and is rich in B-vitamins which help sustain energy Another bonus... of all the fruits out there, the avocado has the highest fiber content. It will also help with lowering your blood sugar because it is full of monounsaturated fats.

Foods rich in Vitamin C. Kiwis, Strawberries, Bell Peppers, and Dark, Leafy Greens  are all great sources of vitamin C.  After childbirth, the loss of blood can decrease our iron content. Eating foods rich in vitamin C helps bind iron in our bodies and will help boost our energy and shorten recovery time.

Toasted Wheat Germ, Sesame Seeds, low fat roast-beef, and pumpkin seeds.  These all go in one category for one reason, zinc. Zinc is involved in over 200 enzyme functions and is important for every aspect of immune health, reproductive health and breastfeeding. Zinc can help protect cracked nipples, and may help ease post-partum depression. Your level of zinc absorption is nearly twice as high during lactation as it is prior to conception and the amount of milk your baby absorbs is also high. If you see some white spots on your nails, it most likely means you have a zinc deficiency.

And of course, top it all off with lots and lots of water. Proper hydration while nursing is essential. I found that to stay on top of my supply, I was drinking around 128 ounces each day. The best way to combat dehydration is to leave a water bottle next to your most frequent pumping locations. Always refill it when you are finished.

Good luck mommies! It really is worth it!

Cookie Monster's Mommy

If your 19 month old is anything like mine, they love cookies. Not just cookies, but graham crackers, and animal crackers, and ritz crackers, and saltines too. I often worried that my sweet little boy was filling up on empty treats, and wasn't getting enough of what he needed.

This is definitely not a problem anymore. I'm probably not the first mom to figure this out, but I've finally found a way to use up all of my rice cereal, AND get my big guy to eat his fruits and veggies.

That is a win in my book, and I felt like I had to share. Here's a great easy recipe that takes maybe 20 minutes from start to finish.

Enjoy!

Healthy Toddler Cookies

What you'll need:
1 cup rice cereal
1 cup flour
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 teaspoons  cinnamon
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons water

Mix it all together and flatten on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 425° or until golden brown.

Let cool, and let kids devour.

I love this recipe because it is quick and easy and has no added sugars.

I have also found that you can use any fruit puree, and any type of rice cereal (flavored or not).

You can also cook them a little longer. This makes them a bit crunchier and allows them to aid teething.

Happy Baking!

I haven't forgotten

Dear Blog,
I haven't forgotten you. I'm still here. There's just been a TON going on. You'll see me soon. Don't worry.
Much Love,
Jenn

It's been a while

Wow! Has it been almost a six months since my last post?!? So much has changed in the last year. Let's recap:

First of all, We had a baby! Yes, we had our little boy. John Everett Knowles IV (Rhett for short). What a ride that has been. He is finally down for a nap, so this mom has a few minutes to type. Here is the abridged version of his debut. I woke up at about four a.m. and felt weird. I just didn't quite feel myself. I took a nice hot shower, and sank back into bed. No luck. An hour later I was still awake and uncomfortable. So I got up to walk around, and that really got things going. Within half an hour, my water had broken. As I attempted to not destroy our car on the way, we headed for the hospital. Forty minutes later, we were there. I was checked in and given the longed for epidural, and then we played the waiting game. It wasn't too long of a wait though because by ten a.m. I was ready to start pushing. I pushed for about 40 minutes, and there he was... The most beautiful little boy I had ever seen. Our little guy entered our world at 10:44 am weighing a whopping eight pounds and thirteen ounces. He was twenty and a half inches long, and since then has not stopped growing. A stud from the start, this little guy is now crawling, and attempting to talk, and he's got teeth! Well, he's got tooth... But there are definitely more on the way.

Second, We celebrated our first year of marriage. The time flies so fast. What a wonderful day it was. Nothing went quite right, but that is par for the course considering what our wedding day was like (see earlier posts if you are unfamiliar). We went to take a picture at the Temple from a year earlier, but it was closed for conference weekend. The gates were locked and all. We just could not get in. That set everything in motion. Because we couldn't spend any time at the temple that day, we were early for everything else. Dinner was still a delight. We went to Happy Sumo for sushi and it was delish. I had been craving it since I got pregnant, and this was just the treat I was looking for. Once dinner was finished we were still about two hours early for the movie we had wanted to see. Rather than waiting around, we decided just to spend a night together at home watching a redbox. We had watched so many redbox movies while we were dating. It was nice to revisit that tradition. And I had time to take a bubble bath! All of the mommies out there know how rare time for a bubble bath is, so I made sure to enjoy it! And after all of that, Rhett slept through the whole night. What an awesome anniversary.

Since then, we have started a few projects. I am going back to school for a double bachelor's program, I want to start a new business, and we are getting ready to move in the next two weeks. It's going to be a bit of a crazy time, but I'll try to keep up with my blogging.

Here's hoping the next blog isn't a year out.

A not so Black Friday

I've always wondered why people would subject themselves to Black Friday. The name itself makes it seem so bleak. Why would you stand in line for hours, knowing that you may not even have a chance at what you wanted? Why would you lose precious hours of sleep for a single sale? Why would you want to be in such close proximity to so many strangers? Why, Why, WHY?!?

In the past, I've heard horror stories of consumer stampedes, and stolen wallets, and jail time over a Tickle Me Elmo. I have even had the bad luck of working in the electronics department of a WalMart on a Black Friday, and let me tell you, it's as though these folks fall into that wonderful turkey coma on a wonderful Thursday afternoon, and wake up as thoughtless, careless zombies in search for brains 50% off. I swore to myself, "Never will I be one of those mindless shoppers. Never!"



This year was a different story.



I don't know what sparked my curiosity this holiday season. I was sitting at the computer one night racking my brain about what kind of camcorder I should get my hubby for Christmas. What were the good features? What was a good price? Was there really a better brand? Would he like what I picked? I was about to give up when the thought crossed my mind... Black Friday. That is how I would get a camcorder. I would find one that was on sale, and I would cross my fingers and hope for the best. Neither of us know very much about camcorders. I had prodded John for the features that he wanted, and he really didn't know. All we knew was we wanted a decent way to catch some of our sons developmental moments. I couldn't really go wrong right? If we weren't looking for a specific feature, or brand,  I would set a price, and find something within that range.

I decided that I didn't want to spend more than $200 on a camcorder. I had done some digging and found that I could get a decent product for around that price. I thought about it some more and decided if I could get one at a normal price for $200 I should change my criteria. I would not spend more than $150 if I was going to go out and face the crowds. I poured through local adds, and finally I found the camcorder I wanted. It was only $119, and it had great reviews. It was user friendly which was a plus for us newbies. There was a down side. I would have to brave the crowds at WalMart. I was dreading this.

I finally convinced myself that it was worth it. I decided that if I was going to go out in search of this camcorder, that I was at least going to have a couple of things on my list, that way even if I didn't get the camcorder, I could walk away without feeling as though I failed.

After dinner at my sister's house, we headed to Wally World. When we got there, it was a zoo. There were people everywhere. John and I decided that the best plan would  be for me to go in and start shopping, while he took the baby home, and came back with the other brave shoppers in the family. As I made it into the store, I realized just how crazy this was. There were zero carts for me to use. They had all been claimed already. I could deal with that though. I set out to find the first set of items on my list. it was only eight o clock, and my camcorder would not be available until ten. I found everything on my list except for towels. Who knew they would be such a hot item? I had a problem though... I could not carry all of the merchandise that I wanted without a cart, and there were still no free carts to be found.

I had an idea. I went into the home organization department and found a storage tote. I filled my tote and carried it throughout the store. It quickly got heavy. I stopped for a moment and set it down. As I looked around, a mother and her two teenage daughters were looking around, planning their assault on the store. We made eye contact and she smiled. "Why are we doing this?" I asked.

"I don't know, but I do it every year."

At this point, I was starting to understand the rush that people get from this massive sale. "All I want now is a cart."

She laughed, "If I see an extra one, I'll let you know."

Her daughters smiled, and I went on my way.

A few minutes later, as I was debating whether or not a memory foam bath mat would fit into my tote, I heard from behind me, "Hey... Tote-Girl."

There is was my holiday shopping alias. Surely nobody else would be referred to as "Tote-Girl." I turned, and there were the two teenage girls I had parted with moments earlier. "We found you a cart," they explained with smiles and kind eyes. "Someone just left it in the aisle, and we grabbed it for you."

What angels! It was a Black Friday miracle! Who knew that you could witness kindness from a stranger in a WalMart on one of the biggest sale days of the year? I was astonished. "This made my night," I told them. They smiled again and were on their way.

So with my cart, I set out to find the line for my camcorder. I found it, and as I settled into a nice little spot for it, John called. He was back and was ready to stand somewhere to get something. Naturally, I made him stand in line for his Christmas present, and I went to search for the memory cards to go with it.

All in all, aside form the towels... we got it all, and it was a NOT so black Friday thanks to a couple of teenage miracle workers.

My Own Mountains to Climb

Since Henry B Eyring, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, gave his conference address titled, “Mountains to Climb,” I have had the opportunity to reflect on the mountains that are being climbed by those around me as well as the Mountains that I, myself, have to climb. There are many around me suffering trials of health. They suffer themselves, as well as on behalf of family members. There are many choices that have to be made for these families that I have grown close to, and I hold a place in the prayers of my heart for them as they begin their journeys down this road of uncertainty. There will be many obstacles that will still come their way, but I know that there will be a way for them to come out on top if they will be grateful for the opportunity to grow. Seeing them conquer their trials on a day to day basis gives me renewed faith that I too can conquer mine.

I have been grateful to have confirmed to me some of the things that I have thought about over the past few months by the examples of those around me. I now believe with all of my heart that I can conquer any trial that the Lord sets in front of me, as long as I have faith, and lean on my family. My husband and I have had the opportunity to struggle financially over the past few months and it has really opened my eyes to some of the blessings given to those in the church who will follow the law of consecration. I have come to know that I have been blessed far more than I imagined possible when I have given my time to helping those around me. I have been reminded of my earlier adult years on my own when money was always tight, and I sometimes had no idea how I would feed myself between paychecks. I have been nowhere close to this level of destitution recently, but it has been a good reminder of what I have already overcome.

 I know that we are receiving the chances to grow through hardship because we are doing the right things in our lives. We decided at the end of the last year that we wanted to begin our family. What a blessing it has been to be successful in this. I have come to understand in the short amount of time that I have been pregnant the love that my parents feel for me.  I remember thinking as a teenager that it would be impossible to love anyone the way that my parents said they loved me. I thought that they were saying things to make me feel guilty about the things that I was doing that upset them. I now understand that what they were saying was true that it was not at all something that they just said.

I have also come to know how important the family unit must be to the plan of salvation because since we began to try to have our family things have seemed to spiral out of control at times. It is only through reflecting on the humble acts of my wonderful husband that I have been able to keep my cool in some instances. I know that without the service that he is willing to provide me that I would not be able to accomplish the things that I am tasked with on a daily basis. It has been through our trial of finances that we have learned how to communicate about the things that we want in life, and the things that we need in the near future.

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to be surrounded by family. This is also the direct result of financial trial. We have had the unique experience since our marriage to truly learn about the law of consecration and how it pertains to being part of a family.

Many times in recent years, couples have found themselves struggling to make ends meet, and end up moving in with parents to help shoulder the burden and lighten the load on both sides. It is beneficial for senior parents to have the help of younger and willing children around the house again, and it is financially beneficial for both parties for whatever amount of time it lasts. Without getting in to too much detail, I’d like to expound just a bit on our situation.

We have found ourselves in a comparable situation. Ours, however, comes with a twist. Over the past few years, children in my husband’s family have grown to maturity and decided to start families. This is an integral part of the plan of happiness in this life. With sons so close in age, my dear mother in law found herself with three sons engaged to be married within seven months of each other. Wow! This has proved to be both a challenge and a blessing. With half of the family in Utah and half of the family in California, it became apparent that this would require a lot of travel, and money was a problem with no solution. The desire on the part of my in laws to be closer to their children and the desire of their sons to be able to help their parents led to one solution. The family would move back to Utah, and share the financial burden of weddings and finding a home together.

It was quickly realized that the easiest way to shoulder this burden for the time being would be to find a place that we could all live together. Yes, ALL LIVE TOGETHER. There are currently 10 of us sharing a large home. This has given us the opportunity to learn more about each other than we ever wanted to, but has also shown each of us the blessings that family plays in life. It has not been easy, but it has definitely been worth it. We are coming to the end of our lease and have found ourselves struggling to go our separate ways. We have grown so close to each other, and now that we’ve worked out most of the kinks, are happy in our full home. I can’t imagine what this last year would have been like without them. I know that because of the willingness of our husbands, each of us three sisters-in-law have been blessed with an understanding of family that we did not already have. We do not get along all the time, as is expected, but we do know how to let it go and put our differences aside.

I am grateful for my in laws. They have raised three wonderful sons, and three wonderful daughters. Without their faith, and ability to teach by example, I would not have the wonderful husband that I have. It has been their willingness to endure trial after trial and climb mountain after mountain that has given their sons the faith to lead their fledgling families to do the same. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am thankful for its ability to bring families together. If it had not been for this gospel, I would not have had the opportunity to be raised by two wonderful sets of parents, and a loving aunt that successfully prepared a stubborn young woman to make covenants that will last an eternity. I am blessed by receiving new trials, and new mountains to climb, and I hope that I can inspire others to continue to do the same.