Free Wisconsin State Journal Subscription for 13 weeks

Gotta love FREE!  And think of all the FREE coupons you will get with your paper.

You cannot be a current subscriber (or have been a subscriber in the last 30 days) to take advantage of this deal (bummer for me!)  Go to this link and fill out the info.  This is a DELIVERED paper, so you must be in the delivery area (Madison area).

http://go.madison.com/13weekfree

Saving Money....on Portraits

I know you have the MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILD(REN) and of course you want to capture those milestone pictures.  You want a beautiful picture to show your child at each age...and yes we are talking the typical 3,6,9,12,18 month and then yearly and of course family and Christmas portraits AND you want enough to share with family and close friends.  Not to mention they make WONDERFUL (& inexpensive) Christmas/birthday presents to those parent/grandparents/aunts/uncles who have everything.

Before you take your child in for their pictures, realize that you do own a digital camera and you are probably already taking MANY pictures of your children (and if you don't own one, I suggest purchasing one and then keeping it readily available to capture all of those beautiful candids.)  I keep mine hanging on our coat rack on the hallway.  And yes, I am ALWAYS grabbing it.  You probably already have quite a few incredible pictures of your child that you could choose to print as your own collection via printer or take it to a store (via person or email) and have your own collection printed.  Walmart has a standard collection starting at $5 (1 8x10, 2 5x7, and 16 wallets).  Walgreen's also has an Ultimate Family Package currently priced at $9.99 ( 20 4x6, 3 5x7, 3 8x10, 20 Wallets). 

However if you are like me, you probably like to get that good up-close portrait at each milestone taken professionally.  Here are my favorite places to go and how I save.

First of all, before I go I remind myself that I am here for 1 good photo.  I don't need 4 different poses.  Afterall--where am I going to put up all these pictures AND where will they go after I get the next milestone picture done.  There is only so much wall space, and I don't want to pay a fortune for pictures I may only have up on my wall for a few months.  If I have one child, I go to JC Penney.  The staff tend to be VERY good.  They listen to what I want (I don't want props--I want that ONE good picture), and they take their time with me knowing I will not be buying much--they know me well enough now.)  There are MANY coupons out their for JC Penney to get 1 free sitting and then a portrait package (2 8x10, 4 5x7, 4 3x5, 6 wallets for $7.99).  http://www.jcpportraits.com/

Here is a link to their coupons (I will warn you that they change the coupon close to Christmas to be a little more because of the rush.  However, if you look in any parenting magazines from months prior to Christmas you will find the $7.99 deal--this has been consistant for over 4 years now.)  http://www.jcpportraits.com/content/coupons/coupons-print.htm

If you are in LOVE with various poses, you can use the $3.99/sheet coupon in lieu of the $7.99 one.

So do I pay $7.99 for my pictures---No, I pay $4.99!  After each photo session, I am sent, via email, a link to complete a survey.  It takes less than 5 minutes to complete.  I do it immediately when it is sent and print it out.  The coupon is for $3 off your next photo session.  I then save it for our next session.

So what do you do if you FALL in love with another picture or they have made this INCREDIBLE collage.  Well--I always allow myself to splurge from time to time.  I have 2 wonderful collages of Ky & Alaina in my living room.  Each cost an additional $15, but they were worth it.  Sometimes they have another pose I fall in love with and will allow myself to buy it--anywhere from $8 - $12.  But before I buy I always remind myself of my goal.  And I remind myself that I have WONDERFUL pictures that I have taken at home. 

Family & Christmas portraits

JC Penney only gives you 1 free sitting fee with their coupon.  I don't like to pay sitting fees, so I avoid it at all costs (and honestly I think memberships are a waste).  Once a year I try to get the family's picture done as well as a Christmas picture with just the kids together.  For this I go to Portrait Innovations.  http://www.portraitinnovations.com/

They have a pretty good $9.99 package deal with no sitting fees (One - 10 x 13, Four - 3 x 5s, Two - 8 x 10s, Four - 5x7s, And 32 Wallets, for Christmas then add an additional 9 Greeting cards).

Once again, when I am there, I remind myself that I am there for one portrait.  I have lots of pictures at home--I don't need more.  I honestly have never bought more than one pose from them--their prices were just WAY too expensive.  Which makes it easier to leave and you walk out with your pictures in 15 minutes (after choosing your pose). 

So what if you don't have enough pictures for everyone.  Well, you could choose to make your own package through the Walmart deal($5) or you could choose to go back for another sitting (I have done this once before, but due to time prefer not to.)  Or, you could wait until you pick up your photos at JC Penney--they always try to get you to buy more before you leave.  Often they are discounted $5 - $8 a sheet of varying sizes.  Usually my option is the Walmart option.   It's a bit cheaper and I get lots more. 

Where do you like to go for portraits?  And how do you save money?

Saving Money...by having one meatless dinner a week

I cook dinner about 3 times a week.  The other nights we eat leftovers (which are sometimes reinvented) and often we will have one pizza night.

The most expensive item at the store is meat.  You usually spend a minimum of $2/lb for your meat and this becomes the basis for your meal.  By skipping the meat in one meal a week, you will find yourself saving money and creating new delicious dinner alternatives.

Last week I made Baked Ziti without meat (see above pic).  In fact I made 2 pans--one for myself and one for a friend.  One pan for my family lasted 2 dinners and 1 lunch (3 family meals.)  The total cost for making two pans for Baked Ziti--around $1.75.   If I had added meat, the cost would have been closer to $4.75.  The difference really is astounding.

Here are some ideas to make a yummy "no meat" meal.

Tacos or taco salad with black beans or chick peas
Pasta without meat
Breakfast meals make FUN dinners--we usually have pancakes on Sunday night and then the leftovers make yummy breakfasts for the week.

Egg Mcmuffins--if you don't have english muffins, use biscuits or rolls

Egg bakes (put assorted veggies in  and top with cheese)

Grilled Cheese

Grilled peanut butter and jelly (this is MUCH yummier than it sounds)

Quesadillas (take 2 tortillas and put cheese, beans, salsa, guacomole--whatever you like in between and bake either in the oven or microwave)

Nachos--(top tortilla chips with beans, cheese and your choice of toppings.  Heat in oven until melty)

Potato soup (so many kinds!)

Baked potato--have assorted toppings including beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream....

Chili without meat

Vegetable soups of all kinds including squash soup and bean soups

Macaroni & Cheese

and yes there are MANY more! 

So try it out and see what you save...

What is your favorite vegetarian dish?

Don't Toss That PUMPKIN!

*Today I went to HyVee to vote and all their pumpkins and gourds in front of their store are free!  (You don't even have to go in the store--just drive up and grab some!)  I grabbed 3 big pumpkins for pumpkin butter and 3 medium sized sugar pumpkins for pumpkin pie and 8 little pumpkins to stuff as side dishes!*

Halloween is over--that means pumpkins are going on clearance (last year Aldi's had pumpkins on clearance for $1 each after Halloween) and perhaps you have some non-carved pumpkins sitting out as decoration.  Here is what you do to make pumpkin puree and pumpkin seeds (along with some of my favorite pumpkin recipes).  And yes this is quick and easy (and money saving!)  Just think of those yummy homemade pumpkin pies you can make for Thanksgiving!

To puree your pumpkin, first wash the outside of your pumpkin.  Then preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Cut your pumpkin in half and pull out the large seeds. 

Put them in a bowl of water and set aside. 

Then scoop the strings out with a metal spoon (so much easier to do when your pumpkin is cut in half!)  Cut your pumpkin into 2 - 4 pieces (depending on the size of your pumpkin.)  Place flesh down in a 13 x 9 pan with 1/2 inch of water.  Place in your oven. 

Grab your seeds out of the water and remove what pumpkin strings are left and place them on a towel to dry.  I usually leave them overnight. (You can also dry them in the oven.)

Cook the pumpkin for about 2 hours.  I usually wait until the top of the pumpkin skins start to blister (this makes it really easy to remove the skin.)  Here is what it should look like when you pull it out. (Notice the wrinkles in the skin.)

At this point I usually put the pumpkin in the fridge to cool overnight as well as absorb the water in the pan (makes it easier for pureeing). After your pumpkin has cooled the skin should easily pull off (if it doesn't, just remember to cook a little longer next time so the skin blisters--this time you will probably just need to scoop the flesh out.

In a bowl, mash your pumpkin.  Ta-da!  You now have pumpkin puree that is fresh and YUMMY! 

You can freeze the puree for up to a year.  I store mine in 16 oz containers (about 2 cups should fit)--similar to the amount a can of puree would have.  Be sure to label your containers!  (If you want chunked pumpkin--for example the pumpkin black bean bake recipe calls for chunked pumpkin, simply cook for 1 hour and then cut into cubes.  You can also freeze your pumpkin cubes in a container or freezer ziploc bag.)

Now for those seeds--you can bake them in the oven and simply salt them--or here is one of my favorite pumpkin seed recipes!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spiced-Pumpkin-Seeds/Detail.aspx

As promised my FAVORITE pumpkin recipes--and yes I have many because I love sneaking squash into anything I can--an added vegetable to the kids diet!  If you have some pumpkin recipes you would like to share, please comment on this blog so I can post for others!  Thanks!

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bread

I was given this recipe from a friend. YUMMY!

3 C. Sugar
1 (15oz can of pureed pumpkin) --about 2 cups
4 eggs
1C. Veg. Oil
3/4 C water
2/3 C. Peanut butter
3 1/2 C flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, and peanut butter; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg; mix well. Pour in 2 ungreased 9inx5x3 loaf pans. Bake 350 for 60-70 min or until tooth pick center comes out clean.


Pumpkin Bread

(From Aunt Sally)

This pumpkin bread is very easy and everyone in our family loves it. Sometime I put chocolate chips in it – or dried cranberries. It’s a must at Thanksgiving and Christmas! Lisa likes to spread butter on it – I prefer whipped cream cheese – or just plain is also very good!

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. double-acting baking powder
1 – 16 oz. can pumpkin (2 cups)
2/3 cup salad oil
3 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease well two 9” x 5” loaf pans. In large bowl with fork, mix flour with next 7 ingredients; add remaining ingredients and mix just until blended. Turn batter into pans. Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Makes 2 loaves.

Pumpkin Pancakes

These are especially good on those cold fall/winter mornings.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Pancakes/Detail.aspx


Pumpkin Black Bean Bake


This is great for the fall!

1 lb ground beef
2 cups cubed pumpkin pieces
1 coarsely chopped medium onion
1 15 oz can black beans--rinsed
1 cup corn
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup beef broth
3 oz cream cheese
1 8.5 oz package of corn bread mix
1 egg lightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup pureed pumpkin

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cook ground beef, pumpkin, and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain juices. Stir in black beans, corn and salt. Heat through. Stir in broth and cream cheese until blended. Transfer into 9 x 13 baking dish. In medium bowl stir corn bread mix, egg, milk, and pureed pumpkin until just combined. Spoon over beef mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Soft Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies


These are almost too soft to be a cookie...but what a great way to get some extra vegetables into your kids.

1 cup pureed pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Pumpkin Casserole


This is YUMMY! I compare this to sweet potato casserole. A great side dish for Thanksgiving!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Casserole/Detail.aspx


Pumpkin Butter

I honestly haven't tried this recipe--but since I picked up 3 FREE pumpkins at Hyvee today, I am going to can some pumpkin butter (you can also freeze it--and it makes a great gift--think Christmas!).  Check it out!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Butter/Detail.aspx