Salad Dressing Uses

My daughter came to me last week and said "I need to take food to a sleepover".  I offered for her to take microwave popcorn and she said "No, FOOD!"  Oh, real food... I get it.  So I gave her the quick pasta salad recipe that I listed on the Utah Mama Blog.

So, here are a few ideas for salad dressing (and we often get coupons for Ken's Salad Dressing in the Sunday paper and the dressing is then very cheap):

• Well, obviously on top of a green salad
• Use Coleslaw dressing for a yummy chicken/pasta/grape salad
• Use Italian, Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette for a marinade for meats and then grill meat (discard marinade after taking meat out - use fresh dressing if you want to use for a sauce)
• Use Italian or Raspberry Vinaigrette with chicken in the crock pot
• Use for a marinade on vegetables
• Mix with Rice for a different flavor

Please share & post other ways you use salad dressing!

Using Your Freezer to Save $

I use my freezer a couple of different ways.

1. I will buy in bulk and freeze part of the product for use at a later time.  I will buy bulk ground beef and portion it into 2 pound packages for quick thawing and prepping later.  I used to do 1 pound packages but with 4 teenagers I do 2 pound packages now because they eat too dang much.  I also purchase bulk shredded cheese from Costco and portion them into smaller packages for use later.
2. I will make double meals and freeze the second portion for dinner at a later time.  I did that with chicken pot pie and with lasagna the last time I made them.  It doesn't take twice as much time to prep, it is the exact same time and then I have a meal that I don't have to do any prep for later.

Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe

Sweet & Sour Chicken - Courtesy of Judi Bulkley (my Aunt) Tweaked by ME :)

7 oz chicken or pork
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon MSG (I didn't use it)
4 carrots
2 onion, quartered
1 green pepper (didn't have on hand but it would have added something yummy!)
30 oz pineapple, chunks
1 garlic clove
1 egg
1 tablespoon flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 pint oil, cooking
4 tablespoons catsup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup vinegar
1/2 cup water (or pineapple juice - I did water this time)

Cut chicken into 1 inch squares. Mix flour, salt, pepper, & MSG (if used).  (THE NEXT PART IS MY VERSION, I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE TOO PUFFY OF A CRUST - OMIT EGG). Shake chicken into mixture and then deep fry (oohhh... it tasted good!).  Drain.

Boil carrots until tender, cut onions, peppers, pineapple and chop garlic.

Mix the catsup, soy sauce, vinegar, water, sugar & cornstarch. Cook until thick and boiling. Add chicken, pineapple, and vegetables. Serve with rice (or with Lo Mein).

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Had the opportunity to be interviewed today on Channel 2 News at Noon by Mary Nichols.  She is quite tall and strikingly beautiful.  She took off her shoes so she wouldn't be so tall next to me.  We talked briefly, fastest 2 1/2 minutes of my life!


I have been in business with Donna for 3 1/2 years.  We started teaching classes about how to create a Prepared Pantry and realized many people are not as organized as we have been so we created the Preparedness for Life Series software.  This is where you input your family's favorite recipes, print your master shopping list and learn a lot about other tools available to shop smarter.  Go here to purchase the software, we are offering a SUPER deal on it right now! Prospering Families Preparedness for Life Software on Amazon.

Let us help your family get on the road to being more prepared, whether for those busy nights when everyone has to go a different direction or the time that you might find your family in a financial bind and don't have money for groceries.

Prepared Pantry Ingredients

Almost 3 months to the day and my husband starts work again on Monday!  I am so thankful I had the tools available to survive including coupon and social networking skills.  Our family of 6 (4 kids age 12, 15, 17, 18) did very well.  I learned a lot and because I have been preparing for this with the way I have shopped the last 3 years, we had a Prepared Pantry.

Because of our Prepared Pantry, we did not have to purchase the following items during the three months:
* toilet paper
* paper towels
* laundry detergent
* toothpaste
* soups
* salsa
* cake mixes/brownies
* breakfast cereal

I will post more updates on things I wish we had done differently later. Happy Day!  We have a job!!

Prospering Families Update

Well, we are starting to Prosper!   Donna's family has had some changes in their lives and are moving to a different home in the Salt Lake Valley and my husband found a job after 3 months.  Life has its ups and downs and if you don't try to enjoy the ride along the way, you are going to miss out on a lot.

We appreciate all of your support and have had tremendous support from sales at our Amazon Store Prospering Families on Amazon. 

We are both going to keep saving money and will continue to share our stories as we know they have helped many.