Thank you everyone for a great and memorable night! Come over for paninis anytime!!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Dinner Impossible - Cooking on a Budget!
Candy Bar Pizza
- Chocolate chip cookie dough, either homemade or packaged tube from the store (you can use any cookie dough recipe you like)
- Chocolate chips
- peanut butter (optional)
- Assorted candy; cut up candy bars, reeces pieces, m&m's, licorice, skittles, corn candy, etc.
Spread cookie dough on a greased or non-stick foil covered pizza pan. Spread just to or near edge. Back at 375 degrees for 2 minutes. Ovens vary, keep a watch on dough and bake until golden on edges. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. You can also drop globs of peanut butter sporatically over pizza. Wait 5 minutes. With the back of a spoon spread melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture. Immediately sprinkle and/or place candy all over pizza. Can cool in refrigerator if in a hurry. Cut into slices. Kids love to help decorate and eat!
Fruit Pizza
- 1 pkg (or recipe) sugar cookie dough
- 1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar (granulated)
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- Sliced fruit such as kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, bananas etc.
- 1/2 cup jam (orange marmalade, peach, or apricot)
- 2 T water
Cut dough in 1/8" slices and lay slightly overlapping on a non-stick foil covered pizza pan. Press together to form a large cookie. Back at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool. (Can do ahead a day) Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla and spread on cookies almost to the edge. Refrigerate. When nearing time to serve arrange fruit slices on top attractively. Drizzle with mixture made of the jam and water. Cut in pizza type wedges.
Dinner Impossible - Cooking on a Budget!
Bruschetta
3 large tomatoes, chopped
1/3 C red (purple) onion, chopped
1/4 clove garlic—chop fine, sprinkle with Kosher salt, & mash with side of knife blade
Fresh basil—roll leaves & chop (about 1/4 C after chopping)
Fresh oregano—remove stems & chop (use ½ as much as basil)
Balsamic vinegar (about 2 T)
Olive oil (about 1 T)
Salt & pepper to taste
Mix and allow to mellow in refrigerator. Serve with toasted French bread or Musso’s Cheese and Garlic Toasts.
All amounts can be adjusted to taste.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Bugeting FUN with Mikey C.!!!
**80-90% of women will be COMPLETELY responsible for their own personal/family finances at one time in their life. It is time to learn how to take control of your finances and make your money work for you!!
Ladies... for those of you who were in attendance, Wednesday night's enrichment was the BOMB!! Mike Cunningham came and taught us all about the importance of paying a full tithe, budgeting, saving/investing and even having an "oh shiz" fund for emergencies. It was very informative and everyone that was in attendance learned a lot. Mike gave us a few items to keep in mind when creating our money plan. They are as follows:
1. It is not how much you make, but how much you spend!!
2. 401 K Plans/IRA (if self employed). Contribute the max amount that your budget will allow. You are paying yourself and if your company matches a percentage, find out how much they match because that is FREE MONEY!! Try to max out as much as you can. For example: if you make at least $50,000 and contribute 30% each paycheck, you can max out the allowable federal contribution of $14,400 a year.
3. Bank Accounts- A. Checking Account (for regular, budgeted purchases) B. "Oh Shiz" savings account (at the same bank as your checking, with a contribution of at least $50 per paycheck or $100 a month. Also known as your emergency fund). C. Long term Savings/Investment Account- This should be at a bank like ING Savings or Immigrant Savings. Something that is not easily accessible and should be set up with your direct deposit for a set amount to come out of your paycheck each month. Pay yourself! D. Earmarked Savings Account- use this account to save for things like a bike, trip, large purchases, etc. This one can also be at your regular bank or credit union.
4. Budget!!! (Round down your income, round up your expenses, when in doubt!)
Sample Budget:
Income
2000
Tithing
-200
Earmarked
-100
Savings
-100
Rent
-550
Utilities
-65
Debt Payments (credit cards, loans, student loans, consumer debt)
-100
Car Insurance
-100
Gas
-70
Groceries
-150
Eating Out
-200
Arts & Crafts
-50
Entertainment
-50
Toiletries
-50
Clothing
-50
Gym Fee
-35
Grooming
-75
Oh Shiz Fund
-50
$2000 TOTAL
The goal would be to meet your budget the first month and then BEAT your budget the next. Whatever you have left over should be rolled into your savings account, preferably your long term savings.
5. Get a copy of your credit report annually at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for FREE!!!
6. If you want to make it easier or are just starting, use some type of software like Quicken, Microsoft Money or Excel.
7. Never loan money to anyone unless you are okay with not getting it back. :)
8. Never pay retail for anything... shop around!!
9. If possible, use a credit card to pay for clothing, food, entertainment, etc. and PAY OFF every month. This not only builds your credit, but if you have a Credit Card that earns points, miles, etc., you earn those as well!! DOUBLE BONUS!!
10. Be smart... evalute if it is a NEED vs a WANT. You can do it!!!
A big thank you to Mike Cunningham and Christi Costello for putting this together!!
Ladies... for those of you who were in attendance, Wednesday night's enrichment was the BOMB!! Mike Cunningham came and taught us all about the importance of paying a full tithe, budgeting, saving/investing and even having an "oh shiz" fund for emergencies. It was very informative and everyone that was in attendance learned a lot. Mike gave us a few items to keep in mind when creating our money plan. They are as follows:
1. It is not how much you make, but how much you spend!!
2. 401 K Plans/IRA (if self employed). Contribute the max amount that your budget will allow. You are paying yourself and if your company matches a percentage, find out how much they match because that is FREE MONEY!! Try to max out as much as you can. For example: if you make at least $50,000 and contribute 30% each paycheck, you can max out the allowable federal contribution of $14,400 a year.
3. Bank Accounts- A. Checking Account (for regular, budgeted purchases) B. "Oh Shiz" savings account (at the same bank as your checking, with a contribution of at least $50 per paycheck or $100 a month. Also known as your emergency fund). C. Long term Savings/Investment Account- This should be at a bank like ING Savings or Immigrant Savings. Something that is not easily accessible and should be set up with your direct deposit for a set amount to come out of your paycheck each month. Pay yourself! D. Earmarked Savings Account- use this account to save for things like a bike, trip, large purchases, etc. This one can also be at your regular bank or credit union.
4. Budget!!! (Round down your income, round up your expenses, when in doubt!)
Sample Budget:
Income
2000
Tithing
-200
Earmarked
-100
Savings
-100
Rent
-550
Utilities
-65
Debt Payments (credit cards, loans, student loans, consumer debt)
-100
Car Insurance
-100
Gas
-70
Groceries
-150
Eating Out
-200
Arts & Crafts
-50
Entertainment
-50
Toiletries
-50
Clothing
-50
Gym Fee
-35
Grooming
-75
Oh Shiz Fund
-50
$2000 TOTAL
The goal would be to meet your budget the first month and then BEAT your budget the next. Whatever you have left over should be rolled into your savings account, preferably your long term savings.
5. Get a copy of your credit report annually at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for FREE!!!
6. If you want to make it easier or are just starting, use some type of software like Quicken, Microsoft Money or Excel.
7. Never loan money to anyone unless you are okay with not getting it back. :)
8. Never pay retail for anything... shop around!!
9. If possible, use a credit card to pay for clothing, food, entertainment, etc. and PAY OFF every month. This not only builds your credit, but if you have a Credit Card that earns points, miles, etc., you earn those as well!! DOUBLE BONUS!!
10. Be smart... evalute if it is a NEED vs a WANT. You can do it!!!
A big thank you to Mike Cunningham and Christi Costello for putting this together!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Strawberry Pretzel Jello Dessert - Sister Gilbert
Press: 2 cup crushed stick pretzels, 3 Tbl sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Mix together: 1 8oz package cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 8oz carton cool whip
Spread on cooled crust. Seal to edges (this is important or the jello will seep through and turn the crust mushy - I seal and refrigerate for an hour to firm a bit)
Mix together: 6 oz package strawberry jello,2 cup boiling water, 2oz frozen strawberries (orfresh if in season)
Spread on top of cool whip mixture. Refrigerate overnight if possible
Half-hearted Valentine Cookies
Cookies: 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup butter softened, 1 egg, 1 tsp peppermint extract, 3 cup all-purpose flour.
Glaze: 1 cup semi-sweetreal chocolate chips, 1/4 cup butter
Directions: In large bowl combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, egg and peppermint extract. Beat at medium speedm, scraping often until lightly fluffy. Add flour, beat until mixed. Divide dough into halves. Wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out with floured heart shaped cutters. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 7-10 min or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove immediately and cool completely on racks. For glaze: In a small saucepan (or microwave) heat butter and chocolate. Dip 1/2 cookie into chocolate. Refrigerate on waxedpaper lined cookie sheet until chocolate is firm. Store covered, in refrigerator.
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