Friday Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite posts I've come across this week.  Hope you enjoy them too.  And please come back to visit next week as I have several posts in the works, including some recipes and a fun little giveaway!


Seasoned Salt - Make Your Own from Eat At Home...great idea, Tiffany!  Do any of you notice that I refer to Tiffany's blog quite a bit?  I love it!  Be sure to check it out.  Oh and check out her list of 36 Recipes for Easy Restaurant Style Meals at Home.  Love it!



I just love Centsational Girl's Patchwork Picnic Blanket.  I don't know how to sew...wish I did...so I won't be making this one.  But for those of you who are handy like that, this is a great tutorial.  And these DIY Colorful Dessert Stands are awesome.  I am always amazed at the creative bloggers out there!

Amanda has been doing a series of posts on Commenting 101 Blogging Tips & Tricks.  This week she wrote about How To Leave a Good Comment.  I know I have a lot of readers who are not bloggers themselves so I thought I'd include this post.  I've learned a lot about leaving a good comment from several fellow bloggers who consistently leave me such nice, genuine words about something I post.  It makes my day to read all of the comments I receive so for those of you who read some of my posts but stay quiet...please share some comment love!

$10 Coupon for Lowes Home Improvement

What kinds of projects are you planning around your home this spring? 

We have a long list...haha! 

To begin, we need to get our garden started. 
Then, we want to paint our master bedroom.
Next, we'd like to install a ceiling fan in our son's room. 
After that...
Well, you see how this list will go on and on.

Lowe's released a great coupon today to help you get a project started.  Go HERE to print a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase.  This is a great coupon...don't see these kinds very often.  Be sure your printer is ready as you can only print this one time. 

*coupon expires April 4th*

So, tell me what projects you're planning...

This Week...

I haven't posted much on here this week.  I've been busy with lots of other stuff. 

  Yesterday much of my day involved changing around all of our bedrooms.  We had a new mattress set delivered for our bedroom, which started the chain reaction of moving things around and making changes.  Today I will finish the last little bits of that project and hopefully can post some pictures soon.

I do have some posts in the works for next week, including several recipes and a fun giveaway! 

Hope you'll join me then...

Kids Eat Free at Chili's



Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 29th) kids eat FREE at Chili's (with coupon)!  Go HERE to send this deal to yourself if you did not get a Chili's email.  The email will include a coupon to print and take to the restaurant.  You can also choose to send the deal to a friend. 

The coupon says 2 kids meals per adult entree purchase. 

Enjoy!

Kelloggs Cereal Rebate = $10 Prepaid MasterCard

Kelloggs just released a new $10 on cereal!  Go HERE to view the details and print your form. 

Basically, you need to purchase 10 participating Kelloggs cereals by December 31, 2011.  Cut the UPC codes from the boxes and mail them in along with the completed rebate form.  You will receive a $10 prepaid MasterCard in the mail.  There is a limit of 5 rebates per household.

The participating Kelloggs cereals must be 10oz or larger...

All-Bran Original
All-Bran Bran Buds
All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes
Smart Start Strong Heart Antioxidant
Smart Start Strong Heart Toasted Oat
Corn Flakes
Corn Flakes Touch of Honey
Raisin Bran
Raisin Bran Crunch
Raisin Bran Extra!
Crispix
Product 19
Mueslix
Cracklin’ Oat Bran
Lowfat Granola with Raisins
Lowfat Granola without Raisins
Fruit Harvest Strawberry/Blueberry
Rice Krispies

***To sweeten the deal even more, purchase your cereal when it is on sale and paired with coupons.  For my fellow Harris Teeter shoppers, you can take advantage of BOGO sales on Raisin Bran and Raisin Bran Crunch (sale ends tomorrow) to get you started with this rebate offer.  Before any coupons, the BOGO cereal will come to $1.99 per box.  Plus, at HT when you buy any 3 or more Kelloggs cereals in the same transaction you'll receive a catalina (coupon that prints at the register) for a FREE gallon of milk on your next shopping trip (this offer ends April 9th).***

Go ahead and print your rebate form(s) now, hang 'em on your fridge or put in your coupon organizer (or some other good spot), and start working toward your prepaid cards! 

Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes

I am kicking myself for not grabbing my camera before we sat down for dinner last night.  I think it was all I could do to get the food on the table before everyone was digging in.  That chilly gray day had us all ready for some warm food. 

The other day I picked up a pack of McCormicks Recipe Inspirations.  I'd never tried this before but it was free during my grocery store's Super Double Coupon promotion (Harris Teeter) so I figured it was worth a try.  For those that haven't seen these, it is a little pack of pre-measured spices to make a specific recipe.  The recipe is on the back of the package. 

So last night I made the Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes.  YUM!!  This was definitely a hit with my family.  I saved the recipe card and will be making this again and again.  All of the ingredients that came in the little packet are things I always have in the pantry and I bet you do too so it'll be easy to make on my own without buying that little pack again (now McCormick is really not happy about that suggestion...oops!).  Since the recipe is printed on the little packet I am posting it here.  The little packet makes it nice and convenient, especially if you don't typically keep these spices on hand.   

So here's the recipe...

Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes

2 tsp paprika
1-1/2 tsp crushed rosemary leaves
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp course ground black pepper

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
chicken *I used boneless breasts cut into strips but the packet called for thighs.  Use what you like.
1-1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes *I just eyeballed how many potatoes I thought would work

Mix oil, all of the spices and salt in a large bowl.  Add the chicken and potaotes, toss to coat well.  Arrange chicken and potatoes in a single layer on foil-lined baking pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. 

Roast in preheated 425 oven for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, turning potatoes occassionally. 

Another similar recipe we like is for Rosemary Potatoes.  I've never posted it on this blog but found it on the McCormick site this morning so check it out HERE.

 


I'm joining Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed With Grace.

Recipes To Try

   I've been finding all sorts of recipes lately that I want to try.  My criteria for a recipe is that it needs to be fairly quick and easy and cannot have weird ingredients that either a) I've never heard of before and b) is something I have to buy and won't use ever again.  And it needs to be family friendly.  With two children in the family I need dinner to please everyone.  I cook one meal and that's it.  I'm not a short order cook making different things to please everyone.  Who has the time and patience for that?

Anyway, here are a few recipes I found recently that I am anxious to try.  I hope this encourages you to give a new recipe a try as well. 

Spaghetti Braid from Life as a Lofthouse  (love this idea!)
Colorful Cranberry Barbeque Chicken from Singing With Birds
Chicken Divan from Mommy's Kitchen  (made this before but it has been years so this was a great reminder)
Chicken Pasta Salad from  My Blessed Life

And check out these sweet treats...can't wait to try 'em!

Nutella and Macadamia Nut Braided Strudel from Eat at Home
The Best Apple Squares Ever from Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms (my great grandmother made these.  I actually remember eating them as a child.  Not sure if it is the exact same recipe but I am dying to try it and see.)


I'm joining in with my recipe round-up at Friday Favorite Finds at Finding Joy In My Kitchen.