Stovetop Beef and Penne Casserole

I've been looking for some new pasta recipes and this one looked good, but both the hubby and I found it to be a little bland, so if we made it again we would definitly want to play around with the recipe.



* 2 cups (8 oz.) dry penne pasta (or small pasta of your choice)
* 1 lb. lean ground beef
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 can evaporated milk
* 1/2 can pumpkin
* 1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
* 1/2 tablespoon packed brown sugar
* 1/2 tablespoon paprika
* 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Cook pasta in large saucepan for 1 to 2 minutes less than package directions (pasta should be slightly firm in texture); drain.

Cook beef and onion in large saucepan over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink; drain. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in evaporated milk, pumpkin, tomato sauce, sugar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to simmer. Add pasta and peas; stir until heated.

Groceries

Last week when the hubby opened the freezer and the only meat he found inside was a couple of packages of ground turkey, I knew a trip to HEB would be in our future! The hubby likes to stock up on meat from HEB and even though it means a much higher grocery bill for the week as I really can't get the deals I can at Kroger, I really don't mind as we get a lot of meat for the price we pay and it keeps the hubby happy!

Shelf: $148.72
Spent: $120.34
Saved: $28.38

3 x Bananas $0.52
3 x green bell peppers $1.74
Italian parsley $0.58
3 x Courgettes $1.64
2 x avocado $1.00
3 lbs yellow onions $2.21
10 lbs russet potatoes $3.47
Cucumber $0.48
Belgian waffles $1.50
Egg rolls $1.98 after coupon
Zatarains frozen dirty rice $2.48
Fage yogurt $1.25
Heavy whipping cream $1.60
Butter $1.68
Frozen peas $0.99
2% milk $2.99
Shredded mozzarella free after coupon
Ricotta $1.67
Kraft american singles $3.48
Dozen large eggs Free after coupon
Wallaby organic vanilla yogurt $1.25
Wallaby organic lemon yogurt Free after coupon
Dannon coffee yogurt $0.38
Ribeye steak $10.48
6 x ground chuck patties $5.19
6 x ground chuck patties $5.10
Ground sirloin $3.27
ground sirloin $3.27
Beef short ribs $5.82
Pork tenderloin $4.43
Pork chops $5.45
Chicken breasts $6.50
Chicken thighs $5.95
Hot sausage $2.00
2 x starkist tuna pouches $0.78 after coupon
3 x McCormick hot taco seasoning $1.32 after coupon
HRB taco seasoning free after coupon
Mission taco shells free after coupon
Hefty bags $0.98 after coupon
purina one dog biscuits $3.17
Skinner manicotti $1.77
Kashi cereal free after coupon
Oscar Mayer shaved turkey $2.98
Macaroni grill chicken alfredo $2.79 after coupon
Kraft mayo free after coupon
Thomas english muffins $1.99
oroweat potato bread free after coupon
Central market organic vegetable broth $1.99
Diced tomatoes free after coupon
Apple juice $1.58
capri sun $1.88
A&W root beer $1.25
Heinz ketchup $1.14 after coupon
Ken's raspberry pecan dressing $2.26
Campbells chicken corn chowder $1.50
Libby's corn $0.77
Pinto beans $0.50
Navy beans $0.50
Refried black beans free after coupon

See other grocery deals at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu Plan Monday

The hubby and I are finally feeling better and I am actually happy to be able to get back to cooking again (I was getting so tired of soup!)

Monday: Stovetop beef and penne casserole with sugar snap peas and carrots

Tuesday: Turkish dumplings with yogurt sauce and chili oil

Wednesday: Pumpkin lasagna

Thursday: Sausage and courgette rice with salad

Friday: Going out

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Southwestern Steak and Potato Soup

With the hubby and I being sick for the past few weeks, we have been eating a lot of quick and easy meals, and soup has definitely been high on that list! this southwest steak soup is great for a cold day!



1-1/2 lb Sirloin steak

2 Medium potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 cups Frozen cut green beans

2 cups Frozen corn

1 Small onion

1 16-ounce Jar thick and chunky salsa

1 14-ounce Can beef broth

1 teaspoon Dried basil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

Cut meat into 1-inch pieces. Set aside. In a slow cooker place potatoes, green beans, and onion. Add meat. In a medium bowl stir together salsa, beef broth, basil, and garlic. Pour over mixture in cooker. Cover and cook 6-8 hours on low.

See other recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Grocery Deals

I have been having a lot of trouble with my computer and the hubby has been trying to fix it for a few days now, but I am just now able to actually upload pictures, so I can finally get my grocery pics up.

Shelf: $111.26
Spent: $47.49
Saved: $63.77
Pct : 57%

See other grocery deals at The Grocery Cart Challenge and The New Frugal Mom

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Beef stew

Tuesday: Mexican meatballs, green chili cheesy rice and salad

Wednesday: Spag bol and salad

Thursday: We have our monthly HOA board members meeting, so we will grab something on the way home from that

Friday: Probably eating out as I have nothing else planned

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Menu Plan Monday

The hubby and I are both really sick right now, so even though I tried to plan really simple meals, who knows if I'll even feel like making those this week.
We were also too sick to grocery shop this weekend, so we will have to make do with what we already have in the house.

Monday: Ordering pizza

Tuesday: Chickpea stew

Wednesday: Southwestern steak and potato soup

Thursday: Tomato tortellini soup

Friday: Beef stroganoff with egg noodles

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie

Grocery Deals

It's been 2 months since I posted any grocery deals, but I basically took a break from couponing over the holidays, and even though we ended up spending more it was worth it! 2 months without clipping and filing coupons, and 2 months without stressing over deals and getting frustrated at the hubby for wanting to buy things at full price. However, I am getting the coupon binder organised this week, and was happy to see 5 inserts in the paper last weekend (even of one of them contained the dreaded $2.50 off finish coupon!) but I am determined to not get so obsessed with deals this year, it really doesn't matter if I miss a few deals here and there, they all come around again anyway!

Shelf: $114.30
Spent: $60.74
Saved: $53.56
Pct : 47%

I didn't use that many coupons this week, but I didn't do that badly considering I haven't updated the coupon binder in a couple of months!

See other grocery deals at The Grocery Cart Challenge and The New Frugal Mom

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Going to cafe adobe, I'll get what I always get there, the stuffed avocado

Tuesday: Roast pork with roast potatoes and parsnips

Wednesday: Pork and cabbage soup

Thursday: Chinese pepper steak with jasmine rice

Friday: Probably going out, as I have nothing else planned

See other menu plans over at Organizing Junkie