Meal Planner Monday: Strawberry Shortcake

Look at these yummy berries Mom brought me last week... ...of course I made "Strawberry Shortcake" !

This is the classic biscuit recipe that I make:

6 Tbsp. margarine

2 cups flour

1 Tbsp sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk

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Cut shortening into flour, sugar, baking powder and salt using a pastry blender or fork until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in milk (dough will be soft and sticky). Place and pat down in 9 x 9 ungreased pan. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve with sliced berries and sweetened whipped cream (or milk or vanilla ice cream).

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Sweetened Whipped Cream

Beat 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and 1 Tbsp granulated or powdered sugar in a chilled bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff.

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I'd also like to try this recipe sometime for Whole Wheat Strawberry Shortcake ...

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And, for old times sake...Harpst clan you have to see this video! Good times!!

Frugal Friday: Deals of the Week

These are the best deals I got this week:

- CVS Raincheck for (2) Gillette Body Wash Free after ECB & used BOGO free coupon = $3.76 profit

- Schick Hydro 5 Razor on sale last week (Free after ECB) submitted for this rebate = $8.97 profit

- Shop-n-Save 5/$10 selected GM cereals - $.55 - $.55 - $.75 - $1 coupons = $7.15 AND free organic milk

- Aldi produce: Strawberries $.99/lb, Cherries $1.69/lb (and they are in a 1 lb package so you don't have to get a huge bag), Peaches, Plums, Nectarines $.89/lb

- Shop-n-Save Blueberries $1.49/pint if you buy 6

Aldi and Shop-n-Save ads run through 6/29

Meal Planner Monday: Breakfast & Brunch: Pumpkin-Ginger Waffles

Mom recently found this recipe for waffles. They are scrumptious...I like them topped with apple butter instead of maple syrup! It's the type of breakfast that you would be served at a bed-and-breakfast! Pumpkin-Ginger Waffles

1 1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger

2 eggs

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup pumpkin

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

3 Tbsp unsalted melted butter

* Do not over mix

Community Days

Last weekend was DuBois "Community Days". It's a pretty big deal. There is lots of free entertainment and food booths from local organizations all day Friday and Saturday. Mike does a magic show there each year. This year his show was between the Fireman's parade and the fireworks - at the same time as the Golden Dragon Chinese acrobats. He still managed to have a small crowd of energetic and amazed children. The parade is always the longest parade I've ever been to - like 1 1/2 hours. The rain held off except for the beginning of "Church in the Park" on Sunday. Here's a picture of Mike and his little audience which grew to a much larger audience by the end of the show... ...and I have to admit that I watched some of the Chinese acrobats, but I couldn't really get close enough to see well or get any good pictures...

And, these pictures are from the parade....(Julie, Caleb would have loved that big tow truck.)

Frugal Friday: Cheap Magazines, Birthday & Other Freebies and Sears $50 Men's Clothing Rebate

Cheap Magazines Unless it's a family member selling magazine subscriptions as a fundraiser, Mike and I are pretty cheap when it comes to paying for magazines. I will admit, I've given in a time or two over the years to buy a magazine or cookbook at the grocery checkout, but that is definitely not the norm. Nor, do we subscribe to very many magazines. I view magazines as a "luxury" item. Usually Mike gets his Sports Illustrated and I may have one magazine that I am getting. Every once in awhile I will come across a deal on one of my favorite magazines - so may sign up if it's cheap enough. (I think once I had a year of Prevention magazine for free, and I've had a few months of I think it was Ladies Home Journal for free.)

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This month there have been deals on Tanga for cheap magazine subscriptions. They have offered Better Homes and Gardens for around $2.99, Everyday with Rachel Ray for around $4.99 Taste of Home for around $4.99 and Weight Watchers magazine for around $3.99. If you are interested...go to Money Saving Mom blog and do a search for "subscription" to get the discount codes. (Just be careful not to overpay on any magazine subscription renewal - always know when your subscription is going to run out and if it is going to automatically renew. The date that the current subscription ends will be on the address label.)

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Birthday Freebies

A birthday is a great time to take advantage of lots of freebies...

- Here's a pretty extensive listing of "birthday freebies"

- In addition, I know Arby's offers a free milkshake (with any purchase) and Dunkin Donuts DD Perks a free drink (I think I signed up for both through the websites)

- Locally, the Ski Lodge in Treasure Lake offers a free steak or chicken dinner on your birthday.

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Other Freebies

A couple of weeks ago in the newspaper there was a set of coupons for the new "Limeade Sparklers" at Taco Bell...if you didn't get them, you can print one here

Also, I usually don't sign up for the freebies by mail unless it's something pretty good. But, these were worth it...these are the freebies I received in the mail from P & G a couple weeks ago...

There are still freebies and coupons available here when you sign up for P & G Everyday Solutions.

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Sears Father's Day Men's Clothing Rebate Through June 20th when you buy $50 of men's clothing you can send the receipt in for $50 in store credit back...more details here

Memorial Day Summer Kick-Off Weekend

I'm just getting to posting this...

We were in Greenville over Memorial Day weekend visiting my family including Jason and Kerby before they left for Costa Rica on June 1. We enjoyed some outdoor yard games (fricket and cornhole), a fire in the fire pit, a trip to Quaker Steak and Lube for some wings, a trip to Grove City outlets, a cookout at Wilhelm winery and just hanging out with family. The weather was gorgeous. What a way to start the summer! Here are a few pictures...

(Mom & Dad had their eye on these fancy motorcycles at the winery.)

Unfortunately, Mike was planning on working that Monday so we didn't plan any Memorial Day celebrations. If we would have known all his clients for that day would have ended up cancelling, maybe we could have gone to Mercer for their big Memorial Day celebration. I love how they decorate in town around the courthouse. Maybe we can plan now for a patriotic celebration on the 4th since we missed celebrating Memorial Day...

And finally here is the latest purchase for our home... We got it at Home Depot that weekend and Mike had it up enjoying it within an hour of arriving home Sunday evening.