GRANDMOTHER'S KITCHEN: Easy Casserole with Progresso Soup

Here is a quick easy casserole. I cooked 1 1/2 cups rice (dry) and spread out in a casserole dish. I poured over 2 cans of  Progresso SouthWestern Style Chicken soup (I had a .50/2 coupon, which was doubled at Ramey's..). I didn't think it had enough meat to satisfy my crew, so I reconstituted some chicken TVP and put on top of the rice. I sprinkled some cheddar cheese over the top and popped in the microwave about 5 minutes until the cheese was melted and the soup was hot. Yummy!

FRUGAL GRANNY: Wal Mart Finds

I didn't find much in the way of bargains this week, but I didn't have much in the way of money so it all works out!! The 3 packs of Ivory soap (which every grandmother needs!!) were on sale for .50 and I had a couple .25 coupons, so snagged 6 bars of Ivory soap for .50!  The glad fresheners were not on sale, but I had a B1G1 coupon, so ended up with 2 for the price of one!  I picked up a Chocolate Cherry Sparkle and an Apple Cinnamon.  And both of them smell absolutely WONDERFUL!

GRANNY'S KITCHEN: Cooking outside

OK.. so it's not my kitchen!  All the kids went off to Trunk-or -Treat which left me alone with my hubby for a couple hours. Wow!  We took advantage and sat outside near the fire and cooked a couple steaks.  It was so dark and the coals were so beautiful glowing in the dark! My pictures don't do it justice. I put the flash on so you could see the cool fire pit/grill my son, Nicolas, made. The bottom is a big fire ring made from an old tractor tire rim. He made and added the grill section which swings out and is adjustable up and down.  We had to lower it a couple times as the fire died down and we were not adding more wood.  We finished up cooking as the kids started arriving back home at which time  we let them take over the fire pit area and we headed in to eat our steak in the light.  I've decided we need to do more 'date nights'!

GRANDMOTHER'S SEWING ROOM: Princess Kay

I didn't add any more to Kay's outfit, but Naomi put a cute pink onsie on her which completed the outfit. Here is Princess Kay all ready to go to her first Trunk or Treat! She is wearing the skirt and hat I made and her first pair of shoes. I think Naomi had a wonderful time carrying her around and showing her off.  She will get to dress up again on Saturday for the 'Scare on the Square'.... I'll try to get pictures of Kay and Baby Van (her frog prince!).

GRANDMOTHER'S SEWING ROOM: Princess Hat

 My daughter's friend has a son just a few months older than Baby Kay.  He is going to be dressed as a frog for Halloween -- and he needed a princess to complete the look!

I made this from scraps out of the sewing room!  The hat was put together on a triangle/cone made from some stiff interfacing that I stole from a purse kit in my stash. We then hot glued the ribbon and lace and added tulle and ribbons for the final effect.

The skirt again is scraps from the fabric stash.  It is just a rectangle of pink silky fabric with a tulle skirt lining and a tulle overlay.  The ribbon on the bottom    of the dress (which is what we put on the cone for the hat) has wires in it to give it more of a stand out effect.


Tomorrow we will play with a onsie for the blouse of the outfit. We may just use a plain pink onsie or we may add lace to it ~ depends on what we come up with, how we feel, and how much time we have.

AND I still have to finish sewing a Tinkerbell costume for Natalie.

Stay tuned for updates on my sewing adventures.!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Frugal Granny: WalMart freebies 10/22/2010

*FREEBIES*

I sent off for free samples, so I had coupons to get free Cottonelle Wipes and Free Advil Liqui-Gels.  I found the Herbashine hair color in the clearance isle for $1.50. I had a $3/off coupon, so was able to use it to get two boxes for free!!

A Grandmother Remembers: Baby Kay birth announcement

The birth announcement I made on my computer. I use Photo Impact for all my scrapbooking pages.

Grandmother's Kitchen: Vampire Sandwiches

VAMPIRE SANDWICHES

 I made homemade hogie rolls using the 30 minute roll recipe found here: 30 minute rolls

Then I spread mustard on the bread, added lettuce, spread Mayonnaise on the lettuce. I folded thinly sliced ham, chicken, and turkey breasts to make the dresses.  The arms and faces were piped out of whipped cream cheese with olive pieces for the eyes and pimento pieces for the mouth. We added slivered almonds for fangs.  The cheese is the canned squirty cheese. The final touch was the toothpick stakes through the heart!!

And these I served with yummy Roasted Garlic Soup.

Grandmother's Sewing Room: Big Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood

 Sewing Costumes for a party..
I quickly sewed rectangles of red together for my cape.  I used SIMPLICITY 2513 for the wolf costume!

The Wolf and Baby Red Riding Hood

Who's afraid of the 'Big Bad Wolf'??
ANYONE who gets too close to Red Riding Hood!!