Oh I did the ultimate cheapskate move and I'm kind of embarassed - lol.  I have been unemployed here in the Great State of Michigan since June so not that embarassed!

I needed parmsaen cheese for a recipe but only a 1/4 of cup.  I was driving by a combination Taco Bell/Pizza Hut and quickly went into their empty drive thru.  I got up to the window and said that my husband and son had recently went through and didn't get their parmasean cheese packets for their breadsticks and that they called me and asked me to get it on the way home. 

The bad thing is, I don't have a husband or a son!  They were very gracious at Taco Bell/Pizza Hut and gave me six packages and I had my 1/4 of a cup of parmesan cheese.  I did base my whining husband part on my ex-husband.  I do go that Taco Bell a lot so I don't feel too bad!

On the upside, I made this delicious pizza

Today I made a delicious pizza pie.

1 roll of phyllo dough
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 sliced red onion
3 thinly sliced Roma tomatoes
Melted margarine
Parmesan cheese

Thaw the phyllo dough per package directions.

Layer one piece of the dough, brush on some butter and the parmesan cheese, repeat layers for 20 sheets. I buttered every other layer of the dough.

Sprinkle crust with mozzarella cheese and then a layer of the onion and then a layer of the tomatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and the dough is golden brown on the edges.

Images:

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After reading about Bento Boxes on many stay-at-home mom sites I decided that it would be a great thing to try with the Pink Sparklettes.  They loved them, especially when I equated a bento lunch with a happy meal, that they understood. 

We made rice krispie treat "sushi", butterfly shaped bologna sandwiches, pineapple/mandrin orange kabobs with yogurt dipping sauce. 

They really enjoyed working on the their lunches for the next day, the girls were all planning on sitting together and eating their fancy lunches that were all the same. 

As soon as I find my cord for my camera I will upload some pictures of their cute Bento Boxes.

Images:

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I've been using a pressure cooker lately.  I'm really enjoying.  I like cooking fast and on high heat!  I always was afraid to use one but loved it from my childhood when my grandma used it.  I used to think it was dangerous cooking from watching it explode one time, but now they are totally safe! 

This morning I put in a frozen piece of clearance rack meat ($1.19) added some sliced onions, green pepper, soy sauce, leftover 1/2 jar of salsa and spices.  In about 1/2 hour while I was busy getting ready for work I made a delicious lunch.  (I also had some rice going on the stove too). 

It smells so good sitting here at my desk, maybe I'll have a little taste!

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On Sunday I got a load of clearance rack meat, which is great since I was down to one last frozen chicken bought at $.69 per pound.  I have been eating out of my pantry, sometimes that makes for unusual meals, but I now love my invention of Greek Tostadas with feta cheese, olives, onions and refried beans!

I got two packages of marinated chicken breasts for $1.49 each.

Three stuffed beef roundule for $1.32 each.

2 packages stuffed turkey breast for $2.34

Meatloaf mix $2.00

2 Packages of Hamburger $1.37

Pork steaks $1.29

I also went down the Eastern Market in Detroit to buy vegetables, but didn't get anything good there as it was a flower weekend and most of the vendors I go to were not there.  I did get a great scoop of cherries for $.75, they didn't even make it home! 

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I buy meat off the clearance rack at a local neighborhood supermarket.  I have never gotten sick, but have saved a lot of money.  The other day I got a package of nice turkey cutlets for $2.99.  The original price was $6.99. 

I made them last night, first I made an egg wash and flour breading and then browned them in a non-stick pan.  I made a box of stove stop stuffing and put the cutlets on top of that and then baked it for a while.  It turned out so good and only cost $3.99 for about four meals for me!

I also added canned vegtables for the five-a-day quotient. 

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Ohhhhh!  I had a good couponing day yesterday.  I got four boxes of Rice-A-Roni for free, along with a free box of Quaker Barley.  I had a vendor coupon, plus newspaper coupons.  I had 7 items only paid $1.75.

Check out my savings on the photo page!

I'm also glad Family Circle Magazine had a $.75 issue.  That was worth it!  I like reading about recipes and such.  I usually keep them around for a while and re-read them before I give them away (or leave them at the spa).

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I made a great hot chocolate mix last night to take to work to drink while I'm freezing at my desk.  It was so easy, and very delicious.  I think it is better than Swiss Miss brand, because it is Miss Chris brand!

1/4 cup powdered cocoa

4 cups of instant milk (minus the water so I used 4 1/3 cup)

1/2 cup of sugar

I mixed it together and then put it in a baggie.  When I got to work I added water and some non-dairy creamer.  MMMM, delicious!

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I have enough things left over to try my hand at making homemade egg rolls tonight.  Of course I'm going to buy the wrappers, I'm not so cheap that I can't buy those first. 

I have leftover rice, finely shredded cabbage, a bunch of different vegtables that I can saute first, and some left over roasted chicken thighs. 

I used to be afraid of frying things, but once I really read about it and tried it, it isn't so scary, although I do have a fire extinguiser and baking soda nearby.  I also watched the Bob-o do it a bunch of times also.

I'm going to eat some tonight with a big salad and then freeze the rest for my cookie exchange party, at which I am going to have an appetizer buffet. 

I think this will be a cheap appetizer as it uses my Aldi rice at $.33/lb and buy one get one free Meijer boneless chicken thighs at $6.98 per bag and my $.39 cabbage and other sale produce items.   I think most restaurants around here charge about $2.00 for one egg roll, I'll be egg-rolling in my savings!

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I tried the recipe off the box of Meijer brand lasgne noodles and the lasgne turned out to be too runny.  Oh well, it still tasted good, it just looked awful.  It kind of looked more like soup. 

Today, two days later, it seems to have solidified a bit more.  Hopefully it will taste good tonight for a leftover dinner.

Grandma liked my place.  My parents never came to visit me before when I lived in the upper flat, but they like my new place and have come to visit a bunch already! (Ok, well twice for dinner-lol)

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Tonight I am having my Grandma and my Mom and Dad over for a lasagne dinner. 

I bought all the ingredients on sale - the biggest expenditure was for the cottage cheese and even that I had coupon for.  I love making lasagne, but it is too much for one person to eat.  I'm looking forward to it tonight.  I made the no-boil kind.

I'm going to add some onions and chic peas to a bagged salad and make a garlic bread and I'm all set for tonight.  A quick pass with the vacuum cleaner and I'm ready for company. 

I'm giving my Grandma a frozen lasagne in a baking pan for her birthday to heat up at her convenience.  Its a small one, enough for her to eat about four times!  Probably more, she doesn't eat too much.

It is her birthday this weekend, but I'll be missing the party as I have to go camping!  Yeah!

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I always wanted to try the pre-made biscuits and sausage in the freezer section.  I had a coupon and tried them, and I wasn't impressed.  So, I decided to make my own.

I started with a can of biscuits from Aldi's $.29 per can. 

I had some reduced priced unseason pork that I bought of the rack at the grocery store by my house (Sunday mornings they mark down meat at a great rate).  So I had $.91 worth of pork sausage. 

I made little tiny patties and seasoned them with salt, pepper and other ancient Polish secret herbs.  I baked them for about 8 minutes until they were fully cooked. 

I put them on the little biscuits and individually wrapped them for breakfast at work this week. 

So for $.12 per serving I had ten little biscuit sandwiches. 

MMM MMM Good!  Cheap, Fast, Easy and Delicious

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Well I know that Rachel Ray has $40 a day to spend on restaurant food, but myself I am going to try to have great breakfasts, lunches and dinners for about $4.00 a day. 

This morning I had a wonderful bowl of rice and greenbeans for around $.45 cents.  Only $.35 for the green beans at Aldi's and about ten cents worth of rice. 

This afternoon I am planning on a lunch of guacamole (avocados I bought at the open air market, Eastern Market last week for $.50 a piece.  I am going to make this wonderful lunch at my desk today.  I have part of an onion and the avocado.  I am going to the little store down the street to get chips for $.99 (this way I only eat one little bag and not a huge bag at one setting).  I also have a huge cucumber to eat that I paid $.25 cents for so, my lunch will be a grand total of $1.74

I have $1.81 left for dinner which will consist of a meatloaf sausage on a bun and some noodles and maybe a can of corn. 

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