5 Places to Get Free eBooks and Audiobooks

As Christmas approaches and the Nook, Kindle, SonyPocket Reader, and iPad find their way under YOUR tree or the tree of someone you love, check out this great article about where to find FREE books for eReaders.

Also of note, even if you don't have the actual reader for these devices, many have the software downloadable for the computer, smartphone, or tablet at no charge.

5 Places to Get Free eBooks and Audiobooks - Techlicious

Check out this second list (from the Amazon.com website) that lists even more free eBooks!

Small 2011 Printable Calendars

Are you always looking for a calendar? Digging through your purse or pocket, trying to figure out what day October 3rd falls on this year? Check out the following sites for very compact printable calendars that you can carry with you anywhere.

I saw these first on Lifehacker.

Compact Calendar 2011

The Small Calendar 2011

Cheesy Chicken Rolls

I made these for supper last night.

They are absolutely wonderful.

Doubled the recipe.

All gone.

No leftovers for lunch. :(

Cheesy Chicken Rollups

• 1 pkg (8ct) Crescent Rolls
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2-3 chicken breasts (cooked & cubed)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook chicken till tender and cube.
2. Heat soup, milk, & cheese in saucepan, stir till smooth.
3. Pour soup mixture into 9x13 casserole dish.
4. Unroll Crescent Rolls in to 8 triangles.
5. Put 1 spoonful of chicken on each roll.
6. Roll from large end and seal.
7. Place rolls filled with chicken on top of mixture.
8. Bake at 350 for 20-30 min till brown.

Best served Hot!

Serves 4

EASY Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup Ingredients 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1/4 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 can chicken broth 1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk 2 large or 3 medium baking potatoes, baked or microwaved Directions Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk. Scoop potato pulp from 1 potato (reserve potato skin); mash. Add pulp to broth mixture. Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until mixture comes just to a boil. Dice remaining potato skin and potatoes; add to soup. Heat through. This is great topped with all those baked potato toppers you like

Food For Thought: Ground Beef

Food For Thought: Ground Beef
By Leanne Ely, C.N.C.

Dear Friends,

Ground beef is a ubiquitous family favorite when it comes to dinner. Think about all the possibilities--there's sloppy joes, hamburgers, meatloaves, meatballs, skillet dinners--and endless variations of all of the above. How can you not love it?

Even if ground beef doesn't do it for you, there is something ground up that will work for you, be it chicken, turkey, pork or even TVP (texturized vegetable protein).

But my favorite way to use ground beef (or other ground up variables) is in the skillet-- the wonderful, heavy bottomed, at-your-service skillet. With a package of thawed ground round and a few tricks, you can have dinner in a hurry--no packaged mix necessary! You can save money by doing it yourself and save yourself and your family from those scary ingredients that even your high schooler couldn't pronounce. So let's get busy, here's what you need:

*1 pound ground beef (or other ground meat)
*1 onion, chopped
*1 big old skillet
*Some veggies
*Some seasoning (garlic is always good, then think ethnically for the rest; cumin for Mexican, basil and oregano for Italian, etc.)
*And a starch, like pasta or rice

But what about meatloaf? You need to try this recipe--it's slap your mama good as they say in the South. But using the above-mentioned formula, you could turn it into a Meatloaf Scramble (just add the ketchup and milk at the end for a sauce and let simmer). It's easy to create something when you have a blueprint of what to do!

Manic Meatloaf
Serves 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
1-1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup red bell pepper chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper chopped
2 big cloves of garlic, pressed
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound sausage (not Italian)
3/4 cup fine bread crumbs

In a skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes till fragrant and beginning to wilt, then turn on low till wilted, about 10 minutes. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add the meats, and remaining ingredients. Mix well. Add sauteed vegetables and mix well again. Shape into a long oval-ish blimp--resembling a fat loaf of French bread--and bake at 375 degrees in a baking pan, for approximately 45 minutes. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, (generously add some garlic powder when mashing the potatoes) and steamed broccoli. Enjoy!

Copyright (C) 2010 www.savingdinner.com Leanne Ely, CNC All rights reserved.

How to Create Your Own BlackBerry Cradle

Click here to see an article about creating your own BlackBerry cradle from IkeaHacker.

To Die For Pot Roast Sandwiches

I think the name says it all. . .

With only 5 ingredients, this recipe is a keeper.

Click here to head over to Mom Advice for the complete scoop!

Best (and Easiest) Muffins EVER

Preheat oven to 375.

Mix together:

• 1 box cake mix (yellow, spice, carrot, chocolate)
• 1 can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)

Mix well. The batter will be thick. Spoon into muffin pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Mini-muffins bake in about 7 minutes. Regular size muffins take a bit longer.

Tip: The Pampered Chef sells "Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle" that we sprinkle over the tops of the batter. It gives the muffins a streusel like texture without the calories of traditional streusel.

Yep. That's it! Low fat, moderate calories, high in fiber. And the kids like 'em too (at least the chocolate version!)

The flavor cake mix you choose will determine the flavor of your muffins. Our favorites are carrot and chocolate. There are tons of variations to this recipe; mini chocolate chips, nuts, etc. Just be creative and enjoy!

Scones for Tea Recipes-Yummy!

Follow this link for Scone Recipes from Brenda at Old Fashioned Living.

Instant Oatmeal Muffins

It seems like we always have three or four packets of instant oatmeal left in the box. It's usually the ones that no one likes! Here's a creative recipe that will help you clean out your pantry!

I can't remember where I found this one, but it sure does sound delish.

Instant Oatmeal Muffins

• 1 cup Self Rising Flour
• 3/4 sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 3 packets instant oatmeal, any flavor will do
  
• enough boiling water to the wet ingredients and blend into a thick paste
  

1. In one bowl mix the flour, sugar and baking powder.
   
2. In another bowl gently whisk the egg and then add in the melted butter. Stir that together.
   
3. In the third bowl add enough boiling water to the 3 packets of instant oatmeal that it is a thick consistency of oatmeal.
   
4. Once the oatmeal is mixed well add it to the wet ingredients and stir them until blended. Then add the wet to the dry and mix them well. The batter will be thick.
5. Grease a muffin pan and add the batter.
   
6. Bake 15-18 minutes on 350.
   

This recipe will make 1 dozen regular sized muffins

Peach Streusel Crisp

Peach Streusel Crisp--a great way to use up those over-ripe peaches!

• 9 ripe peaches
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. vanilla
• 2 T. flour

Topping:

• 1 stick cold butter
• 1 cup flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.

1. Grease the bottom of an 8 x 8 pan or medium casserole dish. (Double recipe for a 9 x 13 pan!)
2. Peel and pit peaches, slice, and place in a bowl. Top with sugar, flour cinnamon and vanilla. Toss to coat and set aside while preparing topping.
3. Make streusel by cutting the butter into the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. This is easily done by hand, or use a pastry cutter, or by using two forks in a chopping motion until it has a course texture.
4. Put peaches in the pan, top with strusel, and bake for 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and peaches are bubbling.
5. Top with vanilla ice cream!

15 Ways to Eat More Local Food

From Tip Hero

I have heard a lot about the economical and environmental arguments for eating locally. But sometimes find it a bit overwhelming. This guide made it more 'digestible' and fun for me (pun intended): 15 Ways to Eat More Local Food

Sweet Potato Biscuits

I made these for the first time this week and my family RAVED about them! They are great served with pork and wonderful right out of the oven with a cup of coffee! Thanks Kim!

Sweet Potato Biscuits
From the Kitchen of Kim Carper

• 4 - 5 c. self-rising flour (start with 4 cups and add as needed)
• 4 c. cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (if canned, drained)
• 1 ½ c. butter-flavored Crisco
• ½ c. granulated sugar
• ½ c. light brown sugar
• 3 tsp. cinnamon
• Milk – if needed to moisten

Mix sweet potatoes, Crisco, sugars, and cinnamon.
Work in flour and knead until ingredients are blended. Add small amount of milk (1-2 tablespoons as needed) for lighter biscuits.
Pinch small amount of dough and roll into biscuits.
Roll ball of dough in flour as needed & pat flour onto hands to prevent sticking.
Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Serve hot with butter.

Makes about 35 biscuits

Quick and Easy Sloppy Joes

Talk about an easy supper. . .

Sloppy Joes

• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. mustard
• 1/2 c. ketchup
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Brown hamburger with onion. Drain. Combine in skillet with remaining ingredients. Simmer about 20 minutes. Serve on toasted Hamburger Buns. Enjoy!

I just LOVE Simple Mom!

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

I get excited about great, everyday use tips that I find on the WWW.

Simple Mom had a post today that I LOVE: 18 Everyday Hacks For Cooking From Scratch.


I am going to print this one out and tape it inside the kitchen cabinet!

Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 can chicken broth
1 can (12 fl. oz.) Evaporated Milk
2 large or 3 medium baking potatoes, baked or microwaved

Directions
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.
Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender.
Stir in flour.
Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk.
Scoop potato pulp from 1 potato (reserve potato skin); mash.
Add pulp to broth mixture.
Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until mixture comes just to a boil.
Dice remaining potato skin and potatoes; add to soup.
Heat through.

This is great topped with all those baked potato toppers you like.

Top 10 Ways to Start Living the Frugal Life

This list is from the About.com site. What do you think? What would you add?

The complete article can be found by clicking here.

1. Befriend the Library.

2. Clip Coupons.

3. Eat Out Less Often.
4. Switch to Online Bill Pay.
5. Group Errands
6. Make Your Own Cleaners.

Clean with Vinegar
Clean with Baking Soda
Foaming Hand Soap Recipe

7. Seek Freebies.

8. Wash in Cold.
9. Flip a Switch.
10. Change Your Own Oil

Reclaim the Romance! The (At-Home) Date Night

A Great article from FishMama at Life as Mom. In light of the fact that we are attempting frugality and romance, this is timely!

Date Night. Those words have quite a ring to them. But, for parents, sometimes a romantic evening out can seem more like a distant fairy tale. Maybe the budget doesn’t really allow room for a carriage ride and an elegant dinner out. Perhaps fairy godmothers, I mean, babysitters are hard to come by or too expensive. Or possibly Mom or Dad is just plain tuckered out by the end of the day, too tired to dance the night away.You can spend sweet time together, even if it means staying home. Reclaim the romance! An At-Home Date Night is just the ticket for reconnecting with the one you love. The following are suggestions for creating a delightful evening – for just the two of you – at home....To read the rest of my article, visit this month's Paducah Parenting.

Cookies for a Snowy Day: No Bake Cookies

Many thanks to Amy @ The Finer Things for this quick and easy treat!

No Bake Cookies

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. milk
2 c. sugar
3 c. oatmeal (I use old fashioned)
5 Tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. peanut butter (I like chunky)

1. Mix butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil.
2. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add cocoa, oatmeal, vanilla, and peanut butter.
5. Mix well.
6. Spoon onto wax paper.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

*I like to use my cookie scoop for a more uniform shape. I squash them a little after scooping.
*If you’re in a hurry, place the wax paper on a cookie sheet pan. After scooping, let the cookies set up in the fridge.

Menu Planning And Grocery Shopping

Check out this interesting post on Domestic Cents about Planning and Shopping:

Welcome to the next part of the Almost Lost Domestic Arts Series. In an earlier segment of this series I shared my experience learning to cook from scratch. Let’s just say it wasn’t an automatic thing for me. Learning to cook was great but planning to cook is another thing entirely.