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My Kitchen

Jambalaya

by Dana Zeliff on July 9, 20102010-07-09
in My Kitchen, Recipes

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I made this recipe for Freezer Cooking Days, but I’m not sure how well it will freeze.  The cost to make this dish was approximately $10.  Just over 1/2 that was for the shrimp.  It came out yummy last night, but I’ll have to report back next month to let you know how well it froze.  Splitting into 2 dinners makes it more cost effective since I strive for meals that are $5 or less.  My typical freezer meals cost $5-$6 and are spit into two dinners.

Recipe from One-Dish Collection-Buy on Amazon for only $4 (I’ve had it awhile)

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound smoked deli ham, cubed
1/2 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-in thick slices
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 ribs celery, chopping (about 1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 cup uncooked rice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 package (12 ounces) ready-to-cook shrimp, thawed
Fresh chives (optional)

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13X9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

HEAT oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.  Add ham and sausage.  Cook and stir 5 minutes or until sausage is lightly browned on both sides.  Remove from skillet and place in prepared dish.  Place onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic in same skillet; cook and stir 3 minutes.  Add to sausage mixture.

COMBINE tomatoes with juice, broth, rice, Worcestershire, thyme, salt and pepper and red peppers in the same skillet; bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to low and simmer 3 minutes.  Pour over sausage mixture and stir until combined.

COVER tightly with foil and bake 45 minutes or until rice is almost tender.  Remove from oven; place shrimp on top of rice mixture.  Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until shrimp are pink and opaque.  Garnish with chives, if desired.

Makes 8 servings
My family: 2 dinners plus lunch

I split into a separate dish for freezing after cooking.  My family isn’t into green peppers, so I omitted those. I used an entire package of sausage and less ham.  I also used homemade chicken stock. 

I’m really hoping it freezes well!

UPDATE

The Jambalaya froze okay.  It still tasted good but it was definitely better the first time.  I think it had more to do with the shrimp just weren’t quite right after being cooked, frozen then reheated.  You can freeze this recipe, but you’re better off enjoying it the first time around or as leftovers.

4 comments

Filed Under: My Kitchen, Recipes

Wacky Mac Pasta Salad

by Dana Zeliff on July 5, 20102010-07-05
in My Kitchen, Recipes

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I was asked to post recipes for items that I’m stockpiling.  This is really a simple recipe and some of you are laughing at me for taking the time to type it up.  Hey, it’s a way to use up the pile of FREE Wacky Mac that I know most of you have.

Wacky Mac Pasta-free
~1/2 Bottle Italian Dressing-$0.20
Sliced Cucumber-free
Diced Fresh Tomato-free
Pepperoni-$1
Chunks of Pepper Jack cheese (optional)-$0.25

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Mix in remaining ingredients.  Serve cold.

You can pretty much choose what you want to throw in here.  The cucumber and tomato were from the garden, so I marked them as free.  If you were to eliminate the pepperoni then you’d have a side dish for under $0.50 and it would last a few meals.

Do you have any other recipe ideas for wacky mac?

*See comment-try Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar instead of Italian dressing

4 comments

Filed Under: My Kitchen, Recipes

Menu Plan Monday and Freezer Cooking Days Plan 07/05

by Dana Zeliff on July 5, 20102010-07-05
in Freezer Cooking Day, Menu Plan

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

My freezer is in need of prepared foods, so I thought my menu plan this week should consist of Freezer Cooking Days.  I don’t really have a full day to devote to marathon cooking, so I’ve decided that most of my menu will consist of meals that I can freeze. We’ll eat one for the night I cook it and use one for the freezer.  My plan is to add in an extra meal or two on Thursday or Friday.  My menu is based around what I have on hand, so I’ll need to do minimal shopping to pull this off. 

I’ll post my freezer results (and recipes) on Friday, so stop back by if your interested. 

Monday
Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole with salad (freeze 1) 
Tuesday
Jambalaya with salad (freeze 1)
Wednesday
Grilled Ratatouille (mixed veggies over pasta, will post recipe)
Thursday
Spaghetti and Meat Balls with salad (freeze 1)
Friday
Meat Loaf with rice and whatever veggie is on sale Wednesday (freeze 1)
Saturday
Dinner with friends
Sunday
Turkey Burgers with baked sweet potato fries
~Extra meal: Brown Bag Burritos OR another burrito plus another meal if time permits.

5 comments

Filed Under: Freezer Cooking Day, Menu Plan

Menu Plan Monday 06/28

by Dana Zeliff on June 28, 20102010-06-28
in Menu Plan

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I’m back to planning my menu’s.  We end up eating junk every time I take a break from menu planning.  We ordered pizza AND made a fast food run last week.  I don’t even like fast food! 

Monday
BBQ Chicken with zucchini and squash on the grill, wacky mac pasta and garden salad

Tuesday
Warm crock pot chicken from freezer on stove with honey mustard and place on top of garden salad.  Serve with a baked potato

Wednesday
NC Style BBQ Pork in crock pot (recipe to follow-will cook Tuesday.)  Served with carrots and leftover wacky mac

Thursday
Shredded beef enchiladas with refried beans

Friday
Leftovers

Saturday
Sandwiches-thinking a beach day is in order

Sunday
4th of July BBQ-somewhere

**Enter to Win a $40 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate*

1 Comment

Filed Under: Menu Plan

Menu Plan Monday 06/14

by Dana Zeliff on June 14, 20102010-06-14
in Menu Plan, My Kitchen

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

We’re back from vacation and getting back into into the groove of normal life.  Perdue roaster chicken’s are on sale at Farm Fresh for $0.88 lb plus I have a $2 off $4 store coupon for chicken.  That 1 chicken will provide most of our meals this week then I’ll freeze the rest.

Monday
Casserole from freezer

Tuesday
Crock pot chicken with rice and asparagus

Wednesday
Chicken Bowtie pasta with zucchini

Thursday
Chicken salad with rolls

Friday
Dinner with friends

Saturday
Dinner at my mommy’s (my stepdad is in Germany for a week!)

Sunday
Stir fry over rice

1 Comment

Filed Under: Menu Plan, My Kitchen

Menu Plan Monday 05/24

by Dana Zeliff on May 24, 20102010-05-24
in Menu Plan, My Kitchen

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Here’s a look at what we’ll be eating this week.  I’m pretty excited that both kiddos will be finishing up sports this week.  3-4 nights of practice or games was getting a little out of hand!

Monday
Pizza after LuLu’s final soccer game

Tuesday
Sausage with mushrooms and zucchini over rice

Wednesday
Leftovers-Monkeyboy’s last t-ball game

Thursday
Italian Chicken Pasta Toss (recipe to follow)

Friday
Dinner with Friends

Saturday
Burgers on the Grill

Sunday
On Vacation for 1 week with my hubby!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Comment

Filed Under: Menu Plan, My Kitchen

Menu Plan Monday 05/17

by Dana Zeliff on May 17, 20102010-05-17
in Menu Plan, My Kitchen

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I’ll have a crazy week with my little brothers wedding and being stuck on the couch with my back, so I won’t be cooking much this week.

Monday
Chicken Baked Ziti from Freezer

Tuesday
Dinner out

Wednesday
BBQ chicken on grill with asparagus

Thursday
Homemade Pizza (if I’m feeling up to it)

Friday
Rehearsal Dinner

Saturday
Wedding Day

Sunday
Stir fry over rice

**Enter to Win a $25 American Express Gift Card**

4 comments

Filed Under: Menu Plan, My Kitchen


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About The Coupon Challenge

Hi! I'm Dana, the writer behind the scenes of The Coupon Challenge, a Hampton Roads, VA based coupon blog. I'm a wife and mother of 2. After getting out of debt we started using our savings to travel together as a family and create memories.

Are you looking for ways to save your family money? I strive to help you save on the products you need, so you can spend more on the things you want. Read More about Dana & Family

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