Last minute pasta salad

I had a chicken thigh and leg in the crockpot cooking away for the lunch I planned for my husband. But he called mid-morning to see if I could have lunch for him as well as 2 friends. Here's how I stretched 2 peices of meat to feed lunch for 4 at the last minute....

Last Minute Pasta Salad

Cooked chicken (I used a leg quarter)
pasta (I used spiral)
1-2 zucchini
1 onion
1-2 tomatoe
olive oil
handful basil
italian dressing
salt and pepper to taste

Chop zucchini, onion, tomatoe and basil. Cook onion, when onion is about halfway cooked at zucchini. Cook pasta until done while vegetables are cooking. While pasta is cooking chop chicken,tomatoe and basil. Turn heat off veggies when the zucchini is cooked but still crisp. Drain pasta when done. In a large bowl combine pasta, veggies, chicken and basil. Add italian dressing (I'd say I use about a 1/2 bottle, but depends on how you like it) and salt and pepper to taste.

It was quite tasty and a blessing to hand something other than sandwiches for him and his friends.

cheesy salsa mini meatloaves

My mom, sister and her boyfriend joined my husband and I on Tuesday night for dinner. I tried this recipe for the first time and it was so delicious!
Here are the ingredients:
What you Need:

1 lb ground beef
1/2 c. finely chopped onions
1 egg
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1 1/2 shredded cheese, divided
1 c. salsa, divided


Mix first four ingredients together with 1 c. cheese and 1/2 c. salsa:

Heat oven: 400 degree F. Press evenly into greased muffin pan. Use back of spoon to make indentation in center of each. Bake 20-25 min until meatloaves are done. Top with remaining salsa and cheese; bake 3 min until cheese is melted.

I also made garlic mashed potatoes. My sister brought a dish too.

I estimate the meal cost about $2.89 to feed 4 + 1 vegetarian, + leftovers for 1 lunch and a dinner side dish.

Beef: .50

onion: .08

egg: .07

bread crumbs: .05 (maybe, not even?)

cheese: .64

salsa: free

potatoes: $1.00

milk/butter: .50

garlic: .05 (maybe)

This was delicious, everyone (except the vegetarian) loved the meatloaves and my mom even asked for the recipe!
these were leftover--look much tastier first baked in the pan!

CVS trip 8/17

I love CVS! I just took couponing to the "next" level and I'm loving it! It all seemed too complicated for me at first...but this purchase is a result of "rolling" ECBs... It takes some time to plan and calculate, but it is definately worth it! I paid $4.29 for all this, and 2 rolls of toilet paper. I forgot to put in the photo (also one more Sobe--husband took it for lunch today =) Basically I paid for the toilet paper (which I needed anyways and the taxes) This is $107.03 worth of products! Plus I have $10 ECBs to use on next order...

8 Sobe drinks

2 Loreal facial cleansers

2 Loreal wrinkle cream

1 Package of notebook paper

2 Packages of red papermate pens

1 pair of Phillips headphones