Frugal In Florida

I'm sitting on the couch using Hubby's little notebook or whatever they are called ...and admiring the Christmas lights that I hung up around the room at the last minute yesterday ... Yes. It was 4pm and I was hanging lights before the party ... people arrived at 6pm ... we had about 30 total ... lots of food was consummed, a tad too much alcohol too ... but what a great time we all had. Definitly needed to have some good holiday cheer brought to our back yard :) Unfortunately, it was another LATE night ... last guest rolled out around 2:45am ... and Hubby insisted that we pick up before we go to bed so I wouldn't feel the need to get up at 7am and clean up. As much as I grumbled about it, I'm glad we did as I finally rolled out of bed around 10am and it wasn't so very bad. I was able to relax most of the day and snack ... my favorite! Ok, on to the Menu Plan ... a few things happening this week ... Sunday - leftover party food (lasagna, wings, meatballs M...

It's that time of year ... you know, where you pull out the SPECIAL recipes? For me? It's the Spinach and Artichoke Dip.  You know, the stuff you buy at the restaurant when you go out to eat? Not me. Not anymore. After I learned how to make this stuff (and hey, it does NOT have cream cheese in it, ok? That's just WRONG) I made it every other weekend for like, 6 months. Then we weighed ourselves and realized that perhaps, this should not be a bi weekly type of snack :0 But I always, always, ALWAYS make it for the Boat Parade party , ... we missed it last year with my mom's passing, but did make it for New Years ... and Hubby asked if I was planning on making it this year. Well, duh. Yes, I am! It's great the next day when you are little hungover too (um, not that I'm planning on that this year, no sir!). Here's what you need ... 1 jar marinated artichokes, drained 1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained 1/2 tsp minced garlic 1/3 cup...

I know, I know, I didn't post the menu plan last week ... I had it all cued up to go and well, life got a little busy ... Monday was back to work and busy Tuesday was up at the crack of dawn as Hubby flew out to Oklahoma AND it was my dad's birthday ... so  went to see him after work. Wednesday was Sonny Boy's 20th birthday (gasp!) Thursday was a late day in the office Friday was the day Hubby came back and we put lights up on the front of the house and fence AND then my girlfriend showed up around 10pm ... walked her home finally at 3am (yes, I am a little too old to be doing this stuff), she remembered it was the 1 year passing of my mom ... I tried to forget it Saturday was Princess 22nd birthday ... had another couple over for dinner and served 6 people Chicken Piccata ... it was a hit but another late night, 2am. Yes, I AM way too old for this. So I said I need to make sure to post the menu plan this week and STICK with it ... Sunday - leftover chicken picca...

I believe in GOOD People. I really do. I also believe in MIRACLES, I really do. Today, I have PROOF. Princess sent me a text around 3pm to tell me that there was a LARGE envelope from the VA ... maybe it was good news, at last. I thought, NAH, they are just going to ask for more paperwork or something. After all, Monday, I received my 3rd letter stating that they were still in the review process (4 months later!) It's been a rough week ... why, you ask? 1. It's December. 2. Sonny Boy's birthday was the 5th (happy 20th!) 3 Dad's birthday was the 4th (happy 79th!) 4. Hubby is travelling and it's only 1 week til the boat parade party 5. Princess turns 22 on the 8th 6. I had to pay $1100 towards my dad's rent on Tuesday 7. My mom's one year anniversary is the 7th. 8. My sister in law has been calling me saying "she misses me and loves me" ... actually, she's wanting to make sure I give dad her card and letter (I did, what kind of...

The Princess turns 22 years old on Saturday. Yes. That makes me feel REAL old. But the beauty of your Princess turning into a fine young lady is the desire to spend time with the old folks ... unlike a mere 5 years ago ... And even better is when she asked if I would make her and the "boyfriend" her favorite dinner for a sit down family dinner on HER birthday, which is a SATURDAY no less. That makes me feel mighty special. I have everything which helps a tad with the budget this week. Except. WINE. But that's ok, I can find a bottle for about $6 so it won't kill me too badly ... Oh, and by the way? This recipe is THE recipe for Piccata in the house now ... Hubby told me to toss all the others out and keep this one only. It's fairly easy and not all that time consuming, especially if you pour yourself a glass of wine while you cook ... so make sure the wine you choose is good enough to go in your glass ... lets get cookin! 4 chicken breast,...