Butter on Sale at Smith's

Butter on sale at Smith's for $1.49/ lb.
Time to stock up!

Other good prices at Smith's - Philadelphia Cream Cheese - .99/ 8 oz., Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream - $1.00/ 16 oz.
Another heads up - While at Smith's check for Manager's Specials in the meat and dairy departments. They are foods that are about to expire so they need to sell them soon or throw them away. There's nothing wrong with the food, but if you buy make sure you use it soon or freeze it. You can find some smokin' deals like whole turkey marked down from $28 to $16, Heavy Cream for .79 a pint, Half and Half for .39 a pint. They also have a shelf, usually in the back of the store of other discounted items.
Many grocery stores also have their weekly adds online so you can check for specials without having to drive to the store. Here's a link to Smith's Weekly Adds.

Blueberry Buttermilk Streusel Coffee Cake

Kristin stumbled upon a food website that is now among my favorites. If I find myself in need of an amazing dessert recipe, I am confident it can be found here.

I tried this hot out of the oven, and was disappointed that it wasn't better. HOWEVER, I took one taste for breakfast in the morning, and was completely converted to this delicious dessert. The rest of the pan hardly made it to the end of the day before I devoured it single-handedly. I will make this one many times, I'm sure. It's a winner!

Recipe and photos courtesy of Stephanie. Click here to view her website.

For the Cake:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

For the Streusel:

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup cold butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pan.

2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

3. In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time until well incorporated. Add vanilla.

4. Slowly add flour mixture, and than buttermilk until just combined. Do not overmix.

5. Stir in blueberries and lemon zest.

6. Pour batter in the pan, it will be slightly thick.

7. Make streusel. Mix sugar, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add butter and mix with hands, or a pastry blender until mixture is the size pea sized crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over cake batter.

8. Bake for 30-35 minutes* or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

*For some reason, it took nearly an hour before mine was ready to come out of the oven. Be sure to check for done-ness so you don't end up with a soggy, soupy mess.

Apricot Pork Roast

Straight from the dinner table of my dear friend, Candace, this is a really yummy roast with a sweet glaze. Don't have pork? Try it with chicken! It is just delicious, and I'm happy to have another crock pot winner to turn to.


1 medium pork roast
1 small jar of apricot preserves
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 bottle Italian dressing
1/2 cup soy sauce

Cook the roast in the crock pot on high for 3-4 hours. In a medium sauce pan, combine preserves, soup mix, dressing and soy sauce. Cook over medium heat until the glaze is well combined and the preserves are melted.

Drain meat. Pour glaze over meat and, lowering heat on the crock pot to medium, cook for another 2 hours. You may want to reserve some glaze to pour over the top at time of serving.

Cut meat and cover with remaining glaze. Serve.

**Recipe and photo courtesy of Candace Staheli. Thanks Cando!**

Honey Grilled Pork Tenderloins

I got this recipe from Austin's aunt, and we just love it! It offers a fun, sweet flavor that really hits the spot.


2 (3/4 pound) pork tenderloin
1/4 cup soy sauce
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp honey
2 tsp dark sesame oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 bunch green onion, sliced

Make a lengthwise cut down each tenderloin to within 1/4" of opp0osite side; press open. Combine all other ingredients together and chill at least 3 hours. Grill on covered grill over medium heat about 20 minutes.

**Tip for the pocketbook: Freeze it when it's cheap! When you find the tenderloins on sale, you can easily prepare the marinade, combine with the meat in a freezer bag, and you'll be stocked with the perfect meal to grill at the last minute. Best of all, this way you won't be stuck paying a higher price for the meat.**

BTS Cake

My stepmother makes this once in a blue moon, maybe it's because she and I eat whatever is left over :D

1 box chocolate cake mix- with needed ingredients from the box

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar/bottle caramel ice cream topping
1 bottle chocolate topping
1 container wihpped cream
1 to 2 bars Heath Bar candy bar- smashed

Make the cake according to package directions in 9 x 13 pan. (I would make it in a pan that you would want to serve the cake in since you won't be removing it until serving.) You can stir in some of the smashed Heath bar if desired, I prefer not to.

When cake is still warm, poke holes in cake with chopstick- it works the best. If you don't have one, just use a skinny handle from a wooden spoon. Pour can of milk onto cake, follow by pouring 1/2 of caramel and 1/2 of chocolate sauce on top as well. Sprinkle 1/2 of Heath bar pieces on top.

Let cake cool, mostly (you don't want it cold when served). After cake is cooled, spread cool whip on top. Top with remaining sauces/toppings and sprinkle with remaining Heath bars. Serve immediately!

Warning: this cake will go FAST!!

Kettle Corn

I always crave Kettle Corn when at a fair or market. It's one of those things I have to buy but don't like the high price. I made this for the first time last night and was surprised at how easy it is. Kellen said it's better than at the fair. Don't be afraid to experiment and add other flavors to your taste. Just try not to eat the whole batch yourself, like I did. There's no picture because I ate it before I got a chance to take one. Next time! That gives me an excuse to make it again.

Homemade Kettle Corn
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup popcorn
Salt to taste

In a heavy pan with tight lid, heat oil over medium high heat with three kernels of popcorn. When kernels pop, add popcorn and sugar at the same time and stir quickly to dissolve sugar. You can also add salt or cinnamon at this point or to cooked popcorn. Cover with lid. Place on the heat for 3 seconds, then remove pan from heat and shake vigorously; repeat as long as corn is popping. Remove from heat and pour into bowl. I used a 5.5 qt pot and it was just big enough. I wouldn't recommend doubling the recipe, rather make two separate batches. You may have greater chances of the popcorn burning doing too much at once.

Variations:

- Add 1/4 tsp cinnamon, salt, vanilla, or 1 teaspoon chipotle powder with the sugar in the pan.

- Toss mini M&M's or chocolate chips into warm popcorn.

- Drop a few drops of food coloring into the oil and stir before adding popcorn and sugar.

- Scatter cooked popcorn on a baking pan lined with waxed paper and drizzle white and dark chocolate all over it. Turn over by laying another pan top upside down and flip the popcorn over. Drizzle the other side. Heavily. Break apart. Add nuts or whatever. Try different flavors of chips. Peanut butter, or butterscotch, or whatever you can find. Bag and give to friends for gifts.

- Instead of using oil, melt about 1/4 cup of butter flavored shortening. It makes the kernels pop much faster, lighter, and adds a hint of buttery taste.

- Use halt white sugar and half brown sugar.

- Do not add powdered flavorings to the oil as it will burn. Instead, sprinkle on cooked popcorn.

Good Buy = .99 cent Chicken Breasts

Those in the Provo area may be interested to know that a new supermarket, Buy Low, has a opening special of boneless skinless chicken breasts for .99 cents/lb. The only catch is that you have to buy a 40 lb. box. If you have the freezer space it will save you a lot of money in the long run!

The sale runs through Feb. 3rd. I'm not sure if quantities are limited.

Please Pass the Recipe for Flour Tortillas/Tips

Hey Ladies,

I'm looking for tips/recipes for a good homemade flour tortilla. I've made tortillas a few times, but I can't seem to keep them soft and pliable after they're cooked. I roll them super thin so I'm not sure quite what is going wrong. Advice from someone who's made them successfully would be wonderful! If anyone in the area would be available to get together for a tortilla making day I would love that.

Thanks!

Spinach Salad

I made this salad over the weekend for a family get together. I came home with an empty bowl and many requests for the recipe. It's quick and easy using many ingredients that are on hand already. 1 bundle of spinach
1 head of lettuce (or all spinach)
1 purple onion, thinly sliced (I used half an onion and it was plenty)
mushrooms, sliced
1 cup cottage cheese or feta
3/4 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 lb cooked and crumbled bacon*
optional: Cranberries and whatever else you like or have on hand. I threw in an avocado and sunflower seeds. Hard boiled egg or toasted nuts would also be great.

Put all ingredients in a large bowl.

Dressing:
1/3 C white vinegar
3/4 C oil
1/3 C sugar (I used less)
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 Tbsp poppy seeds
squirt of mustard

Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake. Pour over salad just before serving and toss to coat.

*Tips and Tricks: I think the best way to cook bacon is in the oven. Lay the strips out on a broiler pan or a rack in a cookie sheet lined with foil for easy clean up. Do not overlap bacon. Place it under the broiler for 3-5 minutes depending on desired crispness. This is faster, leaner, and less messy than stove top.

Stinky Garbage Disposal?

Well, this may be a no brainer to some, but I discovered the cheapest and best thing for my stinky garbage disposal in my sink. It doesn't really help I guess that we are renting our home right now, so only the Lord knows what people before me have put into it!

So, I use orange peels, yup, and they're free! I just use either a butter knife or an orange peeler (love those things!!) and score the peel into 4 sections to peel it. I leave the peel on the counter to dry out for the rest of the day (enjoy the orange- this is the best part), maybe to the next morning. Once it's dry, I just put them into a plastic bag (we eat quite a few oranges as a family of 5 going on 6). They seem to last forever and when we don't get oranges for a while- price inflation due to off season times- we usually have plenty. Whenever my sink seems a little stinky, I just drop one or two in and run the disposal. Citrusy freshness galore! I just love it.