**Updated to add in pricing**

The day is done and so am I!  I was able to complete most of my Once a Month Cooking List, which honestly, is far more than I thought I would get done.  Originally I had planned on doing the Lazy Granola after dinner this evening, but I really have no desire to even mess with it now.  My new plan is to tackle it tomorrow, along with some Whole Wheat Honey Pumpkin Muffins that I will later take to a church dinner.

I started the day at about 7:30 or 8.  I began by dicing up the bacon and getting it cooking, as well as cooking the hamburger meat.  Normally smells do not bother me, but I could hardly handle smelling the hamburger cook for that long.  Yuck!

While the meats were cooking, I started making up the breakfast items (the Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Cups and th Blueberry Muffins).

It was very hard for me to stay out of the both of the muffins.  They were both so very good! I made up the double batch of Sloppy Joe’s and then it was time for me to clean up the kitchen a bit before I ran my youngest to school. When I returned I had a hard time getting started again, but I knew I needed to and I that I would be so happy when I was able to sit back and be done with it all.

When I started again, I tackled the Taco Bake, Lumpia, and Curried Chicken, and the Chicken Ranch Pizza (I added in diced bacon), and Pizza Crust.  To my surprise, I flew right threw these dishes and I was gaining ground fast.  Then I realized just how messy my kitchen was! EEEkkk!  I was able to get the kitchen pretty well cleaned up, and everything in the freezer by about 7pm (that is also with dinner prep and clean up).  With all my breaks, I would guess my actual cooking time at about 7 hours.

While the picture doesn’t look like much here is what I ended up with:

• 2 meals Sloppy Joe’s
• 2 meals Curried Chicken
• 2 meals Taco Bake
• 2-4 meals of Lumpia (I couldn’t find the wrappers Sherry recommended, and I ended up running out of the ones I found.  I put the extra filling in a freezer bag to use later on.)
• 2 pizzas with crust
• 2 breakfasts of Blueberry Muffins
• 2 breakfasts of Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Cups

It’s nice to know that I have meals waiting for me in the freezer when we have busy days, or when I’m just not feeling up to cooking, even if it did leave me exhausted today.

**Update: I was curious as to how much this big day cost me, but it’s hard for me to figure.  I had a super full freezer, and a lot of the other ingredients for these meal already on hand.  My out of pocket expenses for this day came in right around the $30 mark, the rest of my grocery expenses last week were for my regular groceries.

**For links to the recipes I used, go here.**

This post is linked to:

• Once a Month Mom’s Cook Off
• Works For Me Wednesday.

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**UPDATED** Winner is announced at the bottom.

Welcome to this weeks round of the Holiday Food Fest! This week we’re covering Packaging Ideas for Edible Gifts. I absolutely adore packaging Christmas presents. My husband makes fun of me for all the time I spend on packaging up our gifts.

I usually try to give a fair amount of homemade gifts every year. Not only do I find it to be more personal, but it makes for a frugal Christmas. Over the last year I have become more comfortable and confident in the kitchen, so I purposed to make even more edible Christmas gifts this year.

For Thanksgiving this year, we are going to see my family in Iowa. What a great opportunity to drop off some Homemade Christmas Gifts!

I took a jar of Jalapeno Jelly and a jar of Corn Cob jelly and attached a festive ribbon around the jar band. For the tag, I used a piece of white cardstock and wrote the serving instructions inside. For this gift I also included Buttermilk Biscuit Mix with a cute snowflake cutter. The candy cane bag was purchased at Dollar General for $1. Total Cost=Under $4

{Please forgive the quality of the photos from here down. My 4yo knocked the camera off the counter..I have yet to find part of the lens that flew off. }

I’m so upset that you can’t see this basket very well. This is a Breakfast Basket and includes:

• Cinnamon Pancake Mix
• Buttermilk Buscuit Mix with Snowflake Cutter
• Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Mix with Snowman Mug
• Jalapeno and Corn Cob Jellies in Red Snowman Bag
• Plastic Condiment Bottle w/these instructions on a cute printable Christmas Label: Fill with favorite pancake batter and draw on hot griddle for fun, shaped pancakes! My children LOVE it when I pull mine out!
• Wooden Spoon for mixing
• Plastic Spatula for flipping pancakes
• Green Snowman Towel for cleaning up
• All of this is contained in a plastic green bowl, perfect for use later on.

Total Cost: Under $8

This is more of an All-In-One Basket, I used Jars for the mixes intead of bakery bags. It includes:

• Homemade Vanilla Chai Mix with Snowman Mug {Breakfast}
• Buttermilk Biscuit Mix {Breakfast}
• Jar of Homemade Apple Butter {Breakfast}
• Chili Mix in a Jar w/plastic serving spoon {Dinner}
• Brownie Mix w/wooden stirring spoon {Dessert}
• Snowflake Towel for cleaning up
• Also in a plastic green bowl.

Total Cost: Also right around $8

When making homemade mixes, be sure to attach a label with directions so the recipent knows what to do. I did a quick Swagbuck search for “Christmas Lables” and found a lot of really cute options. I use a fair amount of ribbon and Christmas Stationary because it adds a special touch. If you want more of “country” feel, you can use Raffia in place of the ribbon–or even together. Before passing these gifts along, I will wrap the baskets in cellophane and tie off with coordinating ribbon and another home printed tag.

Oh, I can’t wait to give them out!

Additonal ideas: I packaged up hot cocoa, homemade marshmallows, and made baggies of Heaven on a Stick for teacher gifts.

Now it is your turn.

What Edible Gifts are you giving this year? What are your Packaging Ideas?

Last weeks giveaway winner is: Saveur at TasteSpace! This week if you link up you enter to win an EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Scale.

“The EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale is a versatile multifunction home appliance. Designed to be highly accurate and aesthetically pleasing, the Precision Pro is manufactured to the highest quality specifications. Weigh items up to 11 lbs quickly and accurately, with results displayed in four different units: grams / ounces / pounds / kilograms. Weigh food items directly on the scale platform or utilize the scale’s tare (zero) function, which eliminates the weight of a plate or bowl and makes cleanup a snap. The high resolution screen provides easy viewing angles on any kitchen counter and the five rubber feet eliminate sliding. Additionally the three minute auto-turnoff feature ensures that you will never again lose your measurement in the middle of your recipe prep!” ~Excerpt from Amazon.com

Digital scales are a great tool for any cook. They come in handy when having to measure ingredients for canning, or even bread making–as some recipes state the weight of an ingredient versus a measurement. This scale is pleasing to the eye, so it won’t be gawky sitting out on your counter top. The Auto-Turnoff is especially handy for forgetful cooks like me–don’t want to waste those batteries!

Link up or comment on this post to enter to win! Must be in the United States to win. Winner will be announced on Wendesday, November 25th.

Can’t wait to see your ideas!

Linda from Gluten Free Homemaker–you were picked by Random.org!!

Have you purchased your copy of the Home Management Binder yet? It's not too late!

Thank you for supporting our February Sponsors!

Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

{Mountain Rose Herbs}--Organic Spices, Herbs, Teas and Essential Oils {Plus MORE!!}

Visit the Clever Housewife for Saving and Stretching a Buck.
Packaging Ideas for Edible Gifts is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt

Last weekend I volunteered to bring a breakfast casserole to a church function. I’ve only ever made a quiche, maybe twice, and didn’t really know what to expect. I searched online for a few ideas, and meshed a couple of recipes together to use what I had on hand.

I can’t believe I’ve never made one before. They are so easy, and make breakfast time a breeze.

My casserole ended up not being needed, so I popped it in the oven first thing Sunday morning. My clan didn’t know what to think about having a big feast before church on Sunday. Usually we are too rushed.

I made mine thinking it was for a big crowd, feel free to half it for just your family.

Sorry there isn’t a picture..it was gone before I thought to snap one.

• Fishmama’s Ultimate Recipe Swap
• Recipe Swap

Have you purchased your copy of the Home Management Binder yet? It's not too late!

Thank you for supporting our February Sponsors!

Don't Feel Guilty About Dessert! Eat a Smart Sweet! Check out the 80+page Ebook from Kitchen Stewardship.

{Mountain Rose Herbs}--Organic Spices, Herbs, Teas and Essential Oils {Plus MORE!!}

Visit the Clever Housewife for Saving and Stretching a Buck.
Easy Breakfast Casserole is a post from: Getting Freedom From Debt