Autumn is here!

I have spent the morning reading about how to get organized and save money...so many good ideas!
Of course, extreme couponing is all over the internet and tv, but it isn't realistic for most of us...I know Kroger would not allow me to walk out of the store with $37 of their money, and 128 bottles of aspirin! I am making myself stick to a budget this week for groceries and use the coupons from the Sunday paper and the downloadable coupons from Kroger.
To organize the coupons, I am going to make a file folder with an old daily planner. I guess recycling is saving money, too!
i need to pay off a credit card i used a little too often this year, (visit to watch basic training graduation, high school graduation, senior pics, military ring, birthdays,sports and fees, good bye parties, vacation to Florida, etc...) That bill just never seems to go away and guess what- Christmas is only 11 weeks away!!! I am determined to pay off one of the two I have been using to survive this year! I am realistic that the second won't get paid off until after the beginning of the year.
If you have never had to pay off a couple credit cards or large bills, the best idea I have heard of so far, seems pretty simple.
pay the smallest amount you can on the bills with the lowest percentage rate. Pay the largest amount you can on the bill with the highest interest rate. when THAT bill is paid off, use the money you used to pay on that bill towards the next bill or card.
I have ongoing medical expenses, so sometimes this works, and other times...I do what I can. Praying that the next president will be able to turn the economy around and put people back to work. we have been very fortunate this year and I hope it pays off in the end. until then, i will keep clipping those coupons!

Swiss Apfelkuchen Tart

Dough:
	2 cupsall-purpose flour
	1/3 cupsugar
	1 lemon
	5 ozunsalted butter; (10 Tbls.)
	1 egg
	1 egg yolk
	1/8 tsp.salt
	3/4 Tblswhite vinegar; mixed with 3/4 Tbls. cold water Filling: 8-10 tart apples 1 c golden raisins 1/2 c. chopped nuts 1/2 c. sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 6 TBS Real butter, melted 1 egg, beaten Make dough like you would pie crust, refrigerate 30 minutes or longer. Peel and core apples, slice in half and then into 1/8 inch thick slices and place in a mixing bowl. Roll dough out on a floured board or counter with a floured rolling pin until it is about 19 inches long and 12 inches wide. Carefully fold it over itself and then unfold onto an 11 inch by 17 inch baking sheet... Layer half of the apple slices onto the dough, leaving a 2 inch margin all the way around. Sprinkle 2/3 of the nuts and 1/2 the raisins. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle half over the apples, nuts and raisins. Make another layer of apples, nuts and raisins and cover with the rest of the cinnamon sugar. Fold the sides of the pastry over, starting with the short sides. Pour the melted butter over the topping and brush the pastry frame with the slightly beaten egg. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to cool and then slice into 12 pcs. Adapted by http://laurenhairston.blogspot.com/2011/01/contest-apfelkuchen.html

chicken cordon bleu casserole

2 lbs of cubed chicken
1 egg with 2 Tbs milk, beaten together
Bread crumbs
8 oz of swiss or mozzarella cheese
1 package finely chopped ham (found near bologna at grocery)
1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 C milk, mixed




Dip chunks of chicken in egg and milk mixture, and coat with bread crumbs. In skillet, brown until golden. Place chicken in 13x9 baking dish, add in cheese and ham. Pour soup mixture over other ingredients. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Hobo packs on the grill

Make sheets of foil large enough to wrap Hobo packs, usually 8 x 8,

place a hamburger patty on each sheet, top with a slice of onion, 2 TBS. of veg-All, and topped with a slice of cheese.

wrap foil so that juices cannot escape, I roll the edges together, instead of crimping, but you can do whatever works for you.

Grill or bake until hamburgers are cooked to your taste. carefully unwrap each pack, can be served in packs or placed on plates with a side of beans or brown rice.

Crockpot sweet and sour chicken

2-4 chicken breast cut into pieces
1-3 chopped bell peppers (red, green, yellow, or orange)
1 small onion, chopped
1 can of chunk pineapple, juice included
1/2 c. brown sugar
red pepper flakes to taste

cook in crock pot on low for 8-10 hours

serve over brown rice

Crockpot Porcupine Meatballs

1/2 cGreen pepper; finely chopped 1 Egg 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 lb. ground meat 1/2 C RAW rice Mix ingredients and form into meatballs, add to crock pot and cover with 1 can Tomato soup and 1 small can of chopped tomatoes, cook 8 hours on low

Easy Crockpot Cabbage and kielbasa

	1 lbkielbasa/turkey sausage; sliced
	1 headcabbage; chopped
	1 cupOnions; chopped
	1 Tbsp.Butter
	28 oztomatoes; undrained
	4 cupsChicken broth Mix into crockpot and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10