Here is another yummy summer recipe...although not near as healthy as the Green Smoothie! This one I found via pinterest courtesy of BlogChef.net.  Here you go!

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup BBQ sauce
8 slices bacon (cooked until crispy)
2 cups shredded Colby-jack cheese
½ cup green onions (sliced)
½ cup tomatoes (chopped)

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Place bacon slices, 4 at a time into a cold frying pan. Heat to medium-low and cook bacon, turning once until it has reached a deep brown color (about 10-15 minutes), remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
Step 2: Lightly grease the grates of an outdoor grill. Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Place chicken breasts onto the grill and cook while turning and brushing with the BBQ sauce frequently on each side for 10-15 minutes per side (depending on the thickness), or until fully cooked (the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees).  During the last few minutes of cooking top each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon and shredded Colby-jack cheese.
Step 3: Remove from the grill and top with green onions and tomatoes.
(Makes 4 Servings)

Be sure to check his site for TONS of other easy breezy favorites. 

The Green Smoothie

I've tried many new recipes this summer but the green smoothie is my favorite!  Sometimes I drink it for breakfast, sometimes for a snack, and even sometimes for my lunch.  It's super easy, super healthy, AND super yummy!  There are many variations of the recipe and I have actually tried it several ways but here is the recipe for my favorite.


Ingredients: one banana, frozen mixed fruit, 2 handfuls of organic baby spinach, water/ice
This is the fruit I like (from Target)

Directions:
Dig out your blender and dust it off.  Now I don't know if the order matters but I put the frozen fruit on the bottom...about 1/2 of the small bag for 2 servings. Then break up a banana and drop it in.  Add 2 good handfuls of the spinach and about 1/2 cup of water and blend.  If I just bought the frozen fruit, I will often add a handful of ice to make it colder. Blend. Blend. Blend some more.  Sometimes you need to take a big spoon (I use the black Pampered Chef one--not wood!) and poke it all down a bit.  Don't poke too far or you will get a helping of plastic in your smoothie.  It's really that easy. It's really that good.  I don't think the calories matter when they are all healthy calories like this but it is probably under 100 anyway.

I've done it with peaches and strawberries...that is YUMMY too but using dark fruit makes it more brown than green.  Basically that means that this-

turns into this-

and just to prove that even your kids will like it....

Oh. My. Gosh.

Is it too soon to say that fall is here?  Maybe so...but we are watching Panther football, preparing for Weddington Warrior football (half time shows actually), and buying all the school supplies.  The weather is even cooperating.  It's decent outside right now...although I have to say I am hoping for HOT and SUNNY this week so we can get some more pool time in.  Ya'll know I am a summer girl but I do admit I'm kinda looking forward to chili, blankets, and a school schedule.  Oh. My. Gosh. It has happened. Somehow. Someway. I have gotten old.

The Challenge of Coupons

Do you coupon?  I did. Then I didn't. Now I do. Couponing can be a challenge if you really want to make a difference but if you put a little time in, the savings will be substantial.  I don't do multiple stores anymore. I stick with Target, Harris Teeter, and go couponless at Aldi for other items.   Here are a few hard fast rules for making the most of your grocery dollar.

1- Stores often put items on sale to coordinate with a current coupon.  I know it sounds too good to be true but it's the case.  So while the 2 for $4 sale on Eggo Waffles at Harris Teeter is good.  You would also want to pair that with the $1 off 2 coupon in last weeks paper.  Since HT is doing super doubles this week that means you can get boxes of Eggo Waffles for $1 each. Always look for coupons to pair with ads.

2- Buy when it is on sale, not when you need it.  No I didn't need 10 cans of black beans this week but they are on sale for .50 so why not stock up now instead of paying .90 a can later?  Same thing with meat- stock up on what is on sale and keep your freezer stocked.

3- Use the internet for resources. There are many (many) sites out there that lay the whole thing out for you.  Do a search and find a site that focuses on your store of choice.  Let someone else put in the time while you also reap the benefits.

4- Don't blow your savings with impulse buys! The grocery store people LOVE it when you do this.  Don't overpay on one item when you are there to save on something else.

5- Keep a list of your "goal prices."  I have this saved in my phone.  It helps me to know if a sale price is really a good deal or not.  I just add to the list as I find a great deal. It's helpful if you list it as a price per ounce or per roll of toilet paper etc to make sure you compare apples to apples.

Now, go clip some coupons!

We Weren't Crazy

20 years ago, I said yes to that first date. 17 years ago I said "I do."  6 years ago we moved halfway across the country. We were young, we were wild, we were restless. We were a lot of things, but we weren't crazy....

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When Good Ideas Go Bad

The idea:

Use leftover coffee to fill ice cube trays creating coffee cubes that won't water down the flavor of your iced coffee. 

The ugly truth:

I have a brown sticky mess in the freezer. 

The cubes required so much force to pop out of the tray that more than one went flying across the kitchen. 

The takeaway:

Maybe the $1 trays from Target were the problem. While they were cute, the quality was questionable.  Maybe I'll try one more time. Then again I really don't mind watered down iced coffee. 

The Whole Chicken Thing

I'm a bit more censored on Facebook than on my blog. Shocking I know.  But this is totally my space to say whatever comes to mind and know nobody really reads it anyway.  So. Here are the thoughts I won't put on Facebook...not today anyway. 

*I don't care who marries who. Sorry Baptist friends. I really don't think that is worth fighting over. I do however care that people try to tell me where I should and shouldn't eat my chicken. I'll eat my chicken wherever I choose to do so. 

*I think ALL business owners have a right to voice their opinions. Even if they aren't popular.  If I feel strongly enough about them to boycott their establishment based on them, then I will but that is MY choice. Only mine. I'll be danged if any government or church is going to tell me I have to protest this or that based on this or that. In fact, if you tell me to protest it- you can bet I'll probably be there the next day just to show you how I feel about that. Take your marbles and go home now. 

*The above goes for both the left and the right wing. I have my own moral compass and it isn't swayed by party lines. 

*How dare people who preach tolerance become so intolerant of differing opinions. That's ironic, don't you think?

*Now I think I'll go by Starbucks first and then Chic-fil-a. Wow. I'm such a rebel to both parties. Or maybe I just like good coffee with my rockin chicken?