I put this recipe together this afternoon, because I was in a pinch with a - surprise! - fellowship night at our church that I had forgotten about. It turned out to be incredible, and I saw many people go up for seconds! Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

-INGREDIENTS-

1/2 of a large sweet onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp olive oil

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2 large chicken breasts, cubed

1 pound hot smoked sausage, cubed

2 tbsp olive oil

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2 boxes Zatarain's Jambalaya w/ Cheese

2 cups chicken stock

1 can diced tomatoes w/ garlic & onion (do not drain!)

-DIRECTIONS-

1. Heat up the pressure cooker and add the first four ingredients. Cook until slightly softened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from pressure cooker and set aside.

2. Add the next three ingredients to the pressure cooker, and cook until the meat is done. Remove and set aside with the vegetables.

3. Add the last three ingredients to the pressure cooker (remember to include the juices with the diced tomatoes as well). Stir, the place the lid on. Set the cook time for 8 minutes. When done cooking, add the vegetables and meat back into the pressure cooker, stir until combined, and then place the lid back on (only to keep warm, not to cook) so that the flavors blend together.

4. ENJOY!

Wolfgang Puck Pressure Cooker - my review

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you will know that last week I purchased my first ever HSN product - an Electric Pressure Cooker made by Wolfgang Puck. I bought it on Sunday afternoon and it was at my door by Thursday (and they said it would take up to 10 days... very quick shipping!). Ever since I have had it everything I have cooked in it has been incredible - no joke.

The thought of buying a pressure cooker had never crossed my mind. I was laying in bed trying to take a nap between the morning & evening church services when I flipped the channel to HSN. I saw that they were having their kitchen products presentation with Wolfgang Puck when I decided to watch for a few minutes. Before I knew it, Hans was in there watching with me... they were cooking frozen solid chicken breasts with dry pasta and only a cup full of chicken stock - in 8 minutes - and VIOLA! - dinner was done. When I saw that, I was sold. Before I knew it, I was on the phone with an HSN rep and had ordered the beautiful red & silver machine.

When it arrived on Thursday afternoon and I pulled it out of the box, everything was basically already put together. All I had to do was put on the gasket to vent or seal the steam and I was done (that just snapped right on so no big deal there). I read the manual and then contemplated what to make.... Aha! BBQ pulled pork!

So, I only slightly defrosted the pork roast because I definitely wanted to see if this bad boy could really make a good dinner in no time from something frozen. I put it in there, added one cup of chicken stock and some salt/pepper/garlic, set the cook timer for 40 minutes, and walked away. After it was done, and finished depressurizing (it only took maybe 3-5 minutes to do so), the pork was so tender and easily shredded with two forks. I added some BBQ sauce and was SOOO happy!

Yesterday I decided to try a recipe I found for Pressure Cooker Pot Roast. This came out so good I was practically licking the plate! I put in all the ingredients, set the timer for 45 minutes, and again - went about doing other things. When there was about 10 minutes left, I made some mashed potatoes & corn to go with it. When it was actually finished, I removed the lid and again, the roast was fork tender - and the juices and spices combined with a tad bit of cornstarch made an AMAZING gravy for the roast & the potatoes!

This has to be my new favorite kitchen product. Thank you so much, Wolfgang Puck, for an excellent product!

(In my next post I will share a recipe I created today for Pressure Cooker Jambalaya!)

Quote from Kung Fu Panda that I love...

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift. That's why they call it the present.

Grateful

I am so grateful today. Although I had a rough time as a kid/teen and went through a lot, God still saw my heart and still loved me and carried me through it all. Trusting in Jesus is the best choice I have ever made, and I am so thankful that God didn't give up on me. I am glad he still blessed me with an amazing husband, and two amazing boys, Brad & Jake. There really is no reason I am writing this, just reflecting on what I have come through and where I have come from. God is so good, and I know that I certainly don't deserve his blessings. I was not perfect then, I am not perfect now, and I will never be perfect. But His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). I may have prenty of days that I am weak. I will have many trials. When I overcome one, I will give Him the victory, because it is nothing I could have done on my own. I also know that with that victory, soon after will come the next trial. With God, however, all things are possible (Phil 4:13). Not some, ALL. With his power, his strength, his help, I can accomplish what he sets before me. I know that I have many friends on here who are not Christians, and I am not trying to offend anyone by any means, but this is my personal feelings and how my Lord has brought me through. Thanks for reading.

My Savings This Week -- 75% at Publix!

So excited! Lots of great coupons this week & matched up with great sales at my favorite grocery store, Publix.

My awesome husband is the one who got to go this morning while I worked. For the record, I told him that I would be fine with four boxes of Jose Ole Taquitos/Tacos. I suppose when he saw the "blinkie" machine right by them for $1/1, he felt otherwise. Hence, twelve boxes. Oh well, Bradley now has after school snacks for a while. :)

So, here is the rundown!!

8 bottles of Juicy Juice ($1.50 each)

8 bottles Powerade Zero (FREE)

12 boxes Jose Ole Taquitos & Tacos ($1.50 each)

4 (4 per pk) Bic Mens/Womens Razors (FREE)

2 Degree Deodorants ($0.50 each)

2 bags Tyson Chicken Tenders ($2 each)

Total before savings: $142.13

Coupons + Sales: $106.87

Total hubby paid: $35.26

Savings of: 75%

See you all next week!! :)

Saved 72% at Publix this week!!

So I think I am officially getting the hang of this! After spending a couple hours on Wednesday researching my favorite sites, IHeartPublix.com and SouthernSavers.com - I had printed out my coupons, clipped others, organized in stacks and also on an Excel spreadsheet list, and just gotten everything together.

This was going to be my first full on, head first run into major couponing. I was so excited to go to the store after work I could barely contain myself. :)

I went to Publix and was in and out in an hour. I only bought what was on my list, and actually didn't buy two items (2 Red Baron pizzas) because they were out of stock.

So, here is my "score" this week. My best yet. Before I divulge my spendings vs. savings, let me just list what it is that I came out of the store with:

4 boxes Duncan Hines brownie mix

4 boxes Duncan Hines cake mix

4 containers Duncan Hines frosting

4 boxes Triscuits

2 boxes Special K

4 bags Lays chips

12 bags Birds Eye frozen veggies

4 bags Alexian frozen all-natural breads

4 cups Ciobani greek yogurt

4 (4 pk) cups of Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt

2lbs Jimmy Dean sausage

4 packs Jones sausage

2lbs bananas

3 bottles of 32 load Snuggle fabric softener

6 packs Idahoan mashed potatoes

1 (5lb) bag Domino sugar

1 pack (8 roll) Viva paper towels

2 (12oz) packs Kraft sliced American cheese

2 boxes Quaker granola bars

2 (1.5L) containers Breyers ice cream

2 (8oz) containers Cool Whip

Total before savings: $203.62

Coupons + Sales: $145.96

Total I paid: $57.66

Savings of: 72%

The Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurts ended up being FREE because they were on sale for $2, and on BOGO, so they were $1 each. I had a $1 off of one coupon for each of them, so they cost me nothing. The bananas were also free w/ the coupon I had because I purchased the Triscuits. The Alexian bread was $0.70 per bag after coupons, the Triscuits were $0.25 per box after coupons, and the Breyers ice cream was $1.50/carton after the "stacked" store + manufacturer coupons I had.

Yes, my name is Kimberley and I am addicted to couponing.

See you all next week! :)

Today's Walgreens Deal...

Today Hans & I bought two Sunday papers to see what the deals were, and so we can match up some coupons. In the SmartSource & Red Plum inserts we found two great deals that went well together, as both were on sale at Walgreens!

Hans just got back (and already opened a package so I will just post a web image), but here is what he got:

In the paper we had two coupons for $3 off one package of the above razor w/ cartridges. At Walgreens they were on sale for buy one, get one 50% off and are normally $7.99 each.

Also in the paper we had two more coupons for $1 off of any two Mars Easter candies. They are on sale at Walgreens for $.029 a piece! So, this is a money maker! Four candies will be $1.16 - so the overage would be a $0.84 credit.

Hans got two razors w/ six cartridges each, and four Snickers Easter egg candies. Before using the coupons the total was $16.80.

After the coupons and sale, he walked out the door paying $4.46 - a 73% savings! He now has a good razor and blades for the next few months, and the candy was just a bonus that they paid him to take off their shelf in essence.