Mom Knows Best

Useful information intended for college students and graduates starting out on their own, from daily living tips, to recipes, freebies, budgeting and much, much more.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Weekly Deals Abound!

This coupon is good for 30% off at Gap, Gap Outlet, Old Navy, Banana Republic, or Banana Republic Factory Store, today and Sunday.

Get a free Alouette brie cheese with this coupon. OOO….yum….baked brie for Thanksgiving, topped with a cranberry walnut dressing. (Want the recipe? Just ask.)

Planning on shipping some holiday packages? Heard about the new flat rate shipping offered by the United States Postal Service, depending upon the size of the box you choose? Sign up to receive a selection of free boxes. This is a terrific deal!

Start planning ahead for Black Friday steals and deals by checking out this site.

Enjoy free Godiva chocolate monthly. In my book, free chocolate rates right up there with free coffee!

Get a special treat from Boston Market on your birthday and learn about other promotions.

This one is just for fun and I think it's hilarious. Need some extra mothering this holiday season? Check out this site.


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Thanks,
Mom
Follow me on Twitter: @MomBlogsBest

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Another Thanksgiving Recipe: Cranberry Pake

As I mentioned in last week’s posting, my daughter requested some favorite family recipes for her Thanksgiving dinner. Here's a simple, seasonal dessert, that packs a flavorful punch. This recipe, called a Cranberry Pake, is a combination of a Pie and a cAKE, hence the name.

Cranberry Pake

10-inch pie crust (you can make your own or purchase a ready made crust at Trader Joe’s and elsewhere)
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups sugar (this can be reduced)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup soft margarine
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour

Line a 10 inch pie plate with your favorite crust. Mix cranberries, ½ cup sugar (hold the remaining cup of sugar for the next step) and nuts and place in crust. Cream margarine with remaining 1 cup sugar. Add eggs and flour to the sugar mixture and mix well. Pour batter over cranberry mix, sealing it to the edges of the pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve warm or cold. Serves 8 to 10.
Freezes well.







Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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you can find additional postings from Mom Knows Best at:
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Thanks,
Mom
Follow me on Twitter: @MomBlogsBest

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Friday, November 6, 2009

Friday Freebies and Coupons

Longing for some snail mail in your college mailbox? Fill out this form for a free sample of Kellogg's Special K cereal.

Register to receive a free Starbucks coffee on your birthday.

Planning ahead for spring break? Enjoy a free day at a Disney park , in exchange for volunteering your time for one full day in your community. Disney is still offering a free day at Disneyland or Disney World on your birthday, as well.

Buy one Ben and Jerry's sundae on Mondays and get one free.

Stock up with necessities for your dorm room and apartment, and put a dent in your holiday shopping, with a 60 day free trial membership at BJ’s.

How about $10 off Junior fashions at Sears (expires 11/14/09)?


Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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Thanks,
Mom
Follow me on Twitter: @MomBlogsBest

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Renters Insurance

You finally graduated college. No more dorm living! Inevitably, you are rejoicing in the new independent lifestyle that apartment living affords. Now is the time to consider insuring your personal belongings. More than likely, your personal property is no longer covered under your parents' insurance. It's time to evaluate your options, and contact insurance companies and independent agents, for quotes on Renters Insurance. A quick search online for "Renters Insurance" brings up a slew of informative sites. To jump start your understanding, watch this video presentation by Thomas Fox, of the Cambridge Credit Counseling Corporation.





Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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you can find additional postings from Mom Knows Best at:
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Thanks,
Mom

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Sunday, November 1, 2009

Thinking Ahead to Thanksgiving

My daughter recently moved across the country and won’t be joining us for Thanksgiving this year. She has plans to share the holiday with friends and emailed a request for some of her favorite recipes, which she’ll bring to her Thanksgiving celebrations. I haven’t posted a recipe on my blog for quite some time, so in upcoming blogs, I thought it timely to do so.

Thanksgiving is at my house again this year, and I am just starting to think about my menu. I prefer to start preparing and freezing dishes ahead of the holiday. This recipe for Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing has been a winner the past few years. It can be baked in a casserole or, as is our personal preference, baked in individual muffin cups, called Stuffin’ Muffins. The best part is that it freezes beautifully, especially as Stuffin’ Muffins.

Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing

2 T. butter (I prefer a light drizzle of olive oil instead)
2 onions, chopped
6 large cornbread muffins (like the oversized ones you purchase in your grocery store bakery), crumbled (I use an entire box of Trader Joe’s cornbread mix – prepared)
A handful of fresh sage leaves, chopped (This is one of those popular Thanksgiving herbs that can be hard to find. Even 4 weeks ahead of the holiday, I had trouble finding it. I was able to locate it in a 1 ounce package at Trader Joe’s, but I had to call ahead for a few days until I found it in stock. I use the entire 1 ounce package when I double the recipe. See notes below.)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (I omit the salt since it’s in the muffins and chicken stock)
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup heavy cream (skim milk works fine)
1/4 cup chicken broth (reduced sodium chicken broth in a can)

Drizzle a light coating of olive oil in a large pan, over medium heat, and add the onions, cooking until soft and lightly caramelized. While the onions are cooking, blend the egg, milk and chicken broth. Add the blended liquids to the remaining ingredients above in a large bowl and mix well. Incorporate the caramelized onions and stir to combine.

For the casserole: spray a 13 inch casserole dish with Pam cooking spray.
For the Stuffin’ Muffins: Line muffin tins with cupcake papers. Fill each muffin cup to the top.
Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes. If you are freezing the Stuffin’ Muffins, consider baking the recipe until the tops are not quite golden, since you will reheat them in the oven on Thanksgiving.

Notes: I double this recipe, yielding approximately 30 plus muffins. If you search online, you will find a variety of stuffing recipes made as Stuffin' Muffins.


Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
other than the actual blog or a subscription to the blog,
you can find additional postings from Mom Knows Best at:
http://bloggermomknowsbest.blogspot.com/
where you will also find a link enabling you to subscribe directly to the blog.
Thanks,
Mom
Follow me on Twitter: @MomBlogsBest

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