Creme Brule French Toast

For a brunch, holiday or if you're LDS, a Conference morning breakfast. My friend Tanya gave us this recipe and I have not tried it yet. NOTE: Obviously, since I have a picture of it now, I have tried it since I first wrote this. I found it easy and my family thought it was delicious. It's going in the file and will be used for special occassions.

Creme Brule French Toast
From my friend Tanya

1/2 C. unsalted butter
1 C. packed brown sugar
2 T. corn syrup
Bread, sliced to cover butter mixture (5-6 slices)
5 large eggs
1 1/2 C half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt

In a saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Pour into a 9x13 glass baking dish. Arrange bread pieces on top. Beat eggs, half and half, vanilla and salt. Pour egg mixture over the bread. Cover and chill overnight in refrigerator. The next morning, bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 34-40 minutes.

Golden brown and yummy---enjoy.

Menu with what's on sale for the week of Sept. 22-Sept. 28

Some really great deals going on this week and one I stumbled onto for Barilla pasta. Buy four and get a catalina coupon at the register good for $2 off on 3 piccolini pasta boxes. Buy four more and use the coupon and then get another coupon b/c you bought 4 more and keep on going back for pasta at .50/box b/c it's on sale for $1/box. This was at Fry's. Also at Fry's at the newly remodeled store on Tatum/Shea, Starkist Albacore tuna for .50/can. Raspberries for $1 a box, limit 4 at Fry's. I am seriously thinking about making a couple of more batches of freezer jam to use for neighbor/friend's gifts at Christmas. It would be already done, all I would have to do is reach into my freezer when I am ready to take them a goodie. Or I may dip marshmallows in chocolate and pack them into a clear bag. Can't decide. 90 days, 13 hrs., and 45 minutes til Christmas, in case you were wondering. Last year what I tried to do was to buy a couple of gifts every week starting with the first week of September so that it wasn't so overwhelming to me when Thanksgiving was over with and the Christmas frenzy hit. I haven't started yet, but need to get on it.

$75.83

Breakfast
1-Cold cereal, milk, banana
2-Yogurt/toast, hard boiled egg
3-Cold cereal, milk, peaches
4-Cold cereal, milk
5-Cold cereal, milk
6-Oatmeal, raspberries
7-Cold cereal, milk

Lunch
1-Tuna sandwich, carrots
2-Lunchmeat sandwich, grapes, crackers
3-Bagel with cream cheese, grapes
4-Tuna sandwich, apple wedges
5-PB&J sandwich, orange
6-Ramen noodles, apple wedges
7-Ramen noodles, crackers

Dinner
1-Spaghetti, french bread stick, salad
2-Favorite chicken, see chicken on recipe cloud, canned vegetable
3-Tacos
4-Fish, baked potato/butter, canned vegetable
5-Salad, cheese toast on french bread stick slices
6-Chunky soup(Beef, most likely, or some kind of chicken flavor if you'd like) over mashed potatoes
7-Breakfast for dinner, scrambled eggs and toast. Hash browns if any potatos are left. Or Fry's Mac & Cheese for $1 for 2 boxes.

Dessert:
Peach/Raspberry Crisp, see Pies/Crisps on recipe cloud
Brownies

Albertsons:
Buy 8
1-Albertson's bread, .89
2-Albertson's bread, .89
3-Albertson's bread, .89
4-Albertson's cereal, .99
5-Albertson's cereal, .99
6-Albertson's cereal, .99
7-Long grain rice, .99
8-Classico pasta sauce, $1.79

Albertson's butter, 99
Green grapes, .77 lb., buy 2
Mini carrots, .77
Land O Frost shaved deli lunchmeat, $1.99
Albertson's Taco shells, 10/$10, buy 1
Maruchan Ramen noodles, 6/$1, buy 6
Radish or green onions, 3/$1, buy one green onion bunch at .33

Bashas'
Milk, .88 1/2 gallon, buy 4 at $3.52
Bashas large eggs, .77 dozen on Monday only, buy 2
Chompies bagels, $1.99
Philadelphia cream cheese, $1.99
5 lb. bag russet potatoes, .77
Split chicken breasts, .97 lb., buy 6 at $5.82
Dole garden salad, .77, buy 3 at $2.31
Food Club yogurt, 10/$4, buy 4 at $1.60
French stick bread, $1.49, buy 2 at $2.98
Dole bananas, .48 lb., buy 5 lbs. at $2.40
80% lean ground beef at $1.48 lb. in 3# chub at $4.44

Fry's
Raspberries, $1, buy 2
Yellow peaches, .59 lb, buy 3 at $1.77
Kroger tuna, 20/$10, buy 2 at $1.00
Pillsbury brownie mix, 10/$10, buy 1
Gorton's fish fillets, 2/$7, buy 1 at $3.50
Apples, $1 lb., buy 3 lbs.
Fry's spaghetti, .88
Kroger Value peanut butter, $1.49
Fry's chicken broth, .89, 2 cans, check recipe for sure that it's 2 cans, if not add .89 onto total
Kraft cheese, $1.67, buy 2
Campbell's Chunky soup, 10/$10, buy 2 cans
Fry's mac & cheese, .50, buy 2 at $1 if you opt for mac & cheese on #7 instead of eggs/toast

Safeway
Navel oranges, .88 lb., buy 3 lbs. at $2.64, Sat., Sun. and Monday only
Mushrooms, .99
Safeway canned vegetables, .79, buy 2 cans
Ritz crackers, $1.88, Sat., Sun., and Mon. only

Sprouts
Oats, .79 lb, buy 2 lbs. at $1.58

Items not on list
jelly
flour
sugar
brown sugar
spices, herbs
Mayonnaise
salad dressings
tartar sauce
sour cream
Mayonnaise
taco sauce or salsa
tomatoes

Another Monkey Bread Recipe

So how many monkeys does it take to make Monkey Bread?

Monkey Bread
from Sooz

24 Frozen Rhodes balls
1/2 small box butterscotch pudding mix (not instant)
1/2 C. magarine
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1-Place dough balls in unbuttered bundt pan. (I cut them into quarters) (So I assume that they are thawed then)

2-Sprinkle pudding over the dough

3-Melt margaine and brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour over top. Leave overnight. (Not sure if you would leave it on the counter or in the fridge overnight, I'll have to ask Sooz.) Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes. Invert to cool.

Rasberry Jam

Loving the Raspberries. I made two batches of Raspberry Jam two weeks ago. I just use the recipe for freezer jam contained in either the Sure-Jell package or the Kroger brand pectin. The Kroger brand is about half the price. Anyway, Albertson's has raspberries on sale again this week so I want to get more and make more freezer jam. Aren't they beautiful? Probably don't look as ripe as they should be to those of you who have your own raspberry bushes.I seive at least half of the pulp to avoid so many seeds.

Monkey bread

I wasn't fast enough to get a photo of this before it began to be eaten. I made this this morning. So good. And I used cheap Bashas' Food Club brand tube biscuits at .66 each. Worked out marvelous. The husband got this recipe from our friend Tom. It is now afternoon and all of the Monkey bread is gonzo. Tom says that making the cream cheese icing below and putting some on top of the bread while it is still warm is yummy, and then making sure you have some for dipping is necessary. I didn't know cream cheese icing was an option when I made this so we had it without. I think that we consumed enough calories without it.
Monkey Bread
from Tom H.
who got it from http://www.famousfrenchdesserts.com/

for 8 people
4 tubes Biscuits (refridgerated)
3/4 C. granulated sugar
3/4 C additional granulated sugar
1/3 C. brown sugar
1/4 C. evaporated milk
1 C. butter
1.5 C. chopped pecans (I made it without nuts)
2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut biscuits into quarters. The biscuits I used were small so I cut them into thirds.. Combine 3/4 C. white sugar with the cinnamon. Roll each biscuit quater in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. In a cake pan or baking dish, (I used two bread pans), layer the biscuits and the pecans. In a saucepan, slowly bring milk, remaining 3/4 C. white sugar, brown sugar, and butter to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour over biscuits in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until it is cooked to your liking! Flip pan over onto a serving dish and serve right away! Voila!

Variations:

Chopped almonds instead
Layer apple chunks and walnuts with biscuits
Layer biscuits with strawberry jam and fresh strawberry slices, omit cinnamon
Apricot jam
Raspberry jam and mixed berries

Icing
1/2 pound cream cheese (8 oz.)
1/2 pound butter (1 C.)
1 pound powdered sugar (4 C.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
t tsp. lemon juice

Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Mix for 12 minutes. Do not mix less than that. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.

Menus with what's on sale for the week of Sept. 7-Sept. 14

$78.04


Breakfast
1-Cold cereal, milk and juice
2-Instant oatmeal, juice
3-Cold cereal, banana
4-French toast, juice
5-Instant oatmeal, peaches
6-Cold cereal, milk, juice
7-Eggs, toast

Lunch
1-Bologna sandwich, banana
2-PB&J sandwich, grapes
3-Bologna sandwich, cheez its crackers, orange
4-PB&J sandwich, cottage cheese
5-Spaghetti salad(leftover spaghetti noodles, tomatoes, onion, leftover vegs, vinegar and oil and italian herbs), green salad
6-Soup, apple wedges
7-Soup, oranges sections

Dinner
1-Turkey burgers, potato salad
2-Spaghetti Alfredo, salad
3-London broil, baked potato, green beans
4-Chicken thighs, brown rice, broccoli
5-Taco soup, salad, biscuits. Tortilla chips, grated cheese, sour cream as toppers. See Taco soup recipe under soups in recipe section
6-Chicken salad, cantaloupe wedges. See recipe for chicken salad under Polynesian chicken salad in recipes section. Leave out mandarin oranges. Add scallions and celery to grocery list and total if desired.
7-Leftovers

Dessert:
Root beer floats
Ice cream

Albertson's:
Albertson's sandwich bread, .77 each with coupon, limit 2, buy 2 at $1.54
Iceberg lettuce, .47 each with coupon, limit 2, buy 2 at .94
Ground turkey, $1.99 for 1# with coupon limit 2, buy 1
Albertson's milk, $1.67, limit 2, buy 2 at $3.34
Campbell's soup, $1, buy 4 at $4
Seedless grapes, .79 lb, buy 2 at $1.58
Chicken thighs, .79 lb, buy 3 lbs. at $2.37
American beauty pasta, $1
Bar S Junbo franks, $1
Bar S bologna, $1
Albertson's sour cream, $1
Malt O Meal cereals, $1, buy 4
Albertson's instant oatmeal packs, $1
Albertson's cheese, 2 lbs., $4.99
Onions, $1 lb., I've allowed for 1 lb., buy 1 onion

Bashas'
Food Club canned biscuits, .66
Cheez its snacks, $1.88
Challenge butter, $1.98
Libby's Vegetables, 10/$5, buy 1 can corn at .50
Food Club Peanut butter, 2/$3, buy 1
Food Club grape jelly, 2/$3, buy 1
Lawry's taco seasoning, 2/$1, buy 1 at .50
Fiesta tortilla chips, .99
Shamrock Farms cottage cheese, $1.99
Old Orchard juice blends, 4/$5, buy 1 at $1.25
Dole bananas, .48 lbs, limit 6 lbs., buy 6 lbs. at $2.88
Eggs, I've allowed for $1.39, buy 2 doz.

Fry's
Gala apples, 2 lbs/$1, buy 4 lbs.
Kroger ice cream, $1.77
Kroger cranberry juice, $1.98
Hunt's tomatoes, .89, buy 3 cans, puree one in the blender to use as tomato sauce
Kroger Value bread, .88, buy 2, you may be able to get by with one loaf
Hamburger buns, I've allowed for $1.50

Safeway
Rancher's Reserve boneless london broil, $1.99 lb., buy 3 lbs. at $5.97. Have one lb. ground into hamburger for the Taco soup
Ragu sauce. Buy alfredo if you'd like. .99
A&W root beer, .77. Monday only
Yoplait yogurt, .50. Buy one vanilla for the chicken salad recipe

Sprouts
Peaches, .49, buy 5 lbs. at $2.45
Cantaloupe, .77 each
Green beans, .88 bls, buy 2 lbs.
Broccoli crowns, .88 lb.
5# bag russet potatoes, .88 each
Vine ripe tomatoes, .77 lb., buy 2 lbs.
Brown rice, .69 lb., buy 1 lb.

Items not on grocery list:
Mayo
mustard
flour
sugar
spices
salad dressing
celery
scallions
mandarin oranges
syrup or powdered sugar

Menu with what's on sale for the week of Sept. 1-Sept. 7

$73.05

Breakfast
1-Pancakes, cranberry juice
2-Oatmeal
3-French toast, bacon
4-Waffles, cranberry juice
5-Oatmeal
6-Corn griddle cakes
7-Oatmeal

Lunch
1-PB&J sandwich, crackers, banana, Kool Aid
2-Suddenly Salad, crackers, Kool Aid
3-PB&J sandwich, potato chips, grapes
4-PB&J sandwich, potato chips, carrots
5-PB&J sandwich, grapes
6-Hot dog, banana
7-Suddenly salad, watermelon

Dinner
1-Hamburgers with buns, potato salad, corn on the cob, Big K soda
2-Hot dog on bun, pork and beans, watermelon
3-Pasta Alfredo, salad, garlic baquette
4-Chicken, broccoli and rice
5-Salad, baguette, raspberries
6-Sloppy joes, potato chips, cole slaw. See ground beef under recipes for how I make Sloppy Joes
7-Leftovers

Dessert
Peanut butter cookies
Brownies
Grilled pineapple with vanilla ice cream(add .98 to the grocery total and buy the pineapple at Fresh & Easy)
Ice cream

Albertson's
Broccoli or cauliflower, 2 lbs./$1, buy 2 lbs.
Albertson's buns, .88, buy 2 hamburger and 2 hot dog
Baby red potatoes, $2.99 each
Fresh express cole slaw, 2/$3, buy 1

Bashas'
Campbell's pork and beans, 3/$1, buy 3
Kraft Mayonnaise, $2.99
Bar S meat franks with shocker coupon and min. $10 purchase, .47, limit 2, buy 2
Blue Bunny ice cream, $1.67 with shocker coupon and min. $10 purchase, limit 1, buy 1
Corn, 6/$1, buy 6
Jiffy corn muffin mix, 2/$1, buy one at .50
Krusteaz Pancake mix, $1.99
Food Club butter, $2.49
Dole bananas, .48 lb., buy 8 lbs.
Watermelon, .15 lb., buy 10 lbs. at $1.50
Eggs, I allowed for $1.39 doz., buy 2 doz.
Milk, I allowed for $2 gal., buy 2 at $4

Fry's
Ocean Spray Cranberry juice cocktail, $1.88
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, $1.77 lb, buy 2 lbs. at $3.54
Farmer John bacon, $1.77
Organic red seedless grapes, .77 lb., buy 3 lbs.
Dole Salad, $1 each, buy 2
Lay's Potato chips, $1.77, buy 2
Kroger Peanut butter, 10/$10, buy 2
Ragu alfredo sauce, $1.67
Pillsbury brownie mix, 10/$10, buy 1
Suddenly Salad, $1.47, buy 2
Big K soda, .69
Kool Aid, 10/$1, buy 10
Rice, I've allowed for $2.99
Kroger mini carrots, $1
LaBrea baguette, .99, buy 2
Kroger Value bread, .88, buy 4
Fry's pasta, .88
sweet onion, $1 lb.

Sprouts
Ground beef, $1.99 lb., buy 4 lbs. at $7.96
Oats, .69 lb., buy 3 lbs.
Raspberries, .97, buy 2

Fresh and Easy
If you wish to have grilled pineapple buy Del Monte Pineapple at .98 extra to grocery total

Items not on list:
sugar
oil
vinegar
salad dressings
ketchup
brown sugar
worcestershire

What to have for Labor Day

I've looked through the new ads for this week briefly while waiting for someone this morning. This is typically a good week to shop for and stockpile condiments and hot dogs and meat.

I was trying to think what would sound good for our evening meal on Labor Day. Sadly, seems like we are never together at once lately for meals. Or we are coming and going so the table never gets set. It's a shame.

I always gravitate to burgers, hot dogs or brats, potato salad and beans for summer holiday meals. I should be more creative, but I'm not. Or maybe it's just that I choose to not mess with perfection.

I am feeling like I need banana cupcakes today so I will excuse myself shortly to go make these:

Now for some ideas for the Labor Day Menu using what's on sale this week:

Fry's is still taking competitor's coupons so take advantage of the Fresh & Easy coupons for $3 off of a $30 purchase or $5 off of a $50 purchase when buying groceries this week or for your Labor Day BBQ

Fry's:

Organic red grapes, .77 lb.=chilled on ice, nothing better to refresh yourself when you're out in the sun at a swim meet or little league practice or soccer game. Or freeze them for a frozen treat.

Pork Loin Back ribs, $1.97 lb.=BBQ ribs

Boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.77 lb.=BBQ chicken

Farmer John Bacon, $1.77 each.=baked beans, jalepeno poppers, hearty breakfast

Hebrew national beef franks, $1.97 each=hot dogs

Baby Ray's BBQ sauce and Van Camp's pork and beans, .97=baked beans

Dreyer's ice cream, $1.99=brownies ala mode, ice cream sundae bar, root beer floats, strawberry or chocolate shakes

Lay's Potato chips, $1.77=once described by my friend Margie as "the world's most perfect food." Best eaten from the bag, on the way home from the grocery store. Or serve with dip.

Kroger dip, 10/$10

Pillsbury brownie mix, 10/$10=brownies ala mode, brownie blizzard

Keebler Fudge shoppe cookies, $1.66=S'mores

Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad, $1.47

Fresh and Easy:

Mixed grill Pack, $5.99=sausage, hamburger, chicken

Boneless New York Steak family Pack, $4.99 lb.

Pure water, in multiples of 2, 2/$5 for 24 pack

Del Monte gold pineapple, .98=grilled pineapple with vanilla ice cream, fruit skewers/kabobs

Bashas':

Food Club cheese, .99=Cheeseburgers, potato skins

Campbell's pork and beans, 3/$1=baked beans

Split chicken breasts, .98 lb.=BBQ chicken

Colorado Olathe Corn, 6/$1, limit 12=grilled corn with chili butter or lime. Butter or Parmesan. Cheddar corn chowder.

Rib Eye steak, $3.98 lb.=grilled steak with a compound herb butter put on top to serve or seasoned with steak seasoning and grilled to perfection

Bar S Meat franks, with Shocker coupon at $10 additional purchase, .47=hot dogs

Lay's potato chips, $1.77

Arrowhead water, $2.88

Blue Bunny ice cream with shocker coupon, $1.67

Watermelon, .15 lb.

Dole bananas, .48 lb.=banana cupcakes, banana splits, banana cream pie, chocolate covered frozen bananas

Sprouts:

Raspberries, .97=berry salad, raspberries sprinkled around decadent frosted brownies or atop a chocolate cake, raspberry ice cream, raspberry freezer jam on cheesecake pie, raspberry shortcake, Peach/Raspberry Crisp, yum

Extra lean ground beef, $1.99 lb.=hamburgers, tacos

Safeway:

Fresh King Salmon Fillets, $6.99 lb.=grilled or baked salmon

Sweet Large red lion nectarines, .99 lb.=nectarine tart

Albertson's:

Pork loin baby back ribs, buy 1, get 2 free with in-store coupon, limit 1 reward per transaction=BBQ ribs

Whole seedless watermelon, $1.88 each, limit 2=ice cold refreshing watermelon wedges, or melon salad

Lay's potato chips or Wheat thins or Pace salsa, 3/$5=appetizers while grilling

Albertson's buns, .88=Hamburgers or Hot dogs

Hebrew National hot dogs, $1.97=hot dogs

Gourmet baby red potatoes, 1.5 lb. bag, $2.99 each=roasted red garlic potatoes, potato salad

Fry's Grand re-opening on Tatum/shea

Fry's milk, $1.59 gal., limit 2

Fry's large eggs, .59, limit 2=deviled eggs