Great Incentive for kiddos!

So I came across this blog:

A Lemon Squeezy Home

She had the cutest idea for Printable  "30 Minute Game" Tickets! 

For Christmas Santa brought the BradshawFamily a Wii. We have truly loved it and have had so much fun as a family with it. However my kiddos want to play it ALL the time! 

So when I saw the printables from "A Lemon Squeezy Home", I thought PERFECT! This will be just the incentive/reward for my kiddos.

I just printed out my tickets! Thanks "A Lemon Squeezy Home"! 

Go visit her blog to print yours and get some other great ideas!

(Photo Credit: A Lemon Squeezy Home)

Kitchen Shortcuts

I Love learning new tricks to make my life easier and cheaper. I came across this blog

"Frugal Christian Living"

She has a bunch of great ideas! You will have to visit her blog.

This particular article for Frugal Christian Living is on making Brownie mix that's cheaper than buying the packaged and it's got the same easy concept. See her article below:

 

 (Photos- Frugal Christian Living)

A couple of months ago, I came across a post called “Baking Shortcut- Make Your Own Mixes,” about putting your bread machine ingredients in jars ahead of time…..what a great idea!!
That got me a’thinkin.   Why spend money on things like “brownie mix,” when I am sure it would be cheaper to make it myself!
After a bit of searching, I found this homemade brownie mix from “The Cardamom’s Pod,”……and it’s AWESOME!!

So now on Saturdays, you can find me in my kitchen……. filling my jars for the week with ingredients for brownies….chocolate chip cookies….breakfast muffins….you name it!!
And you wouldn’t believe what a satisfying activity it is!   (Makes you feel all Proverbs 31- ish.)

Let’s start with the……

Brownie Mix

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 8 cups sugar
• 1 8 oz. can unsweetened cocoa powder

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Add sugar and cocoa.  Blend well.
…………………………………………………………………
What you can’t see, is on the back of each jar I have a little piece of paper taped on with the wet ingredients and instructions on it.  (That way, when I’m ready to make them, I don’t even have to look it up!! Lazy much?)  Here’s what is written on my little paper…..

• 2 eggs-beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 cup oil (or butter)
• 2 cups brownie mix

350 degrees for 30-35 minutes (8×8 square pan)
**Note** It doesn’t have to be 8×8, but I do use a “smaller than 9×13″ pan.  For a 9×13 I would probably use two jars! (I like ‘em thick!)

Mix it up….
Pour TWO CUPS of the mix into each jar…..(these are quart sized jars)

I  used a “canning funnel” -a funnel with a large mouth, but you could just as easily measure it and spoon it in!
And that’s it!!

These are soooo nice to have after dinner when I’m completely out of energy, but want to make a sweet treat for the fam!  -Put the wet ingredients in a bowl, dump in the mix, and whalla!!
I also like having them around, in case I need a “quick gift”…..slap a bow on one and you’re done!   (Great if you’ve been invited to someone’s house and need a “hostess gift”!)
And what about that family or church gathering you’ve been invited to??  “I’ll bring a desert!!”