30-Minute Martha » 30-Minute Cook

Family Dessert with Friends: Keeping It Simple!

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:32:20 +0000

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

Wanna know what that bingo thingy is doing on this post? Well, the other week we had the most fantabulous holiday dessert and game night with friends, and I’m going to tell you all about it!

We’ve been wanting to have a housewarming since we moved into our new home in June (I know, I know…). And I love having an open-house-type event around the holidays, so I figured we’d tie them together and host a drop-in family game/dessert night the weekend after Thanksgiving. Most of our friends were back in town by Sunday evening, and no one wants to cook after Turkey Day, so the timing was perfect.

Instead of having a big spread, I just made a few quick and easy desserts that people could munch on while milling around. I bought some festive holiday napkins and plastic cups (no glass!). Then we pulled out the bingo game, Pictionary, Slamwich, and a few other crowd favorites.

All in all, we had about 20 people attend, and it was so much fun to relax after a crazy week of holidays and traveling. The kids moved from game to game, all the snacks were eaten, and everyone was smiling. What more could you want from a family get-together?

This just goes to show you that entertaining doesn’t have to be over-the-top crazy. Sure, it’s sometimes fun to pull out all the stops and whip up gourmet goodies and pull out the fine china. But it’s just as fun (and less stressful) to keep things easy. When life is crazy-nutso, focus on what really matters: Having fun with your friends and family. Pick a few favorite dessert recipes, plan some easy entertainment or activity, and clean your kitchen and bathroom. The rest of the house is optional.

P.S. Remember to check out Duncan Hines’ website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

Free “Save Time and Money” eBook

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:02:54 +0000

While at a marketing conference earlier this summer, I was so lucky to meet a handful of fantastic female bloggers who share my passion for bringing useful, entertaining information to their readers. Out of that chance meeting came the old, ‘Let’s put on a show!’ But instead of a show, we’ve pulled together some of our best information on frugal living, saving time, and creating a healthier, more satisfying life. And now we’re offering it to you… free!

This ebook is delivered digitally and includes information on topics such as:

Saving money by couponing
Using a menu plan
Making time to connect with your friends
What to do when you’re so overwhelmed you don’t know what to do (my contribution!)

If you’d like a copy, all you need to do is sign up for the 30-Minute Martha email list using the box in the upper right corner of this page or this link here. I’ll be sending the download link later today to anyone who’s subscribed. (If you are reading this after Wednesday, 10/5/11, no worries! You’ll get a copy as soon as you sign up for the email list!).

I think you’ll find it well worth a quick read. At 28 pages, you’ll be able to skim through quickly and get some great hints and ideas.

P.S. We’re planning to make this available on Kindle as well, so stay tuned if you’re a Kindle lover!

Quick Weeknight Dinners

admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:40:32 +0000

image from Free Shrimp Recipes

With school starting, we’re back to the grind! I thought I’d give you some quick weeknight dinner ideas to see you through at least a night or two.

Quick and Easy Lasagna. No need to cook the noodles first – just layer and go!

Fast and Easy Italian Sausage and Potatoes. I love the sausage-potato combo!

Crockpot Chicken Alfredo. Yum. That’s all. Just yum.

Taco Salad. This is one salad that everyone in our family loves… even if it includes sour cream, usually a no-go around here.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese. This is a staple at our house… and I love this list of 10 ways to jazz it up!

Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, Mideast Style. Shrimp is another big fave around our house. This recipe will work for fresh or frozen.

P.S. Got a fast weeknight recipe? Please share!

Fun First Day of School Ideas

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:05:01 +0000

You may have already started back, but our first day of school is next week (for two kids) and the week after for the last. That’s why I, in typical leave-it-to-the-last-minute fashion, am just now brainstorming ideas for the first day of school to put a little bit of fun into it!

Here’s my roundup of fun first day of school rituals (that take 30 minutes or less):

1. Have a muffin morning. I admit it, we don’t always have breakfast together as a family. Usually, my husband takes off with Ben (my oldest) and they eat… Who knows what? Meanwhile, the girls and I scramble around as we shout from room to room about shoes, hair accessories, and tooth-brushing.

This year, I’m going to prepare a batch of muffins the night before and we’re going to take five minutes to gather around the kitchen counter (I have no illusions about us all sitting down together, a la Cleaver family). We’ll scarf a few homemade muffins and then head off in our various directions. (I’m going to try this pumpkin wheat honey muffin recipe, but I’ll have some plain corn muffins on-hand as well for the picky types. Apple muffins might be cute, too, to go in with the fall/school theme.)

2. Craft cute lunchbox notes. I won’t go into this idea too much because I have a complete tutorial on using your photo index prints for a cute craft over at LayoutaDay.com. Head over there to see it in step-by-step glory. (And yes, I am going to make one for my son, even though A. he’s 13; B. he has no lunch as his lunch is included, and C. he will be embarrassed. That is what moms are for!)

3. Take pictures. I’m a scrapbooker! I write a scrapbooking blog! Of course I’m taking photos on the first day of school. Duh. I’ve seen some unique ideas, like handing them a cut-out of a large number that represents their grade, or getting a shot of their new shoes, or taking one from behind as they walk down the sidewalk. We just might be doing all of the above.

4. Create a school supplies gift pack. In Germany, students get these cute treat bags that look like giant cones for their first day of school. I would like to translate that for my kids and include some emergency lunch money, a few fresh pencils, a crazy eraser, and some other cute office supplies, like a tiny notebook.

5. Make time to walk. I can be lazy and reach for the car keys when it gets cold and rainy, but this year there’s no excuse for NOT walking my first-grader. This back-to-school ritual can be so fun as we greet old friends and see everyone’s new school clothes. It gives me a thrill, too, as the first day of school air is always full of energy and anticipation!

Now that shouldn’t be too hard, eh?

P.S. Got some fast back-to-school rituals or activities? Share!

Deal Round-Up for a Rainy Monday

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:23:06 +0000

Back from vacation, and it’s a nasty rainy day outside! So what better way to fight the weather than by sharing a little dealy goodness with my fave readers?

First, act fast on this one — the Sassy Black Apron from FlirtyAprons.com is on sale, today ONLY, for 50% off the regular price of $34.95! That’s a $17-plus savings!

Use code SASSY50 at checkout.

Grab it today for 50% off!

Next. one of my favorite frugal homemaking sites, the Hillbilly Housewife, is having a back-to-school sale today (Monday) through Wednesday, 8/24. It’s a great chance to scoop up recipe books for up to half off! Titles:

Homemade Ice Cream and Other Frozen Treats – Sale price $3 (50% off!)

Summer Cooking – Sale $4 (over 40% off!)

**MY FAVE–> Crockpot Cooking Made Simple – Sale $15 (50% off!)

Freezer Cooking Made Simple – Sale $15 (50% off!)

Head over to the special sales page to see more about these titles and the complete sale details.

Next up… don’t feel like cooking tonight? Neither do I! Haha!

Quiznos has a great variety of coupon specials right now — print all four, right from your computer!

- Free Sub of equal or less value with the purchase of any sub and a regular fountain drink
- Free chip or cookie and regular fountain drink with purchase of regular salad or sub
- 2 Meals for $9.99 – Two small subs, chips/cookies, and regular drinks for $9.99
- $1 Off Regular Sub or $2 Off Large Sub

Enjoy!

P.S. If you like deals, check out Zulilly — daily deals for moms, babies and kids! I’ve found some cool stuff there for gifts and more. Membership is free, and the deals come to YOU!