A Steal of a Deal!

Last year I really really wanted to find a new tree during the after Christmas Day sales, but sadly they were all snatched up before I could get out. 🙁

This time was going to be different. I was on a mission. 6:30AM, I was ready to hit the stores, but first, a little pre-shopping mission snack:

 

Pumpkin Kefir with Pumpkin Molasses Quinoa Granola

Wal-Mart, Khol’s, K-Mart, and Target…no luck.

Sears, Belk, and Dillards…still no luck.

And then…at JC Penny, I spotted “The One!”

7' Pre-lit Pine

Regular Price=          $299.99
Sale Discount=          -225.00
Haggling Discount=      -7.50
In-store Coupon=       -10.00

I got the sale price (75% off) and I haggled a bit and got an additional 10% off since it was the last one and the display. The store coupon deal was a surprise, I had no idea! It all worked out to a grand total of $57.49 Plus tax! Can you say saaaaaaaaaaweet?!

But that’s not the only deal I got today! Check it out!

My After Christmas Sale "Loot" all at 50% OFF!

I lurve my cute little penguin soap dispenser!

 

Ain’t he cute??

After all my shopping, I headed home to make a real breakfast.

 

Cinnamon Oat Pancakes:
Inspired by Kath’s Oatmeal Pancakes

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • dash of vanilla

1. Combine oats and egg whites and let set in bowl for about 5 minutes to soften oats. If you use quick-cooking oats you can skip this step.
2. Add in the rest of ingredients and mix in a blender until you have a smooth batter.
3. Form two pancakes in a skillet over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes per side.

Cinnamon Apple Topping:

  • 1 small apple of choice (I used a Gala from my Christmas stocking!)
  • 1 Tbsp agave
  • 1 Tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Chop apple into bite sized pieces (no need to peel)
2.Heat in a sauce man, stirring occasionally until apples are tender.

Don’t know if you can see it, but there is also a dollop of maple walnut butter hiding under those warm delicious apples!

Happy Pancake Sunday!

Did any of you guys hit up the after Christmas sales? Get any sweet deals?

Posted in Breakfast, Pancake Sunday | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

How a Foodie Celebrates Christmas

Merry Christmas one and all!
Hope you have all had an amazing holiday!

Since I was a bit of a skeptic, as I woke up this morning, I threw back the curtain at my parent’s house to see if we actually got our “White Tennessee Christmas.”

I knew it! Boo-ya weatherman!! Shame on you for meddling with people’s emotions on a day like this!

We went to bed a bit late last night, but I still managed to wake up early (must be the whole “I’m not sleeping in my own bed” thing). I didn’t want to disturb my family of normal sleepers, so I made a cup of coffee and caught up on some blog reading. A couple of hours later, they began to stir and the vote was unanimous for breakfast first/presents later! My former child would have smacked me in the face if she could’ve witnessed this!

 

Family Tradition: New Christmas PJ's! *Note* My sis and I don't usually match!

I donned an apron and got to work on my crustless quiche as mom prepped the fruit for her ginormous fruit salad!

Easy Peasy Crustless Quiche-y: (serves 4)

  • 12 slices thick center-cut bacon
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 1 medium portobella mushroom, diced
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • grape tomatoes to garnish on top
  • Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning blend to taste

1. Fry up bacon in a large skillet and crumble into little pieces. Set aside
2. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease and saute fresh chopped veggies until tender. Season to taste.
3. Pour veggies in a 9 inch oven-proof casserole and top with shredded cheese and bacon crumbles.
4. Whisk the eggs and milk in a separate bowl and pour over contents and garnish with halved grape tomatoes. Sprinkle with more seasoning if desired.
5. Bake at 375 Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes*

*You know it’s done when the outer edges are stiffened up and the center is just a bit jiggly. It will continue to cook after you remove it from the oven and the center will set.

 

Pick a favorite cheese!

Step 1: Fry bacon & crumble into pieces

Step 2: Sauteed veggies

Step 3: Place veggies in oven proof dish & top with cheeze and bacon

Step 4: Pour egg mixture over the top and garnish with tomatoes

Step 5: Bake at 375 for 30 minutes

 

Mom's HUGE fruit salad!

Starfruit and coconut on the side so as not to freak my dad out!

Janine’s Christmas Fruit Salad:

  • 3 Gala Apples
  • 2 Oranges
  • 3 Tangerines
  • 1 Red Grapefruit
  • 2 Bananas
  • 1 Mango
  • 1 Pineapple
  • 2 Starfruit
  • 1 Fresh coconut

This was my dad’s first time trying mango and starfruit. He didn’t notice the mango until we told him (he said it was ok), but we couldn’t persuade him on the starfruit! Oh well, more for the rest of us! 😉

 

My loot! The blog was definitely in mind with these gifts! Love it!

After gift opening, we all got ready and headed over to my grandmother’s house for Christmas linner (lunch/dinner) or should it be lupper (lunch/supper)??

A little bit of everything

My grandmother went all out this year! We had turkey AND ham, dressing, green beans, mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato souffle, deviled eggs, and slaw and potato salad! You think we had our starches covered? I was so stuffed!

Bahahahaha!

I got a kick out of this one! I take it this is the great great grandfather to our well known Heinz 57??

Me with my grandmother (gotta hand it to her for her sense of humor)

 

My Aunt Linda and her boyfriend
Me and my cousin, Chris (self shot)
Me and my beautiful sister, Tori
LOVE this pic of my mom and dad!

I’ve had a great Christmas! Couldn’t have asked for more than to spend the day with my family joking, eating, and catching up on each other’s lives. It has been at least 2 years since I’ve seen my grandmother!

The rest of my night will be spent sipping on some ginger tea to soothe this poor Christmas Day food baby…definitely not going to be hungry for a WHILE!

I’m going to attempt to catch some good after Christmas sales tomorrow! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sweet deal on a new Christmas tree!

Anyone else going to fight the masses with me tomorrow?

Posted in Breakfast, Entree, Holiday | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas Eve! I’m enjoying a relaxing evening at my parents watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Looks like we may actually be getting our “Tennessee Christmas” as it just started snowing outside. I will say it is a peaceful scene outside the window right now. Looks a bit like my breakfast this morning:

It “snowed” on my oats!

Coconut Mango Oats:

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • splash of vanilla

Topped with a dollop of cold coconut milk, mangoes, and unsweetened coconut flakes.

After breakfast, I started on my Christmas gift “orders.” I love baking so a few years ago, I started baking cookies and treats as gifts for Christmas. This year I took requests!

My sister, Tori wanted cookies ‘n cream fudge
Enter: Jessica’s Cookies ‘N Cream Chocolate Bark

And Coconut Almond Cupcakes for mom!
Recipe to come later!


Merry Christmas Everyone!
May it be filled with all the miracles of the season!

Posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Holiday | Tagged , , | 7 Comments