New Recipe: Chipotle Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

Abby H.

This is a super easy, yummy recipe. My kids love it because it’s cheesy, and vegetarian (important for my big kid). I’m making a big batch for dinner this week, with plenty of leftovers!

It freezes well so you can make a bigger batch and have some for later.

Chipotle Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag MorningStar Farms® Chipotle Black Bean Crumbles (12 oz)
  • 3 cups cheese, divided (I use Mexican blend)
  • 1 large (28 oz) enchilada sauce (I like green)
  • 16-19 corn tortillas, torn into bite-size pieces
  • 1 bag (12 oz-ish) fajita blend (that’s onions and peppers)
  • spray release

Directions:

  1. Spray a 9×11 baking dish with spray release.
  2. Layer torn tortillas, black bean crumbles, fajitas blend, tortillas, sauce, and cheese.
  3. Layer until pan is filled, top with cheese.
  4. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until bubbly.
  5. Remove foil and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes until the top is brown and bubbly.

Serve with sour cream, salsa, and diced black olives (optional, but a family favorite). I serve with a Mexican Caesar Salad, or Cilantro Lime Rice-a-Roni.

To make this dish vegan, use vegan cheese.

Mexican Cesar Salad

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 cups of your favorite lettuce/lettuce blend (romaine and bibb is great!)
  • 2 tomatoes cubed/sliced
  • ½ cup purple onion, cut into rings
  • 1 small can corn, drained and rinsed
  • ¼ c ranch dressing
  • ½ c your favorite salsa

Directions:

  1. Combine the salsa and ranch together, chill in fridge 6-8 hours before servings. This allows the flavors to blend.
  2. Toss the veggies in a chilled salad bowl with the dressing.
  3. Top with ¼ c crushed corn chips/tortilla chips for some added crunch!

Serve topped with grilled chicken breasts for an entree or without meat as a side dish.  Serves 3 as an entree, serves 6 as a side dish.

 

11/29/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

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Kids are back to school and I am back to work this morning!

After a week without any trips to the store, last night I broke down and did a big shop. I found some really cool spice blends at Grocery Outlet and 99 Cents Only, so we’ve got some yummy stuff planned over the next few weeks.

Now that the fridge is working, I’ve been buying a few condiments every trip. This week it was Salsa and Chili/ketchup.

I am pulling everything out of the cupboard this week to do an end-of-year overhaul/purge. Anything that is not expired that we won’t eat I’ll be donating. There is a blessing box about a mile away, and I’d love to fill it up. And of course, anything expired will get pitched. We have a super narrow and deep cupboard, so sometimes stuff gets pushed towards the back and forgotten about.

And I’ve been getting a lot of really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for a kitchen inventory printable, I have made my own and you can find them for sale here on my Etsy Store.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids. They are also into fruit and bagels for breakfast. The Ancient Grain bagels from Einstein Bros. are the current family favorite. I pick them up on Mondays when a dozen is only $7. I slice them and freeze them to keep them from going bad too quickly.

Lunch: I have a plastic tote in the cupboard full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year, but so far, there is nothing on the menu that appeals to the kids.

Dinner: I am planning some great meals this week. I’ll try and batch cook tomorrow morning (sides, roast veggies, cookies) before work.

  • Monday: Nuggets, fresh fruit (orange and apple slices are on tap), cheese, and crackers
  • Tuesday: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, garlic bread, veggies
  • Wednesday: Beans, Rice, quesadillas, fruit or salad
  • Thursday:   Vegetarian Enchilada casserole (I’ll post a recipe this week)
  • Friday: take out (Usually pizza and Chinese food)
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday:  Shakshuka, garlic bread, salad

Please stay safe you guys!

11/29/2021 Free Chili Cheese Fries at Wienerschnitzel

Abby H.

Looking for a freebie tomorrow while you are shopping those Cyber Monday Deals?

Wienerschnitzel has you hooked up. Score a free order of Chili Cheese fries when you order online tomorrow. Use promo code FREECCF.

Offer valid 11/29/21 only. At participating locations. One FREE Regular size Classic Chili Cheese Fries with any purchase per guest and not valid with any other discounts or offers. Not valid for Bacon Ranch or Thousand Island Chili Cheese Fries. Must add Regular size Classic Chili Cheese Fries to order. Add-ons and modifications extra. No substitutions.

2021 Holiday Resources

Abby H.2 Comments

I usually do these types of posts before Thanksgiving, but I’ve been looking for as many resources as possible to help those in need.

Much like last year, there aren’t a lot of free events, and most resources are stretched thin, as 2021 was as hard as 2020 for a lot of families.

The holidays are more than food and gifts, but no one should go hungry any time of year!

Here is my post with a list of food banks/pantries in San Diego. Many of the food pantries also have special holiday distributions, it is worth a call to find out of any additional food or gift distributions will be done.

As of now, I am not aware of any free Christmas tree giveaways, however, as I gather more information, I will update this post.

Toys for Joy will not be holding their annual event this year, instead, their site sends you to other resources such as The Rock Church for food, and The Salvation Army for other additional resources. The Salvation Army does an Angel Tree program to gather gifts for children in need. For more information about this program, contact your local Salvation Army location.

Sunday, December 19th, 2021 from 11am-2pm  is the annual H.O.P.E. event hosted by New Vision Church. Every child ages 0-11 will get a free toy! This is an all-free family fun event filled with free toys, carnival games and prizes, a live petting zoo, big bike giveaways, food, haircuts, jumpers, arts and crafts, live performances, DJ, and a whole lot more! The event will be held at both New Vision Church and Colina Del Sol Park and Recreation which is directly across the street. The entrance is at 5310 Orange Ave., San Diego, CA 92115.

Hope Leadership Academy is hosting an Event, Toys for Hope on December 18, 2021,9:00am – 1:00pm at the King Chavez School: 415 31st St. San Diego, CA 92102. Toys for Hope will be a walk-thru experience this year! Free toys for kids 13 and younger, free groceries, and bike raffles!

211 San Diego has a listing of all sorts of holiday assistance from food to toys, events- all free. Some programs/events require proof of need, but not all.

santeesantas.pngIf you live in Santee and need help with food and gifts for the holiday, contact Santee Santas. You can download and print forms, check into eligibility (it is income-based and they are very strict from what I’ve been told), and see what forms you need in addition to the application here.

The window to apply for Santee Santas is closing in just a few days, so if you want to apply, I recommend checking their website TODAY and apply ASAP.

Talk Back: If you know of any free local events, please leave a comment. 

Penzeys Spices: $50 Gift Card only $35

Abby H.

This is my favorite deal!! Through tomorrow, 11/27/21 at midnight, $50 Penzeys Spices Giftcards are only $35! 

These are not available for pick up, but gift cards ship for free!

If you have home cooks or bakers in your life, this deal makes the BEST holiday gift!

*Penzeys Embrace Hope Gift Card Offer Details
Not available for Curb-Side Pick-up. Cannot be used on the date of purchase. Not applicable to prior sales, not valid with other offers. Not for resale. While supplies last. Standard shipping rates apply. Offer ends midnight Saturday, November 27, 2021.

11/26/2021 Friday Freebies!

Abby H.

Better late than never, right? I promise I Was not out Black Friday shopping today. I was doing some crafts and taking the kids to the zoo, finished up with dinner with my mom (dad is still in the hospital).

I’ll have some good deals and money-saving posts this weekend and next week. So glad the kids are going back to school on Monday. I love them, but… this week has been brutal.

If you are looking for birthday freebies, fret not! I put together a list new for 2021- Check it out here.

The List of Freebies is small this week, but there are all sorts of great deals coming up. I’ll have breakdowns and such coming up!

Freebies:

Ulta – Free BECCA Cosmetics Plumping Lip Balm for Your Birthday
Free Pair of 2 Carat Diamond Earrings $79.95 Value
Free Pinkizh Pink Clay Mask, Applicator & Konjac Sponge
Free Sample of TBH Kids Shampoo & Conditioner + Hair Scrunchie
Free CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream or Shampoo
Free Conair Reflections Lighted Mirror or Selfie Ring Light
Free 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
Free Large Fries at Checkers and Rally’s on 26th – 28th
Free Maddy’s Sweet Shop Shortbread Snaps

 

Earn up to $100 referring friends to Venmo!

Abby H.

Venmo is offering referral cash right now- Just in time for the holiday!

Head to the You page of the app and tap Invite Friends, Earn $10. Then, using the share link, invite 10 new peeps to Venmo—old roomies, pet sitters, even Dad.

Everyone you refer will earn $10 for signing up after you make a bank- or card-funded payment of at least $5 within 14 days.

You’ll get $10 for each person that you refer, and can earn up to $100 from this offer. Score! I use Venmo to pay friends back for coffee when we split the bill and the lady who does my pedicures!

And if you haven’t signed up for Venmo yet, check it out here.

 

This post contains affiliate links,  For more information about the use of affiliate links and partnerships, visit my disclosure page. 

November 2021: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try at a local grocery store or mass merchandiser near you.  Apply to Try the products that interest you to see if you’re a match here.

Here are some of the new sampling opportunities:

  • Mac & Cheese By Freak Flag Organics
  • Frozen Wraps By Cool Beans
  • 100% Plant-Based Pork By OmniFoods
  • Sunflower Cream Cheese By Spero Foods
  • Notco Plant-Based Milk Alternative
  • Plant-Based Spicy Nuggets By Alpha Foods

And one of the things I love about Social Nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out.

There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too! So if you love trying new products, check out Social Nature!

AO Opinions: Upcoming Supplements Project

Abby H.

AO Opinions is another Market Research company that I get information from. Right now they are recruiting for an upcoming research study on the topic of supplements.

  • To be considered, please complete the pre-screener survey here.
  • Compensation: $125 (if chosen)
  • Open to: 35-70 YEARS OLD
  • Times Currently Available:  Monday, December 6th 2021, and/or  Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 at various times

Rubio’s Black Friday Deal: Taco Cheer Holiday Box & Giveaway!

Abby H.14 Comments

It’s the most wonderful time of the year- Time for gift giving and tacos!

If you have a taco lover in your life, check out this sweet (mostly savory) deal from Rubio’s Coastal Grill this Black Friday.

 “SPREADING TACO CHEER” GIFT BOX AVAILABLE FROM RUBIO’S COASTAL GRILL

Cozy Collection Includes Fleece Blanket & $30 in Rubio’s Meal Cards 

Rubio’s Coastal Grill is offering a limited-edition “Spreading Taco Cheer” holiday gift box, specially curated for the ultimate taco fan. Available beginning on Black Friday, November 26, boxes can be purchased at www.rubios.com. Each gift box is $49.99, plus tax & shipping, (valued at $120), and features a unique collection of hand-selected items, perfect for a tacos & chill night this holiday season. The box includes:

  • $30 in Rubio’s free entrée cards, redeemable at any Rubio’s location
  • A 50″ x 60″ fleece blanket
  • Beanie with custom-embroidered taco
  • Lined, 5″ x 7″ notebook
  • 18-oz mug, perfect for sipping cocoa
  • Exclusive dessert taco recipe card, created by Rubio’s culinary team

“Last year’s gift box sold out in 24 hours,” said Rubio’s Co-Founder Ralph Rubio. “This year,  we’ve created the ultimate box for taco fans and expect the boxes to go quickly. Our “Spreading Taco Cheer” box is filled with specially curated items to send holiday warmth and good vibes to family and friends this holiday season.”

I’m giving away one of these fabulous boxes to one of my readers! Entering is easy, leave a comment on this blog post with your favorite kind of taco! I’ll choose a winner on November 28, 2021 in the evening. You will be notified via email.

 

Thanks to Rubio’s Coastal Grill for this sweet deal and giveaway!