Peach Raspberry Jam

I love to do my canning with a friend, not only because it makes things easier, but because I love to get new recipes.  This recipe came from my friend Amanda a few years ago.  I make a batch of it every year.  My family are big strawberry jam lovers, and I am too, but every once in a while I like a change.  This is my change.  It is a wonderful jam!!  And it has more fruit in it than sugar!  Seriously!  How often does that happen, umm, NEVER!  

I can all the peaches I want to can for that year and then use the left over peaches that were a little more ripe that I like to can for this recipe.  We also have fall bearing raspberries, which is perfect for this recipe.  

Peach Raspberry Jam

5 C. sugar

4 C. peaches, peeled, sliced and mashed

1 1/3 C. raspberries

1 package (3 oz) raspberry jell-o

Blanch the peaches in boiling water for one minute, then remove the skins and pits.  Slice and place in a large pot.  Mash the peaches until they are mostly mashed with a few chunks intact. Add sugar and raspberries, stirring constantly over a medium to medium high heat.  After it has a rolling boil turn heat to lo/simmer and simmer for 25 minutes or until it is starting to thicken (medium thickness) 

Remove from heat and add jell-o, stir until disolved.

Laddle into hot jars and water bath for 15 minutes for pints and 20 for quarts.

Enjoy!

~Rachel~

Fluffiest Pancakes EVER

I used to just use the Bisquick or a store brand pancake mix, but then I found this recipe and found out how easy it was and more important, how good they were.  This recipe is MUCH better than any prepackaged pancake mix, I promise.  The are ultra fluffy and just plain good.  My kiddos love pancakes and like Percy Jackson (if you have read those books), they like their pancakes blue.  I will usually add blue food coloring to the batter to give them some fun pancakes.

For the recipe you will need this:

1 Large Egg
1 Cup Flour
3/4 Cup Milk
1 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
3 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

1.  Beat the egg.  Add the remainder of the ingredients and mix until smooth.
2.  Heat a skittle or frying pan, and add about 1/4 cup of batter.  Once batter has several bubbles in it, flip to other side, and cook until golden brown.

This recipe will make about 9- 4 inch pancakes.  Each is 100 calories!  I usually double the recipe for my family of 4 and have leftovers for the following morning.  These are also good to add blueberries to.  Just put them right in the batter.

Hope you like them!

~Stacy~

Ibotta Deals

    I have recently been able to sign up to participate in the Ibotta coupons and I am so excited!  I had seen deals before offering 75ȼ, $1.50, or even more for items I was already purchasing.  This was even AFTER manufactures coupons!  I FINALLY got it all set up a couple of weeks ago and really just in time too.  They were offering a GREAT deal on these everyday items.  I bought most of these at Target because they had store coupons + the Target Cartwheel deals.  I believe all of these but 3 items had 5% off using the Target Cartwheel so I felt like it was worth it!  I spent $64.90 total (including tax), but after completing the ibotta deals, I received $46.00 back from ibotta, deposited right into my Paypal account.  I will also receive an additional $10.00 with my first transfer to Paypal, and another $10.00 for completing 5 offers in the first 2 weeks.  So with this purchase, I will really make $1.10 on my purchase!  Pretty good huh!

    With this offer, I purchased:
        1.  12 pack Cottonelle TP
        2.  8 pack Viva Paper Towels
        3.  24 pack Scott TP
        4.  4 pack Kleenex Tissues
        5.  160 count Kleenex Tissues (free with the 4-pack + money back from ibotta)
        6.  Kleenex Hand Towels
       7.  Cottonelle Flushable Wipes
       8.  32 pack Huggies Diapers
       9.  Pack of Huggies Wipes
      10.  8 oz Softsoap
      11.  Colgate Total Advance Toothpaste
      12.  Colgate 360 Optic White Toothbrush
      13.  18 count U by Kotex Tampons
      14.  20 count Poise Pads

  To earn the money from ibotta, you have to do 3 tasks per item, like "like this on Facebook", watch a 15-30 second commercial, answer a pole question, or "Tweet" about it.  Once you have competed these tasks and purchase the item, follow the directions to snap a picture of the receipt and the item.  If you have a smart phone or ipad with internet capabilities anywhere, you can verify at the store you have the correct item.  I totally think this is worth the money savings.
  If you are interested, go to this link, sign up, and get started!  If you don't think it is worth if after trying it, you are under no obligation!
   A couple of downfalls I found are that  1.  if you are working on "deals", the store you are shopping at may not have all of the items.  I found Target had almost everything required, but Walmart, CVS, Fry's were all missing one or more of the items in each deal.  It may take a little time to get used to the requirements.  2.  Another is that I did have to return a couple of items and go to different stores because of the above reason and because once I brought the items home and scanned, I found they were incorrect and ibotta would not accept them.  (This could definitely be because I am a first timer too!) 3.  The last downfall is this is only good for "i" products (iphones, certain ipads, certain ipods), and the android market.  If you have a Blackberry like me, you are out of luck, unless you have one of these others.  They say they are looking into adding Blackberry and other markets sometime this year, but until then, just hope you have one of the others!

   Hopefully this was explanatory enough and helps!  Happy Saving!

~Stacy~

Super Easy Chicken Dinner

This is one of my favorite meals to make.  It is fast, simple, and really delicious.  It is also a really inexpensive meal.  What could be better?  I have made it in a couple of varieties, depending on my mood.  

To start, all you will need is a crock-pot and a whole chicken.  I can usually find a whole chicken for between $4-5.00.  Keep your eye out for these prices and grab a couple when you find them.  They freeze beautifully and cook as tender as ever after.

1.  To begin with, put your chicken in the crock-pot to allow 6-8 hours of cooking.  I just take it right out of the freezer and stick it in.  I would suggest closer to 8 hours if you get it directly from the freezer.  Just sprinkle the top with lemon pepper.  I will usually add between 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water even though there will be juices from the chicken.  It just helps bast it throughout the day.  

2.  If you want to add potatoes and carrots, peel them and add them along the sides.  I usually put the potatoes first so they are in the water/juice and cook better that way.  I also really like baby carrots (no peeling required!).  

   2a.  If you would rather do something like rice and gravy and corn, just leave the chicken in the      
   crock-pot by itself.

3.  Throughout the day, approximately every 2 hours, use the juice that has cooked off and pour it over the chicken, then close the lid again.  I use a turkey baster, but you can use a spoon or a cup measure just as easily.

4.  Finally, after 6-8, serve it.  It will just fall right off the bones.  I don't even pass out knives because it is so tender all you need is a fork.  It is just delicious.  If you made the potatoes and carrots, you can just serve the potatoes with sour cream, salt and pepper.  Your whole dinner is ready and it only takes about 10 minutes to prepare.

   4a.  If you chose the rice option, cook the rice and then make a gravy out of the chicken broth.  It is
   really simple.

         - Pull about 1 to 1 1/2 cup of chicken broth into a small pot and let it boil.  Mix about 1-2 tbsp of
         flour with water to make the consistency a thick water.  (Just past the paste point).  Once the broth         is boiling, add the flour water, again until boiling.  You can add just a little bit of salt and pepper           if you want.  Let it continue to boil until it is as thick as you like your gravy.
         -Serve with corn or beans and you are set!

~Stacy~

Giveaway Winner

We want to congratulate Kona  Haycock Harper for winning the Halloween Decoration Package!  If you could please respond to moresisterstuff@gmail.com and let us know where you would like them sent, we will get your decorations right to you!

Love, 

The Sissies

Last Day to Enter

  Hey Everyone!  Don't forget today is the last day to enter the drawing for the Halloween Decoration Package Giveaway!    The drawing will end at 9:00 Pacific Time tonight!  We will announce the winner on Friday!  Remember, all you have to do is:

1.  Follow us on this blog (if you already do, it's a free entry)

2.  Follow us on Pintrest

3.  Like us on Facebook.

  

If you already do these things, they are free entries!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck,

The Sissies!

Don't Forget to Enter!

  Don't forget to enter your name in for the "Halloween Decoration Package" giveaway!  There are only 3 days left to enter!  It is simple, just:

1.  Follow us on this blog (if you already do, it's a free entry)

2.  Follow us on Pintrest

3.  Like us on Facebook

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again for all your support and looking at our stuff and good luck!  We will announce the winner 9/14/13.  Good luck!

~The Sissies~