Link Love: Colleges That Bring Highest Paycheck

Here is a great article on Colleges That Bring the Highest Paycheck. If you have kids who will someday head off to college, this is good information to tuck away.

Link Love: Adding Food and Subtracting Calories

I love the idea of secretly adding fruits and vegetables to food. It has become an art form in our house. It's a great way to get the kids to eat healthy foods until their taste buds develop to like other things (the oldest now likes chili, woohoo!). Check out this great New York Times article, Adding Food and Subtracting Calories. Not only does adding vegetables to food up the healthy content but it reduces the number of calories that you eat, and who doesn't like that?

Here are a few of our favorite recipes with secret ingredients:

Spinach Turkey Meatloaf
Pumpkin Brownies
Iny's Prune Cake
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Turkey Chili

If you know of any other great secret ingredient recipes, please feel free to pass them to me!

Menu Plan Monday 7/25/2011

Monday: Spaghetti
Tuesday: Chili
Wednesday: Pizza
Thursday: Turkey Swedish Meatballs & Bean Salad
Friday: Ground Chicken (or Turkey) and Chickpea Curry Stew with Yogurt and Cilantro & Rice
Saturday: Spinach Lasagna & Salad
Sunday: Black Bean and Rice Enchiladas & Fruit

For the Locals: Artful Tales at the Frist

Mark your calendars for these free kid events at the Frist. The Frist has a wonderful auditorium, and I have yet to take my kids to a bad event there! Artful Tales is a monthly interactive family program that combines the oral tradition of storytelling with hands on art-making activities to explore stories and cultures from around the world. Here are two upcoming Artful Tales and activities:

Artful Tales: Momotaro the Peach Boy
August 21, 2011 – 2:00 pm

Featured story and activity:

Join an animated retelling of the Japanese story Momotaro the Peach Boy, and make a Japanese manga comic book filled with a big-eyed cast of characters.

Location: Auditorium
Cost: FREE; first come, first served


Artful Tales: Mexican Folk Tale
September 18, 2011 – 2:00 pm

You can't tell much about a bird by looking at its feathers

Featured story and activity:

Investigate the proverb “You can’t tell much about a bird by looking at its feathers,” in this Mexican folk tale about the cuckoo bird and her friends; and then explore the artistic tradition of Mexican papel picado or cut paper.

Location: Auditorium
Cost: FREE; first come, first served

Free Cookbooks for Your Kindle

Amazon is offering some free cookbooks for your Kindle:

• 50 Soups: Cooking in America
• Lisa Churchwood's Cocktails: Signature Drinks
• Cooking Simply: The Italian Way!

For the Locals: Jazz Music Release Party at Belmont Mansion

When: July 21, 2011 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Cost: Free
Where: Belmont Mansion, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37212
Phone: 615-460-5459

Belmont Mansion is getting jazzy with it.

On July 21, local record label Music City Jazz and several of Nashville’s top jazz musicians celebrate their new album, “Jazz of Music City…1,” with a CD release party at Belmont Mansion.

Released in January, “Jazz of Music City…1” is what one critic calls a “blockbuster collection of original jazz pieces.”

The CD is receiving national airplay. It has been featured on “New Urban Jazz,” a national jazz radio program, received local support from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and jazz radio station WFSK 88.1 FM. In addition, jazz stations in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Birmingham and other cities have played music from this exciting new CD.

Other stations have commented: “There is so much good music on one CD” and “Thank you for turning us on the great jazz in Nashville.”

“Jazz of Music City…1” showcases the talents of ten of Nashville’s top jazz musicians: Michael Fair, Denny Jiosa, Pattie Cossentino, Thomas Cain, Joe Johnson, Karlton Taylor, Jim Williams, Steve Roper, Kenny Zarider and Moe Denham.

Some of these musicians will be signing CDs at the release party, held in Belmont Mansion’s grand salon, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 21.

The CD release party is free and open to the public. There will be live jazz and refreshments.

Save-A-Lot Deals

Good through July 30th

Fresh Chicken Wings Family Pack, 1.49 per lb

Yellow Onions, 3 lbs, 1.49

Cucumbers, 2 for .88

Green Peppers, 2 for .88

Tomatoes, .99 per lb

Russet Potatoes, 5 lb bag, 1.99

Cool Aid Packets, 10 for $1.00

Popsicle or Fudgsicle, 8 ct, $1.00

Pancake Syrup (store brand), 12 oz, .99

Menu Plan Monday 7/18/2011

Monday: Fast Food (Webelos Pool Party)
Tuesday: Sausage with Peppers & Onions, Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday: Corned Beef & Cabbage
Thursday: Hamburgers & Baked Beans
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Oven Fried Chicken & Broccoli Salad
Sunday: Black Beans & Rice

For the Locals: Franklin's Ghost Tours

I have lived in the area most of my life and in Franklin specifically for the last seven years. I knew there were Ghost Tours but had not been on one until tonight. In the back of my mind I thought that it was probably seldom used by locals and visitors and thought it would be difficult planning a tour in July. That is furthest from the truth. Little did I know the draw of ghosts in one of the oldest small towns in the South. Myself, my husband, three kids and five other family members met up with others at the old courthouse for the tour which we purchased online. It turns out that there were numerous tours going on at the same time with full groups and group leaders dressed in period costumes.

It's not cheap, $18 for adults and $5 for children, but boy, was it worth the price. It was fascinating. Our leader said that Franklin is "teaming" with ghosts and could have gone on for hours. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the history that you learn on the tour will change the way you look at Franklin forever.

Awesome New Recipe Site!

Check out Gojee. This is an awesome new recipe site! You have to sign up, but it is free. You plug in the ingredients that you have and it will pull recipes. Wait, that's not all! You can also tell it ingredients that you hate for all future reference. And you can link your grocery store rewards cards for it to keep track of what you have on hand! How cool is that?

Link Love: Back to School Tax Free Weekend Dates

Moms Need to Know has a great list of states' tax free back to school weekend dates. Tennessee's is August 5-7!

Need Some Free Music to Enjoy During This Miserable Heat?

I don't know about you, but it is miserably hot here in Tennessee. To make the drive to work in my baking steel capsule a little more pleasurable, I've found some new free tunes!

Free album, Oh My by Sean Fornier
Heart of Everyone, Bella Ruse
Almost Said Sorry, Sarah Carmody
The Way We Get By, Spoon
Icarus, Bastille
14 Tracks from Spin Magazine's July Issue
7 Tracks offered as part of the "Dave Matthews Band Caravan Sampler," including a track each from the Dave Matthews Band and O.A.R.

Menu Plan Monday 7/11/2011

Monday: Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Dump Chicken, Zucchini and Milk & Honey Bread
Tuesday: Mexican Enchilada Casserole with Black Beans
Wednesday: Reuben Casserole
Thursday: Greek Pasta Salad
Friday: Turkey Meatballs & Vegetables
Saturday: Crockpot Corned Beef & Cabbage
Sunday: Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Link Love: The College Degrees You Should Have Gotten

If you have kids who have yet to chose a career, you may want to read this article, The College Degrees You Should Have Gotten. It gives some great clues to jobs in demand and what you can expect to earn at them.

Harris Teeter Trip & Free Lunch Meat

It was a great trip for lunch meat and pet food!



2 Alpo Dog Food Cans, regularly .99, on sale .75
- BOGO Harris Teeter Catalina MF Q (subtracted .99)
Final Price: .26

2 Purina Puppy Chow, $17.49 BOGO
-(2) $2 off Purina dog chow dog or puppy chow food printable
Final Price: 6.75 ea

2 Purina Dog Chow, $16.99 BOGO
-(2) $2 off Purina Dog Chow printable
Final Price: 6.50 ea

3 Oscar Mayer Deli Shaved Meat, on sale 3.50 ea
-(3) $2/1 H.T. Peelie
Final Price: 1.50 ea

H.T. Ground Beef, 3.92

6 Buddig Lunch Meet (various flavors), on sale $1.oo
-(6) .55/1 MF Q peelie (found on product today), doubled
Final Price: Free

2 Sarah Lee Roast Turkey Lunch Meat, regularly 4.99, on sale 4.00
-(2) $3/1 H.T. Peelies
Final Price: $1.00 ea

- $5/$40 Publix Coupon from homemailer

Total before sales/coupons: 111.92
Sales: 43.51
Coupons: 32.99
OOP: 36.42 (Saving 67%)
Received: $2 OYNO Catalina for purchasing Oscar Mayer products

For the Locals: Princess Diaries Author Signing at Nashville Library

Author Talk and Book Signing: Meg Cabot

Location: Nashville Public Library
Date: Thursday, July 7, 2011
Time: 6:15 pm
Price: Free
Event Website

Author of Overbite (July 2011). Cabot is the author of the beloved Princess Diaries series for teens. This new novel is aimed at adults and is the sequel to Insatiable. Reception, author talk, and book signing.

Allegro Classical Summer 2011 Sampler Free at Amazon

The Amazon is offering downloads of the Allegro Classical Summer 2011 MP3 Sampler for free! If you like classical music you should check it out.

Menu Plan Monday 7/4/2011

Monday: Grill Out
Tuesday: Meatless Taco Soup (crockpot)
Wednesday: Chicken Quesadillas
Thursday: Split Pea Soup & Pumpkin Yeast Bread
Friday: Blueberry Chicken Salad
Saturday: Beef & Cabbage Bake
Sunday: Black Bean Chili

Blueberry Chicken Salad

Tastes great and it is healthy!

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 carton (6 ounces) lemon yogurt
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
Bibb lettuce leaves, optional

Directions:

Set aside a few blueberries for garnish. In large bowl, gently combine the chicken, celery, red pepper, onions and remaining blueberries. Combine the yogurt, mayo and salt; drizzle over chicken mixture and gently toss to coat. Serve on bread or lettuce.

Happy Fourth of July!!

Hope you have a great July 4th!