Fresh Salsa

One of my favorite ways to remember the taste of summer is making a ton of fresh salsa. This freezes very well and is a delightful treat to pull out of the freezer in the middle of winter!

Ingredients
4 cups of chopped tomatoes
1 small onion
1/2 bell pepper
2 jalapeños (seeded)
2 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp cilantro
1 tsp black pepper or to taste
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1 tsp cumin or to taste
splash of lemon or lime juice

Combine all ingredients in food processor. Chop to desired thickness. I prefer mine mostly smooth.
Store in jars in the refrigerator, can, or freeze.

Baby & Toddler Freebies

I probably shouldn't publish this but I do get a lot of gifts for the babies and toddlers in my life for free.  Here is a list of some sites with freebies:

American Baby Magazine:
Sign up for this magazine and you'll get some freebies in the mail along with this free magazine subscription.

Gerber Generation - definitely coupons here, but I don't think any samples or freebies

Using formula?
Similac:
They'll send you free samples and high dollar coupons.
Enfamil:
This should be free samples and coupons also.

Disposable diapers & wipes:
These are rewards programs where you earn points for each purchase by entering a code off the package.  The points are redeemable for different items like toys or gift certificates on the site.
Pampers - like their facebook page also for occasional free codes

Huggies - they don't give out as many free codes as pampers, from what I've seen

This is a good site to follow for codes, as well as freebies and deals in general - MoneySavingMom.com.

This isn't a freebie site, well not really, but you should definitely sign up for Swagbucks and use it as your search engine.  You get occasional "bucks" for searches as well as for doing other things on the site like watching videos, playing games, surveys, etc... Take those "bucks" you have saved up and redeem them for gift cards.  The best value is the Amazon gift cards.  You can get a ton of baby stuff on Amazon.  I earned over $150 in Amazon gift cards just last year and it pretty much paid for my Christmas gifts.  All I do is search, daily poll and the NOSO every day.  I do watch the occasional video on there also.

Birthday Freebies

Well it's my birthday week, so my email box is filled with birthday freebies.  Many people have asked where and what do I sign up for to get them.  Here is a starting list of freebies I might to use, if I haven't already.  I am still expecting a couple more to come in.

Free - no strings attached:
Each location may have their own requirements for coupon use. These emails didn't specify a purchase required.

• Houlihan's - Free entree (up to $15)
• The Bristol - Free entree (up to $25 - this is a card mailed to you)
• Santa Fe Cafe - Free entree (up to $7 - I signed up for the emails in the restaurant)
• Caribou Coffee - Free medium drink (can show email on smart phone)
• Krispy Kreme - Free doughnut & small coffee or fountain drink
• BD's Mongolian Grill - Free stir-fry meal
• First Watch - Free entree
• Ben & Jerry's - Free single scoop & $3 off a cake
• Noodles & Co - Free bowl (up to $9)
• Baskin Robbins - Free scoop
• Buffalo Wild Wings - Free chocolate fudge cake or a scoop of ice cream
• Ted's Montana Grill - Free dessert (no longer in KC area)
• California Pizza Kitchen - Free dessert
• IHOP - Free rooty tooty fresh n fruity or entree of equal value 
• Macaroni Grill - Free dessert
• Buca di Beppo - Free birthday brownie sundae

Purchase Required freebies:

• Zarda - Buy 1 Meal Deal (#1-6), get 1 free
• Arby's - Free 12oz shake with any purchase
• Pretzel Maker - Free small pretzel bites with drink purchase
• Jason's Deli - $5 off any item
• Sweet Tomatoes - Buy 1 adult meal, get 1 free
• Mestizo - Free dessert with entree purchase
• Red Lobster - $5 off 2 adult entrees
• Texas Roadhouse - Free appetizer or sidekick of ribs with entree purchase
• Cold Stone - Buy 1 creation, get 1 free
• McAlister's Deli - $5 off any meal
• Mimi's Cafe - Buy 1 entree & 2 drinks, get 1 free
• Ruby Tuesday's - Free blondie or 2 gourmet cupcakes with entree purchase (this used to be a free burger)
• Famous Dave's - Buy 1 entree, get 1 free (up to $15)
• Fox and Hound - Buy 1 entree, get 1 free
• On the Border - Free brownie sundae or bowl of queso with entree purchase
• Granite City - Free dessert with entree purchase
• Paulo & Bill's - Buy 1 entree, get 1 free (up to $25)
• Taco Bueno - Free cheesecake chimichangas with platter or combo purchase
• Lone Star Steakhouse - Free appetizer with entree purchase
• Melting Pot - Free box of 6 chocolate covered strawberries with purchase of 2 entrees & 2 cheese fondue

Walk-in freebies when you show your ID on your birthday only:

• Garozzo's - Free chicken spiedini 
• Firehouse Subs - Free medium sub
• Denny's - Free grandslam

Rewards Card Required:

• Starbucks - Free any drink
• Red Robin - Free burger
• Panera - Free pastry
• Bravo - Free entree

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

I love spaghetti squash and I was so excited to finally create a spaghetti squash dish that Ian would like and happily eat.  I set out to make this recipe from Tammy's Recipes, but did not have all the ingredients - so below is my adapted version.  I loved it so much, I had to write this recipe down now before I forgot it.  The next time I make it, I think I will serve it with my Pesto Meatballs.

Ingredients:
2 - medium sized spaghetti squashes
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
marinara (I used my homemade sauce - recipe below)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsley
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:
Pierce spaghetti squash several times around with a knife (8-10 times around the middle). This provides ventilation as it cooks in the microwave - we don't want it to explode.  I found I can place the two squash on one large dinner plate together and cook in the microwave at the same time.  Cook for 20 minutes.
While squash is cooking prepare marinara. When squash is finished cooking, remove from microwave and let sit 5 minutes or so.  It will be very hot.  Then, slice each squash in half and discard seeds inside.
Next, place cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and place in microwave for 1 minute to soften.  Now mix in the sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, parsley and pepper.
Now fork out the spaghetti squash strands into the cream cheese mixture.  Mix thoroughly.  Pour into a prepared 9x12 baking dish, making a smooth layer.  Top with half (1 cup) of the mozzarella.  Layer the marinara on top and finish with the remaining mozzarella.
Cook for 20-25 minutes at 400.  Then finish for 5 minutes at 425, or quickly broil to make cheese brown and bubbly.

Homemade Marinara
Ingredients:

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 onion chopped

1 heaping tablespoon of minced garlic or about 3-4 cloves

32 oz can of whole (drained) or crushed tomatoes

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 cup of sliced olives

4-8 artichoke heart halves/quarters marinated in oil

Instructions:

In a medium sized sauce pan, saute the onion for 2 minutes on medium heat.  Then add the minced garlic for another few minutes.  You want the onions to begin to become translucent and the garlic to slightly brown.  Next, add the can of tomatoes, basil, oregano, black pepper, honey, garlic powder and onion powder and mix throughly.  If you use whole tomatoes, you'll either need to blend them before adding to the pan or use an immersion blender at this step.

Now add whatever ingredients you want.  I always add olives and artichoke hearts.  It is also delicious with sun dried tomatoes and capers.

Boil for a minute or two and then simmer until ready to use.  Sauce will thicken, if very liquidly, just simmer longer.