Is there a coupon for that?

I have the next 2 weeks off of work before school starts. When I first found out, I felt kind of worthless, because that's just 2 more weeks without me providing any financial income to our marriage. HOWEVER, I've been cleaning this mess of an apartment and grocery shopping and cooking like a good little housewife! :)

Last night I made us some delicious cheesesteak sandwiches. Tender steak, mushrooms, onions, sherry wine, worchestershire sauce, and cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese! Ryan rated them better than anything I've previously made EXCEPT for the mind-blowing meatballs. Haha! I asked him at lunch today if he wanted me to get stuff for more meatballs when I go grocery shopping tonight and he was like, "um of COURSE!" Silly boy.

I've been meaning to ask my wonderful mother in law for some of his favorite recipes that she makes. I might give her a holler soon. :)

I really do enjoy grocery shopping and cooking and all that jazz, but what makes it all even more fun is COUPONS! No, I'm not an "extreme couponer"... I don't have enough time to invest in that. However, I DO clip coupons out of the Sunday paper and that little insert they send you in the mail once a week. We rarely shop at Albertsons (even though it's across the street from our apartment complex) because it's usually REALLY overpriced compared to Wal Mart or HEB. This being said, last week I clipped some Albertsons store coupons, and got about $16 worth of groceries for something like $6.78. I was really impressed with myself. Granted, it was only 2 bags of groceries and not a big trip, I saved some money and got us some name brand food items for cheaper than the bargain prices! :)

I think I'm getting the hang of it!

After a handful of attempts at the "perfect meal" for my husband and myself, I think I've finally found the recipe! It's hilarious, really, because it's SO simple. Meatballs. I'm not even a huge fan of meatballs... but I sure did surprise myself with this dish.

I remember telling Ryan, close to tears, the other night that "I'm just a terrible cook... I'll never get the hang of this... I just want you to genuinely enjoy a meal that I cook for you... and don't you dare pretend that you like something you don't!"

We woke up on Sunday morning, and I told him that I was going to try this seemingly easy meatball recipe I found on the internet. He asked what was in the sauce that I was going to put on them, and I told him: Heinz Chili Sauce and grape jelly. I wish you could have seen his face when he heard the "grape jelly" part. I could tell he was very suspicious of the whole idea.

When I got home from church, Ryan was at work (he doesn't get off until 6pm on Sundays), and I decided to make the meatballs from scratch. Time consuming, but easy enough. I took 1 lb of ground beef and mixed it (by hand) with 1 lb of ground pork. I then added 2 cups of seasoned breadcrumbs and 2 eggs (that's the messy, but fun part of the whole mixing!). I then made meatballs from the mix and browned them in a skillet and put them in the crock pot.

After I had made all the meatballs, I took the 12 oz bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce and whisked it together with an 18 oz jar of grape jelly and poured the mixture over the top of the meatballs and cooked them on low for 4-5 hours (for the last 30 minutes or so I had the crock pot on warm).

I then made mashed potatoes to complete the meal, and had it all on the table for Ryan when he got home.

He loved it! I really didn't expect him to. I mean, I thought they were tasty, but he was using adjectives like "delicious". I asked him if the meatballs were something he'd like for me to make for our next party and he looked at me like I was crazy and said "These are too good to share. When you make them again, I want the whole thing to myself."

Needless to say, my heart smiled a little... and I hope I'm out of my terrible cooking rut. I know it all comes with experience, and I don't have the most of it... but it really is fun trying... especially when my husband enjoys the end result!