Homemade Greek Gyros-Better then Restaurants

Good Afternoon all,  I starting a little early for Wednesday's post.  I've decided to which around every once in awhile on the food recipes.  I love the murder mystery stuff but I wanted to share some my families favorites with you (accept the chili my son is adamant that's a family secret recipe).  I have been on a food quest so to speak.  I have been looking for recipes that match my favorite restaurant recipes i.e. Mongolian beef, gyros, pot stickers and pasta fagioli.  So far I've found the first two still working on the pot stickers and the pasta fagioli.  The gyro recipe came from Taste of Home which I altered because it had some things I did not like in my gyro.  This version is very healthy no lamb just ground turkey.  It is very yummy.  So here are the ingredients you'll need to make it.

1 lb. ground turkey

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 cups sour cream

3 Tbsp mayonnaise

2 Tbsp prepared ranch salad dressing

1 small tomato chopped (notice I didn't use tomato boys will not eat it)

1/3 cup chopped cucumber (you can slice them and not put them in the sauce but put them in the pita instead)

4 pita breads (6 in) halved and warmed

Shredded lettuce ( I use preshredded in a bag because can't stand for lone periods of time).

Now your ready to cook your gyro.  Get a nice large pot, I like my dutch oven.  Brown meat, onions and salt together in pot.  Cook until no longer pink and drain.  Note you don't have to add any oil to the pot.

Next you can mix your wet ingredients together, the mayonnaise, sour cream and salad dressing.  This is up to you.  You can place the cucumbers and tomatoes in the sauce or hold off and put in the pita pocket after you put your lettuce in the gyro.  Layer your gyro with lettuce, cucumber, meat mixture and sauce and your done.  It tastes just like the Greek restaurant down the street.

Ode to Coffee Plus Savings

Coffee, the magic elixir that awakens millions of people everyday. It's a ritual that began decades ago that coffee was the go to drink for breakfast.  Because let's face it where do you go when your in a rush in the morning to get something to eat--McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts and what do you buy with the food-- Coffee. Coffee that magic legal elixir that helps wake us up.  How many people wake up without the help of coffee.   I would say not many can wake up without assistance.  I look forward to my first cup in the morning especially when Frankie as  3am yowl fest.  Some researchers out there suggest coffee can help prevent heart disease, cancer and even depression.  But they still suggest you drink it in moderation.  Because to much of a good thing becomes a bad thing.  So kick back and enjoy your coffee.  I especially like the different flavors of coffee.  I look forward to hearing Conor say, Mom it smells like Christmas in here. Because of the Dunkin Donuts Coffee Mocha Mint flavor only available for the holidays.  Oh yummy nothing better then chocolate and coffee combined.


Here's some extra goodies for you.

Seattle's Best Coffee like their FB  page and get a $1 off coupon
A lot of k-cup coupons are available on coupons.com
Starbucks has new reward program buy bags with codes and be able to get a free bag--Pumpkin Spice is now available.

Want to win coffee for a year check out Greenmountaincoffee.com you can win coffee and other prizes.

Rebel Keep All Humans On Leashes

Meowy morning all,  I'm taking over the post this morning.  I'm so mad at mom.  She left me alone for hours again.  Yes, she did leave the radio on and put my blankie and pillow in my favorite chair in the living room, but I don't like being left alone.  I knew it was coming she said she had to go to the VA.  Every time she goes to that place she's gone all day.  I think its some kind of Human Vet.  She was happy the Human Vet said she could have the new pills no more of those thorns in her thighs.  She calls them needles they look like giant thorns to me. Why do our humans do these things to themselves?  I say we should rebel against being left alone all day.  Unite and keep our humans on leashes.

I can't sleep without my blankie  

Does this picture make my feet look to big

Hide and Go Seek she'll never find me in here.

Okay here are some tips and contest I found for the week.  Check all your friskies can's they are recyclable aluminum.  So don't throw them away.

Attention all DIYer's Dollar Tree is having a sweepstakes for Best Video Tutorial on Craft Project top prize $300 gift card go check it out www.dollartree.com.

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Thrifty Halloween Finds

Good Morning all,  I finally got to go check out the Halloween things at the local thrift shop.  You don't have to blow up the bank account to get really cute Halloween decorations.  I now have a lovely centerpiece on my dining room table much to Frankie's horror.  He kept knocking it down.  Here's what I got.

A cornucopia basket--$2.50

2 poison Halloween bottles--$1 each at dollar tree

1 stuffed Halloween cat--$1

3 pumpkins--$.50 each

6 Halloween figurines--$1 for the entire bag

Here's a picture of it all put together.

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I got to play with my rolling pin today-easy sour cream biscuits

Good Afternoon all,  Its been a busy day today.  We have another recipe from the novels of Laura Child's. This is called "Eggs In Purgatory".  The stories revolve around the women of the Cackle berry Club.  A type of diner and place where the townsfolk meet up at least once a day.  It's the place to get the latest gossip as well as a good breakfast. Beside murder the books have a lot of breakfast recipes.  Today's recipe can be eaten any time of day.  We are cooking southern style easy sour cream biscuits. So here we go.

You will need 2 cups self rising flour

                      1/2 teaspoon salt

                      12 ounces of sour cream I added a little more in mine

Mix all your ingredients together I used a large spoon to help the process

Form the dough into a large ball.

You can put on a floured cutting board or do what I did and lay out wax paper with flour on it.

Before using the rolling pin rub flour on it makes it less likely to stick.

Roll out the dough to 1 inch thickness.

Cut out biscuits using 2 inch cutter or if you don't have one use a small cup to cut them out.

Place on a greased cookie sheet.  I used joy baking spray.

Set your oven to 425 and cook for 12 minutes or until brown (mine took a little longer then 12 minutes plus I put butter on the tops to help brown them).

More than 50% off Office Supply at CVS

It's been a busy day all.  I ran to CVS with the 25% off shopping pass and last weeks 25% off coupon I sent to my card on Sunday.  I also found a $3/$15 coupon and I desperately needed ink cartridge for of course printing my coupons.  So here's the break down see what you can do because those two 25% off coupons can be combined.

1 Canon Color Ink Cartridge               $30.99

Saved total of                                      $17.75

Out of Pocket                                     $14.30

So check and see what you need and go save at CVS  don't you just love this place.

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Teens, Driving and Alternative Forms of Transportation

Good Morning All,  I wanted to talk about the right of passage for all teenagers learning how to drive. Kyle will celebrate his 18th birthday this month. Oh my god they grow up so fast. Well he's had his drivers education but I feel that's never enough. When I was younger and learning how to drive, my father took me out and had me drive in  large shopping mall parking lots in the morning to practice.  We would go out to old country roads and let me drive.  At this time I don't have a car, so unfortunately he has to wait.  Yes, I know about the driving schools which I will send him to for more practice.  Because everyone should know how to drive.  But this got me to thinking in this day and age how do people get around. Especially when your in college just starting out.
First off,  we have how everyone gets around walking.  It's the easiest built in thing to do, just get up and go.  But that's if everything is close to where your living.  I live in a suburb and everything pretty close.  Shopping is not bad I came across a little shopping cart I got for free from a yard sale.  My knee is not bad for short walks as long as I have my cane.  I'm good to go.
Second, what if everything is not close.  The metro buses are really good.  You can get a monthly pass for a good rate.  Think of it this way your not paying for insurance or gas.  The price of a monthly pass is comparable to having to pay for the necessities of a car.
Third,  we have light rail.  I just started riding the train.  I love it.  The price is not bad and it gets you pretty close to where your going.
Fourth, if your disabled their are services available.  Para transit and Dial-a-ride are available.  Dial-a-Ride is pretty pricey in my area $4 each way.  I'm not sure about para transit but they pick you up at your door and take you to where you have to go and then come and get you when your done.
Fifth,  theirs the zip car. I came across this on an Internet Search. You can rent a car for a couple of hours. You don't have to have it all day. Just for the amount of time you need it. Something to check into if you already have your license.
Sixth, if your a veteran their are services available.  If you have appointments at the VA hospital they offer a car service. You just need to check with your VA hospital and see if they have it available. They take you to your VA hospital appointments.  I like it I don't have to ride the train or the bus.

These are just a few ways of getting around .  How do you get around without a car?