Canning Food For Winter

Canning food has been another passion of mine. I love to grow fruits and vegetables in the summer and enjoy them all winter long. Thanks Nana and G'pa for all you guys have taught me.

I haven't talked much about my grandparents but all my thanks go to them. My great grandfather, Mr. Boyles, taught me to garden when I was 10 years old. At age 11 I grew a 3 lb. tomato and my G'pa took me to the local newspaper. They took my picture and wrote a little story about future gardeners. G'pa's daughter, my Nana, Mrs. Bailey, has taught me a lot about canning. She is now 83 and going strong. I love learning new things from her. She is so full of knowledge. Thanks Nana.

That is how TwoBGardening was born. The Two B's are for Bailey and Boyles.

Black Bean Chili

Chili is so good on cold days. It warms your heart and soul. Even though it is 70 degrees here in central Virginia, winter is coming.

Black Bean Chili:

3 cups kidney beans
2 cups black beans
1 lb. hamburger
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato paste
1 medium green pepper-diced
1 medium red pepper- diced
1 medium onion- finely chopped
1 tsp. cloves
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. minced garlic

Brown hamburger in skillet. Chop red pepper, green pepper and onion. Pour all ingredients into a large crock-pot. I put the cloves in a tea strainer and hung on the side of the crock-pot, so the flavors would mix, but not have cloves all mixed in with my chili. Cook on high for 5-6 hours.

If using dried beans, soak in water the day before and precook before adding to crock-pot. Otherwise you will have undercooked beans.

Make up a pan of cornbread and Enjoy!!!

Time to Celebrate!!!!!

Good morning everybody. Our inspection is over with. There were 100 questions on the audit and we scored a 97, YEAH!!! Now that that is over with it's back to blogging.

These last few weeks have been crazy for my home life and work life. I have been putting in a lot of hours at work and it has shown on my house. I haven't felt like cleaning my house with all the cleaning going on at work. But today that is changing. Watch out Mr. Clean, here I come.

I have also slacked on cooking. I had prepared meals in the freezer for times like this but was to tired to even cook them. So needless to say we ate out three days in a row (bad mommy). My daughter had no complaints, she likes fast food. We are tightening our belts and back to frugalness.

Busy As A Bee

These last few weeks have been crazy at my job. We are having an audit tomorrow and have been buzzing like bees. Clean this, paint this, wash this. I have put in 54 hours this week and have to be back at work at 9am to finish the cleaning list for the audit at 1pm. I couldn't have done it without my great sister, also my assistant manager, Kristy and Krystal my other side kick. Thanks girls for all your work.
Hopefully I will be back to blogger more this week. After I clean my house, that has been put on hold also.

Red Hot Candy Applesauce

Pretty In Pink!


This recipe has a nice spice flavor to it. All you need is some apples, red hot candies, and some sugar.

14 medium size apples
1 cup red hot candies
2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Peel and core your apples, slice them thin. Combine 1 cup red hot candies, apples and water in large pot. Cook until apples are tender and mushy. Remove from heat. Using your hand mixer, blend up apples in pot until smooth. Add 2 cups of sugar. Freeze in bags or can in jars. Enjoy!!

CVS deals week of 10/17

Time to stock up on the Halloween candy at CVS this week. Fun Size bags are on sale for 2/$5.00, scan your CVS card at the price checker for a $1.00 off 2 bags.
Here are some things I picked up today:

Butter finger 12.5 oz bag $2.50 (used $1.00 off coupon-from price checker)
Resse peanut butter cups 10.5oz bag $2.50 (used $1.00/2 coupon-from price checker)
Kit Kat 10oz bag $2.50 (used $1.00/2 coupon)
10 pack of Duracell batteries $5.99 (used $0.75 coupon)
Two Mentos Gum $1.79 - Buy One Get One Free (used 2-$1.00 SS 10/3)
Schick Hydro 3 razor $8.99- $5 ECBS ( used $4 SS10/3)

Final out of pocket cost= $11.30 plus $5 ECB

Check out Madame Deals for a full list of this week specials.

Teaching Your Kids About Saving

Teaching your kids to save money can start at any age. Most of you know that I keep my two nieces on Wednesday's, so I always have a project for us to do. Most of the time it is cooking. They love to cook.

The other day when I was doing my regular daily reading on Money Saving Mom, I found a new blog. I can teach my child has great ideas for kids of all ages.

After a little digging around her site I found the "Save, Give, Spend Bank". My nieces had so much fun making their banks. I gave each of them 3 dimes, 3 nickels and 3 pennies for their banks. They loved hearing the "clink" sound when the money hit the jars. Krista, the almost 5 year old, is excited about the "spend" jar.

Next week I think we are going to do the "I spy activity bottle".