One Tired Mom

One Tired Mom is dedicated to not only the Mothers, but also the Fathers, who have the tireless task of taking care of their families. We will share recipes, parenting tips, articles on making our lives easier and more fulfilling, and even have some ideas on making more money - and who doesn't need that nowadays! This will be an ongoing labor of love, and I would appreciate any suggestions and participation you care to give.

Here is to the Parents, and the families that love them!

The Top picture is Me, the bottom picture is my son and his family (Brad, April and Ethan). Ethan is also shown below, upclose and beautiful!

My oldest daughter, Danae, hard at work on her Bachelors in Juvenile Psychology!

My youngest daughter, Maggie, face painted for 8th Grade Day. Can't believe she will be a FRESHMAN this next school year!

A Girl and her Grill!! Lisa will be at the Farmer's Market in Hoschton, GA on Saturdays. Cooking demonstrations and great recipes! Highway 53.

BUDGET MEAL OF THE WEEK - These recipes will help you stretch your Food Budget. We welcome reader's suggestions. Recipes feed 4 unless otherwise noted.

Chicken Squares, based on a Bake-off winner from nearly 30 yrs. ago. Easy!

You can use canned or cooked chicken. I use 1 large can chicken (from Costco), 4 oz cream cheese, dried onion flakes, 1 T mayo & dried dill weed, to taste. Combine all. Unroll 1 tube of crescent rolls; pinch 2 triangles into a square. Place 1/4 of the chicken mixture in the middle of each square. Bring the 4 corners together, pinch together and twist slightly. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with Italian bread crumbs. Bake @ 375 until golden brown.

Mexican Cornbread - it's quick and easy, and the family will love it.

1 or 2 POUNDS OF GROUND BEEF (depends on how many people you feed)

3 BOXES OR CORN MIX

1 BAG OF SARGENTO SHREEDED CHEESE

1 CAN OF SALSA (choice)

Heat the oven to about 350 F.

Fry your meat in the pan let it drain when you finished cooking it.

Mix you corn bread mix together as it says on the box.

Put you meat in a casserole dish (made for ovens).

Add salsa and cheese and put your muffin mix on the top, cook till the bread is nice and brownish.

And there you have Mexican corn bread.

BREAD PUDDING

5 slices white bread, crusts trimmed

4 tablespoons softened butter

1/2 cup raisins

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 cups milk

2/3 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly butter a shallow 12x8x2-inch baking dish. Butter bread slices generously with the butter. Cut each slice into 4 squares. Sprinkle raisins over the bottom of the prepared baking dish then arrange bread squares, buttered side up, over raisins. Sprinkle bread with the cinnamon.

In a saucepan, heat milk just until bubbles form around edge; remove from heat. Add sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

In a large bowl, beat eggs; stir in hot milk mixture then stir in vanilla. Pour over bread in baking dish. Set baking dish in a larger baking pan then add about 1/2 to 1 inch of very hot water to the larger pan. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove baking dish from the larger pan of water and let cool for about 15 minutes before serving. Can be served warm or cold. Refrigerate unused portion. Bread pudding recipe makes 8 servings.

Cream Cheese Squares with Crescent Rolls - delicious, warm or cold.

2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese1 cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup margarine, melted1/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Unroll and press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan.In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Spread over the crescent layer. Unroll the second can of crescent rolls and lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down. Pour the melted margarine over the entire pan. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture over the top.