This one is an easy one to make. It is my version of a Spaghetti Carbonara.  Even though I use I use Spaghetti instead of Ramen noodles,  some of my friends call it Ale Ramen since it is so simple and quick to make…

1 box Spaghetti
4-6 slices of bacon
2-3 eggs
1 C shredded cheese (I use a mix of  Parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar)
Salt and Pepper
Green Onions (optional)

Cook pasta as instructed on the package. While pasta is cooking:  Cut bacon into small pieces and fry them in a large frying pan.  If there is too much fat, drain it out. You want a little bit of the fat though.

When pasta is cooked, add it to the frying pan and let it mix with the bacon.  Quickly add eggs and cheese. Mix well.

Do not cook it for too long, just enough to cook eggs and melt cheese a little.  This will prevent it from being too dry.   Taste for salt and pepper. Add a little bit of cut green onions on top.

We like to serve this with a side of steamed vegetables or a salad.

In Brazil, we celebrate Christmas late at night on Christmas Eve.  I remember trying to stay awake for dinner and being so excited that as soon as midnight hit, I could open my presents.   Christmas dinner is a serious meal 😀  We call it “ceia de Natal”. Usually, you will find different types of rice, farofas, turkey, ham, pernil (pork shoulder), salads, fruits and a lot of friends and family around (so you can eat all this food).

Going back to the Rabanada, this traditional Brazilian treat is very well known in the US as French Toast.  My mom would sometimes “spoil” our dinner with Rabanada, as we kids just couldn’t wait for the late night eating.  Rabanada is usually served as a Christmas dessert amongst many other delicious treats, flans, cakes, etc. The word Rabanada literally means “blown tail”. (Such a weird name.) We make this using day old French bread, which is soaked in a egg and milk mixture, then fried and lastly sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.  Different from the United States, Brasilians don’t use maple syrup.  Some people will make a Port wine syrup to drizzle on top of the Rabanada. I have never done this. The sweet bread is fine by itself!

Hope you like it:

French Bread (sliced)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 c milk

3 eggs

oil or butter to fry

1/2 c sugar

1/4 c cinnamon

Mix the sweetened condensed milk, milk and eggs.  Soak the slices of bread in this mixture.  You may just want to get the bread wet instead of soaking it. It just depends how soggy you like your bread.  Fry the bread either in oil or butter. I much prefer butter (yeah not a healthy meal)!  You want the bread to get some color, it will take 2-3 minutes on each side. Mix the sugar and the cinnamon and sprinkle both sides of the bread with it. Generously!   Enjoy. I like to eat it warm.

Final Note: I have also seen some people bake the Rabanada instead of frying it.  For baking, you would use a baking dish, pour the milk mixture on top of the bread and bake until the liquid thickens.  It makes the bread a lot softer, but it will still taste good!

This is one of the most refreshing juices I remember from Brasil.  I also love the combination of the smell of the pineapple and the mint leaves.

1 1/2 c pineapple cut into chunks (tip: you can freeze the pineapple and have it ready for any time you want)

1 c cold water

1 T sweetened condensed milk

2 fresh mint leaves (you can use more if you want more mint taste)

Sugar to taste (I prefer to sweetened my juice with the sweetened condensed milk. Unless the pineapple is not sweet enough, I do not use any sugar)

Add all ingredients in a blender, and blend until liquid.  Strain the mixture and serve.  I like to decorate the cup with swirls of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cubes of ice, then pour the juice and add a couple leaves of mint! This will make about 2 cups of juice.

So refreshing… YUM

Smiths was having a double coupon event this week. I thought it would be fun to show you what I got from this sale.  The total cost before store sale and coupons was $116.44, then after the sale and coupons I paid a total of $19.22 (with tax) plus I got $4.00 in catalinas.  Catalina is used just like money on your next purchase, if we count that it was like paying $15.22 for $116.44 of products a 86.93 % savings…WOW

5 pkgs Martha White Muffin Mix Pouch

5 American Beauty Quick Cook Pasta

5 Bumble Bee Tuna Pouch

10 Carnation Evaporated Milk 12 oz (I love to use these to make ice cream)

1 Cuties 3lb. Bag

1 Hormel Pepperoni 8 oz

4 Hormel Pepperoni 3.5 oz

2 Solo Cups 30 ct

15 Kleenex Tissue 75-200 ct (we are ready for the cold season)

4 Bounty Paper Towels Singles

3 Pepperidge Farm Cookies (this is just what happens when I take my husband shopping with me)

Hope this gives you an idea of the type of savings you can having by shopping with coupons!  Thanks savvyshopperdeals.com for the amazing list.  If you have questions about coupon shopping let me know!