Chi-Annie: at the table!

Meal Plan Monday

2011-01-31T20:34:00.003-06:00

I love how organized I feel when I meal-plan! Nothing is more frustrating to me than reaching 5:00pm and not knowing what to make for dinner. For peace and order to be kept in my house, my meal plan must be in order.

Monday: Spaghetti with 3 Cheese Sweet Pepper Marinara
Tuesday: Pork Roast, mashed redskin potatoes, carrots
Wednesday: Chili, brats, corn
Thursday: Macaroni & Cheese, chicken ranch salad
Friday: Chicken Scampi, garlic bread, salad
Saturday: Swiss & Pot Roast slider melts with sauteed mushrooms, tossed fruit salad with apples and minneolas
Sunday:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, and toast
Sandwich of the week: Italian chicken salad sandwiches, turkey and swiss paninis
Dessert: Pumpkin Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese frosting

Meal Plan Monday

2011-01-24T21:22:00.003-06:00

Monday: Brats, hashbrowns, salad
Tuesday: Quesadillas, beans, salsa
Wednesday: Chicken and shrimp fajitas, beans, rice
Thursday: Oven roasted chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, corn, salad
Friday: Tortas and chips, fruit (whatever is in season and on sale)
Saturday: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread
Sunday: Dinner with the in-laws

Breakfast of the week: cereal, oatmeal, fruit, juice, toast
Lunch of the week: leftover navy bean soup, tostadas, sandwiches
Dessert of the week: Butter Cookies

Meal Plan Monday

2011-01-17T21:24:00.002-06:00

I feel much calmer and more organized when I've got my meal plan written out. With my fridge cleaned out and a good idea of the ingredients I have on hand - I'm ready to face the week, one dinner at a time.

Monday: leftover Navy Bean soup with white rice, biscuits, salad
Tuesday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, cinnamon apples
Wednesday: Spaghetti in a garlic marinara, Italian bread, salad
Thursday: Herb Roasted Chicken, rice, beans, roasted veggies
Friday: Chicken Carbonara sammies, orange and tangerine wedges
Saturday: Fajita night
Sunday: Tacos with all the fixin's, chips, salsa, and guacamole

Breakfast of the week: coffee cake, oatmeal, toast, fruit
Lunch of the week: navy bean soup, sandwiches, and empanadas
Dessert of the week: Frosted brownies

Back to Meal Planning

2011-01-09T20:14:00.003-06:00

It's been ages since I've posted here - so many changes in my life, I hardly know where to start! I've been laid off from my position at a non-for-profit organization. It's both a blessing and a curse. A blessing that I am no longer working longer and longer hours (which is why I stopped posting back in October), but it's a curse to be unemployed in this market.

I'm trying to get my bearings now that the holidays are behind us and I'm establishing a new routine. One thing that will keep me feeling more grounded is getting back to my meal planning. I hate looking at the clock and it's already 4pm and I haven't a clue what's for dinner. I need some semblance of organization to my life - even if it's just one meal at a time. I've got a great stockpile of ingredients to pull from and a full freezer so I'm all set to get back in my groove.

Monday: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, sliced Minneolas
Tuesday: Burgers, tater tots, salad
Wednesday: Tostadas, apple salsa, guacamole, and all the fixin's
Thursday: DH's night to cook
Friday: Flatbread Pizza, salad
Saturday: Bacon & Red Pepper omelets, sliced apples, bagels with Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
Sunday: Enchiladas, rice, and beans

Breakfast of the week: Oatmeal, bagels and cranberry cream cheese spread, or cereal
Lunch of the week: leftover ginger stirfry, navy bean soup, salad, or sammies

Dessert of the week: Frosted Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Big Coupon Issues at Target

2010-10-27T08:19:00.004-05:00

Please read the following post on Jill Cataldo's blog regarding Target's coupon scanning (or should I say scamming) practices.

I was stunned to here that Target's computers are programmed to allow them to adjust down manufacturer coupons and that Target has not addressed this issue.

One Year of Brownies!

2010-10-26T21:08:00.005-05:00

I got a little carried away with the $25/$10 General Mills/Betty Crocker and bought a few dozen boxes of brownie mix, for $.11 per box. While that was a great deal and I will be sharing generously with my friends and family, I decided to challenge myself a little. After all, basic brownies can get a little dull...so I'll be putting my spin on them.

One box, One year, and One Woman's Mission!

For 1 year, I will chronicle my adventures in brownie making - all with the help of Betty Crocker. I plan to make 50 different variations on the basic brownie, to showcase what a few basic ingredients can create. Creating great desserts doesn't have to mean spending money on expensive ingredients or toiling for hours in the kitchen.

I'll post a link to each recipe I use, as well as rate the overall recipe idea. My first batch will be Orange Soaked Cranberry Brownies. Why this combination? Because I was inspired when I saw someone soaking cranberries on a Food Network show some weeks ago and thought it was a good idea for some slightly dried out dried cranberries I had and orange juice was on sale this week. I've got tons of ideas for this project - I can't wait to dive in!

Stop by next week to see the latest variation on a basic boxed brownie.

Back to Basics: Meal Plan Monday

2010-10-25T20:08:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted, between crazy days at work and entering the busy season for my hubby and I - it's great that life is slowly winding down and I've got more time to post. I've still been meal planning, but I really miss having it all written down (or typed out) where I can refer to it - it makes life so much easier when I'm organized.

I've really stocked up during the recent catalina deals at Jewel - so variations on boxed brownie mix will be popping up a lot for our desserts. I'll link my recipe creations to each variation I come up with.

Monday: Tostadas with ground turkey (with minced peppers), minced onion, refried beans, and sour cream and salsa

Tuesday: Mozzarella stuffed meatball subs with marinara sauce, gourmet salad blend

Wednesday: Roasted Garlic Pork Tenderloin, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, applesauce

Thursday: Mushroom & swiss burgers, Autumn Salad

Friday: BBQ pork fried rice, sesame chicken

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, Oatmeal, and Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Dessert of the week: Orange Soaked Cranberry Brownies

Anniversary Celebrations

2010-09-21T08:25:00.004-05:00

We are entering into anniversary season (at least in my small neck of the woods). Tomorrow is the 8th anniversary of my first date with my hubby. I still can't believe 8 years has flown by so fast! We'll be scrapping Wednesday's dinner plans in favor of a semi-recreation of what we did on our first date.

For our first date, we went to a movie, then shared appetizers at a nearby cafe, and sat in his car talking almost until sunrise. I remember it like it was yesterday. When I finally got home, I knew I had met my future husband. It was crazy, but 8 short- and sometimes crazy - years later I was right.

Unlike in our younger, slightly more foolish years, this year we will celebrate the anniversary at home with a favorite movie and we'll make quesadillas and chicken strips together. I love cooking with my hubby, and this will help us save some money, since we have a week long vacation next month to ring our 5 wedding anniversary. We have not taken a weeklong trip together since our honeymoon, so I think we're long overdue.

For our 5th anniversary, I initially wanted to go to Jamaica (or some other tropical, exotic, fabulous place), but after careful consideration, we'll be staying stateside (and supporting the U.S. tourism industry!) and travelling to The North East Coast. I have never seen the East, so I am crazy-excited to go, especially in the fall it should be beautiful. All of our deal shopping, bargain hunting, penny pinching ways have paid off. We'll fly into a cheaper airport and rent a car and drive to our final destination, much like we did when we went on our honeymoon. There, we actually flew into one city, caught a taxi to the ferry, a ferry ride to the island where we were staying, and a taxi again to the resort. Even with all that, we still managed to save a few hundred dollars by being willing to fly into a different airport.

Over the next week or two, I'll start making my list of places to go on our vacation, checking restaurant prices, and researching the cost of all activities. Even on vacation, we are frugal. And that's perfectly okay with me. I get to see an extra destination because the direct flight to our destination is ridiculously expensive - let's say it's cheaper to fly to Jamaica than to another U.S. city. Isn't that strange?

Tell me - what budget savvy travel tips do you hold true to?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-09-20T07:51:00.002-05:00

I love weekends that are laid back and lazy, but it's not easy going in to work in the morning after that. The good news: I've got a fridge full of precooked pork (chops and roast) which I'll be basing many of our meals around and half a pot of Navy Bean Soup that my mom shared with me. Meal planning should be easy, but need to make sure we take a break from the pork at least twice.

Monday: DH's cooking dinner
Tuesday: Burritos con Carnitas with rice and quesadilla cheese, refried beans (frijoles)
Wednesday: Navy Bean Soup, focaccia bread, mixed greens salad
Thursday: Pulled Pork sammies, chips, baked bean casserole, garden salad
Friday: Pork tacos, leftover beans and rice
Saturday: Homemade pizza, mozzarella topped foccacia bread sticks
Sunday: Leftovers or chicken sausage and peppers

Meal Planning - a little late this week

2010-09-15T08:13:00.002-05:00

It's been a few crazy weeks here, I need to get my butt in gear, get my meal-plan set so it's one less thing for me to worry about and stress over. Sometimes life moves so fast, you have to hang on for dear life, grab it by the reins, and get taken along for the ride!

Monday: Cream of mushroom soup, roasted tomato foccacia, mixed greens salad, apple crisp
Tuesday: Roast pork with mashed potatoes, gravy, and garden salad
Wednesday: Enchiladas carnitas with red bell pepper, red rice, beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and salsa
Thursday: Fancy French Toast, strawberries, breakfast sausage, apple slices, orange juice
Friday: DH is back as Grill Master! Can't wait to see what he grills up! along with baked bean casserole and corn
Saturday: Italian-style chicken salad sammies or Kansas City-Style pulled pork sammies, chips, carrot sticks, corn on the cob
Sunday: Leftovers

Breakfast of the week: Swiss and Mushroom Frittata, cereal, yogurt, granola bars
Dessert of the week: White Chocolate Raspberry Bars
Lunches are dinner leftovers or chicken sammies

Meal Plan Monday

2010-09-07T07:46:00.002-05:00

I love meal planning after a busy holiday weekend - so many leftovers, all I have to do is pick and choose what to have each day! We hosted a BBQ on Sunday for our fmailies and had about 8 people over. DH loves to grill, and thsi time he did a huge selection of meats - from steaks to ribs, burgers to brats and some chicken thrown in for good measure, we still have leftovers a-plenty to make into great meals.

Tuesday: Chicken, turkey bacon, and mushrooms tossed with pasta
Wednesday: Build Your Own Sandwich
Thursday: Brats and chicken, leftover red rice, salad
Friday: Chicken sammies, mixed green salad, apple

Lunch of the week: Anything we can turn into a sandwich or taco. I've presliced a chunk of ribeye and some Swiss cheese for some decadent sammies. We also have a partial rotisserie chicken that can be a simple chicken sandwich or get made over into chicken salad. Chicken or steak tacos with a chunky salsa are another easy option.

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, granola bars, yogurt, and bagels (wanted to get some of the bagels out of the freezer)

Meal Plan Monday...Running Late This Week

2010-08-31T23:09:00.002-05:00

Monday: Fettucine with Portabella Alfredo and Italian Grilled Chicken
Tuesday: Ham and turkey sammies, salad, chips
Wednesday: Ginger Pork Stirfry, fried rice
Thursday: Sweet Honey Lime Chicken Drummies, baked beans, baby carrots
Friday: Ground turkey tacos with all the fixin's

Weekend: TBD - hubby thinks his family will have a BBQ, so we're in a wait and see before I can do any more planning.

Dessert of the week: Banana Nut Bread, Maple Pecan Apple Crisp

Breakfast for the week: We're still working off our cereal, granola bar, yogurt, and poptart stockpile. I keep grabbing more free granola bars from Dominicks - so it might be awhile before I'm forced to actually cook breakfast more than 1-2 a week.

Another Great Dominicks Transaction

2010-08-30T18:51:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist another run at the "Buy 3 Juices, get 2 snacks FREE" deal. I found 2 catalina coupons for $2.50 each. I'm just lovin' the free snacks and I totally needed to stock up on granola bars. I go through a box of granola bars a week, so each transaction yields another month supply! And hubby is totally loving all the juice, we're big juice fans, and it doesn't get any better than this!!

6 bottles Mott's apple juice $2.99 (reg. price) $2.00 (sale) -$2/2 (2) -$1.50/2
4 boxes Quaker granola bars ($3.49/box) free wyb 6 juice -$1/1 (4)
1 gallon Lucerne milk $2.99, -$2.99 (wyb 4 Quaker granola bars, get 1 gallon Lucerne milk free)

Total retail value: $36.89
Total saved: $36.89
Total OOP: $.06 (local tax)
100% savings

Dominicks Deal

2010-08-29T11:24:00.003-05:00

I'm glad I popped over to Jill Cataldo's website before I headed out yesterday. There was a 3 day sale at Dominicks - buy any 3 participating juices, get 2 participating snack items free. The deal got immeasurably better when coupons for the juice (Mott's apple juice) could be found in a coupon booklet recently spotted at Jewel. Which I actually found, while I was there grabbing newspapers (Saturday paper with coupon inserts) for $.99 each. Best price in the area.

Truth be told, I found a huge display of those coupon booklets, so I helped myself to a dozen or so. I was so thrilled to find them. The deal was on. I had my box of expired coupons in the car, and was ready to go. The snacks that were included in the deal were Quaker granola bars. Which was great - I have tons of expired Quaker granola bar coupons. I had coupon overage on the brain. It's been some time since that happened. And this Dominick's is typically coupon friendly. This was my day.

Here's what I found:
9 bottles of Mott's Apple Juice 64 oz. each $2 each -$1.50/2 coupons (x4)
3 bottles Ocean Spray juices 64 oz. each $2.29-$2.99 -$3/1 coupons (x3) = $.73 moneymaker!
6 boxes Quaker Granola bars $2.49 (free wyb 3 juices) -$3/5 quaker products, $1/1 True Delights = $4.00 moneymaker!!
6 bags Fritos/Cheetos on sale $1.49 (with in-store coupon) -$1/2 coupons (3)
3 jars Frito-Lay brand dip $2.29-$3.79 -$3/1 coupons wyb 2 FritoLay chips (3)
10 bags Nabisco Mini Oreo's, Chips Ahoy, etc. $.99 with instore coupon -$1/2 coupons (5)
2 Kraft Salad Dressing $2.00 -$1/1 coupons (x2)
1 Kraft Garlic & Herb Sandwich Shop Mayo $1.79 -$1/1 coupon
4 WishBone Salad Dressing $.99 -$1/2 coupons (2)

Total before discounts: $198.28
Total Savings: $167.17
Total OOP: $31.11

Meal Plan Monday

2010-08-23T08:12:00.002-05:00

We didn't get to the roast beef I had planned for Sunday, so I'll be using that in tonight's dinner. For lunches, we have lots of canned soup, salad fixin's, deli-sliced ham for sandwiches, and we often take leftovers to work for lunch, so I have that pretty well covered for the week.

I try to bake one breakfast or dessert a week to round out the meal plan, this week I'm planning to bake some crimson raisin & cinnamon scones. I just love how easy and versatile scones are - they pop up at leat once a month in my house! I like to eat them for breakfast, hubby prefers them as a dessert or snack.

Monday: Thin sliced roast beef over potatoes with a mushroom gravy, salad
Tuesday: Fancy French Toast, pepper and cheddar frittata, apple slices
Wednesday: Ground turkey tacos, beans, and rice
Thursday: Roast beef and provolone paninis, summer salad, grapes
Friday: DH's making pizza!
Saturday: DH's grilling
Sunday: Dinner at Nuevo Leon in the city - best enchiladas ever! (and it's super affordable - less than $6.00 a plate!) We'll be at Navy Pier for the Tall Ships Festival - I love the tall ships.

Breakfast for the week: Cereal (we have more than 12 varities on hand), yogurt, toast, fruit, and granola bars.

Dessert of the week: Crimson Raisin & Cinnamon Scones

5 Tips for Finger-Lickin' Chicken

2010-08-16T14:46:00.002-05:00

I absolutely love chicken. It's my favorite source of protein, hands down. A lot of people get tired of eating the same old chicken entree - and who can blame them? I used to think chicken could only be roasted or fried, with a dash of season salt and black pepper. I'm so glad over the years that I've proven that mentality wrong! Paired with sweet or savory spices, chicken is my go-to everytime. One of my favorite things about chicken is how budget friendly it is.

1. Want to make a bold dish - swap a cut of chicken in for beef or pork as is called for in your recipe. I match boneless with boneless, bone-in with bone-in. Some of my favorite swaps include: Pulled Chicken Sammies, chicken tacos, and chicken and biscuits.

2. Chicken pairs well with most fruits for awesome kebabs, sizzling stirfries, and wings that make your heart sing! Some of my favorites are chicken "burgers" topped with grilled pineapple rings, Indonesian Chicken with Honey and Garlic, and Thai Mandarin Chicken Stirfry. I haven't yet tried chicken dish with fruit that I didn't like - kids love it, too!

3. Soup and salad. I can think of no other protein base that goes so well into either salad or soup, let alone both. From fancy grilled chicken salads to the humblest of chicken soups, this piece of poultry packs a powerful punch in the flavor department. With bone-in pieces of chicken, you can stretch your dollar even further, and when making soups - stretch the flavor further, too!

4. Chicken as a component in casseroles, pastas, rice dishes, etc. A little of this bird can go a really, really long way. One chicken breast can provide enough meat for 2-4 servings when worked into a pasta sauce, as a primary ingredient in a casserole, and when shredded/cubed into a rice dish. When you do this, let the side dish take center stage as your entree and pair it with a hearty salad. That is a easy supper that's good for you and light on your wallet, too.

5. Spices, marinades, and sauces. Chicken with gravy over potatoes, chicken marinated in teriyaki (or any fruit-based marinade), chicken seasoned with basil, garlic, and onion - any favorite spice combination or flavor mix that you love - you will love it on chicken. I like to pair in smoky elements in chicken (cumin and hickory seasoning, anyone?) for an unexpected twist on a classic chicken dish. If you need inspiration - check out ethnic cooking. Chicken seems to be the favored poultry for many nationalities, if you need some flavor inspiration.

Tell me - what's your favorite chicken dish?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-08-15T21:24:00.002-05:00

Finally, we're having a break in the heatwave that feels like its lasted much of the summer. Hubby has offered to do some grilling this week and I can't wait that! With lots of summer produce keeping the prices low across the area, the meal plan this week has never been easier. No major schedule changes, not too many things to take into consideration. I love it when it's easier to plan.

Monday: Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad
Tuesday: Grilled brats and teriyaki chicken thighs, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob
Wednesday: Turkey, apple, and cheddar paninis, salad, peaches
Thursday: Ginger Lime Roasted chicken, angel hair pasta, green beans
Friday: Breakfast wraps, hashbrowns, bananas, juice
Saturday: Date night
Sunday: Italian beef sammies, fresh fruit, baked beans

Side Dishes for $.09

2010-08-14T11:19:00.002-05:00

I still cannot believe this deal: Jewel has selected Pillsbury/General Mills/Betty Crocker items on sale this week. WYB 10, receive $5 instant savings and receive 50 Bonus Boxtops for Education (BTFE).

The Betty Crocker Potatoes were on sale for $1.00 each - and the price dropped to $.50 each WYB 10. What a fabulous deal! On the boxes, there were $1/2 peelies - which meant, all I had to pay was tax!

I used 16 coupons and grabbed 32 for the cost of the tax ($.09 per transaction of 10 boxes).

While I like homemade mashed potatoes, the boxed ones are not too bad (especially at this price). To make them healthier, I use fat free milk (I start with powdered milk and add water as directed on the box), I use half the butter or margarine called for on the package and substitute light sour cream or fat free cream cheese for the other half of the butter/margarine needed in the recipe. And if you really want to punch up the flavor of the potatoes, use chicken stock in place of the water called for.

It's an easy way to turn boring boxed potatoes into a tasty treat. I've even used my doctored up box potatoes in entertaining, and have had people ask for my recipe. If you are looking to save time, cut calories/fat grams, many varieties of these potatoes are a good choice. If you want to add even more flavor, fold in a little garlic, a tablespoon of parmesan, some parsley - anything you would normally add to your own mashed potatoes.

I also stocked up on canned veggies (Green Giant brand was $.99 - dropped to $.49 a can wyb 10), since I was starting to run low from the last time I loaded up. I grabbed 28 cans - and that should be enough to hold us through the winter. If I have a chance, I may grab another 10 cans before the sale is up. You can never be too well stocked on veggies, especially at these prices!

Dominick's Deals: Breakfast on a Budget

2010-08-11T08:10:00.002-05:00

I have been not-so-patiently waiting for another good deal on cereal, and as it tends to happen, Dominicks is the place to be. Since no stores in Chicagoland double coupons, Dominicks is our saving grace - they accept expired coupons. Couple that with a Buy 10 get a $10 coupon OYNO, and I was in heaven. Oh, and Kellogg wasn't the only brand on sale, Keebler was, too! This was a great time to be couponing!

Transaction #1
10 boxes Keebler cookies (originally $4.19 - $4.39) on sale for $2.49
1 gallon milk (regular price $3.19) $2.69
Minus $1/2 coupons (x5)
Minus $2 milkpurchase wyb 2 Keebler cookies
Minus $3 register rewards from Walgreens
Total: $18.07
Total Saved: $25.60
and a $10 cat prints out...

Transaction #2
10 boxes PopTarts (regular price $3.39) on sale for $1.99
Minus $1/2 coupons (x5)
Minus $10 cat
Total: $5.25
Total Saved: $29.50
no cat prints....I ask the cashier, he tells me to talk to the service desk. I decide to do that after my next 2 orders are complete

Transaction #3
6 boxes Apple Jacks (regular price $3.59) on sale $1.99
2 boxes Kellogg's NutraGrain bars (regular price $3.99) on sale $2.49
2 boxes Keebler cookies (regular price $3.99) on sale $2.49
Minus $1/2 coupon (cookies)
Minus $.70 off 1 box cereal (x6)
Total: $15.87
Saved: $21.50
and a $10 cat prints out...

Transaction #4
2 boxes Keebler cookies (regular price $3.99) on sale $2.49
6 boxes Frosted Flakes (regular price $2.99) on sale $1.99
2 boxes Apple Jacks (regular price $3.59) on sale $1.99
1 jar apricot preserves (regular price $2.79) on sale $1.99
2 64 oz. bottle Ocean Spray juice blends $2.99
Minus $1/2 Kellogg cereals (x3)
Minus $.70 off 1 box cereal (x2)
Minus $1/2 coupon (cookies)
Minus $3 off winetag coupons for the juice
Minus $10 cat
Total: $9.73
Saved: $33.00
and a $10 cat prints out...

I go to customer service after my transactions, ask if the purchase where no cat pr inted could be re-rung or returned. The cashier offered me $10 cash instead of the cat. I happily accepted and was off on my merry way.

Total Saved during this long shopping trip: $109.60
Coupons spent: $49.60
Total OOP: $38.56 (I've subtracted the $10 cash from this)
Plus another $10 cat in my wallet...
Quantity of items purchased: 44

Menu Plan Monday

2010-08-09T08:25:00.004-05:00

I didn't have a meal plan last week, because I assigned that duty to DH. I knew I wouoldn't have time to make our dinners (a crazy work week, culminating in an in-office board meeting that was 3 days too long!), and desperately need to get back in the swing of things this week. Luckily I have a few things on hand to build my meals around - like the leftover bagels from the meeting (no one wanted them, so I took home 6-8 huge bagels and popped them in my freezer) and a little help from my mama (who made a large batch of pulled pork and was nice enough to take pity on me and share some). With a few pantry staples, here's what I've got in mind for this week:

Monday: Monte Cristo with tomato basil soup topped with crunchy croutons
Tuesday: Pulled pork sammies with a teriyaki sweet BBQ sauce on egg-onion rolls, gourmet spring blend salad, and corn
Wednesday: Mushroom and Cheddar Frittata, bagels, strawberries, and red grapes
Thursday: Simple Pork Tacos, refried beans, rice
Friday: Girls day out - taking my mama (DaMama) out for lunch and a movie
Saturday: Build your own flatbread pizza - using the last of our $.49 flatbread pizza crusts from the $3 off bread coupon from Jewel
Sunday: Pork steaks on the grill, sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes, salad, corn on the cob

Mini Menu Plan

2010-08-02T11:57:00.003-05:00

This week, my office has its board of director's meeting, which means a few longer days (maybe into early evening) of work, so I've got DH making meals for half of the week.

Monday: Rotini with a white wine portabella sauce, garlic bread, salad
Tuesday: Cheddar, Apple, and Onion Panini's, salad, chips
Wednesday: Dinner at DaMama's
Thursday - Sunday: DH's got his buttery chicken nuggets, pizza, and more planned for us!

Not Your Boring Brown Bag Lunch

2010-07-28T08:33:00.002-05:00

I pack a lunch 5 days a week for work, so does my husband. We're not broke, we have no dietary restrictions, we simply bring our own lunches to work, since driving home for lunch for either of us isn't an option (our commutes are 45-55 minutes one way for work each day). It takes minimal planning, some basics on hand, and a willingness to save time and money every day.

Why would we want to brown bag it every day? For me, I like to know what I'm eating, and I don't want to consume too much greasy, fried, sodium-laden dishes that are the fast-food norm - but beyond that, DH & I each work in areas that have many specialty restaurants, ethnic eateries, high-end fast-food, steak houses, and overblown casual eateries. The costs are insane. Two of my co-workers once estimated that by eating out 2-4 days a week for lunch, they spent an average of $200 a month - just on lunches. I have the added bonus of working in Illinois' infamous Cook County - where sales tax is over 10%.

Every week, I plan lunches along with all our dinners. All our lunches are interchangable - doesn't matter what one of us grabs, there are at least 3 options each day for our lunches. We each take one, and the remaining one goes into the pool of choices for the next day. I typically emphasize the first in, first out rule. We have no problems eating leftovers, so this works out well.

I also do a fair amount of what I call - leftover makeover. This week is a great example of that: I roasted a whole chicken and the leftovers are going to be used in salads, in sammies, in soup, and on a pizza. Not all weeks are like this, but 2-3 weeks each month, I make a meal that converts into many dishes easily. Browned, ground turkey (chicken or beef) or bulk sausage also works well for many meals. If you're new to this, just track for 2-3 weeks what meals you often prepare for your family - it won't take very long for a pattern to emerge.

When you see the pattern emerging, you can do some simple meal planning. You don't have to designate which meal is for which day, if that's too exacting for you. You can meal plan by day, week, or 2-4 weeks at a time. For me, the weekly meal plan with each day planned helps me see how quickly we can use a leftover so we waste less food. When I make my meal plan, I take into account how many lunches we need for the week, if we have sandwich fixings on hand, and try to tailor the meals to be easily portable and reheatable. Each week, I look at the 2 prior weeks of meals, to make sure I'm not serving the same things too often. Each week, I try to offer a different meat that covnerts well to many other dishes.

The result? I take restaurant quailty meals for my lunches, while not paying an extra dime out of pocket for it. Today, I'll be having a Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Chicken, and a wedge of parmesan focaccia bread. For tomorrow, I'll be having tostadas topped with chicken, red bell pepper strips, and some peach salsa. Where could you get a meal like that?

Tell me, how do you save money on meals? Do you meal plan, brown bag, cook from scratch? I'd love some new ideas!

Meal Plan Monday

2010-07-26T14:48:00.002-05:00

I still have oodles of bread from the Jewel free bread coupon and some beautiful produce from the save $2 on any produce (price $2.00 or higher) from Jewel. I grabbed half a dozen focaccias, 3-4 loaves of raisin bread, mini-bagels, flatbread pizza crusts, and mini-croissants - all of which I've squeezed in to the freezer.

With 2 loaves of french bread left, I've got some tasty meal ideas that are easy on the budget this week!

Monday: Leftovers sandwich style. We've got plenty of leftovers from DH grilling yesterday, so I'll be turning some of the meats into sammies
Tuesday: Roasted chicken, spinach salad, rice
Wednesday: Basil Pesto Chicken Sammie on Focaccia
Thursday: Cinnamon Raisin bread with homemade peach syrup
Friday: Chicken margarita style flatbread pizza, salad
Saturday: Dinner at Caputo's in Hanover Park - $5 per person - 15 choices on their buffet!
Sunday: Soup (not sure what kind yet) and sammies

Bountiful Produce - Preserving Fresh Fruit

2010-07-22T08:16:00.002-05:00

I've been having so much fun "buying" fresh blueberries and peaches with the $2 off any $2 or more produce coupon at Jewel. I've got more than 2 dozen fresh, plump, juicy peaches awaiting my attention as we speak. While I enjoy snacking on them, making them into salsa, tossing them into muffin batter, folding them into bars, or slicing them thin and adding them to a lovely spritzer - I've got more peaches than I could possibly eat right now. This is when it's time to start preserving or freezing them.

Since I don't have a big enough batch to make canning worthwhile, I'm going to peel, slice/chop, and freeze my overflow of these amazing peaches. Come the fall and winter months, I'll have plenty of peaches for pies, cobblers, muffins, and other tasty recipes I come up with - without breaking the bank. While it sounds like a lot of work, I'll probably have the peaches blanched, peeled, pitted, sliced and diced in less than an hour or two.

Last weekend, when I got home with my blueberry haul, I immediately got out the collander, tossed in the berries, removed any debris or stems, lightly patted them with a slightly damp rag (you should rinse berries just before using - not before freezing - it affects the consistency of the fruit), before measuring them and popping them into quart-sized freezer bags for easy use. The result - tons of fresh blueberries, frozen at the peak of freshness and plenty on hand for blueberry buckle, blueberry muffins, pancakes, and maybe even a blueberry sauce. I filled 13 quart-sized bags and spent only: $4.48. That's the price right now for blueberries when they are in season for one single 6 oz. pint - I'd hate to see how high that would go in the winter!

In my freezer, I already have raspberries, strawberries, and tons of apple pie filling. Each time a great coupon like this comes along, my first thought is what can I use right now. And once I've gotten the produce that my family needs for the week: bananas, grapes, cilantro, a few peppers, onions, fresh mushrooms, some salad fixin's, and a potato or two - then I look to what is in season, on sale, and will freeze well. Next, I make sure I have plenty of ways to use that fruit from its frozen form, then it's time to start planning for the colder months. They'll be here before you know it.

What would you do with a deal like this? What fruits and veggies do you put up for the winter?

Great Shopping at Jewel

2010-07-20T08:49:00.002-05:00

I've been busy shopping, on my way to and from work, using the FREE Jewel bakery bread coupon (up to $3 value) and $2 off any produce coupon of $2 or more. In the last week, I've managed pretty well, granted this is over several transactions - one transaction per store per visit (as the coupon states). I did bring DaMama along to maximum our "girls time" and to get the biggest bang for our buck, or in this case, spare change. Here's what I've gathered so far:

3 loaves of focaccia
3 loaves cinnamon-raisin bread
2 pkgs. mini croissants
1 pkg. french rolls
1 pkg. hotdog buns
3 loaves of assorted sandwich bread (butter-cracked, white, and whole wheat)
19 fresh, local peaches
1 bag European salad blend
1 salad kit
2 bunches of banana
16 pints of blueberries
1 bunch of cilantro
1 apple

Total retail value of: $119.25
Total OOP: $9.77
Total Saved: $109.48

So far, I've frozen all the blueberries, 2 of the focaccias, the salad mixes have been used as lunches, the cilantro is nearly gone (I made salsa - also used the peaches in the salsa too - love a fruity summer salsa that's easy on the wallet!), I just need to grab some red potatoes (since they'll be free anyway...), and a few more peaches for the freezer. I'm planning an hour or two this weekend to prep and freeze the peaches - along with any other hearty produce I can get my hands on.

Great Jewel Deals

2010-07-15T10:00:00.002-05:00

Jewel has printable coupons out for $2 off a $2 (or more) produce purchase and coupons out for FREE bakery bread (up to $3). These are limit one per transaction, so get in on the goodies now! Use promotional codes "freebread" or "produce" to get these awesome coupons!

I've already got some free salad mix, free dinner rolls - and I'm heading back for more on my way home tonight! I see a half pound of free cherries in my future and some bagels to toss in the freezer - love these deals!

Meal Plan Tuesday

2010-07-13T09:49:00.002-05:00

Another crazy whirlwind weekend! My sister and her family were in town visiting - she's from Minnesota - so we don't get nearly as much time with her as we'd like. When she comes for a visit, she usually has a list of things to do (shopping, culture, entertainment, etc.) on her agenda and this time was no exception.

We made it to Brookfield Zoo - with DH & I spending nothing out of pocket. Yep, no one single cent. Here's how: Meijer offered a deal with the purchase of $15 worth of Meijer brand chips, you get a coupon for 2 free tickets to Brookfield (general admission only). When we finally got there and got parked, someone who was just leaving offered us a handful of tickets, including 2 free Stingray Bay admissions (I got to pet a cownose stingray!!), 3 free Trolley rides, and 4 free Carousel rides! Since we weren't going to use the carousel rides, we gave those to 2 families that had small children. And, we packed our own lunch and bottled water - mostly from deals I had hounded and a deli run to Caputo's the night before. My sister paid for a wagon rental, to pull our cooler, bags/purses, etc. We all had so much fun.

I took a personal day yesterday, to spend more time with my sister - we even had enough time to go through my "Market" (large pantry), and I sent some of my overstock from couponing back with her. Last night, the whole family gathered at a favorite cafe for dinner, and my sisters heads back home today. While I will miss her like cray, I'm definitely ready for some downtime with my hubby - maybe watch some TV and go for our evening walks.

Monday - Went to dinner with my mom, sister, and her family
Tuesday - Tostadas (my latest, easiest replacement for grilled cheese)
Wednesday - 10 Minute Breakfast Wraps, fresh fruit salad, hashbrowns
Thursday - Spaghetti with garden salad and garlic bread
Friday - Chicken and gnocchi soup, sammies

Meal Plan Monday

2010-07-05T22:16:00.003-05:00

I'm running a day late with the meal plan - the holiday weekend has me off. Not that I'm complaining. I love a three-day weekend! I only wish more of them could happen like this. With the heat we've been experiencing lately, one of my goals is to keep the meal plan light and simple and reduce my dependence on the oven. From a frugal standpoint, it's counterproductive to run the oven when we have the A/C going. No need to make the A/C work any harder than it has to.

Monday: BBQ at the in-laws
Tuesday: Tostadas with all the fixin's
Wednesday: Paninis with munster, pastrami, and julienned bell peppers
Thursday: Rotini pasta in an alfredo sauce
Friday: Mushroom and swiss burgers, garden salad
Saturday: Date night
Sunday: ?? (DH is grilling, making pizza, or making subs - depends on the weather)

Lunch of the week: Sandwiches! We've got plenty of leftover lunchmeat and cheese, easy and quick.

Dessert of the week: Grapes, strawberries, and peaches.

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, and breakfast wraps.

Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer

2010-07-02T08:09:00.002-05:00

This cool, refreshing twist on typical July weather has spoiled me. I'm not ready to return to the sweltering, humid mid 90 degree temperatures rather typical for July in Chicagoland. Naturally, for the 4th of July, it's supposed to be more than 90's degrees. I had been thinking of a BBQ, but with that kind of heat, lighter fare is definitely in order.

In place of the BBQ I was planning, it's time to make great use of seasonal fruits and amazing deals. Here's my 4th of July non-BBQ menu:

Red & Green Grapes
Summer Fruit Salad
Sweet Corn on the Cob
Tortilla chips and Peach Salsa
Potato Chips
Sub rolls/sandwich bread
Cold cuts/deli meat (I've got some goodies in the freezer to pick from and I"ll hit Caputos to round out my choices - they are the cheapest deli with the best selection in town)
Cheeses (Swiss, American, Cheddar, Provolone)
Italian-style chicken salad
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pecan Sandies

The only thing I have to do is bake the cookies (probably tonight, before it gets any hotter outside) and cook the corn the day of - everything is just chopped, stirring and serving! I am so looking forward to kicking back and relaxing with this light and simple feast. What are your plans for the 4th of July? Does the weather affect what you plan to do this year?

Great Deal at Jewel

2010-07-01T08:44:00.002-05:00

In the Jewel Osco flyer this week, purchase 4 12packs of Coca Cola products ($2.00 each, in quantities of 4), receive a FREE package of Hillshire Farms sausage (with in-ad coupon). That's a great deal!

What will make that even better for me? I've got some winetags for $2.00 off any cola purchase of $2.01 or more. I've got 3 of those left, so here's my scenario:

4 12 packs of Coca Cola
1 pkg. Hillshire Farms sausage
-$2.00 Cola purchase winetag (x3)
-Get One Free Hillshire Farms Sausage (x1)
=$2.00 plus tax for my entire order

Guess I better look for more winetags...

Favorite Summertime Recipes

2010-06-29T08:29:00.002-05:00

This summer, I have been focusing on building meal with ingredients that are:

1. In-season
2. Locally grown
3. Affordable

So far, this has resulted in an bevy of new recipes for me - some of which have stayed in my rotation rather frequently. With each week or so, I'm trying to add another new in-season produce pick to my meals. So far, DH & I are loving it. From summer fruit based salsas to light-as-air desserts options, we've been tasting all the season has to offer. Right now, peaches and berries are taking a primetime spot on our meal plan rotation.

Over the weekend, I'm planning to grill some lovely peaches, toss plump, ripe strawberries into a mixed green salad, and whip up a sweet fruit salad to go along side some light and lowfat bars, to balance out some of the heartier fare on offer. Barbeques don't have to be all about the heavy potato salad, piles of meat, and chips and dip. With all the fruits and veggies in season, it's a shame not to put them to use! Here are some of my favorite creations with all the yummy in-season produce we have to pick from:

Some of my favorite recipes so far this summer:
Peach Salsa
Tostadas
Boston Spinach Salad
10 Minute Fruit Salad
Summer Peach and Almond Bars
Sweet Nectarine Lemonade

Tell me: Does your family change their eating habits in the summer? What are your go-to recipes on a sultry summer day? I'd love some delicious inspiration!

Meal Plan Monday

2010-06-28T08:42:00.003-05:00

Nothing makes me feel on track on a Monday morning like getting my meal plan together. After a quick inventory of the freezer and pantry yesterday, our meals are full of possibility!

Monday: Chicken, mushroom, and gnocchi soup, french bread, salad
Tuesday: Tostadas with all the fixin's
Wednesday: Garlic Chicken and Pepper stirfry, brown rice
Thursday: French bread pizzas with marinara dipping sauce and salad
Friday: Taste of Chicago (or if the weather is miserable - grilled cheese with fruit salad)
Saturday: TBD
Sunday - Happy 4th of July!! Going to BBQ!

Short Shopping Trip to Jewel

2010-06-26T20:41:00.002-05:00

I've got quite a few Weber $1/2 coupons left from the tearpads I found in the store, and finally got a chance to use some of them today. My local Jewel won't allow me to use a coupon on a BOGOFree item, which the marinades happen to be - until sometime next month. The regular price is $.99 each, with the BOGOF and coupon - they are free for me!

14 packets Weber marinade seasonings ($.99 each)
Total: $14.28
-$6.93
-$7.00
Cost: $.35

I still have more than a dozen of those coupons left, so I'll have to keep looking for chances to stop at different Jewel stores in the area.

Back Home Again: Meal Plan!

2010-06-22T11:25:00.002-05:00

It's been a crazy few weeks for my little household. First we spent al ong weekend in Minnesota for a good friend's wedding and last weekend we were off to Atlanta for brother-in-law's college graduation. After seeing my somewhat barren fridge, I went out shopping for some produce and basics to build some light meals with. Here's what's eating me this week:

Tuesday: Tomato soup and grilled cheese (milk is about to expire, so this is an easy way to make it disappear!), fresh fruit

Wednesday: Chicken bacon ranch tostadas, salsa and chips

Thursday: Build Your Own Sub Night, fresh berries, chips

Friday: DH's grilling up a storm - Grilled chicken teriyaki, hotdogs, and Mole-Rubbed Pork Ribs (instead of chops), grilled peppers, fruit salad, garden salad, mashed potatoes

Saturday: Date night!!

Sunday: Leftovers from Friday, dessert will be fruit smoothies

Breakfast of the week: fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal
Lunch of the week: Chicken tacos, soup, or sammies
Dessert of the week: Vanilla Spiced White Chocolate Cheesecake

Mini-Meal Plan Monday

2010-06-14T08:16:00.002-05:00

Wow - the trip to Minnesota was amazing! The night before the trip, DaMama and I loaded 2 huge reusable bags full of fresh ingredients and treats to bring to my sister and her family, and that was a huge hit!

With the crazy prices of produce (when you have to import so much of it year-round up there), the bags I brought were bursting with limes, blueberries, peaches, peppers, cilantro, etc. etc. etc. not to mention a few pounds of amazing deli meat (all for under $3.00 a lb.) - everyone was thrilled! And all of that for less than $25, my sister was speechless!

A few of the nights, my sis and I were in the kitchen making dinner together. It was great! Never having lived close enough in my adult life to do these normal, everyday things with Amy, I had so much fun just doing those simple tasks.

On Saturday, I watched one of my oldest and dearest friends get married. Nothing can compare to that. Nothing. I'm so excited and happy for her, it was just a perfect weekend all round....except the weather. It has rained everyday for the last week and a half. I'm so ready for the rain to end.

On to this week's meal plan - it's another short week as DH & I head to Atlanta for my brother-in-law's college graduation. By next week, I'll be screaming to get back in to the rhythm of things at home, but for another straight week, I'm a traveling gal! Not a lot of fresh ingredients on hand, so this week I"m trying to use up what I have left. No point in going shopping for perishables except yogurt - I got to have it for my breakfast. For now, here's the plan:

Monday: Spaghetti with Italian sausage and roasted pepper marinara

Tuesday: Garlic bread pizza (homemade), garden salad

Wednesday: Breakfast burritos with peppers and sausage, apple slices, juice

Thursday-Sunday: In Atlanta for the graduation celebration!

No Meal Plan this week

2010-06-08T08:31:00.003-05:00

Wow - this is the first time in months that I'm not creating a meal plan. This week, DH & I are heading to a wedding out-of-state and will be gone most of the week. I can't wait to see a dear friend of mine get married - I'm so excited. It's worth the 500+ mile trip!

While I'm there visiting, I'll be staying with my sister, the organic farmer and chef. I will get a chance to help in her (huge) garden, see my nephews, and unwind. I've been looking forward to this trip for months. Typically, DH & I take long weekends each season (except winter) and get out of town, but this year is the first year that we haven't. And boy, does it show! I don't think I've ever been so antsy to get out of town as I am right now.

Next week is another crazy one because for Father's Day weekend, we're heading south (out-of-state again) for my brother-in-law's college graduation. Whew - I'm on the road again....(channeling that Willie Nelson song in my head and imagining the beautiful countryside spilling out before me). Good thing you can't hear me singing!!

This year, we skipped our usual weekends away with the idea of going out-of-country for our 5th wedding anniversary. We had been planning on the Caribbean - which the locations (the cheaper places to visit) have experienced a rise in crime, drop in economy, etc. that make them unsafe to visit currently. Which totally sucks. Really, it does.

I've been looking forward to this anniversary for some time, and having to change our plans really makes me frustrated. Especially since I haven't left the Chicago area since October of last year. I love my area, but sometimes I need distance to make the heart grow fonder, or whatever that nonsense is about.

Back to the meal plan (or lack thereof): this week, we're working on eating the perishables in our fridge, I'll probably buy milk (DH will finish it no problem) and some yogurt with good expiration dates to have waiting for me when we get back, and grab a few fresh items to bring to my sis. To help clear out the fridge, last night, I made an Italian sausage bolognese over capellini.

Tonight, I think it's going to be provolone or havarti paninis with herb-crusted chicken and bell pepper strips, and some fresh fruit. Tomorrow - if all the leftover are gone, it's a can of soup, loaf of french bread and rotisserie chicken, or I'll grab a premade sub from Caputos. We grabbed a small one over the weekend and it was fabulous. I've already crafted my version of it, Basil Pesto Chicken Sammie on Foccacia. It's seriously divine. A sandwich worth worshipping. Not cheap, but packed with so much flavor, my mouth waters just remembering it.

Eating In Season: Peaches

2010-06-04T08:58:00.003-05:00

I love eating fruits and veggies that are in-season. Not only is it easier on my wallet, but the taste difference is incredible. Nothing can quite match it.

So, each week this summer, I've challenged myself to try one in-season produce item I've never worked with before. Trying to slowly expand my repertoire, and reawlly learn each ingredients, I think this one-at-a-time apporach is a great way to start. So far, this week has been a peach. Literally!

I bought 6 lovely white peaches, and have begun my experiment. Almost giddy with excitement, I decided to try my hand at a summer fruit salsa. This was such a hit, I am still grinning!! Even my FIL (born in Mexico) loved it. That was truly a shocker. Super kid friendly, too - this isn't very spicy but packs tons of flavor (and vitamins, too).

That only used half the bag of peaches I had bought, so with another three lovely peaches to create with, I made a batch of bars last night, since it was finally cool enough for me to bake.

The bars are filled with diced peaches and topped with sliced, toasted almonds. It appears I have a new favorite, Summer Peach and Almond Bars. And I bought a few more peaches today, since I had done so well with the first batch. And the price of the peaches is plummeting (down to $.50 per lb.). At that rate, I'll have a plethora of peach presentations to pass along.

Next stop on my peachy-path: Ginger Poached Peaches. All of 4 ingredients will go into this creation - I'm modelling this creation on the cinnamon apples recipe a couponing friend shared with me.

All I have to do is figured out how to properly freeze them - then I'll be enjoying luscious peaches all year long. Bellini, anyone?

Entertaining on the Cheap - Office Taco Bar

2010-06-02T09:58:00.003-05:00

I love doing small lunches in the office - there are only 4 of us, 6 if we include the office suite next door - which we usually do. Life at the office has been a little dull, though rather busy lately, so I've organized another lunch at the office.

Rather than doing the tried and true Italian feast, we're going Mexican this time. With tons of fresh produce in season, this is the best time to set up a taco bar. Complete with fresh, fragrant limes, creamy Munster cheese, crisp lettuce, piles of tostadas and tortillas and a lovely peach salsa - this is a quick, cheap, easy, and fun way to have lunch - and everybody can build their own! What's not to love?

Here's how it comes together:

Ground beef ($1.39)
Ground turkey ($.79)
Cheese ($1.00)
Sour Cream ($.44)
Avocados ($.50)
Fresh Limes ($.20)
Salsa (peach salsa) ($.89)
Refried beans ($.29)
Tomatoes ($.67)
Lettuce ($.48)
Onions ($.20)
Corn ($.39)
Cilantro - ($.33)
Tostadas - ($2.35)
Tortillas - ($.50)
Lemonade - ($.25)

A simple, summer time lunch that feeds 6 to 8 people for only $10.57!!
That averages out to $1.33 to $1.77 per person. Much cheaper and healthier than ordering pizza - not to mention, you get exactly what you want on your tacos. Where can you get a deal like that? And, it includes a drink...

Meal Plan Monday....a day late

2010-06-01T08:18:00.003-05:00

It was such a busy weekend, I forgot about the meal plan until today. But, that's okay - with loads of yummy leftovers from a small BBQ we had at our home for our parents, we have plenty of quick and easy meals out of some of my favorite basics. Here's what cookin'!

Tuesday: Harvarti & deli-sliced pork grilled cheese sammies, simple salad
Wednesday: French Bread Pizza topped with provolone, bell pepper, mushroom, and parmesan, served with compote of fresh peaches, raspberries, and a hint of sweet coconut
Thursday: DH's buttery chicken nuggets, chicken rice, fruit salad
Friday: Taco's with all the fixin's, tortilla chips, peach salsa
Saturday: Leftovers or sammies - DH's choice
Sunday: Grillin'! If the weather permits

Lunch of the week: leftover hotdogs, burgers, BBQ chicken drummies, red rice, mashed potatoes

Snack of the week: Whole grain tortilla chips with peach salsa

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, yogurt, fruit

10 Free Bottles of Ketchup and Deal on Deoderant

2010-05-27T08:12:00.003-05:00

I love the Greatland Target in the next town. I really do. They will scan any coupon you hand them, no b.s. required. The SuperTarget in my town...well, they are the Coupon Gestapo. Maybe that's a little harsh, but that is the nicest way I've been able to phrase it in my head. Here's why....

Monday, I heard that the Jewel (Albertson's) flyer had a coupon for $1 off 40 oz. bottles of Heinz ketchup. While I clipped 2 out of te flyers I had at home, it wasn't with any real expectation of being able to use them any time soon. That was, until I heard Target and WalMart had that very same brand and size (woo-hoo!!) on sale for $1. Hmmmm...visions of free ketchup danced in my head. Even though I'm not the biggest ketchup fan, it does come in handy for hotdogs and basic grilling. But, I digress.

After a (thankless) day at work Monday, I ran to Jewel to grab some flyers that have the manufacturer coupon in them...and another round of the ConAgra deal (7 boxes of Orville Redenbacher for $.54!!!). Then I was hot-footin' it to SuperTarget amidst a vicious snarl of rush hour traffic, compounded by road construction closing one lane of the busy street, and sweltering 90 degree temperatures. I get all excited when there actually is ketchup left on the shelf, and that should've been my first clue. Seriously, why did I get it??

I grab 5 bottles (trying to run the deal conservatively) and a package of tortillas - which we needed anyway and scamper (as much as I could at that point, anyway) to the register. I head for the spaced-out looking teenage boy cashier, but get waved over by a girl with no wait on her line. Which is fine, I'm hot, tired, and ready to be done shopping. She scans the items, scans the re-usable bag credits (love that) and I hand over my coupons while she bags.

She looks at the coupons. Then, she studies the coupons. First she tried to refuse because they were expired, until I reminded her of the current date. The coupons didn't expired until Wednesday. Her response was, "Oh..." and she flags down another associate and asks him about the coupons. At no point did she even try to scan them. It's like she had no intention of scanning the coupons at all.

The second cashier looks at the coupons and tells me I can't use them there. I ask as politely as I can at that point, "What is the problem?" He answers with, "Where did you get these coupons?" I realize at this point there is little chance of them even trying to scan the coupons, let alone allowing me to use them, so I try the educational standpoint - why aren't cashier trained in how to do their jobs? This is why I don't shop Target much anymore. I've had enough of their invasive incompetence.

I repeat, "What is the problem? Those are valid manufacturer coupons. Don't you accept manufacturer coupons?"

First cashier is trying hard to blend into the floor at this point, I'm speaking solely with the 2nd cashier (who I've had run-ins with coupons in the past). His reply, "We do accept manufacturer coupons, but we won't take them if they came from another store."

After several minutes of back and forth, I ask rather bluntly, "Are you refusing to scan these manufacturer coupons?" Finally, he admits it. He will not scan those manufacturer coupons. Then, and this is so funny even I had to laugh at this point, he asks if that will complete my order. I plaster on my biggest fake smile and tell me if you will not scan my coupons you will not get my business. I wait for the to empty the items out of my reusable bag and exit. Furious. I've now wasted nearly an hour at SuperTarget.

What's ironic? I go to the Greatland Target less than 4 miles down the same road and grab 8 bottles of ketchup, some Dove deoderant and hand over my stack of coupons. The cashier scans every single one of them. And I had 2 coupons for each Dove item (store and manufacturer), plus for all the ketchup. It was that easy. No questioning, no arguing, no justifying - she simply scanned them.

All total, I spent $13.15 for:

4 Dove 2.6 oz. deoderant - reg. price $3.49
2 25.xx bottles Dove Body Wash reg. price $5.99
2 loofahs reg. price $1.99
10 bottles of ketchup reg. price $2.49

Steak Sammies with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli

2010-05-25T14:29:00.003-05:00

I think aioli is going to be the theme for my sammies this summer! With endless possibilities and variations - I challenge everyone to never eat another boring sandwich!!

Okay, so I'm a little excited about how easy this is. In the summer, a simple (but flavorful) sammie (or sandwich, if you prefer) is just the ticket to an easy weekday dinner or an awesome weekend lunch. Also, great for some kickin' picnics, too. This also makes Leftover Makeovers a snap - add grilled meat, some cheese, and some good bread - presto...a taste-bud tantalyzing treat.

Here's how I roll:

1 lb. grilled steak, sliced thin ($1.29)
4 sub rolls (heartier ones work best, but any will do) ($1.35)
4 slices Provolone cheese (any would work, I like the flavor of provolone with grilled meat) ($.25)
1/3 C. shredded carrot ($.25)
1 1/2 C. shredded lettuce ($.22)

3 T. light mayo (free after coupons)
1 tsp. olive oil ($.10)
pinch of garlic salt ($.05)
1/4 roasted red bell pepper, minced ($.10)
pinch of rosemary (optional) ($.05)

Mix together, until well combined. Chill for 5-10 minutes.

Spread sauce (aioli) on sub rolls, layer in meat, cheese, veggies.
Serve immediately.

Yields = 4 sammies or 8 sammie halves
Cost: $3.66
Cost per sandwich: $.92

Crazy Savings at Jewel & Butera Yesterday

2010-05-24T08:44:00.005-05:00

Summer snacking and lunches: here we come! Jewel is running a $25 get $10 OYNO sale this week on ConAgra products. The tomatoes aren't much of a deal (regular price of $1.20 - on sale for $1 - I want a bigger price spread than that to make it worth my while), but the popcorn and soup sure are! Here's what I got:

Transactions 1-4
13 cans Healthy Choice soup (14-15 oz.) regular price $2.00 - on sale 10 for $10, get the 11th item free
Total = $12.04 - get $10 OYNO
Total spent: $18.16 - plus $10 OYNO coupon
Saved: $132.12

Transaction 5-8
7 Orville Redenbacher popcorn (cheddar, light, movie theater, butter flavors work for sure) regular price $3.59 - on sale for $1.69
$2.14 per transaction - I just rolled the coupon in to the next order.
Total OOP: $8.56
Total Saved: $91.96
plus one $10 OYNO coupon still in my pocket!!

Total Spent at Jewel: $26.72 for 80 items or $.33 per item.
Total saved: $224.08

Butera has some crazy good deals going on, too, right now to celebrate the re-grand opening or remodeling or something like that of one of their stores - I couldn't pass up:

(all are limit one unless otherwise indicated)
$.99 a gallon milk
$.99 64 oz. Dean's Orange Juice
$.39 dozen large eggs (Limit 2)
$3.99 - 3 lb. bag frozen chicken breast (limit 2)
$.29 lb. bananas - (limit 2 bunches)
$1.99 lb. boneless beef rump or rolled pork roast (no limit) - I grabbed one (I'll roast it and slice it with my meat slicer for some amazing deli meat)
BOGOFree Margarine (no limit) $1.05
3/$1 Hass avocados (limit 6)
$.99 head lettuce

Total Spent $27.16
Total Saved: $21.74

Total OOP: $53.88

Meal Plan Monday

2010-05-23T22:10:00.002-05:00

I'm glad I had Sunday to rest, this was a crazy busy week and weekend and it felt good to get some well-needed downtime. For this coming week - I'm looking forward to a slower pace, some lighter meals, and catching up on my rest before Memorial Day weekend. I hope there are some great coupon deals, I'm hoping it will be as good as last year.

Monday: mini-date with hubby
Tuesday: Steak sammies with a sundried tomato aioli on hard rolls, garden salad, strawberries
Wednesday: Grilled chicken-topped garden salad, garlic bread or quesadillas
Thursday: dinner at DaMama's
Friday: Breakfast wraps, bananas, hashbrowns, juice

Dessert of the week: White chocolate raspberry bars

Lunch of the week: Ham or roasted pork tenderloin sammies, beans and red rice

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, yogurt, granola bars, fresh fruit

Got Milk?? Free Cereal!!

2010-05-19T09:19:00.002-05:00

On the way home from work, I popped in to Dominicks to grab another round of the cheap cereal.

Quaker Life and Captain Crunch cereal (12-15 oz. boxes) were on sale for $1 a box when you buy 4 or more. Which is a great deal in itself. But I made it a little sweeter by adding in some $3/5 Quaker product coupons from Butera flyer back in March (expired, but Dominicks takes those!)

If that wasn't sweet enough, I had a $4 catalina left from grabbing some Kellogg's cereal when the national catalina was running.

10 boxes of Captain Crunch = $10 plus $.22 tax
- $3/5 Quaker product coupon (x2) = -$6
- $4 OYNO catalina coupon = -$4
My total = $.22 (tax)
Savings = 100%!!

I still have one more catalina, a $3 catalina from Jewel that I believe is expired = looks like more free cereal for me. No question on what's for breakfast...cereal isn't a question in my life anymore, it's an answer - the only question is: which box do I open next??

Thrifty Tuesday: Life on the Spicy Side

2010-05-17T20:57:00.003-05:00

Do you ever catch yourself eying the mouth-watering choices of amazing spices at the grocery store? You know the ones....small, beautiful jar, fancy tag with flowing writing, and it typically costs more than the cut of meat you're going to put it on. I love using spices and marinades in my cooking. Luckily for me, I grabbed a few dozen bottles of marinade for free after coupon. Unfortunately, the spice blends don't tend to come down in price often.

The good news? With a dozen or so basic spices and a few pantry basics, it's possible to have a variety of amazing spice blends to choose from. Over at Eat From Your Pantry, there is a great post about seasoning blends - it's truly amazing how many different blends you can make with ingredients you probably have on hand already. Trust me - it's as easy as:

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Spice

Kansas City Style Rib Rub

Budget 101 - they have 164 different spice blend recipes!!

Taco Seasoning

Ranch Dressing Mix

Unless I stumble onto another freebie seasoning deal (which this is the right time of year for), I have plenty of resources to help me get the same flavorful punch for a lot less money. As for marinades, I haven't spent too much time learning how to make my own. In my defense, when they're plentiful and free, there is really no incentive to make my own. When the deals run out, I'll be posting marinade recipes, but until then - I'm resting on my laurels, or at least resting on a full stockpile that includes more than a dozen different marinades.

Meal Plan Monday - An Easy Week

2010-05-17T08:12:00.003-05:00

The graduation party for my hubby was last weekend - and even though much got changed about where/how of the party, we all had a great time. Even hubby's 92-year-old grandfather was there for the party!! We've got plenty of leftover food, so I will only be planning to cook 2 meals this week. Here's what I'm planning:

Monday: Deli-sliced garlic roasted pork tenderloin sammies, baked bean casserole, potato salad, spinach salad, baby carrots - all leftover from party

Tuesday: Ham and swiss grilled sammies, celery sticks, chips/potato salad - all leftover from party

Wednesday: Cream of mushroom soup, garlic toast, spinach salad

Thursday: Ham, potato salad, baked bean casserole, baby carrots, celery sticks, sweet spinach salad with strawberries and raspberry vinagrette - all leftover from party

Friday: Anniversary party - don't need to cook!

Saturday: Grilling time! If the weather fails us and it's cooler, then it's BBQ-glazed chicken drummies, mashed potatoes, and salad

Sunday: Minestrone soup (using all my leftover veggies), garlic bread, crisp Romaine salad with cheddar and toasted almonds

Lunch of the week: It's all about the party leftovers, for a variation, we also have some spaghetti noodles cooked to go with our choice of pasta sauce (still have lots of the freebies from Ragu back in March)

Breakfast of the week: Yogurt, Cereal, granola bars, oatmeal - I'm sticking to easy stuff this week

Dessert of the week: Banana Nut Bread

Time to Restock the Cereal Shelves

2010-05-12T14:31:00.003-05:00

Cereal.

What do you think of when you hear that word? When I was younger (much younger), cereal was a treat - we had cereal once in a rare blue moon. Being raised by a single mom with 3 kids, and half the neighborhood eating at our place, that might have something to do with it.

Then, before I started couponing, cereal was a siphon in my wallet, carefully, thoroughly sucking out the few dollars I had for our weekly grocery shopping. Hey, regular priced cereal costs more per pound than meat or produce - and you can't stretch it as far. Believe me, I've tried.

Now, cereal is funny. It's hilarious. It's almost an event. Sometimes it's even a joke.

The conversation starts like this:

"I think I want something to nibble on." (DH)
"Hmmmm..." (me, distracted by the tv, a good book, magazine, or playing on the computer) "cookies?"
DH shakes his head
"Leftovers?" I reply, raising an eyebrow
DH laughs
"Cereal?" Knowing full well he wouldn't go for my first two options, didn't matter what they were. Oh, and there were no cookies, anyway.
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking." Like I could hear his thoughts from across the room - they just took some time getting to me. Might've got lost somewhere around the edge of the coffee table.

Then comes the long pause. (Don't worry, I was wiating for it.) DH ambles into the kitchen. "Which one?" Here's why I find it funny:

Once upon a time, there was no concept of which one - there was one box, and it was usually almost-empty. Now, there are more than a dozen different kinds on hand at all times. Hubby scratches his wondering for a few seconds, before finally deciding which one and going down to the pantry in the basement to get it. Though, in most scenarios, he'll offer to grab me a fresh box of cereal too. (Since our tastes are rather different - me = Honey Bunches of Oats....him = Froot Loops.)

Now, there's a killer sale at Dominicks on cereal. Not that I really need more, but at these prices, I can't pass it up. I can get Captain Crunch for $.40 a box. There are other deals to be had, but for that one alone - I'll be out shopping.

Got to love my funny, frugal life...
Oh, and for details on the cheap cereal - go HERE.

I'm A Body Wash Addict

2010-05-11T08:21:00.002-05:00

I know it sounds a little crazy, but I'm a body wash addict. I truly am. I love getting the newest flavor/scent to come out, and I love trying all the different variations that have hit the market. And, thankfully, coupons allow me my addiction. Even though I have more than a dozen free bottles of Suave left, that hasn't stopped me from grabbing a few more brands and scents to pick from.

Last night, I grabbed a bottle of Nivea from Target and last week it was a bottle of Nivea from WalGreens and a bottle of SoftSoap body wash from WalGreens (it was only $.99) in a lovely Sweet Honeysuckle scent. I know I need to be stopped, but I can't get over all the delicious choices that are available. Who could honestly resist? Obviously, not me...

When I was putting away the new bottles of body wash last night and noticed that I have 15-20 different scents to choose from - I had to laugh. No two were the same scent/brand. From Cashmere to Pomegranate, from Cucumber Melon to Peach Silk - I've got a crazy, amazing variety to pick from. Now, when I get to pick the next one to try, I'll probably spend 15-20 minutes trying to decide which one I'm "in the mood" for. I'm worse than a kid at a candy store!

It's a good thing that we have two separate vanities cabinets in the master bathroom - I'm going to have to turn one of them into a place to store my burgeoning body wash collection. It's a good thing I coupon, or I'd have invested a fortune into my addiction. And my current bottle of Suave's Wild Cherry Blossom is almost gone! I'll admit that I'm pondering which one to pick next...

Tell me - what do you love to buy? And, do coupons help make your addiction affordable?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-05-10T07:21:00.002-05:00

Mother's Day Brunch was a wonderful success - so successful that there are hardly any leftovers! Only a meal worth of hashbrowns is left in my fridge, so this meal plan I have to start from scratch.

Monday: Homemade pizza, salad
Tuesday: Bib-lettuce salad topped with chicken, crumbled mozzarella, and homemade croutons
Wednesday: Dinner at DaMamas
Thursday: Cream of mushroom soup (I'm making it from scratch), homemade biscuits, salad
Friday: Tacos with all the fixins, chips and guacamole/salsa
Saturday: Date-night
Sunday: Graduation Party for DH! I'll post the full menu for that tomorrow.

Breakfast of the week: Frittata & hashbrowns, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal. Plenty of choices there!

Lunch of the week: sammies, tacos, or soup

Dessert of the week: Cookies - I'll bake some tonight.

Stamp Out Hunger & Couponing for your Community

2010-05-07T08:18:00.002-05:00

Have you heard that tomorrow is Stamp Out Hunger Day? What is that and what does it mean? Stamp Out Hunger is a nation-wide movement to help restock our food pantries and empower each community to help stamp out hunger. What makes it even better - your postman will be picking up donations of non-perishable items to help fill local food pantries across the country! How much easier can it get? All you have to do is put together a bag or two of non-perishables and leave them by the mailbox tomorrow.

Couponing for Community is also promoting a rally for all couponers to donate some of their well-shopped goodies to help fight hunger in your local community. All I can say is - I'm all in! Let's see if the power of couponers (and women) working together can make a difference where we need it most - locally.

Or, just share how you donate to family, friends, community, etc. to help combat hunger. Tell me - where do you donate? How do you donate? What do you prefer to donate? Is this a favorite cause of yours?

For me, I donate first to family and friends - I like to think that what I give helps keep a family or two from needing state-run services. I also donate to the food pantry monthly - my goal is to donate $5 or less in items and I mostly give freebies that I've overstocked on, though I do give family first pick of the goodies. I try to give 20-30 items each month, more when my stockpile is overflowing. I also donate unneeded household items to Goodwill - that I do seasonally (5-6 times per year or as often as I try to weed out, clean up, or make space).

For me, helping the food pantry is a very near-and-dear-to-my-heart cause. I want to see this country stamp out hunger across the nation and the only way we can do that is by working together. The greatest part to me is, it doesn't have to cost a fortune to help. As we've seen - through amazing coupon deals - it shouldn't cost us more than a few dollars. And what may seem small at first, will have a huge impact if we work together!

A Night on the Frugal Side

2010-05-06T08:38:00.002-05:00

I heard through a few blogging buddies that Lane Bryant was offering a free camisole (no purchase required), so last night, DaMama and I went out to do a little shopping.

We needed to go to a neighboring town to pick up some thread for a sewing project of hers and conveniently, a Lane Bryant is in that same plaza! We used a coupon for 40% off to pick up the thread (a savings of $2.51), and while we were browsing around, looking at different materials, I found some beautiful denim with cream colored, scrolling stitiching on it - that was 50% off! While that was a good price, we didn't realize until we got to the cutting table that it was ringing up 75% off!! For that price, we took all the fabric that was left. It's going to make some amazingly cute (and sturdy) re-usable shopping bags. I've already placed my order with DaMama for another set of bags. I just cannot seem to have enough of them!

Then we popped in to Lane Bryant and each grabbed a free camisole (regular retail price of $19.50!). The girls at the register we also handing out couposn for 40% off one regular priced item, which came in handy, too. I have been eying their new johnny-colored tee shirts for a few weeks now, and with that extra percent off, I treated myself to a $15.00 splurge of a new, pretty tee.

After Lane Bryant, we popped in to Butera on the way home and I picked up deli-style chunks of cheese for $1.98 lb. (munster and mozzarella), a small package of chicken breast ($1.59 lb.), some chicken leg quarters ($.69 lb.), some $1.69 lb. Italian sausage (bulk or rope style), and a small loaf of garlic bread ($.99). The cheese, chicken, and sausage are great staples to have on hand for making homemade pizzas, and the bread was put to use right away for dinner last night. I also scored a container of heavy cream (8 oz.) for only $.79 - this will come in handy for the chicken and gnocchi soup - I'm doing my take on Olive Garden's classic soup for Mother's Day Brunch.

My total spending for the night was only $37.28 for a camisole, tee-shirt, pizza toppings that will last us 3-4 months (if we make pizza every week), chicken that can double in a lot of recipes, and enough fabric for a fabulous pair of shopping bags that will be able to withstand the use I plan to get out of them.

We had dinner at DaMama's - tomato basil penne with ground turkey and mushrooms (most of ingredients were free from stockpile), watched some TV, and talked to my sister on the phone.

Later on last night, I started a load of laundry after 11pm (cheaper rates - check with your electrical company on what are your off-peak hours are for maximum savings), and started the dishwasher after 11 pm, too.

I'll post pictures of the new bags as soon as they are done (probably in a week or two) - I am so excited to see the finished result!

Trading Up

2010-05-05T08:24:00.002-05:00

Has anyone else noticed this trend, or maybe it's just me...

Some of the most common examples for me are: when you invite someone over and somehow your invitation becomes interpreted (and I use this word loosely) to mean going out...often at your expense. Or when you hear someone saying that while they like your/someone else's sentiment, they would really prefer something more meaningful (read: expensive, high quality, etc. etc. - and half the time they name the brand, store, eatery, etc. that they would prefer). I don't know if this is simply a rash of bad manners, or if people really feel that entitled to your's or someone elses's money that this seems perfectly acceptable. I call this trend: Trading Up.

My first irritant: anniversary parties that morph into the couple renewing their vows, dressed as if it's their first wedding, and they expect gifts. Nothing sentimental there when I read that they were not registered anywhere, they prefer monetary gifts. While I planned to attend the event (for lack of a better word) and give a small token to the couple, when I read the part about monetary gifts only, I was not only shocked, but more than a bit put-off. I'm so embarrassed for the couple, to be so rude - am I the only one that thinks that? Am I old-fashioned for thinking that a gift is what someone chooses to give you, not what you tell someone to give?

My most common irritant: dinner, lunch, brunch, etc. invitation that people decide to set their own time frame for/change the venue entirely - sometimes on the day of. Yes, this has happened, more times that I care to remember. It's almost become the norm now - to invite over a couple or some friends and have them tell you what time they'll be coming - even though your invitation clearly stated when you had asked them over. I wouldn't mind someone asking if I could change the start time, but I am a little fed-up with people that tell me when the start time would be. Often, I'll invite a group/couple over for dinner and what happens is they somehow interpret this as us all going out to dinner at a (typically expensive) restaurant that they have chosen, occasionally with additional guests included (by the other group/couple) and the additional guests do not expect to pay.

Am I within my rights as a hostess to get fed-up with these behaviors? With Mother's Day looming large around the corner, I'm waiting for that to happen. While I love to hostess an event (and I'm eagerly anticipating hostessing a lovely Mother's Day Brunch) and have held many events successfully, I find that some guests are so accustomed to being catered to, that the invitation given gets re-interpreted to suit their lifestyle, rather than being accepted or politely declined at face-value.

Tell me, has this happened to you? Have you witnessed Trading Up? I'd love to hear your stories!

Mother's Day Brunch Menu

2010-05-04T09:18:00.004-05:00

I'm hosting a Mother's Day Brunch this year - and I'm getting so excited! I've never hosted a true "brunch" before, so I've evaluated a few of my favorite recipes, grabbed some amazing ideas off the food network (naturally...I love that channel!), and I think I'm ready to tackle this event. It was hard trying to narrow down my choices, but in the end - I think I've paired a few rich and savory favorites with a few sweet and light options.

Most of my hosting experience lies with holiday dinners (rich and traditional favorites), backyard BBQ's (tons of easy options in that category), or smallish dinner parties (just whip out an old favorite or two with some nice bread and salad), so creating the menu has been challenging - I don't want the meal to be too heavy, but I don't want anyone going home unsatisfied.

So, tell me - how does this sound? I've also itemized how much this brunch will cost - and if these seems like a lot of options, I've invited my mother, DH's mother, DH's aunts (3-4 of them), DH's grandmother, and their families. The exact number is around 18-22 people. I won't know until Thursday-Friday how many people to expect.

Chicken & Gnocchi Soup (will post this recipe tomorrow - have to find it first)

Boston Spinach Salad $3.15

Tea Sandwiches $1.67

Munster and Sausage Frittata $2.62 (will make a double batch)

Hashbrowns $1.80 (will make a double batch)

White Chocolate Raspberry Scones $2.12

Banana Nut Bread $1.83

Grapes ($2.00)
Fresh strawberries ($1.50)
Coffee, tea, juice = $8.00

I'm currently at $24.69 for this entire meal (not including soup), but if I don't need to double up on some recipes, I'll make the soup - it's rich, but a little goes a very long way. It would pair nicely with the tea sandwiches and the salad, and the white chocolate raspberry scones - I think those will steal the show! Ever since I learned how to make scones - they've been at the top of my favorites list! Elegant, sweet, and savory - here's hoping this event will be a success!

So tell me, what are you doing for your mother or what do you hope someone is doing for you on Mother's Day?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-05-03T08:18:00.002-05:00

Getting ready to kick off another week - with a brunch on Sunday in honor of Mother's Day. I'll post my Mother's Day brunch menu tomorrow - I just want to tweak a few favorite recipes for the occasion. For the rest of the week - here's what we're eating:

Monday: Grilled cheese and tomato soup (trying to use up milk that expires tomorrow)
Tuesday: Caribbean Jerk marinated grilled chicken, fried rice, salad
Wednesday: Happy Cinqo de Mayo!! Tacos with all the fixin's, red rice, beans, chips and guacamole
Thursday: Swiss and mushroom omelets, fresh berries, toast, hashbrowns
Friday: Homemade chicken nuggets, Pasta-Roni, salad, corn
Saturday: Chinese takeout
Sunday: Mother's Day Brunch

Dessert of the week: Chocolate chip cookies
Breakfast of the week: Cereal, cinnamon raisin toast, yogurt, egg sammies
Lunch of the week: Leftover spaghetti, fried rice with stirfried veggies, or tacos

100+ Free Cans of Soup from Jewel

2010-04-29T08:16:00.002-05:00

The last two days were a whirlwind of Jewel catalina shopping! Their $25/$10 (spend $25 get $10 in coupons OYNO) was insane! The Healthy Choice soups, normally $2.80 each, were on sale for $1 a piece! How did that work out? It worked out to 11 transactions, 105 free cans of soup, a few free cans of spaghetti sauce, 2 free bottles of Lipton 1.5L tea (I'm hopelessly addicted to those! My biggest weakness...), 6 reusable bags filled to the brim, and a pair of tired couponers!

Can you believe I did all that in a little more than 24 hours? I can't. Imagine if I had my sorry butt motivated earlier on in the sale? I'd have double that number of soup, I'd guess. I spoke to my sister last night and told her what I'd gathered, that I hoped she could use a few more cans of soup. I've already sent a half dozen home with DaMama - my mom, co-conspirator, couponing buddy, and inspiration extraordinare.

Heck, we were so good, we erven got it all put away last night, too. After a big shopping trip like that, I tend to get lazy about putting it all away. Usually, I wait until the weekend and put away stuff while working on laundry. It's a good feeling to know that it's all organized (by flavor), put away on the shelf (in order of expiration date), and it's one less job to do another day.

Tonight - I'll probably pop into Dominick's on the way home to grab some Kraft salad dressing ($.99 - limit three) with some expired coupons and see if I can do a little stacking action. Nothing wrong with that!

Meal Plan Monday

2010-04-26T08:41:00.004-05:00

I've got tons of bread on hand this week, so that will form nearly half the meals that I'm making. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate for grilling this past weekend - so, I have to start from scratch on meals this week. Here's how it's looking:

Monday: Garlic baked chicken, angel hair pasta, garlic bread, salad
Tuesday: Ginger Stirfry, fried rice (this has quickly become a staple in our meal rotation)
Wednesday: Fancy French Toast, fresh fruit, ham, juice
Thursday: Homemade pizza, salad, garlic bread
Friday: Spaghetti, garlic bread
Saturday: DH's turn to cook (and plan!)
Sunday: TBD

Breakfast of the week: Cereal, bananas, egg sammies (with Sourdough English muffins), yogurt, granola bars

Lunch of the week: Sandwiches! And for some variety, I'll boil some pasta tonight to toss with jarred sauce to give us some choices.

Dessert of the week: Brownies

Frugal Finds - Perfect Second-Hand Dresser

2010-04-24T14:31:00.002-05:00

DH & I moved into a great 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom townhouse last spring and have been slowly getting things to finish our new space. The dressers we had at the last house were in bad condition (Ikea-made and falling apart), so we offered those up for free on craigslist and found takers for both - but we have been fueling more money to our savings and haven't found a dresser that we liked enough to pay for. Luckily, my in-laws were looking to get rid of a simple 6-drawer, white dresser that they no longer had space for. It works perfectly for us. It fits in the closet, right under the shelves and clothing bar. It even matches the same (boring...) white style that's already in place. I love it! And I won't have to keep hunting for my socks - an even bigger bonus.

Also, they bought new living-room furniture (from the same place we did a few months back), and were kind enough to offer us their old stuff, since we were looking for basement furniture. Unfortunately, the big sofa won't even fit down our basement stairs (we've listed that on craigslist now to see if we can find a new home for it), and I'm sure by next week, the sofa will have found a new home and we'll have added some dollars to our furniture fund. We've also added a coffee table (that I hope to be able to give to my sister next time she comes to visit), and a reading chair for the master bedroom.

I'm slowly seeing the home come together. This morning, DH & I went to Menards to grab some replacement shelves for our big bookcases - the cheap particle-board was warping from the weight of actual books, so they had to be replaced. For less than the cost of a single bookshelf - we've made 3 bookshelves fully functional again. The best part? Being able to find the book I want when I actually want to read it!

All these home improvements and we haven't even spent $50! And, we're keeping stuff out of the trash, garbage, landfill, etc. etc. etc. It feels good to save money and help the planet - even if it's only on a small scale. For our entertainment tonight, we're off to Half-Price Books and I'll see what good reads I can snap up in the clearance section - why buy a book new when it reads just the same when its used?

How has your weekend been? Any good projects done on the cheap? Any planet-saving tips to share?

Lawry's Marinades - $.25 or less at Jewel

2010-04-23T08:30:00.003-05:00

The Jewel Lawry's catalina is officially rolling - I bought my first 2 transactions worth on my way to work this morning - while there was still some teriyaki on the shelf - but, not for long! The Herb & Garlic was already empty, so there must be other houds in my vicinity that picked it clean of that flavor long before I got to the store.

Here's what I spent:
4 Lawry's Marinades
-$.50/1 Q
Spent: $3.23
Saved: $9.32

Transaction #2
4 Lawry's Marinades
-$3.00 OYNO cat that printed out from the first order
OOP: $1.10 (I hate how high the taxes are!)
Saved: $11.52

Total OOP: $4.33
Total Saved: $20.84

I can live with that. I hope to get another 12-16 bottles - to get me stocked up for the BBQ season again! My supply from last year is pretty sparce - just a few of te funkier flavors left (Mesquite Lime, Mexican Chile & Lime, etc.). All my basics are gone: teriyaki, garlic & herb, lemon pepper, etc.

Jewel Shopping Starting Tomorrow

2010-04-21T08:17:00.002-05:00

Jewel's got some decent deals starting tomorrow with a $25/$10 Conagra catalina deal starting, then on April 23rd, the Lawry's Marinade catalina starts running! And you know me - I love a good marinade! With all the summer grilling we'll be doing, it's never to early to get stocked up for a fun-filled, BBQ-every-weekend, try-some-funky-fresh recipes summer!

A big thank you to Couponing for 4 for all the great deals!

Want a new twist with a marinade? Try this:

Tangy Tacos with Lime

2/3 C. Mesquite Lime Marinade (free after coupons)
1/2 tsp. cumin ($.10)
1 medium onion, finely chopped ($.15)
1 lb. ground meat (beef or chicken would work, I use ground turkey) ($1.00)
2 cloves garlic, minced ($.15)

In a large skillet, add onions and ground meat, cook together until meat is browned and onion is tender and translucent. Add in cumin and garlic, cook an additional 2-3 minutes to incorporate. Stir in marinade and cook 3-5 minutes until the meat absorbs the liquid.

Serve with shredded lettuce, salsa, cheese, refried beans, and tortillas.
Cilantro is optional.

Yields = 4 servings
Cost: $1.40
Cost per serving: $.35 per serving
This is easily a meal under $5 to feed a family of 4! The best part is - it's absolutely brimming with lots of fresh flavors, and ready in under 30 minutes!

Colonial Cafe - $.50 Ice Cream Cones

2010-04-20T07:57:00.002-05:00

My good friends over at Colonial Cafe are going it again - $.50 ice cream cones for the month of April! Last year, they ran this special in July and I was there almost daily! The ice cream is simply amazing, if you're a butter pecan fan - Colonial's is the best I've ever had. Such a graet treat for the kids, for the adults, just a little something to brighten everyone's day - after all...who said you have to have dinner before having ice cream?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-04-19T08:51:00.002-05:00

This is going to be an easy week due to some crazy schedules! DH is out of town for the first 2 days, has class the next two days, and he and I will finally have dinner together Friday. So, I'll be solo for Monday-Thursday. To keep me focused (and out of drive-through), here's my meal plan:

Monday: Fancy French Toast, sausage, strawberries
Tuesday - Szechuan pork with fried rice (leftover from Date Night Saturday)
Wedesday: Leftover spaghetti (from office lunch Monday), garlic bread, salad
Thursday - dinner at DaMama's
Friday - Ginger Stirfry, fried rice
Saturday - Grilled chicken teriyaki, angel hair pasta (Pasta-Roni), salad

UBP - The After-Party Wrap

2010-04-17T23:18:00.003-05:00

It's been a whirlwind of blogs this past week - I visited dozens if not hundreds of new blogs and found many new sources of inspiration in my favorite areas: frugal living, cooking, baking, couponing, eco-friendly, and organizing. This was my first year participating in the Ultimate Blog Party, I had so much fun and can't wait to participate in next year's event. For now, I'm eager to read the new blogs I'm following and though I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite, here are a few of the new blogs I'm inspired by:

But I had a coupon... - The title of this is a phrase I've said countless times! With tons of good deals and coupons posted, I must admit - I'll be back again and again.

Life's A Beach - I love the open, honest approach Bridgett takes to life. It's so refreshing!

Chicago Mommy - Lots of local deals makes this blog a winner to me!

I do want to give 4 Hats and Frugal a special thank you - I stumbled onto the Ultimate Blog Party after reading one of her posts and I have had such a blast!

Flavorful Friday - A Weekend Full of Flavor

2010-04-16T08:43:00.003-05:00

Just a few thoughts for a flavorful weekend:

1. It's easy to order a pizza, but a homemade pizza (even with a not-so-homemade crust) is so much tastier! And, you don't get charged extra for the toppings...

2. In the mood for some awesome sammies? Check out this post on my other blog, Chicago's Cookbook on making your own deli meat at home. The difference is in the price and the flavor!

3. Feeling a little lazy? Take a cake mix, and turn it into a fabulous batch of bars. The amazing thing? This is a lowfat recipe, sure to tantalize your tastebuds at every turn. And, who doesn't have a few cake mixes laying around?

Double Chocolate Brownies
Vanilla Nut Swirl Bars

4. A simple smoothie is but a blender away! Add your favorite fruit, yogurt, juice, and splash of milk and you've got a great, healthy dessert that you and your kids can enjoy!

5. Treat yourself...to some valuable time at home. With all the rushing around during the week, it's time to relax, kick back, play a board game, talk to your family, read a book/magazine/newspaper until the fireflies are twinkling in the yard. Then, it's time to go catch some! No fireflies yet? Watch a movie that you've been meaning to see. There is always something fun to do!

What are your Flavorful Friday favorites?

Cookie Crumbs...

2010-04-15T08:32:00.003-05:00

I love cookies. I do. In this world of healthy-eating, weight-losing, ab-firming, strengthen-your-inner-core views, I feel like a drunk stumbling into an AA meeting, muttering incoherently to themselves. To admit that you adore eating something as sinfully simple and sweet as cookie, which is the antithesis of healthy, organic, nutritious - you feel like you're steeping out on that limb alone. The only thing that's worse, is shopping for premade cookies.

What makes it more frustrating: my hubby loves store-bought cookies. Yep, he is the Oreo King. As long as it's not minty, he'll eat it. Which leaves me, as the primary shopper (and not a big fan of Oreos anyway), the one that gets to buy them. This typically isn't a problem - I look at the price of Oreos, have a good chuckle, and reason that until they go on sale, he ain't getting any. Oreo's, I mean. What were you thinking?

This week, Dominicks has them on sale, I can get the mini oreos in the 8 oz. snack pack for $.50 a pack. Now, I get to be the crazy lady in the grocery store with a dozen bags of Oreos in her cart, maybe more (I've got loads of coupons). When kids with their parents see what I'm buying, inevitably I hear - "but Mom, why can't we get some Oreos?" This is swiftly followed by a dirty look from the mom, whose probably thinking something along the lines of "How can you let your kid(s) eat that junk?" When, in fact, I am offering them to a grown man.

Personally, I prefer the soft cookie. You know - the kind that if you bought at the store you'd spend as much on as a pound of meat. Or the kind that you have to spend time in the kitchen to make: atl east an hour or two, that come out of the oven just oozing with chocolaty goodness. Or the sweet tang of cinnamon/ginger/nutmeg/citrus fills the air. The kidd of cookies I grew up on. As you can tell, I had a stay-at-home mom, where hubby's mom worked - therefor: him = Oreos. Me = homemade cookies.

With all the refrigerated cookie dough, it's easy to have an almost homemade cookie, without all that time-consuming stuff, like actually making the dough and dropping by rounded spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. But, I resent paying for work that I am more than capable of doing myself. I can have several kinds of cookies for the price of one tube of cookie dough. In fact, I have never bought refrigerated cookie dough - I object to it on principal. But, I make a double batch of dough, and pop half into the fridge for my next cookie craving, but I digress...

So far, I haven't met a soft cookie I didn't like. My thighs will attest to that. Loudly, in fact, don't let them get started, I don't want my butt to join in.

And I love variety. I have a cabinet full of extract flavors from vanilla and almond to coconut and chocolate, I even found coffee extract. Delish! There is nothing like building a cookie from scratch. From Oatmeal Island Cookies to White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies to a simple Chocolate Chip Cookie, I can't fathom why Oreo's are the way the cookie crumbles....

Tell me - how do your cookies crumble? What is your favorite, your family's favorite, the one cookie you simply could not live without?

Deals at Dominick's starting 4/15-4/21

2010-04-14T08:18:00.004-05:00

I finally got the ads early (the ones starting Thursday) and had 10 minutes to look over where the cheap eats are - looks like my pals at Dominicks got my back this week! Here are the highlights:

Nabisco snacks (4-8 oz.) $10/10 - use $1/2 EXPIRED coupons from Back to School booklet = $.50 per bag

PopTarts - $1 (WYB in multiples of 5) - use $1/2 blinkie coupons EXPIRED = $.50 a box

Rice-A-Roni $.99 - use EXPIRED coupon for $1/4 to get these for $.74 each (not rockbottom, but a decent enough price)

$.99 lb. green grapes

$1.99 lb. 80% lean ground beef - not a bad price for this, I hate to say

My First Giveaway: Double Stranded Necklace

2010-04-12T20:33:00.007-05:00

Time to get your sparklies on - after all, this is a party!

Just in time for summer, check out this pretty handcrafted necklace of 4 mm amethyst-dyed pearls, transparent, Czech glass, and Japanese, amber-hued, twisted bugle beads finished with a surgical steel clasp in gold.

Want to win this? It's super easy!

You get one entry into the giveaway for each comment you leave (limit 1 per day) and another entry for being a follower. In your comment, include your email address and tell me what part of summer you're looking forward to the most. The winner will be chosen April 19th at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Good luck everyone!

Frugal Party Tips: Reduce, Reuse Recycle

2010-04-12T14:49:00.002-05:00

From décor to dinner, from beverages to basics – I’ve got loads of tips to entertain at home without breaking the bank.

My tips to live by: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Reduce: How much you spend. I can’t think of anyone how wouldn’t want to reduce what they spend while throwing a fabulous party. The tricky part is it looking like you spent top dollar when really, all you did was a little planning. If you have the time to plan ahead (roughly 4-8 weeks is best), you’ll be able to pull off a fabulous party for any occasion while staying easily within your budget.

Reuse: What you already have one hand – this how you get amazing décor without reaching into your wallet. Christmas lights – love those mini white lights – they turn a BBQ into a garden party. String those around a gazebo-style tent, along your balcony, deck, patio, etc. and you’ve instantly set the mood. Reuse an oversize platter by adding a similar-hued and shaped bowl in the center for an instant chip and dip tray that looks elegant. Put out cookies in a large mixing bowl for a down-home feel – whatever the mood you’re going for, I’m sure you have half the décor items right in your own cupboards.

Reuse is not just reserved for decorating, though. Reuse an ordinary ingredient to turn a simple dish into an amazing entrée, salad, or side. Here’s how:

Turn a simple pasta into an amazing entrée by only adding color. Here’s how: with a marinara or red sauce, top with parmesan (or if you’re low on that, half parmesan and half fine bread crumbs) with a generous helping of parsley. Top any pasta and sauce with cheese, bake for 5-10 minutes (long enough for the cheese to melt) and serve. Works best on shorter noodles, but trust me, this instantly dresses up pasta. If you’re doing an Alfredo sauce, add a pinch of color. My favorites: finely diced red bell pepper, chopped, dry-packed sun-dried tomato, or even some shredded spinach toss into the mix.

For a salad, add interest with dried fruit or sun-dried tomatoes. To punch up flavor, add a pinch or two of a complimentary dried herb.

For meat, serve with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, julienned bell pepper, or a simple sauce.

Top ordinary (even boxed mashed potatoes!) with parsley, fancy garlic salt, or a sprinkling of cheese. Pop in the oven to turn the top a lovely golden brown and serve. Remember, to be fancy, it only needs to look fancy.

For a baked good, this is even easier. Alongside a store-bought coffee cake, place a handful or two of plump berries, either at the base of the coffee cake (or any cake, really), or sprinkle a few on top. If they’re on the menu anyway, why not use them as part of the display?

Recycle: Old recipes with a twist. A cake stand becomes a stand for your fancy salad bowl on a buffet line. Anything can be made over, all you have to do is look at it from a different perspective. Not so easy? Ask for someone else’s opinion – especially kids. They naturally see things differently than we do.

How to recycle an old recipe: Swap out one key ingredients for something that serves the same purpose. Oatmeal raisin cookies become oatmeal craisin cookies, swap out one extract, spice, marinade, etc. etc. for another. My mom made If’N cookies growing up – if and she had the right stuff, they would’ve been something else! This idea even works for the main course: like a pork recipe, but all you’ve got is chicken? Boy, does that happen to me – I just swap out one cut of meat for the other. I do match bone in with bone in, boneless with boneless, but sometimes you invent a new family favorite that way.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a frugal girl’s best friend – especially when she’s in the kitchen. Nothing says a great party like a fabulous spread, and with these tips – you are more than sure to have one!

Meal Plan Monday

2010-04-12T08:01:00.006-05:00

It's that time of the week again - I've (quickly) eyed what's left in our fridge for meal-building and this should be a pretty easy week. With lots of cheese, deli meat, salad fixin's, leftover grilled chicken - I'm looking at tons of meal options without spending hours in the kitchen - it doesn't get better than that!

Monday - Pizza! Topped with Italian sausage, mushrooms, and smoked provolone. We didn't get to this last week, so it's been rolled over to today. No complaints here!

Tuesday - Chicken club sammies on Italian bread, salad, and oven roasted potatoes (leftover from last week)

Wednesday - Angel hair parmesan with grilled chicken (the pasta comes courtesy of Pasta-Roni and is tossed with leftover grileld chicken), garden salad

Thursday - dinner at DaMama's

Friday - Tortas Cubana, fresh fruit, and chips and guacamole

Saturday - Date Night on the Dollar (We have a $20 budget for date this week - let's see how much fun we can have on the cheap!)

Sunday - Caribbean Jerk Pork Chops on the grill, fried rice, mandarin orange slices, and tortillas (whether permitting for the grilling, of course)

Dessert of the week: Oatmeal Island Cookies

Lunch of the week: Grilled chicken with rice or sammies

Breakfast of the week: Blueberry bagels (on sale at bread thrift shop for $.75 for a 5 ct. pkg.!), cereal

Party Planning: Master of the Marinade

2010-04-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

I love hosting a party, and lucky for me - I have tons of reasons to host them! From Christmas cookie exchanges to work office luncheons, to backyard BBQ's and holidays feasts, I've tackled a little bit of everything. Here is one of my tried and true rules: Master the Marinade.

A marinade if a basic available in any budget range, for any cut of meat, fish, seafood, or hardy veggie. With lots of time or little time, here's how to select and make the perfect marinade for you.

1. Consider the amount of time you have to marinade your meat. If you have 12-24 hours, consider a mild marinade. Some of my favorites include ginger, garlic, or onion based marinade or even Italian salad dressing - it's a absolute dream as a marinade - love a condiment that pulls double-duty!

If you have 6-10 hours, consider a marinade with a light amount of citrus - this will help tenderize a tougher or less flavorful cut of meat in shorter amount of time. For fish and seafood, stick to milder marinades or shorter amount of time to marinade - let a cut of meat marinade too long and the meat dissolves too much in the marinade.

If you have 2-6 hours, use a marinade with a lot of soy sauce or citrus. This will quickly tenderize a cut of meat and leave a flavorful punch. Some of the basics include teriyaki (pineapple-soy sauce blend), lemon pepper, or Caribbean Jerk.

With a half dozen pantry staples and some spices, you have everything you need to whip up some of the common marinades right in your own kitchen.

Asian Ginger Sesame Marinade

1/2 C. soy sauce
2 T. olive oil or peanut oil
2 tsp. sesame seeds
3 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder or salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. molasses

In a small canning jar, add all ingredients and shake to combine thoroughly.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days before using.
Yields - 1 batch of marinade (enough for 3-4 lbs. of meat)
Goes great on beef stew meat, pork or beef ribs, bone-in chicken breast
Italian Garlic Marinade (6-10 hours - longer for less tender cuts of meat)

1/4 C. vinegar (distilled, white wine, or balsamic)
2 T. lemon juice
3 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 T. dry minced onion
1 T. basil
1/4 tsp. fennel seed (optional)
1 tsp. corn starch
1 T. sugar

In a small canning jar, add all ingredients and shake to combine thoroughly.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days before using.
Yields - 1 batch of marinade (enough for 3-4 lbs. of meat)
Great for: chicken, tougher cuts of beef, and

Lemon Pepper Marinade (2-6 hour marinade)

1/3 C. lemon juice
1-2 T. brown sugar
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 T. olive oil
1/4 tsp. paprika

In a small canning jar, add all ingredients and shake to combine thoroughly.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days before using.
Yields - 1 batch of marinade (enough for 3-4 lbs. of meat)
Goes well on pork chops, chicken breast, and pork steaks

Smoky Orange Marinade (2-6 hour marinade)

1/4 C. orange juice
3 T. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dry minced onion
1 T. olive oil
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. hickory smoked salt (optional)

In a small canning jar, add all ingredients and shake to combine thoroughly.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days before using.
Yields - 1 batch of marinade (enough for 3-4 lbs. of meat)
I love to use this on chicken drummies - packs a flavorful punch with a smoky hint at the end.

If you are a couponer, start looking for marinades to be on sale starting next month - and combine with coupons from your Sunday newspaper - you can get some of the Lawry's bottled marinades, or Weber/McCormick marinade packets on sale for next to nothing. I'm still using the marinades I grabbed last year (check your expiration dates if purchasing in large quantities) for mere pennies.

Welcome to the Party!

2010-04-09T07:53:00.007-05:00

Check out my beautiful handcrafted necklace giveaway!

This week, I'm joining the Ultimate Blog Party! For my new readers, it's great to have you here, my name is Annie and I love to entertain on a budget. From a backyard BBQ to a delicious dinner party - I've got recipes, tips, and ideas to make entertaining a snap for any budget. Here are a few of my favorite posts and recipes for parties:

BBQ on a Budget

Game Day Favorites

Easy, Basic Biscotti

Brunch on a Budget

Easy Frittata Recipe

Master of the Marinade

Frugal Party Tips

Each day, I'll post about great party tips, budget-friendly party menus, easy and adaptable recipes, and all the ways to squeeze a little more party bang out of your dollar. With summer and graduation season right around the corner, I can hardly wait to get started!

Check out all the great giveaways listed over at 5 Minutes for Mom and let's get this party started! Go check out this great post by 4 Hats and Frugal - she is such an amazing inspiration!

http://4hatsandfrugal.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-2010-blog-party.html

Entertaining on the Cheap

2010-04-08T08:53:00.004-05:00

DH is finishing up his school program in May and I'm planning a party for him. His field of study is the paralegal program offered at a local college, and in 2 years, he has nearly completed the program. His final classes end in the middle of May. Since he has opted out of the graduation ceremony, I've decided he'll at least get a small backyard, BBQ type of party to commemorate finishing this stage of schooling.

Using the reasoning that a small townhouse isn't big enough to host a party, I've enlisted my mother-in-law to help with this shindig and we'll hold the get-together at her house. After all, he's definitely mama's favorite! Here's what I'm thinking for a full-flavor, frugalicious fun for $25...

MENU - to feed 20-25 people Cost: $25 or less

Chicken and hotdogs/sausage on the grill ($8 - that's all I'll spend out of pocket on meat - I think I can manage that and I've got tons of free marinades to use)
Baked Pasta (1 large pan or 2 smaller pans - got everything, so FREE)
Garden salad ($3 - I'll grab whatever is on sale the week of)
Beans & Rice ($2-$3 I've got everything to make the rice, so I just need a large bag of pinto beans)
Baked Bean Casserole (got everything so FREE)
Tortillas & Buns ($5 - 6-8 dozen tortillas and 3-5 pkgs. buns)
Condiments (got 'em - I've got loads of stuff for this! FREE)
Chips, dip, crackers ($5 - good tortilla chips, dip, guacamole)
Cake (DaMama has offered to bake 2 cakes - yippee)
Cookies & bars (got all the ingredients for them, so FREE)

My mother-in-law has offered to supply the beverages, which I'm so glad, that tends to be the most expensive part of the get together, but I'll bring Southern-style sweet tea and a couple canisters of lemonade mix, to help round out the water and soda.

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for deals like $.50 hotdogs, $.49 chicken leg quarters, and any deal on sausage I can get. I'll probably roll some cats that are about to expire into bags of dried pinto beans, to help bring down the cost a little more, too. I'll scan for deals on sour cream (for dip) when we get down to the last 3-4 weeks before the party. By zeroing in on a menu now, I have time to get everything for the price I want. It's easy to entertain on a budget, but it requires strategy and planning. Always know what you want before you shop! If I have any $$ leftover, I'll grab potatoes for potato salad or a package of ribs. Let's see how the dollars go.

Any frugal ideas on rounding out the party? My budget is $25 for all the food and drink that I'm bringing. I think I can do this - fun, frugal, and fabulous!!

Coffee Creamer Mania - any ideas?

2010-04-07T08:50:00.002-05:00

I was organizing my fridge (after wishing and praying for it to happen automatically and nothing doing) and noticed I have a bit of a collection of coffee creamers. From Belgian chocolate to honey vanilla to Southern Butter Pecan to Parisian Almond to Sweet Italian cream - I have loads of fresh, funky flavors to play with! Not that I'm complaining - I'm most certainly not, most of them were free and the rest were moneymakers -so no problems there. The only question is: what alternative uses are there for them? Here are the ones I've found:

1. Use in hot tea instead of coffee

2. Use in brownies to replace the milk - gives them an awesome hint of flavor!

3. Use in French toast to replace half the milk used to make the mixture you dip the bread in - did this Tuesday and watched a mountain of French toast quickly disappear.

4. The obvious - use in hot coffee (which I'm not the biggest fan of)

5. Use in cookies, cakes, etc. - any baked sweet that has a small amount of milk or water called for in the recipe. I usually add an extract to compliment the flavor of the coffee creamer.

What other uses do you have for all the deals on coffee creamer? I'm sure there are some aawesome ideas out there I can incorporate with the different flavors I have! I'm open to almost any experimentation out there - so please, tell me: what do you do with free coffee creamer?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-04-05T08:10:00.003-05:00

With tons of Easter leftovers, I'm going to see how creatively I can use some honey, spiral cut ham without getting sick of ham everyday. Here's what I've come up with:

Monday: French toast, sausage, ham, fresh fruit, and juice

Tuesday: Ham and Cheddar Bay Biscuit sammies with harvarti cheese, hashbrowns, applesauce, and salad

Wednesday: Yummy Onion Chicken and rice, refried beans, tortillas, corn

Thursday: Ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, and applesauce

Friday: Burgers on the grill, baked beans, spinach salad, baked potatoes

Saturday: Ham, harvati, and mushroom omelets, toast, juice, bananas

Sunday - Either Smoky Orange Chicken Drummies or grilled Jamaican Jerk chicken with rice, salad, chips and salsa

Lunch of the week: Spaghetti with jarred sauce (tons of freebies from Ragu) and ham sammies (we have Italian bread, English muffins, and biscuits).

Fruit of the week: Let's see what Caputo's has on sale tomorrow!

Dessert of the week: Island-Style Oatmeal Cookies - this may be my new spring favorite cookie! P.S. - I added some dried pineapple to them - these are super light and yummy.

Easter Candy at Dominicks

2010-04-02T08:34:00.002-05:00

I found Whopper Robin Eggs at Dominicks for $.99 a bag!
Also on sale: select varieties of Hershey's for $1.99 a bag - check eawch item carefully as some are $2.99-$3.50 each, so watch what you grab and keep an eye out on them at the registers.

Also grabbed 2 bags of Ritz Toasted Chips - these are heavenly, I've had all but original and loved each flavor! On sale for $2 a bag - use $1/2 expired coupon from the back to school coupon books I found back in August.

Now, I just have to see what I can put together for the Easter basket!

Finally - More Space!

2010-04-01T08:13:00.002-05:00

In my pantry, that is. I have been super-hounding (shopping) to get deals on cheapies and freebies to send back with my sister and her friend that came to celebrate DaMama's birthday weekend, and now - I actually have some space in my pantry. And in my freezer. Though a small dent was made in my pantry, I still have some re-arranging to do to make things more accessible. And my freezer - well, I've already started to refill that too.

I cleared out most of the cookie shelf, half the cereal shelf, and weeded out some of the chex mix collection that has been lingering and I've really opened up some areas where I had an over abundance. When I find items, like the Suave and the Colgate which are free after coupons (tax only kind of deals), I get as many as I can either store or as many as I have coupons for. I sent back a few dozen bottles of Suave (body wash, conditioner, and shampoo), 2-3 dozen tubes of toothpaste, jars of Ragu pasta sauce, boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats, and all sorts of other goodies.

Amy (sis) & Tanya (friend) were amazed by the amount of goodies they got to take home. I even took them "out-on-the-hound" so they could see just how easy it is to get all these goodies without breaking the bank. My sister's friend was surprised at how easy it was to spend very little and walk out with oodles of basic, usable food that most families would have on their grocery list. When I asked Tanya what cereals her family likes - she was puzzled - they typically don't get a choice on cereal, so when they have 3-4 different kinds of cereal on hand - that is amazing to them.

It's good for me to see how far I've come now that I coupon. Here just for a quick rundown on things that I have now th at I didn't have before:

1. Choices for meat - I used to stock chicken and ground turkey. Pork was a treat and beef never came into the house. Now - pork is on hand, so is deli meat, different cuts of chicken, etc. This gives me more flexibility on what meals I can make at any given time.

2. Cereal. I used to buy 1-2 boxes at a time at Aldi (I can't remember the last time I went in there!) and pray that it would last a few weeks - which it never did. Now, I pay $.50 or less per box of cereal. We have 8-10 varieties on hand at all times. I haven't run out of cereal since I started couponing. It's all good.

3. Condiments/Flavorings. I have tons of free salad dressing, cheap BBQ sauce, loads of free seasoning packets, and the list goes on. With my variety of meat - I can make any variation I choose. I still can't believe what they charge (regular price) for most condiments. It's insane!

What benefits do you see from bargain shopping, couponing, etc.? For me, it's all about choice and variety!

Getting Back to Normal

2010-03-31T13:53:00.004-05:00

This past weekend has been a whirlwind, ferris wheel ride of a time! I am still aching from the miles we walked in Chicago, in the 'burbs, in stores, everywhere!! How did I do at going into the city on the cheap? Well - it wasn't easy, but here it goes:

Saturday:
Parking at Navy Pier versus 5 people taking the train and a cab: saved $31 or more than 58%
Dinner at Nuevo Leon $49.xx for 5 people, plus a meal to go. Very good price seeing as we were dining in Chicago at one of the 10 best Mexican resturants the city has to offer. And their mole sauce.....too yummy!
Parking at Nuevo Leon $2.00. Still a lot cheaper than a taxi taking us back and forth.

Monday:
Lunch for 4 at Sweet Tomatoes $38.41 (saved $11.89 using a coupon and going for lunch rather than dinner)
Movies - Alice in Wonderland (3-D) $15.00 for 4 people (saved $21.00 by going during the matinee showing and by using some filled movie punch cards I had been saving for just this occasion - skipped the snacks because we were all so stuffed from Sweet Tomatoes!)
Browsing at books (Goodwill) - saved hundreds over retail price and grabbed 9 more titles for my summer reading!

This week, it's back to scrimping and saving - have to make up for that big budget weekend somehow! No regrets, a good time was had by all for DaMama's 64th birthday.

Meal Plan:

Wednesday: Bean and rice tacos, salad
Thursday - Spaghetti al marinara, french bread
Friday - Cheese pizza, salad
Saturday - leftovers
Sunday - Easter dinner at DaMama's - must find out what dish I need to bring...

More Freebie Shopping - 100% Savings

2010-03-25T07:59:00.002-05:00

Now, can it actually be called shopping when you don't actually pay for the merchandise, you only pay the tax? Well, that's what I've been up to the last few evenings! I've gone to Dominick's and grabbed Colgate toothpaste and used the $1 coupons (manufacturer, of course) provided in Jewel's ad last week - that adds up to free toothpaste for DH & I, my mother, my sister (and family), and my assorted inlaws - with a few leftover to donate to the women's shelter!

That's what I call a good deal! What made it even better is that at the Dominicks I prefer to shop at, the items were correctly tagged, but rang up wrong at the register - so I got one free (their policy for an item ringing up wrong - love it!!)

I bought:
24 tubes Colgate toothpaste (and I didn't even make a dent in clearing the shelves either - there were plenty for the couponers)
1 6lb. pkg. Rancher's Reserve beef patties (24 count) marked down to $5.99! I used (2) $2.00 YBs expired from Jewel and when all was said and done....

I got 100% savings!
I paid $3.36 and tax on my order was $3.37 - I only paid the tax for all those yummy goodies!

That's what I call shopping and saving!

Birthday Weekend on the Cheap!

2010-03-24T08:03:00.002-05:00

I've been getting mroe and mroe excited as my mother's (DaMama) 64th birthday gets closer. My sister and girlfriend are driving down from Minnesota - more than 550 - for the occasion, as naturally, we're trying to do this weekend as affordably (and fun) as we can. Here are some of the things I've already done in the way of hounding down a birthday weekend:

1. Classic Cinemas offers punch cards, for every ticket purchased, 1 punch on your card. Well, I've got 2 full cards for free admission - couple that with early bird specials ($5 matinees) and we've got a movie for 4 for only $10.

2. BOGOF coupon to Mongolian BBQ - our favorite, create-your-own stirfry place. Added bonus: comes with soup and salad bar and we'll have lunch there instead of dinner.

3. A day in Chicago - on the cheap. Yes, this can be done - if you've got a plan....which I naturally happen to have. An afternoon at Navy Pier, a ride of the Ferris Wheel, and dinner at Nuevo Leon - inarguably the best Mexican restaurant in Chicago, located in the Pilsen neighborhood. The prices there are amazing - average plate is $5.75-$7.00. Can't eat in the city anywhere cheaper than that, not even McDonald's! Our biggest expense will be parking. Can't avoid that one - it's cheaper to drive 5 of us than take the Metra (train).

4. Do-it-yourself or beauty school pedicures. It's only $8-$12 a head at the beauty school, less I'm sure if we do it at home, but far better than paying salon prices ($45+ around here!) It's like 4 for the price of 1! And last time, they gave me a free bottle of polish (the good stuff). Lovin' it!

5. Have coupons for over a dozen eateries in the area, from Lonestar Steakhouse to Applebees from Steak 'n' Shake to Sweet Tomatoes. We'll be covered on the dining portion of this weekend.

Now, I just can't wait for them to get here!!
Do you have any tips for entertaining on a budget? I'd love any suggestions you have!

Weekend Shopping Deals

2010-03-23T08:21:00.002-05:00

I went out with DaMama shopping on Sunday, not realizing it was the last day of the nationwide catalina for Post cereals. That's okay, since my store had plenty of the shelves (and two loaded end-caps), I grabbed 15 boxes of those yummy cereals and a few other things while I was out:

Jewel:
15 boxes Post cereal (14 honey bunches and 1 fruity pebbles)
10 Oscar Mayer Bologna/Salami (12 oz.)
1 dozen eggs
OOP: $9.32
Saved: 78.61

Dominicks:
24 boxes Pasta-Roni/Rice-A-Roni
1 Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage
2 gallons milk
2 pkgs. crackers (Wheatable Crisps)
-$1/4 Rice/Pasta-Roni's (6)
-$.55 Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage
-$1.00/1 Wheatable crisps (2)
-$3.50 OYNO
-$3.00 OYNO
Total OOP: $12.90
Saved $36.xx

Caputo's
$.93 - 3 bulbs garlic
$.10 - bunch of bananas
$.74 - Organic Braeburn apples (3 large)
$1.07 - Gala apples (4 small)
$.86 - Red Delicious apples (4 large)
$.59 - heart of Romaine
$.87 - baking potatoes (4 large)
$1.39 - 36 ct. tortillas
$1.99 - Dole orange juice
$.98 - Ancient Red Sweet peppers (2)
$2.07 - 3 pkgs. Scott Peterson jumbo hotdogs
$.79 - yellow onions (5 small)
$1.50 - pint of blueberries

OOP: $14.12

Total OOP: $36.34

Meal Plan Monday

2010-03-22T08:07:00.006-05:00

I'm only planning for half the week, as my sister, Amy, and a mututal friend are coming down from Minnesota to surprise my mom (aka DaMama) for her 64th birthday. We've been meticulously planning for this weekend for a many months now, I can't believe it's almonst here!!! As it will be a busy weekend, and there are many places to go and restaurants to sample, I won't be planning any meals past Thursday, instead I have all the basic ingredients on hand to make most of the family favorites, and a few of my classic dishes.

To say I'm excited for my sister and friend to get here is an understatement!

Monday - Pan-Seared Pork Chops, baked potatoes, Sauteed Mushrooms in a Parmesan Sauce, salad

Tuesday - Grilled (if I can talk DH into grilling, that is) teriyaki chicken thighs, rice, cinnamon apples

Wednesday - Ginger Pork Stirfry, egg rolls, rice

Thursday - Brats, hashbrowns, salad, leftover cinnamon apples

Lunch of the week: Sammies! We have oodles of free bologna and salami and some cheese on hand, I'll boil some noodles and toss with jarred sauce for a second choice.

Dessert of the week: Blueberry Almond Bars (I'll bake those tonight while I'm in the kitchen anyway.)

Breakfast of the week: Oatmeal and cereal, apples and peanut butter. Simple, but we work with what we have. And yesterday, I scored 15 boxes of Post Honey Bunches of Oats (assorted varieties) for less than $3!! I doubt any cashier would ask what was for breakfast in my household! LOL.

Want more meal planning ideas? Check out these other ladies over at www.orgjunkie.com for links to dozens of other meal plans!!

Dominick's Deals

2010-03-21T17:24:00.002-05:00

In the Jewel flyer, there are a bunch of manufacturer coupons, including a coupon for $1/4 Rice-A-Roni & Pasta-A-Roni. These are on sale at Dominicks for $.75 each when you buy 4. Grab a few Jewel flyers are buy the rice and pasta mixes for just $.50 each in multiples of 4.

There is no limit on the number of these you can buy per transaction! I just grabbed a dozen this morning without any problems at all. Remember, for every $50 you spend at Dominicks (after fresh value card and store coupons), you receive $10 in Kohl's Cash!

A New Found Favorite

2010-03-19T09:28:00.002-05:00

Last Friday, I had lunch with my other mother (my mother-in-law) at Panera. While the atmosphere was crowded and noisy and the food was good, but a little pricey for my taste - I discovered a new love. Not just the yummy, over-priced tuna sammie (which with Dijon mustard was a nice change), but the luscious, plump wild blueberry scones that we treated ourselves to as dessert. One bite and I was in love. Head-over-heels, want to eat a dozen more kind of love. The dangerous kind...

For one delicious moment, I imagined making that a weekly treat. Then I imagined how much that would cost over the course of a year, and quickly put an end to that foolishness. So, next stop: the cookbook collection. Naturally, scones were not so much in style over the last decade and recipes for them either: required ingredients I do not typically keep on hand or were deemed a little too unhealthy (heavy cream, anyone??) so I kepy looking. I finally made my way into DaMama's cookbook collection where I found a base recipe I could use as a start point.

What is a base recipe? For me, a base recipe is one I can use the structure of (for dry and wet ingredients) while adding my own spin on things. Which I do. Always. I often start by adding some sort of extract (to any baked dessert or sweet treat), or changing the flavor originally called for in the recipe. Vanilla is nice, but I live my life by rum - extract, I mean. We all have a favorite flavor, mine is simply not vanilla. My rule of thumb: I make what flavors I love, after all, I am the cook/baker.

My first batch of scones I tried using some blueberries I needed to get out of my fridge anyway, and they were good, but not as sweet as I may have preferred. Definitely not as sweet as Panera. But the form and texture were perfect. So, last night, I tried my hand at a second batch of scones, using the original base recipe, and adding some brown sugar which was not called for in the original. This batch has all the flavor I was looking for, the texture is good, the result: a definite keeper. This is the kind of thing you could bring to a fancy brunch and watch people fall all over themselves. Now, I just need some local friends that do brunch, and I'll be all set! If not, Easter is just around the corner.

Cinnamon Raisin Scones Recipe

Spring Shopping Fever

2010-03-18T08:35:00.002-05:00

While I shopped myself silly last weekend - and the deals at Dominicks were so crazy good, they were the: I-saved-$115.xx-got-52-items-filled-an-entire-grocery-cart-and-the-back-of-my-Saturn kind of good. Now, the shopping has (momentarily) died down and it feels so strange. I haven't gone properly shopping (the kind that requires me to use more than one coupon) in more than 4 days! I am seriously in withdrawal.

It feels so strange... (Yes, I know, I said that before, but it bears repeating.) Like I'm going about my routine and missing something. Not that I have tons more free time - I just have visits with DaMama, working, laundry, cleaning the kitchen, cooking, working, wishing I could take a nap, filling out more paperwork, working, etc. to keep me busy. Did I mention work was keeping me busy? I work in the office of a small non-for-profit (there are only 5 of us in the office) and my work load has doubled overnight after they let one of my coworkers go back in February. While I'd love nothing more than a walk around the artificial water-thingy (I don't know if it's called a pond, an estuary, a mini-lake, or a water feature, etc...), I'm stuck trying to unbury my desk from the never ending avalanche of projects that keep threatening to go all Colorado-mountain big-snow(paper)-avalanche on me and I won't be found until mid-July. Or whenever the spring thaw happens to be.

All I want to do is grab my box-envelope-coupon-organizer full of coupons and escape into the world of deals. I guess this is a couponer's form of Spring Fever. When the deals start slowly popping up like the first blades of grass in the spring, warming to the sunshine (or to the box of coupons stashed in my car), and the longer hours of daylight inspire me to get out more, use more coupons, and generally - get back to the life I think I have waiting for me out there somewhere.

Anyone else experiencing Spring Fever? What are the warning signs that Spring Fever is upon you?

Dinner Dilemmas

2010-03-16T08:28:00.003-05:00

Dinner Dilemmas: When something in the fridge is not what is appears to be! A cautionary tale....

I hope I'm not the only one out there that has dinner dilemmas. Even though I'm pretty good about meal-planning, sometimes the components you plan to work with are simply not there. Last night is a perfect example.

When I asked DH what ideas he had for the meal-plan, he said there was some leftover ground turkey that was browned up - why not make Hamburger Helper or tacos. For a change of pace, I figured helper would make my cooking and prep time a little shorter, so I planned tomato basil penne (or something that sounded like that). That is, until I go to the fridge to pull out the ground turkey - and it's fried rice from the week before. Oops... and I didn't have any other meat thawed except some chicken and mozzarella sausage and deli meat - and we each had sammies for lunch. And we both are not the biggest fan of eating the same thing for lunch as well as dinner.

What I did have is 2-3 lbs. fresh mushrooms and more jarred pasta sauce than I can shake a stick at (though why I would be shaking a stick when I was trying to get dinner ready is completely beyond me. Maybe I'm just quirky like that.). And I did plan to use mushrooms in nearly every meal this week.

I started by chopping the mushrooms and wondering what the heck I was going to do with them. But thinking as fast as my tired brain could manage, the basic idea is finally hatched: I'm still making helper, it's just not coming out of a box anymore, it's coming out of the pantry. Though hubby is not the biggest fan of a meatless meal or alfredo sauce for that matter, I grabbed a jar of Alfredo and a bag of medium shells.

The more I got to thinking, the less the idea of meatless appealed to me, either. So I started by looking in the freezer for leftover cooked chicken - and promptly struck out, unless I wanted to add some chicken nuggets to our meal, and I wasn't willing to go that far out on a limb. A better the idea, in the form of chicken sausage in the pasta sounded do-able, so I tossed sauteed mushrooms, browned some chicken sausage medallions, and medium shells with a jar of Ragu's Alfredo and a 30-minute meal was born. Why - because sometimes, every once in a great while, things do not go as planned. The up side: the fried rice will be making an appearance tonight with the Thai ginger pork stirfry.

Tell me - have Dinner Dilemmas ever happened to you? What was your saving grace?

Meal Plan Monday

2010-03-15T08:29:00.004-05:00

I got some good deals on an insane amount of mushrooms this week - so I'm going to have to make our meals Iron-Chef style: secret ingredient is mushrooms. Let' see how many ways I can work them in!

Monday - Tomato basil penne with ground turkey and mushrooms, garden salad
Tuesday - Pork Stirfry, Simply Sweet Salad
Wednesday - dinner at Mom's - Corned Beef and Cabbage, carrots and potatoes, biscuits
Thursday - Creamy Garlic Chicken in a Crockpot, egg noodles,
Friday - Alfredo pizza with mushrooms, bell pepper, and mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms (minus the meat - for Lent), and salad
Saturday - Date Night
Sunday - Enchiladas con picadillo, Chicken & Mushroom Quesadillas, beans, and rice

Breakfast of the week: Blueberry Scones, oatmeal, cereal (we've got more than 12 varieties to choose from!)

Dessert of the week: Brownies

Lunch of the week: Scalloped Ham casserole, ham and turkey sammies, and salad

Coupon Karma - A Good Turn

2010-03-10T08:35:00.003-06:00

As any couponer shopping today knows, there is a such thing as coupon karma. What this means, to me anyway, is that good is rewarded with good, and the reverse is quite often true. While I've come across my share of snippy, rude, and obnoxious cashiers - every once in a while...I find a true gem.

Last night, while taking my last run at the Jewel freebies (Suave and Ragu products) and grabbing my well-placed filler items (Jewel brand mandarin oranges, tomato sauce, refried beans, and enchilada sauce), the cashier, Megan, scanning the coupons at the self-check was amazing! Megan was everything I adore in a cashier - upbeat, friendly, and helpful. A pleasant bonus - she wants to learn how I shop! I spent less than $10 on Ragu pasta sauce, Buitoni tortelloni (4 pkgs!!), 2 dozen eggs, lots of Suave shampoo and conditioner, fruit, tomato sauce, and more.

Megan and I chatted each time she had to come put a coupon through for me - she was giving me tips on which were the better types of Sauve, I was outlining the cheapies and freebies using the YourBucks system - I couldn't have hoped for a smoother, easier time at Jewel than what I got. And to think...I almost went to the "other" Jewel - the one in the neighboring town where the store is much dirtier, the customers are rude, and the staff barely speaks and looks no one in the eye.

My hometown Jewel - got bless their hearts - haven't given me any problems with my couponing in many, many months. They actually get it! One cashier recognized me from seeing me drop stuff off for the food pantry, maybe that's why they are so friendly. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I am all smiles after that shopping trip. Now - off to give Megan a very well-deserved pat on the back through the customer survey that printed at the bottom of one of my receipts!

Squeezing in a Few More Transactions...

2010-03-09T08:33:00.002-06:00

Well, from my fellow bloggers - rumor has it Jewel will start limiting the number of YourBucks offers to 12 per preferred card. With that rumored deadline predicted for tomorrow - I have made a few more runs at the Suave MM and the free Ragu - before they put the breaks on this fun ride, I'm gonna ride it to the end! So, during my lunch break yesterday and on my way to work today, I squeezed in a few small transactions - and after work yesterday, I picked up my hounding/shopping buddy and grabbed another dozen.

Hubby officially thinks I'm crazy, my under the sink cabinet is 2/3 full of Suave products, and I have to reorganize my pantry to fit in all the free Ragu. Good thing, I have nothing planned for the weekend to start getting my house in order. With my sister due to make a visit in a few weeks - I know the extra space I need to make in my pantry is only temporary. When she's sees this haul, she'll be loading up her car! Which I must admit - I am counting on...

I think I'll try one final run at this deal after work today, before I finally let it rest. Let's hope some stores in my area have the shampoo left because all I keep finding of the Suave is conditioner. Really, my hair can be soft and silky, but if it's still dirty, well...it's still dirty. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself after this deal is done - I've been squeezing in a few bottles of body wash/shampoo/conditioner here and few jars of sauce there since it started, it's almost become routine to me.

What I find most interesting in all this shopping is the wildly different attitudes that I come across in cashiers. At my "home" store, they couldn't be more helpful. Even if I have 6 orders back to back, they are polite, friendly, and understanding. At the neighboring stores - I'm treated with vague annoyance - like, "Why are you wasting my time? DOn't you have somthing better to do?"

But the one that takes the cake is the one closest to my office where the front end staff is outright hostile. Yep, these ladies have been working there for 12-30 years and they are none too happy about it. One cashier even told me that there was a limit of 1 coupon transaction per day. I started reading the coupon and asked her to point out where it said that. Needless to say, she was flummoxed and let me do my 3 transactions. Since then, I've been treading somewhat lightly and only running 1-2 there per day. This morning was a classic, I grabbed the last 3 bottles of Suave (conditioner, of course) they had left on the shelves and paid for the first 2 bottles, then went to use a coupon on my final bottle (and jar of Ragu). I waited for 7 minutes, after hitting the coupon button 3 times and she didn't come over. I finally had to ask her to come to the register to put the coupon through (she was busy talking to a co-worker, pointedly ignoring me). The attitude of the front end there - especially during the work day, is nothing short of atrocious. Why couldn't I work closer to a nice Jewel - one with pleasant or even uninterested front end staff? Unfortunately, I am stuck with the mean, old, and bitter hags.

Sorry for the rant, I just had to get that out of my system. I feel much better now. Back to my regularly scheduled program...

Meal Plan Monday

2010-03-08T09:10:00.005-06:00

Time for a mini-slow down after the crazy week of hounding! This will be a light week of meals for me as DH is going to be out-of-town Thursday-Saturday. I've got tons of free flour tortillas to make my meals a snap!

Monday - Bacon, egg, and cheese wraps, peach slices
Tuesday - Ground turkey tacos with pepper jack cheese, rice, beans, and all the fixin's
Wednesday - Chicken teryaki wraps, potatoes julienne, salad
Thursday - dinner at DaMama's
Friday - Mushroom & Swiss frittata, toast, hashbrowns, fresh fruit

Jewel Deals Totals

2010-03-07T16:13:00.004-06:00

49 jars Ragu pasta sauce $1.99
47 bottles of Suave body wash, shampoo, or conditioner
24 tubes Colgate toothpaste
32 cans Shoppers Value tomato sauce
30 cans Chicken of the Sea tuna
19 cans Shoppers Value tomato paste
1 box Rice-A-Roni

Total OOP: $9.79
Total coupons spent: $240
Total savings: $399.28

Looks like spaghetti is going to be on the menu each week for the next year....not worrying about having a meal ready to go - priceless!

Great Jewel Deals: Fill My Pantry

2010-03-04T08:16:00.002-06:00

With the easy to use, individualized catalina deals that are running at Jewel through YourBucks - I've gotten a 12-18 month supply of lots of goodies - can you believe these deals??

Transactions 1-8: (I've repeated this transaction 8 times!!)

1 jar 26 oz. or larger Ragu pasta sauce
1 bottle Suave Body Wash - assorted flavors
1 tube 4.6 oz. Colgate toothpaste
1 can Shoppers Value tomato sauce
1 can Shoppers Value tomato paste

Total OOP: $.55
Savings: $6.99
Coupon savings: $5.00

GM Catalina deal:
(2) tubs BC frosting reg. price $2.29 each -$.50/1 Q's (2) - sale price $1.49
(4) boxes BC Supreme brownie mix reg. price $3.09 each -$.75/2 Q's (2) - sale price $1.99
(1) Box BC cake mix reg. price - $1.49 - sale price $.99
(2) BC Cookies mix pouches -reg. price $2.39 -$.40/1 Q (2) - sale price $1.69
-$7.00 catalina (from previous catalina deal)
-$2.00 catalina
-$1.00 catalina
OOP: $1.28
Saved: $22.20
Coupon savings: $14.30

Last 2 transactions:

1 jar 26 oz. or larger Ragu pasta sauce
1 bottle Suave Body Wash - assorted flavors
1 tube 4.6 oz. Colgate toothpaste
2 bags (small size) Doritos 3/$1 -$.25 Q's on each
1 can Shoppers Value tomato paste

OOP: $.31
Saved: $7.52
Coupon savings: $5.50

Total Spent: $6.30
Total Saved: $93.16
Coupon Savings: $65.40

Not having to buy toothpaste for a year....priceless! For that, and everything else: there are coupons!

I haven't even gotten to Meijer and the $30 in cats I have to spend there yet!

My Daily Jewel Shopping Trip

2010-03-02T14:09:00.004-06:00

Today I've grabbed another:
2 bottles Ragu pasta sauce
2 bottles Suave body wash
1 500 ct. box Q-tips
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste
1 can Shoppers Value tomato paste
1 can Shoppers value tomato sauce

OOP = $1.34
Saved: $13.42
Catalina left to spend: $20

All in a day's hounding!

Can't wait to see what my weekly totals on these items are!!

Great Week of Shopping Ahead

2010-03-01T08:13:00.003-06:00

Lots and lots of free after coupon deals going on at Jewel this week! If you haven't signed up your Preferred Card for the YourBucks promotions - do that right now! Click here to sign up.
Okay, you're all signed up - good. That makes the rest of this so much easier. YourBucks are catalina offers for your preferreed card. If you don't sign up - no freebies for you. Here are the basic rules:

5. There is no limit (as of now) to the number of transactions you can do that will generate the coupons. Yippee!!

4. YourBucks are limited to the three (3) Jewel stores you frequent most often. I know, it makes the shopping more of a challenge, but think about the stores you shop at most frequently. Most likely, the one nearest home and work will be among your YB stores. For me, I have no clue which store would be my #3. I'll let you know when I figure it out!

3. It takes 36 hours for offers to load to your card, so start clearing some time in your schedule tomorrow for shopping. The offers are good for 3-4 weeks, on average.

2. Scan your preferred card first. No exceptions.

1. Unless otherwise stated, one like item will generate a coupon per transaction. You can do multiple offers per order, but only one like item will print the coupon. Example: 1 Suave shampoo/conditioner, 1 Ragu pasta sauce, and 1 loaf of bread will generate you: $2 YB (for the Suave), $2 YB (for the Ragu), and $1 YB (for the bread). They will begin printing as soon as you swipe the item. Watch the size, count, type of item carefully. If it helps, print out the list that YB's lists for you. Take it into the store in case there is any problem with the coupons printing - that will be your reassurance that you will get your coupons from customer service in the event that they don't print automatically.

The items (I know of) that are free or super cheap after YB:

1. Ragu pasta sauce $1.99 = $2 YB
2. Suave product (any but trial/travel sized)$.89-$1.79 = $2
3. Jewel large eggs, dozen count $1.29 = $1 YB
4. Jewel 16 oz. or larger loaf white bread = $1 YB

http://tv.catalinamarketing.com/ - Sign up and get in on the good deals!!

I've spent $5.27 for:
8 jars Ragu pasta sauce
4 bottles Suave shampoo/conditioner
1 Suave body wash
1 dozen eggs
1 loaf bread

And I still have $15 in coupons to spend!!! I love a good moneymaker!

It Feels So Good...

2010-02-24T13:10:00.003-06:00

To get so much for so little!

I feel like I damned near robbed Meijer blind - and grabbed some stuff that I (and my sis) needed anyway! How often does that happen? Not often enough, for my liking - so without further adieu - here are the deals I've hit this week:

MEIJER:

Buy 5 boxes of participating Betty Crocker items, get a coupon for $3 OYNO. (Cannot mix and match - must be 5 of same type of product).

Bought 15 boxes of Betty Crocker potatoes at $.60 each = $9.00 - received $9 in coupons!! Yippee - free tater stuff! Used 10 $.40 coupons - so I came out a little ahead on this one! That helepd with the next round of goodies-

Bought 25 boxes of Tuna Helper (my sister put out a big request for this one!) Spent $25.00 and received $15 in coupons OYNO plus $1.50 off $15 in meat (3 of those), $1.00 OYN bread purchase of $3.99 or more, plus 6-7 other OYNO of xx product.

I have $18 in coupons to go shopping with - and might pair that with the meat coupon and load the freezer up - let's hope the mark-down meat is plentiful, to make sure - I'll just go after 7 p.m. tonight (when I notice the girl marking down the meat!)

JEWEL:

Helped myself to 6 more bags of Tyson chicken nuggets at $1.99/bag after rolling the $3 YB coupons that print out...before you've even paid for your purchase.

I plan to roll this another 3-6 times tonight...nothing like a lazy dinner - just pair this with those free Betty Crocker Potatoes and a hearty garden salad and some corn/peas/etc. A meal you can feel better about than drive-through and save your wallet too! Godo thing I'm stocked on BBQ sauce for dunkin' because this is not the best time of year to go shopping for it!!

Meal Plan Monday - a little late this week

2010-02-23T10:41:00.003-06:00

Amazing how time flies! Now, to get my meal plan ready for the week:

Monday - Turkey and Cheddar brats, garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, corn tortillas, salad - was too cheap/lazy to buy buns

Tuesday - Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Wednesday - Empanadas, tacos con carnitas

Thursday - Oven roasted chicken, chicken rice, spinach salad

Friday - Roasted red pepper, caramelized onion, and cheddar frittata, hashbrowns or potato cakes, English muffins, fruit salad

Saturday - Tacos al pastore, red rice, beans, all the fixin's

Sunday - Currently undecided....

Breakfast of the week: Oatmeal, hardboiled eggs, cereal
Dessert of the week: Free Golden Oreos (they're pretty tasty), banana nut bread
Lunch of the week: Spaghetti and meatballs, chicken and gnocchi soup, ham sammies

Great Shopping Trip!

2010-02-18T09:16:00.002-06:00

I couldn't believe the luck I had yesterday at Dominicks! While I expected everything to be picked over - I was in for a pleasant, albeit mildly pleasant, surprise. They had just enough of everything in stock for me to score big:

8 boxes Kellogg's Fruit Loops $1.88 -$1/1 blinkie coupons (expired) (8)
2 boxes Kellogg's Apple Jacks $1.88 -$1/1 blinkie coupons (expired) (2)
Buy 5 get a $4 coupon OYNO - and I did!!

Pork Steaks at $1.69 lb. marked half price - individually wrapped $.84 & $1.02 (both were well over 1 lb. each!)

$1.99 bag Nestle mini-morsels - $1/1 coupon (printed from Jewel catalina machine - expired) - $.99 (wish I had a few more of those coupons!)

1.45 lbs. Honey crisp apples $3.49 lb. = $5.07 -$1 off produce purchase of $5 or more and $2 any fruit purchase WYB 2 Kellogg's cereals (2). I grabbed 5 Honeycrisp apples for a 7 cents! Got to love a bargain!

Total OOP: $13.61
Total saved: $33.64

Then I stopped over at Jewel to try the new YourBucks program and grabbed some more goodies:
$.79 Jewel brand bread 16 oz. or larger white or wheat only - receive $1 YB per loaf purchase in a single transaction - one YB per item per transaction - $.21 MM
$1.39 large dozen egg -$1.00 YB from previous transaction, - $.40 - recieved another $1 YB
Tyson chicken (normally $7.49 a bag) on sale $4.99 a bag received $3 YB for each one purchased in a single transaction.

Total spent $5.93
Received $1 YB (2), $3 YB (1) - then I went back and did it all over again...and only spent $2.43 on the second identical transaction! All I can think to say is....Hello, chicken - what's kickin'?!?

Free Entertainment! Chicago Auto Show

2010-02-16T08:35:00.002-06:00

As part of DH job - he scored a pair of free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show (weekday only, of course) - so I'm taking an afternoon off and we're going to check out all the new cars! Last year, my favorites were the Saturn Vue and the Ford Escape. It isn't often that we get to go into the city for free entertainment, so when it happens - I get pretty excited!

Tomorrow, it'll be back to deal-hunting when I start canvassing all the Jewels in the area for the single serve Tennesee Pride breakfast biscuits - the one I popped in to this morning didn't carry them....go figure. I'll call around to a few of the other Jewels along my usual driving route and see if any of them carry it. I've heard that the ones neawr my home don't usually carry this, and since I have couposn that will make them free - it's worth looking into.

I've already used 16 $.40/1 coupons at Dominicks for the BC cookie mix pouches that were on sale for $.99 WYB 4. I also stacked on a cellfire $.40 coupon and spent $7.32 and saved $21.87 - not too bad!! This is the cheapest I've ever seen these and Dominicks still accepts expired coupons! Yea for me!

Meal-Plan Monday - start of Lent

2010-02-15T08:02:00.002-06:00

Got a crazy week ahead of us - between the start of Lent and free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show - I've created a meal plan with enough flexibility to accommodate the crazy schedule this week!

Monday - Enchiladas con picadillo, frijoles, arroz (ground beef/turkey enchiladas, refried beans, and rice)

Tuesday - Free tickets to the auto show - for eating at home (or if we don't - leftovers for lunches) I'll have havarti and ham paninis ready to grill with tomato basil soup on the side

Wednesday - oven roasted chicken breast, mashed potatoes, spinach salad

Thursday - chicken and gnocchi soup, Cheddar Bay biscuits, salad

Friday - cheese pizza, stuffed mushrooms

Breakfast of the week: oatmeal and cereal
Dessert of the week: Caramel cake
Lunch of the week: Chinese takeout leftovers, rice and beans, and chicken salad

Valentine's on a Budget

2010-02-12T08:18:00.003-06:00

I love to celebrate the holidays, but when money get tight - there are still PLENTY of great ways to celebrate - heck, I've even broken them down by group: kids friendly, couples, and best gal-pal. See if there are any ideas you'd like to use - or even add to this list!

Kid Friendly:

1. Create a valentine box. How? Grab a small to medium sized box, seal it up, cut a card sized slit in the top of the box and ask the kids to decorate it. If the kids work well together, they can collaborate - otherwise, assign each child a side of the box and offer a prize for the best looking decorations! Drop your valentines inside, and you've got an evening worth of fun!

2. Make your own valentines! All you need is some colored construction paper, some magazines/newspapers that you don't mind them cutting up, scissors, glue, and your imagination. Make it into a game - the sweetest, silliest, and prettiest card each get a prize.

3. Who loves chocolate dipped pretzels? Everyone!! Grab a cheawp bag of pretzels and break out that almond and chocolate bark leftover from Christmas and make dipped pretzels. Before they dry, have the kids sprinkle Valentine's sprinkles on them. Or drizzle one kind of bark over the other. These make great gifts for your girlfriends, grandparents, teachers, friends, etc. Turn it into an all-night affair and have a movie to go along with it - don't they sell dipped pretzels at the movie theater anyway? A huge bowl of popcorn and you're all set.

Couples:

1. Go for a picnic! Oh, wait - it's February in the Midwest. So, have a picnic in your living room. Lay down an old blanket, serve tons of (cheap!) fingerfoods. For DH & I - I used grapes, cheese cubes (I cut them up myself), ham, crackers, sausage medallions, and berries. Have a pile of napkins on hand. Want it to really feel like the beach? Light an ocean/water scented candle, grab your oscillating fan (breeze off the bay, anyone?), and put on some island music. If you're really feeling inspired, try to tango. It's fun! Trust me.

2. Build a meal together. Work side-by-side in the kitchen over a meal you can individualize like build-your-own burger/taco/mini-pizza, etc. You each get it your way and you get time together - nothing wrong with that! This is a perfectly suited project for the two of you!

3. Set a budget (half of what you typically spent in years passed) and each of you takes half of that budget to figure out either the dining or the entertainment. I'm surprised how much thought my hubby puts into something when I give him half of the responsibility of the planning. Next thing you know, one of you will have BOGOF coupons to a new restaurant and the other will have found a $3-$5 movie showing someplace in town or even in the next town over.

Gal-Pal Treats:

1. Don't be afraid to get busy in the kitchen! 90 minutes in the kitchen will yield you the following goodies that friends are sure you spent over slaving over:
1. Decadent Double Chocolate Brownies
2. Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
3. Vanilla Snowball Cake With Chocolate Center

2. Host a girls night in, watch chick flicks (encourage friends to bring their favorites), make tons of appetizers to pass through the night, and ask everyone to show up in their pink and red favorites (the sillier the better). Offer a small prize to the best/craziest outfit!

3. Got some old pictures of your pals? Copy them on your printer/copier in black and white and do a crazy collage - mix the old with the new, color in the pictures, or just get pictures of all your best pals together - everyone gets to take theirs home! Nothing like nostalgia on a night like this!

Tell me - what budget-friendly tricks are you using this Valentine?

I'm Back - Finally.....

2010-02-11T08:43:00.002-06:00

Well, as my momma always said, "the best laid plans of mice and men...often to go **** in a handbasket!"

The long weekend of the board meeting, it got long - then it got longer, then I ended up going to the immediate care center Saturday afternoon and having a small procedure done. Today is my first day back at work since Saturday and I'm desperately hoping I'm up to par. At my job, if I'm not at 100%, I shouldn't even come in the door - there is no such thing as an easy day, or making small allowances if you're not up to par.

Now that I'm back to work, it's time to get my life back in order. While it was nice to have a few days off of work - next time, I'd prefer not to be recovering when I get some time away. I haven't been out of the house except for work and going to the clinic in 9 days. Wow - that is such a long time!

It's late in the game, but I need to scrounge together a meal-plan, I've been living off my cereal stockpile, with cheese and crackers for my snacks. We have 4 pieces of fruit left, some fresh spinach for salads - yum, and 3 or 4 English muffins. Pickings for tonight's dinner are going to be sparse, but I think I can toss together a spinach salad with dried cranberries, sliced almonds, thin sliced apple, and croutons. Maybe I can make an open faced English muffin sammie with some Swiss and cheddar cheeses melted on top to round out my meal. It's either that or I crack open a can of Tomato Basil soup - I love having ready made soup on hand. I've already used my lazy, new favorite go-to meal: the frittata. That was dinner for Tuesday, and lunch for Wednesday.

For tomorrow, it's dinner with my in-laws, Saturday DH gets to cook, and Sunday...well, I was hoping DH would surprise me with something, but doesn't look like that is going to happen. It'll probably be a favorite restaurant of his, and then back home to watch TV.

I'll be back tomorrow with Valentine's Gifts on a budget!

Jewel - Quick Trip

2010-02-03T08:43:00.002-06:00

I stopped into Jewel on my way to work this morning and grabbed one last round of cheap oatmeal and granola bars - check out my amazing savings!

3 boxes Quaker granola bars (regularly $4.19) sale $1.99
4 boxes Quaker Oatmeal-To-Go bars (regularly $3.39) sale $1.99
3 boxes Quaker Instant Otmeal Packets (regularly $4.39) sale $1.99

WYB 5, receive an instant savings of $3 per 5 purchased
-$3/5 Quaker manufacturer coupon - found in Butera's flyer (2)

OOP = $8.19
or $.10 per serving, on average
That's an affordable breakfast or snack for me!

If anyone out there wants some of those amazing coupons, leave me a comment - I've got more than a dozen to share!