Haven't been "couponing" because TLC's show has pretty much made it impossible to get great deals anymore.
(NOTE: I don't watch TLC, especially this show) And "okay" deals aren't fun to write about. So this is my "not-gonna-blog no mo" hiatus notice.
I started a personal blog over at tumblr just to track our house being built. Just a little digital way to keep all the dates and accomplishments in one place.
Current Obsessions:
True Blood (Eric Northman) :o)
Suits
Burn Notice
DIYs Bath Crashers
Degrassi
Happy Summer!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Saturday, October 16, 2010
my general mills $25/$10 loot
Wednesday Night:
Transaction #1
13 Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables @$1ea = $13 (rings @$2ea = $26)
Qs = $1/2 + $.60/3 + $.50/1 + $.60/3 = -$2.70
Total = $10.30 + .13 tax - $10 (ConAgra Catalina) = $0.43 (out of pocket cost)
$10 back
#2
10 Tostino Pizza Rolls @ $1ea = $10 (rings @$2ea = $20)
3 Tostino Pizzas @ $1ea = $3 (rings @$1.98 = $5.94)
Qs = $.60/3 + $.60/3 = -$1.20
Total = $11.80 +.13 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.93 (OOP)
$10 back
#3
13 GG Frozen Boxed Vegetables @$1ea = $13 (rings @$2ea = $26)
Qs = $1/2 + $.60/3 + $.50/1 + $.60/3 = -$2.70
Total = $10.30 + .13 tax - 2*$5(GM Cat) = $0.43 (OOP)
$10 back
Thursday
Transaction #1
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
4 Betty Crocker Cake Mix @$1ea = $4 (rings @$1.50ea = $6)
4 Betty Crocker Frosting @$1.50ea = $6 (rings @$2.25ea = $9)
1 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $1.69 (rings @$2.49)
Qs = $1/4 + $.75/2 + $.75/2 + $.50/2 +$.50/2 + $.50= -$4
Total = $11.69 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.85 (OOP)
$13 back ($10 GM + $3 Frosting)
#2
6 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks @$2ea = $12 (rings @$2.50ea = $15)
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
1 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $1.69 (rings @ $2.49)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/4 + $.50 = -$4.50
Total = $13.19 + .99 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (frosting Cat) = $1.18 (OOP)
$13 back ($10 GM + $3 Fruit Snacks)
#3
6 Pillsbury Break n Bake Halloween Choc Chip Cookies @$2.50 = $15 (rings @$3.65ea = $21.90)
1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments @$2.50ea = $2.50 (rings @$3.75)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/1 = - $4
Total = $13.50 + .18 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (fruit snacks Cat) = $.68 (OOP)
$10 back
#4
3 Reese's Puffs @$2ea = $6 (rings @$2.95ea = $8.85)
3 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @$2ea = $6 (rings @$2.75ea = $8.25)
3 Kix @$2ea = $6 (rings @$3.45ea = $10.35)
Qs = $.55/1 + $.65/1 + $.65/1 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 + $1/3 = -$4.50
Total = $13.50 + .18 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (previous McCormick Cat) = $.68 (OOP)
$10 back
#5
6 Kix @$2ea = $12 (rings @$3.45ea= $20.70)
2 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @$2ea = $4 (rings @$2.75ea = $5.50)
Qs = $1.50/3 + $1.50/3 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 = $4.10
Total = $11.90 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $2.06 (OOP)
$10 back
#6
4 Pillsbury Sweet Moments @$2.50ea = $10 (rings @$3.75ea = $15)
4 Pillsbury Halloween Break N Bake Cookies @$2.50ea = $10 (rings @$3.65ea = $14.60)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/1 +$1/1 + $1/1 +$1/1 = - $6
Total = $14.00 + .20 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $4.00 (OOP)
$10 back
#7
7 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $11.83 (rings @$2.49ea = $17.43)
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
Qs = $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $1/4 = -$4.50
Total = $11.33 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.49 (OOP)
$10 back
#8
4 cans of Progresso soup @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
4 cans of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls @$2ea = $8 (rings @$3.25ea = $13)
2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls @$2ea = $4 (rings @$3.25ea = $6.50)
Qs = $1/4 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 = - $4
Total = $12.00 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $2.16 (OOP)
$10 back
Total OOP = $16.89
will post regular prices/preferred prices and Total saving later! Have a great weekend :)
wil
Transaction #1
13 Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables @$1ea = $13 (rings @$2ea = $26)
Qs = $1/2 + $.60/3 + $.50/1 + $.60/3 = -$2.70
Total = $10.30 + .13 tax - $10 (ConAgra Catalina) = $0.43 (out of pocket cost)
$10 back
#2
10 Tostino Pizza Rolls @ $1ea = $10 (rings @$2ea = $20)
3 Tostino Pizzas @ $1ea = $3 (rings @$1.98 = $5.94)
Qs = $.60/3 + $.60/3 = -$1.20
Total = $11.80 +.13 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.93 (OOP)
$10 back
#3
13 GG Frozen Boxed Vegetables @$1ea = $13 (rings @$2ea = $26)
Qs = $1/2 + $.60/3 + $.50/1 + $.60/3 = -$2.70
Total = $10.30 + .13 tax - 2*$5(GM Cat) = $0.43 (OOP)
$10 back
Thursday
Transaction #1
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
4 Betty Crocker Cake Mix @$1ea = $4 (rings @$1.50ea = $6)
4 Betty Crocker Frosting @$1.50ea = $6 (rings @$2.25ea = $9)
1 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $1.69 (rings @$2.49)
Qs = $1/4 + $.75/2 + $.75/2 + $.50/2 +$.50/2 + $.50= -$4
Total = $11.69 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.85 (OOP)
$13 back ($10 GM + $3 Frosting)
#2
6 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks @$2ea = $12 (rings @$2.50ea = $15)
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
1 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $1.69 (rings @ $2.49)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/4 + $.50 = -$4.50
Total = $13.19 + .99 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (frosting Cat) = $1.18 (OOP)
$13 back ($10 GM + $3 Fruit Snacks)
#3
6 Pillsbury Break n Bake Halloween Choc Chip Cookies @$2.50 = $15 (rings @$3.65ea = $21.90)
1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments @$2.50ea = $2.50 (rings @$3.75)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/1 = - $4
Total = $13.50 + .18 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (fruit snacks Cat) = $.68 (OOP)
$10 back
#4
3 Reese's Puffs @$2ea = $6 (rings @$2.95ea = $8.85)
3 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @$2ea = $6 (rings @$2.75ea = $8.25)
3 Kix @$2ea = $6 (rings @$3.45ea = $10.35)
Qs = $.55/1 + $.65/1 + $.65/1 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 + $1/3 = -$4.50
Total = $13.50 + .18 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) - $3 (previous McCormick Cat) = $.68 (OOP)
$10 back
#5
6 Kix @$2ea = $12 (rings @$3.45ea= $20.70)
2 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @$2ea = $4 (rings @$2.75ea = $5.50)
Qs = $1.50/3 + $1.50/3 + $.55/1 + $.55/1 = $4.10
Total = $11.90 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $2.06 (OOP)
$10 back
#6
4 Pillsbury Sweet Moments @$2.50ea = $10 (rings @$3.75ea = $15)
4 Pillsbury Halloween Break N Bake Cookies @$2.50ea = $10 (rings @$3.65ea = $14.60)
Qs = $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/1 +$1/1 + $1/1 +$1/1 = - $6
Total = $14.00 + .20 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $4.00 (OOP)
$10 back
#7
7 Chex Mix @$1.69ea = $11.83 (rings @$2.49ea = $17.43)
4 Progresso Soups @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
Qs = $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $.50/1 + $1/4 = -$4.50
Total = $11.33 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $1.49 (OOP)
$10 back
#8
4 cans of Progresso soup @$1ea = $4 (rings @$2ea = $8)
4 cans of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls @$2ea = $8 (rings @$3.25ea = $13)
2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls @$2ea = $4 (rings @$3.25ea = $6.50)
Qs = $1/4 + $1/2 + $1/2 + $1/2 = - $4
Total = $12.00 + .16 tax - 2 *$5 (GM Cat) = $2.16 (OOP)
$10 back
Total OOP = $16.89
will post regular prices/preferred prices and Total saving later! Have a great weekend :)
wil
Friday, October 8, 2010
Jewel's hate me
I've been to all 4 Jewel's in my area over the past 3 days multiple times (Oswego 1, Oswego 2, Sugar Grove, & Yorkville)
I have bought a whole lot of stuff for very little...
5 bottles of wesson oil for $2.63 x 3
9 cans of soup + halloween candy for $0.67 x 5
6 cans of soup + 2 hungry jack syrups $0.38 x 4
I spent about $12.75 out of my pocket for all that stuff AND
I still have a $10 Off my next purchase!!!!!!!!!!!
I also did another P&G deal on Wednesday before that one ended...
2 8pks of Bounty & 1 Bounce Dryer Bar around $10 (I had $5 in Q for that stuff)
Oh and I went to Dominicks because they had the Nivea Lip Care on sale for $0.99 and I had 10 more $1 off coupons... they had 10! So I bought them out... spent $0.60 in tax and donated the $0.40 to Breast Cancer... felt especially good about that one, and dont be suprised if you see one in your Christmas gifts from us, because what am I gonna do with 10 of them??? : )
I have bought a whole lot of stuff for very little...
5 bottles of wesson oil for $2.63 x 3
9 cans of soup + halloween candy for $0.67 x 5
6 cans of soup + 2 hungry jack syrups $0.38 x 4
I spent about $12.75 out of my pocket for all that stuff AND
I still have a $10 Off my next purchase!!!!!!!!!!!
I also did another P&G deal on Wednesday before that one ended...
2 8pks of Bounty & 1 Bounce Dryer Bar around $10 (I had $5 in Q for that stuff)
Oh and I went to Dominicks because they had the Nivea Lip Care on sale for $0.99 and I had 10 more $1 off coupons... they had 10! So I bought them out... spent $0.60 in tax and donated the $0.40 to Breast Cancer... felt especially good about that one, and dont be suprised if you see one in your Christmas gifts from us, because what am I gonna do with 10 of them??? : )
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Last trip to the stores for a while...
I went to 2 Jewels & 2 Walgreens's on the hunt for what I wanted to get...
At the 1st Walgreens I got ONE Nivea Lip Care product... $0.99 w/ $1Q = $0.08 in tax
They gave me a raincheck for 7 more since they were out of them (I have 10 Q's... I think I might go to a different Walgreens & get a raincheck for the remaining 3....)
The 1st Jewel had nothing, & the 2nd Walgreens had nothing...
The 2nd Jewel put out more Charmin TP right when I got there which was great because that was why I went there!!!
So I did their P&G $30 & get $10 back deal... They were out of Bounty so I had to improvise, & If you know me, you know I'm bad at improvisation! Here's what I got
2 12pks of Charmin Double Rolls ($6.99ea) ($0.25Q) ($13.73)
3 20ct Cascade Dishwasher Detergent ($3.99ea) ($0.50Q) ($11.47)
4 Pringles Super Stacks ($1.50ea) ($1.40Q) ($4.60)
Total $31.74 w/tax - $24 in Catalina's and RRs = $7.74 OOP and $10 Catalina Back
So now I've spent $40 total in the past 2 days and have $10 to use on another purchase.
I don't feel like this is the best I could have been doing yet considering I won't have to buy TP or Dishwasher Detergent for 4 months I guess I can't be totally down on myself :P
At the 1st Walgreens I got ONE Nivea Lip Care product... $0.99 w/ $1Q = $0.08 in tax
They gave me a raincheck for 7 more since they were out of them (I have 10 Q's... I think I might go to a different Walgreens & get a raincheck for the remaining 3....)
The 1st Jewel had nothing, & the 2nd Walgreens had nothing...
The 2nd Jewel put out more Charmin TP right when I got there which was great because that was why I went there!!!
So I did their P&G $30 & get $10 back deal... They were out of Bounty so I had to improvise, & If you know me, you know I'm bad at improvisation! Here's what I got
2 12pks of Charmin Double Rolls ($6.99ea) ($0.25Q) ($13.73)
3 20ct Cascade Dishwasher Detergent ($3.99ea) ($0.50Q) ($11.47)
4 Pringles Super Stacks ($1.50ea) ($1.40Q) ($4.60)
Total $31.74 w/tax - $24 in Catalina's and RRs = $7.74 OOP and $10 Catalina Back
So now I've spent $40 total in the past 2 days and have $10 to use on another purchase.
I don't feel like this is the best I could have been doing yet considering I won't have to buy TP or Dishwasher Detergent for 4 months I guess I can't be totally down on myself :P
The Official start of my Super Couponing!
So here we go:
I went to Walgreens yesterday & of course they were out of EVERYTHING I wanted & had coupons for, what a way to get me down! So I got 1 thing of EOS lip balm, spent $3.22 with tax & got back $3 in Register Rewards (RRs). Then I went over to Jewel & got 13 (yes 13 yikes) Hunt's snack packs ($0.88ea), 6 boxes of Mrs. T's Pieorgies ($3.49 BOGO, w/ $1 Q off each one) and 1 International Delight Coffee Creamer ($0.99, w/ $0.55Q) So my total was $16.35 plus tax - $3 in RRs = about $13.50 (I lost my receipt what a shame :/)
Today I went back to Walgreens because I was told they'd have the razors I wanted back in, & they did!
So I bought 3 (in seperate transactions) Schich Hydro 5 razors $7.99 - $4Q =$4.16 ea & got back $4 in RRs ea... so $12.48 & got back $12. Then we headed over to Jewel again for frozen meals...
Could have done better here but I couldn't focus due to a crabby baby throwing a fit :/
1st Transaction:
2 Healthy Choice Frozen Meals ($2ea) ($1Q)
1 Healthy Choice Steamer Frozen Meal ($2.50ea) (2 - $1Qs)
2 Marie Callenders Frozen Meals ($2.50ea)
3 Hunts Snack packs (i know why the hell did I buy more of these? because I needed to reach $25 in participating ConAgra products to get my $10 Catalina to print out!) ($0.88ea)
Total: $11.28 - $8 in RRs (where I should have used a $10 cat but I was distracted) $3.28
2nd Transaction:
6 Healthy Choice Frozen Meals ($2ea) (2 - $1Qs & 1- $0.50Q)
1 Hunts Snack Pack ($0.88)
Total: $10.51 - $10 Catalina (again I screwed up, I had another $0.50Q I couldn't use here because I wouldn't have been able to use the $10 Cat... I should have used the Cat on the 1st transaction and the RRs on the second... ah live and learn!) $0.51
Total spent out of pocket : $33
Total Catalina's/RR's in my pocket $24...
NET $9 spent on all that stuff above... wow, not 1/2 bad if I do say so myself!!!
I went to Walgreens yesterday & of course they were out of EVERYTHING I wanted & had coupons for, what a way to get me down! So I got 1 thing of EOS lip balm, spent $3.22 with tax & got back $3 in Register Rewards (RRs). Then I went over to Jewel & got 13 (yes 13 yikes) Hunt's snack packs ($0.88ea), 6 boxes of Mrs. T's Pieorgies ($3.49 BOGO, w/ $1 Q off each one) and 1 International Delight Coffee Creamer ($0.99, w/ $0.55Q) So my total was $16.35 plus tax - $3 in RRs = about $13.50 (I lost my receipt what a shame :/)
Today I went back to Walgreens because I was told they'd have the razors I wanted back in, & they did!
So I bought 3 (in seperate transactions) Schich Hydro 5 razors $7.99 - $4Q =$4.16 ea & got back $4 in RRs ea... so $12.48 & got back $12. Then we headed over to Jewel again for frozen meals...
Could have done better here but I couldn't focus due to a crabby baby throwing a fit :/
1st Transaction:
2 Healthy Choice Frozen Meals ($2ea) ($1Q)
1 Healthy Choice Steamer Frozen Meal ($2.50ea) (2 - $1Qs)
2 Marie Callenders Frozen Meals ($2.50ea)
3 Hunts Snack packs (i know why the hell did I buy more of these? because I needed to reach $25 in participating ConAgra products to get my $10 Catalina to print out!) ($0.88ea)
Total: $11.28 - $8 in RRs (where I should have used a $10 cat but I was distracted) $3.28
2nd Transaction:
6 Healthy Choice Frozen Meals ($2ea) (2 - $1Qs & 1- $0.50Q)
1 Hunts Snack Pack ($0.88)
Total: $10.51 - $10 Catalina (again I screwed up, I had another $0.50Q I couldn't use here because I wouldn't have been able to use the $10 Cat... I should have used the Cat on the 1st transaction and the RRs on the second... ah live and learn!) $0.51
Total spent out of pocket : $33
Total Catalina's/RR's in my pocket $24...
NET $9 spent on all that stuff above... wow, not 1/2 bad if I do say so myself!!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Meijer resolved!
I spoke with the customer service manager at my Meijer this morning and it turns out that sometimes it IS worth it to fight for something! She was extremely nice and helpful. The 1st problem, the $5 catalina that didn't print out on my second transaction, was a glitch and it should have printed so $5 for me cha-ching. And the fake policy the person I talked to that saturday "you can't use that Cat on your next transaction, you have to wait 24 hours" was indeed a lie, and she will be spoken to about that and her attitude, so win #2. AND she is giving me an additional $5 for my frustration (doesn't sound like much, but it isn't the money, its the principle) So I have a $10 Meijer GC! yahoo for me! I feel like my problem was well resolved and I can now shop at Meijer again without feeling like a hypocrite... very exciting!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Excitement & more Deals this week...
First, Meijer... again!
I have not heard back from my angry e-mail, but they said they passed it on to another department that deals with such things... I think I will give it a few more days before I e-mail them again, because personally, 1 week should be enough time to get back to me if they want to keep my business!
I did have to go back there (but the people who work in the middle of the week are SO much nicer). I needed to use the $5.75 in Cats I had for Meijer, so I bought 4 cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls (I need for a recipe in OCT), ketchup, and onion flakes. The crescent rolls were 4/$6 but I saved $1 instantly for buying 4 & I had 2 $1/2 coupons, the ketchup was $2.50, and the onion flakes were $0.50, so my total was $6.01, and I only had to pay $0.26 out of pocket... not bad considering I don't want them to have my money til I hear back about this whole debacle!
Second, Target!
I saw some great deals on Mashup Mom's site and thought I'd jump on it:
1. huggies wipes (64ct) $1.99... Target has $0.75 coupons (print 3), and I think its coupons.com that has $2.50/3 coupon! so 3 for $1.22!
2. Glade Tough Odor Solutions $1.99... Target has $1 coupons (print 2), & Mashup Mom links you to "right at home" that has a coupon for $2/2, so 2 of these were free!
3. Kraft Light Dressing, this one is my deal, and probably not as great as it could be but I needed it for a recipe in OCT, so they were reg priced at $2.04, and Kraft had $1.00 off coupons (printed 2) and Target had $0.50 coupons (printed 2) so I got a bottle of Zesty Italian & a bottle of Ranch for $1.08.
So I spent a total of $2.76 at Target for all that, not bad!
Third, Excitement!
I am attending the Jill Cataldo Super Couponing Class tonight at Delnor hospital with my mom! I am super excited to finally get to one of these classes. I've been following her and using her deals for almost 2 years, and I'm hoping the class will help me find deals easily without having to always rely on Jill, Mashup Mom, or Bargain Briana.
over and out.
I have not heard back from my angry e-mail, but they said they passed it on to another department that deals with such things... I think I will give it a few more days before I e-mail them again, because personally, 1 week should be enough time to get back to me if they want to keep my business!
I did have to go back there (but the people who work in the middle of the week are SO much nicer). I needed to use the $5.75 in Cats I had for Meijer, so I bought 4 cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls (I need for a recipe in OCT), ketchup, and onion flakes. The crescent rolls were 4/$6 but I saved $1 instantly for buying 4 & I had 2 $1/2 coupons, the ketchup was $2.50, and the onion flakes were $0.50, so my total was $6.01, and I only had to pay $0.26 out of pocket... not bad considering I don't want them to have my money til I hear back about this whole debacle!
Second, Target!
I saw some great deals on Mashup Mom's site and thought I'd jump on it:
1. huggies wipes (64ct) $1.99... Target has $0.75 coupons (print 3), and I think its coupons.com that has $2.50/3 coupon! so 3 for $1.22!
2. Glade Tough Odor Solutions $1.99... Target has $1 coupons (print 2), & Mashup Mom links you to "right at home" that has a coupon for $2/2, so 2 of these were free!
3. Kraft Light Dressing, this one is my deal, and probably not as great as it could be but I needed it for a recipe in OCT, so they were reg priced at $2.04, and Kraft had $1.00 off coupons (printed 2) and Target had $0.50 coupons (printed 2) so I got a bottle of Zesty Italian & a bottle of Ranch for $1.08.
So I spent a total of $2.76 at Target for all that, not bad!
Third, Excitement!
I am attending the Jill Cataldo Super Couponing Class tonight at Delnor hospital with my mom! I am super excited to finally get to one of these classes. I've been following her and using her deals for almost 2 years, and I'm hoping the class will help me find deals easily without having to always rely on Jill, Mashup Mom, or Bargain Briana.
over and out.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Meijer :/
well I had a terrible experience at Meijer on Saturday. I got my "deals" & got to deal with a terrible front end manager, while dealing with a crabby/crying baby, all while waiting for the hubby to get the oil changed and come pick us back up. FUN TIMES!
Well first, the "deals":
Kraft cheese again was cheap, 3/$5, which is usually the only price I'll buy it at, but I had 4 more of those $5off 5 coupons. AND when you spent $15 on Kraft cheese you got $5 back in a Catalina!
So I bought 10 in my first transaction (along with 2 onion soup mixes for recipe I want to try which were on sale for $1/ea, but when you bought 2 you got a $0.75 Catalina!) So I spent $8.70 on the first one and got $5.75 back, not bad! But when I did my second transaction of 10 Kraft cheeses ($6.70), the $5 Cat didn't print & they wouldn't allow me to use my $0.75 cat on that transaction... the manager told me you have to wait 24 hours to use them, well guess what?! you don't! I looked up the coupon policy online and it says nothing about that... I really hate when people lie to my face, Its my biggest pet peeve. I have proceeded to send an email to Meijer corporate about said front end manager and several other issues I have experienced shopping at Meijer over time. We'll see if they offer any sort of answers..
I have to go back to get something else they have a great deal on for another recipe I am making, and I will be using my $5.75 in Cats on that transaction and trying to not spend any of my money in their store until I hear back... Meijer prices are pretty low, & I usually get most of my "crap" groceries there, so I will be sad to not shop there anymore, but I have to put my foot down and stand up for this, so I guess I'll probably be spending a little more monthly on food, but I'll also be saving myself a lot of headaches...
Well first, the "deals":
Kraft cheese again was cheap, 3/$5, which is usually the only price I'll buy it at, but I had 4 more of those $5off 5 coupons. AND when you spent $15 on Kraft cheese you got $5 back in a Catalina!
So I bought 10 in my first transaction (along with 2 onion soup mixes for recipe I want to try which were on sale for $1/ea, but when you bought 2 you got a $0.75 Catalina!) So I spent $8.70 on the first one and got $5.75 back, not bad! But when I did my second transaction of 10 Kraft cheeses ($6.70), the $5 Cat didn't print & they wouldn't allow me to use my $0.75 cat on that transaction... the manager told me you have to wait 24 hours to use them, well guess what?! you don't! I looked up the coupon policy online and it says nothing about that... I really hate when people lie to my face, Its my biggest pet peeve. I have proceeded to send an email to Meijer corporate about said front end manager and several other issues I have experienced shopping at Meijer over time. We'll see if they offer any sort of answers..
I have to go back to get something else they have a great deal on for another recipe I am making, and I will be using my $5.75 in Cats on that transaction and trying to not spend any of my money in their store until I hear back... Meijer prices are pretty low, & I usually get most of my "crap" groceries there, so I will be sad to not shop there anymore, but I have to put my foot down and stand up for this, so I guess I'll probably be spending a little more monthly on food, but I'll also be saving myself a lot of headaches...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Gotta get better...
...about posting something, anything, on here.
So here it goes. About two weeks ago Jewel had a Kraft Cheese deal goin' on. Shredded and block Kraft cheese was on sale for 2/$4. When you bought 5, you got a $5 Catalina back on your next purch. Kraft's website had (still has maybe?) a $5 off 5 Kraft stuff. So I used that coupon with this deal, twice! so I essential got 10 things of cheese for change (tax). Then they had another deal with Chex Mix, Cocoa Puffs, Hamburger Helper, Frosted mini-wheats,etc. after coupons my total was $11.17, but I used the $10 from my Kraft deal I only paid $1.17!
That is all for this week, but next month I'm going to start the super-couponing again, for real! I'm even going to the super-couponing class for the first time at the end of this month... hopefully I learn something I haven't already picked up over the past couple years.
So here it goes. About two weeks ago Jewel had a Kraft Cheese deal goin' on. Shredded and block Kraft cheese was on sale for 2/$4. When you bought 5, you got a $5 Catalina back on your next purch. Kraft's website had (still has maybe?) a $5 off 5 Kraft stuff. So I used that coupon with this deal, twice! so I essential got 10 things of cheese for change (tax). Then they had another deal with Chex Mix, Cocoa Puffs, Hamburger Helper, Frosted mini-wheats,etc. after coupons my total was $11.17, but I used the $10 from my Kraft deal I only paid $1.17!
That is all for this week, but next month I'm going to start the super-couponing again, for real! I'm even going to the super-couponing class for the first time at the end of this month... hopefully I learn something I haven't already picked up over the past couple years.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Betty Crocker Deal at Jewel
Jewel has a deal on participating Betty Crocker foods, Buy $20, get $5 off Catalina for your next shopping trip. Pretty sure it ends Wednesday... but if you eat hamburger helper, etc. they are on sale 10/$10. You can print $1.00 off 3 coupons at betty crocker's website. If you are able to print 2, and have the $0.75 off 3 coupon from the paper, that's 10 for $7.25! Progresso Soups are also 10/$10, and there is a coupon in the paper for $.50 off 2. (I haven't looked online for any more...) AND they have green giant frozen vegetables (7-10oz) on sale for $1.29 (which I don't usually buy unless they are $1) but there are coupons for these on coupons.com save $.50 on 2, and in the paper there is a save $.60 off 3. I have not done this deal yet, but I think if you have the above coupons and do the deal like this:
10 "helpers" :$7.25 ($10)
5 green giant veggies:$5.35 ($6.45)
4 progresso soups: $3.50 or $3.00(if you had two inserts) ($4.00)
before coupons: $20.45, after coupons: $16.10 or $15.60... and then you get $5 off your next purch!
There are other things included in the deal, look on page 10 of the Jewel ad. But that was the best deal I can come up with - let me know if you see a better deal :)
BONUS - you get bonus box tops too for the school of your choice, for those interested in that! :)
10 "helpers" :$7.25 ($10)
5 green giant veggies:$5.35 ($6.45)
4 progresso soups: $3.50 or $3.00(if you had two inserts) ($4.00)
before coupons: $20.45, after coupons: $16.10 or $15.60... and then you get $5 off your next purch!
There are other things included in the deal, look on page 10 of the Jewel ad. But that was the best deal I can come up with - let me know if you see a better deal :)
BONUS - you get bonus box tops too for the school of your choice, for those interested in that! :)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Looking for a deal on yogurt?
First Deal of the year!
Jewel has Yoplait on sale: 10 for $5... but when you buy 20 you get $2 off instantly, bringing the price to 20 for $8 or $0.40 ea. You can print 2 coupons at coupons.com for $0.50 off the purch of 6, to save an additional $1, and if you got the sunday paper last week, you should have another $0.50 off purch of 8. I spent with tax $6.58 on 20 yoplait yogurts, and to my surprise, got another $2 off catalina coupon off my next purchase, as a thanks from yoplait. I didn't know about this Catalina, so i'm assuming it is not a normal thing, but if you eat a lot of yogurt this is a good deal without it - it's just a great deal now! unfortunately the $2 coupon expires Jan 23rd, so I have to start looking to see what I want to get with it - I love free money :) I think this deal ends this Wednesday so get on it peeps :D
Jewel has Yoplait on sale: 10 for $5... but when you buy 20 you get $2 off instantly, bringing the price to 20 for $8 or $0.40 ea. You can print 2 coupons at coupons.com for $0.50 off the purch of 6, to save an additional $1, and if you got the sunday paper last week, you should have another $0.50 off purch of 8. I spent with tax $6.58 on 20 yoplait yogurts, and to my surprise, got another $2 off catalina coupon off my next purchase, as a thanks from yoplait. I didn't know about this Catalina, so i'm assuming it is not a normal thing, but if you eat a lot of yogurt this is a good deal without it - it's just a great deal now! unfortunately the $2 coupon expires Jan 23rd, so I have to start looking to see what I want to get with it - I love free money :) I think this deal ends this Wednesday so get on it peeps :D
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Holidays
So happy new year and all that...
When I started this thing I didn't think it would take much time to do, and now, as I look back, it really does! The past 2 1/2 months have been so hectic with holidays and whatnot. I actually cooked and made some delicious things, and then never put them on here :(
This started out as a great place (in theory) to keep all my recipes so I won't lose them and they would be organized - that is so not happening, and I feel like a failure!
Maybe its that I need a better way to organize my recipes... anyone know of any computer programs that you can buy that organize them for you? If not, someone should invent it! Something where you can plug it in and it will automatically file it for easy finding later... yea that'd be awesome THANKS!
On a different note, I made a New Years resolution! None of those typical ones, this one is just for me, this one may end up helping others out in the process! I am going to coupon... super-coupon... I am not going to give up this year... I am going to get the Sunday paper, EVERY Sunday! I am going to get the ALL YOU magazine too. I am going to sign up for everything I see that will send me free samples and coupons. I am going to succeed at this! This past Sunday I went to Walgreens and picked up the Chicago Tribune AND the Beacon News, to compare if you get the same coupon inserts - and you do despite the rumors that you get less in local papers - HOWEVER, the inserts are different! What the hey? how is this even possible?! The covers are the same. The amount the same. but the coupons inside... somewhat different! My most favorite coupon ($2.50 off electrasol - cause its only $4 at Target) was in one insert and not in the identical other insert! WTF! So now I don't know which paper to get... Anyway, back to how this can help others! In watching the super-couponing lady's website, www.jillcataldo.com, I've noticed lots of possibilities for buying stuff for little to no money, or getting money back even for buying stuff - BUT it's not always stuff I need or use... SOOOoooo family and friends: I am going to make a pile of coupons each week of ones I know there is NO way I'll ever use, and they are up for grabs. Also, the coupons I do keep, if i buy stuff and have way to much of something, or get something for free I'm not going to use, I'm offering it up to you all first. From what I understand, If I really put my mind to this, I could have soooo much stuff I won't know what to do with it so it might get donated to food pantries etc. But you guys get first dibs :D
So lets hope I can succeed at this! I already know I can "grocery" shop for a month on $150, lets see if I can keep it there and get more stuff for the money...
Although, I have to admit, I'm pretty excited about not having to shop on $150/mo. Not having to worry if I go over by $10, being able to shop weekly for produce/bread would be awesome! But I have to say, planning out my monthly menu, and shopping all at once for the month is really the way to save money, so I will continue to do that and then give myself a weekly budget for produce :D boy I'm excited! Can't you tell!
Alright alright - I'm done rambling for now, but hopefully I'll be back soon to tell you about my plans for my February shopping trip :)
When I started this thing I didn't think it would take much time to do, and now, as I look back, it really does! The past 2 1/2 months have been so hectic with holidays and whatnot. I actually cooked and made some delicious things, and then never put them on here :(
This started out as a great place (in theory) to keep all my recipes so I won't lose them and they would be organized - that is so not happening, and I feel like a failure!
Maybe its that I need a better way to organize my recipes... anyone know of any computer programs that you can buy that organize them for you? If not, someone should invent it! Something where you can plug it in and it will automatically file it for easy finding later... yea that'd be awesome THANKS!
On a different note, I made a New Years resolution! None of those typical ones, this one is just for me, this one may end up helping others out in the process! I am going to coupon... super-coupon... I am not going to give up this year... I am going to get the Sunday paper, EVERY Sunday! I am going to get the ALL YOU magazine too. I am going to sign up for everything I see that will send me free samples and coupons. I am going to succeed at this! This past Sunday I went to Walgreens and picked up the Chicago Tribune AND the Beacon News, to compare if you get the same coupon inserts - and you do despite the rumors that you get less in local papers - HOWEVER, the inserts are different! What the hey? how is this even possible?! The covers are the same. The amount the same. but the coupons inside... somewhat different! My most favorite coupon ($2.50 off electrasol - cause its only $4 at Target) was in one insert and not in the identical other insert! WTF! So now I don't know which paper to get... Anyway, back to how this can help others! In watching the super-couponing lady's website, www.jillcataldo.com, I've noticed lots of possibilities for buying stuff for little to no money, or getting money back even for buying stuff - BUT it's not always stuff I need or use... SOOOoooo family and friends: I am going to make a pile of coupons each week of ones I know there is NO way I'll ever use, and they are up for grabs. Also, the coupons I do keep, if i buy stuff and have way to much of something, or get something for free I'm not going to use, I'm offering it up to you all first. From what I understand, If I really put my mind to this, I could have soooo much stuff I won't know what to do with it so it might get donated to food pantries etc. But you guys get first dibs :D
So lets hope I can succeed at this! I already know I can "grocery" shop for a month on $150, lets see if I can keep it there and get more stuff for the money...
Although, I have to admit, I'm pretty excited about not having to shop on $150/mo. Not having to worry if I go over by $10, being able to shop weekly for produce/bread would be awesome! But I have to say, planning out my monthly menu, and shopping all at once for the month is really the way to save money, so I will continue to do that and then give myself a weekly budget for produce :D boy I'm excited! Can't you tell!
Alright alright - I'm done rambling for now, but hopefully I'll be back soon to tell you about my plans for my February shopping trip :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thanksgiving Week
Day One: Monday
Today I have made sugar cookie dough, chocolate sugar cookie dough, nutter butter truffles, and half the oreo truffles ... the other half are ready to be dipped in white chocolate, but I'm not melting the white chocolate yet. so in the refrigerator it all goes :)
I am currently struggling with making chocolate shells, I've never done it before, so i think i'm going to be buying alot more chocolate, the first set was not so successful, however i did it (it just doesn't look so hot) so I will be melting them down again, and trying again. Wish me luck!
I'm gonna take a break and relax - then its time to get to cleaning! Stay tuned...
I'll post the recipes for the cookies and truffles later.
Today I have made sugar cookie dough, chocolate sugar cookie dough, nutter butter truffles, and half the oreo truffles ... the other half are ready to be dipped in white chocolate, but I'm not melting the white chocolate yet. so in the refrigerator it all goes :)
I am currently struggling with making chocolate shells, I've never done it before, so i think i'm going to be buying alot more chocolate, the first set was not so successful, however i did it (it just doesn't look so hot) so I will be melting them down again, and trying again. Wish me luck!
I'm gonna take a break and relax - then its time to get to cleaning! Stay tuned...
I'll post the recipes for the cookies and truffles later.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Won Tons
So I got wonton wrappers for super cheap at a really cool grocery store I had never been to before Saturday. It is called Blue Goose Market in Saint Charles. The rest of the day Saturday I spent looking up ways to fill the wonton wrappers. I was making pork chops for dinner so I decided while the pork chops were baking, I would cut up the 3 extra pork chops into a tiny dice and marinate them in a sort of teriyaki sauce.
So i chopped up some garlic and fresh ginger. added it to some soy sauce, honey and rice vinegar. I threw in a chopped green onion and tasted it... totally missing something. BROWN SUGAR! so added a few spoonfuls of brown sugar and it was perfect. I put the marinade and pork in ziplock baggy and put it in the fridge for Sunday. Sunday I just filled the wontons (which by the way I made 25 of the pork ones...) and fried them up - It was DELICIOUS! I fried up 2 wonton wrappers in the shape of a bow cause fried wontons are delicious all on their own. And i made a taste test for us... 3 wontons filled with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. when those came out of the oil i sprinkled some romano cheese on them - YUM-O!
Now I have 30 wonton wrappers left and I'm trying to come up with some other ideas... I think i will try to baked up some dessert type ones... banana and cream cheese? mmm Maybe an apple and caramel? Any ideas? These wrappers were so inexpensive I'm thinking it will be a monthly staple!
Til later...
So i chopped up some garlic and fresh ginger. added it to some soy sauce, honey and rice vinegar. I threw in a chopped green onion and tasted it... totally missing something. BROWN SUGAR! so added a few spoonfuls of brown sugar and it was perfect. I put the marinade and pork in ziplock baggy and put it in the fridge for Sunday. Sunday I just filled the wontons (which by the way I made 25 of the pork ones...) and fried them up - It was DELICIOUS! I fried up 2 wonton wrappers in the shape of a bow cause fried wontons are delicious all on their own. And i made a taste test for us... 3 wontons filled with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. when those came out of the oil i sprinkled some romano cheese on them - YUM-O!
Now I have 30 wonton wrappers left and I'm trying to come up with some other ideas... I think i will try to baked up some dessert type ones... banana and cream cheese? mmm Maybe an apple and caramel? Any ideas? These wrappers were so inexpensive I'm thinking it will be a monthly staple!
Til later...
Monday, November 2, 2009
November
I haven't done a whole lot of grocery shopping in a while... but this month I decided it would be silly to pass up all the great deals I was seeing and so now we have a stocked freezer and I'm slowly nipping away at my list of things I need to prepare a "Thanksgiving" meal. I've officially run out of room in my freezer. Its packed. Probably more than is recommended! unless we eat a substantial amount of food in the next week or two, I will be buying a turkey last minute and letting it hang in the fridge to defrost... maybe that is the way to go anyway... I mean is there really a possibility of running into the problem of not being able to get a turkey? More likely they'll be cheaper the closer we get to the day right?? right?!
so my shopping this week for the month included:
Cermak's=
5lb bag of potatoes $0.99, 3lb bag of onions $0.59, 2-25ft aluminum foil $0.99ea, 2 -whole chickens (approx 7lbs total) $3.29, approx 8lbs of chicken breasts ($1.39/lb) $10.67, approx 3lbs pork chops ($0.99/lb) $3.13, 2 racks of spare ribs approx 3lbs each ($0.99/lb) $5.58, top sirloin steaks approx 2lbs ($1.99/lb) $4.12 = TOTAL $31.01
ALDI=
chicken nuggets (32oz) $3.99, 3 biscuits $1.14, 2 5lb bags of flour $2.78, 1 5lb bag of sugar $2.22, 2 silicone baking mats $11.98, 2 Red sugar sprinkles $1.58, 3 baking spices (nutmeg, pumkpin pie spice, allspice) $2.97 = TOTAL $27.84
Caputo's=
pizza bread $1.99, 5 frozen banquet meals ($0.99ea) $4.95, 2 Frozen French cut green beans $2, 3 Frozen Corn $3, 1 gal milk $1.99, 1 OJ $2.79, 32 oz chicken stock $1.99, 3lb boneless pork roast $4.26, 4 new york strip steaks ($2.99/lb) $9.54, 1 white onion $0.36, 1 sweet potato $0.39, 1 green onion $0.40, 3 heads of garlic $0.74, 1 red onion $0.48, 3 tomatoes $0.74, 2 bunches of broccoli $0.70, 2 orange peppers $0.62, 2 red peppers $0.48, 3 large artichokes $1, 1 eggplant $1.50, 3 bananas $0.44, 1 red cabbage $2.02, 1 loaf of wonder white bread $0.99, 1 pkg potato gnocchi $0.99 = TOTAL $45.14
I also hit up Meijer, and of course I'm missing my receipt. But I spent $65 there on pop, dog food, baby food, fabric softener and a bunch of miscellaneous crap i didnt NEED, jello, cake mix, oreos and nutter butters for truffles I'm making, etc. (I saved $21 does that count for anything?)
Overall I feel good about spending $169... this is enough food for a month plus some, and a lot of things I needed for Thanksgiving. I don't think I'll be doing any major grocery shopping until January so that isn't bad at all!
Last night, I made myself red cabbage, after long battles with myself on which recipe to go with I made a decision:
1/2 stick butter
1 med onion sliced
1 head cabbage (a lil less really), shredded
1 unpeeled apple sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
salt and pepper
Personally I think it could have used a lil more vinegar, but it turned out delicious and it is sooo much! I'm gonna be eating it all week! I may just turn into a red cabbage!
We also had the NY strip steaks (well 2 of them) for dinner, mostly because they weren't frozen, and well, uh, they would not fit in the freezer in the package! I cooked them, uhhhhh, welllllll - you see I haven't cooked steak in a very long time, and i had no idea how long to cook them, and I looked it up online and of course I was impatient at not finding any help at all, i wasn't going to break out the stupid meat thermometer for a steak- so i went with 5 min on each side because there is nothing worse than a over cooked steak! Mine was a lil thinner and was cooked PERFECTLY! Mike's was a lil thicker and was still mooing a little in the center... don't get me wrong that is how i prefer to eat my meat so in reality it was probably cooked perfectly but i felt bad since I never thought of that to be Mike's favorite temp of meat, I offered to trade OF COURSE, but he really seemed to enjoy the meat still mooing... at least it was warmed through!
Ok I'm done rambling for now, but I may actually post more this month since I have real food to make real recipes!
so my shopping this week for the month included:
Cermak's=
5lb bag of potatoes $0.99, 3lb bag of onions $0.59, 2-25ft aluminum foil $0.99ea, 2 -whole chickens (approx 7lbs total) $3.29, approx 8lbs of chicken breasts ($1.39/lb) $10.67, approx 3lbs pork chops ($0.99/lb) $3.13, 2 racks of spare ribs approx 3lbs each ($0.99/lb) $5.58, top sirloin steaks approx 2lbs ($1.99/lb) $4.12 = TOTAL $31.01
ALDI=
chicken nuggets (32oz) $3.99, 3 biscuits $1.14, 2 5lb bags of flour $2.78, 1 5lb bag of sugar $2.22, 2 silicone baking mats $11.98, 2 Red sugar sprinkles $1.58, 3 baking spices (nutmeg, pumkpin pie spice, allspice) $2.97 = TOTAL $27.84
Caputo's=
pizza bread $1.99, 5 frozen banquet meals ($0.99ea) $4.95, 2 Frozen French cut green beans $2, 3 Frozen Corn $3, 1 gal milk $1.99, 1 OJ $2.79, 32 oz chicken stock $1.99, 3lb boneless pork roast $4.26, 4 new york strip steaks ($2.99/lb) $9.54, 1 white onion $0.36, 1 sweet potato $0.39, 1 green onion $0.40, 3 heads of garlic $0.74, 1 red onion $0.48, 3 tomatoes $0.74, 2 bunches of broccoli $0.70, 2 orange peppers $0.62, 2 red peppers $0.48, 3 large artichokes $1, 1 eggplant $1.50, 3 bananas $0.44, 1 red cabbage $2.02, 1 loaf of wonder white bread $0.99, 1 pkg potato gnocchi $0.99 = TOTAL $45.14
I also hit up Meijer, and of course I'm missing my receipt. But I spent $65 there on pop, dog food, baby food, fabric softener and a bunch of miscellaneous crap i didnt NEED, jello, cake mix, oreos and nutter butters for truffles I'm making, etc. (I saved $21 does that count for anything?)
Overall I feel good about spending $169... this is enough food for a month plus some, and a lot of things I needed for Thanksgiving. I don't think I'll be doing any major grocery shopping until January so that isn't bad at all!
Last night, I made myself red cabbage, after long battles with myself on which recipe to go with I made a decision:
1/2 stick butter
1 med onion sliced
1 head cabbage (a lil less really), shredded
1 unpeeled apple sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
salt and pepper
Personally I think it could have used a lil more vinegar, but it turned out delicious and it is sooo much! I'm gonna be eating it all week! I may just turn into a red cabbage!
We also had the NY strip steaks (well 2 of them) for dinner, mostly because they weren't frozen, and well, uh, they would not fit in the freezer in the package! I cooked them, uhhhhh, welllllll - you see I haven't cooked steak in a very long time, and i had no idea how long to cook them, and I looked it up online and of course I was impatient at not finding any help at all, i wasn't going to break out the stupid meat thermometer for a steak- so i went with 5 min on each side because there is nothing worse than a over cooked steak! Mine was a lil thinner and was cooked PERFECTLY! Mike's was a lil thicker and was still mooing a little in the center... don't get me wrong that is how i prefer to eat my meat so in reality it was probably cooked perfectly but i felt bad since I never thought of that to be Mike's favorite temp of meat, I offered to trade OF COURSE, but he really seemed to enjoy the meat still mooing... at least it was warmed through!
Ok I'm done rambling for now, but I may actually post more this month since I have real food to make real recipes!
Monday, October 19, 2009
a month...
It has been a month since I posted anything. I haven't really shopped or planned in a couple months. I haven't really even tried any new recipes. I've been very lazy, but I'm starting to get back into planning, etc. Last night I made burgers, but not just any burgers. Stuffed hamburgers.
Ground Beef, seasoned with salt and pepper made into 8 equal patties. patty + a slice of mozzarella, a slice of tomato, a slice of mozzarella again, and top it off with another patty. seal it up really good and season the outside of the burger with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. cook approximately 5 min on each side (makes 4). it was a quick cheap and yummy meal. we had some store bought onion rings with it.
I ordered a box of food from angel food ministries this month - a trial if you will. I pick it up on Saturday. For us, one of their boxes will probably stretch about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks. for $30 that isn't bad. after we decide if we like it, we'll see about ordering it again in November... possibly two boxes. The pick up date for the month is so late i should be calling it December, 'cause that is when we will be eating it, but for now I will try not to confuse myself or anyone else.
Two weeks ago I made a "fake" chocolate pie. chocolate pudding in a jiffy pie shell with cookies n cream... uh well cream, on top. Last week I made cinnamon rolls. They didn't turn out great, but still good. (of course I made some sans cinnamon for you know who...) This week I made a box chocolate cake with homemade raspberry syrup on it/in it (I had to do something with the raspberries we picked!). Its good but sticky, but good. It will be breakfast for me for the week.
Yesterday I also made homemade applesauce, mostly to give to Keira, but I will definitely be enjoying it too. I still have a ton of apples and need to find something to do with them before they go bad. I would try my hand at an apple pie, but i would be the only one eating it, and a.) i don't want to more of a cow than I already am, and b.) it would end up going bad before I could consume it all, that is of course, assuming I don't eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dessert with dinner. (Don't put me past it... I've done crazier things)
That's all for now as Keira is trying to help me type!
Ground Beef, seasoned with salt and pepper made into 8 equal patties. patty + a slice of mozzarella, a slice of tomato, a slice of mozzarella again, and top it off with another patty. seal it up really good and season the outside of the burger with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. cook approximately 5 min on each side (makes 4). it was a quick cheap and yummy meal. we had some store bought onion rings with it.
I ordered a box of food from angel food ministries this month - a trial if you will. I pick it up on Saturday. For us, one of their boxes will probably stretch about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks. for $30 that isn't bad. after we decide if we like it, we'll see about ordering it again in November... possibly two boxes. The pick up date for the month is so late i should be calling it December, 'cause that is when we will be eating it, but for now I will try not to confuse myself or anyone else.
Two weeks ago I made a "fake" chocolate pie. chocolate pudding in a jiffy pie shell with cookies n cream... uh well cream, on top. Last week I made cinnamon rolls. They didn't turn out great, but still good. (of course I made some sans cinnamon for you know who...) This week I made a box chocolate cake with homemade raspberry syrup on it/in it (I had to do something with the raspberries we picked!). Its good but sticky, but good. It will be breakfast for me for the week.
Yesterday I also made homemade applesauce, mostly to give to Keira, but I will definitely be enjoying it too. I still have a ton of apples and need to find something to do with them before they go bad. I would try my hand at an apple pie, but i would be the only one eating it, and a.) i don't want to more of a cow than I already am, and b.) it would end up going bad before I could consume it all, that is of course, assuming I don't eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dessert with dinner. (Don't put me past it... I've done crazier things)
That's all for now as Keira is trying to help me type!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The day we ate and ate and ate...
SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!
Football began, and we had lots of food - the menu:
Shrimp Cocktail
PW's Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip with Tastefully Simple's Beer Bread
Ribs (with Open pit BBQ sauce and a homemade Asian BBQ Sauce)
Cornbread Casserole
Rolls ( I cheated and use Rhodes frozen rolls - they are so good and not very expensive its hard not to cheat... but Emily if you are reading, I would love to have the recipe you used for the french rolls you made when we were over there - mmm they were good)
Nutella Bars
and our wonderful guests brought over the most delicious taco salad I've ever had in my life - I need to get that recipe - pronto!
The recipes:
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip
4 oz cream cheese
8 oz sharp cheddar shredded
1/2 cup beer
4 slice bacon cooked and crumbled
6 cloves - roasted garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional-and I omitted it and it still had quite a kick to it, so I'd only add if you want it to be REALLY spicy)
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 green onions sliced - garnish (optional, I didn't do this extra step since it ended up getting reheated a few times)
Microwave (don't ya love when a recipe calls for you to do everything in the microwave? I do!) 2 cheeses on high for 2 min. Add beer mix well and heat for another 2 min or until cheese is completely melted. Mix until well blended and add everything in (sans green onions) until well blended...again. Microwave 1 last minute stir well, transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. now i imagine you could just spoon or spread this delicious cheese concoction cold - but i was going more for a dip after all it is called a dip, so after it set in the refrigerator I nuked it for 30 sec and stirred it right before I served it with tortilla chips and beer bread (which might I add Mike made, and he was very proud of it!)
Asian BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 honey
1/4 rice vinegar
1/4 tsp pepper (white pepper preferably)
3/4 cup apple juice
Now the recipe I have says to whisk together and slather it onto the ribs during the last 30 min of cooking - this is a vinegar based BBQ sauce vs a tomato based one and I personally like my ribs sweet and sticky and this watered down vs of BBQ sauce wasn't doing it for me so I simmered it until it reduced somewhere a little more than a half (until it coated the spoon) this made for a much better BBQ sauce in my opinion - but to each their own!)
Loaded Cornbread Casserole
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs lightly beaten
2 15 oz cans creamed corn
1 cup shredded cheddar
6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
1 cup french fried onions
PREHEAT to 350 and grease a 9 x 13 pan/dish.
Combine the cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add in the milk butter and eggs, and mix well. Add the corn in and mix to combine and pour into the baking dish. spread the cheese and bacon on top evenly - with a fork push the cheese and bacon into the batter just submerging it. Sprinkle with the onions and bake for an hour.
Side note: this is pretty delicious right out of the oven, but when reheating it, it loses some of the moisture - a little butter helps with that - plus who doesn't put butter on their cornbread or corn muffins - I do!
Lastly:
Nutella Bars
(the easiest rice krispie treats I have ever made! EVER!)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup Nutella
6 cups crisp cereal
Cook syrup sugar and nutella, stirring often. Remove from heat and add the cereal, stir/toss well to coat. Transfer mixture to a greased pan and push down to form an even layer - let cool 30 min and then cut.
**since my one and only 9x13 dish was in use for the cornbread casserole, I used a large cookie sheet - ya know the ones with sides what ever they call 'em, although the treats were a lil thinner they turned out really well. and I think I gained 7000 eating them all :)
That's it - that was my cooking endeavor on Sunday! If anything, you MUST try these nutella bars mmm mmm good!
Football began, and we had lots of food - the menu:
Shrimp Cocktail
PW's Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip with Tastefully Simple's Beer Bread
Ribs (with Open pit BBQ sauce and a homemade Asian BBQ Sauce)
Cornbread Casserole
Rolls ( I cheated and use Rhodes frozen rolls - they are so good and not very expensive its hard not to cheat... but Emily if you are reading, I would love to have the recipe you used for the french rolls you made when we were over there - mmm they were good)
Nutella Bars
and our wonderful guests brought over the most delicious taco salad I've ever had in my life - I need to get that recipe - pronto!
The recipes:
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip
4 oz cream cheese
8 oz sharp cheddar shredded
1/2 cup beer
4 slice bacon cooked and crumbled
6 cloves - roasted garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional-and I omitted it and it still had quite a kick to it, so I'd only add if you want it to be REALLY spicy)
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 green onions sliced - garnish (optional, I didn't do this extra step since it ended up getting reheated a few times)
Microwave (don't ya love when a recipe calls for you to do everything in the microwave? I do!) 2 cheeses on high for 2 min. Add beer mix well and heat for another 2 min or until cheese is completely melted. Mix until well blended and add everything in (sans green onions) until well blended...again. Microwave 1 last minute stir well, transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. now i imagine you could just spoon or spread this delicious cheese concoction cold - but i was going more for a dip after all it is called a dip, so after it set in the refrigerator I nuked it for 30 sec and stirred it right before I served it with tortilla chips and beer bread (which might I add Mike made, and he was very proud of it!)
Asian BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 honey
1/4 rice vinegar
1/4 tsp pepper (white pepper preferably)
3/4 cup apple juice
Now the recipe I have says to whisk together and slather it onto the ribs during the last 30 min of cooking - this is a vinegar based BBQ sauce vs a tomato based one and I personally like my ribs sweet and sticky and this watered down vs of BBQ sauce wasn't doing it for me so I simmered it until it reduced somewhere a little more than a half (until it coated the spoon) this made for a much better BBQ sauce in my opinion - but to each their own!)
Loaded Cornbread Casserole
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs lightly beaten
2 15 oz cans creamed corn
1 cup shredded cheddar
6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
1 cup french fried onions
PREHEAT to 350 and grease a 9 x 13 pan/dish.
Combine the cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add in the milk butter and eggs, and mix well. Add the corn in and mix to combine and pour into the baking dish. spread the cheese and bacon on top evenly - with a fork push the cheese and bacon into the batter just submerging it. Sprinkle with the onions and bake for an hour.
Side note: this is pretty delicious right out of the oven, but when reheating it, it loses some of the moisture - a little butter helps with that - plus who doesn't put butter on their cornbread or corn muffins - I do!
Lastly:
Nutella Bars
(the easiest rice krispie treats I have ever made! EVER!)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup Nutella
6 cups crisp cereal
Cook syrup sugar and nutella, stirring often. Remove from heat and add the cereal, stir/toss well to coat. Transfer mixture to a greased pan and push down to form an even layer - let cool 30 min and then cut.
**since my one and only 9x13 dish was in use for the cornbread casserole, I used a large cookie sheet - ya know the ones with sides what ever they call 'em, although the treats were a lil thinner they turned out really well. and I think I gained 7000 eating them all :)
That's it - that was my cooking endeavor on Sunday! If anything, you MUST try these nutella bars mmm mmm good!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
"It's been awhile..."
Dinner tonight:
Roast Beef, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower
Recipes:
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
5lbs russet potatoes - peeled and cut into smallish pieces (I quartered the potatoes and then made approx 1/2" slices)
Roasted Garlic (cut off the top off the head of garlic, put it in the center of a square of aluminum foil. drizzle olive oil over it, salt too, and close up the foil. "Roast" 350 for 30-40 min.)
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup half and half
1/4 cup of butter
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
(to make it zesty you can add a lil red pepper flake)
for the potatoes, throw them in a pot, cover with cold water and cook on med-high for 30 min. or until fork tender. drain and add back into hot pot. mash with sour cream, half and half and butter. season with salt and pepper and mash in the roasted garlic (squeeze it out of the paper - its like butter MMMmmm), and give it a good mix. it makes a ton, and we will be eating it for the rest of the week, so its a good thing it is tasty!
Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower
1 head of broccoli
1 pkg of cauliflower
2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan
I cleaned the broccoli and cauliflower and cut it into bite size piece, put it in a bowl and covered it with a wet paper towel and microwaved it for 4 min. Meanwhile, I melted the butter, added the flour, once the flour was mixed well into the butter and cooked a bit I added the milk slowly while stirring. then I added the cheddar and stirred until it started to melt and finally added the parmesan. stirred that and removed it from the heat. When the broccoli and cauliflower was done I added it into the pan with the cheese and tossed it a bit. and let it sit there until the roast was done.
Roast Beef:
Bottom Round (2 1/2 lbs)
seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder
cooked at 350 for an hour for a perfect med rare on the ends and rare in the middle - YUM!
I can't wait for leftovers tomorrow :P
Roast Beef, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower
Recipes:
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
5lbs russet potatoes - peeled and cut into smallish pieces (I quartered the potatoes and then made approx 1/2" slices)
Roasted Garlic (cut off the top off the head of garlic, put it in the center of a square of aluminum foil. drizzle olive oil over it, salt too, and close up the foil. "Roast" 350 for 30-40 min.)
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup half and half
1/4 cup of butter
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
(to make it zesty you can add a lil red pepper flake)
for the potatoes, throw them in a pot, cover with cold water and cook on med-high for 30 min. or until fork tender. drain and add back into hot pot. mash with sour cream, half and half and butter. season with salt and pepper and mash in the roasted garlic (squeeze it out of the paper - its like butter MMMmmm), and give it a good mix. it makes a ton, and we will be eating it for the rest of the week, so its a good thing it is tasty!
Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower
1 head of broccoli
1 pkg of cauliflower
2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan
I cleaned the broccoli and cauliflower and cut it into bite size piece, put it in a bowl and covered it with a wet paper towel and microwaved it for 4 min. Meanwhile, I melted the butter, added the flour, once the flour was mixed well into the butter and cooked a bit I added the milk slowly while stirring. then I added the cheddar and stirred until it started to melt and finally added the parmesan. stirred that and removed it from the heat. When the broccoli and cauliflower was done I added it into the pan with the cheese and tossed it a bit. and let it sit there until the roast was done.
Roast Beef:
Bottom Round (2 1/2 lbs)
seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder
cooked at 350 for an hour for a perfect med rare on the ends and rare in the middle - YUM!
I can't wait for leftovers tomorrow :P
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Football Season begins...
So I decided since the White Sox depress me, and I don't think they are gonna do anything this year so I've mentally moved on to FOOTBALL!
Dear Bears:
Make this a good year PLEASE. You can save Chicago Sports for me if you do.
Thank you,
Me
So in honor of the Bears and in hopes they will have a great season this year I will make lots of food!
Opening Weekend: September 13th. What's on the menu??
Shrimp Cocktail
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip
Asian BBQ Ribs
Cornbread Casserole
Nutella Rice Krispie Treats
I'm sure there will be more, but that is what I've decided on as of so far. And every time I think about it I get hungry, and want today to Sept. 13th. Thank goodness for a 7pm game, plenty of time to cook all day.
I enjoy my relaxing weekends at home cooking, even on Saturdays when I watch Mike make pizza :)
Tonight for Dinner:
My Great Steak and Potato Knock-Off Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Buns smothered in ranch dressing, chicken breasts shredded cooked in hot sauce, provolone cheese melted over it, topped with shredded lettuce and tomatoes.
That's it for now
Dear Bears:
Make this a good year PLEASE. You can save Chicago Sports for me if you do.
Thank you,
Me
So in honor of the Bears and in hopes they will have a great season this year I will make lots of food!
Opening Weekend: September 13th. What's on the menu??
Shrimp Cocktail
Garlic Lover's Cheese Dip
Asian BBQ Ribs
Cornbread Casserole
Nutella Rice Krispie Treats
I'm sure there will be more, but that is what I've decided on as of so far. And every time I think about it I get hungry, and want today to Sept. 13th. Thank goodness for a 7pm game, plenty of time to cook all day.
I enjoy my relaxing weekends at home cooking, even on Saturdays when I watch Mike make pizza :)
Tonight for Dinner:
My Great Steak and Potato Knock-Off Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Buns smothered in ranch dressing, chicken breasts shredded cooked in hot sauce, provolone cheese melted over it, topped with shredded lettuce and tomatoes.
That's it for now
Saturday, August 22, 2009
new recipe...
Pizza night tonight - as usual - and we tried some new ones...
We had a BBQ chicken, onion, and pineapple pizza (MMMmmm)
& Loaded Baked Potato Pizza - I was so full from the previous pizzas to try this one, but it was made and will be eaten - I felt it was something that must be shared :)
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