Friday, December 21, 2007

Welcome 12-18-07 thru 12-24-07

Welcome to deals and mealts 12-18-07 through 12-24-07!!

Time to clean out your coupon systems and get rid of all expired coupons! Look at all deodorants, shampoos, soaps, razors, toothpaste coupons and any that are for 1.00 off and do not say "excludes trial sizes" can be used on the trial size ones at Target and Walmart. This is something I have just recently started doing. I am stocked to the ceiling in these items in the full sizes but before I toss out 1.00 coupons I have started checking out the travel sizes at Walmart and Target and trying to match coupons to products. They are FREE after the 1.00 and I put together bags to donate with them. Just another way to bless someone who is less fortunate and when it is just tax you are paying it is just your time in pulling the coupons and standing for a few moments in the travel isle.

Several things to note. First, since this is a holiday weekend, I do not anticipate any inserts in Sunday's paper. Second, since Christmas is on Tuesday I do not anticipate there to be any grocery circulars in Wednesday's paper. If I am remembering correctly, the grocery stores will either just continue the current sale items or not really have anything on special for the week. Either way we all will probably be up to our eyeballs in leftovers and not interested in doing much shopping or meal planning the day after Christmas. But get ready..... January is historically the BEST month for inserts. They will be thick and hearty if they hold true to years past. If anyone did not get the Sunday only subscription and live in Greensboro, let me know and I can still get you one. This would be the perfect time of year before the January inserts come out.

There are some deals out there to be had this week. If anyone has a need for diapers and wipes there is a deal going on that is awesome. Go to www.afullcup.com and check out the Target coupons. There is a coupon for 3.00 off 2 Huggies items. Target has the soft pack of Huggies wipes for $1.48 each which means FREE wipes when you buy 2 and use the $3.00 coupon. If you need diapers, Target will allow you to stack a Target coupon and a manufacturer's coupon together. I bought 2 packs of diapers and used (1) 3.00 off and (2) 1.00 mfg coupons. The regular price of jumbo(?) pack of diapers was 9.99 so 2 packs cost 7.49 each. I bought 2 packs of diapers, 9 packs of wipes, 3 bottles of baby wash, and a pack of washcloths (1.49) and paid a total of 17.86. Pretty good. I love Target.... just not the Target on Bridford Parkway because they do not like their own coupons and will refuse to take them! Crazy.

Just wanted to put this out there too. Grab a coupon and look at the bar code on the bottom and look at the top next to the expiration date box. Sometimes coupons will say "do not double" or "do not triple". Look again at the bottom bar code. On the far left outside of the bars is a tiny number. It will be a 5 or a 9. If it is a 5, the coupon will double. If the number is a 9, the coupon will not double. Same system will hold true during triple coupons when they roll around again. Figured I would pass that on because for the longest time I would get ready to buy something and see the "do not double" and tell myself that I was not willing to pay that extra amount and was only willing to spend what the product would have cost with the coupon being doubled. Saw this information on another site and it has held true for me everytime.

Another thought, as the end of the years approaches and we all start our resolutions, think about keeping track of your grocery spending and savings. I have been doing this for years but at the end of the year it is awesome to be able to turn to my husband and tell him I saved him thousands this past year and have "proof"! It might be a cool thing to do especially if you have just gotten started in couponing and am curious if this really worth the effort and madness and by the end of next year, you will shout YES!!!!

Have a Merry Christmas,
Genna

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Meals for 12-19-07 thru 12-24-07

Meals for this week, 12-19-07 thru 12-24-07:
Stuffed shells
Chicken in Creamy Pan Sauce
Impossible Cheeseburger Pie
Tasty 2 step Chicken Bake
Quick Chicken and Dumplings
Easy Bacon Pie
Rice Stuffed Peppers
No Cream Creamy Broccoli Soup
Easy Cheesy Cauliflower


Stuffed Shells:
1 box (12 oz) jumbo shells
1 jar Marinara (or spag) sauce
2 eggs
2 containers (15 or ea) Ricotta cheese or the one big one from last week's sale
4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 tbsp dried parsley
Preheat to 350. Cook shells according to package directions and drain. Spray the bottom of a 15 x 10 in or 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread 2 cups of the marinara sauce in baking dish. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in ricotta, 3 cups of the mozzarella, 1 cup of the parmesan and the parsley. Fill each cooked shell with ricotta mixture. Arrange the filled shells in baking dish. Top with remaining marinara sauce, mozzarella and parmesan. Bake covered with foil until bubbly, about 60 min. Uncover and continue cooking until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. I would serve with salad and steamed broccoli and bread.

Chicken in Creamy Pan Sauce:
4 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb)
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp oil
3/4 cup fat-free chicken broth
4 oz (1/2 of 8 oz pkg) cream cheese, cubed
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Place the chicken inside a resealable plastic bag, along with the flour and seal bag. Shake to even coat chicken. Set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet on med heat. Add the chicken and cook 5 to 6 min on each side or until it is cooked through. Remove chicken, reserving drippings in the skillet. Cover chicken to keep warm. Add broth to skillet and stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up all those browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add the cream cheese and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until cream cheese is melted and the sauce starts to thicken, stirring constantly with a wire wisk. Return chicken to the skillet and turn over to coat both sides with the creamy sauce. Cook 2 min or until the chicken is heated through. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. You can sprinkle with parsley and can top with quartered cherry tomatoes before drizzling with the sauce.
I would serve with rice or a pasta sides dish and vegs.

Impossible Cheeseburger Pie:
1 lb ground beef (I have used turkey)
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bisquick
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Heat to 400. Grease 9 inch pie plate. Cook ground beef and onion until beef is brown and drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate, sprinkle with cheese. Stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. I serve with a salad and soup.

Tasty 2-step Chicken Bake:
4 boneless chicken breast halves
1 can (10 3/4 oz) can of cream of mushroom soup
preheat to 400. Place chicken in a 2 quart shallow baking dish. Spread soup evenly over chicken. Cover. Bake for 25 minute or until chicken is done. I would serve with rice and vegs.

Quick Chicken and Dumplings:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
1 cup cut up cooked chicken
1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken or mushroom soup
1 cup biaquick
1/3 cup milk
paprika
Heat 1 1/2 cups milk, peas, carrots, chicken, and soup to boiling. Stir bisquick and 1/3 cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 8 spoonfuls onto chicken mixture. Sprinkle with paprika. Cook uncovered over low heat for 10 minutes. Cover and then cook 10 minutes longer.

Easy Bacon Pie:
12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup shredded swiss cheese (I hate swiss and used cheddar or sharp)
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup bisquick
1 cup milk
1/8 tsp pepper
2 eggs
Preheat to 400. Grease 9 inch pie plate. Sprinkle bacon, cheese and onion. Stir remaining ingredients together and pour into plate. Bake 35-40 minutes. I would serve with simple soup like chicken noodle or tomato and salad.

Rice-Stuffed Peppers:
8.8 oz pouch microwavable brown rice (I use white)
2 medium onions, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
2 tsp basil
4 red peppers (or green)
1/2 cup veg broth
grated parmesan cheese
Preheat to 400. Prepare an 8,8 oz pouch of microwaveable brown rice according to package instructions. Saute 2 chopped medium onions in a skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil for about 7 minutes. Add a 14 oz can diced tomatoes and simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and 2 tsp dried basil. Slice 4 red bell peppers in half lengthwise; remove seeds and ribbing but leave stems intact. Spoon rice mixture into pepper halves and arrange in a large baking dish. Pour 1/2 cup hot vegetable broth around pappers and bake 30 minutes or until peppers are tender. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and serve with mixed greens.

No Cream Creamy Broccoli Soup:
1 cup chopped carrots (about 2 medium)
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
3/4 cup chopped onions (about 1 med)
3 tbsp oil
2 cans (14.4 ea) fat-free chicken broth
1/2 tsp pepper
4 1/2 cups broccoli florets (about 2 small bunches)
1/2 cup white rice, uncooked
2 cups milk
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Cook and stir carrots, celery, and onions in hot oil in a large saucepan on med-high heat 5 minutes. Add broth and pepper and stir. Bring to boil. Stir in broccoli and rice. Reduce heat to med-low and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until vegs are tender, stirring frequently. Add soup, in batches, to blender or food processor; cover. Blend until pureed. Return soup puree to saucepan. Add milk and cheese; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Easy Cheesy Cauliflower:
1 head cauliflower
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup mayo
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Cut cauliflower into 8 to 12 large pieces, discarding core. Place in microwaveable casserole dish. Add water, cover. Microwave on high 10 minutes and drain. Return cauliflower to casserole dish. Mix mayo and mustard. Spread over cauliflower and sprinkle with cheese. Microwave on high 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Organization of coupons

Organizing your coupons:

Upfront, organizing your coupons might be a very time consuming task but in the end organization will pay off. If you have your coupons organized somehow they will be easier to find, easier to weed out the expired and will ultimately save you money. I know there are several ways to organize coupons according to experts. The first system is called the binder method. You will need a large binder and lots of the plastic pages with slots that baseball cards go in. In each section you will put like coupons and arrange your pages in the binder by category. Many times the binder will fit in the front of the grocery card and make for easy flipping in the store. The reason I do not have a binder is that I almost always have a child in the front seat of the grocery cart and the binder would end up laying destroyed on the floor of Harris Teeter and I know that it would not work for me. The second method is having a box and having it organized in categories and having the coupons within their proper section. I use this method and am in the lengthy process of organizing each section so that all identical coupons are paperclipped together. I have just crammed my coupons in their sections for years and am tired of having to pull out a jumbled crumpled mess to find that "one" coupon in the stack. I am hoping that this will make filing faster in the end too each week with the new inserts. A third method is to file the inserts by week in a file and then cutting specific coupons when you find those items for sale. The immediate negative for me about filing is that I drag my coupons everywhere in case I see an unadvertised sale (which are usually my biggest deals) and having them in files would lead me on a wild goose chase trying to remember which week a coupon came out. The last method is having your coupons pulled and in a pocket organizer. Again, that will only work if you know exactly what you are planning to buy and do not anticipate finding any unadvertised deals.

When I first started couponing I would put stacks in plastic baggies- frozen, dey, cereal, etc.... but one day a bag fell and poof! the coupons were allover the place and disorganized. I then went to an organized shoebox which I used for years without any problems. Then one day my third child picked up the box and dropped it on the floor at Harris Teeter and I almost fainted and then cried as I crammed them all back into the box and called the shopping trip quits. I now use a box with a snap lock lid. I had one cashier (a teenage boy) actually charge me $5.74 for the thing and it was full of coupons and junk. I had to go back the next day and get a refund on my own coupon box. Sometimes the box and I look ridiculous but I would not trade that thing for the world.

These are the categories that I have in my box (in order):

1. medicine
2. pet
3. cold-cheese
4. cold-meat
5. cold all other
6. frozen-meat
7. frozen-dessert
8. frozen all other
9. dry-coffee
10. dry-bread/cereal/breakfast
11. dry-dinner mixes (rice/pasta)
12. dry-snacks and misc dry
13. bottles/cans
14. shampoo/conditioner
15. soaps (razors,deodorant,lotion included but I need to re-organize)
16. toilet/facial tissue (remaining papers-plates/towels, napkins)
17. laundry
18. multi-purpose cleaners
19. dish cleaning
20. diapers/wipes
21. baby stuff
22. drinks
23. feminine hygiene
24. misc- everything else! air fresheners, plastic wrap, alum foil, trash
bags and junk

Coupon Terms

Here is a list of coupon terms you might see:

B1G1 or BoGo
catalina- manufacturer coupons that print out from a little machine at the register, triggered by what you buy
OYNO- on your next order
blinkie- red smartsource machine with a little red blinking light on the machine. The coupons that come out of them are called blinkies.
peelie- coupon found attached to a product- you have to peel it off
hangtag- a coupon that is hanging around the bottle neck of wine- you do not have to buy the wine to use the coupon
c/o- cents off coupon or cash off coupon
cpns
crtc- cash register tape
FAR- free after rebate
TMF- try me free
loss leader- what a store sells-usually on the circular front page- to intice or lure you into the store in the first place. These are usually sold close to or at a loss. Goal to get you in and get you to buy more there.
doubles
triples
GDA/HDA- good deal alert/hot deal alert
YMMV- Your mileage may vary, a generic term for “it worked for me, may not work for you”

Harris Teeter deals 12-18-07 thru 12-24-07

Harris Teeter deals this week:

** note that some of the Teeters are now taking recently expired coupons***

Minute rice 2/3- .40/1= .70 ea
Mt Olive relish 1.49 BOGO (.75)- .50/1= FREE (donate if you don't want)
Furmano's can tomatoes 28 oz 3/4 (1.33)-.75/3=.83 ea
Kraft salad dressing 2.79 BOGO( 1.40)-.75/2=.65 ea
Ole El Paso taco shells 1.59-.55/2 peelie on box= 1.04 box
Newmans salsa and spag sauces 2/4-.50/1= 1.00 ea
Campbells gravy 4/2-.25/4 or .50/4= .38 or .25 ea
Bistro Deluxe pasta mixes 2/5-.75/1=1.00 ea
Campbells cream soups 4/3- .25/4= .67 ea
Betty Crocker cookie mix 2/3- .50/1= .50 ea
Betty Crocker cake mix 1.69 BOGO= .85
Betty Crocker icing 1.39- .50/1= .39
Ghirardelli brownie mix 2/4- 1.00/1= 1.00 ea
Eagle condensed milk 1.99- .55/1= .89
Ritz Toasted 2/5 -.75/1 peelie= 1.00 ea peelie is found on the Golden Harvest bags
Dawn dish liquid 1.49- .50/1= .49
Joy dish liquid 1.59- .30/1= .99
Mr. Clean wipes 2.24- .50/1= 1.24
Bam cleaner 1.99- ,75/1= .24 bottle
Lysol 2.14 -1.00/1= 1.14
Glass Plus cleaner 2/4- .50/1= 1.00
Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop 1.94- .40/1= 1.14 and don't forget to use the coupon for the free soda if you have one- I found mine at Food Lion last week
Jolly Time popcorn 2.39 BOGO (1.20)- .50/2= .70 ea
Chex Mix- Apple Cinnamon flavor closeout 1.84- .50/1= .84 ea
Pictweet Steamers 1.99 BOGO- 1.00/2 from penguin board= .50 ea
Steamfreah vegs 1.89 BOGO- 2.00/4= .45 ea
Sara Lee pies 5.59 BOGO - 1.00/1= 1.80 ea
Sister Shubert rolls 3.99 BOGO- .50/1= 1.00 ea
Smuckers Uncrustable sandwiches 2/4- .50/1= 1.00
International Delight 32 oz coffee creamer 2/5- .55/1= 1.40 ea
Daisy sour cream 1.25- .50/1= .25
Kraft shredded cheeses 2/4 - 1.00/2 from penguin board= 1.50 ea
Bob Evans side dishes (cold section) 2/5 - .35/1= 1.80 ea
Harris Teeter brand 2 liter sodas .69 ea
Pampers mega packs 9.99- 1.50 or 2.00= 8.49 or 7.99 great deal


Make sure you check the frozen food area for the penguin board. This board has a ton of coupons that make for really good deals.

Lowes Foods deals 12-18-07 thru 12-24-07

Lowes Foods deals this week:

boneless chicken breast 1.99 lb
Plumrose bacon 3.99 BOGO
Oscar Meyer balogna 1.99 BOGO
Lowes brand vanilla wafers 1.49 BOGO
Rotel can tomatoes 5/5- .30/1=.40 ea
Kraft grated Parmesan cheese 2.79-.55/1= 1.69
Minute Rice still 2/3-.40/1=.70
Betty Crocker microwaveable packs of mashed potatoes 5/5-.35/1=.30
Campbells can gravy 5/3-.25/4 or .50/4=1.90/4 or 1.40/4=.48 ea or .35 ea
Swanson broth 5/3-.40/4=.40 ea
Campbells cream soups 4/3 (.75 ea) -.25/4=.63 ea
French's fried onions 2.79-.50/1= 1.79 good deal
Nabisco crackers 2/4- .55/2=1.45 ea
Skippy PB 1.99- .75/1= .49
Armour vienna sausages 2/1.00-1.00/2= FREE (I got 8 to donate for free)
Thai Kitchen spring onion soup .89-.50/1= FREE (again to donate)
Hunts can spaghetti sauce 5/5= 1.00 ea
Barilla pasta shells 4/5= 1.25 ea
Betty Crocker cookie mix pouch 3/4.98 (1.66 ea)-.50/1=.66 ea
Betty Crocker cake mix 1.65 BOGO (.83)
Betty Crocker icing 1.29- .50/1=.29 ea
Northwoods syrup 1.79- .75/1 handtag= .29 ea
Lowes brand cheerios and corn flakes 2/5 BOGO= 1.25 ea
Kelloggs Rice Crispies, Frosted Flakes 1.95 ea
Renuzit subtle effects spray 2/3- .75/1= FREE
Lowes Brand ice cream 4.99 BOGO (2.50)- tastes like breyers
Lowes Brand frozen pie crusts .99 ea
Green Giant frozen box vegs 1.79 BOGO- .50/1 or .25/1= Free with .10 overage or .40
Birds Eye Steamfresh bag vegs 5/5-2.00/4=.50 ea
Birds Eye chopped broccoli 4/3-1.00/2=.50/2 or .25 ea
Pillsbury frozen dinner rolls or biscuits 2.79- .50/1 or .75/1= 1.79 or 1.29
Mrs T pierogies 2/4- 1.00/1 from penguin board= 1.00 ea
Philadelphia cream cheese .99- 1.00/2 from penguin board= .49 ea


Remember to be on the lookout for beer rebate forms (Coors, Miller and Foster's) and for the hangtags on wine bottles. Remember that you do not have to purchase any alcohol in North Carolina to be eligible to submit for their rebates or to use their coupons. I noticed several good wine hangtags this week at Lowes for 2.00 off produce, 2.00 off bread, something off floral to name a few.

Food Lion deals 12-18-07 thru 12-24-07

Food Lion deals this week:

Food Lion Cooked Shrimp 14.99 BOGO= each will ring up full price and then next line will take off half
1 lb bag of carrots .99
Green Giant can vegs 4/2 (.50 ea)
Emerald Cashew or Mixed nuts 3.99 BOGO (1.98 ea)- 1.00/1= .98 ea
Philadelphia cream cheese .99- 1.00/2 from penguin board=.44 ea
Heluva Good Dip 4/5 (1.25 ea)-.50/1= .75 ea

There night be some unadvertised deals in store but I have not done a walk-thru. Food Lion is usually the best place to find the rebate forms by the beer companies so if you do go there make sure to look around their displays carefully.