Thrifty Thursday: Deal of the Day

I stopped at a local Publix on the way to my hair appointment this afternoon, grabbed some non-perishable deals:



4 bottles Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce (BOGO + manufacturer coupon)
2 Suave body wash (BOGO coupon + Publix coupon)
8 boxes Ronzoni Healthy Harvest and Garden Delight pasta (BOGO + manufacturer coupon)
2 bottles One-a-Day vitamins (25% off + manufacturer coupon)
14 boxes Cheerios cereal ((BOGO + manufacturer coupon)
6 boxes Fiber One cereal ((BOGO + manufacturer coupon)
1 package California Roll ('cause the shopper was hungry!)

Manufacturers Coupons: $22.50
Store Coupons: $ .55
Publix Special PriceSavings: $61.34

Total Savings: $84.39

Total Due: $58.19



Not bad! I won't have to buy cereal for a year, and am able to "gift" Kali with some for her house. *smile* Thanks to Hungry Girl and her delicious recipes, I go through a lot of Fiber One and it rarely goes on sale for this price, am really pleased with that deal.

Saving money is FUN!

Thrifty Thursday: Coupon Clipping

One of my goals for 2010 is to save more money, re-vamp my budget and stick to it. One of the easiest ways for me to do this is with my grocery expenses. I'm known for my coupon clipping and savvy shopping, often shock the cashiers and other patrons with my savings at the register! This, however, requires time and energy, something I was lacking in 2009. This year, however, I vow to get back on track and I have a goal. I've decided that whatever I save in coupons/sales is going straight into my vacation account! This way, when I'm menu planning, clipping coupons and bargain shopping I have extra motivation to do so and when I'm sitting on a tropical island sipping umbrella drinks I can toast myself and my thrifty-ness!

There are a couple of really helpful websites I'd like to share in case you, too, need a bit of assistance. First up is Hot Coupon World, a wealth of information and assistance for coupon clippers! Be prepared, you can spend hours there learning & connecting with other savvy shoppers! I also use My Grocery Deals, a huge timesaver when making that shopping list. Instead of poring over multiple store ads, they are all there in one place, searchable and easily accessed. Cool, huh?

Since I'm always open to suggestions and tips, please share with me how you manage your family's food budget. Are you, too a Coupon Queen?

On My Hearth: Newlywed Hamburger Casserole

Ok, so I'm far from being a newlywed..grin...but this dish is totally in Beren's honor! The man loves..ahem...fried, fatty food and I try so hard to encourage healthy eating. But now & then I give in and make him some stick-to-your-ribs midwestern casserole like my Mama used to make! This one is actually very close to a recipe my Aunt gave my Mom years ago, a nice hearty meal that'll put a smile on my meat lovin' man's face!

Now, to make this a bit healthier and veggie friendly, I'm going to split the recipe in two, making half of it with veggie crumbles in lieu of beef. I'm also using the 99% fat free condensed soups; yeah, it's still chock full of convenience food but it's ok now & then, right? Since I have nearly everything on hand it's also going to be a nice it's-almost-payday thrifty meal as well.


* Exported from MasterCook *

"Newlywed" Hamburger Casserole with French Fried Onions

Recipe By :BamaKathy
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:15
Categories : Beef Casseroles

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 lb ground chuck
1 medium onion -- diced
1 medium bell pepper -- diced
1 jar sliced mushrooms -- (4 ounce) drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup -- (10 3/4 ounce)
1 can French-fried onions -- (3 ounce)
1 bag egg noodles -- (8 ounce) cooked and drained
salt and pepper

In skillet, saute meat, onion, and bell pepper until vegetables are tender and meat is browned. Drain.

Combine with noodles, salt, pepper, mushrooms and mushroom soup in 2 quart casserole.

Cover and bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Remove from oven, uncover, and pour french fried onions over top.

Return to oven, uncovered for five minutes.


Source:
"http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/print?id=104653"
Start to Finish Time:
"0:45"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 391 Calories; 26g Fat (61.4% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 95mg Cholesterol; 340mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 3 1/2 Fat.

NOTES : A friend gave me this recipe as a newlywed. Through the last thirty years, it has become a favorite of our family, our new son-in-laws, and our friends. It sounds simple, but is so tasty!