Monday, January 31, 2011

Coupons and Coffee

I have my cup of coffee sitting right here ready to be enjoyed with a fresh helping of coupons! How about you?


Thanks Hip2Save, Jessica's Coupons, Deal Seeking Mom, Money Saving Mom


Coupons
$0.75/1 La Choy stir fry sauce and marinade $1/1 Marie Callender’s Dessert Pie $1.50/1 Marie Callender’s Homestyle Bakes $1/2 Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers or Marie Callender’s Fresh Mixers $0.50/1 can of Reddi-Wip$.50/1 Minute Rice
$2/1 Daily's fruit mixers
$1/1 Special K Oats and Honey cereal
$1/2 Betty Crocker boxed potatoes
$1/1 Eucerin product, any
$1/1 Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day product
B2G1 Better Oats
$1/1 Scotchguard Protector or Cleaner
$2/3 Huggies Wipes, any size
$.75/1 Red Gold 10 oz tomatoes with green chilies
$1/1 Pampers ThickCare wipes- snail mail




Freebies
Glytone Anti-Aging Cream- Facebook
Maybelline Fit-Me makesup
Monterey Bay Spice Company- organic green tea
Origins Nature's Plantscription anti aging- Facebook


Another week of deals 1/30-2/5

The weekend got away from me! So I'm posting the drug store and Target this morning!


CVS- Thanks Hip2Save!
Walgreens- Thanks Wild for Wags!
Rite Aid- Thanks Hip2Save!
Target- Thanks Totally Target!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Coffee Mate Free Flavor Friday Party Box arrived!


I received my box today! So excited! Inside was a poker set, Cranium, coupons for free Coffee Mate creamer for myself and those who attend, Tasters Choice coffee "sticks", Coffee mate creamer sticks, cups and napkins. I'll I have to do is provide the people and hot water! 








Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Despite my deep Gulf Coast roots (we can trace my Dad's side of the family back to a man on the boat when d'Iberville landed) I'm not much of a seafood eater. Growing up in this area, dancing around a table of fried oysters begging for me (or so my Mama says), a grandmother that picked crabs for a living and a great grandmother that cooked some of the best seafood gumbo known to man, I'm still not a big fan of seafood. Now I'll eat the occasional crab claw, I like fried "popcorn" shrimp and I can even handle some crawfish now and then but I don't suck the heads! EWW!  I prefer to stick to the food that lives out of the water. That's why my gumbo has chicken and sausage in it. 






Chicken and Sausage Gumbo


2 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
1 lb. sausage, diced (I like using andouille but smoked will do) and browned
8 c. water
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 T. oil (any kind will do)
2 T. flour
1 tsp. thyme
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1 bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste or 1/2 can tomato sauce
1 tsp. sage
1 tsp. cayenne pepper


Mix bouillon, water, spices, shredded chicken ans diced in large pot. Set to simmer. Saute vegetables until tender and add to pot. (Sometimes I cheat on the veggies and buy a bag of seasoning blend.) Make a dark roux; add to pot and stir. Grind okra in food processor; cook  down until most of the sliminess is gone**; add tomato paste. Cook down and add to pot. Cover and simmer 25 to 35 minutes. Serve over rice.


** Don't let the use of okra turn you off. I know some people won't eat okra because of it's sliminess. Cooking it like this takes almost all of that away. You do not get the slimy texture after its cooked down and mixed into the gumbo. 

How to Make a Roux

If you aren't from the south odds are you've never had milk gravy or gumbo made with a roux. Roux is the basis for all things rich and thick in southern cooking. Make a roux; add milk and you have gravy for homemade biscuits, meatballs or chicken fried steak. Make roux and add it to any soup to make it thick and add a layer of flavor that is delicious.




5 T. oil (bacon grease, vegetable oil, olive oil, doesn't really matter)
2 LARGE T.  flour
salt and pepper to taste


In a small cast iron skillet (preferable) heat oil until very hot; add flour, salt and pepper. Keep a careful eye on the skillet! Stirring often until flour turns a dark peanut brown.


If making gravy turn down heat and add milk at this point and stir A LOT! Working out any lumps.


If adding to soup, just stir it in!

Coupons and Coffee

Good morning! Hope everyone is having a good morning! And it's Blog hop Wednesday!





Thanks Hip2save, Jessica's Coupons, The Frugal Girls, For the Mommas, Money Saving Mom, My Frugal Adventures, My Baton Rouge Mommy, Deal Seeking Mom


Coupons
$.75/1 Wrigley Extra Gum- Free at CVS this week!
$.55/1 Bob Evans Refrigerated side
$1/1 Cold Stone Creamery Smooth Cravings
$1/1 Angel Soft 12 pk double roll or larger
$.75/1 Newman's Own Salsa
$5/5 Petsmart- select cities Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Livingston, NY, Houston, New York, Tampa & Philly
$3/1 Huggies Snug & Dry- 60 ct. or larger
$.75/1 Beech Nut Cookies
$1.50/1 Stoneyfield yogurt 32 oz.
$.50/1 4ct. Savory Choice liquid broth concentrate
$.50/1 Starkist tuna pouch product
$.50/1 any flavor Tabasco sauce (That would have come in handy for the sweet & spicy chili sauce I bought this weekend for the Sweet and Spicy pork recipe over at Mostly Homemade!)
$.50/1 Welch's fruit snack or yogurt snacks
$1/2 Earth's Best snacks for your little ones
Gerber Clothing coupons
$.50/2 Zatarain's mixes (use zipcode 30187)
$3/1 Schick Bikini razor - new link
$1/1 Olde Hearth bread- Facebook


Freebies
Notebooking the 50 States
Dr. and Nurse PreK printables
Sun Rise- ebook
Color Catchers sample
Pampers Potty Training Kit plus coupons

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

BBQ Pork in the crock pot

My husband HATES condiments! I mean it! He HATES them! I've seen the man make his own sandwich and then check to make sure there is no mayonnaise on it! He loves these sandwiches despite the fact they have ketchup and ground mustard in them. 


I had this for the first time when we lived in Lubbock, Texas at a luncheon at the Deaf Center where I worked. It was delicious and so easy! I've been making it for years now and it never gets old. 


**yeah I forgot to take a single picture. So picture pork ribs slow cooking in the crockpot.**

3/4-1 cup white vinegar (I use 1 cup because I like it tangy!)
1/2 c. ketchup
2 T. sugar
2 T. worchestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. paprika
1/2-1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 lb. boneless country style ribs
1 T. vegetable oil

Combine first nine ingredients in a slow cooker. Cut ribs into chunks; brown in skillet in oil and then add to crock pot. Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours or until tender. Serve as is or shred and serve on buns (that's our preference).

Coupons and Coffee

Rain Rain go away! I understand the need for rain, but I really don't like it! Guess I'll be couponing online today!


Thanks Thrifty NW Mom, For the Mommas, Freebies 4 Mom, Jessica's Coupons, Money Saving Mom


Coupons
$1/1 Heluva Good dips- Facebook
$3/1 Schick Bikini Trimmer- Facebook
BOGO Nestle Milk singles-Facebook
$1/1 Wholly Guacamole- This is a PDF but it comes directly from the product website! FYI: Rouse's has a sign up that says buy a Wholly Guacamole product get Wholly Salsa Free!
$1/1 A-1 Steak sauce
$1/1 Jose Ole product
$1/1 Tresemme product
$1/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel
$1/1 Batter Blaster pancake/waffle mix ORGANIC- Again a PDF but it comes directly from the product website.




Freebies
FREE New York Style product
Elle Magazine- free subscription
"Dads and Daughters" book by James Dobson (actual book NOT an ebook)
John Frieda Frizz Ease
John Frieda product
Prilosec
Poise pads
Quaker Squares- send samples to 10 friends

Monday, January 24, 2011

Coupon Classes

Coupon Classes for East Jackson County have been posted on the Coupon Class link! I'm working on more classes for Harrison/Hancock and West Jackson County so don't worry!

If you would like to have a class, remember they are always FREE! Just leave a message or email me and let me know when and where.

Target Run 1/24

I haven't posted one of my shopping outings in a while, so here it is! You can do it too!



Transaction #1:
3- Huggies Little Movers (Pull ups would work too if you have the coupons) $8.99
-$1/1 peelie
-$2/1 SS 1/23/11 x2
OOP: $21.97
+ Get $5 GC wyb 3





Transaction #2:
1- Ortega taco sauce $1
2- Old El Paso mexican rice $1.52
-$.80/2 printable no longer available
1- Old El Paso taco seasoning $.63
- FREE taco seasoning wyb 2 products peelie
6- bananas $1.14
2- M&M Valentine heart candies $.99
-$1/2 printable here (use 90201 if you don't see it)
2- Rimmel Mascara $2.99 **MONEYMAKER**
-$2/1 Target printable here x2
-$2/1 printable here x2 (says mascara or any product)
1- Toll House cookie $2.29
-$1/1 printable no longer available
5- Marie Callendar frozen meals $1.99 each
-Buy 4 get 1 Free Target sale
-$1/1 printable here and here and here x5
1- MP tortillas $1.49
1- GE Reveal Light bubls 4 pk $2
- $1.50/1 Target printable here


Not pictured:
1- Pedigree dog food 15 lb. $10.99
-$3/1 peelie
3- 4pks. Vitamin Water $2.79 each
-Buy 2 get 1 free Target hangtag


Total before coupons: $48.86
-$5 GC from diaper deal
Total OOP after coupons: $18.15 That's 63% saved!


Want to learn to do this too? I offer FREE classes! Check out the Coupon Class tab for details!

Pull ups for $.07 each!!!

My 17 month old is in the beginning stages of potty training. She grabs her diaper when she starts to potty and says "peepee" or "shoo wee" so today begins are first steps into actual potty training! So I was super excited to grab this HOT deal at Amazon right now!


54 ct. Girls Huggies Pull Ups Nighttime $17.70
-FREE Shipping for being an Amazon Mom member(find out more here). It's free to sign up!(Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles are eligible too!)
-20% off (Amazon coupon found in Parenting the Early Years Dec./Jan. issue)
-$10 off diaper purchase (Amazon coupon found in Parenting the Early Years Feb. issue)


Total cost: $4.16! That's 7 cents per pull up!




FYI: Amazon Mom does offer a discount on diaper purchases, but these do not qualify.
And remember that Amazon prices can change REALLY quickly!


Thanks Jessica's Coupons for the heads up!

Coupons and Coffee

Good Morning! Hunting down some coffee this morning! We forgot to turn the heat on last night!


Thanks Jessica's Coupons, The Frugal Girls, Money Saving Mom


Coupons
$1/1 OM Carving Board Meat
LOTS of new Target printables
$.50/2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Target coupon available too!)
$1/3 Birds Eye products
$1/1 Bailey's Coffee Creamer
$1/2 Kraft cheese with a touch of Philly
$2/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh WYB Van De Kamps or Mrs. Pauls's seafood product
FREE Birds Eye Steamfresh WYB Van De Kamps or Mrs. Pauls's seafood product(use zipcode 62946)
$1/1 Wet N Wild Eye Shadow Trio
$1/1 Ruffles or Sunchips (good at Walgreens)
$.75/1 Snikiddy Snacks
BOGO Pedigree canned dog food
BOGO Temptations cat treats
$1/1 Brut product- use at Walgreens this week)




Freebies
EBooks

Free Clairol Nice n Easy Foam- Facebook available starting today


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Another week of deals 1/23-1/29

Here's another week of deals!


CVS- Thanks Hip2Save!
$.50 laundry detergent!


Rite Aid- Thanks Hip2Save!
FREE GE Light after up+ reward!

Walgreens- Thanks Wild for Wags!
$.64 Kleenex!


Target- Thanks Totally Target!
$1 Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers!

Free 50 ct. Coffee Mate French Vanilla at Staples

Remember the free pens a month or so ago from Staples? Well now you can get free Coffee Mate creamer 50 ct. box! Head over to Staples and add the 50 ct. Coffee-Mate box to your cart. Then use the coupon code 69486. Select to pick up at your local store and score it totally FREE!!!!

Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy some free creamer in your coffee while reading coupons and coffee each morning?

Thanks Jessica's Coupons!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Pork Chop Bake

I found this recipe in a Southern Living cookbook about ten years ago. Of course like all things, my recipe is slightly different than the original! Even my reluctant eater, Molly, like this dish!




What you need:
4- small boneless pork chops (some people call them breakfast pork chops, I call them easy!)
1/3 c. flour
salt and pepper, garlic powder
3-carrots or a handful of baby carrots, chopped
2-celery stalks, chopped
3 or 4 large potatoes
1- onion, chopped
1 1/2 c. HOT water
2 chicken bouillon cubes




Pour about 2-3 T. of oil in a good heavy pot ( like my enamel cast iron!) that has a lid and brown your floured pork chops. They don't have to be completely done, just browned. You'll finish cooking them later.


While they cook chop up all your veggies but keep them separate!







Get your hot water and drop in your two boillion cubes and add some salt,pepper and garlic powder to taste. Set to the side.


In the same pot you just browned your pork chops, layer the pork chops, potatoes, carrots, celery and onions...In that order! Pour your seasoned water over the top and put a lid on it! Let cook over medium heat for 30-45 minutes or until all your vegetables are tender.




I don't serve this dish with anything else since there are so many veggies in the dish. YUM!

Coupons and Coffee

Good morning! The cold really blew in last night down here! I hear that a lot of people north of us are snowed in once again. Stay warm ya'll! Here's some entertainment for you!


Thanks Jessica's Coupons, Hip2Save, For the Mommas, The Frugal Girls, Katy Couponers, and The Krazy Coupon Lady


Coupons
$1/1 Kraft 2% milk singles
$1/4 Lean Cuisines
$1/1 Eight O'Clock Coffee
$.75/1 Shake and Bake
BOGO Vitamin Water
$1/1 Wholly Queso
$1/1 Wholly Salsa
$1/2 Vlasic Pickles, Peppers or Relish
$.55/1 Vlasic Pickle, Pepper or Relish and here
P&G Coupons for Military
$2.50/1 Garnier Ultra Lift Moisturizer
20% off at Big Lots
$1/1 Kikkoman
$10/2 FocusFactor
$.50/1 Carefree liners
$.75/2 Wishbone salad dressing
$.75/1 Reynolds Non-stick foil
$3 off Alka Seltzer Antiacid AND Alka Seltzer Cold
Freebies
Hide in Plain Sight- ebook
Craving God- ebook
Roseflower Creek-ebook
Sweets for your Sweet- ecookbook
Game Day Appetizers -ecookbook
Beech Nut Stage 4 Toddler kit
Power Bar Gel Blasts Energy chews

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Mostly Homemade: New Recipe

I just posted two new recipes over at Mostly Homemade!

Crockpot Cabbage and Sausage

This recipe is from my best friend, Dawn. I love cabbage! I especially love "fried" cabbage, but this crockpot dish is next in line! Even my 17  month old chowed down on the cabbage!






1 large head cabbage, quartered and stem removed
1 lb. smoked sausage (I used Polk's)
1 stick butter
1 onion
salt and pepper
1/4 c. water


Layer cabbage, sausage, onion, and butter; repeat until you've used it all. Salt and pepper to taste, then pour water over top. Cook 4 hours on high. Stir occasionally. 


I serve this with a pan of homemade mac & cheese (another of Dawn's recipes) and sometimes with a pan of cornbread.

Homemade Peanut Butter

So I have a list of twelve things to do in 2011. Number one on that list...make homemade peanut butter! If it wasn't for peanut butter and bananas my two girls might never eat again! There's a strict rule in our house, JIF and only JIF grace our cabinets. Lets see if I can change that. 


I grabbed a 1 1/2 lb. bag of  dry roasted peanuts from Target  last night for under $2! Shelled and removed the skin and dropped them in a bowl. Now I only did about a cup just to try it tonight. Dropped them all in my food processor and hit the button. It takes about 5 minutes for the peanuts to start releasing their oil to make it creamy. The longer you blend the creamier it gets. Can you say YUM!?! Molly was dancing around the kitchen waiting to taste it. 




I added about 1/2 tsp. of honey just for a little sweetness. The one cup of peanuts made about a 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Perfect for lunch tomorrow! Wish I would have realized this was so easy! I would have made it sooner! Plus I know everything that's in it! No artificial anything, no preservatives (which reminds me store the fresh stuff in the fridge in an airtight container) or anything else. Wait it gets better! It's CHEAP! Not to mention it was fun. Molly had a great time cracking the peanuts with me. 


So ya'll grab some bread and whip you up a pb&j, pb & banana or a fluffernutter! 


Homeschool: Zebra Lapbook and art project

Conversation between my 7 yr. old and her Daddy while they were playing around the other day:


Molly: "Dad, you're sillier than a zebra!"
Hubby: "Are zebras silly?"
Molly: "I don't know."
Hubby: "Do a report on zebras and find out if they are silly or not."


It's conversations and assignments like these that get me sidetracked with our schooling! But they are also one of the many things that I love about homeschooling! Where else can you completely change directions and study about something because you want to?


We just started a unit study in science on biomes. So this was actually perfect! Molly did a little research about grasslands (where zebras just happen to live) last week. So this week we've worked on a lapbook and some art projects on zebras. We'll finish the week up tomorrow with a short report on zebras and whether or not they are silly.


Here's Molly's lapbook. I got all of the printable from Homeschool Share. The local library doesn't have the Zebra Zoobook the link recommends, but I was able to find all the information online.






Here's Molly's art project. I found the idea on Deep Space Sparkle. This was our first trip into art with chalk pastels. Can you say messy? I'll be purchasing oil pastels next week to cut down on the mess.