Menu Plan Monday- 11/30-12/6----easy as pie!

Well, I am working nights this week and things have been quite busy around here, so my planning is even more important!  Unfortunately, I am a bit behind on things and so this is going to be a little thrown together week of "easy" meals.  I'm skipping the meatballs again this week :(

MONDAY- Turkey Pot Pie using this recipe for Chicken Pot Pie, but subbing some leftover Turkey!

TUESDAY- Leftovers from Monday

WEDNESDAY-Frozen Pizza and Salad

THURSDAY-Vegetarian Chili and Tacos with rice and veggies

FRIDAY-Leftovers from Thursday

SATURDAY-Veggies in hubby's African tomato sauce and chicken

SUNDAY-Leftovers again!

I'll be working nights again next week, so I better get my plans together so I'm not running around like a crazy person!

Share your favorite Make Ahead Meals in the comments!

Visit MPM for more ideas and to share!

Wednesday Tip Day---giving Thanks!

This is one of the books we read to our girls.

It starts, "I like to be thankful for all I receive, from the tiniest seashell to the mightiest breeze."

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am opening this post to anyone who wants to share their "thanks" for anything in their lives.

Shoprite wk of 11/22-11/28

Things have been a little nutso around here and the sales at Shoprite this week are mediocre in my humble opinion.

I do want to bring a couple great deals to your attention!

FREE Eggs and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

Buy (2) ICBINB Sticks @2/$5 and get 1 dozen Shoprite Eggs Free

- (2) 75c/1 IPs doubled = $2 OOP

Get back $2 ONYO when you buy 2 ICBINB sticks!

Final Cost= Free after Qs and ONYO

You can do this up to 4 times if you have access to 4 computers to print enough coupons!

More Free Carolina Rice

This sale is on again this week!

9c- Nature's Pride Bread

$1.59 100% Whole Wheat or Honey Wheat 20oz loaves

- 75c/1 IP doubled = 9c

We have not had this bread before but I did a little research and it is HFCS free, which is important to us!  You can read more from their website here.

 

Menu Plan Monday-11/23-11/29----Gobble.Gobble!

Well, this is going to be a short week and

we are going to keep it simple!

We are in charge of the turkey for thanksgiving and will be using Alton Brown's Good Eats Roast Turkey recipe!

I know I promised a feature on my favorite suggestion for my Perdue meatballs, but I forgot about the Holiday week, so that will have to wait until next week!  Stay tuned!

Monday-Beef Tacos with Black Beans, Zucchini and Rice

Tuesday- Leftovers from Monday

Wednesday- Tuna sandwiches with Gold Fish Crackers

Thursday- Turkey Dinner at Mom and Dad's house

Friday-Leftover Turkey Dinner at Mom and Dad's house

Saturday- Potato Ham Bake (w/ a slight variation...we'll keep the ham separate so my vegetarian sister can enjoy the potatoes and asparagus!)

Sunday- Fish Sticks, Frozen French Fries and Green Beans

Visit MPM for more plans!

Potato-Ham Bake courteousy of Better Homes and Garden

We don't eat ham often, but this is delicous
and a nice variation on the usual scalloped potatoes!

1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, sliced

1 8-ounce tub cream cheese with chives and onion*
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed tarragon
8 ounces cooked ham, cut in bite-size pieces
1 pound fresh asparagus spears, cut in 2-inch pieces



*I substitute plain cream cheese and onion powder



Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In medium saucepan cook potatoes, covered in lightly salted boiling water, for 5 to 7 minutes, just until tender. Do not over cook. Drain. Transfer potatoes to a bowl and set aside.

For sauce, in the same pan combine cream cheese, milk, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat and whisk until smooth and cheese is melted. Remove from heat and stir in the tarragon.

Layer the potatoes, ham, asparagus and sauce in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Serves 4


Recipe and Photo are from Better Homes and Garden!

11/14-11/20 Shopping Week----Gifts Included!

We fought off the last of the Flu this week and DD3 was able to go back to school at the end of the week!

I spent a little too much at Walgreens, but I did manage to get a few things to use as gifts for upcoming celebrations!

I stopped at the Bread Outlet and lucked out!  I was able to get 5 loaves of Arnold's bread (no HFCS!) for $1/loaf!!! I also used up some ECBs at CVS and a few items at Shoprite.

Adams- Yummy Veggies!

Shoprite had some great sales this week!

Highlights include a MM on Solo and dole pineapple, International Delights, Carolina Rice , Green Giant Veggies and Muir Glen tomato sauce all for FREE!

There's some of the Walgreens!

More Fresh Food at Adams.

We went out to Family night at the store.  Every Wednesday night from 6pm-close they have cookies and juice/cider and give 10% off your total.

We were very excited to find the bag of hot peppers in the *reduced for quick sale* section!

More great deals at Shoprite!

More overspending at Walgreens, but look at the dolly!

Total Spent = $54.93

Next week we are contributing the turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner.  It is going to cost around $55, so my goal is to keep the rest of my shopping to a minimum.  I have $8 in ONYO Catalinas to use at Shoprite and lots of fresh veggies to use up so this should be pretty easy!

WEDNESDAY TIP DAY------COOKING TIP

Steam or boil carrots uncut and you'll lock in 25% more of their cancer preventing compounds.

Slice or dice AFTER cooking!

Have a cooking tip to share?

Please post it in the comments section!

I'd love to hear from you!

MORE PRINTABLE COUPONS FOR PEPPERIDGE FARMS GOLDFISH!

I posted earlier a link to the Pepperidge Farms website where this 75c Coupon is available for print!  There has just been a new 75c/1 coupon released here for these GoldFish!

Unadvertised Sale at Shoprite!!!! (sale week ending 11/21)

During my trip to Shoprite yesterday, I was very pleased to find Carolina Rice Mixes on an Undavertised Sale 3/$2 (67c/each).

There were 75c/2 coupons in the 8/30SS

making these free after doubling!

Menu Plan Monday 11/16-11/22

Monday- Leftover Chicken Yassa

w/ Brown Rice

Tuesday- Leftover Chicken Yassa

w/ Brown Rice

Wednesday- Spaghetti & Meatballs w/ salad

Thursday-Leftovers & Frozen Pizza w/ salad

Friday- Dinner out with Mom & Dad

Saturday- Ropa Vieja w/ Brown Rice

Sunday- leftovers or throw together meal

DH was sweet enough to make the

Chicken Yassa I requested today!

He made a huge pot of it and so we will be

enjoying it for the next few days!

I will try and post the recipe soon!

(we're still in the midst of the flu over here)

We are planning spaghetti and meatballs in tomato sauce for Wednesday, but I am in DIRE search of other ways to prepare meatballs.  I bought 13 boxes of Perdue Italian Style Turkey Meatballs for 34c a box last week and now I need ideas to get creative with these meatballs!

Leave a comment with your Great Ideas on ways to spice up my packaged meatballs!

I'll feature my favorite suggestion in next week's menu plan!

View more Menu Plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Adams Farms Deals thru 11/16

There are a few good deals on produce worth mentioning!

Yellow Squash & Zucchini 79c/lb

Green Peppers 99c/lb

Yellow Onions 3lb bag 99c

Florida Grapefruit 3 for $1.49

California Seedless Naval Oranges 4lb bag $2.99

You can view the full ad here!

Shoprite Deals Week of 11/15-11/21

There are some great deals at Shoprite this week!

The first is a nice MoneyMaker deal on Solo paper goods!

SOLO catalina promotion11/12-12/5

Buy solo cups, plates, or bowls (excludes cutlery, straws and seasonal)

Buy2 get $1 ONYO

Buy3 get $3 ONYO

Buy4 or more get $4ONYO

Select Solo goods on sale for $1.99
75c/1 IP here (if you have access to print from more than one computer, this gets even sweeter!)
Buy2 $1.99x2=3.98 - (2) 75c/1 = 98c get $1 ONYO
          FINAL COST 2c MM
Buy3 $1.99x3=5.97 - (3)75c/1 =$1.47 get $3 ONYO
          FINAL COST $1.53 MM
Buy4 $1.99x4=$7.96 - (4)75c/1=$1.96 get $4 ONYO
          FINAL COST $2.04 MM

Free - Dole pineapple 99c -50c/1 IP
Free - Lawry's Brown Gravy Mix 2/$1 MUST BUY 2 50C/2 from 8/30RP
Free - McCormick Gravy Mix 4/$2 MUST BUY 4 use (2) 50c/2 from 11/1RP
Free - WYB 2 Green Giant (Frozen Vegetables Health Benefits) 99c x2 - 50c/2 IP = 98c-(2)        catalina STORE COUPON: 50c off 7oz green giants frozen vegetables health benefits = FREE
17c - Pepperidge Farm Goldfish (Garden Cheddar ONLY) $1.67-75c/1 IP DND5 YMMV
19c- Uncle Ben's Long Grain Rice (box) $1.69 -75c/1 from 11/8RP
29c - Heluva Good Dips $1.29-50c/1 IP
49c - Each WYB 2 Philidelphia Cream Cheese 99c - $1/2 coming in 11/15 inserts
49c - Each WYB 2 Green Giant 7 - 10 oz frozen boxes 99c each - 50c/2 IP  (page 2 for me)
70c - Each WYB 2 Pillsbury Quick Bread 2/$3 MUST BUY 2  - 40c/1 from 11/8RP
79c - Pepperidge Farms Garlic Toast or Breads (frozen) $1.99 - 60c/1 from 10/4SS
79c - Each WYB 2 Lindsay 6oz Black Olives $1.29 - $1/2 IP
99c - Mrs. Smith's pies $1.99- $1/1 coming in 11/15 inserts
$1.45 - Each WYB 2 Comstock Pie Filling 2/$4 MUST BUY 2 - 55c/2 11/8SS
$1.50 - RiceWorks Gluten Free Rice Crisps $2.50 - $1/1 IP
$1.74 - New England Ground Coffee $2.74 - $1/1 IP
$1.99 - Stonyfield Organic Milk 1/2 Gallon $2.99- 50c/1 IP YMMV DND5

Special thanks to my friends at AFULLCUP for all their sales tips!

11/7-11/13 Shopping Week-Pizza, Meatballs, and the Flu, Oh MY!!!

Well, we started off the week strong, but, alas, the plague has hit home.

DD3 has the H1N1 flu and the doctor says we will all show some symptoms sooner or later.

I finally made it to the Shoprite last night.  I forgot one key ingredient for tonight's Caribbean Night's Dinner and sent my darling husband this morning to pick up those plantains.  During my trip last night I found Perdue Italian Meatballs on sale for $1.84 with 75c peelies on them that doubled making for 34c meatballs.  I had my husband pick up 4 more packages of those this morning since he was nice enough to get my plantains!

I managed to pick up a few Halloween items on clearance that we can use next year or for dress up.

And I found the cutest dress on clearance at Target!

My best friend from childhood has a baby girl and I plan to give this as a Christmas gift!

My hubby stopped at Adams for me, too!

All in all, not such a bad week excluding the flu!

Total= $36.85

Cascadian Farms $5 Coupons and Pepperidge Farm New Fishies Coupon

Register Here to receive $5 in Cascadian Farms coupons delivered to your email!

 Submit your email here for a 75c coupon for NEW Garden Cheddar varieties!

Wednesday TIP DAY----In the Kitchen

My kitchen desperately needs a good, thorough cleaning!  When doesn't it ;)


This is one of my favorite tips!

Instead of buying a fancy dishwasher cleaner, use a packet of kool-aid lemonade.
When the dishwasher is empty, put a single pack worth of powder into the soap dispenser instead of soap.
Run through one full cycle while the machine is empty.

The acidity in the kool-aid works wonders on hard water stains!

And while we are on the topic of dishwashers.....here's a post about making dinner in your dishwasher!




Have a kitchen cleaning tip to share?  Post it in the comments!  If I love it, I may use it in a future Wednesday TIP DAY!

Caribbean Nights Slow Cooker

Caribbean Nights Dinner

(I don't remember the source of this recipe and for that I apologize- I am pretty certain it came from a Sandra Lee cookbook, though.  I have adapted it a little!)

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: Low 6 hours

Servings: 4

3 Plantains, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick

3 tsp McCormick Caribbean Jerk Seasoning (this will need to be adjusted to your taste!)

2 cans black beans 15oz each

1.5lbs flank steak, rinsed and patted dry (I substitute whatever was on sale recently)

salt and pepper to taste

1 can crushed pineapple in juice 8oz

1 c. low-sodium beef broth

5 - 7 quart slow cooker recommended

1.  Combine plantains and beans in slow cooker.

2. Season steak with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp Jamaican Jerk and place in slow cooker.

3. In a bowl, combine 2 tsp Jerk, pineapple, and broth.  Pour into slow cooker over the steak.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.

5. Remove steak and serve with beans and plantains over rice.

6. ENJOY!

Notes: 

~Using the 3 tsp of Jerk recommended was too mild for my family, but may be too hot for yours.  I would start at the recommended 3 tsp and see how the heat is for your family.

~There is often a lot of "sauce" leftover.  Once we have eaten all of the meat, I remove any leftover plantains and freeze the sauce mixture with any beans remaining.  I then use this mixture in place of one can of beans the next time I make the recipe.

Menu Plan Monday 11/9-11/15

MONDAY- Leftover Beef Bourguignon

TUESDAY-Tilapia, Green Beans, and Cheesy Pasta

WEDNESDAY- Turkey Dogs, Corn, and Brown Rice

THURSDAY- Caribbean Nights Slow Cooker (check back on Tuesday morning for the recipe)

FRIDAY-Leftover Caribbean Nights

SATURDAY-DH'S CHOICE(THIS MEANS HE CHOSES/HE COOKS!)

SUNDAY- Leftovers from DH's Choice

I'm thinking of convincing DH to make

Chicken Yassa! 

Here's a sneak peak of the last round he made!

Keep your eyes open for his recipe and more pics

(assuming I get my way!)!

Head on over here to see more Menu Plans!

Sunday Night Meal Recap wk of 11/1-11/8

Here's a little recap of the week's menu:

MONDAY's replacement meal was a delicious choice!  The Chicken and Cheese Casserole was a hit with all and was super easy to make. 

TODAY's DH'S CHOICE(THIS MEANS HE CHOSES/HE COOKS!) turned into DH choosing a recipe and chopping some onions and garlic.  The slow cooker and I took care of the rest!

And the chosen recipe was..........................SLOW COOKER BEEF BOURGUIGNON

This was a hit!  We all loved it!  I'm not a gravy person but this was so good, I couldn't get enough....can you see my plate!

I even made my own herbs de provence using that pestle and mortar in the first pic!

It was a gift from my sister, so I made sure to call her and let her know I was finally putting it to good use!

This was a great meal to end the week!

10/31-11/6 Shopping Week- Hooray for Stonyfield Farms!!!

As I mentioned in last week's recap, I am now referring to my shopping week as starting on Saturday and ending on Friday.  So, last Saturday was a great start to my shopping week!

We were out of town visiting my parents for Halloween and my mom asked me to pick up a few things at Price Chopper for her.  I had some Muir Glen $1 coupons that were going to expire and had been unable to find a good deal on their canned tomatoes, which we love and were getting dangerously low on.  So, I told my husband we needed to check out the Muir Glen and Price Chopper while we were there.  I'm so glad we did!  The smaller 14oz cans were on sale for $1.59 and the larger 26oz cans for $2.59.  I grabbed the last 5 small cans and headed to the checkout.  This is the part where it gets REALLY GOOD!  This particular Price Chopper doubles $1 Qs.  My tomatoes were FREE!!!!!!!!!  I decided I should head back and use up the rest of my Qs on the bigger cans, which were 59c!  So, that was the best start to my shopping week.

I returned home and was grateful to find some decent deals had popped up at Walgreens.  I had a ton of Register Rewards expiring and had no great plans to use them up, so I was grateful to my friends over at A FULL CUP for these finds!

Walgreens:

Used $36.50 in Register Rewards

Received $40 in Register Rewards

 Shoprite proved to be a good week with some very nice sales matched with some great coupons for Stonyfield Farms Organic Dairy products.

The finally tally there on the Stonyfield was (12) 3-in1 meals---the sweet potato and apple is delicious, (7) Oikos, (1) 1/2 gal milk, (4) smoothies for $4.39!

Grabbed a couple deals at Adams and Target, too! 

FINAL TOTAL: $46.92!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was such a great week!