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You are here: Home / Archives for Food

Register Review: May 29, 2012 Edition

May 31, 2012 by Tracy

Time to check one or more receipts for savings strategies and combinations to feed our families while spending less and saving more.

For earlier editions of the Register Review, please click on these links for more examples:

                  • February 7, 2012
                  • February 21, 2012
                  • March 26, 2012
                  • April 3, 2012

In this edition, I will share my three shopping trips for the week.

In keeping our grocery budget to $80 per week, this week’s shopping trips totaled $75.44, but I will need to get another gallon of milk later in the week.

Publix

2 – Oscar Mayer Beef Franks

$5.19 each, on sale buy one, get one free

Paid – $2.60 and $2.59

2 – Domino Premium Pure Cane Sugar, 5 lb.

$3.19, on sale $2.99

Used Publix coupon for $1 off 2

Paid – $2.49 and $2.49

2 – Publix Soft Drinks, 2-liter – Root Beer and Cream Soda

$1.49, on sale 2 for $1

Paid – $.50 and $.50

8 – Kraft American Singles, 12 oz.

$3.29, on sale 2 for $4

Paid – $2, $2, $2, $2, $2, $2, $2, and $2

4 – Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner, 22 or 24 oz.

$3.49, on sale 2 for $5

Used 2 manufacturer coupons for $2 off 2

Paid – $1.50, $1.50, $1.50, and $1.50

Subtotal: $33.17

Tax: $.60

Total: $33.77

In using 3 coupons and purchasing buy one, get one free items and sale items, I purchased $61.01 worth of groceries for $33.77 which is a savings of 45.6%. My goal is 50% savings, but Kraft Singles for $2 per package is a stock up price for me. This shopping trip restocked my cheese and cleaning supplies while staying within our food budget.

Bi-Lo

2 – Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, 14 oz.

$4.59, on sale 2 for $5

Used 2 manufacturer’s coupons for $.55 off which doubled to $1.10 off each

Paid – $1.40 and $1.40

2 – Mayfield Ice Cream, 48 oz. – butter pecan and double chocolate chip

$5.99, on sale buy one, get one free for $2.99

Used 2 manufacturer’s coupons for $1 off

Paid – $1.99 and $1.99

Ball Park Hot Dog Buns, 8 ct.

$2.49, on sale buy one, get one free for $1.24

Used manufacturer’s coupon for $.55 off which doubled to $1.10 off

Paid – $.24

2 – Ground chuck value pack, $2.49 lb.

$13.74 for 3.41 lb. and $13.33 for 3.26 lb., on sale

Paid – $8.59 and $8.12

4 – Nabisco Teddy Grahams, 8-10 oz.

$3.19, on sale $2.50

Used 2 manufacturer’s coupons for $1 off 2

Used Bi-Lo e-coupon for $.51 off 1

Paid – $1.87, $1.87, $1.87, and $1.88

Southern Home Chewy Granola Bars, 10 ct.

$2.19, on sale for $2

Used Bi-Lo e-coupon for $.51 off 1

Paid – $1.49

2 – Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna, 5 oz.

$1.05, on sale for $.89

Used Bi-Lo e-coupon for $.30 off 1

Paid – $.74 and $.74

Southern Home Decaffeinated Tea Bags, 48 ct.

$5.39, on sale for $4.99

Paid – $4.99

Total: $39.18

Tax: $0

Bag Credit: $.15

Total: $39.03

By combining manufacturer coupons, e-coupons, buy one, get one free deals, and sales, I purchased $73.36 in merchandise for $39.03 which is a 46.7% savings. Still not up to 50%, but I have hamburger, tea bags, and snacks to last at least a week. 🙂

Rite Aid

3 dozen eggs

$1.49, on sale for $.88 each

Paid: $.88, $.88, and $.88

Total: $2.64 – no tax

My total for the week came to $75.44: Publix – $33.77, Bi-Lo – $39.03, and Rite Aid – $2.64. I still have a little wiggle room for another gallon of milk. Though I do not use cash when I shop, I keep a running total from my grocery list and calculating as I go to stay within our $80 per week budget.

This system works for me. Hoping that by sharing these examples, you can see that savings are possible with and without coupons. In using time wisely, I aim to save 50% or more on each shopping trip.

Though I could have purchase items with deeper discounts, I chose to purchase items that fit my family’s needs. Just knowing that I stayed within our budget and did not pay full price is reward enough for me. Happy savings!

Question: What deep discount did you find this week? 

Filed Under: Register Review, Food Tagged With: register review

Summer Recipe: Pan Éclairs

May 24, 2012 by Tracy

Today, I am sharing one of our family’s favorite summer dessert recipes.

These pan éclairs are not my original recipe. Since I am a baker (follow recipes exactly) and not a cook (adjust recipes to taste, what’s on hand, and spontaneity), I received this recipe from a friend a few years ago. I have seen similar recipes in magazines, but this particular recipe is my favorite.

Pan Éclairs

Ingredients

  • 2 packages instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding, 4-serving size
  • 2 cups milk
  • ¾ box honey graham crackers
  • Cool Whip, 8 oz.
  • Chocolate frosting (optional)

Directions

1. In medium mixing bowl, mix pudding and milk. Let it set for 5 minutes. Add Cool Whip and mix.

2. In a 9”x13” pan, put a layer of graham crackers, then ½ of the Cool Whip/pudding mixture, then a layer of graham crackers, then rest of Cool Whip/pudding mixture, and then graham crackers. Top with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Refrigerate.

  

  

3. Make 1 day ahead and then cut into serving-size portions.

By allowing the mixture to cool for 8 to 24 hours before serving, the pudding mixture firms while the graham crackers soften which makes this dessert a crowd pleaser. This dessert must set, or you will have a runny mixture that will not cut into portions for serving.

Besides family gatherings, this dessert is great for parties, picnics, and cookouts. Made with milk, these pan éclairs are light, creamy, and delicious. Yum!

TIP: To print this post (or any post on Using Time Wisely), click the printer icon at the bottom of each post. This icon sits next to the LEAVE A COMMENT link (which you are welcome to do as well). 🙂

In using time wisely, prepare your pan éclairs a day ahead, and you will have a fantastic dessert without the fuss on party day. Enjoy!

Question: What is your family’s favorite summer dessert?

Filed Under: Recipes, Food Tagged With: recipe

3 Quick Meals for Busy Weeks

May 17, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Fitting in meals around shopping trips, school obligations, and soccer games is a game in itself.

On these busy nights, I plan quick meals to feed my family. Sometimes finding 30 minutes to cook is tough, but with 10 minutes of preparation in the morning or afternoon, I can serve my family a healthy supper at the busy dinner hour.

To give you a peek into our household, here are three quick meals I make on busy weeks.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Afternoon Prep

Since frozen meatballs only need about 3-4 hours to simmer, I start preparing this meal after lunch.

Taking about 5 minutes, I place the frozen meatballs in the crock pot, add a jar of spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle in the spices – oregano, basil, and parsley. I then stir the ingredients, turn the crock pot setting to low, and leave it until dinner time.

Dinner Prep

Within 15 minutes, I can boil the water and make the spaghetti noodles. While the pasta is cooking, I fix a bowl of salad and make the garlic bread.

For the garlic bread, I butter the bread, sprinkle with garlic powder, and toast in the toaster oven. Buttering the bread before toasting keeps the bread soft, so my children will eat the entire slice. 🙂

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Morning or Afternoon Prep

During my morning or afternoon routine, I defrost 3-4 chicken breasts for about 10 minutes in the microwave. When complete, I slice the chicken breasts in half (horizontally) which makes 6-8 thin chicken breasts.

I add a bottle of teriyaki marinade to a gallon-size Ziploc bag and add the chicken. After closing the bag, I place it in a bowl (to catch any leaks) and put it in the refrigerator.

Dinner Prep

When the grill master (my husband, Paul) preheats the grill, I start the stuffing on the stove top and the vegetables in the microwave. While the food is grilling and cooking, we set the table. Within 20 minutes, dinner is ready, and we sit down to eat.

Smoked Sausage with Sides

Morning Prep

Transfer the smoked sausage link(s) from the freezer to the refrigerator.

Dinner Prep

Start the pasta (parmesan linguine, mac and cheese, or alfredo rotini) and the frozen vegetables cooking. Then I slice the defrosted sausages and cook in a skillet on the stove top over medium-heat. Within 15 minutes, dinner is complete and ready to be devoured.

By feeding my family using quick meals like spaghetti and meatballs, marinated grilled chicken, and smoked sausage with sides, I can serve my family dinner on busy nights while using time wisely.

A little preparation in the morning or afternoon eases the time constraints at the dinner hour. With a few quick meals, you, too, can survive busy nights while using time wisely. Happy cooking!

Question: What is a quick meal enjoyed by your family?

Filed Under: Food Prep, Food Tagged With: dinner

2012 Quick Tip Week: Butter Bread Before Toasting

May 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Our week of quick tips is over halfway complete.

If you missed any of the four quick tips from this week, you can click on these links:

#1 – Designated space for “to be filed” paperwork,

#2 – Use disinfecting wipes for quick cleanings,

#3 – Keep your brainstorming notes, and

#4 – Power off your phone.

The fifth tip comes from my children’s food preferences.

Quick Tip #5: Butter Bread before Toasting

In teaching my children to eat the entire slice of bread, including the crust, I have learned to keep the crust soft.

When bread gets toasted, the hard crust makes eating difficult. With their little mouths, my children enjoy soft bread with melted butter.

To keep the crust soft and still get a light toast to the bread, I butter the bread before toasting in my toaster oven. The butter keeps the entire slice of bread soft, and my children willingly eat the entire piece of bread.

This little tip helps to save our family money since my children are receiving the nutrients from the entire slice of bread without wasting food.

In using time wisely, I butter bread before toasting. By eating the entire slice, my children do not need extra slices which saves me money, energy, and time.

As you feed your picky children, who do not like the hard crust on toast, butter bread before toasting. If your children are like mine, then they may eat the entire slice which will save you money, energy, and time. Happy savings!

Question: Do your children eat the entire slice of toast?

Filed Under: Food Prep, Food Tagged With: quick tips

2012: Garden Journal – May Edition

May 3, 2012 by Tracy

Our garden this month experienced two nights of frost and a couple of days of 90 degree heat. With the extreme temperatures, our garden has survived. Thankfully, I did not kill it. 🙂

I have pruned lots of leaves that dried or froze, but overall the garden is growing.

         

Strawberries

We lost one more strawberry to a bird’s snack, but our strawberry plants are rebounding from the cold and heat. Though no more berries at this time, the leaves are healthy and the plants are growing.

Tomatoes

One of our tomato plants is producing four cherry tomatoes. They are green and perfectly round.

  

April 21, 2012 with 3 tomatoes               May 1, 2012 with 4 tomatoes

Overall Progress

We started with a few plants, harvested our strawberries last month, and watched our tomatoes grow this month.

  

April 21, 2012                              May 1, 2012

Though I have forgotten to water a few days here and there, our garden has been very forgiving and continues to bless us with outdoor activity, topics of conversation, and beauty. In using time wisely, I enjoy spending time tending our garden while watching the changes to our fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Happy tending!

Question: Did you plant a garden this year?

Filed Under: Garden - 2012, Food Tagged With: Garden

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