Menu Plan Monday

This week will be a bit crazy like last week.  Still trying to get our house ready to possibly sell if we get this new home.  My daughter is almost crawling and requires me in her sight at all times still, so sweet!  I have not gone to the grocery store in at least a week and a half.  Costco was my last trip and we are just about out of produce....   

Can I just say 'AHHHHHHH!!!'

Monday

Chili

Oranges

maybe Homemade bread??

Tuesday

Veggie Burgers

Broccoli Salad

Wednesday

Baked Potatoes

leftover chili and good toppings

Fruit

Thursday

Pasta of some type

Salad

Bread

Friday

Dinner at the family beach house, potluck style, all vegan food. YUM!

Beer or wine

Lots of good fruit

This menu should be really easy to me.  I am planning on a grocery store trip tomorrow, today I will be trying to do some paint touch up around the house, and of course help my baby grow into a happy, secure and intellectual little girl!

Check out Org Junkie for more super fantastic menus!

Super Sample Sunday!

Just a couple this week, but really good ones!!

Earthbound Farms shopping bag, I love these, this will get used a LOT!!

Betty Crocker warm delights, hoping its yummy at just 150 calories.

Kraft Food and Family magazine, came with a Free salad dressing coupon!

I am happy with these freebies and happy that I didn't get a bunch of junk mail I didn't need or want.  All is good.

I would love to see what you got this week!!

Walgreens this weeks Show and Tell.

The ONLY place I went this week was Walgreens on Monday.  Didnt expect such a busy week or I would have gotten some groceries on the way home!  Oh well, luckily I always keep us stocked up on food so I can go w/out shopping for a good week or so.  

Here, I spent only $4.10 out of pocket, after coupons and rebates.  Not my best trip for Walgreens but I cant complain!

Frugal Friday; quick pantry meals

(picture is attached for my own mental torture only)

This week has been an emotional roller coaster ride for me.  We are trying to purchase a house that had been a bank repossession.  It is a screaming deal, something we would normally not have been able to afford for many, many years.  We were not actually planning to sell our house for quite some time, but my husband just stumbled across this.  The odds are really not with us, but how can I not get my hopes up???  I want it so bad I can taste it! So, for the past couple of days I have been going through things and acting as if we will be putting our house up for sale, meeting w/ our agent and walking through the house over and over.  

Can you imagine what all of this has done to my Weekly Meal Plan Menu?  Yeah, that went out the window.  Still, I refuse to spend money on Take Out, what a waste!  And I have sure not made it to the grocery store yet this week.  That only leaves me with the food we have on hand.  What creative meals have I made from our pantry and freezer supplies?

Spaghetti (thats a no-brainer)

Veggie Curry- potatoes, onion, carrots, frozen peas and rice w/ curry sauce

Pasta Salad- cold pasta, italian dressing and cut fresh or frozen veggies

Black beans and Rice (make cuban black beans w/ cumin, onion, vinegar & oregano)

Mac and Cheese w/ a can of fire roasted tomatoes, peas and fresh chopped basil (just had that tonight, actually very tasty!)

Veggie burgers (I always keep the big freezer full of day old whole wheat buns)

Keys to keeping a quick, cheap pantry meal tasty?  Add extra seasoning, fresh chopped veggies and fresh herbs.

What kind of pantry meals do you create?

Albertsons

Well, there is a very slight chance we will be able to get into a really fabulous house so we are spending every extra second this week preparing ours.  Due to a foreclosure (very sad) a really terrific house that would normally have been out of our price range may be a possibility, so bear with me as my blog posts may be sparse for the next few days.  Im sure we wont be able to get it, sounds like many people are bidding, but its worth a shot.

Albertsons

Albertsons looks really great this week.  I am going to link you to a great post by Sienna to check out the ad this week.  She has done a really great job and Im sure she wont mind the extra traffic.  Check it out here at NW Deal Mama.  Thanks Sienna!

Menu Plan Monday

This week I will try to have 2 vegetable sides with all my dinners.  I want to lose a few pounds in the next month before we go on a vacation!

Monday

Boca Burgers

Veggie tray

Salad

Frozen Fries

Tuesday

Cuban Black beans  (not my normal recipe but very close, except normally I use canned beans, although I do have dry on hand.....)

Rice

Mango Chutney

Broccoli Salad

Wednesday

Stuffed Shells w/ my Tofu Ricotta

Salad

Bread 

Green Beans

Thursday

Bean tacos topped w/ lots of veggies

Corn

chips & salsa

Friday

Pizza night

Veggie Tray

For more great inspirational menus check out Menu Plan Monday!

Super Sample Sunday!

Just a few this week!

Elle Decor magazine ( I actually used to pay for this years ago!!)

Country Home Magazine

Womans Day magazine

Dunkin Donuts coffee

Nature Made vitamins

How'd you do?

Alright, I went to Walmart again...

I got a few good deals today at Walmart.  I always do get a little disappointed when I find out the deals in my town just are not as good as elsewhere in the country.  The Tava drinks were 2.98 here!!  And especially when I have my heart set on something and the store doesn't even carry it.  I know you've all had that happen as well.  Oh well.  But, they did have the day-old bread rack out!  Yippee!  That rack always makes the trip worth it!

All this for 14.59.  (coupon savings= $18.74!) Sure its not an Albertsons deal, but not bad for a last minute trip to the store for margarine!

2 bagels; day old for 1.13 each

whole wheat burger buns 1.20

dill french bread .90

cat food free w/ coupon

smart balance 2 for $3 - $1 coup= $1 each

HP paper 3.97- 3.00 coup = .97

Nally pickles 1.98- $1= .98 each

Cascadian Farm broccoli 2.12 - $1= 1.12 each

Oral B Floss .97- $1 coup= .03 profit

Gold Bond lotion .97- $1 coup = .03 profit

Cute tee shirt for my daughter $2 (okay, they got me on 1 splurge!)

Freebies!!

A couple freebies today.  I have been so busy working on my other site I have not been focusing much here.  I am almost up and running and getting stocked over at 'Soap by Erin' and will be able to focus more here soon.

Pantene Color Shampoo from Walmart here.

From Ya Entertainment, a DVD to teach about Korean culture.

Free packet of wild flower seeds from Burts Bees.

A sample of Odor Be Gone for cat 'problems'.

tofu Ricotta

its Tofu Thursday!

Here is a simple and quick ricotta type filling great in any Italian dish.  I love it in my lasagna, mix with spinach for stuffed shells or as a layer in baked pasta dishes. Yum without all the fat and guilt!

Tofu Ricotta

1 box firm tofu in water

4 Tbs cup lemon juice

1 tsp olive oil

3 tsp dried basil

1 tsp oregano

2 cloves of fresh garlic, crushed or minced

1-2 tsp salt (I like a lot of salt!)

1 tsp sugar

2 Tbs peanut butter

4 Tbs soy sauce

1/4 cup nutritional yeast flakes (optional)

Drain tofu well and let sit on counter on a clean towel for a short while to let some water evaporate.  Next, throw all ingredients in a food processor and process till it resembles ricotta cheese!  (or you can mash all with clean bare hands or even a fork) Enjoy!

Albertsons week of June 18-24

Produce

red, green or black seedless grapes .99 lb

tomatoes on the vine 1.49 lb

watermelon .49 lb

cantaloupe .79 lb

honeydew .79 lb

peaches or nectarines 1.99 lb

jazz apples (jazz?) 1.99 lb

cucumber .69 each

avocado medium 1.29 each

potatoes 5lb bag 1.99

green or red leaf lettuce 1.29

broccoli crowns 1.69 lb

Wild harvest 1 lb peeled baby carrots 1.99 (use $1 Wild Harvest coupon here in ad)

Bakery

Sara Lee whole grain white or wheat 2 for $4

Sara Lee whole grain burger or hot dog buns 2 for $4

Sara Lee classic white or wheat burger or dog buns 2 for $5

Sara Lee 100% whole wheat or multigrain bread 2 for $5

Fresh Baked cinnamon rolls BOGO (save 2.39)

Fresh Baked croissants BOGO (save up to 2.99)

Rocky Mountain bagles 6ct BOGO (save up to 2.99)

Fresh Strudel bites or turnovers BOGO (save up to 3.99)

Pantry

Buy 2 gallons milk (including Soy, organic or chocolate) and get up to 5 boxes general mills cereal for 1.19 each.

Mission tortilla chips 2 for $6 (use recent .75 coupon)

Campbells soup 10 for $10

Campbells select soup BOGO

Nabisco 100 cal packs 2 for $6

Pepperidge Farm 100 cal packs 2 for $6

Buy 2 orville Redenbacher 3pack popcorn and get 2 Alb 2-liters of soda free (or .75 each)

Kellogs deal; Spend $20, save $5 at register.  This includes; Blueberry MiniWheats cereal, Smart start cereal,  cereal straws, Grab and go Packs and Pop Tarts (or 1.50 each)

Frozen

Hot Pockets, lean pockets or panini BOGO (save up to 2.99)

Bagelfuls BOGO (2.79)

South beach Living entrees BOGO (3.29)

Kim and Scotts gourmet pretzels BOGO (6.49)

Albertsons Burritos BOGO (.69)

Albertsons Mike and Ike or Hot Tamales Popsicle BOGO (3.19)

Alb whole strawberries 16 oz BOGO (3.29)

Alb whipped topping (whip cream) BOGO (1.59)

Alb Waffles BOGO (2.49)

Flav R Pac frozen veggies BOGO (save 2.19)

Alb French fries BOGO (3.25)

Dairy

Buy 2 country crock margarine(priced 2 for $3) get free eggs (up to 2.50)

Also note this advertisement contains one $1 off any Wild Harvest product (valid till 6/24).

What have you used your coupons on?

Menu Plan Monday

Join OrgJunkie to plan your menu!

What we will be eating this week...

Monday

Veggie Yakisoba (didn't try this last week, had leftover bean soup instead)  recipe from last week.

Side of brown rice

Tuesday

Baked Potatoes with all the toppings (chili, broccoli, onions, salsa, ect)

Watermelon

Wednesday

Veg Chicken patties

Fries and steamed veggies

Thursday

Spaghetti using veg substitutions and easy fun recipe here.

Bread and salad

Friday

Pizza night!

With a large tray of veggies and hummus

Super Sample Sunday!

I guess I got a lot this week!  They came in threes!

3 magazines;

Womens Day

Better Homes and Gardens

PC Magazine 

3 drink on the go mixes

Lemonade

Kool Aid

Crystal Light

Excedrin

Splenda Flavor blends

Viva paper towel

Starbucks free coffee card

Braggs Amino acids

3 Sober x patch

3 Omega 3 samples

What did you get??

Frugal Friday.

My Diaper investment.  I just received the last of my BumGenius diapers this week and I was sooo excited.  These are the last 6 of my set of 24.  Now we never have to buy diapers again, ever. And now I should have to do a diaper laundering only every 5 days or so. Yippee!  

They are quite pricey to get into but worth it.  I figured the cost was equal to 6 months of buying Pampers with coupons and sales (we don't have CVS here, so no free diapers).  I have been using them already for 4 months and am in love with them.  They are such wonderful quality and hold way more than Pampers ever did!  The microfiber wicks moisture away so she doesn't get diaper rash.  Plus they have snaps on them to expand the size so she will be able to wear them until she is potty trained.  If we have another child, no diaper buying!

Plus I feel so good knowing my dirty diapers are not sitting in a landfill for the next 200 years.  Love em, love em, love em!

(I sooo should be getting paid for this article!)

some informational freebies...

Free Pet Style magazine.  For the doggy that always wants to look her best!

Motor Magazine is aimed at all car sales and repair industries, looks like it is filled with up to date car info my husband would enjoy!

Creativity Magazine, this one might be good info for us bloggers, hmmmm....

And for up to date natural living check out Natural Products Marketplace.  This one has my name on it!

Try The Scientist magazine for inspiration in the developing world.

NOTE: some of these are for 'business owners', I always put my home business, Soap by Erin, you can put your blog name as your business name, or my husband always puts 'Home' as his business name for subscriptions.

Tofu 101

or Terrific Tofu Thursday!

My husband who was raised on the real stuff loves this recipe.  I always change it up a little every time I make it.  I also use substitutions if I don't have something on hand.  Be creative!

Tofu Meatloaf

1 box firm water packed tofu

1/2 cup tofu crumbles (fake ground beef)( optional)

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 T soy sauce

2 T nutritional yeast

1 T worchestershire

1 T ground flaxseed or meal

1 T Dijon mustard

1 big squirt of ketchup

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Oil a loaf pan and set aside.

Place the tofu in big bowl and squish up with fork.  Add rest of ingredients and mix well.

Place in pan and bake for 1 hour.  Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan, garnish with fresh parsley.

Albertsons week of June 11-17

Sorry I been so slow on this weeks Albertsons posting, I have had a bit of a busy week!!  I would have made it more of a priority if the deals were better I guess!  Check out the other deals on The Grocery Gathering at BeCentsAble.  

Produce

Cantaloupe .49 lb (only 6/12-15th)

Hot House Tomatoes 1.49 lb (only 6/12-15th)

Fresh CA Cherries 1.99lb

Red, Yellow or Orange Bell peppers 1.49 each

Pantry

Barilla Pasta $1

Hunts Pasta sauce $1

Frito Lays Potato chips BOGO

Coca-Cola 2 liters are 10 for $10, buy 3 get $1 off (or .67 each!)

Kellogs Cereal 6 for $10

Powerade 10 for $10, then get 5 free (or .67 each) (check last weeks insert for coupon!)

Dairy

Yoplait Yogurt 20 for $10

Frozen (limit 10)

Tombstone pizza  1.97

Stouffers 1.97

Lean Cuisine 1.97

Advertising

Well, Im sure its perfectly obvious that I have signed up for more advertising. (I am still having problems with Adsense!) I decided to try LogicalMedia.  They are so super easy to use and have a pretty decent selection of ads.  If you want to earn a little easy income check them out.  Plus, once you do, you can start earning money from referrals on your own site!

Global warming, I mean cooling...

I am so sick and tired of the weather!!  I am tired of using heat in June!  I am tired of not being able to garden outdoors, and I am super tired of not being able to go on walks with my daughter!!! She has outgrown all her winter clothes and finding warm clothes is next to impossible this time of year!  Grrrr....  I know Seattle is known for rain, I did grow up here after all, but this is absurd!  

I guess I should be thankful that we are not suffering in extreme and dangerous heat conditions.  I know some of you are living in the unbearable heat right now.  I would love to hear how hot or cold it is at your house and where you live. We can all complain together, I mean compare!!

My fingers are getting quite cold as I type this, think I'll go throw on a sweater.

Freebies!!

The good Freebies have been really scarce lately, here are the few decent ones I have found.

Free Flix dental stick, kind of a toothpick, kind of a floss...

For decorators, a free subscription to Decorative Arts magazine.

A $4 off Tyson Meal kit coupon for a very short survey.  Assuming you have used these kits before, if you don't have a UPC code handy just use 02718255991  

This free Pedometer is for people who use the drug Cymbalta. (although they wouldn't know any better if you're not...)

Well, those are the best I could do for right now!!  I hope something 'fits'!

Menu Plan Monday

Well, Im officially going to be a Monday Menu Planner.  Last monday I did a trial run to see if I would enjoy menu planning or if it had any benefit and guess what?  I loved it!!  I had no idea how much time it was going to save me, let alone the time I spend during the day just thinking about what we might have on hand to make for dinner.  I actually followed my last weeks plan exactly and only deviated from a side dish once.  I cant wait to do it again!

Monday

A healthy vegan Bean soup using a bag of dried beans I have re-hydrated sunday.

Home made bread (bread-machine)  Maybe Yeasted Corn Bread...

Tuesday

Bean tacos using refried beans and lots veggies, sunflower seeds and rice

Cantaloup

Wednesday

Pasta Bake (recipe in my head)

Green Salad and rolls

Thursday

Veggie Yakisoba using a combo of recipes from  VeganMania  and RecipeZaar.

Side of brown rice

Friday

Pizza night

Tray of veggies and hummus

For more inspiring menus check out Menu Plan Monday at OrgJunkie!

Super Sample Sunday!

Not many for me this week!  But I'm okay with that!  Especially since I only request samples and freebies I know I will use.

What did I get?

2 Womans Day magazines (first of my new subscription)

Ready Made magazine

A really awesome pedometer

address labels

My favorite this week is the pedometer.  I have really been wanting one as I am now a stay at home mom and want to know how much I run around the house everyday.  The brochure says 2,000 steps is about a mile.  I opened up the mail at noon today(saturday) and put it right on.  Its 8pm and I have 2,867 steps so far.  Not too bad, especially since it is a saturday and I have sat around a bunch with the family.  Can't wait to see how the weekdays are!

What was your favorite sample or freebie this week?  Paste your link below so we all can see your samples and freebies for the week!  I always post only my freebies from the mail, but you are more than welcome to post any freebies you have gotten this week as well!

Show and tell

I went to Albertsons this week for a few of their great buys. All in all I spent 3.84.  Not bad, especially when you figure in the grapes were 3.73 alone!  It would have been really fun to just get the groceries for .11!!  Oh, well.  The grapes were super good and we always need produce.  I saved 50.98.

I also made a trip to Walmart this week and picked up a few necessities, I spent $24 there.  I am somewhat under budget this week at $28.  I keep track of my monthly spending, not weekly, this allows me to stock up on items and hit Costco if needed.  I aim to keep my spending at 200-250 per month for all food, baby and drugstore items.

a cute freebie

I thought this one was cute, a free DVD of Fifi and the Flowertots (I don't let my daughter watch TV yet so I've never heard of it!)

Frugal Friday.

Coconut Milk substitution for Frugal Friday.  

Hosted at Biblical Womanhood.

Todays frugal idea is something I have read a little on here and there and finally just decided to try.  It is a coconut milk concoction.  Normally I buy soy and rice milk and enjoy them both.  Soy milk is always high in sugar and rice milk a little bland, both can be quite pricy, even with coupons.  Making this coconut milk costs me less than half what I normally spend on soymilk, even after sales and coupons!  I make a pitcher for about .80!

Ingredients:

one can coconut milk

3-4 cans water

10-20 drops liquid stevia (or sugar, both optional)

dash of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla (also optional)

Mix all of these items in a big pitcher and keep in the fridge. Try it on cereal, on oatmeal, in a glass, in recipes.  It is soooo yummy!

Worried about getting enough calcium normally found in cows milk and soy milk?  Did you know celery and oranges are high in calcium?  We eat such a huge variety of whole foods and take good quality multi-vitamins I am not concerned about calcium in beverages.  I am loving substituting this for myself, but for my daughter may do some soy as well as coconut for all the added vitamins!

Foods high In Calcium, and amounts

15 Non-Dairy foods High In Calcium

Information on Milks

How much Calcium do I need Chart

Give it a try!  You just might love it as much as I do.

mmmm, candy!

Free chocolate sample from Print Candies here! 

They look just like M&Ms, lets see how they taste!