ALDI Deals, Starting 04/24/2013

Here are a few of the awesome deals at ALDI this week...

• Weds. 04/24 ONLY: Kirkwood Fresh Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts 14 oz $4.99 ea
• Pineapple $1.69 ea
• 3 lb bag Apples all varieties $2.69 ea
• Strawberries $1.39/lb
• Oranges 4 lb bag $1.79 ea
• Mangoes $0.79 ea
• Bananas $0.44/lb
• Friendly Farms All Natural Chocolate Almond Milk 64 oz $2.49 ea
• Chaza Exotic Pomegranate Splash 750 ml $4.99 ea
• Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Garlic Bread Loaf 16 oz $1.59 ea
• Apple and Eve Fruitables 8 pk Juice Boxes Assorted Varieties $2.49 ea
• Apple and Eve Sesame Street 100% Juice Boxes 8 pk $1.99 ea
• Kirkwood Dino Buddies Chicken Nuggets 46 oz $6.49 ea
• Kirkwood Safari Chicken Nuggets 32 oz $3.99 ea
• Naked Red Machine (Juice) 15.2 oz $2.49 ea  
• Season's Choice Potatoes O'Brien 28 oz $1.29 ea
• Gardenline Garden Cart 15.83 gal $19.99 ea
• Gardenline Sprinkler Assortment $7.99 ea
• Gardenline 15" Planters $9.99 ea
• 10" Flowering Hanging Baskets $5.99 ea
• Gardenline 6-in-1 Garden Tool, Pruner Set, or Shears $4.99 ea
• Gardenline 18" Watering Wand Assortment $3.99 ea
• Gardenline Flowering Clematis Vine Assortment $4.99 ea
• Crane 5 Station Swing Set $99.99 ea
• Step2 Wagon for 2 Plus $49.99 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas

This Sunday we had our family over for a Mexican Fiesta, which included taco meat and shells, as well as chicken fajitas.  Chicken fajitas are one of our favorite meals to serve, and eat, of course ;-)  Not only are they delicious, but super simple, and rather healthy as well.  Here's my non-recipe...

1. Cube up desired amount of Chicken Breasts (I do one per person, that way I usually have leftovers).
2. Saute chicken in a skillet with Olive Oil, and Fajita Seasoning (I use McCormick), until chicken is no longer pink in the center.
3. Add Sliced Bell Peppers (whatever colors you like, about 1 medium per 2 medium breasts), and Sliced Onions (you can you red, white, or yellow, I use yellow, and also about 1 medium per 2 medium breasts).  I add a little more seasoning and olive oil when I add in the veggies to make sure nothing sticks.
4. Continue to saute on medium heat and stir frequently until the veggies have cooked down, and are softened.
5. Serve hot with warmed tortillas, shredded lettuce and cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, and sliced avocados or guacamole.  The topping combinations are half the fun! 

Linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, A Bowl Full of Lemons, and Homemade Mondays!

Sunday's Shopper's Trip

Sunday I need to pick up the meat and ice cream for our Mexican Fiesta, SO I stopped into Shopper's to use the last of my birthday gift card.  I also picked up a few things that I either can't get at Giant (spaghetti), or that were way cheaper (pasta sauce and olives).  Here's what I ended up with...

2 lbs Laura's Lean Ground Beef $6.49 ea = 2/$12.98

1-2 pk Perdue Chicken Breasts $4.99

.11 lbs Jalapenos from the Salad Bar for Joe $0.60

1 carton Turkey Hill Naturals Coffee Ice Cream $3.99 on Sale - $0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 = $2.99

1 carton Turkey Hill Stuff'd PB Ice Cream $3.50 on Sale - $1/1 MC = $2.50

2 jars Newman's Own Pasta Sauce $2.69 ea on Sale - $1/2 MC = 2/$4.38

2 cans Sliced Black Olives $0.79 ea = 2/$1.58

2 boxes Organic Spaghetti $1.59 ea = 2/$3.18

+ $0.04 Tax

- $18.42 Gift Card used to Pay

Total OOP: $14.82

Menu Plan Monday: 04/22/2013

This week we finally got together with my family for our Mexican Fiesta.  We will also get to go to Joe's grandfather's house on Wednesday and get some work done there.  So, a nice balance of work and play.  :-)  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Smoothies, and/or Waffles

Lunches: Leftovers, and/or Salads

Dinners: (All served with salad or a steamed veggie)

Sunday - Family Mexican Fiesta: Chicken Fajitas, Taco Meat/Shells, Mexican Rice, and Chips and Salsa with Brownie Sundaes for dessert!

Monday - Cheesy Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf

Tuesday - Cheese Steak Egg Rolls, Onion Rings

Wednesday - Working at Joe's Grandfather's house, probably eating at Chili's with him.

Thursday -Homemade Pizza, Veggie Sticks and Dip

Friday - Out :-)

Saturday - Pancakes with Chipped Beef Gravy, and Fruit

Extras: Brownies!

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Sunday's CVS Trip

This afternoon Joe and I stopped into CVS to pick up one of my prescriptions, and while we were there, I grabbed up some awesome deals.  Here's what we ended up with...

2 Tom's Toothpastes $5.49 ea - $1.49 ea Sale - $2/$8 Toothpaste CVS Coupon - $2/2 MC - $2 ECB's = 2/$2!

2 Crest Toothpastes $3.99 ea - $1 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 - $2 ECB's x 2 = 2 FREE!

1-100 ct box CVS Alcohol Prep Pads $2.37 - FREE CVS Coupon = FREE!

4 bags Gardetto's Snack Mix $1.25 ea (on sale, regular price not listed) - $0.50/2 MC x 2 = 4/$4

1 Snickers Egg $0.87 - $0.43 Clearance = $0.44

+ $1.04 Tax

- $5 ECB's used to Pay

Total OOP: $8.46, Earned $7 ECB's!

Linked to Simply CVS!

Weekly Spending Report: 04/14-20/2013

This week...

• Sunday's Rite-Aid Trip (1 Arm and Hammer Cat Litter, not pictured): $17.12 oop, Earned $7 UP+Rewards

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $29.80 oop

• Monday's Shopper's Trip (1 bag shredded Cheddar cheese): $2 oop
• Saturday's ALDI Trip: $18.06 oop

 

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $10.18 oop

• Saturday's Giant Trip: $45.81 - $18.44 Sales/Coupons/Save $5 Deal = $27.37 oop

Total OOP: $104.53 - $7 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $97.53!  That's a LOT of money, but I feel good about what I was able to stock up on, including: raw sugar, lean cuisines, cat food and litter, fruits and veggies, and meal fixings.

Frugal Finds Friday: Homemade Drain Cleaner/Freshener

 2 tbsp Baking Soda + 1 c White Vinegar =

 Homemade Drain Cleaner/Freshener!

This cleaner is great to get the slimy build-up out of your pipes.  I use is about once a month.  I don't know how it would do if you actually had a clog, but by doing this treatment once a month, I haven't had a clog since I started.  I follow the baking soda/vinegar with a kettle of boiling water once the fizzing has stopped.  It's that simple, and very frugal, and green, so give it a try!

Linked to Homemade Mondays and Works for Me Wednesday!

ALDI Deals, Starting 04/17/2013

Here are some of the awesome deals this week at ALDI...

• Weds. 04/17 ONLY: Fresh USDA Choice Strip Steak $7.99/lb
• Muli-Peppers 20 oz $2.19 ea
• Cucumbers $0.29 ea
• Baby Carrots 16 oz $0.69 ea
• Mushrooms 8 oz $0.79 ea
• Organic Grape Tomatoes 10 oz $2.29 ea
• Organic Romaine Lettuce 3 pk $2.29 ea
• Clancy's Pretzel Sticks or Mini's 16 oz $1.29 ea
• Fit and Active Nonfat Key Lime Yogurt 6 oz $0.39 ea
• Fit and Active 94% Fat Free Mini Microwave Popcorn Bags 10-1.2 oz bags $1.99 ea
• Fit and Active Reduced Fat Deli Sliced Cheese Sharp Cheddar or Swiss 6.67 oz $1.99 ea
• Fit and Active Fat Free Dressing French or Thousand Island 16 oz $1.39 ea
• Fit and Active Low Fat Dressing Assorted Varieties 16 oz $1.39 ea
• Fit and Active Healthy Condensed Tomato Soup 10.75 oz $0.79 ea
• Fit and Active Vegetable Beef Soup 18.8 oz $1.49 ea
• Fit and Active Light Mayonnaise 30 oz $1.99 ea
• Happy Farms Deli Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese 8 oz $1.99 ea
• L'oven Fresh Hamburger Buns 12 oz $0.89 ea
• Season's Choice Whole Onion Rings 16 oz $1.99 ea
• Millville All Natural Granola 10 oz $3.89 ea
• Southern Grove 100 calorie Nut Assortment, Assorted Varieties 3.92-4.41 oz $1.99 ea
• Lunch Buddies Fruit Twists Grape or Strawberry 3.8 oz $1.99 ea
• Gardenline Umbrella Stand $16.99 ea
• Gardenline 9' Umbrella $29.99
• Gardenline Umbrella Light $7.99 ea
• Gardenline 10 ct String Lights Assorted Styles $7.99 ea
• Spectracide Ready to use Weed Stop, Bug Stop, or Weed and Grass Killer 128 oz $4.99 ea
• Range Master Porcelain Grill Topper Flat or Wok $4.99 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

Scalloped potatoes were one of my favorite foods growing up.  My mom would make the kind out of the box, in a lovely Corning ware casserole dish in the microwave.  As I started reading about all of the bad things in our foods, I found some of those items listed on my scalloped potato box.  Ew!  So, I searched the web and found several recipes to try, they all are melded together in this recipe after some trial and error.

• About 1 and  1/2 lbs (about 8 small or 5-6 medium sized) Thinly Sliced Potatoes (I use Red Potatoes, and leave the skins on when I slice them, but I have used Russets as well)
• 3 tbsp Butter (I use Unsalted)
• 1/2 cup Shredded/Diced Ham (great way to use up those leftovers)
• 1 medium Finely Minced Onion
• 3 tbsp Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• Few Shakes of Pepper
• 1 and 1/2 c Milk
• 1 c Grated Cheddar Cheese (I use Mild)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Peel (if you want) and thinly slice your potatoes.
2. Saute your onion in the butter over medium heat.  Blend in the flour, salt, and pepper, until smooth.  
3. Gradually add milk and stir until thickened, slightly bubbly.
4. Add cheese, stir until smooth.
5. Alternate potatoes, ham, and cheese sauce in a greased 9x13" pan (I've used one slightly smaller as well.
6. Cover with foil and bake 1 hour.  Remove foil, sprinkle with additional shredded cheddar, and bake 15 more minutes, or until melted.
7. Serve hot, and refrigerate any leftovers.

Enjoy!

Linked to Homemade Mondays, Make Your Own Monday, The Natural Living Link-up, One Project at a Time, and Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday!

Menu Plan Monday: 04/15/2013

This week should be a nice relaxed one, hopefully with beautiful weather!  I work a couple of days, Joe has some meetings to go to, and we are getting together with one of my sisters and her daughter, and my dad, for a Mexican fiesta!  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Fruit Smoothies, and/or Waffles

Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, or Sandwiches

Dinners: (All dinners but salads served with a steamed vegetable or veggie dippers)

Sunday - Free food at Salsarita's!

Monday - Mexican-marinated Grilled Chicken Salads

Tuesday - Crock-pot Lasagne, Garlic Bread

Wednesday - Mexican Fiesta (Fajitas, Tacos, Rice, Chips, and Homemade Salsa)

Thursday - Fruited Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Chips

Friday - Leftover Buffet (or 'clean out the fridge night)

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Extras: Brownies, and maybe Rice Krispy Treats

For more AWESOME menu plans, visit Org Junkie!