Last Week's Martin's Trip

Last week I took it easy on shopping. I was in-charge of cooking lunch for the people taking classes here at the museum all of last week, and while it is always fun, it is also very tiring! My Martin's trip was easy, quick and to the point, here's what I ended up with...
5 - 80 ct boxes Snuggle Dryer Sheets $3.52 ea - $0.53 ea Sale - $3/1 MC x 5, 1 adjusted to $2.99 = All FREE + $0.04 MM!
3 cartons Welch's Fruit Cocktail Juices $2.63 ea - $0.34 ea Sale - $0.75/1 MC doubled to $1.50 x 3 = $0.79 ea or 3/$2.37
2 jars Kraft Mayo $4.39 ea - $1.90 ea Sale - $0.98 Bonus Savings wyb 2 = 2/$4 (- $2 being reimbursed by the museum) = 2/$2
1 box Oscar Mayer Bacon $3.69 - $0.70 Sale - $1.50/1 MC = $1.49
+ Tax $0.90
Total OOP: $38.86 - $30.14 Sales/Coupons = Net OOP: $8.72 -- Savings of 76%!!!

Weekly Spending Totals 04/11-04/17

I must say that I think we did an excellent job this week with keeping our spending down! I hope that next week we continue to have success!
Food: $28.31
Health & Beauty: ZERO!
Household: $2.79
Total Spent: $31.10!!!

Eating Out: $11.66 @ Subway!
How did everyone else do this week?

Cake Mix Cookies -- New Recipe!

I have found the most DELICIOUS Cookie recipe! These cake mix cookies are very frugal, very tasty and extremely easy to make! First pour 1 - 18 oz pkg of cake mix (any flavor) into a mixing bowl. To the mix add 1/2 c of softened butter and 1 egg, if you are using a chocolate cake mix you will also need to add 2 tbsp of water at this point.

Mix the ingredients together until well blended. You can also add mix-in's to your batter at this stage if you would like. I used some FREE Christmas M&M's that were lurking in the freezer, but nuts, marshmallows, oatmeal, morsels, really anything that you like would do beautifully.

Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, place the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet in rounded tablespoons about 2" apart. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes depending on your oven. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack and then place them into an air-tight container as they will dry out VERY quickly if you do not.
1 Batch makes about 2-3 dozen cookies depending on size

My new Easter Dress!

Just thought you might like to see my new Easter dress I got this year! I thought I was super cute and so did all of the ladies at church! YAY!

Martin's, how I LOVE thee, let me count the ways...

Well, Tuesday I was able to make a quick stop at Martin's after work, and I got some AWESOME deals!!! I love it when that happens :-)
2 Chex Mixes $1.99 ea - $0.49 ea Sale - $0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 x 2 = 2/$1
2 Del Monte Fruit Smoothie Cups $2.99 ea - BOGO Free Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2/$.99
4 bags Sargento Shredded Reduced Sodium Cheese $3.39 ea - $1.39 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 - $0.75/1 MC doubled to $1.50 x 2 = 4/$3
1 bag Care One Cotton Balls $0.99 - $0.50/1 Martin's C = $0.49
8 Meow Mix Wet Cat Food Cups $0.62 ea - $0.12 ea Sale - $1/4 MC x 2 = 8/$2
+ Tax $0.30
Total OOP: $29.77 - $23.99 Sales & Coupons = OOP: $5.78!!! Savings of 81%!!!

Rite Aid SCR Stop :-)

I also stopped into Rite-Aid quickly on Sunday and was able to pick up a few good deals there as well...
1 Complete Contact Solution $9.99 - $2 Sale - $7.99 SCR = FREE
2 Puffs Plus Tissues $1.99 ea - $1 ea Sale - $1/1 MC & $0.50/1 MC = 2/$0.49
1 Nivea Chap Stick* $2.99 - $2 SCR - $0.50/1 MC = $0.49
1 Schick Hydro Razor* $8.99 - SCR $6 = $2.99
1 Visine $4.99 - $2/1 in-ad C - $2/1 MC = $0.99
1 - 12 pk Rite-Aid TP $5.29 - $2.65 Clearance = $2.64
+ Tax $0.52
- $5/25 Purchase RA C
Total OOP: $19.10, paid with FREE gift card + Earned $15.99 SCR = Net Cost: $3.11!!!
*These Items were Donated

CVS Trip for this Week -- Back in action!

Sorry for the lack of posts the past week or so, but with Easter, the museum opening for the season and then a death in the family, things have been a little hectic around here to say the least! But I was able to sneak in a few quick deal-shopping trips this week. This is how CVS went on Sunday...
2 - 25 ct Pepcid AC $9.49 - $1.50 ea Sale - $2/1 MC x 2 - $4 ECB wyb 2 = 2/$7.98
1 Dove Shampoo* $4.49 - $1.50/1 MC - $4.49 ECB = FREE + $1.50 MM!
1 Olive Oil $8.49 - $4.50 Sale - $1/1 MC = $2.99
2 Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds Cereals $4.79 ea - $2.91 ea Sale - $1/2 MC = 2/$2.76
1 Schick Hydro Razor $9.99 - $1.02 Sale - $6 ECB = $2.97
1 Colgate Pro-Clinical Toothpaste* $4.99 - $1 Sale - $2 ECB
1 CVS Advanced Healing Lotion (For Joe) $4.99 - $1/1 CVS C = $3.99
1 CVS Advanced Healing Lotion $1.49 - $1/1 CVS C = $0.49
2 rolls CVS Paper Towels $1.29 ea - $1/1 CVS C x 2 = $0.29 ea or 2/$0.58
1 - 1/2 Gallon 2% Milk $2.49
+ Tax $1.35
- $22.98 ECB's used to Pay
Total OOP: $11.60, paid with FREE gift card + Earned $17.49 (includes $1 Green Bag Tag ECB) for next time!!!
*These Items were Donated

Salsa Chicken -- NEW RECIPE!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix 2/3 C Bisquick and 1 egg with 1/8 C H2O and Spread into greased 9" round glass casserole dish.

Mix 3 cubed/diced cooked chicken breasts with 1/2 a 16 oz jar of Salsa and spread on top of Bisquick layer in dish. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with 1&1/4 C Shredded Cheese (Taco Blend Mild Cheddar, whatever your preference) and return to the oven and bake 5 minutes longer or until the cheese has melted.

I served this dish with steamed broccoli and a salad and topped the casserole with sour cream and diced scallions. Rating -- Definitely 5 STARS!

*Double this Recipe to make a 9x13" Baking dish
Serves: 2+ Leftovers in 9" Round or 6 in 9x13" dish

Happy Easter!

Just wanted to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY EASTER!

Luke 24:1-12

Crock Pot Chicken - Cook Once, Eat Twice!

The other week I made this DELICIOUS crock-pot chicken, and I knew I just had to share the recipe with all of my readers! It is so simple to make. All you do is put your whole. rinsed chicken in the crock-pot. Sprinkle both sides with garlic powder and paprika, and add a couple bay leaves. You don't need to add any water. Turn the crock-pot on low and let it go all day, or high for probably 4-5 hours. When it's done it will look like this. De-bone and eat; I served the chicken with mashed red potatoes and salad. YUMMY! This chicken is so moist. After eating, add all of the skin and bones from cleaning the chicken back into the crock-pot with the liquid that is already in there. Add 5 cups of water and let the crock-pot cook on low overnight. In the morning you will have wonderful homemade chicken stock that you can use or freeze for later. I had about 5 cups of broth, so you don't lose much in the cooking process.
Dinner Day #1

Dinner Day #2:

I took some of the cooked chicken and added it to a bag of cook-in-bag rice with 1 can of cream of chicken soup, some leftover broccoli from the fridge, and some carrot coins from the freezer. Mix all of the ingredients together and place in a greased baking dish, I used a 9" round. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Pull the baking dish and cover the mixture with cheese, and then bake for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is nicely melted. I served this dish with a salad.

You could stretch your chicken even farther if you would like. Joe and I had enough chicken left over to eat sandwiches for the rest of the week for lunch. I could have easily made chicken noodle soup the next day and still had some for sandwiches left -- and this was from a chicken that cost me less than $4!!!!!

**Frugal Tip of the Day: Stretch those proteins!!**