Friday, June 12, 2009

Giant Eagle bargain recipe of the week- Tater Crisp Chicken

Bargain Meal of the Week

This recipe seems too good to be true! Add your own seasoning for extra kick and also feel free to substitute a beaten egg for butter. Line your pan with foil for more easy cleanup. Happy Eating Y'all!!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. W/C means with coupon. To see the deals at Gian Eagle this week check them out here.

Tater Crisp Chicken


10 chicken legs (On sale .99 a lb) $2
1 cup melted butter
2 cups dry potato flakes (Idahoan on sale w/c .50) .50

Salt and pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place melted butter or margarine in a shallow dish or bowl, then place potato flakes, salt and pepper in a separate shallow dish or bowl. Roll chicken pieces in butter or margarine, then in potato flakes. Place coated chicken pieces in a 9x13 inch baking dish, skin side up.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 1 hour.

Total Cost of Meal: $2.50

Add Knorr noodles (w/c .25) Total cost of meal: $2.75

Add noodles and fresh asparagus (on sale $1.99) Total Cost of Meal: $3.75

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Did you know?? - Pharmacy deals!!


I love my pediatrician. I mean I loooooovvvvvveeeeeee him. He loves my babies like his own and showers them with songs and hugs. On top of all that he is a grocery bargain shopper. Can it get any better?!?!

He told me something very interesting at this weeks appointment. ( Am I the only mama that feels like I am at the pediatrician multiple times.... a week ? )

He told me to cut and save the Giant Eagle coupon for $1 off fuel with a new prescription. Then take it to a Kroger store and they will give you a $30 gift card.


THAT IS $30 OFF YOUR GROCERIES!!!!!


Of course fuel perks are nice too but if you don't shop Giant Eagle this may be a great deal for you!!

Meijer bargain recipe of the week- Homemade Chicken Fettuccine

Bargain Meal of the Week

I am on a mission to find a good chicken fettuccine recipe! This one looks like a winner because it is easy. ( Who has time to make a complicated recipe?? ) With chicken being on sale, its perfect! Feel free to add some sauteed onion and garlic for an extra kick...... Happy Eating Y'all!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand. To see the deals at Meijers this week check them out here.

Homemade Chicken Fettuccine

8 ounces fettuccine pasta (On sale $1.50) .75
2 tablespoons butter
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into chunks (On sale $1.99 a lb) $1.99
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced ( On sale 1o for $10 ) $1
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups heavy cream .99
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (On sale $2.99) .74


Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

In a large skillet, brown chicken and mushrooms in butter until chicken is cooked through. Season with garlic salt and pepper. Add whipping cream and cook until thick, stirring constantly. Add Parmesan cheese when at desired consistency. Serve over noodles.

Total Cost of Meal: $5.47

Add salad ( Dole on sale .98) Total Cost of Meal: $6.12

Add salad and Garlic Bread ( Meijer brand 10 for $10) Total Cost of Meal: $6.62

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Save your coffee containers!!!


Save your coffee containers guys!!!


I have such a cute activity / gift for Fathers day!


Stay Tuned......

Works for Me Wednesday - The " I'm Bored drawer"


I have been on a bored kick lately. Maybe its because we are trying to save every penny ( I love Dave Ramsey!) and so the kids and I are sticking around the house more and more!

Anywho, I have had a drawer that we have been using alot lately. I call it the "I'm bored drawer!" It has all the fun weird stuff that you get in the goody bags from birthday parties. You know .... the dinosaurs that grow in water, aunt farms, screaming rocket balloons. I let the kids have the candy and edibles and stash the goodies in "the drawer".

In addition, I keep my eyes open at the dollar store. They also have some little trinkets that are really cool and my little ones would like. ( Why are kids attracted to the most cheapest toys? You know the ones that they cry about when they fall apart. After the second time you use them! I guess that's another post!)




When my nerves are jumpin and thin I look longingly at the drawer and wonder how much sanity it can buy me. The kids love getting a "new" trinket, it doesn't cost me very much, if anything and it buys me a solo pee pee trip. Which totally works for me!!


For more boredom busters visit We are that Family!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Kroger bargain recipe of the week- Ground Beef BBQ

Bargain Meal of the Week


I am always looking for new ways to improve on the hamburger. Sometimes just a plain burger starts to get old and you have to spice it up a little bit! Happy Eating Y'all!

I will not expense spices/oils since most of us have them on hand.

Ground Beef BBQ


1 pound lean ground beef (On sale $1.68 a lb) $1.68
1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 small onion, grated (On sale $1.67 a 3 lb bag ) .15
1/2 small bell pepper, finely chopped (On sale 10 for $10) $.50

1 beaten egg (On sale .98) .08

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate.

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, beaten egg, grated onion and bell pepper. Mix well and shape into patties.

Place burgers on grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until done.

Total Cost of Meal: $2.41

Total Cost of Meal with buns $2.91

Add baked potatoes (On sale 2.99 a 10 lb bag) Total Cost of Meal: $3.59

Add baked potatoes and Salad ( Dole on sale .98) Total Cost of Meal: $4.24

For more great bargain recipes click on the icon above!

Monday, June 8, 2009

A Teachers View - The Case for Preschool

I am blessed to live next to a elementary school teacher who loves my kids and we love her!! She has multiple education degrees and is the first person I run to when I am worried about speech, development or anything learning related!! She has agreed to write a weekly post for me on some common concerns involving little ones. If you have a topic that you would like to see addressed, please e-mail me at everythingmom@live.com

Preschool Part 1: The Case for Preschool

As school winds down and summer starts, many parents start planning for next fall. If you have a small one, you may be thinking “How soon can I get them out of the house?!? They’re driving me crazy!” If you have a three or four year old or a five year old who isn’t old enough to go to kindergarten in the fall, preschool might be a great option for you.

Preschool is more than kids getting out of your hair to play with their friends for a couple of hours a couple of days a week. Preschool really does teach important skills. Preschool is about socialization and learning interpersonal skills as well as early reading, writing, math, and science skills. In a preschool setting children learn how to play with others, how to share and take turns, how to express their wants and needs with words. They also learn letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. They learn early math skills in counting, sorting, and sequencing. They use science skills to observe leaves for differences, see how much something weighs or how long a stick is. Early writing skills are developed by exploring with pencils, crayons, markers, and all kinds of other writing tools on paper, in sand, in chalk.

Preschoolers also learn how school “works”. They learn how to sit together and listen to a story. They learn to clean up when they make a mess (yea!). They learn to leave Mom and Dad and go into a classroom like the big kid they are (this is usually harder for Mom and Dad!). They learn seemingly smaller things like asking to use the restroom, lining up, and walking in a line.

In most preschools, you will find a staff who is more than happy to listen to your child’s fervent desire to be Batman for Halloween for the 500th time, who is willing to have their arms elbow deep is whatever wacky substance is in the sensory table, and most of all realizes that you just dropped off your most prized possession at their door. Tune in next time when we discuss choosing a preschool.

Menu Plan Monday

I love this weeks menu! I am getting 4 meals out of 2 meats that I got on sale!! WOOHOO.... What makes it even better is that I planned to use the leftover meats for the weekend so there is less cooking to do. Which means more playing outside :) Happy Eating Y'all!


Monday: Almost stuffed green peppers over noodles, garlic bread, salad


Tuesday: Smoked pork loin, green beans, coleslaw, baked beans


Wednesday: Parmesan chicken, mixed veggies, butter noodles


Thursday: Crock pot London broil, broccoli, mashed potatoes


Friday: Pizza Night !


Saturday: BBQ pork samwiches, baked fries, broccoli


Sunday: Shredded beef tacos, re fried beans, homemade baked tortillas chips