Aldi This Week

There aren't too many great deals this week at Aldi, but a few worth mentioning.

10 lb. Russet Potatoes 1.49
Garden Salad Bags .79
Whole Pineapple 1.99
3 lb. Bag Sweet Potato .79
Appleton Ham 2.99 lb.
Cook's Smoked Ham-Butt Portion 1.19
Cook's Smoked Ham-Shank Portion .99 lb.
Butterball Turkey .99 lb.
Milk, cheese, eggs and butter are cheaper at Aldi this week.

Happy Savings!
Erica

Meal Plan for the week

It looks like it will be a busy week in the kitchen despite the shorter week at home. There is a strong possibilities my toddler and I will be gone the week after Easter. I'm preparing some freezer meals just in case, so that my hubby won't have to worry about meals while we are gone. My breakfast selection is running low, so it's time to do more baking to keep up my supply of quick breakfast foods.

Freezer Meals:

Taco Meat

Burritos

Chicken Pot Pies

Breakfast:

Apple Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Banana Crumb Muffins

Oatmeal

Toast

Lunch:

We'll eat up the leftovers. I'm also hoping to make up some chex mix this week to send with my husband in his lunch and some basketball sugar cookies. I'm hoping my toddler can help with these cooking tasks. Lately I've been trying to involve him when I cook. It's helped me keep an eye on him and he loves it.

Dinner

Monday: Vegetarian Stir Fry with a side of Sweet Potatoes & Fruit

Tuesday: Pizza Omlets, Corn & Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan Fingers Over Garlic Spaghetti, Salad & Steamed Broccoli

Thursday: Date Night! Hooray for a no cooking night!

Friday: Black Bean Quesidillas w/ salsa, chips and steamed mixed veggies

Saturday: Out of town

Sunday: We'll be enjoying Easter with my extended family. I usually bring the rolls, but I haven't found out what I need to bring. I'll post my dad's Baked Ham recipe on Thursday, it is very tastey. Our family enjoys a nice Easter meal followed by Strawberry Shortcake! I cannot wait! It seriously is one of my favorite meals of the year. There is much to love about Easter, but the great of all is the One who has Risen!

Check out other meal plans at Meal Plan Monday Headquarters over at Organization Junkie.

Happy Meal Planning!

Erica

Walgreen's 4/5-4/11

Here are the Best Deals I see this week at Walgreens. It also looks like there are some cheap Easter things you can get to balance out your coupons. Make sure you have more products than coupons or else you'll have problems at the register.

Good Deals
Hershey Eggs (includes Bliss) 2/$7
Use two $1/1 IP & $1/2 ESQ
Total=2/$4

Scott’s Bathroom Tissue 12 pack 6.99 w/ in ad Q
Use $1/MF
Total=$5.99

Gillette/Old Spice $2.99 w/ inad Q
Use $1/1 MF
Total=$1.99

Hyponex Potting Soil .99 w/ in ad Q

Jergens Skin Care BOGO 50% off
Use 2 $1/1 MF for Jergens Skin Care & $2/1 ESQ Naturals Lotions
Total=-8.00 off total

Jumbo Pack Comfort Stretch or Premium Comfort Stretch Diapers 2/$9
Use $2/1 from Pharmacy coupon book (if you don’t see them out ask for them at the pharmacy)
Total=$7.00/2 packages of jumbo diapers.

Playtex Gentle Guide Tampons $3.99
Use $1/1 MF & $1/1 ESQ
Total=$1.99

Easy Saver Rebates Deals
Hershey’s Candy 4/$10
$5 in ES Rebates
Use $1/2, $1.50/3, $2/2 MF
Total=Between $1-$3.50 on 4 bags after ES Rebate

Glade flameless candle or lasting impressions $5.99
$2 in ES Rebates
Use $4/1 MF lasting impressions holder
Total=FREE

Oust Air Sanitizer or Surface & Air Sanitizer $2.99
$1 in ES Rebates
Use $2/1 MF Surface & Air Sanitizer
Total=FREE

Register Rewards Deals
Colgate total advanced 4 oz $3.49
Get $3.49 in RR
Use $.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste
Total= .75 Overage after RR!

Betty Crocker Frosting, Cake or Brownie Mix 2/$3
Get $1 in RR
Use .75/1 MF
Total= $1.25/2 after RR

Baby care products 2/$6
Desitin, Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil, Powder, Lotion, Wash or Shampoo
Buy 2 get $1 RR
Use $1/1 IP Desitin
Use $2/2 IP Desitin or Johnson Baby
Use $1/1 IP Johnson’s Baby Powder
Use $1/1 IP Johnson & Johnson Product
Total=$3/2 products

Happy Savings!
Erica

Weekly $ Report

Well since this week falls in two months I went ahead and counted it in April, since that is when I did my shopping. So instead of a $200/month budget this month we had a $250 budget.

This week I have spent.....$27.17

Which brings our monthly total to $236.22! Under budget! SWEET.

Here are my groceries from this week, it's significantly smaller than most weeks, but it certainly has gotten us through. I was very close to getting another .10 off gasoline coupon, so I wanted to use some coupons to help get me there, which explains the Pillsbury and Buddies. We did get some fruit this week, it was generously given to us by my parents 2 lb of strawberries and 1 pineapple. I do believe that was an answer to prayer, he is good to us!




Dillons 14.88
3 Johnson's Buddies Soap FREE
2 8th Generation Soy Milk 2.15 each used 2 coupons
1 MS Soy Milk 1.39
4 tubes of Pillsbury $1.60 use 3 coupons
2 containers cottage cheese 2.00
3.25 lb. Grapes 2.86
1 Avocado .50
1 loaf of bread 1.00

Aldi 11.52
Asparagus .99
Sweet potatoes .99
Lunch Meat 2.99
Bag of Spinach .99
2 blocks of 8 oz. cheese 1.29
Skim Milk 2.30

Walmart $0.77

Bananas .18lb on Thursday, price matched this to Leeker's. .77

Walgreens $21.42 OOP

Pepsi 12 packs 4/$12 & received $3 RR
2 Bottles Dawn .50 each
Chapstick 1.99 but received $2 RR
Reynold's Wrap .11 OVERAGE

Transaction #2 used $3 in RR from the Pepsi
Wal-itin 6.99 (I will submit this for a 6.99 Rebate)

Frugal Friday Family Fun

I can't believe it snowed last week, I hope your families had fun in the snow together. My toddler enjoyed playing in the last remaining snow piles we had on Sunday. He quickly learned how to throw a snowball. I hope that is our last snow of the year, I'm ready for spring.

I also can't believe it is April, which means only a few weeks left of school. I am sure many parents are already trying to find fun things for their children to do during the summer.

One great way is to take advantage of a Free Bowling Program during the summer months, which give your kiddos 2 free games everyday during the summer months. This program is open to children ages 15 and younger. The program starts May 1st and ends August 31st. It is my understanding that you will still need to pay for shoe rentals. They also are offering a special deal to include the rest of your family for $23.95 you may purchase a family pass which allows up to 4 additional family members the same 2 games a day pass. Every week you will be e-mailed a new coupon, so you must have access to a printer.

To register your child go to Kids Bowl Free. The Following are bowling alleys in the Wichita area participating in the program. If you don't live in our area, visit their website and see if this is available in your area.

Seneca Bowl

1909 S. Seneca St
Wichita, KS, 67213
(316) 267-7301

Derby Bowl
444 S Baltimore Ave
Derby, KS, 67037
(316) 788-0263

Holiday Bowl
310 State St.
Augusta, KS, 67010
(316) 775-7011

Happy Savings!

Erica

Jamaican Chicken

I absolutely love this recipe, don't be intimidated by the long list of spices, because when they meld it's heavenly! My husband gave me the sweetest compliment the other night as we were eating this meal. He said and I quote, "My dad always told me to marry a woman who could cook. I knew you like to cook when we got married, but I never expected it would be this good."

This is a great recipe to serve guests that won't completely break the bank. It's not often where meat is the center of our plate, so this meal is an extra treat for us. I'm guessing this meal cost around $5, sweet potatoes were on sale this week at Aldi, I used beans I soaked and cooked and the pineapple was a gift from my parents. The meat is your largest expense. Sorry not to include a price break down but this chicken came from an Angel food box and I never did the math.

Jamaican Chicken

2 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
½ t. ground ginger
½ t. dried thyme
½ t. ground allspice
¼ t. salt
¼. Ground nutmeg
¼ t. ground red pepper
1/8 t. ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs or legs (I used chicken leg quarters)
Cooking spray

Combine first 9 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture evenly over chicken. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken thighs and cook 5 minutes on each side or until done if using boneless chicken. If using Chicken legs or other pieces with bones, brown these in the skillet on all sides and place in a 9x 13 inch Pyrex. Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees F. You'll hardly be able to contain yourself because you house will start to smell amazing while you wait. Serves 4. 2 pieces = serving.
Check out the recipe swap on Friday over at Grocery Cart Challenge for more great recipes.

Enjoy!
Erica

Rice, Beans & Avocados

I forgot to buy tomatoes, but I promise this was good even with out them. Oh how I love avocados! I found this recipe through one the of the millon cookbooks I have checked out from the library but apparently the title didn't get written down. Enjoy this meatless dish, it's pretty tastey!

Rice, Beans & Avocados $3.32
Ingredients:
2 c. water
1 c. long grain brown rice, rinsed and drained (I always soak brown rice at least 15 minutes before using it.) .25
1 can black beans (or 1 ½ c. cooked) .20
2 c. halved cherry tomatoes 2.00, I just added some taco sauce1 medium avocado, diced .50
1/3 c. chopped green onions or yellow onions .20
1/3 c. shredded Cheddar cheese .15
¼ t. salt .01¼ t. black pepper .01
Combine water and rice in medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes. Stir in beans; cook 10 minutes longer or until rice is done. Place rice mixture in a large bowl. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients, tossing gently to combine. Makes 6-1 cup servings.



We served this meal with asparagus 1.00 & grapes .50 making our meal $2.82 since I didn't add the tomatoes.
Check out the recipe swap on Friday over at Grocery Cart Challenge for more great recipes.