Beginner Couponing

I've been couponing for almost a year and I'm addicted to the deals and savings. Most coupon blogs are confusing and aggressive, some of my beginner friends are having a hard time sorting through all the mess.
Today I'm going to post a super-beginner-easy coupon trip to Albertsons. They are having a great sale (ends tuesday jan 12th) right now that is an easy way to start. So get excited ladies, your first savings adventure of the new year. If you live in town, I'd be happy to go with you (my little guy loves riding in shopping carts) but I'll keep everything simple so you can handle it by yourself too.

Step one: Creating your shopping list
If you get the Wednesday newspaper, grab your ad, I don't so I look online. Visit www.albertsons.com, find "today's savings" and "view your ads." I like to click "browse by page" for easy viewing. To save the most $$ you want to combine what's on sale this week with a coupon. Go to page 6 of the ad for our great deal this week. The offer says that if you purchase $20 worth of items from this page, you get $5 back. So, look over all of the items there and choose the ones you use or like the most. Get your calculator ready, you want to get to $20, try to get as close as you can.
Here are 2 sample scenarios I did lastnight (and yes, you have to check out twice, I just put a divider between piles and paid twice, no big deal):

3 boxes of Honey Nut Cheeries - $1.88 each
1 box Multigrain Cheeries - $1.88
2 Betty Crocker fruit snacks - $1.88 each
1 box yellow Cheerios - $1.88
2 boxes 40 oz. bisquick - $2.99 each
1 Green Giant steamer veggies - $1.49
--------------------------------------------$20.60 total

4 boxes chicken, tuna, hamburger helper - $1 each
4 boxes Gushers - $1.88 each
2 boxes Betty Crocker fruit snacks - $1.88 each
2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios - $1.88 each
1 Green Giant steamer veggies - $1.49
--------------------------------------------$20.53 total

My friend Jaimie got lots of Progresso soups, the yogurts are a great deal also, mix and match to whatever your family eats. As you can see, we like cereal and fruit snacks! Make sure you have a list written down, so you grab the right amount at the right price when you're shopping. Step one - done!

Step Two: Finding your coupons
I find most of my coupons online. The sunday insert has some, but you can do just fine without subscribing to the paper. To print coupons you need to install the coupon printer, super easy, free and takes a few seconds. The first place I look for coupons is bettycrocker.com. You do have to register with an email, but it's free. On the very top you'll see "coupons" click there. Scroll down and check mark all the coupons that match what you selected on your shopping list. Do you see bisquick, yoplait, progresso, fruit snacks, gushers, green giant, fiber one? Ta da!!! You can print each coupon twice from this website, it will ask you to install when you hit print.

The second place I look for coupons is at coupons.com. Do the same thing, scroll through the pages and find ones that match your list. You can print each coupon twice from this website also.

The third place I like is coupons.smartsource.com. Same rule here, twice per computer.

Read each coupon carefully and make sure if you have to buy 2, you have 2 on your list. Make any adjustments to your list and you're done with step 2!! Note on the printing - it lets you print twice per computer, so if you have 2 computers in your house you could have 4 coupons. Sometimes I even go to my mom's house and print, lol. Whatever works!

Step 3: Hit the aisles!
I go with my detailed shopping list and my coupons paper-clipped to the back. I put all of the items in order when I shop, and hand the cashier my coupons after he's done scanning everything. Your $5 off (called a catalina) will print AFTER you pay. If it doesn't print, speak up and the cashier will have to go over your receipt and get you one, this rarely happens. Most of the time I use that $5 off coupon right there, and check out a second time with my non-coupon items like cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs and fruit.

Alright - does that sound do-able? Is couponing attainable for the new year?

Comment if you have any questions, I'd love to help. I love being a stay-at-home mom and if I have to spend an hour clipping and gathering coupons every week to save money, then I'll do it. The more I can save, the more I'm gaurenteeing that I won't have to go back to work. It is fun though, searching for the deal and getting name brand products for cheap. Happy couponing!!

Smothered Grilled Chicken

It's been a few years, but I tasted a delicious grilled chicken dish at a restaurant in Las Vegas. It was grilled chicken layered with bacon, tomato slices and tons of ooey gooey cheese. I tried to make it once for my husband, but the bacon wasn't cooking good, soggy in some spots and burnt in others. And besides, bacon plus chicken is a little over the top, although delicious. I haven't forgotten that dish, and last week I made such a delicious comparison Vegas better watch out. I love using fresh spinach, mostly just to have my husband eat it and then say, "HA! See, you DO like spinach!" Instead of bacon I layered spinach, it softened while I was melting the cheese and ended up being tender and perfect. I made extra and it reheated great for lunch the next day. Outstanding dish that I will be making for years to come!

Husband Rating: 5 stars

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I cut mine in half so they'd grill faster)
1 tsp. McCormick's Parmesan and Herb seasoning (or your fav)
1 tomato
1 cup spinach leaves
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used a mozerella/cheddar combo, it was all I had on hand)

In a grill pan, cook chicken over medium heat. Sprinkle both sides with McCormick's seasoning. When chicken is almost done, layer each piece with 4-5 spinach leaves and tomato slices. Sprinkle with cheese. Put on the lid (or a foil tent) to melt the cheese. When cheese is melted, about 3 minutes, serve. Enjoy!

Here's what my chicken looked like right before I added the cheese. This grill pan is my true love, every kitchen needs one. I purchased it at Target for around $30, totally worth it since I use it every week.

Shout Out: McCormicks

It's time for a shout-out. That's right, where I sent out a "hey there, love your stuff" to the best products that I wouldn't want to live without. Today's shout-out is for one of the best (and most used) seasonings in my cupboard: McCormicks Parmesan Herb!

This is one of those yummy seasonings that I toss into everything. All of my pastas get a little dash and just about all my chicken gets a hint. It's the secret ingredient in a killer white sauce, or the easiest ingredient in a lazy dinner. My favorite thing is to sprinkle it on chicken, throw it on the grill pan, whip up a caesar salad and the perfect dinner is served. A little bit goes a long way with the seasoning too, it will last you a while. Go and invest, mmm, so delicious!

Most Popular Baby Names

Here's the top 10 most popular baby names of the decade. Interesting! None of the names we considered are on the list. I love the traditional names like Andrew and Michael for boys. I'm surprised Abigail didn't make the list, I know so many baby Abigails. Is your baby's name on the list?

Girls:
Emma
Emily
Madison
Sophia
Isabella
Kaitlyn
Ava
Hailey
Hannah
Olivia

Boys:
Aiden
Jacob
Ethan
Matthew
Nicholas
Jack
Joshua
Ryan
Michael
Andrew

Chicken Parmesan (easy!)

Mmm, Chicken Parmesan is just one of those great recipes that I never get sick of. This is my easy, low fat version of the recipe. Of course, chicken dripping with butter and then fried in oil might taste better, but you'll be surprised how easy the oven version is. If you don't have bread crumbs, use Ritz crackers, crushed corn flakes, crushed rice krispies or even saltines. I even used crushed tortilla chips once, it was pretty good. Of course, you can drench your chicken in sauce and melted cheese, but for a nice picture I left it off here. Usually when I make these I'll bake 6-8 pieces of chicken and freeze half for another meal. The reheat great and are always delicious!

Husband Rating: 4 1/2 stars

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 egg
3 TB milk
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/3 cup flour
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Gather 3 small bowls. In the 1st bowl, mix together flour, salt and pepper. In the 2nd bowl, beat the egg and stir in milk. In the 3rd bowl pour bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning and mix well. Dip chicken into the 1st bowl with flour and cover. Next, dip into the egg mixture and cover well. Finally, dip chicken in the 3rd bowl with breading and cover well. Place in a lightly greased baking dish. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and breading is toasty. Melt mozzarella cheese over the top and serve with spaghetti.

-Note: If your chicken is thick, slice through it or pound it with a meat mallet. The fatter it is the longer it will take to cook.

Back to the Kitchen

I know, I said before would be my last craft boutique for the year. I lied. I couldn't resist just one more, but I did great on sales, handed out lots of business cards, had fun and scored some sweet deals.

Working craft boutiques is dangerous because I want to buy all the cute stuff at other booths. One lady used to own a scrapbooking store and was clearing out inventory, SWEET DEALS! She had a huge box full of things for 50 cents, I found sparkly ink pads and other cuties. My friend Jaimie had a booth of her feather fascinators (bows and clips for glamorous grown-ups!) and I'm going to have to buy more in lots of colors. She is working on setting up a blog, so I will be linking there soon!

This is my favorite apron I've made that I sold Saturday. I was kind of experimenting with the pattern and not even sure if it would sell, but it did. It got enough compliments that I'm confident in making more. Watch for new colors!

I will get to work posting some fun Christmas and holiday recipes for everyone. Stay warm and check back!

Neglect for a good cause!

I know *sigh* I've just been neglecting my poor blog. I've got like 10 recipe photos I need to upload, but I haven't devoted any time to my recipes.

I do have a good excuse though . . . I've been sewing up a storm! This weekend is my final craft fair of the year and I've been working nonstop to make a million cute aprons and kitchen cutie pie things. I sewed my last stitch tonight, put away my sewing table and I'm going to set up the Christmas tree in its place. (Yes, I sew in my living room, I only dream of a sewing studio!)

So, if you are looking for the perfect holiday gifts or in the mood to spoil yourself a little, stop by the Christmas Boutique!!


Friday and Saturday from 9am to 7pm, corner of Ammon & Lincoln Rds, watch for the signs. Email me at camillescasa @ yahoo.com if you need directions, details, or need me to hold an item for you.

And after all my business is over, I will be back posting all yummy things!