Oct 31, 2010

Menu Plan Monday 11/01/10

I never got around to posting my menu last week, so I'm posting this week's menu plan a day early this week to be sure I get it done.

Monday - Thursday we will be eating from our freezer. Friday and Saturday are both new recipes for us - I hope my family thinks they are as good as they sound. And Sunday is another freezer meal.

As always, I'm sure things will change a bit, but for now, here is our plan:

MondayRotisserie Chicken, Cheesy Potatoes
TuesdayMini Meatloaves, Corn on the Cob
Wednesday - Black Bean Salsa Chicken, Salad
ThursdayChicken ‘n Rice Casserole, Broccoli
FridaySmothered Pork Chops, Asparagus
Saturday – Chicken Tortilla Pie (I don't recall where I found this recipe)
SundayStuffed Buffalo Chicken, Salad

What's on your menu this week?

Oct 13, 2010

Salsa Chicken and Rice Recipe & Review

I tried a new recipe out last week and the whole family enjoyed it!

Our new recipe of the week was Salsa Chicken and Rice. I found the recipe at a blog called A Little Bit of Everything.

Here is the recipe (as I made it) and I will follow it with a review.

Salsa Chicken and Rice

1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice - cooked
2 cups Chicken, cooked and shredded
2 cups shredded Montery Jack Cheese
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/2 cups Medium Salsa

Cook rice and chicken if not already done. Shred or cube chicken.

(I usually have cooked chicken in my freezer for meals like this. I made rice for another meal a few days before and just made enough for two meals and froze what I needed for this casserole.)

In a greased casserole dish, layer the rice and then the chicken.

Combine the soup and salsa in a bowl and spread on top of the chicken. Top with cheeses.

Bake at 350 degrees until hot through and bubbly.

* * * * *


Next time I make this I will try using Rotel in place of the salsa. The original recipe calls for either and I am curious to see if it will taste the same with Rotel.

There were a few bits of the rice that were overly crispy and I think a thin layer of salsa or Rotel underneath the rice might be a solution to that.

I plan to include this recipe in my future freezer plans and make up Salsa Chicken & Rice meal kits with the rice in one bag, the chicken, soup, and salsa in another, and the cheese in a third.

Overall, the recipe was enjoyed by everyone. It was easy to assemble, which is another plus. I'm thrilled to have found another item for my freezer sessions!

Oct 11, 2010

Bargains Update

Well, as I suspected, Rite Aid did not have any of the Pro-X Cleanser. So I came up with a new plan and I'm quite happy with the results. Here's what I did:

6.99 Folgers
4.99 Nyquil Sinus
4.99 Dayquil Sinux
2.99 Sucrets
1.49 Blistex
3.56 (4) Gain
-5/25
-1/10 Wellness Cold
-1 Folgers mq
-8 (2) $4 Nyquil Sinus mq
-1.50 Sucrets mq
-4 (4) $1 Gain mq (forgot to remind cashier to price adjust)
=5.62
-4 UPR
=1.62

I got back $5 in UPR (for some reason I got two for the coffee) and will get back 2.99 and 1.49 in SCR (for the Sucrets and Blistex). So almost free coffee and we have cold medicine for Winter!!

I also popped into CVS to see if they had received any of the Vitality Toothbrushes that I got a raincheck for two weeks ago. The shelves were still empty, but the manager said he would try to special order them. I sure hope I can get some before my coupon expires the end of the month.

While there, I did the P&G Deal - Buy $25 get $10 ECBs. I picked up two Charmin and one Bounty. The store I shop at is super as they take expired CVS coupons as well as expired ECBs. I was able to use a $5/$25 coupon and $6.50 in ECBs so I paid about $11 for it all (after ECBs). Not a super deal, but way better than paying full price.

Oct 9, 2010

Bargains I'm 'Chasing' This Week

I skipped my 'Bargains' post last week because I didn't see anything I wanted/needed. There were definitely some good deals at the different stores, but since I live in an area where tax is determined before coupons, it can put a damper on the great sales.

I did manage to run to Rite Aid and threw together a transaction that included a Schick Razor, coffee for work, and some candy. After coupons, it cost $1.45 for everything. If I had had more coffee coupons, I might have tried to get more.

This week I've put together a plan for Rite Aid, but finding sufficient stock may throw me off. I'm still not finding much to make me want to hit Walgreens or CVS this week, but that might change once I get my Sunday paper tomorrow.

Rite Aid

Trans. #1

16.19 Olay ProX Cleanser (17.99 - 10%)
4.99 Airwick
3.99 Comtrex
=26.17 + 2.42
=25.17 + 2.33 tax
=27.50
-5/25 Rite Aid coupon
-1 Wellness Beauty
-2 Olay mq
-4 Airwick mq
=15.50
-10 Rite Aid Gift Card
-5 UPR from last week
=.50
Get $12 UPR & 3.99 SCR

Trans. #2

16.19 Olay Cleanser
4.99 Airwick
4.99 Pediacare
=26.17 + 2.42 tax
=28.59
-5/25 Rite Aid Coupon
-1 Wellness Beauty
-2 Olay mq
-4 Airwick mq
-1 Pediacare mq
=15.59
-12 UPR from previous transaction
=3.59
Get $12 UPR & 4.99 SCR

Trans. #3

16.19 Olay Cleanser
3.00 Dove Shampoo
1.78 (2) Gain Dish Detergent
3.00 3/3 Candy snackpacks
.99 Halls Cough Drops
.18 Now & Later (.20 - 10%)
=25.14 + 2.33 tax
=27.47
-5/25 Rite Aid Coupon
-1 Wellness Beauty
-2 Olay mq
-2 Dove VV
-1 Dove mq
-1.78 (2) $1 Gain mq adjusted down
-.50 Halls VV
=14.19
-12 UPR
=4.19
Get $11 UPR

Trans. #4

16.19 Olay
1.78 (2) Gain
2.99 Sucrets
1.99 Palmer’s Lip Butter
1.49 Blistex
1.00 Candy Corn
=25.44 + 2.35
=27.79
-5/25 Rite Aid Coupon
-1 Wellness Beauty
-2 Olay
-1.78 Gain
-1.50 Sucrets
=17.51
-12 UPR
=4.51
Get back $10 UPR and 6.47 SCR

Total:
10.79 Cash
5 UPR
10 GC
=25.79
-10.00 UPR
-15.45 in SCR
=.34 net cost

Then I'll submit the receipts for the Olay Rebate: Get $20 back for spending $50

I also have heard that there might be a $5 coupon for Olay ProX products in Sunday's paper - if so, this will be an even better deal.

Menu Plan 10/11/10

I'm posting my menu plan early this week since I've got it done. I normally post it on Monday's and link up with Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday link. Since her post isn't up yet, I'll have to remind myself to come back and link it on Monday. Edited to link to this week's Menu Plan Monday.

Anyhow, here's what I've planned for next week:

MondayMini Meatloaves, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
TuesdayBuffalo Shrimp, Rice, Mixed Veggies
WednesdayChicken Ziti, Salad
ThursdayCP Chicken ‘n Stuffing, Roasted Veggies
FridayTurkey Burgers, Salad
Saturday – Tacos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice
Sunday – Ranch Chicken

If you look too closely, you'll notice a few meals that are repeats from last week!

No, we are not eating the same things two weeks in a row! Last week didn't go precisely as planned. After having my car break down on Monday, our week turned out a bit differently than anticipated. Carpooling with hubby was great in my estimation - I loved being chauffered around - but I don't think he loved it as much as I did. Having to alter his schedule to fit mine threw a kink in his week I think. :) (Car is fixed - thanks again to hubby!)

Which led to eating out one night and begging asking kiddo to make dinner one night and he chose spaghetti. (Maybe because I forgot to defrost anything??)

Hopefully, this week we will follow our plan a bit better. Time will tell.

Oct 5, 2010

October To-Do List

Each month, I am posting a To-Do list.

Not a list of things that I know I will accomplish - but rather things that I wish to accomplish in addition to the regular to-dos of my life.

Here's my to-do list for October:

Around the house:

-Clean and organize bathroom drawers and shelves
-Re-label shoe boxes with labels that will stay on
-Go through 2 of my dresser drawers
-Spend 1 hour working in the dining room

On the crafty side

-Paint the pot for kitchen utensils as well as some clothes pins
-Work on clothes pin kitchen holder idea
-Create new printable and upload (maybe recipe cards?)
-Begin working on new graphics set for store

In the Kitchen

-Try one new recipe each week
-Week one –
-Week two –
-Week three –
-Week four –
-Organize Recipe Binder

Spiritually

-Continue memorizing Romans 12
-Work on Changed Into His Image daily

So...what things do you think you might be able to add to your everyday doings? Why don't you create a list for yourself? I know I won't get everything crossed off my list, but every item I can cross off is one step closer to where I want to be.

Oct 4, 2010

Menu Plan Monday 10/4/10

I cannot believe it's Monday already! The weeks seem to be flying by.

Here's what we will be eating this week:

Monday – Fajitas, Refried Beans, Mex Rice
TuesdayBuffalo Chicken Spaghetti, Rolls, Salad
WednesdayMini Meatloaves, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
ThursdayChicken ‘n Rice Casserole, Green Beans
FridayUpside down pizza, Salad
SaturdaySalsa Chicken and Rice, Corn on the Cob
SundayPoppyseed Chicken, Breadsticks, Salad

Looking for more menu ideas? Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday Linky!