Why making the time to cook saves TIME and MONEY
We've all said it: "I don't have time to cook." With the "un"routine of summer I have been slacking in the meal planning and cooking department and I miss it.
So for those who don't have the time think about this:
How long does it take to go to a restaurant and eat a meal? How much does it cost?
How many of us have run out for a bag of milk, come back an hour later with $40 worth of stuff we never intended on buying....and forgot the milk?
Today I wanted to take care of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the next couple of days so I didn't need to worry about it. At 5pm it is chaos at my house so no, I don't have time to cook then...so I started at 845am. In about an hour and a half (which included two fights over the toy cars, juice refills, phone calls and channel changes) I had a roast in the slow cooker, potatoes washed and wrapped in foil, banana loaves baked, egg salad sandwiches and tuna pasta salad made. This, combined with the fruit, yogurt, crackers, tomato cucumber salad and leftovers from last night, means I don't even think about feeding anyone til sometime Friday!
So at 4:00 this afternoon I took the kids to the splash pad. And know what? We were the only ones there...guess everyone else was trying to figure out dinner!
What's For Dinner Tonight? Mexican Inspired
This one is always a popular go-to in our house. I love that its quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive especially if you can find chicken on sale!
Ingredients:
*2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (since this recipe also contains kidney beans and cheese this is my meat stretching dish. I use 2 chicken breasts to feed 4 of us)
*one can of drained and rinsed kidney beans
*half a green pepper
*half a jar of salsa
*can of corn (optional)
*rice
*cheese for topping
Brown chicken in a pan and cook rice in a seperate pot as per directions. Break into chunks, add green pepper and sautee until slightly tender. Add kidney beans and salsa and corn if you have/want it. Sometimes I toss in the salsa package that comes with the taco kits or some bbq sauce for an extra bit of flavor. Cook on med-high heat for another 10 minutes or so. Add in cooked rice. Serve topped with shredded cheese on its own or with a salad!
Children's Advil for $2!!!
Starting August 16th, Children's Advil 100ml will be on sale at Walmart for $4. Combine with this printable $2 from Advil's website and get your's for only $2!! Or if your lucky enough to have scores some $3 coupons from the "Spin to Win" contest a while back you can get it for $1!!
SnapSaves new money savings app available now!
Brand new Cashback app available to Apple or Android users. SnapSaves is very similar to Checkout 51, where you purchase the item(s) on the list and upload your receipt to be credited with the allotted amount! One main difference from Checkout 51 is some items you are able to claim more than one time! Start saving more today!!!
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/snapsaves/id659026337?mt=8
Great deal on Rimmel makeup @ Target!
Rimmel makeup is on clearance at Target, paired with the save $1 coupon on any Rimmel product and get lipstick, eyeshadow and more for under a buck!!!!
Grocery trip to go with Menu Plan
Giant Tiger
*cheddar perogies- sale $1.00
*coffee cream- sale $1.00- 75cent coupon
*crispers- sale $1.00
*alymers diced tomatos- sale $1.00
*red kidney beans- sale $1.00
*banana muffins- sale $1.00
Total with taxes $5.35
Food Basics
*2x eggs- sale $3.00
*bread- $2.19
*lettuce- sale 88cents
*grapes- sale $2.09
*plastic wrap- sale $1.00
*2x nutrigrain bars- sale $1.88 each (with cash for gas promo on them)
*coffee- $3.99 (this was on the list for somewhere else but as the kids went into meltdown mode I knew to grab and go!l
Total with taxes $17.02
Menu Plan for this week (sort of)
So I broke two of the cardinal rules of grocery shopping today...I went hungry AND with grumpy kids. As a result even with a list we didn't get as much as I had originally intended. That's why this is a sort of menu plan! You will notice that I have quite a bit on hand and as I get back onto the swing I will stock up on certain items when they are on sale to work into future menu plans. So with what I had on hand and todays little shop (for under $25) I have 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and snacks!
Breakfast:
*muffins and bananas
*cereal
*egg salad sandwiches
*scrambled eggs and toast
Lunch:
*perogies and veggies
*salad and grilled cheese
*nuggets and fries
Dinner:
*chili
* chili bake (recipe to come)
*sausage on a bun and salad
Snacks and desserts:
*grapes
*crispers
*nutrigrain bars
*veggies and dip
*oatmeal cookies (recipe to come)
Grocery trips to follow in another post. Stay tuned!
FREE package of store made Kabobs at Foodland with any purchase of $10!
Get a FREE package of store made Kabobs valued up to $8 with any purchase of $10 before taxes at Foodland with this printable coupon. Valid until September! Excludes lottery purchases.
Free Old El Paso Jalapenos After Coupon
Old El Paso Jalapenos are on sale at the downtown Shopper's Drugmart in Lindsay for $1.00 this week. If you have the save $1.00 on Old Elpaso Refried Beans or Jalapenos that was on the taco kits awhile ago (exp Dec. 31st/2013) that makes them FREE!
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