Free Chocolate Friday!

As always, it's another Free Chocolate Friday! You can sign up 4 per household! Booya, g-ma! Click HERE to get yours!

Leftovers are Lovely

I love making my life easier. One way I do that is by organizing my meals around the same ingredients. Every week I plan out our menu in advance minimizing the amount of food needed to buy at the grocery store. The results are easy on the pocketbook, even easier on a hectic schedule, and yeld delicious meals! I always feel so proud of myself at the end of the week having a completely bare fridge because we've used up all of the food to make only necessary "planned" meals. But how do you get started? Do you have something in the fridge that needs to be used up and seems like a random ingredient? Well go for it! It will have a dominoe effect. Just you wait and see.

Take my fridge for instance. I had whole grain mustard that obviously would just sit and sit unless I pre-planned my meals. So I made the most awesome Grilled Chicken I've ever tasted! But I still had more mustard left that I wanted to uses up and more frozen chicken breasts. So I built our menu around these things So here's an example of what I do [my shopping list and menu]:

Weekly Menu:
Sunday: Mustard Dill Chicken, roasted potatoes, & artichokes
Monday: Tomato Broccoli Chicken Salad, chips, & fruit
Tuesday: Marinated Tomatoes in Angel Hair, Cesaer Salad, Fresh Bread
Wednesday: Tomato Brocoli Chicken Salad {tweek and put 'em on buns}
Thursday: Hamburgers {use the extra buns}, corn, potato salad {use leftovers}
Friday: date night!

Shopping List:
-bag of red potatoes
-corn
-yellow onion
-celery
-carrot
-artichokes
-grape tomatoes
-romaine lettuce
-basil
-taragon
-fruit
-french bread
-buns
-lunch meat
-then the weekly staples like: milk, yogurt, eggs, cereal, lunch items

Notice how the list consists of all fresh ingredients? That's all I have to buy because all the other items would already been in short term food storage: pasta, chips, oil, chicken stalk, frozen broccoli, frozen chicken etc.

We save A TON of money doing our meals and shopping in this fashion. Plus, I never have to think... "What's for dinner?"



P.S. I've taken a step further by planning my menu for 3 months (so that I can have only the necessary pantry items on hand) in advance...but this is a whole other post...

Chicken Broccoli Grape Tomatoe Salad: In Mustard Sauce

Ingredients

Poached Chicken:
4-5 organic chicken breasts, raw (3 lbs)
10 sprigs fresh parsley (may substitute dry but use 1 T)
2 sprigs fresh thyme (may substitute dry but use 1 t)
1 yellow onion (halved)
1 carrot (halfed)
1 stalk celery (halved)
5-6 cups chicken stock or broth

Dressing & Salad:
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup good mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
pinch of sugar to taste
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
3/4 cup cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
2 cups frozen broccoli florets

Directions
Put the parsley, thyme, onion, carrot, celery, and chicken breasts in a medium saucepan. Cover with the broth, and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat to very low and cover. Poach the chicken for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove the pan from the heat, uncover, cool the chicken in the liquid for 30 minutes. May strain the stock and reserve or freeze for future use.

Meanwhile, add the broccoli florets to a microwaveable safe bowl. Add water to the the bowl. Do NOT salt (the dressing has lots). Microwave covered for 5-7 minutes until cooked. May bowl in a saucepan if preferred. Drain the water and let florets cool.

For the dressing, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, mustards, pinch of sugar, 1/2 tablespoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add enough sauce to the warm chicken to moisten well. Add the tarragon, broccoli, and tomatoes and mix gently to combine. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature on fresh sandwich rolls of choice or alone as a salad.

Marinated T'maders in Angel Hair

This meal is so light and refreshing! The flavors are fresh making both the tongue and tummy very happy!

Ingredients
16 oz. cherry/grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 leaves of basic, chopped
pinch red pepper flakes [or according to taste]
1/4 cup olive oil
angel hair pasta
Additional chopped fresh basil leaves, garnish
Parmesean cheese, garnish

Hot French or Italian bread, accompaniment

Directions
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, squish tomatoes with your hands to release juices and tenderize the tomatoes. Mix in salt and taste. It should taste sweet. If not, add salt sparingly until just sweet. Add all other ingredients, including the olive oil. Let sauce rest and marinate for at least 30 minutes [can be made a day in advance].

*Note: This sauce is a recipe that is very versatile. I put it on homemade Margarita pizzas, inside of grilled cheese sandwhiches, or even in cous cous or pasta salads. You'll find numerous ways to use this simple, yet delicious, tomato sauce! Mmmm!

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Add the tomatoes and juices and cook over low heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large serving bowl. Top with fresh basil and paremesean cheese. Serve immediately

Free Arby Wednesdays!!

Arrr, me maties! This is a deal worth sailin' over on Wednesdays for!! There is no coupon necessary for these deals as long as your local Arby’s is participating. Call your store to see if they're in on this loco promo!! Anchors away! Click HERE to find your store. These items are FREE w/purchase:


May 27th – Free Regular Roast Beef sandwich with any soft drink purchase

June 3rd – Free FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
June 10th – Free Roast Chicken club with any soft drink purchase
June 17th – Free Regular Sidekicker with any sandwich purchase
June 24th - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

July 1st – Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
July 8th – Free Orange Cream Swirl shake with any sandwich purchase
July 15th – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
July 22nd – Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
July 29th – Free FruiTea with any sandwich purchase

August 5th – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
August 12th – Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
August 19th – Free FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
August 26th – Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase

Memorial Day Menu

This year my rights of freedom are being taken away from me! We have to make up a snow day from earlier in the year - so that means tomorrow is a school day! Bahhh! So bothered. Anyway, we grilled today instead so that I wasn't completely deprived of celebrating with some of the classics. These are yummies that will have the whole fam slash friends wanting to make your house the hot spot for the annual BBQ. So here's the low-down: burgers, lime buttered corn on the cob, ranch potato salad, & homemade strawberry lemonade. Sound good? It was!

Guaranteed Juicy Burgers

Ingredients
2 pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground sirloin
1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons steak sauce of choice
4 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons cold sliced butter (1 slice per burger)
10 hamburger buns
toppings of choice

Directions
Carefully mix the meats, bread crumbs, steak sauce, eggs, salt, and pepper with the tines of a fork, but do not mash them. Divide the meat into 10 equal-sized balls. Make an indentation with your finger in the middle of each ball. Place the slice of cold butter in the dent. Lightly form hamburger patties and press lightly into shape [sliced butter should be encased by the meat in the center of each patty].

Cook the hamburgers for 4 minutes on 1 side, then turn and cook 3 minutes on the other side for medium. Remove to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Allow the hamburgers to rest for 5 minutes [don't skip this step as the burgers will continue to cook while resting]. Meanwhile, grill the buns, cut side down with butter, for 1 minute, until toasted.

Lime Butter: Corn on the Cob

Ingredients
3 ears of corn
3 tablespoons of room temp. butter
1 teaspoon lime zest
dash of cayenne pepper
dash of garlic powder
lime wedges (1-2 per plate)
salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Cook ears of corn according to preference (grill, boil, etc). In the meantime combine softened butter, lime zest, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Mix until incorporated. Spread on warm corn. Top with salt and pepper. Use lime wedges to squeeze fresh lime juice on top of entire corn.

Mom's Ranch Potato Salad

Ingredients
6 red potatoes (~ 3 cups), washed - keep skins on
1/3 cup chopped green onion
3-4 diced hard boiled eggs
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup fresh dill
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (make according to packet)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Boil whole potatoes in a large pot until tender with a fork. Drain water and let cool slightly. Cube potatoes and place in a large serving bowl. Pour liberal amount (~1/3 cup) of ranch dressing over warm potatoes. Add celery, eggs, herbs, and green onions. Mix together. Season with dry mustard, salt, and pepper to taste. May add addtional ranch dressing if needed. Refridgerate until completely cooled (~2 hours).

Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
2 cups cold sparkling water or club soda
Ice
Mint sprigs, garnish
Whole strawberries, garnish

Directions
In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon peel and lemon juice, stir, and remove from the heat. Let cool completely, then strain into a clean pitcher.

In a blender, puree the pint of strawberries and add to the pitcher with the lemon juice. Stir well to combine and refrigerate until well chilled.

Add the sparkling water and stir well. Pour over glasses filled with ice and serve, garnished with mint and strawberries.

Free Chocolate Friday

It's that time again! Score your free candy bar. I'm being laaa-zaaay so scroll down to last week's free chocolate link? Can't find it? Look for the M&M guys!

Free P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps!

Oooh, ooh! Date night here we come! I could eat these lil' wrapped up bundles of goodness for my whole meal! Now I can! All you have to do is buy an entree! Uh, duh, this is a no-brainer! Go ahead - WOK IT OUT!!! Click HERE to sign up for your printable coupon!

Blue Bunny Bargain

My friend, Buh-bascious B, gave me this fantabulous freebie! All you have to do is buy a pack of Blue Bunny's new Aspen or Sedona Frozen Yogurt treats over Memorial Day weekend and submit your receipt with THIS FORM to score your rebate! Takes some work - but some of you are desperate for a treat and will go to any measures.

Organic Valley Coupons

Ya'll know already how I feel about Going Organic. If you don't - click HERE to learn your x,y, z's about the Dirty Dozen. But seriously, now that there's coupons - you all have no excuse! Get on it! Your body thanks me. You're welcome every"body". He he! Print 'em by clicking HERE!!

Get "Frosty" With Your "Posse": B1G1 Free

This is going to be great! I'm so excited to try yet another ice-cream yummy! For some reason, I'm hearing a judgmental *GASP* from my "sistas" out there in the blogosphere! Dontchoo worry 'bout a thang. They offer the same deal-o for non coffe-o drinkers! The flavors are as follows: chocolate fudge, vanilla bean, strawberry, oreo, m&m's, nestle's tollhouse cookie dough, coffee toffee, and frosty-chino! Bon appetito!
Click HERE to print your bogo coupon! Now go get "frosty" with someone already.

Competition: Cakes Couture

This coming Saturday our church is hosting a "friendly" competition for a man's bake-off. Who says guys can't bake? Well, whether he likes it or not, my guy will be involved. He'll have to tie my hands behind my back in the process. It will take serious self-control to keep me from "sealin' the deal" for a BIG WIN! Here are three cakes we're debating about. For his 1st go around this will be interesting. Obviously, they're "couture" cakes so they please the eye and the taste-buddies. Wish us all luck {including those who will be eating at their own risk}!! Which couture creation should we choose?

Coconut Cake Couture

Ingredients

For the Cake:
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons pure almond extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup milk
4 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

For the Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans, then line them parchment paper. Grease them again and dust lightly with flour. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy. Crack the eggs into a small bowl. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl once during mixing. Add the vanilla and almond extracts, and optional lemon zest and mix well. The mixture might look curdled; this is normal.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk to the batter in 3 parts, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in the 4 ounces of coconut with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter evenly into the 2 pans and smooth the top with a knife. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the tops are browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a baking rack to finish cooling.

For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond extract on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until just smooth (don't whip).

[Make sure cake is completely cooled! Otherwise, icing will melt and cake won't set]

To assemble, place 1 layer on a flat serving plate, top side down, and spread with frosting [~ 1/4 in. thick on top - it tends to soak into the cake once the other layer is on - so be generous]. Place the second layer on top, top side up, and frost the top and sides. To decorate the cake, sprinkle the top with coconut and lightly press more coconut onto the sides. Serve at room temperature.

Carat Cake Couture

Ingredients

For the cake:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 pound carrots, grated
1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple

For the frosting:
3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted

For the decoration:
1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

For the Cake:
Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light yellow. Add the vanilla. In another bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Toss the raisins and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour. Fold in the carrots and pineapple. Add to the batter and mix well. Add in raisin & walnuts. Divide the batter equally between the 2 pans. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans set over a wire rack. Make sure they are completely cooled otherwise the cakes will melt the icing.

For the Frosting:
Mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
Place 1 layer, flat-side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake. Decorate sides with chopped walnuts, and with diced pineapple on top (one wedged slice per slice).

Shorty Cake Couture

CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS CAKE that I've made fairly recently! But this time it'll be kicked up a notch with freshly picked strawberry's from the farm patch! Could be a crowd pleaser?!?!?

Quiznos BOGO!

So if you're tappin' your fingers trying to figure out something tasty and fun to do today - call up a friend, or snag your "significant other" to go to lunch with you! You can score a FREE Torpedo Sub by purchasing a Torpedo Combo Meal. So pretty much if you split the cost of the Meal Deal, you're eating lunch at a thrifty price! Oh YEAH!!! You have to click HERE to "play the game" and print your coupon!

Free DiGiorno Flatbread Melts

Be one of the first 100,000 people to sign up and you'll receive a coupon for a FREE DiGiorno Flatbread Melt! Don't let this new take on cheesey pizza melt away! Click HERE to get yours!! If you don't make it in time - you can still print a coupon for $1.50 off and get it for basically free when they're on sale for $2 which they often are. Not too shabby even if you're slower than a snail!

Get your computers up and running, set the alarm clock, and getcher runnin' shoes on! Offer begins at 12am EST Monday, May 18, 2009.

Free Chocolate Friday

Round two for free chocolate! Set, set, hike! However, this time they're giving away chocolatte to the 1st 500,000 candy bars!!! Sweetness!

Claim yours by clicking HERE to get a free single-size package of M&M's, Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix, or Dove.

There is a limit of four coupons per household.

Endulge and feel guiltless because it's FREE!

Haagen-Dazs Free-Bee Scoop

Buzz into any Haagen-Dazs store to snag a free scoop of ice-cream on Tuesday, May 12th. Over 50% of their flavors come from Bee pollinated ingredients. Come in for a FREE scoop of any Bee-built ice cream flavor at participating Häagen-Dazs Shops between 4-8 pm. Find a store near you by clicking HERE.


[pic from haagendazs.com]

Buy 3 Get 3 Free Einstein Bagels

Bagels are great but sometimes those fancy bread shops are just dang expensive. A whole bag of flour costs less than one bagel. But...if you want a deal that doesn't break the bank or your back from the make-it-homemade labor than print THIS COUPON for 3 free bagels when you buy 3 from Einstein Bagels. Happy bagel eating. Find a store near you by clicking HERE.

Free Chocolate Friday!

Be one of the first 250,000 people to sign up...and you score a coupon for FREE chocolate. Hurry quick, once they're gone...they're gone. Click HERE to get yours!

Free Cinnabon 4 Nurses

I just knew I should have gone into the medical profession! Cinnabon cinnamon rolls are the best eva! So, if you're a nurse...you're lucky. Stop by any Cinnabon store between May 6-12 and snag a Free Classic Cinnamon Roll. Just show your ID and you're hooked-up! Click HERE for more info. If you know a nurse, tell 'em!

Moms Eat FREE @ Carino's

You may want to head to Carino’s this week and give yourself the night off. In honor of Mothers day, Mom will eat FREE [3 course meal] May 4th-8th at Carino’s with the purchase of one entree at regular price.

Mom's Menu includes: unlimited soup or salad, choice of chef-select entrees, mini dessert, AND a beverage! Limit one free Mom’s meal per table, dine in only.

As always, check with your location to make sure they are participating in this promotion. Click HERE to find a store near you! I called my Mom's store in Ft. Collins, CO and they're doing it!!

Domino's Repeat

So if last Wednesday wasn't enough...our good home-boy Domino's is making a comeback by paying us back once again this week. I'm not sure if all stores nationwide are handing out the FREE Pasta Bowls no strings attached. If you live here in NC, you're good to go! Click HERE to call your location. Offer good May 6th, from 11-3! Woo Hoo! If nothing more, you can still score a $1.00 off coupon.