There's no need to order out for pizza! Save your money and make these at home.
Easy Mini Pizzas
Non-stick cooking spray
1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (I used Pillsbury)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
2 large pieces fresh mozzarella
1 can tomatoes
Basil and garlic to taste
Pre-heat oven to 350° F and spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Chop fresh mozzarella into small pieces. Chop tomatoes, garlic and basil. If you're lucky, you can get Italian-style canned tomatoes that already have the basil and garlic added. Separate dough into 8 pieces and flatten each piece between the palms of your hands. Lay out each piece on the baking sheet, then add tomato mixture on top. Top with fresh mozzarella and shredded mozzarella. Bake for 10 minutes at 350° F or until dough is cooked through.
I had biscuit dough that I bought on sale plus canned Italian-style tomatoes that I bought with a coupon from the Whole Foods newsletter, so I decided to give these a try over the weekend. I tried making half with fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, and the rest with the canned tomatoes and shredded mozzarella. The canned tomatoes actually worked a lot better and there was more than enough in the can for a second batch.
[Recipe adapted from FreeQuickRecipes.com]
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Coupons: $5 off any $20 Walgreen's purchase
Here's another one! Printable coupon from Walgreens that's good for Friday and Saturday only (via The Bargainist).
Disaster Preparedness, Part II
Just as an addendum to my post from a few days ago:
The Simple Dollar has a post today on surviving a natural disaster. Among the things I forgot to include in my list was having enough cash on hand for an emergency.
The Simple Dollar has a post today on surviving a natural disaster. Among the things I forgot to include in my list was having enough cash on hand for an emergency.
Saving Money at Whole Foods
Whole Foods has a reputation for being expensive because they carry natural and organic products, plus they don't carry the same national brand names that advertise in your Sunday paper. However, that doesn't mean that you can't save money there. Here's some tips from the Whole Foods Blog on how to save money.
→ Mambo Sprouts has a quarterly publication that carries coupons for organic and natural products. They will start offering e-coupons later this fall, but for now you can sign up to get offers by mail and e-mail.
→ Organic Valley has printable e-coupons for their organic and soy dairy products. It looks like they're being offered through coupons.com, so keep your eyes open!
→ Organic Prairie has printable e-coupons for organic meat products, including steaks, hot dogs and deli meats.
→ Pick up a copy of The Whole Deal newsletter when you get to Whole Foods. The copy I got last week has budget recipes and meal planners for under $4 a serving plus over $30 in coupons.
Whole Foods also goes one step further and gives you 10¢ off your purchase for every bag that you re-use, and even if you're re-using bags from another story. Those 99¢ re-usable bags pay for themselves after 10 trips.
→ Mambo Sprouts has a quarterly publication that carries coupons for organic and natural products. They will start offering e-coupons later this fall, but for now you can sign up to get offers by mail and e-mail.
→ Organic Valley has printable e-coupons for their organic and soy dairy products. It looks like they're being offered through coupons.com, so keep your eyes open!
→ Organic Prairie has printable e-coupons for organic meat products, including steaks, hot dogs and deli meats.
→ Pick up a copy of The Whole Deal newsletter when you get to Whole Foods. The copy I got last week has budget recipes and meal planners for under $4 a serving plus over $30 in coupons.
Whole Foods also goes one step further and gives you 10¢ off your purchase for every bag that you re-use, and even if you're re-using bags from another story. Those 99¢ re-usable bags pay for themselves after 10 trips.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Easy One-Pot Noodles For One
Well... I did say that creativity made me forget I was eating ramen every night.
Easy One-Pot Noodles For One
1 package Maruchan ramen noodles
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 chicken breast, diced
1 tsp olive oil
Prepare frozen vegetables according to package directions, usually in the microwave. Add olive oil to saucepan and stir-fry chicken until fully cooked. Remove and place in soup bowl, adding cooked vegetables. Prepare noodle soup according to package directions, and then add on top of vegetables and chicken. Stir and serve. Makes 1-2 servings.
The beauty of this is that you can make substitutions for the vegetables and chicken. Instead of peas and corn, use whatever vegetable medley you have on hand. Skip the chicken and use whatever meat you want. I've even done it with tofu.
Easy One-Pot Noodles For One
1 package Maruchan ramen noodles
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 chicken breast, diced
1 tsp olive oil
Prepare frozen vegetables according to package directions, usually in the microwave. Add olive oil to saucepan and stir-fry chicken until fully cooked. Remove and place in soup bowl, adding cooked vegetables. Prepare noodle soup according to package directions, and then add on top of vegetables and chicken. Stir and serve. Makes 1-2 servings.
The beauty of this is that you can make substitutions for the vegetables and chicken. Instead of peas and corn, use whatever vegetable medley you have on hand. Skip the chicken and use whatever meat you want. I've even done it with tofu.
Frugality Binge, Or How I Beat The Cycle Of Always Eating Out
A few months back, when things were not going well and I had an urgent need to cut back on spending, I went to rather extreme measures to save on food costs.
Ramen noodles.
I'd heard stories about people who were starting to serve ramen one night a week to cut back on grocery bills. I took it one step further, bought a 6-pack of ramen and a can of Spam, and challenged myself to make that my dinner for the next week.
Yes, I really thought I was nuts at first, but I felt a lot better walking out of the grocery store after paying less than $5 for a week of dinners. And really, ramen noodles were fast and easy to make even when I got home late, and they weren't so bad. The Spam was a little harder to get used to until I found that if you pan-fried it before serving, it didn't look so much like you were eating Spam. I also had a bag of frozen veggies in the freezer that help liven up ramen noodles after day 3.
After a week of keeping ramen noodles around for quick dinners, I happily picked up more and experimented with adding different proteins (sausage, chicken, tofu and yes, Spam) and different veggies so it was still a different meal each night. The money I save by not running out and getting take-out went to much better uses.
Granted, I'm single and not cooking for anyone else, so I'm sure ramen noodle night won't work for every family. But it taught me that a little bit of creativity helped me forget that I'm cutting back. It also helped me break the eating-out habit.
Ramen noodles.
I'd heard stories about people who were starting to serve ramen one night a week to cut back on grocery bills. I took it one step further, bought a 6-pack of ramen and a can of Spam, and challenged myself to make that my dinner for the next week.
Yes, I really thought I was nuts at first, but I felt a lot better walking out of the grocery store after paying less than $5 for a week of dinners. And really, ramen noodles were fast and easy to make even when I got home late, and they weren't so bad. The Spam was a little harder to get used to until I found that if you pan-fried it before serving, it didn't look so much like you were eating Spam. I also had a bag of frozen veggies in the freezer that help liven up ramen noodles after day 3.
After a week of keeping ramen noodles around for quick dinners, I happily picked up more and experimented with adding different proteins (sausage, chicken, tofu and yes, Spam) and different veggies so it was still a different meal each night. The money I save by not running out and getting take-out went to much better uses.
Granted, I'm single and not cooking for anyone else, so I'm sure ramen noodle night won't work for every family. But it taught me that a little bit of creativity helped me forget that I'm cutting back. It also helped me break the eating-out habit.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Are You Prepared For A Disaster?
Last week, while I was watching Hurricane Ike and thanking my lucky stars that I live in the Midwest, another disaster was looming. In Chicago, we had severe flooding that led to evacuations, and where my sister lives in Ohio, wind storms knocked out the power. I'd had a bad feeling going into the weekend and was watching my basement, preparing to bail water in case it flooded. What I hadn't thought of in advance? I hadn't bought any groceries.
By last Monday, I had relaxed a bit as the rain ended. Then my sister called to tell me that she had no electricity and they estimated it wouldn't be restored until Friday. She had an electric stove that was now useless for cooking the food that was going to spoil in her refrigerator. She managed to find a flashlight, but had no batteries on hand and Target was sold out.
The American Red Cross has some good read-it-ahead-of-time information, as does FEMA. As for myself, I'm stocking up on canned food and picking up one of those Costco cases of bottled water that take a year for me to go through. I have extra batteries on hand (and a flashlight, somewhere) and I have a spare travel charger for my cell phone in the car. I would like to convince my sister to get a landline for emergencies, but she doesn't feel that the cost is worth it just yet.
One habit I picked up when I had a dog was having a spare leash next to my bed, since he slept in my room. That way, if we needed to get out of the house in a hurry, I had a leash ready. In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to have him micro-chipped and know of a few emergency kennels.
How are you prepared to deal with a disaster? Share your lessons and tips in the comments.
By last Monday, I had relaxed a bit as the rain ended. Then my sister called to tell me that she had no electricity and they estimated it wouldn't be restored until Friday. She had an electric stove that was now useless for cooking the food that was going to spoil in her refrigerator. She managed to find a flashlight, but had no batteries on hand and Target was sold out.
The American Red Cross has some good read-it-ahead-of-time information, as does FEMA. As for myself, I'm stocking up on canned food and picking up one of those Costco cases of bottled water that take a year for me to go through. I have extra batteries on hand (and a flashlight, somewhere) and I have a spare travel charger for my cell phone in the car. I would like to convince my sister to get a landline for emergencies, but she doesn't feel that the cost is worth it just yet.
One habit I picked up when I had a dog was having a spare leash next to my bed, since he slept in my room. That way, if we needed to get out of the house in a hurry, I had a leash ready. In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to have him micro-chipped and know of a few emergency kennels.
How are you prepared to deal with a disaster? Share your lessons and tips in the comments.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Helpful Advice...
...from someone who works in retail.
Please hand your coupons to the cashier before you swipe your credit card. Once your credit card transaction is approved, we cannot go back and add any discounts. At that point, we have to void your purchase and re-ring it all over again.
For some reason today, I saw an unusual number of people who asked "Can I use this now?" after I handed them a receipt.
Please hand your coupons to the cashier before you swipe your credit card. Once your credit card transaction is approved, we cannot go back and add any discounts. At that point, we have to void your purchase and re-ring it all over again.
For some reason today, I saw an unusual number of people who asked "Can I use this now?" after I handed them a receipt.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Wow!
OMG, I managed to save $15 off my groceries today! I've been getting good about clipping and using coupons, but this week I also went through the sales circular and only added stuff to my shopping list if it was on sale and if I had a coupon for it.
I've been adopting the mentality that those 50¢ I save with a coupon just adds up with the 50¢ I save from all those the other coupons, and today they really did add up to something! Add in the $10.50 I saved with a coupon for a free body lotion from Bath & Body Works, and I saved $25 today.
If you're not sure where to start, Northern Cheapskate has some really good tips. I can also vouch for the coupons at coupons.com, and you can view and print theirs right from my sidebar.
One tip I like for staying organized: I checked my coupons against my sales circular at home while watching TV, made a shopping list based off of that, and paper-clipped the coupons I was going to use to my shopping list to help me find the exact products I wanted. The rest were kept neatly in a coupon organizer that I carried with me, and when I came across an item on sale that I hadn't already pulled the coupon, I grabbed it from there.
I've been adopting the mentality that those 50¢ I save with a coupon just adds up with the 50¢ I save from all those the other coupons, and today they really did add up to something! Add in the $10.50 I saved with a coupon for a free body lotion from Bath & Body Works, and I saved $25 today.
If you're not sure where to start, Northern Cheapskate has some really good tips. I can also vouch for the coupons at coupons.com, and you can view and print theirs right from my sidebar.
One tip I like for staying organized: I checked my coupons against my sales circular at home while watching TV, made a shopping list based off of that, and paper-clipped the coupons I was going to use to my shopping list to help me find the exact products I wanted. The rest were kept neatly in a coupon organizer that I carried with me, and when I came across an item on sale that I hadn't already pulled the coupon, I grabbed it from there.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Who Says Whole Foods Has To Be Expensive?
Check out the contest they just ran on the Whole Foods blog. They had readers submit a meal idea for 4 people that cost $4 or less per serving. I may have to give some of those recipes a try.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Recipes: Easy Banana Vineagrette
One of my favorite restaurant serves a salad with a banana-ginger vinaigrette that I just love. Unfortunately, as my job situation changed, I had to accept that I just couldn't eat out as often as I use to. When I discovered organic banana vinegar by Kopali Organics at my local Whole Foods, I thought I'd take a shot at making it at home. The amounts are approximate. I usually eyeball it when making it at home.
Kopali does not add any sweetener to their organic vinegars, so while it smells delicious, the taste is somewhat bitter. For my salad dressing, I'll usually add Splenda since I live with diabetics and it's more accessible than other sweeteners. Also, I recently discovered walnut oil from The Olive Tap and sometimes substitute it for the extra virgin olive oil.
Easy Banana Vinaigrette
1/4 cup banana vinegar
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Sugar (or substitute honey or Splenda, depending on your needs)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional: I added garlic sea salt and found that it gave it a bit more kick
Combine all ingredients and whisk until well blended. Toss with salad and serve.
For the salad itself, I like to do shredded cabbage tossed with wonton noodles or slivered almonds.
Kopali does not add any sweetener to their organic vinegars, so while it smells delicious, the taste is somewhat bitter. For my salad dressing, I'll usually add Splenda since I live with diabetics and it's more accessible than other sweeteners. Also, I recently discovered walnut oil from The Olive Tap and sometimes substitute it for the extra virgin olive oil.
Easy Banana Vinaigrette
1/4 cup banana vinegar
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp Sugar (or substitute honey or Splenda, depending on your needs)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Optional: I added garlic sea salt and found that it gave it a bit more kick
Combine all ingredients and whisk until well blended. Toss with salad and serve.
For the salad itself, I like to do shredded cabbage tossed with wonton noodles or slivered almonds.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Recipe: Easy Cabbage and Sausage Soup
Necessity is the mother of invention. In this case, I came up with this soup recipe when I was stuck at home waiting for a contractor and trying to cook with only the ingredients I had on hand.
Easy Cabbage and Sausage Soup
1 package heat-and-serve sausage (I used Andouille, which gave it a nice flavor)
Approximately 1/4 to 1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded
1 package chicken stock
6 slices of Pancetta
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
You can probably add whatever vegetables you have on hand. I didn't have any at the time.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil and add the sausage. Cook about half-way according to the package instructions, then remove from saucepan and slice. Return to saucepan and add shredded cabbage and just enough chicken stock to cover. Add the pancetta, salt and pepper and simmer until the liquid reduces and the sausage is fully cooked.
I would have liked it to thicken up a bit more, but I didn't realize until after I added the chicken broth that the cabbage gives off some water as it cooks, thinning the soup out. Potatoes or rice would have been a great addition if I had them.
Easy Cabbage and Sausage Soup
1 package heat-and-serve sausage (I used Andouille, which gave it a nice flavor)
Approximately 1/4 to 1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded
1 package chicken stock
6 slices of Pancetta
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
You can probably add whatever vegetables you have on hand. I didn't have any at the time.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil and add the sausage. Cook about half-way according to the package instructions, then remove from saucepan and slice. Return to saucepan and add shredded cabbage and just enough chicken stock to cover. Add the pancetta, salt and pepper and simmer until the liquid reduces and the sausage is fully cooked.
I would have liked it to thicken up a bit more, but I didn't realize until after I added the chicken broth that the cabbage gives off some water as it cooks, thinning the soup out. Potatoes or rice would have been a great addition if I had them.
Coupons: $1 Off Any Sally Hansen Lip Product
Register at Sally Hansen and they'll give you a $1 off coupon for any Sally Hansen lip product. If you're a lip gloss junkie like me, this is a coupon you have to get.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Health Care Coupons
You might notice that I haven't been posting as frequently this week. I've been dealing with a UTI that is making life pretty miserable, and it seems every time I sit down at the computer, I have to get up again.
But on the plus side, I managed to dig up these coupons for Azo products.
Save $2.00 on any Azo product until 9/30/08.
Save $1.00 on any Azo product until 12/31/08.
But on the plus side, I managed to dig up these coupons for Azo products.
Save $2.00 on any Azo product until 9/30/08.
Save $1.00 on any Azo product until 12/31/08.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Heading to Walgreens this weekend?
Be sure you print out this coupon before you go! It's good for $10 off your in-store purchase of $30 or more. Just be sure you get there today or tomorrow, because it's only good for 9/12 and 9/13 (via The Bargainist).
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Have you found the Target coupons yet?
A Target cashier alerted me to the fact that they had coupons online, not that I was able to find them on their website. So, for further reference, this is the direct link to print out Target coupons.
But if you really want to have fun, check out the coupon generator at organicgrocerydeals.com. You can select the Target coupons you want multiples of, and the generator will print them for you on the same sheet, saving paper.
But if you really want to have fun, check out the coupon generator at organicgrocerydeals.com. You can select the Target coupons you want multiples of, and the generator will print them for you on the same sheet, saving paper.
Blowout Bargain
Get a free Master padlock with this printable coupon. It can only be redeemed at Sears Hardware stores (via The Bargainist).
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Saturday Coupon Round-Up
Just making it in before the end of Saturday. I've got one coupon for you for $1.50 off Dove Cream Oil Body Wash (via Coupons.com).
Not such a good deal
Remember when I got a good deal with a coupon from whitecastle.com? Today I wasn't so lucky. I had another coupon for a 59¢ chicken ring sandwich that said "limit 5." I took this to mean I could get up to 5 sandwiches at 59¢ apiece. The cashier couldn't figure out how to give me the discount and had to get a manager, who gave me the 59¢ on one sandwich only. I tried explaining again to the cashier that I wanted the five sandwiches, but she gave them to me at full price.
It seems to me that White Castle isn't really educating their staff in the promotional deals they offer online. I feel that these coupons are pretty much worthless unless their corporate office includes ringing instructions on the coupons so it's clear to both cashier and customer just what the deal is.
It seems to me that White Castle isn't really educating their staff in the promotional deals they offer online. I feel that these coupons are pretty much worthless unless their corporate office includes ringing instructions on the coupons so it's clear to both cashier and customer just what the deal is.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Friday Coupon Round-Up
Craving pizza? I checked out some of the Papa John's promos at RetailMeNot before ordering last night. Again, it's not exactly gourmet, but a few dollars saved means a few more to spend on another meal. I found one coupon code that worked for two 20 oz. sodas free with a large pizza at regular price.
Be sure you look through those extra take-out menus before tossing them. I found some my sister tossed aside that had $2 coupons. That's money on the table that you're throwing away.
And the last deal today is Buy One, Get One Free on Wallflowers at Bath & Body Works, plus a printable coupon for a free Aromatherapy item (up to $13) with a $15 purchase (via The Bargainist). You might want to use it for the new Aromatherapy Sleep Warm Milk And Honey fragrance.
Also, buy a body product in their new Black Amethyst fragrance and get a free lip lacquer worth $15.
Be sure you look through those extra take-out menus before tossing them. I found some my sister tossed aside that had $2 coupons. That's money on the table that you're throwing away.
And the last deal today is Buy One, Get One Free on Wallflowers at Bath & Body Works, plus a printable coupon for a free Aromatherapy item (up to $13) with a $15 purchase (via The Bargainist). You might want to use it for the new Aromatherapy Sleep Warm Milk And Honey fragrance.
Also, buy a body product in their new Black Amethyst fragrance and get a free lip lacquer worth $15.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Now that's a deal!
It's not exactly what I'd call gourmet, but last night I found a coupon at whitecastle.com for a $0.99 sack of fries. I went there for lunch today and found that the regular price is more like $2.19, so by using the coupon, I saved $1.30.
But it got even better. The cashier either didn't read the coupon correctly or couldn't input the price, and my total seemed a lot lower than I expected. After checking my receipt, I saw that she gave me the fries for free. That's an even better savings than I anticipated!
The bottom line: it can really pay to watch for and collect those coupons.
But it got even better. The cashier either didn't read the coupon correctly or couldn't input the price, and my total seemed a lot lower than I expected. After checking my receipt, I saw that she gave me the fries for free. That's an even better savings than I anticipated!
The bottom line: it can really pay to watch for and collect those coupons.
Welcome to the Bargain Budget Gourmet
Let's face it, we're all trying to save a buck with the way gas and food prices are rising. The Bargain Budget Gourmet is here to help by showing you ways to save at the grocery store and making your food budget stretch just a little bit further. I'll be highligting shopping bargains as well as sharing recipes and tips to get the most out of what you've got in your refridgerator.
There's a lot of money on the table, just waiting to be claimed in savings, if you know where to look. I can show you just how to find it and keep living well while remaining on a budget.
There's a lot of money on the table, just waiting to be claimed in savings, if you know where to look. I can show you just how to find it and keep living well while remaining on a budget.
Monday, September 1, 2008
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