CVS Savings - 4/8

CVS is always a GREAT place to get deals if you have an ExtraCare card and clip coupons. There are many times when I walk away with deals I can't possibly imagine! Thursday's trip was definitely one of them.

First, when you go to CVS, you need to start off by scanning your ExtraCare card at their price scanner kiosk. It'll spit out a whole bunch of coupons for the store that you can combine with manufacturers' coupons. When I scanned mine I got $3 off any purchase.

Then, armed with their circular and my coupon book, I went to town. Here's what I got:

• Head & Shoulders 14.2 oz. bottle of 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner: originally $5.99, on sale for $4.99 + $1 extra buck reward, making it $3.99; I also had a BOGO free manufacturer's coupon, so I got two bottles.
• Clairol Natural Instincts: originally $9.49, on sale for $5.99 + $2 extra buck rewards, making it $3.99; I also had a coupon for $3 off.
• Pantene 12.6 oz. bottle of shampoo: originally $4.99, on sale for $2.99 + $1 extra buck reward, making it $1.99; I also used a coupon for $1 off any 2 Pantene shampoos.
• Pantene 6.5 oz. root-lift style product: originally $4.99, on sale for $2.99 + $1 extra buck reward, making it $1.99; I also used a coupon for $1 off.
• Disney Princess vitamins: $7.49, on sale BOGO free; I also had a $1 off coupon.
• Downy fabric softener: originally $5.49, on sale for $3.99; I also used a $1 off coupon.

Now, in order to take full advantage of my extra reward bucks, I split my trip into two purchases. Don't forget, I also used that $3 off coupon I printed out when I first arrived. When it was all said and done, the total should have been $56.91. After coupons, extra reward bucks, sales, etc., I only paid...

$15.19!

That is a savings of almost 75%! These deals are good through today (Saturday, 4/10), so if you're near a CVS and have some coupons (or even just the need for some cheap products), I highly recommend it! Just buy your products with extracare rewards in your first purchase and then use your extra bucks toward the rest of your non-reward products in the second check out. Here's my stash!

Acme Savings - 4/10

My first exciting buy this week was on Thursday - Acme was having a sale buy one, get one (BOGO) free sale on McCormick pure vanilla extract. Since I've been baking more, I've been going through it like crazy! I used a 75 cent coupon on top of that (which doubled since Acme doubles coupons up to 99 cents), so instead of paying $17.98 for two bottles ($8.99/bottle), I paid $7.49 ($8.99-$1.50). That's a savings of damn near 60% off! On top of that, I got a coupon for $1.50 off a future purchase, so in reality, I really only paid $5.99 (67% savings). Nice, huh?

My blog is growing!

Well, I've been going back and forth, trying to decide if it's worth talking about my obsession with stockpiling cheap and/or free household goods and food. The boy has made über amounts jokes at my expense about my newfound hobby, but I am seriously obsessed with all of my savings lately! I know saving money is not directly related to recipes and eating, but they are connected in a roundabout way. I'm always looking for someone who will listen to me ramble about what deals I've come across, and now I don't have to anymore - I know you guys will ;-)

Apr. 9 - Buffalo Wings

I found a recipe that claimed to have Hooters-style wings, so I decided to give it a whirl...I was going to serve them to the boy after the kids went to bed in a tight white tee shirt and my best pull-up bra on just to make it more authentic, you know? But, alas, even the best push-up bra would NOT make me look like a Hooters girl. Maybe I should take some tips from my former-Hooters friend....oh, c'mon - you think I'm going to divulge her name on here?! She doesn't have to worry - her secret is safe with me!

But, back to the actual food! The wings turned out pretty well - I could have used more sauce, though, which I didn't realize until after they finished cooking. I also didn't fry them, which is supposed to be what makes them truly authentic, but they were still pretty crispy baked. Not the best wings I've ever had, but I think they could have been had they been fried. Next time, I'll screw the health-consciousness in me!

Buffalo Chicken Wings
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup hot sauce
1 dash ground black pepper
1 dash garlic powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 chicken wings

Directions

1. Combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving. 
2. In a Ziploc bag, combine the flour, paprika and salt. Place chicken wings inside and shake to coat. Refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes. (VERY important!) 
3. Place wings on baking sheets sprinkled with a little more flour and sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake at 400 for 40 minutes turning once. Cover with hot sauce and bake at 300 for 15 minutes.
4. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Apr. 8 - Hot dogs & Mac-n-cheese

We wound up having visitors until late afternoon yesterday, so the hot wings I was planning to make got bumped to Friday's menu. Instead, I realized at 5:30 p.m. that I had nothing defrosted and had to figure out something quickly. I found two hot dogs in the freezer, called the boy up and asked him if he wanted me to grill those up. He said he'd rather eat them cut up in his Kraft macaroni and cheese...throwin it back to food we ate when we were kids!

By the time I started making the mac-n-cheese, it was after 7:00 and I opened up my milk. Food Fail. It was spoiled. Gah! Linds hates the stuff and Luke still nurses, so they don't drink it. The boy and I also do not have a taste for it (yuck!). I ended up having to run to three different neighbors' houses until I found someone home to give me a quarter-cup. After I came home, Luke was screaming, so the boy finished dinner, and I put Luke to sleep. After that was done, Linds needed to be put to bed, so there she went. By the time I was done, it was after 8:00, so I ate the rest of a turkey hoagie (thank you, Christy!) and leftover artichoke dip with veggies (thank you, Sarah!).

LOL - not the most glamorous of meals, but it sure tasted good!

Apr. 7 - Smoked Sausage & Pierogies

I'm not sure how mainstream pierogies are...having both parents born and raised in western Pennsylvania, they were a common side dish in our house. In fact, I remember being in elementary school, hanging out with my mom before she left for class (she took classes at night to get her teaching certificate), and instead of having dinner, she'd just boil a few pierogies and eat those. The boy, however, never even heard of one before he met me. His family, though, is entirely concentrated in the central/southeastern PA region, so maybe it really is a geographic thing?

If you've never had a pierogie, you MUST! They are delicious semi-circular dumplings stuffed with a variety of different possible ingredients. The more traditional kinds have cheese and potato, although I've had some stuffed with broccoli, cheese and potato, and some with spinach and feta (yummm!). I admit, I only eat the frozen kind, although I think I'd love to give making them a shot - I know some people that make them often.

You can make them a bunch of different ways...boil them, deep-fry, bake...but my favorite way to eat them is pan-fried. When I make them, I usually slice up the pepper and onion length-wise, toss in a little EVOO and pan-fry over medium heat. I also add cut-up smoked sausage (I prefer Hilshire's light kielbasa, but Wegmans was out, so we ended up with plain smoked sausage; the Jennie-O brand is delish, too). It's a super quick and easy dinner to make, and always tastes great!