Weekly Totals Link Up: Saved 76% At Publix 6/14

Spent $29 for $120 Worth of Groceries

This was a really fun week of shopping and saving at Publix for me. There were lots of things on sale BOGO that I rarely see go BOGO and I had some great coupons too. Our fridge/freezer/pantry are super stocked after a couple weeks of great shopping so I was able to grab milk and salad to supplement them while grabbing lots of fun deals too.

I have said it before but I will say it again, the reason I love couponing is because I have plenty of the basics on hand at all times. We can grab a few chicken breasts out of the freezer or a bag of frozen veggies or a box of pasta from the pantry and I never have to pay full price for it when I need it. I can buy things when they are at rock bottom prices and use them over the course of a few weeks or even months.

This week I was able to get four boxes of fish fillets for free, free tomatoes, cheap hot dogs and even some fun summer treats to have on hand over the next few weeks of ultra humid weather. No don't worry, we don't plan on eating all four boxes of frozen treats before next week. In fact we almost never buy them because the thought of paying $5 for a box of ice cream is not something I enjoying thinking about. But at these prices I was able to stock up so we can have them on hand for when we want a little treat.

After a crazy shopping week last week, I restrained myself and only shopped at Publix this week. I also had a $5 off Publix breakfast sale coupon and a $5 off Winn Dixie coupon too. I am hoping to hit up Target this weekend if I get a chance too. Remember to link up your shopping/savings posts below and share your deals with all of us! (It's working now, sorry!)

 Breakdown of today's trip:
Total retail value: $119.54
Total spent: $28.94
Total saved: $90.60
Percent saved: 76%

What I got with sale/coupon match ups:

• 4 cans of Red Gold Tomatoes, retails for $1.49 each, on sale for $1.00 each
• Used two $1/2 coupons from AllYou.com
• Stacked with a $2/4 Publix coupon from the Yellow Ad. flyer
• Made them all FREE
•  4 boxes of Mrs. Paul's Parchment Bake Fish Fillets, retails for $4.65 each, on sale BOGO
• Used two B1G1 FREE product coupons 
• Made them all FREE
•  2 packages of Weight Watchers String Cheese, retails for $4.79 each, on sale BOGO ($2.39 each)
• Used a .75 cents off coupon from WW magazine
• Made them $2.16 each
•  2 packages of Hebrew National All Beef Hotdogs, retails for $5.19 each, on sale for $3.00 each
• Used two $1 off Publix coupons from the Summer Savings Booklet
• Made them $2.00 each
•  2 boxes of Magnum Ice Cream Bars, retails for $4.49, on sale for $3.00 each
• Used two $2.00 off Facebook coupons
• Stacked with a $1.00 Publix coupon from the Best Meals email newsletter
• Made them .50 cents each
•  2 boxes of Healthy Choice Bars, retails for $3.99 each, on sale BOGO ($1.99 each)
• Used a $1/2 coupon from the Publix Summer Savings Booklet
• Made them $1.49 each
•  2 bags of Fresh Express Salad, retails for $3.99 each, on sale BOGO
• Made them $1.99 each
•  4 Dole Smoothie Shakers, retail for $1.99 each
• Used two $1.99/2 Publix coupons from the Yellow Ad. flyer
• Stacked with one $1.25/2 coupon from Coupon Network
• Also used two .50 cents off coupons from All You Magazine
• Made them .43 cents each
•  3 Voskos Greek Yogurts, retail for $1.50 each, on sale for $1 each
• Used a $1/3 Publix coupon from the Yellow Ad. Flyer
• Impulse buy so didn't have the man. coupon on hand
• Made them .67 cents each
•  4 packs of Dentyne Ice Gum, retails for $3.29 each, on sale BOGO
• Made them $1.65 each
• 2 canisters of Quaker Oatmeal, retails for $2.93 each, on sale BOGO
• Made them $1.47 each
•  2 bags of Ocean Spray Crasins, retails for $2.39 each, on sale BOGO ($1.20 each)
• Used a $1 off coupon from a magazine
• Made them .70 cents each
•  1 half gallon of Smart Balance Milk, retails for $3.99, on sale for $2.50
• Used a $1.50 off coupon from the 6/3 SS
• Made it $1.00
•  2 bags of Planters Trail Mix, retails for $2.49 each, on sale for $2.00 each
• Used a $1/2 tear pad coupon
• Made them $1.50 each
•  2 boxes of Near East Whole Grain Couscous, retails for $2.29 each on sale BOGO
• Couldn't find the man. coupon in my inserts
• Made them $1.14 each

How did you do this week? Inspire me (and everyone else) with your amazing savings and deals this week. Please link up directly to your specific post. Do not link up to your blog's home page, giveaways, or etsy shops please. You can now "like" Couponing & Cooking on Facebook too! I would love it if you would link back to this post or grab my button from the sidebar : )

Click below to link up your posts!

"Baked" Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know what you are thinking. Chocolate chip cookies...a little over done right? Usually I would be right with you on that one. But these cookies really are different.

A double batch of these guys (that's over 80 cookies) have been known to disappear from the teachers' lounge well before 10am. Justin uses words to describe these babies that I can't put on this family friendly blog. If my mom hears that said cookies were in the teachers lounge and she didn't get any sent home she gets mad at me. Like actually angry.

Before discovering this recipe in Baked: New Frontiers in Baking (the same cookbook that brought you Sweet & Salty Brownies and from the owners of Baked in NYC of Food Network fame), I had a number of chocolate chip cookie recipes I would switch back and forth between. One taste of these over a year ago and I have yet to make them any other way.

I will admit that if you like thick and fluffy chocolate chip cookies these may not be for you. They are a little on the thinner side. Yet, they have this amazing ability to stay a little crisp on the outside but totally soft and chewy on the inside that I have yet to find with any other recipe.

The recipe calls for more brown sugar than white which gives this treat a more molassesy and caramel taste than your average chocolate chip cookie.  There is also an overabundance of chocolate chips which does nothing but up their rating in my eyes. I like to mix up the type of semi sweet chocolate I use. This time I used half regular sized chips and half mini. I also like to add in chocolate chunks too when I have them on hand.

Not Your Average Chocolate Chip Cookie from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

•  2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup) softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 16 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (I used a mix of sizes)

1.)  In a stand mixer (or you could use a hand mixer) beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, (took me about 3 min) Scrape down the bowl and add in the eggs, one at a time, until completely mixed in. The mixture will look light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and beat in for 5 seconds.

2.) Combine all your dry ingredients (except chocolate chips) together and then add half the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix for about 15 seconds to incorporate then add the rest of the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Do not over mix.

3.) Lightly fold in the chocolate chips. Tightly cover and refrigerate anywhere from thirty minutes to six hours depending on how patient you are.

4.) Using a heaping tablespoon or a medium sized cookie scoop place balls of dough on a greased baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes rotating the tray half way through.

Look at all that chocolate!

Recipe makes about 36 medium sized cookies. Enjoy! 

Make sure you stop by this week's Mealtime Monday and link up any amazing recipes you have been working on lately.

***Depending on the day this post may be linked up to any of these fabulous linky parties.***

This Week's Publix Ad & My Favorite Deals 6/13

So for the lack of posting this week. Justin and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary yesterday and we had a little one night "staycation" at a hotel here in town so I was away from the computer for awhile.

I am loving this week's Publix ad. It has tons of things we like and actually need on sale as well as some things we don't see go on sale with good coupons often too.

Here are my favorite deals with match ups and you can always click the links below for the full sale ads with matchs. Be sure to come back tomorrow for my Weekly Totals post and link up to your shopping trips this week.

My favorites:

•  Ocean Spray Crasins, on sale BOGO at $2.45 ($1.22 each)
• Use a $1 off coupon from the March Disney Fun Magazine (which I happen to get for free for some reason)
• Makes them .73 cents each since there is only one coupon
•  Smart Balance Milk, on sale for $2.50
• Used the $1.50 coupon from the 6/3 SS
• Makes it $1.00
•  Yosicle Yogurt Popsicles, on sale BOGO at $4.29 ($2.14 each)
• Use two $1 off printables 
• Stacked with two $1 off Publix coupons from the Best Meals Happen At Home emails
• Make them .14 cents each box
•  Emerald Breakfast on the Go Granola Mixes, on sale BOGO at $3.29 each ($1.64 each)
• Used two $1 off coupons from the 5/6 RP
• Makes them .64 cents each
• Fresh Express Salad Blends, $3.99
• On sale BOGO makes them $1.99 each

You can also visit Publix's website for the full ad from your area as well as some new printable Publix coupons as well. Visit HERE and HERE for my favorite sale/coupon match ups for this week's ad. 

Winners of the Publix Coupon Prize Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good morning! I am excited to announce that the winners of last week's Publix Coupon Prize Packs as selected by random through RaffleCopter are:

Entry #13 Sylvia
Entry #27 Jennifer B.
Entry #33 Marcia G.

Please email me your mailing address with 48 hours to couponingncooking@gmail.com so I can get your coupons in the mail asap!

Congrats to everyone who entered!

Mealtime Monday Recipe Link Up Party & Features{#9}

 Hello and Happy Summertime! I finished my last teacher workday this past week and I am official on summer break until mid August. I am so excited to have some time to relax, travel a bit, work on the house and finally get around to making all the recipes I have been pinning for the last few months.

I am also rolling out a new blog series called the "Homemade Bread Challenge". I having been wanting to become better and making bread from scratch and I will be inviting other bloggers and readers to cook through the challenge with me and link up their results. Look for details and specifics later this week : )

Last week was another great week of link ups and I had a hard time picking the features. You all are way too good at cooking and baking.

My first feature is a breakfast dish from The Vegetarian Cassarole Queen. Her idea to make oatmeal in the slow cooker is amazing and I will have to try it out for Justin soon. He gets up pretty early for work so I bet he would love having his breakfast hot and ready for him when he wakes up.

 
For the main course feature, I chose these delicious looking Chicken Pockets with Tomatoes and Cheese from Naptime Creations. When I saw them for the first time I literally went through the list and checked to see if we had everything needed to make them and was about to go straight into the kitchen and start them for dinner. Sadly we were out of mozzarella but you can bet these are getting made soon. 

For dessert I am featuring these adorable Jello Cookies from Mom's Test Kitchen. I think they are the perfect summertime dessert and I am already brainstorming on what colors/flavors I want to use when I make them for our summer bbq.

Thank you all again for linking up! I love having lots of new menu ideas to add to our weekly rotations. I would love for you to spread this word about this link up by grabbing a button or by linking back. The more the merrier!

You can also check out my Pinterest board for Mealtime Monday Features where I will be pinning  the original links to the items featured here each week.

If you were featured you can feel free to grab a button from my sidebar. I am hoping to soon be fancy enough to include that in my post. Since it is officially SUMMERTIME for this teacher, I am planning on spending some time brushing up on my html skills and designing buttons for Mealtime Monday and my excited "blog challenge" series that will be introduced this week.

Can't wait to see what you have been up to lately and I love being inspired by all the delicious looking dishes you create.

I will be featuring my favorites next weekend and I will be pinning things to my Pinterest boards too. Make sure you check out my Link Ups page for lots more fun places to link up at too.

As I teacher, I enforce rules all day so I am going to call these my suggestions.

I would love it if:

1. You would link back to this post/blog. You can do so by grabbing my button (upper right hand corner), linking back to this post in your post, or by adding this blog to your list of places you link up to/party at on your Link Parties page. The more people who link up the better it is for all of us : )
2. Please follow this blog through GFC, Linky Friends or Blog Lovin.
3. As an added bonus you can now become our Facebook fan too!
   
4. Please only post directly to your recipe link. No giveaways, etsy shops or anything not family friendly. 
5. Please do not link up to posts you have already linked up to before. Also, the recipe needs to be something you made with photos of your own and should give credit where credit is due : ) 
6. Visit at least two new blogs and show them some love.
7. Come back next Monday and link up!

Show me what you got!

Couscous Summer Salad

With the temperatures climbing closer and closer towards the 90's these days, Justin and I have been looking for some light and easy dinner ideas. I have also been trying to "get out of my comfort zone" and try new ingredients. Up until this, I had never made anything with couscous so I am pretty proud of myself for how this dish turned out.


I first saw this Food Network recipe a'la Giada De Laurentis on Pinterest and it was one of those things where I thought to myself how good and refreshing it was but figured it would be something that I never got around to making. But Thursday night I was scrambling to find something to make for dinner (due to the fact that I have been slacking on meal planning lately) and I was looking at my "Things To Make For Dinner Eventually..." pin board and realized that I had everything on hand to make this dish.

We paired it with a spinach salad (our go to summer salad) and it made for a perfect meal. I love how the crasins and chunks of apple add a freshness and a sweetness to the couscous. The apple cider vinaigrette was just zesty enough and smelled divine. This would also be a great dish to bring to a picnic or summer bbq as it would be an easy side dish to lighten up a heavy meal.

I couldn't believe how easy it was to make and it made a huge amount too. We found that it tastes best if you let it cool completely and chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving. In Justin's opinion, it was even better as leftovers the next few days.

Couscous Summer Salad adapted from The Food Network

• 2 cups uncooked couscous (I just used the box of Far East brand couscous)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking the couscous)
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 1 medium green apple diced
• 1 cup of crasins
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oil (for the vinaigrette)

 1.) Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan, add uncooked couscous and cook, stirring occasionally until the couscous starts to brown. This took about 5 minutes for me.

2.) Add the chicken broth, bring to a boil and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes or until almost all of the liquid is cooked down.

I totally panicked when I saw how much liquid there was but it all evaporated with no problem.

3.) Transfer cooked couscous to a large bowl and stir in the apples, crasins, thyme, and almonds. Mix well.

Cooked couscous before the mix ins.

5.) In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Pour it over the couscous mixture and stir to evenly coat the whole bowl.

Enjoy!

6.) Cool completely and chill for a few hours before serving. Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container.

Make sure you stop by this week's Mealtime Monday and link up any amazing recipes you have been working on lately.

***Depending on the day this post may be linked up to any of these fabulous linky parties.***

Weekly Totals Link Up; A week of saving 87% At Publix

Today's Publix Trip: Spent $17, Saved $122

 Looking for more Publix coupons? Check out my Publix Coupon Pack giveaway!

What a week I had. I actually felt like a crazy couponer this week. I made three different Publix trips and hit up Walmart too. I live within a mile of these stores so I didn't have to drive far but I still feel a little like an extreme couponer for shopping so much. I stayed under $50 total for the week so I don't feel too bad though : ) 

Today's Publix trip was a little flustering but very sucessful. I had tons of coupons and found many of the prices I had planned on were actually lower when I got to the store. I was able to use my $5/$30 Publix coupon from yesterday's paper, plus a $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupon and a $3 off WYB $20 worth of Beauty/Hair/Skincare items Target catalina. My store had both the vitamin money makers in stock as well as all the items I had on my list.

We needed nothing in the way of fresh groceries this week. Since we were out of town this past weekend and family in town for fun events the first few days of this week, I still have plenty of veggies/salad left from my last Publix trip and our fridge and freezer are well stocked on meat, eggs, and other everyday items. To me this truly is the beauty of couponing and shopping sales.

Being well stocked allowed me to spend my grocery budget this week on hurricane supplies, health and beauty items and lots of fun treats and snacks for the summer. Our fridge and freezer are at capacity so I will have to tone it down and take it easy next week. 

Here is what I spent this week (click on the links to see the details of the first two trips:

Monday: Publix trip for the ConAgra rebate deal: $7.76

Tuesday: Stocking up on water for hurricane season at Publix: $10.20

Wednesday: Mini WalMart Trip (see below) : $5.52

Today's Publix Trip (see below) : $17.52

Total spent this week: $41.00 

Wednesday's Mini Walmart Trip: Spent $5.52, Saved $8

•  6 Dannon Okios, retail for $1 each
• Used three B1G1 free coupons from the 5/20 SS
• Used one $1/3 coupon from the 5/20 SS
• Made them .33 cents each
•  4 Odwalla Drinks, retails for $1.88 each (best price I have ever seen!)
• Used four $1 off Recycle Bank coupons
• Made them .88 cents each

A quick WalMart Run

Today's Publix Trip:

Total retail value: $139.82

Total spent: $17.57

Total saved: $122.25

Percent saved: 87%

 

Love how my Publix receipt breaks down where my saving come from.

 Breakdown of what I got with sale/coupon match ups:

• 4 bottles of Nature Made Vitamins, retails for $3.99 each
• Used two $6 off Publix coupons from the Green Ad. flyer
• Stacked with four $2 off coupons
• Made them all FREE plus a $4.04 MONEYMAKER TOTAL
•  2 bottles of Sundown Naturals Vitamins, retails for $3.79 each
• Used two $3 off Publix coupons from the Green Ad. flyer
• Stacked with a $3/2 printable coupon from a man. email
• Made them both FREE plus a $1.42 MONEYMAKER TOTAL
•  2 packages of Olay Face Clothes, retails for $6.99 each, on sale for $4.49 each
• Used two $3 off coupons from the 6/3 P&G
• Made them $1.49 each
•  4 packages of Jello Snack Packs, retail for $3.49 each, on sale for $2.00 each
• Used four $1.10 off coupons from Coupons.com (no longer available)
• Stacked with a B3G1 FREE Target coupon
• Made them .40 cents each
• 4 bottles of Nivea for Men Shaving Cream, retails for $2.19 each, on sale for $1.53 each
• Used two $2.25/2 coupons from Coupon Network
• Made them .41 cents each
•  2 Nivea for Men Shave Balms, retails for $5.99 each, on sale for $4.19 each
• Used two $2.25 off coupons from Coupon Network
• Made them $1.94 each
•  1 bottle of Garnier Fructis Shampoo, retails for $3.49, on sale for $2.99
• Used a $1 off coupon from Coupons.com
• Stacked with a $1 off Target coupon
• Made it .99 cents
•  6 packages of Monterey Foods Gourmet Ravioli, retails for $4.19 each, on sale BOGO (2.19 each)
• Used two $1.50 off printable coupons (no longer available)
• Stacked with four $1 off coupons from the 4/29 RP
• Made them .69 cents to $1.19 each (we love these for an easy dinner or lunch)
• 4 cups of Fage Greek Yogurt, retails for $1.50 each
• On sale for $1 each
•  2 Freschetta Frozen Pizzas, retails for $7.15 each, on sale BOGO ($3.57 each)
• Used two $1 off coupons from the 4/22 SS
• Made them $2.57 each
•  1 half gallon of Silk Almond Milk, retails for $3.49, on sale for $2.50
• Used a .60 cents off printable from Coupons.com
• Made it $1.90
•  2 bags of Bird's Eye Steam Fresh Veggies, retails for $2.67 each, on sale for $1.34 each
• Used two .35 cents off coupons I had found in the store weeks ago
• Made them .99 cents each
•  2 packages of Weight Watchers Desserts, retails for $3.99 each, on sale BOGO ($1.99 each)
• Used a $1/2 coupon from Coupons.com
• Made them $1.49 each

How did you do this week? Inspire me (and everyone else) with your amazing savings and deals this week. Please link up directly to your specific post. Do not link up to your blog's home page, giveaways, or etsy shops please. You can now "like" Couponing & Cooking on Facebook too! I would love it if you would link back to this post or grab my button from the sidebar : )

Click below to link up your posts!