Frugal Friday- Cooking For Two

No, we’re not cooking for two people, we’re cooking for two meals.  I have a hard time getting leftovers eaten in my house.  But, when looking for ideas to make life easier, I came across this idea several times.  And thought this might work for us.

Rather than cooking a big meal and trying to get your family to eat it for the next few days, how about immediately putting half of it in the freezer.  Then, when you have a busy day and don’t feel like cooking, you already have a home cooked meal ready to be heated up and served.  And, you’ll probably have better luck getting your family to eat it a week or two later rather than several days in a row!

Fresh Choices Daily Newsletter

Want to get the latest info on what’s on sale, featured recipes, hot new items, and store events e-mailed right to you?  You can now sign up to get our weekly e-newsletter every Friday!

We’ll tell you what’s in our hot weekend ad and give you money saving tips from our Frugal Friday feature. 

It’s easy to sign-up.  Just click here and enter your e-mail address and you’ll start getting your newsletter the next Friday.  And, the best part is you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Sue Spitler’s 1001 Best Low-Fat Recipes!

Hump Day Humor

Take a look at the list of fruits below and choose one that is your favorite. Studies say that your choice reflects your personality, your inner self and your outer self.

1. Orange
2. Apple
3. Banana
4. Coconut
5. Pineapple
6. Papaya
7. Mango
8. Cherry
9. Black Grapes
10. Peach
11. Custard Apple
12. Pear

Orange

If orange is your favorite fruit; it speaks of a person who has enduring patience and willpower. You like to do things slowly; but very thoroughly and are completely undaunted by hard work. You tend to be shy; but are a reliable and trustworthy friend. You have an aesthetic bent of mind. You select your partner with care and thought; you love with all your heart, and are not in for just a fling. You avoid conflict at all costs.

Apple

If apple is your favorite fruit, you are an extravagant, impulsive and outspoken person; often with a bit of a temper. While you may not be the best organizer yourself, you make a good team leader; and are good at taking things forward. You can take quick action in most situations. You enjoy travel immensely. You ooze with charm when you are with your partner. You have an enthusiasm for life, unmatched by most.

Banana

You are a softie! Loving, gentle, warm and sympathetic by nature is the banana lover. You often lack in self-confidence and are quite timid by nature. People often take advantage of your sweet temperedness, and sheer vulnerability to a situation. You adore your partner in every which way, both for their mental and physical beauty! Because of the way you are, your relationship is always, very much in harmony!

Coconut

The coconut lover is a serious, very thoughtful and contemplative person. Though you enjoy socializing, you are particular about the company you keep. You tend to be stubborn but not necessarily foolhardy. Shrewd, quick-witted and alert, you ensure that you are right on top of any given scenario, especially at work. You need a partner with brains, and while passion is important it certainly isn’t everything for you.

Pineapple

You are quick to decide and even quicker to act. You are brave in making career changes; if that is what is to your advantage. You have exceptional organizing abilities and are undaunted by the size of the task at hand. You tend to be self reliant, sincere and honest in your dealings with others. Though you are not given to making friends very quickly, but once you do, it is for life. You rarely, if ever, make romantic overtures. Your partner is often impressed with your sterling qualities but disappointed in your ability to show affection.

Papaya

You are truly fearless and take much that happens in life, in your stride. You give considerable thought to things you do. You have a sense of humor that along with your generous nature keeps you in most people’s good books. You are a go-getter in your professional life, and have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. You enjoy meeting new people and seeing new sights whenever you can. Your sense of humor is what attracts members of the opposite sex to you more than anything else. It is simply charming!

Mango

A mango lover is a personality to be reckoned with; quite often you are a person who has quite fixed ideas, and influencing you is no easy task. You tend to be an extremist with strong likes and dislikes; and at times even like to control a situation. You enjoy getting involved in something that presents mental challenge. Strong as you may be, you are like a kitten when you are with your partner. You accommodate the love of your life, and make up for all the strong will elsewhere!

Cherry

If cherry is your favorite fruit, life isn’t always as sweet for you. You often face ups and downs, particularly professionally; and find that you make small sums of money, instead of a lump sum. You have a fertile imagination and are often involved in creative pursuits. You are a very sincere and loyal partner; but find that expressing your feelings is not very easy. Your home is your haven, and you love nothing more than being surrounded by close family and your beloved partner.

Black Grapes

You are a polite person in general, but do have quick flare-ups of temper that cool down just as quickly. You enjoy beauty in all forms, including beautiful people. You are very popular because of your warm, gregarious nature. You have a zest for life; you enjoy every thing you do, right from the way you dress, to your style and élan in your day-to-day life. Your partner must share your zeal and zing for life… to enjoy all you have to offer!

Peach

Like a peach, you enjoy the juice of life… it all its lush ripeness! You are the friendly sort, and are quite frank and outspoken, which adds to your charm. You are quick to forgive and forget; and value your friendships highly. You have an independent and ambitious streak in you, that makes you a real go-getter. You are the ideal lover, fiery and passionate but sincere and faithful in love. You don’t however like to display all that passion in public.

Custard apple

You are a modest and conservative person; who can be quite sensitive at times. You tend to be thoughtful and contemplative, and therefore are rarely rash in doing things. You are quite ambitious; and are good at anything that requires much detailing or working with numbers. You are quick at finding fault with others. While looking for a partner, you value a person’s intellect far above their looks or good old passion. You are quite shy and not very comfortable demonstrating affection.

Pear

If you put your mind to something you can do it successfully, but by and large you tend to be fickle and have trouble completing a task with the enthusiasm you started it with. You need to know the results of your efforts almost immediately. You enjoy mental stimulation; and love to get into a good discussion. You tend to be a restless and high-strung person, and are easily excitable. While you are quick to strike up a friendship with someone, maintaining it does not seem to be easy for you.

 Click here to see what other foods say about you!

Menu Monday

This week, let’s save time and money!  Angus Pride Chuck Roasts are on sale.  So, get out your crock pot and let’s have a roast cooking all day while we’re at work.  There’s nothing better than coming home to the wonderful aroma of dinner ready!

We’ll get an Angus Pride Chuck Roast, cut up some Idaho Potatoes, add a few cut up yellow onions, and put them all in the crockpot on low for about 6- 8 hours.  Add a salad using Classis Dole Bag Salad.

     

Do you want to add a quick desert?  We have Betty Crocker Warm Delights on sale, too!  Just put one in the microwave and desert is ready in just minutes!

Shopping List

Meat Department-

Angus Pride Chuck Roast- $1.99/ lb

Produce-

Dole Classic Bag Salad- 2/ $3

3 lb Bag of Yellow Onions- .99

8 lb Bag of Idaho Potatoes- $1.99

Grocery-

Betty Crocker Warm Delights- 3/ $5

Total- $6.15 plus Roast Cost (depending on the size)

And, the great news is you’ll still have Potatoes and onions left for another meal- as well as roast beef sandwiches for lunch the next day!

Frugal Friday

This week I went to a food seminar.  This meant spending the night out of town.  So, I was reminded of a great tip I heard awhile back. 

When there is food left after everyone has eaten dinner, I try to save the leftovers for another meal or lunch the next day.  One way to make that easier is to cover the dish with a disposable shower cap.  I get them all the time when I’m away and have to stay in a hotel.  And, I can honestly say I don’t ever remember actually putting a shower cap on my head.  But, putting it over a dish to cover and put in the fridge makes life so much easier.  And, even better is when I have to take a meal to someone.  Traveling with a dish covered in plastic wrap always made me nervous.  But, the shower cap has the stretchy edges so it stays on. 

And, maybe best of all, reusing and recycling is great for our environment!

Hump Day Humor

Menu Monday

This week we are celebrating President’s Day by featuring one of our most famous president’s-Abraham Lincoln- who happens to be on the $5 bill.  So, this week we are featuring the “Power of Five”!  So be sure to check out our ad to see what $5 can get you!

One of my favorite meals is spaghetti.  It’s not only relatively inexpensive, it’s also great when I’m short on time!  (which is most of the time!)  So, since pasta and sauce are both on sale, this is a great Menu Monday!

Pre heat the oven and bake the Our Family Cheese Garlic Toast following the directions on the package.   Cook the San Giorgio Pasta al dente.  While it’s boiling, you can brown one pound of 85% Lean Ground Chuck.  Drain it and add Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce.  When the pasta is done, drain it and put it back in the pot.  Add the meat and sauce and put on low for a few minutes.  This will blend all of the seasonings and tastes together. 

  

For desert, enjoy a delicious bowl of Dairyrich Ice Cream!

Shopping List-

Meat

85% Lean Ground Beef- $1.99

Frozen

Our Family Cheese Garlic Bread- $2.29

Dairyrich Ice Cream- $1.99 (3 day ad)

Grocery

San Giorgio Pasta- 4/ $5

Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce- 4/ $5

Total- $8.77

Earth Day Bags Project

With the snow and below freezing temperatures, I know April seems like it won’t ever come.  But, before we know it, spring will be here!  And, on April 22, we will be celebrating Earth Day at our stores in a  fun way!  Last year was our first year participating in the Earth Day Bags project.  And, we had so much fun seeing all of the creative artwork come in that we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do it again!

The Earth Day Bags Project is in it’s 16th year and we are excited to be joining the hundreds of other stores that have participated in it.  Letters have been sent out to schools and homeschool associations around the area asking for their participation.  Each child will have the opportunity to decorate a paper grocery bag with an Earth Day message.  The bags will then be returned to the stores to be used on Earth Day. 

Partnering with the children of the community, we hope to help spread awareness of Earth Day and the message behind it.  In the coming weeks I’ll keep you updated on the project.  Do you know someone who would like to participate?  Let me know and I’ll get in touch with you.  Click here to find out more about the project?

Frugal Friday- Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.  During this economic crises, there is little left for extravagant Valentine’s Day gifts for that special someone.  But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to let someone know you care.  So, here are a few ideas.

1) Make a special dinner for two.  You don’t have to go to an expensive restaurant to have a romantic dinner.  Get out the candles, put on your apron and cook a romantic dinner for two. 

2) Does your loved one have a sweet tooth?  Make him or her some valentine cupcakes!  You can buy valentine cupcake papers, red and white sprinkles, and even make red velvet cupcakes for an extra special treat.  They may even share!

3) Chocolate covered strawberries are a great gift!  And, they really are easy to make.  Pick up some fresh strawberries from the produce department and some almond bark in the baking aisle- either white or chocolate.  Then, just heat the almond bark, dip the strawberries and in less than a minute, they are ready to eat!

4) Popcorn and a movie is always a nice way to spend an evening.  So, you can make a gift basket and fill it with popcorn, a movie, and maybe even their favorite drink.

5) And, speaking of drinks,  a bottle of wine or your loved ones favorite specialty beer might be a great gift.

The main thing to remember is to do something special with your loved one in mind.  What would make him or her smile?  What would show him or her that they were on your mind?  I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hump Day Humor- Store Wars