Sunday, February 22, 2009

Coupon Shopping 101

Hi girls,
This is one more email where I will simplify a coupon shopping trip to Albertsons for you to get FREE FOOD. It is a little complicated and tends to overwhelm some people. If you are some of those people, follow these steps to get FREE FOOD and some really great deals! You only have until Tuesday to do this though.

Step 1:
Print Internet Coupons.
Go to this link. It may ask you to install a coupon printer. Just do what it says. It is something that keeps you from printing multiple coupons.
Print 2 of this coupon.
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qa4feam40829255&bt=vi&o=54716&ci=1&c=GM&p=I45nUFQV

Next go to this link. http://www.progressotastechallenge.com/Progresso_Soup_Coupons.aspx
There are 2 coupons on this link. Print both of them twice - 4 coupons all together.

Now you will have a total of 6 coupons for Progresso soup.

Print these instructions!


Step 2:
Go to Albertsons.
Put these items in your cart:
6 boxes of Betty Crocker Cake mix
4 cans of Progresso soup - traditional or Rich and Hearty only, not vegtable or light or the other varieties.

Step 3:
Coupons
Get out your progresso soup coupon for 1.10 off. You have 2 of them.
Find your progresso soup coupon for 1.00 off 2. Use just one of these this time.

Step 4:
Check out.

You should pay approximately $11. You will get a $10 off your next purchase. Take these items to your car.

Step 5:
Next trip thru.
Put these items in your cart.
10 cans of progresso soup
1 package of your favorite gum or other other item that you need for about $1.

Step 6:
Coupons
Get out the rest of your progresso soup coupons.
There should be 2 - $2 off 4 cans and 1 - $1 off 2 cans

Step 7
Check out.

You should pay about $1 after the coupons and the $10 off coupon. You will get another $10 off coupon.

Step 8
Your choice. There are some in store coupons in the ad, in the front of the store. Potato chips for .98- limit 2, Kraft salad dressing for 1.68, Grandma Sycamore bread (super good bread) for 1.68 (no coupon, just on sale). There is also b/s chicken and hamburger at the butcher block for 1.99/lb. You are just looking to spend $10 to use up your coupon.

Step 9
Go home. Put away your bounty.

Total Spent: $13.50

Possible purchases:
14 cans of Progresso soup
6 boxes cake mix
2 bags potato chips
2 loves bread
3 lbs b/s chicken
1 package of gum

There are other items in the store on great sales, but these are nice things for your pantry for the beginner coupon shopper. After you do this a few times, you may gain more confidence and will be able to do more. But, baby steps. If you try too much the first time, it will end up crazy.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Crockpot Sunday

For our Crockpot Sunday today, I tried fajitas and they were fabulous. I bought a pork loin roast from Winco (actually 3 in a package) for 1.43/lb. I cut it up in strips along with a couple green and red peppers (also on great sales at Winco) and an onion. I saute'd them briefly in my crockpot, which I can take off it's base and put it directly on the stove, I love it. If you are in the market for a new one I would recommend it. It has a nonstick inside and is lightweight and easy to clean. Then sprinkled Laurey's Fajita seasoning over the top and stirred it. I put it on medium high for around 3 hours. It was a little juicey when we got home. So I took the meat and veggies out and put the juice back on the stove to reduce it down. Then I added the meat back in stirred and yumm! We had it will tortillas, salsa, sour cream and cheese.

Here is a link to see my crockpot: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000065UF2/qid=1068435245/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-kitchen/002-7293462-8630432?v=glance&s=kitchen&n=284507/flyladynet-20

I just received a great link to some more crockpot recipes from someone in my missionary mom group. Let me know if you try any of them. http://www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook/crockpot/index-5b.html

Rich Americans

Hi Everyone,
I hope you enjoyed our great Stake meeting (those of you in our Stake). It really gave me a lot to think about with Elder Costa and our attitude about how bad our economy is. Poor Us! "Our happiness is not bound to the economy. It is bound to the Gospel."- Elder Costa. To hear of the stories of the people of Chili and the extreme poverty they lived in, the sacrifices they made to attend the temple. They were happy. A difficult life in many ways, but more simple in others. There would not be so many choices to make on how to spend our money.

I remember a man I met who was from Ecuador. He told me in his broken English, "when people of my country join the church, they become rich." I thought that he met they were rich in that they now had the gospel and Christ in their lives, much fuller richer lives. When we asked he about it he replied that while that our understanding was true, he said they also increased in their wealth. Elder Costa brought up on more than one occasion the scripture, "If you keep the commandments, you will prosper in the land." I think Elder Costa has seen this particular promise fulfilled in his life as he has been raised in what we would consider extreme poverty, became relatively wealthy , and was willing to give it all up on more than one occasion because of his convictions. But, God has continually blessed him in many ways.

I know that he gave me a lot to think about as a provident living specialist and as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Crockpot Sunday

Crock Pot Shepherd's Pie

4 cups instant mashed potatoes
1 1/2 c. grated cheese
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 med. onion, diced
Garlic to taste
1 lb. lean ground beef
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 can stewed tomatoes
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp. dried thyme (I used basil)
t Tbsp. cornstarch
1 1/2 c. frozen vegetables (I used 1/2 corn and 1/2 peas)

In a skillet cook onions with oil until translucent. Add garlic. Add beef and cook until brown. Stir in tomato paste, Worchestershire sauce, stewed tomatoes, and thyme. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix cornstarch in 1 cup of cold water. Add to skillet and cook, stirring until liquid thickens slightly. Pour into crock-pot. Layer vegetables on top of meat mixture, cover with potatoes, then cover with cheese. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.

Enjoy!

Debbie