Meijer deals this week

Turned out to be quite the couponing week at Meijer.  Here's a few things:

(for direct links to coupons, check out savingaddiction.com)

Chi Chi's salsa~ 50 cents after coupons
Kikkoman soy sauce~ Free after coupon, mperk, and $2 OYNO when you buy 3
Mott's Apple juice ~About $1.25 for 64 oz after coupon and instant savings (Have you ever had the Mott's for Tots?  Tastes kind of like flavored water.  I think they took a bit too much sugar out.)
Kraft dressing~79 cents each after Facebook coupon

And a few more things I picked up this morning.  I ended up going to Meijer 3x this week, but was able to do it without a lot of impulse items added to the bill.  I got some free soy sauce, Coffeemate for $1.12/bottle (coupon at coffeemate.com), and some Magnum ice cream bars (These are delicious!) and Yosicles for about $1.25 after I use the $2 OYNO when I bought the 4 frozen treats.

Winning at Walgreen's

I haven't been going to Walgreen's too much in the past year since I stocked up pretty well last summer.  Also, if I watch the sales at Meijer, combined with coupons, I can still do pretty well.  This week they had a great deal on Starbucks coffee.  I was able to get 3 packages for 15 bucks.  But first, I bought two Coppertone products, spent 16 bucks with a $5/2 coupon and got $10 RR  back.  I used that RR to buy the coffee and 2 Suave shampoos ($1 each) and paid about 7 bucks and got $2 RR.  Fun!  

Encouragement for the day

Keep on looking unto Jesus. Faith shall soon be changed to sight, and hope to certainty. Looking to Jesus on earth by faith, you shall end with seeing Jesus eye to eye in heaven. Those eyes of yours shall look on the head that was crowned with thorns, the hands and feet that were pierced with nails, and the side that was pierced with a spear. You shall find that seeing is the blessed consequence of believing, and that looking at Jesus by faith, ends with seeing Jesus in glory, and living with Jesus for evermore. When you awake up after His likeness, you shall be satisfied. - J.C. Ryle


Jack Westerink's blog

New Favorite

Found these at Morries's last week.  Delicious!

 
Photo from google images.


And while we're on the subject of potato chips, did you know you can make delicious chips in the microwave if you have some potatoes, salt, and olive oil?  Here's how.

Save money on swim diapers

I wish I knew this tip long ago.  It works, I tried it!

Pics from today

 Aaron loves the "wata!"

Joe's super happy he got to ride on the "tracta."  

(I guess we have to work on -er word endings around here!)

The surest way to gain 10 lbs (at least!)

I have been married for almost 10 years and have been making chocolate chip cookies for at least as long. My cookies have always turned out tasty, but flat and definitely not bakery worthy.

Until now. I have finally discovered a recipe that will forever change the way I bake chocolate chip cookies.

Source: tendercrumb.blogspot.com via Taylor on Pinterest

Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes twenty-six 5-inch cookies or 8 1/2 dozen 1 1/4-inch cookies

Ingredients 
1 pound unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
- Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies.
- Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely

Definitely click on the recipe link and read her tips for these cookies.  Do not substitute different flours and be sure to let the dough rest for at least 24 hrs.  Self-control, people!

What's Cookin'

Mon~Crockpot mac n cheese, smoked sausage, green beans

Tues~My folks are taking pity on my temporary single parent status and taking us out for dinner.

Wed~Chicken Quesadillas and Wonton tacos, chips n salsa, salad

Th

Soue: hungry-girl.com via Heather on Pinterest

Thurs~ Grilled pork chops, garlic fries, corn
Fri~Hamburgers, mac salad, dessert (picnic at the park)
Sat~Pizza, cold veggies
Sun~Veggie beef soup, bread

Beach day

Our 2nd trip to Millenium this summer:

Playing in the sand is serious business.

Aaron loved dipping his toes in the water and playing in the sand: the splash pad, however, was a different story.

Somehow, the beach always brings out the hungries in these kids.  Sand's good for digestion, right?

Andrew's trench

Friend Casey.

I've learned to bring a truck to the beach or I'm chasing the kids back from whoever's truck they're trying to steal.

I love the beach!

Monday

I'm waiting for my house to clean itself.


Still waiting.


Sigh.  At least dinner is cooking itself in the crockpot.

What's Cookin'

Do you know what happens when you are gone every day?  Your menu plan doesn't really work and your house is a disaster.  Ask me how I know.

Mon~Pork roast, wild rice, broccoli
Tues~Meatballs, roasted potatoes, cauliflower
Wed~Chicken with Sun-dried tomato basil sauce, green beans, bread

Source: gabbiskitchen.com via Heather on Pinterest

Thurs~I'm checking out the new PF Changs with a friend, but I'll try make spaghetti for the rest of the family.
Fri~Hamburgers, french fries, cold veggies
Sat~Pizza, fruit
Sun~TBD

What's Cookin'

Wed~Beef Stroganoff, green beans, mashed potatoes
Thurs~Chicken with sun dried tomato basil sauce, wild rice, broccoli

\

Source: gabbiskitchen.com via Heather on Pinterest

Friday~Pizza, cold veggies (Um, lots of veggies. I've been loading up with veggies faster than we eat them.) Saturday~Egg biscuits, fruit
Sunday~Chicken noodle soup, rolls