Tobins' Tastes: December 2012

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Mealtime Monday End of the Year Recipe Link Up

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Happy New Year! I cannot believe that 2012 has already come to an end. We have had a fabulous year and I cannot wait to see what 2013 holds for our family and for this blog.

I know I have been an absent blogger these last few weeks and I hope you understand that I have been spending some time "unplugged" with family and friends and relaxing during the holidays. I promise to be back in full swing in the next week with tons of fun new recipes, money saving tips and couponing trips.

I have big plans for Couponing & Cooking in 2013 and I can't wait to share them with you all!

Since there was no link party last week I have no features for you today but I thought that I would share my Champagne Cupcakes just in case you were looking for a fun New Year's Eve treat!


Since it is almost New Year's Eve, I invite you to not only link up what you have been cooking this week but also your favorite recipe posts of 2012. Link up as many as you please! The more the merrier!

Happy 2013 and know that I am so thankful for each and everyone of you and what you bring to my blogging experience. I hope that you and your family have a healthy and happy new year! On to the party! 

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 as well as my Facebook page which will have even more features too!


If you were featured you can feel free to grab a button from my sidebar.





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



I would love it if:

  • 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 : )
  • Please follow this blog through GFC, Linky Friends or Blog Lovin.
  • As an added bonus you can become our Facebook friend too!
  • Please only post directly to your recipe link. No giveaways, etsy shops or anything not family friendly.
  • 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 : )
  • Pretty please visit at least two new blogs and show them some love.
  • By linking up you give me permision to use these photos (with proper link backs) in my features and on my Facebook page
  • Come back next Monday and link up!

Ready, set, make me hungry!



Thursday, December 27, 2012

Weekly Totals Link Up: Saved 73% at Publix- Finally Back To Regular Shopping

$200 worth of groceries for $50
I am finally back to my normal Thursday Publix shopping! So sorry for being an absent blogger but the last week and a half has been crazy around here. I hope you and your family had a fabulous Christmas holiday. We had a relaxing and fun last few days with family and friends and it has been so nice to slow down and unplug from the online world for awhile.

We had our Christmas party last Friday and I did get in an amazing shopping trip that morning with tons of great deals but due to a time crunch I just didn't get a chance to photograph it all and type up a post. Oh well...

We were out of town for the Christmas holiday and then yesterday I spent the day taking advantage of the day after Christmas sales. So today I finally got around to planning and doing a shopping trip.

Today's trip was really a trip to just get the things that I wanted for our menu plan for the next week. After more than a week of not cooking dinner, tonight I made Butternut Squash Tomato Basil Bisque and Barefoot Contessa's Garlic Bread. I also plan on making a big batch of Olive Garden's Chicken & Gnocchi Soup this weekend so I spent a large part of my budget on fresh herbs, veggies, goat cheese and other things for those meals.

I was thrilled to find the 20 packs of Diet Coke with all the peelie coupons on them ($1 off Publix and $1/2 Man.) to pair with the Yellow Ad. Flyer coupon for $2 off Publix meat/deli WYB any 20 pack of Coke product. My store even had a sign advertising how they suggested you stack the coupons to get the best deal.

I was able to use my money off Publix meat coupons towards a 10 pound Spiral Publix ham so we will enjoy making that next week. I also was able to grab 3 cheap Digiornos to fill in in a pinch when my back to school schedule gets hectic in January. I also grabbed chicken and a few other things that didn't have coupons so I was glad to have moneymaker coupons for the trial sized Crest White Strips and broke my trip up into two transactions so I could also use two $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupons.

My MONEYMAKING Crest White Strips!
I hope to get back to regular blogging and couponing this week so bear with me as I balance taking a little time off for the holidays and Couponing & Cooking : )

Breakdown of today's Publix trip: 
Total retail value: $198.71
Total spent: $53.86
Total saved: $144.85
Percent saved: 73%

What I got with sale/coupon match ups:
  • 8 trial sized packages of Crest White Strips, retails for $5.99 each
    • Used eight $7 off any sized Crest White Strips, 
    • Made them all FREE plus a $8.08 total MONEYMAKER!
  •  2 Dove Conditioners and 1 Dove Style+Care Hairspray, retails for $4.79 each, on sale for $3 each
  •  2 twenty packs of Diet Coke, retails for $6.59 each
    • Used two $1 off Publix peelie coupons from on the package
    • Stacked with a $1/2 man. peelie from one of the packages
    • Made them $5.09 each (plus I got $4 total of my ham purchase)
  •  1 ten pound spiral cut Publix ham, retails for $37.63, on sale for $18.77
    • Used two $2 off Publix meat/deli WYB any 20 pack CocaCola package from the Publix Yellow Ad. Flyer
    • Made it $14.77
  •  3 Voskos Greek Yogurts, retails for $1.50 each , on sale for $1 each
  • 1.67 pounds of Purdue Chicken Breasts, retails for $8.38, on sale for $5.02
  • 2 bags of Sargento Shredded Cheese, retails for $4.19 each, on sale for $2.50 each
  • 1 dozen Publix eggs, retails for $2.09 
    • Used a Publix coupon for FREE eggs WYB 2 Sargento shredded cheese from the All the Trimmings Booklet
    • Made them FREE
  • 1 package of Publix Goat Cheese, $2.99
  • 1 half gallon of Silk Almond Milk, retails for $3.59
  • 2 cans of Planters Peanuts, retails for $4.51 each, on sale BOGO ($2.25 each)
  • 3 DiGiorno Frozen Pizzas, retails for $7.19 each, on sale for $5 each
  • 2 Campbells Gourmet Bisques,  retails for $3.39 each, on sale for $2 each
    • Used two .75 cents off coupons from the 11/04 SS
    • Stacked with a $2/2 Best Meals Happen At Home Publix email coupon
    • Made them .25 cents each
  •  2 Campbell's Go Soups, retails for $2.99 each, on sale for $2 each
    • Used two $1 off coupons from the 12/2 SS
    • Stacked with a $2/2 Best Meals Happen At Home Publix email coupon
    • Made them both FREE
  •  1 bag of Crunch Pak Apple Slices, retails for $3.29, on sale for $2.50
  • 1 tub of Fresh Attitudes Baby Spinach, retails for $3.09, on sale for $2
  • 1 bag of Publix matchstick carrots, retails for $1.89, on sale for $1.69
  • 1 Publix Bakery Baguette, $2.09
  • Organic Basil, $2.49
  • Italian Parsley, .99 cents
  • Garlic, .39 cents
  • Onion, .72 cents 
 
 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 also "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!
 


    Tuesday, December 25, 2012

    Merry Christmas!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you are enjoying a relaxing day of food, family and fun!

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012

    Christmas Baking Favorites New & Old


     Have you started your holiday baking yet? This week is officially my bake until you drop week. Between parties we have been invited to, a big party we are throwing, gifts for my Principle and Vice Principle, and my normal baking for the family's Christmas meals, I am going to give my kitchen a workout.

    So far I have made two batches of Gooey Bars, a batch of Magic Cookie Bars and a giant Christmas Sheet Cake. Between now and the 23rd I will be making 2 batches of Christmas Sugar Cookies, 2 batches of UltiMINT Christmas Candy Cookies, Pretzel Toffee, Pretzel Pinterest Bites, Champagne Cupcakes, Crock Pot Peanut Clusters, Peppermint Bark, S'more Cookies and a few other things. (See below for most of the recipes)

    What are you making? Have you started yet? Do you have family favorites that you go back to year after year? I usually stick to my family's favorites but each year I usually pick one of two new recipes to try.

    In honor of what I am calling the Official Week of Christmas Baking, I am featuring some of my favorite treats to make and give as gifts as well as some of my new favorites that have been linked up by some fabulous bloggers at Mealtime Monday.

    Tonight I will feature my personal recipes and then come back tomorrow for the round up of my favorite bloggers' treats!

    Here are our family's all time favorite Christmas treats!




     






    What are you baking this week?

    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.***

    Do you host a weekly party? If so, make sure to visit my party page and add yours so we all can join in the fun!

    Tuesday, December 18, 2012

    Saved 81% and $170 At Publix

    Got everything in all three pictures for under $50. Saved $170

    Today's Publix trip was so HUGE that I needed three different pictures to show it all. I saved $170 and had close to $10 in MONEYMAKERS and lots of items under $1! I also was able to use two $5/$30 Target printable coupons too.

    Today's trip was almost a disaster. I actually spent a decent amount of time getting everything ready for this trip and I had an extensive list with prices, coupons, totals and the breakdown of what went in each transaction. When I walked into Publix, I realized that my list was sitting on the counter at home. I really didn't feel like going back to get it so I just winged it. Shockingly I actually got everything on my list and manged to get it all worked out in my head. Not gonna lie, I am pretty proud of myself : )

    Too much to all fit in one pic

    The most exciting part of my shopping trip was finding that my Publix started carrying the the trial sized Crest White Strips again! I hadn't seen them since my crazy moneymaking Valentine's Day shopping trip. They weren't on clearance like they were in February but they still made me $1 each. I have tons of $7 off coupons (without the travel sized exclusion wording) but I only used eight due to the 4 like coupons per transaction limit and not wanting to split my trip up more than twice.


    We are having a big Christmas party on Friday so I stocked up on tons of stuff for that as well as items for all the dishes and desserts I will be bringing to all of Christmas dinners and parties we are invited to.

    We actually have a dinner party or family event every night from now until December 26th so we didn't need any fresh veggies or fruit. I wanted to grab some of the great deals on meat right now but our freezer is still too full with our stockpile and party prep so I am going to have to wait on those. My cart was actually overflowing so it's probably good that I skipped the big turkey and ham I was thinking of.

    Since I never went to Publix last Thursday today's trip used my grocery cash from that budget and then I will be hitting up Publix one last time this Thursday or Friday to get the fresh items for our party.

    Breakdown of today's Publix trip:
    Total retail value: $209.10
    Total spent: $38.74
    Total saved: $170.36
    Percent saved: 81%

     What I got with sale/coupon match ups:
    • 8 boxes of Crest White Strips (2 count), retails for $5.99 each
      • Used eight (in two transactions) $7 off coupons from inside past white strip and crest toothpaste boxes
      • Made them ALL FREE plus an $8 MONEYMAKER
    •  1 bottle of Clear Scalp for Men Shampoo and Clear Scalp Conditioner, retails for $4.99 each
    •  3 tubs of Smart Balance Spread, retails for $2.50 each, on sale for $1.50 each
      • Used a $3/3 coupon from the Smart Balance Website (have to send e-cards)
      • Stacked with three $1 off Publix coupons from the All the Trimmings Booklet
      • Made them all FREE plus a $1.50 MONEYMAKER
    •  2 Coffeemate Natural Bliss Creamers, retails for $2.51 each, on sale for $1.67 each
      • Used two $1.50 off coupons from Facebook
      • Made them .17 cents each
    •  6 Chobani Greek Yogurts, retails for $1.33, on sale for $1 each
      • Used six .60 cents off coupons from a "Happy Holidays" email from Chobani
      • Made them .40 cents each
    •  2 bags of Pretzel Crisps, retails for $3.29 each, on sale BOGO, made them $1.65 each
    • 1 half gallon of Silk Almond Milk, retails for $3.49, on sale for $2.50
    • 4 boxes of Scotties Tissues, retails for $1.25 each, on sale BOGO (.63 cents each)
      • Used two $1/2 coupons (not sure if they are still available)
      • Made it .13 cents a box
    • 4 two cup bags of Sargento Shredded Cheddar Cheese, retails for $4.19 each, on sale for $3.00 each
    • 2 dozen Publix Eggs, retails for $2.09
    •  2 packages of Nestle Tollhouse Ultimate Frozen Cookie Dough, retails for $3.59 each, on sale BOGO ($1.79 each)
      • Used two .75 cents off coupons from the 10/7 RP
      • Made them $1.04 each
    •  2 packages of Texas Toast Croutons, retails for $1.69 each, on sale BOGO made them .84 cents each
    • 6 cans of Campbell's Great for Cooking Cream of Chicken Soup, retails for $1.33 each, on sale BOGO (.66 cents each)
      • Used a $1/5 coupon
      • Stacked with a $2/4 Publix Best Meals Happen At Home Email coupon
      • Made them .17 cents each
    •  4 bags of Ore-Ida frozen potatoes, retails for $3.89 a bag, on sale BOGO ($1.94 each)
      • Used two $1/2 coupons from the 12/9 SS
      • Made them $1.44 a bag
    •  2 boxes of Duncan Hines Cake Mix, retails for $2.05 each, on sale BOGO, made them $1.02 each
    • 4 boxes of Chex Cereal, retails for $3.79 each, on sale BOGO ($1.89 each)
    •  2 two pound bags of Publix Rice, retails for $1.89 a bag, on sale for .99 cents a bag
    • 1 pound package of Smithfield Thick Cut Bacon, retails for $6.19, on sale for $3.34
      • Used a $1 off coupon from the 11/11 SS
      • Made it $2.34
    •  1 five pound bag of Gold Medal Better for Bread Flour, retails for $3.19, on sale for $1.99
      • Used a .25 cents off coupon from Facebook
      • Made it $1.74
    •  2 one pound bags of Publix Black Beans, retails for $1.89 each, on sale for .99 cents each
    • 2 bags of Cape Cod potato chips, retails for $3.79, on sale BOGO ($1.89 each)
    • 2 tubs of Athenos Feta Cheese, retails for $4.99 each, on sale BOGO, made them $2.49 each

    Sunday, December 16, 2012

    Mealtime Monday Recipe Link Up & Features {#35}

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    Hello, all! I hope that you had a relaxing and restful weekend. I took the weekend off from the computer and enjoyed a much needed trip to Orlando to visit Islands of Adventure and Sea World with Justin. After so much sadness on Friday, it was really nice to get away and unplug for a few days.

    This week is crazy for us with multiple Christmas events leading up to our own Christmas party on Friday. This week also starts us having something scheduled every day or night from now until the 25th.

    You can bet that tons of baking will be going on this week for parties and gifts so in honor of what I imagine will be quite a week of baking for everyone, make sure you check back on Tuesday for my Christmas Baking Favorites Old & New Round Up. I am going to be showcasing our family's tried and true Christmas baking favorites as well as tons of YOUR Christmas recipes.

    You all have shown off so many amazingly delicious looking holiday recipes over the last few weeks and I knew I had to find a way to share all of them in a special way with my readers. Make sure you link up your Christmas treats early this week so they can be included in Tuesday's round up too!

    Now for tonight's features!


     


     

     

    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 as well as my Facebook page which will have even more features too! 

    If you were featured you can feel free to grab a button from my sidebar. 

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



    I would love it if:

    • 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 : )
    • Please follow this blog through GFC, Linky Friends or Blog Lovin.
    • As an added bonus you can become our Facebook friend too!
    • Please only post directly to your recipe link. No giveaways, etsy shops or anything not family friendly.
    • 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 : )
    • Pretty please visit at least two new blogs and show them some love.
    • By linking up you give me permission to use these photos (with proper link backs) in my features and on my Facebook page
    • Come back next Monday and link up!

    Ready, set, make me hungry!
     

    Friday, December 14, 2012

    Weekly Totals Link Up: Saved 90% at Publix & A Busy Shopping Week


    Spent $6 for $60 Worth
    I didn't end up making it to Publix today or yesterday for my normal beginning of the sale cycle shopping trip this week. Between getting ready for Christmas, gearing up for midterms at school and all the holiday events we have going on, I am surprised I actually got to the store three different times this week. When it came time to get ready for my shopping trip yesterday, I just couldn't get motivated.

    This trip is actually from last Saturday when I ran in to take advantage of the $10 Target gift card deal when you spend $50 which my Publix's have honored. I also wanted to do the Nestle Morsels/Money Making Ziploc Containers deal a few more times too. I used a $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupon to lower my totals even more.

    I can already hear my mom saying, "Why do need that many chocolate chips???". I actually debated getting more since I know that even between these and what I got last week I will end up running out way before next year's holiday baking sales start again. Justin also loses food containers like it's his job so excessive amounts of Ziploc containers won't go to waste in our house. 

    We have some fun things planned this weekend so we won't be around to eat at home so I figured that it wouldn't hurt to do my normal Publix trip for this sale ad on Monday since then we will be needed fresh things like salad and veggies and yogurt for our meals. We are also having a huge Christmas party next Friday so I will be trying to get everything we need for that during next week so I am sure there will be plenty of of shopping posts as a result. 

    Along with this trip, I had two other amazing shopping trips this week. One to Target on Saturday where I saved 62% with lots of gift card deals and another to Publix on Wednesday to save 93% on tons of Kashi products.

    Breakdown of last Saturday's Publix trip:
    Total retail value: $59.91
    Total spent after gift card earned: $6.16
    Total saved: $53.75
    Percent saved: 90%

    What I got with sale/coupon match ups:
    •  1 package of Cover Girl Nail Files, retails for $2.19
      • Used a $2 off coupon from the 11/25 P&G
      • Stacked with a $2 off Publix coupon from the Stocking Spree booklet
      • Made it FREE plus a $1.80 MONEYMAKER
    • 8 bags of Nestle Toll House Morsels, retails for $3.15 a bag, on sale for $2.50 each
      • Used four .75/2 coupons from the 11/4 SS
      • Made them $2.12 each
    • 4 packages of Ziploc Food Storage Containers, retails for $3.29 each, on sale for $2.50 each
      • Used four coupons for FREE containers WYB any two Nestle Morsels from the Publix Yellow Ad. Flyer
      • Stacked with two $1/2 coupons 
      • Made them all FREE plus a total of $2 MONEYMAKER
    •   3 bottles of Dove Men+Care Body Wash, retails for $4.99 each
      • Used three $2 off coupons
      • Stacked with three $1.25 off coupons from the Publix Green Ad. Flyer
      • Made them $1.74 each
    • 1 bottle of Nieva for Men Body Wash, retails for $4.39, on sale for $3
      • Used a $1 off coupon from the Target Beauty Bag
      • Made it $2 
     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 also "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!



      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

      Saved 93% At Publix on Kashi Products

      Got all of this for under $5
       This has been a huge shopping week for me. Huge in that after tomorrow's normal Publix trip, I will have made four shopping trips this week which I never do. The good news is that I have kept my totals pretty low. I spent $24 on my Saturday Target trip, spent around $15 on a Publix trip on Saturday (post coming tomorrow), and then I spent $4.50 today. My trip tomorrow will probably be pretty large since there are a lot of deals I want to take advantage of and I am buying for our upcoming Christmas party. 

      I am not too worried about our grocery budget since I have been saving our left over cash from past weeks and I have a little extra cash from tutoring money too. I was fully prepared to be doing lots of shopping and spending a little more than $50 a week during the holiday months but since I am stocking up for the year on many things I am not concerned.

      I was so excited when I saw this deal on Kashi products posted on I Heart Publix earlier this week. I was planning on going to the store to do the deal with a $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupon but then the Target coupon for a FREE $10 Gift Card when you spend $50 became available again with a new expiration date so I decided to add on some deals from the current Green Advantage flyer to hit $50 before coupons.

      I know people always say you can't find coupons for healthy food but I think that Kashi and apples definitely count as couponed healthy food. The Kashi pricing and FREE pizza coupons are part of the current Publix Yellow Advantage Flyer  and are good through the 14th so if you want to take advantage of it I would do so soon.

      Breakdown of today's Publix trip:
      Total retail value: $63.61
      Total spent after gift card earned and $5/$30 coupon: $4.53
      Total saved: $59.08
      Percent saved: 93%

      What I got with sale/coupon match ups:
      • 6 boxes of Kashi Cereals, retails for $4.05 each, on sale for $2.99 each
      • 2 Kashi Frozen Pizzas, retails for $5.99 each, on sale for $5 each
        • Used two coupons for a FREE pizza WYB any 3 Kashi cereals
        • Made them both FREE
      • 3 apples at a total of $5.97
      •  2 bottles of Clean & Clear Shampoo/Conditioner, retails for $4.99 each
        • Used two $2 off coupons
        • Stacked with coupon for a FREE conditioner wyb the shampoo from the Publix Green Ad. Flyer
        • Made them .49 cents each
      •  1 bottle of Dove Men+Care Body Wash, retails for $4.99
        • Used a $2 off coupon
        • Stacked with a $1.25 off Publix Green Ad. Flyer coupon
        • Made it $1.74
      •  1 bottle of Axe Body Wash, retails for $4.99 
        • Used a $2 off coupon from the 12/2 SS
        • Stacked with a $1.50 off Publix Green Ad. Flyer coupon
        • Made it $1.49

      Free $10 Gift Card With A $50 Target Purchase

       It's back!!! This awesome coupon is back again and now should print with an expiration date of 12/15!

      I don't usually have the time to post for every new coupon that comes out but this one is worth sharing!

      Right now you can visit Target.com and print out a coupon to earn a $10 Target gift card with any $50 purchase now through December 8th 15th.


      Just visit this link and print it out! You can get two prints if you think you might be doing a lot of shopping in the next few days : )

      It is possible per Publix's coupon policy that if your store accepts Target coupons you can use this there. I know that it will vary by store and area but it is worth  giving it a try. I am going to try it at my Publix tomorrow and I will let you know if it works!

      Feel free to comment if you were able to successfully use this coupon at any competitor locations like Publix.

      Monday, December 10, 2012

      UltiMINT Christmas Candy Cookies

       Pin It  

      I am a complete sucker for the Target Holiday Candy Aisle. Valentines M&M's? Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses? White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's? Yes, please.


      Something about the idea that a candy item might only be around for a limited time or maybe it's the cuteness of the holiday colors, but I just have to buy it all. In multiples. And then I clearly have to spend way too much time in the kitchen finding fun, new ways to use my excessive amounts of holiday themed candy.


      So after a small Black Friday Target Candy Aisle binge (Target totally knew what they were doing when they wrapped the check out line through that aisle), I made these babies.


      I absolutely love mint and chocolate anything so I figured why not make Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix Cookies and dump various forms of mint holiday candy into them? These cookies literally tasted like you had melted a Peppermint Pattie inside of fudge. Amazing.


      I used my current three favorite mint Christmas candies: White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's, Mint M&M's, and Candy Candy Hershey's Kisses.
      The smooth meltiness of the kisses paired with the crunch of the M&M's and the hints of white chocolate against the intense fudginess of the cookies prompted Justin to call these "quite possibly the best cookies you have ever made".


      These cookies were also conveniently scheduled to get made the same day our new camera arrived so I had way too much fun staging these and photographing them : )


      UltiMINT Christmas Candy Cookies
      • 1 box of Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
      • 1 teaspoon baking powder
      • 2 eggs
      • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
      • 1 cup of White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's
      • 1 cup of Mint M&M's
      • About 20 Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
       1.) Mix all of the ingrediants except for the candies together in a stand mixer until well combined. Make sure to scape the bottom and make sure all of the oil is incorporated into the batter.
      2.) Add in the Hershey's Kisses with the mixer on low and let them be broken up slightly.
      3.) Add in both kinds of M&M's and let them mix for a minute to give them a rough crush. Basically you want the candies to be broken up a bit with some whole pieces still remaining. 
      4.) Using a medium cookie scoop,  scoop out the batter into rounded balls on lined cookie sheets.


      5.) Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until tops start to look done but still crackly. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before trying to remove from trays or eat.


      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.***

      Do you host a weekly party? If so, make sure to visit my party page and add yours so we all can join in the fun!

      Saved 62% at Target With Multiple Gift Card Deals


      Spent $24 for $63 Worth
      Earlier last week I posted about the FREE $10 Target Gift Card with any $50 purchase coupon. I used it at Publix last Thursday and then on Saturday I took advantage of the deal at Target and Publix again. The best part about this deal is that the $50 purchase could be before coupons and other deals so I was really able to use it to get in an amazing shopping trip. 

      On top of my $10 gift card, I also earned two $5 gift card deals from purchasing Colgate and Glade products. Combine that with all the great coupons and earning $3.25 in Ibotta deposits and I was able to save    .

      I love this time of year because even though I am doing alot of shopping trips my totals have been relatively low so I am able to make the most of our grocery budget while stocking up on things for the holiday party/baking season and for the year in general.

      Breakdown of Saturday's Target Trip:
      Total retail value: $62.89
      Total spent after coupons, gift cards earned, and Ibotta deposits: $23.91
      Total saved: $38.98
      Percent saved: 62%

      What I got with sale/coupon match up:
      • 4 Glade Holiday Candles, retails for $2.99 each, on sale for $2.50 each and 1 Glade Holiday Scented Holder, retails for $2.50 and on clearance for $1.25
      •  2 packs of Bic Pens, retails for .99 cents per pack
        • Used two $1 off coupons from their Facebook page
        • Made them both FREE
      •  2 Colgate Optic White Mouth Washes, retails for $4.99 each, and 1 two pack of Colgate Optic White Toothpastes, retails for $4.99 for the pack
      •  2 packages of twelve count double rolls Angel Soft Toilet Paper, retails for $5.99 each
      •  1 five pound bag of Gold Medal Flour, retails for $3.19, on sale for $2.29
        • Used a .25 cents off Facebook coupon
        • Made it $2.04
      •  2 jars of Smucker's Grape Jelly, retails for $1.99 each, on sale for $1.87 each
        • Used a $1/2 Target coupon
        • Stacked with two .35 cents off coupons from the 11/4 RP
        • Made them $1.02 each
      •  4 bags of Holiday M&M's, retails for $3.09 each, on sale for $2.79 each
        • Used two $1/2 peelies on bags or you could use the one from the 12/2 RP
        • Stacked with $1.50/2 Target coupon
        • Made them $1.54 each

      Sunday, December 9, 2012

      Mealtime Monday Recipe Link Up Party & Features {#34}

      Photobucket

      How can there only be two weekends before Christmas? I am so not ready this year. I am hoping to get my shopping done in this week and then next week I will move on to the major task of Christmas baking.

      Are you ready? What have you all been cooking and baking this week? In honor of holiday baking entering full swing in the next two week feel free to link up your holiday recipe posts past and present in addition to what you are already linking this week! Next week I will do a separate round up post of all the fabulous Holiday treats!

      Today's features are all perfect for holiday parties and meals!




       

       

      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 as well as my Facebook page which will have even more features too!


      If you were featured you can feel free to grab a button from my sidebar.





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



      I would love it if:

      • 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 : )
      • Please follow this blog through GFC, Linky Friends or Blog Lovin.
      • As an added bonus you can become our Facebook friend too!
      • Please only post directly to your recipe link. No giveaways, etsy shops or anything not family friendly.
      • 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 : )
      • Pretty please visit at least two new blogs and show them some love.
      • By linking up you give me permision to use these photos (with proper link backs) in my features and on my Facebook page
      • Come back next Monday and link up!

      Ready, set, make me hungry!
       

      Thursday, December 6, 2012

      Weekly Totals Link Up: Saved 83% and $81 at Publix


      Spent $16, saved $81
      Can you imagine paying almost $100 for these groceries. I was mind blown when I realized how much these would have been out of pocket with no sales or coupons. I didn't even buy any meat or much produce. To think back to the days when i would be been ok with paying full price for these things makes me cringe. 

      This week was an amazing shopping week for me. I hit up CVS and saved 74% and then the stars aligned for me at Publix today and I was able to advantage of a gift card with purchase deal, a $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupon and tons of sales and coupons. I also had two coupons for FREE products from blog promotions and used three Publix Yellow Ad. Flyer FREE product coupons too. 

      I was so excited when I called my Publix's and they told me that they would honor the recent FREE $10 gift card when you make a $50 purchase coupon from Target. Since it was a gift card deal coupon, I could also use the money off total purchase coupon as well. 

      I was thrilled to stock up on baking supplies and Justin is very happy with cheap coffee. I may run back and do another transaction later this week for just chocolate chips and free ziploc containers so I can be completely stocked for the year. I thought I had bought enough baking chips during last year's sale but I ran out by June. This year I am making sure I buy enough during the holiday sales to last me the whole year. 

      I am still banned by Justin from really buying any meat, frozen veggies or frozen items in general since our freezers are still both pretty full. We have been spending the last week or so making dinners from the meat and frozen produce we have on hand so it has been fun to slowly use things up. We did roasted one of our big turkeys and made some room but since I want to buy some hams during the Christmas week sale I will have to make a little more room before my frozen food shopping ban is over : )

      Breakdown of today's Publix trip:
      Total retail value: $97.20
      Total spent after coupons, Ibotta deposit and gift card earned: $16.54
      Total saved: $80.66
      Percent saved: 83%

      What I got with sale/coupon match ups:
      • 6 bags of Nestle Baking Morsels, retails for $3.15 each, on sale for $2.50 each
        • Used three .75/2 coupons from the 11/4 SS
        • Made them $2.12 each
      •  3 Ziploc Food Storage Containers, retails for $3.29 each, on sale for $2.50
        • Used three FREE product coupons wyb 2 bags of Nestle Morsels from the in store Yellow Ad. Flyer
        • Stacked with a $1/2 coupon and a .40 cents peelie found on product
        • Made these all FREE plus a $1.40 MONEYMAKER!
      •  1 Edwards Frozen Pie, retails for $7.99
        • Used a coupon for a FREE product from a blog promo, make sure you stay tuned for a chance to win the same coupon!
        • Made it FREE
      •  1 tub of Fresh Attitudes Baby Spinach, retails for $3.09, on sale for $2.69
      • 1 Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, retails for $2.19
        • Used a coupon for a FREE product from a past CraveBox
        • Made it FREE
      •  4 cans of La Lechera condensed millk, retails for $1.99 each, on sale BOGO (.98 each)
      •  2 Et Tu Salad Kits, retails for $2.50, on sale BOGO made them $1.25 each
      • 1 half gallon of Sillk Almond Milk, retails for $3.49
      •  2 bags of Gevalia Coffee, retails for $7.99 a bag, on sale BOGO ($3.99 each)
        • Used two $1.50 off coupons from the 11/11 SS
        • Made it $2.49 a bag
      •  1 dozen Eggland's Best Eggs, retails for $2.79
        • Used a .35 cents off coupon from the 11/11 SS
        • Stacked with a .55 cents off any brand of eggs Target catalina
        • Plus earned .50 from an Ibotta deposit
        • Made them $1.39
      •  2 bags of Goldfish, retails for $2.39, on sale for $1.67 each
      • 2 packages of Mission Tortillas, retails for $2.69 each, on sale BOGO made them $1.34 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 also "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!


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