Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Mac and Cheese, Salad
Tuesday-  Left-overs
Wednesday- Pretzel Crusted Chicken Nuggets, Roasted Garlic Potatoes, Veggie
Thursday- Italian Chicken Sausage and Pasta Bake, Salad
Friday- Stuffed Peppers, Rice
Saturday-  Chicken Enchilada Bake
Sunday- Leftovers

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Friday Favorites- Website.

With the price of gas the way it is, one of the best ways to save money is to plan your errands. The best thing is to do as many as you can in one stretch, and plan the most effective route. That way you aren't driving to one side of town and back, or to home and back out several times.

So here is a handy website to plan your route.

Of course you can always use websites like google maps and add multiple stops as well.

Publix Trip 3/10/11

I spent $22.79 for $70.99 worth of groceries, saving $58.20 or 72%! Plus I got the $50 gas card for $40 (different budget category, so I didn't include it in the total...)! Not too bad in my book!

See my original list here.

Added:
(2)Cheerios Cereal 2/$5
   -(1)$2/2 Peelie
   -(1)$1/2 in Current Ad

Deleted:
Broccoli- Somehow I missed it even when I rechecked my list. Oh well I have frozen anyway.

Prices, Price Changes, Coupons, and Coupon Changes:
Raisin Bran BOGO $3.99 not $4.49
Lemons 3/$1.29 not 2/$1
Birds Eye Veggies that I purchased were 89¢-$1.19 each

It was a good trip especially since most of what I bought was produce in some form, and other than that it was cheese, yogurt, bread, and cereal. Not bad at all!

Shopping List for 3/10/11

Blue=Manufacturer's
Green=Publix
Red= Competitor's

(2)Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch BOGO $4.49
   -(2)70¢/1 HERE
(2)Arnold Bread BOGO $3.99
   -(2)55¢/1 HERE
(2)YoPlus Yogurt BOGO $2
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(2)Voskos Yogurt 10/$10
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(4)Sargento Cheese 2/$4
   -(4)$1.50/1 HERE
(6)Birds Eye Veggies 50% off
   -(2)$1/3 HERE
   -(3)$1/2 from Yellow Advantage Buy
(2)Land O Frost Lunch Meat $3.49
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(1)Florida Strawberries 3/$5
   -(1)$1 off Produce wyb (2) Kellogg's Cereals Peelie
(2)Lemon's 2/$1
(1)Cantaloupe 2/$4
(1)Cabbage 29¢/lb
(1)Fresh Broccoli 2/$4
(1)Petite Red Potatoes 2/$5

$10/$50 Gas Card Purchase

How Do I Use It? Oats Part III: Cooking

When it comes to oats, cooking is relatively simple. You may not even need too, depending on what you are making. I'm going to assume (correct me if I'm wrong) you know how to cook instant oats (the ones that come in the packets) and focus on old-fashioned and quick oats.

First we are going to focus on using them for oatmeal:

• Old-fashioned: The first thing to remember is a 2-1 ratio of liquid to oats. To cook boil liquid (milk or water) and a dash of salt. Stir in oats. Cook for 5 minute over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Quick Oats: The only difference for quick oat is you only cook for 1 minute instead of 5.

When it comes to baking Quick and Old-Fashioned can be used interchangeably. Some people prefer to toast the oats before use, but you don't have to. It's really a personal preference.

If using steel-cut oats, remember it will take longer to cook them.

Cooking with oats is so versatile, and simple!

New Uses for Used Water

I know you just read the title and thought, "Is she crazy?" I'd probably think the same thing, but let me explain. We use a lot of water in our daily activities. Washing dishes and clothes, bathing, cooking, and yes using the toilet, and I bet most of that water just goes right down the drain. While reading a book, the author mentioned reusing some of these "dirty" waters in other ways. I thought to myself, "well why not?" Check-out some of these tips to see where you could cut back on water usage.

• Do you have a fish tank? Have you ever changed the water in it and just dumped it down the drain? If you have a garden or just landscaping, pour it there, plants love the minerals from fish waste, and you save on watering and fertilizer.
• Did you just boil potatoes? Typically you just pour it down the drain, but did you know that potato water can be a great silver polish? More ideas for potato water here. Many of these work for pasta too!
• Did you steam some veggies? You can use the water from that in other components of your dish to add those nutrients to it.
• Washing money down the drain during a shower? You could fit your house with a system that uses that water to fill your toilet. Sounds kind of cool because honestly who needs fresh tap water to pee in?
• Just had a sink of dish water from washing dishes. Put some in a spray bottle and spray plants in your garden. Bugs hate dish soap.
• Rain water. I live in Florida, and we are about to hit rainy season really soon. A rain barrel can be a great way to water your plants and lawn when it isn't raining. They also come in lots of decorative options that blend in with your landscaping.
• Water left in your water bottle at the end of the day? I tend to put this in the dogs dish. Why pour it down the drain when it is still good? I just want to clean the container, and they need water. For what it's worth if I drop ice on the ground when getting some I also put that in their dish.

There are tons of safe ways to reuse water. You just have to use your imagination. I might add these tips are also useful in case of an emergency when water may be scarce.

Have an idea? Share it below and I will add it to the list!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Chick-fil-a
Tuesday-  Tortellini, Brocolli
Wednesday- Hotdogs, Tater Tots, Veggie
Thursday- Italian Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Veggie
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday-  Baked Pork Chops, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Veggie
Sunday- Corned Beef and Cabbage

What's your menu for the week?
Don't forget to link up below!

Publix Ad

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

There's a few good things I see so far! Also, this week there is $10/$50 Gas Card wyb $25 worth of groceries, would be a great thing to have considering gas prices lately.

Publix Trip

I spent $24.69 for $78.09 worth of groceries, saving $53.40 or 68%!
Here's the match-ups:
(2)Thomas English Muffins BOGO $3.69
(4)Milk Bone BOGO $3.69
   -(2)$1.50/2 from 2/6/11 RP
(8)Old Orchard Juice BOGO $1.50
   -(2)$1/4 HERE
(2)Chef Boyardee BOGO $1.49
   -(1)Free product coupon
(2)Milk Bone Soft and Chewy $2.99
   -(2)Free wyb (2)Milk Bone
(2)Athenos Yogurt 10/$10
   -(1)$2/2 printable (unsure where from)
(1)Food Should Taste Good Chips $3.29
   -(1)Free product coupon
(1)Oreo Family Size $3.99
   -(1)Free Product coupon
(2)Reach Dental Floss 99¢
   -(2)$1/1 printable (not sure where from)
(1)Strawberries 3/$5
(2)Arm and Hammer Baking Soda 69¢
BuyTheirs, Get Ours Promotion:
(1)Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice $3.85
(1)Publix Cranberry $2.99
(1)Del Monte Peaches $1.89
(1)Publix Peaches $1.29
(1)Bush's Baked Beans $2.29
(1)Publix Baked Beans $2.09

Getting back into the swing of things after being gone a week is a little hard, I must admit.

And the randomly selected winner of the Green Giant Gift Pack is....

TheCoexistCafe (thecoexistcafe@)

Congratulations! Be looking for an email from me shortly.

Thanks again to everyone who entered!