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Archive of entries posted on 6th October 2009

“Getting Dinner Ready in a Flash”

“With Our Busy Schedules, What Are Your 3 Valid Tips for Getting Dinner Ready in a Flash?”

As a full time working mother of two teenagers, getting dinner prepared and on the table before midnight is a tough job! I have found that meal planning helps a lot. I make my menu ahead of time. This not only helps me prepare my grocery list but also gives me the advantage of preparing what I can in advance. Typically, when I get home from the grocery store, I will cook what I can and freeze it for the week’s meals. For example, if we are having Tacos one night and Spaghetti another or Chicken Spaghetti one night and Chicken & Dumplings another, I will cook all of the meat in advance. This saves a lot of meal prep time. The most important factor in saving time in the kitchen is to keep it organized so that I know where everything is in an instant.

What are your 3 valid tips to getting dinner ready in a flash? Share them with TwitterMoms and you can win a Samsung French Door Refrigerator!!

Product Review: Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

Let me first say, I am in NO WAY affiliated with General Mills or Nature Valley – just got me a free sample in the mail and would like to give my opinion and get some feed back if you got one too -

I have always been a bit of a Granola lover so for me to say I like the Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters would be a given. I admit though, until yesterday I had not even tried them.  Being “frugal” at this point in my life keeps me from sometimes trying out new things that are not exactly “needs”.   Unless it ends up being free after a coupon I can typically resist temptation.  That is, until now.  In my mail yesterday were a few ads, a bill and a sample of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters…and of all things, Roasted Cashew!!  Cashews…another one of my weaknesses.  Cashews are a rare treat too  since they are not a frugal food.   Okay, so at first it didn’t really faze me.  I opened the box and out fell 2 coupons, a Cranberry & Pomegranate Trail Mix Bar and the Roasted Cashew Nut Clusters.  I didn’t really even look at the flavors at the time.  Just tossed them on the table (hidden under a few things so no one snatched them away from my greedy little hands!!) for an after dinner snack.   So about an hour after dinner, I grab the package of Nut Clusters and open them up.  They weren’t what I expected.  For some reason, I guess I thought chunks of granola with little nuts mixed in would fall out.  Kind of like the hard granola bars, just crunched up.  These were different…crunchy but not to the point that it made my teeth hurt, a nutty flavor…ah yes, the Cashews!  I could not get enough of these little things.  I am going to have get more because that sample was just enough to really get my taste buds going.   I’m not sure what they cost, but this will be one of the things I keep an eye out for when it comes to sales & coupons.   They will be perfect for an on the go snack or for just sitting at home watching TV…IF they make them in a bigger bag!!  My only fear is that I will eat the whole bag in one sitting…lol.  (And yes, I ate the Trail Mix bar too…it was delicious as well but the Nut Clusters were my favorite for sure.) Two thumbs up from me!

Did you get this sample?  If so, did you like them?  I am interested in knowing what they cost…anyone find any good deals on them.  I typically shop at Kroger & CVS but will definitely go elsewhere if these are on sale!!

Freebies for 10/6

A to Z Coupons – Part 2 10/6

Almost all of these are new – only 1 repeat from the last list (letter Q but I cheated with the letter X).  There just aren’t that many products out there starting with those letters and those that do, don’t have coupons – at least not printable.  Have fun and I hope you find some you can use.

Kristi

Aleve – $1.00 off
Blue Diamond Almonds – .50 off
Colgate – $1.00 off
Dial Soap – $1.00 off
Energizer – $1.00 off any product
Farm Rich products – .75 off
General Mills products – up to $24.45 in coupons this month!
Hormel Pepperoni – .55 off (may need to register)
Iams Cat Food – Register to request a special trial coupon on all Iam’s cat foods
Jolly Time Popcorn – $1.00 off (must log in)
Klondike Bars – $1.00 off
Lysol -  over $11.00 in coupons
Malt-O-Meal Cereals – several to choose from
Nature MadeVitamins – Register to receive coupons
OptiFree Contact Lens Solution – $1.00 off
Pepperidge Farms Petite Treats – $1.00 off
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars – $1.00 off
Rhodes Warm & Serve Rolls (Yummy!!) – .75 off
Snapple Tea – 1.00 off 12pk
Tabasco Sauce – .5o off any flavor
Unisom Cherry Sleepmelts - $1.00 off
Viactive Chews – $1.00 off (this comes up as a PDF and says limit one coupon PER DAY!)
Welch’s Grape Jelly – .75 off (also a $1.00 off  Juice coupon here too!)
RidX (okay so I cheated) – printables
YoKids & YoBaby Yogurt – .50 off (15 different coupons to print)
Zyrtec – $2.00 & $4.00 off