Grocery Mama

Have Some Fun with Labor Day Samples

I hope you have a fantastic labor day!

Here are some savings for you:

Purina One Free 4lb Bag Of Purina One Dog OR Cat Food: Call 1-866-894-BARK (1-866-894-2275)

Enjoy an Atkins Chocolate Chip Granola Bar - Buy 1 get 1 free

Zout Laundry Stain Remover - Try Me Free - Rebate form - Expires 10/31/2008 (you will go direct to the print coupon page.)

EAS Bar Free Sample

Get a $3 coupon off Boston Market when you join their VIP Club.

Seventh Generation Free Diaper Sample

Enjoy!

Who loves Pistachios? We do!

Everybody's Nuts was kind enough to send Grocery Mama their pistachios to check out. Let me tell you, I'm glad they did! We found a new snack for the kids I don't mind them digging in to!

Everybody's Nuts has four flavors:

Roasted No Salt - the only ingredient on this box is Dry Roasted Pistachios. This is my favorite since I try to limit my salt intake (I'm a recovering saltoholic!).

Roasted & Salted - this was my kid’s favorite

Salt & Pepper - I like this one a lot as well. I was apprehensive about trying this one. But it isn't just a pepper flavor; it's more spiced with a garlic and onion powder as well.

European Roast - My husbands favorite. Slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness.

Here are some other ways to eat pistachios: sprinkle the pistachios on yogurt, hot and/or cold cereal, or in cream cheese spreads for sandwiches and crackers. Add chopped pistachios to your favorite bread, pancake, waffle or muffin recipe.

I have seen that at King Soopers. To see if they are in a store near you, check out the Everybody's Nuts website.

I will tell you this, it is extremely apparent that the folks from Everybody’s Nuts are passionate about what they do and believe strongly in their cholesterol free treat!

A yummy snack for sure, my family will be getting these again to enjoy! Especially since my brother-in-law came over and ate them all!

Here is a pict of the kids having fun with Everybody's Nuts Gear:

Enjoy!

Make Your Own Snack Pack

It’s back to school for my kids. I’m happy to hear they are allowed to bring a healthy snack with them. I love this because they get to have a little fuel burst to keep their brains working throughout the day.

Of course, if you do the grocery shopping, the pre packed snacks cost just a bit more than buying a big bag. So I buy the full box of crackers or pretzels. I then seperate the contents of the box into sandwich baggies so the kids can grab and go.

To dress up the sandwich bags, I make a simple Snack Bag they can easily slip the baggie into.

First, I choose two pieces of fabric. One will show on the outside and the other will be the inner lining. Then I simply traced around a sandwich baggie leaving about a 1/4 in border onto a white piece of paper. I did this again only making a rectangular shape at the top for the flap.

I then placed the two squares on each piece of fabric and cut out the pattern. Again leaving a 1/4 inch border.

Pin the two pieces of material together right sides together. Sew around the sides and top, leaving the bottom open. Turn the right sides out and sew across bottom making it a complete piece.

Pin right sides (or the part that will show on the outside) together. Sew sides and turn right sides out. Attach a bit of velcro at the top of the flap so you can secure your snack bag together.

Place a portion size of crackers or other snack inside a sandwich baggie and slip inside.
Perfect for backpacks and even your purse! Just a fun way to carry those healthy snacks without having to pay for the convenience of a pre packaged snack!

Printable Coupons

Free Sample Fun

Don't miss the Grocery Mama Frugal Finds newsletter that goes out today! Here are some of the great sample finds that were in it last week:

Scott Extra Soft Bath Tissue:  Try a roll!

Meow Mix Wholesome Goodness: Try thier new cat food product.

Neutrogena: Try thier new pink grapefruit face scrub.

Purex Sample: Get a sample of purex fabric softner.

Stride Gum: Get a pack of stride gum in the people vs. stride gum promo.

Eucerin: Sample Of Eucerin Plus Intensive Foot Repair Creme

Good Nights: Try one of the Goodnight sleep pants. for kids)

Make way for this book in your cookbook library!

I recently had the privilege of being asked to review the Podleski sister's new cookbook, Eat, Shrink and Be Merry!

I am a fan of cookbooks. When the book has to deal with easy and healthy recipes - I'm game. In this cookbook though, you get sooo much more. Besides the clever titles and the cartoons that made me snicker, you get an insight into passionate cooking.

After reading the Sorta Kinda Introduction (or a tale of two sisters - not nun sisters by the way), I wanted to call Janet and Greta up and ask to be their best friend! It's an inspirational tale for sure. And it will motivate the most procrastinating of us all to go for our dreams despite the hurdles that come at us. A must read chapter of the cookbook for sure.

Let’s get to the cookbook. There are only a few pictures of what the finished prepared meals look like. Which is ok, since mine never looks like that! What you will see are cute little cartoons which keeps you turning from page to page. This is more of a sit down and read on a rainy day cookbook. Because the titles are puns and twists on the actual ingredients involved, you need to read each recipe. I will tell you though; you will have bookmarks everywhere with recipes you'll want to try.

On my menu this week is the Worth Every Penne pasta dish (page 182). The fabulous sisters also included the calories, fiber and sodium and other nutritional information for each recipe.

A Peek at a Bean Salad Recipe:

If you are looking for a humourous and healthy cookbook, don't miss the great deal they have going on the website.

Buy 1 Eat, Shrink & Be Merry cookbook for $29.95 and get a second one free for a gift!

If you need any more motivation to check out this picture of the Shocklate Cheesecake (page 170).

Coupon Code for the Couponizer

If you are looking for a way to organize your coupons, check out the Couponizer.

They are offering a Fall Discount Coupon code:

STARTNOW
This code will apply a 10% off discount to the entire order.  Expires 10/15/08

To apply the code, simply enter it in the coupon code box on the online order
form.

Here are the components of
The Couponizer® System:

• The Couponizer™ - wire bound booklet
• Your Guide to Smart Savings
• CoupStacker - presorting mat
• Shopping List
• CoupTracker - record monthly savings
• Scissors
• Carrying Bag 

Enjoy!

Menu Planning – Side Dishes

You can save a huge amount of money on side dishes if you make them yourself. You will also cut down on sodium, calories and hydrogenated ickyness! Ok, so ickyness might not be a word but you get my point.

Don’t think you have the time? Make more than one side dish a night. Instead of only making enough rice for one night, cook a double batch. When you go to make it, add other ingredients to give it another taste.

You can really do this with potatoes. Buy a 5lb bag and cook all those spuds up. Make a big bowl of mashed potatoes and separate them into freezer bags. You’ll have enough for quite a few meals. And all this cost was the $3.49 for the bag.

Budget101.com has a huge recipe list of Make Your Own (MYO) items. Many of the items your buy pre made in boxes you can make yourself for a lot less and much healthier.

Choose a few of the MYO recipes and by the ingredients and pre make your mixes. Keep them in the pantry for a quick addition to your side dish.

Jot down what you will have as a side dish under each menu day. You will know what you have to make.

If you just absolutely don’t have the time and opt for ready made side dishes, look for ones that have lower sodium.

Same rule applies to these, check what’s on sale in your local papers. Keep in mind what’s on sale isn’t always the lower price. Store brands and just as good and may be lower than sale priced brand name items. On your list, write down the price and name. When you go to the store do a quick compare to see which your best option is.

Side dish round up – no matter what, it’s cheaper and healthier to create your own. If you do buy pre made, list what’s on sale and compare to store brands when you get there.

Next Week - Produce

More Coupons on Grocery Mama

I am super excited to announce that you now have even more coupons to download from Grocery Mama!

Under pages there is now an Online Printable Coupon Page! You can print coupons from here whenever you want.

I will be letting you know what's in there and add them to what is on sale that week for even more savings for you!

Enjoy,

Week 6 - Homemade Kitchen Promo - Very Kiki

Welcome to the sixth week of Grocery Mama's Homemade Kitchen Promotion.

This weeks Giveaway is from Very Kiki! Very Kiki features the curest baby onsies and bibs. Perfect for keeping your little ones clean and looking cute!

She is giving away One onsie of your choice!

To be entered into this giveaway, go check out Kristen's store Very Kiki and have a look around. Come back here and leave a comment telling me which onsie you like.

This week's giveaway will end next Tuesday, August 26th. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Wednesday August 27th!

For a full details of the Homemade Kitchen Promotion visit my Current Giveaways Page here!