Cent-Saving Saturday: Regal Summer Movie Express 2016!

Happy Saturday!  Many of you are probably heading out to find the freshest finds at Farmer’s Markets (or perusing garage sales to find that next needed buy).  On Tuesday, when I asked for ideas of how to frugally stay cool during these summer months, I received a comment sent to my e-mail.

My sister suggested the reduced children’s movies that most theaters have in the summer.  Some theaters have $2 tickets, some $1, and some charge nothing for the ticket (and make their money on concessions).

These are usually movies that are at least one-year old and that most of the kids attending have already seen, but that’s perfectly okay.  That just means that you are able to pick a movie your child will love.

Regal is our closest movie theater; in fact, we have two of them in our city.  Regal has $1 movies, with the proceeds going to the Will Rogers Institute.  Both movies each week are played on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.

If you have the Regal Crown Club card (Regal’s loyalty card), you can receive half-priced popcorn on Tuesday (which reduces the “theater-price” bite by quite a bit).

Regal’s program runs for nine weeks.  On the first week, you receive a passport booklet for each ticket sold.  If you attend weeks 1-8, you will receive free admission to the movie on the ninth week.

Here are Muffin and I at the first week’s showing of The LEGO Movie.

Speaking of the offerings, here is the entire schedule for the Summer Movie Express (The ones that we are planning to attend are in bold print:

Week 1:  The LEGO Movie/Max

Week 2:  Goosebumps/The Iron Giant:  Signature Edition (Yes, we plan to attend both:  one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday)

Week 3:  Pan/The Smurfs 2

Week 4:  Despicable Me 2/Home

Week 5:  Minions/The Peanuts Movie

Week 6:  Alvin and the Chipmunks:  The Road Chip/Curious George

Week 7:  The Book of Life/Hotel Transylvania 2

Week 8:  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2/Shaun the Sheep

Week 9:  The Croods/Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

In other news, the grocery sales this week are shaping up to be awesome!  Here’s what I mean:

Super 1

country style pork ribs $1.57/lb.  (Stay tuned for Meal Plan Monday to find out what I’m planning to do with these on Father’s Day!)

Brookshire’s thick sliced bacon, 3 lb. pkg. $7.97

Kool Aid Bursts 88 cents

Kroger

green beans (fresh) 88 cents/pound

whole chicken 69 cents/pound

tomatoes on the vine 88 cents/pound

Dr. Pepper, Coca Cola, Pepsi 2 L 88 cents wyb 4

7-Up or A&W 2 L 77 cents wyb 5

Free Friday Download:  a bottle of Lipton Pure Leaf Tea

Kroger Pepperoni (pouch) 10/$10

limes 4/$1

asparagus $1.49/pound

Kroger cheese, 12-16 ounces, $2.79

Aldi (because this will be an Aldi run week)

strawberries $1.29/lb.

red grapes 99 cents/lb.

blueberries $1.29/pint

deli sliced Havarti or Gouda slices $1.99/7 ounce

deli sliced (other) cheeses $1.79/7 ounce

Albertson’s

boneless chuck shoulder roast $1.97/lb.

Red Gold tomatoes (canned) or ketchup 49 cents wyb 6

Yoplait yogurt 49 cents wyb 6

Bar-S franks 79 cents wyb 6

baby back ribs $1.99/lb.wyb 3+ racks (Wednesday-Sunday)

extra large shrimp $4.99/lb. (Wednesday-Sunday)

fresh corn 10 ears/$2 (Wednesday-Sunday)

hamburger or hot dog buns 69 cents (limit 4) (Wednesday-Sunday)

How are the deals shaping up in your neck of the woods?

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Cent-Saving Saturday: Back in the Swing of Things

Yes.  I know.  Things been busy.  Not an excuse, I know.  Plus, some things have happened that shake my confidence in people.  One thing, however, does remain the same:  our sales cycles start on Wednesdays.  The consistency there is to be much lauded.

The sales this week are pretty fair.

Kroger

strawberries, 1 pound 99 cents

Kroger cheese 2.99/pound

Private Selection bacon $2.99/pound

Kroger canned tomatoes or beans 2/$1

asparagus, $1.99/pound

Oscar Mayer Lunchables (small) 10/$10

Coca-Cola, Pepsi, 7-Up, or Dr. Pepper 2L bottles $1 each when you buy multiples of 5

Ritz Crackers $1.75 wyb 5

Kraft Mayo $2.49 wyb 5

Albertsons

Capri Sun $1.99 wyb 5

Jello gelatin or pudding snacks 99 cents wyb 5

Hershey’s, Mars, or Nestle’s singles candy bars 49 cents wyb 5

Super 1 Foods

boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.47/pound

What are the great deals where you’re at this week?

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Cent Saving Saturday: Meatless Meals?

Yes, I know it has been forever since the last CSS post.  It’s not that I’ve forgotten CSS posts.  It’s just that, for the most part, sales in our area have been kind of “meh.”  Okay, but nothing to write home (or a blog entry) about.  And, I was stumped on what to write as the main part of the blog entry.

And then…I tried a recipe that a reader had recommended.  It was as if the heavens opened, the birds tweeted softly, and cotton candy started dancing.  Not really.  But close.  Yes, it was that awesome.

It was a recipe from Serious Eats, “Baked Ziti with Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce.”  We ate it last Sunday.  It was Muffin Approved.  It was Josh Approved.  It was Me Approved.  Daisy really wanted to make it Daisy Approved.  I love it because even though Serious Eats says that it makes six servings, we are still eating on it.  I’ve eaten it for dinner a few times (because the meal plan went to “hockey sticks”) as well as lunch and even (for those of you who don’t know of my secret vice of eating leftovers from the day before for breakfast) breakfast for several days.

It makes A TON!  It’s awesome!  Which brings me to my focus for this piece.

You can save money through meatless meals.  The baked ziti does use some pretty pricey ingredients, but I managed to find them mostly on sale.  And, did I mention the recipe makes a ton?  After we pigged out on it Sunday, there were still two plasticware containers FULL and a plate for me for lunch the following day.  The cost-per-serving is tiny.  And, it freezes well in individual servings and reheats well.

What about other dishes?  We’ve all heard the anti-frugalista’s lament:  eating frugally only allows you to eat rice and beans.  Rice and beans make a complete protein, first of all.  And, moreover, if you use a very tasty bean recipe, beans and rice can be pretty awesome.  And, they can be used for burritos (with the beans left whole or smashed to become “refried”) as a reinvented leftover.

Scary thought:  I just realized that I have very few meatless meals listed on the blog, other than the Crockpot Baked Ziti and Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese.  So, to my readers, I issue you this challenge:  what are your favorite meatless meals?

Now, on to the show (with the recipe and the week’s deals).

Baked Ziti with Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce

Source:  Serious Eats (altered only slightly)

1 1/2 pounds dry ziti pasta (I used a pound of ziti and a half pound of penne before I realized that I had purchased another pound of ziti)

4 cups tomato(-based pasta) sauce (I ended up using 6 cups or three jars), divided

2 cups shredded low-moisture part skim mozzarella

2 cups diced fresh mozzarella, divided (I bought one of the eight-ounce balls, and it was sufficient)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups heavy cream

2 ounces Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese, about 2 ounces, grated to a “snow drift” with a microplane

fresh basil leaves, torn, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Rack should be in the center.  Boil pasta in salted water (think seawater is what I was always told) for 6 1/2 minutes.  The pasta will not be al dente!  It will finish cooking in the oven!  Reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.  Drain pasta.

In the hugest mixing bowl you have, no…seriously, combine the following:  pasta, reserved pasta water, shredded mozzarella, 1 cup fresh mozzarella dice, 2 1/2 cups of pasta sauce (I used one jar, a total of three cups), salt, and pepper.

Scrape into a large flat baking dish, either rectangular or squarish.  Press down into an even layer. Drizzle remaining sauce over the pasta.  (I used another jar, so another three cups, but I love things saucy).  Scatter remaining fresh mozzarella artistically over the top.  COVER WITH ALUMINUM FOIL!  (Guess which step I forgot the first time for about five minutes until I read through the next instruction that says to uncover the ziti?)  Bake 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, gently simmer cream over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle in Parmigiano-Reggiano into cream and whisk until completely melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt. Keep warm.  Taste repeatedly then castigate yourself that there may not be enough sauce left for the ziti.  Then, cover up your guilt by tasting again.

Increase oven to 450°F, uncover baked ziti, and cook until just starting to brown on top, about 10 minutes. Let stand for the longest 10 minutes of your life–not kidding here. Top with basil leaves, spoon onto plates, and drizzle with Parmesan cream. Serve immediately.

Guess what I’m having for breakfast?

Kroger

whole chicken, drumsticks, or thighs 79 cents/pound, limit 2 chickens or packages with $10 purchase

red, yellow, or orange bell peppers 99 cents each

Kroger milk or orange juice, one gallon $2.99

Kroger sour cream or cream cheese 10/$10

Bartlett pears 99 cents/pound

Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, or 7-Up 2 Liter, $1 each when you buy 5

Betty Crocker cake mix 10/$10

Old Orchard juices, 64 ounces 10/$10

Lunchables 10/$10

Kroger frozen waffles, 10/$10

Albertson’s

Best Choice flour or sugar 99 cents (limit 3, Friday-Sunday)

Prego Pasta Sauce, 99 cents wyb 6

Campbell’s chunky soups, 99 cents wyb 6

Red Gold salsa 99 cents wyb 6

Kraft 8 ounce salad dressing 99 cents wyb 6

Red Gold tomatoes (canned) 29 cents wyb 6

Hormel chili $1.49 wyb 6

boneless skinless chicken breast $1.47/pound

strawberries, 1 pound package 2/$4

Brookshire’s

pork butt roast, 99 cents/pound, limit three packages

Jonagold, Fuji, Granny Smith, or red delicious apples 10 pounds/$10

What are the deals in your area this week?

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Cent-Saving Saturday: Labor Day Week!

It’s Labor Day weekend, and the sales are a bit better this week.  The last few weeks, they’ve been very “meh,” so I’ve stuck to primarily Kroger, with a bit of Walmart thrown in for fun.

This week, I at least have something to post about each one of the four big ones:  Kroger, Brookshire’s, Super 1, and Albertson’s.

Albertson’s

Gebhardt refried beans 69 cents (limit 4)

Sweet Baby Rays barbecue sauce 99 cents (limit 4)

Capri Sun juice drinks $1.69 wyb 6

pork shoulder 99 cents/pound

boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.79/pound (Thursday-Sunday)

Kroger

Calypso lemonade–free Friday digital download coupon

Corn 8 ears/$1

ground chuck $2.49/pound

personal watermelon $1.99

cheese 2/$3 (So, basically, this means a pound of cheese for $3.)

Brookshire’s

orange juice, gallon 2/$7

Del Monte fruit cups 2/$4

Super 1 (The Big Winner This Week)

Pepsi 2L $1

Coke 12 pack $1.98 (limit 3 with $20 purchase)

Hormel chili 19 ounce (large can) $1.48

Van Camps Pork and Beans 50 cents

Vlassic Pickles $2

Leg quarters 49 cents/pound

3 pound back yellow onions $1.49

Plums 1.25/pound

What are the deals where you are this week?

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Cent Saving Saturday: The 3 R’s Part 1

No, I’m not talking about reading, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmetic.  Those have been replaced by other things.  Just kidding (not really, especially on the ‘ritin’ front, ESPECIALLY if you are talking about handwriting).

I’m talking about the Earth-friendly ones:  reduce, reuse, recycle.  I’m especially referring to the second one:  reuse.  (We are still working on the reduce one.)

If you live in the South, especially, you are old hat at this.  By living in the South, I mean that you are at least a second generation Southerner on at least one side of your family (especially maternal).

In other words, you might be a Southerner if:

1) A margarine, sour cream, or cottage cheese tub in your fridge holds something besides one of those three items (especially leftovers).

2) Your fine food storage devices (see #1) flood out when you open the “Tupperware” cabinet.

3)  You panic if you see one of the aforementioned containers in the trash because they are awesome.

4)  Your small sewing kit is contained in a Danish butter cookie tin.

5)  Aforementioned cookie tins are also reused year after year at Christmas time.

6)  You have Christmas and birthday gift bags in your wrapping area with multiple layers of to/from tags.

7)  Your dad has baby food jars from your infancy holding globs of leftover paint and small tools in the garage.

8)  You wash and reuse zippy baggies (unless they contained raw meat).

9)  Old milk jugs are used to water plants.

10)  Solo cups and Starbucks frappuccino cups are used until they crack and leak.

Yup.  I’m guilty of a few.  And, yes, I know several of those containers are not BPA-free.  But, this way, they are landfill-free.

But, y’all came here for the deals.

Kroger

Kroger ground beef (chub) $1.99/pound (Chub buying scares me; something about not being able to see the meat)

red, yellow, or orange bell peppers 99 cents

Kroger cheese 8 ounce 2/$3 (meaning $3/pound!) limit 4 with $10 additional purchase

Power Ade 32 ounces 2/$1 (limit 6 with $10 additional purchase)

iceberg, Romaine, and leaf lettuces 99 cents/head

refrigerated International Delight coffee creamers (My mother-in-law loves these!) $1.99 wyb 3

half gallon Kroger orange juice $1.87

Top Flight one-subject notebooks 19 cents (limit 10)

Ticonderoga 24-pack pencils $2.99 (Office Depot had these a few weeks ago and sold out almost instantly)

Kroger frozen waffles or cream cheese 10/$10

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi 2 L 10/$10

Kroger pasta sauce 10/$10

Paper Mate 10 pack pens 10/$10

Strawberries 4 pounds/$5

Simple Truth organic spring mix $3.99/pound

Paper Mate mechanical pencils, 10 count 99 cents

Albertson’s

3 Day-Sale

boneless skinless $1.78/pound

red seedless grapes 89 cents/pound

week-long

split chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks 88 cents/pound

blueberries, pint 2/$3

goldfish crackers 99 cents (for Muffin’s upcoming lunches)

ramen noodles 10 cents (limit 10)

Essential Everyday frozen veg 88 cents

What are the deals where you are this week?

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Cent Saving Saturday: My Attempt with Kroger Digital Coupons

Happy Saturday, blog fans!  Today you find me a bit peeved and full of consternation.  Now that I have my very own Kroger card minted (as opposed to “borrowing” someone else’s), I have been experimenting with the Free Friday Download, etc.  This week is the first digital coupon bonanza that Kroger has had since I first received this new card.  I loaded the items I wished to buy and visited the store Wednesday (the first day of the sale).  For the first time that I’ve noticed, you could buy more than one item with the digital “coupon.”  In fact, you could purchase five.  I purchased two of the cheese (see below) and five of the Del Monte fruit cups (in preparation for Muffin starting school).  Both of the cheeses and two of the fruit cups were discounted.  The other three?  Uh, no.

So, after writing this post and eating breakfast, I will be going to the “good” Kroger with receipt and shopping list in hand, stand in the interminable line at customer service, and explain the problem AGAIN to someone (as I’m sure the person that I talked to Wednesday afternoon will not be working today).  Hopefully, it will work out well.  Also, I plan on purchasing other items with the digital coupons I have already loaded to my card that I didn’t purchase the other day.

Grrr.

Anyway, here are the sales.

Kroger

Cantaloupe 87 cents

gallon milk (Springdale) and orange juice (Kroger) $2.99

Kroger cheese 32 ounce (with digital coupon) $5.49 (less than $3 a pound!)

Del Monte fruit cups (grr) $1.50 with digital coupon

Hostess snacks $1.99 with digital coupon

Hawaiian Punch $1.39 with digital coupon

green grapes 87 cents/pound

Kroger apple juice 99 cents (limit 2 with $10 purchase)

green beans/red onions 99 cents/pound

pork shoulder 79 cents/pound (limit 2 with $10 purchase)

Albertsons

Coke 2 L 88 cents

boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.88

Calidad tortilla chips 99 cents

Albertsons 3-Day Sale

leg quarters 39 cents/pound limit 2 with $10 purchase

2 pounds strawberries $2.99

Super 1

Kool Aid Bursts 88 cents

I’ll let you know how my excursion goes!

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Cent Saving Saturday: On Patriotic Sunday

 on Sunday

I know it’s Sunday, but I warned you that it was coming.  Our home Fourth of July festivities are actually going to occur next weekend on the 11th.  So, many of these deals will be put to use on Saturday.

Kroger

St. Louis Style Ribs $1.47/pound

blueberries, pint 99 cents

Kroger cheese, 16 ounce $2.99

Johnsonville breakfast sausage links $2.99

Santa Cruz organic lemonade/limeade, 32 ounce 10/$10

Betty Crocker cake mix or Cool Whip 10/$10

p$$t granulated sugar $1.89

Skinner Pasta 19 cents each wyb 6

Minute Maid Fruit Drink 99 cents wyb 6

General Mills cereal $1.49 wyb 6

Minute Maid orange juice $1.99 wyb 6

Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce 99 cents wyb 6

Albertsons

strawberries, 2 pounds $4.29

Essential Everyday frozen vegetables 88 cents

Eckrich meat franks 99 cents

85% lean ground beef $2.88/pound wyb 2+ pounds

corn 4/$1 (limit 8)

Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper 12 pack 4/$10 (limit 4)

Kool Aid Jammers, 10 pack $1.49

Kraft salad dressing, 16 ounces $1.49

Kraft mayo $2.49

Albertsons 4 day sale (Thursday-Sunday)

boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.77/pound (limit 10 pounds)

Bar-S meat franks or Albertsons buns 79 cents (limit 4 each)

Super 1

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, 7-Up, Dasani Sparkling 12 pack 4/$10

chicken leg quarters, 8 pound bag 39 cents/pound

red, orange, golden bell peppers 97 cents each

10 pound bag russet potatoes $2.45

Kraft BBQ sauce 88 cents

Hormel chili 19 ounce (big) can $1.48

Brookshire’s

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, 7-Up, Dasani Sparkling 12 pack 4/$10

cherries $1.79/pound

Tropicana Twister Punch 99 cents

What are your deals this week?

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Cent Saving Saturday: Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!  I am postponing the CSS post until tomorrow in order for you to fully enjoy time with your family on this fine day.  Let me share with you a two of the patriotic posts from last year:

Fourth of July Subway Art

We Plan Wednesday:  Fourth of July Burger Bash

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Cent-Saving Saturday: A Recipe From Chipotle

Do you subscribe to any blogger’s newsletters?  I subscribe to a few.  It lets me know when I need to check their blogs for new recipes and ideas (and reminds me, in my busy-ness, that they still exist).  One that I’ve recently begun receiving the newsletter for is Heather Likes Food.  I first discovered the blog when I realized that the Smothered Chicken was part of a guest post written by Heather of (you guessed it!) Heather Likes Food.  And that’s not the only num-nummy recipe on her blog.  Thus, I signed up to receive her newsletter.

And…today (actually yesterday…but I had already written the Cent Saving Saturday post, and I wanted you to find this before Chipotle manages to make it go away so I didn’t want it to wait another week) I read in her newsletter that CHIPOTLE HAD POSTED THEIR GUACAMOLE RECIPE ON THEIR WEBSITE!!!!!!

On their site, they mention that their guac is an “extra,” that is, you have to pay through the nose for the privilege of having that yumminess added to your meal.

But now, I can make it at home.  I had read several clones and copycats of the recipe over the years, but now I can make it at home!

I’m posting the recipe here in case they take it down.  If you want to see it in all of its Flash-y fun, check out Chipotle’s site.

Chipotle Guacamole

Lifted Shamelessly from Chipotle’s Website 6/13/15

2 ripe Haas avocadoes

2 teaspoons lime juice

2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)

1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped)

1/2 jalapeno, including seeds (finely chopped)

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

1. Choose the right avocado. It should feel squishy yet firm (like the palm of your hand), and be a nice dark green color on the inside.
2. Cut the avocado in half and the remove the pit (carefully!)
3. Scoop the avocados and place in a medium bowl.
4. Toss and coat with lime juice.
5. Add the salt and using a fork or potato masher, mash until a smooth consistency is achieved.
6. Fold in the remaining ingredients and mix well.
7. Taste the guacamole (over and over) and adjust seasoning if necessary.

See?  Totally different from what I normally do.  I usually mash before adding any other ingredients.  I have a feeling that mashing after the lime juice makes it oxidize less.

Life changing!

Thanks, Heather!

What is your favorite guacamole application?

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Cent Saving Saturday: The Kroger Friday Download

I know that some of you may not have a Kroger in your area, but you may have a grocery store that has a card loyalty program.  I really am not in favor of the card loyalty programs.  It punishes (or at least, inconveniences) tourists to the area.  It’s a hassle to keep up with the card.  (I, who have yet to manage to not misplace a driver’s license for its four-year tenure EVER can attest to this.)  Right now, I have way too many cards I have to shuffle through to find the card I want.

But the Kroger card has a neat thing that I will try out for the first time this weekend (having procured another card and tied it to my online account).  They have Free Download Friday.  This Friday, it was one of those Snapple Straight-Up Teas.  Today, I will try it out for sure.

But that’s only one of the really cool deals this week.

Albertsons

3-Day Sale

boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.99/pound

cherries $2.49/pound

All Week

Carolina ground turkey 99 cents (limit 6) with in-ad coupon

Ritz crackers and Oreo cookies $1.99 (limit 4) with in-ad coupon

Challenge butter $1.99 (limit 4) with in-ad coupon

Essential Everyday shredded cheese $1.79 (limit 2) with in-ad coupon

Ragu 99 cents wyb 6

Lipton iced tea bags, 24 count family size $1.49 wyb 6

celery $1.29

pint blueberries $1.99 with in-ad coupon

Kroger

green beans 99 cents/pound

milk/orange juice, gallon $2.99

Old Orchard apple juice 99 cents wyb 5

peaches/nectarines $1.28/pound

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, or 7-Up $1 wyb 5

Kroger cheese 32 ounce $5.99

Hostess snack cakes $1.99 wyb 5

Kraft/Sargento shredded 6-8 ounce cheese $1.99 wyb 5

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh lunch meat $2.49 wyb 5

Kroger sour cream 24 ounce $1.49 wyb 5

red, yellow, or orange bell peppers 88 cents

red seedless grapes 88 cents/pound

Nature’s Own honey wheat bread 99 cents with $10 additional purchase, limit 2

Super 1

whole chicken 77 cents/pound

green beans 87 cents/pound

5 pound bag potatoes $1.45

Brookshires

3 pound bag yellow onions, buy 1 get 1 for a penny ($2.99/2)

cucumbers/extra large bell peppers 2/$1

What are your deals this week?

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