Friday, December 23, 2011

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!



Here is my top secret, uber-yummy chocolate chip recipe! My secret ingredient --- vanilla pudding mix!  All of my family/friends LOVE this recipe and as you may notice, it's the double recipe since it is IMPOSSIBLE to make a single batch and have them last a full day.

I make changes to it fairly often --- but this is the variation that I currently use. You may want to increase the salt to 2 tsps --- it just depends on your taste!

4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 packets of instant vanilla pudding mix (I suggest the 3.4 oz)
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt - set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.

4. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.

5. Blend in the flour mixture.

6. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.

7. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto UNgreased cookie sheet. (Make sure to avoid the Pam --- my first batch was god-awful since I missed that part!)

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes in preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

Enjoy!!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Grocery Store Deals 12/14



Here are the best deals that I can find in KC this week from the local grocery store's sales ads.

Several of you have asked how I use this post to save money. Personally, I print this list each week and take it to Walmart to price match the items that I decide to purchase. I use my other weekly posts or posts from Penny Pinchin' Mom or KC Mamas for the coupon match ups for Hen House, Price Chopper and HyVee to see if I can save even more.

The other question I am hearing is -- isn't it cheaper to just buy the store (generic) brand. My experience is that 60% of the time, the name brand that is on SALE is cheaper than the store brand. On top of that, if the store brand is on sale and you have a coupon for the item, it is almost always a MUCH better deal.

Hope this helps -- if you have questions, please let me know.

Best Prices in Kansas City for week of 12/14/2011
Meats Store Price / LB Notes:
Beef:
93% Ground Round Hen House $3.79  
Beef Tenderloin Hen House $14.99  
Bone-In Beef Standing Rib Roast Thriftway $6.99  
Bottom Round Roast HyVee $3.99  
Bottom Round Steaks, boneless Price Chopper $3.79  
Certified Ground Round Price Chopper $1.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Cube Steak Price Chopper $3.99  
KC Strips, fresh Price Chopper $5.99  
Rib Eye Roast SaveALot $5.99  
Rump Roast, boneless Price Chopper $3.49  
Sirloin Tip Roast or Steak Dillons $3.99  
Stew Meat Price Chopper $3.99  
Pork:
Baby Back Ribs Price Chopper $4.99  
Ball's Smokehouse Spiral Sliced 1/2 Ham Hen House $4.99  
Best Choice Spiral Sliced Honey Ham Thriftway $1.99  
Center Cut Roast, boneless Hen House $4.29  
Cook's Super Trim Shank 1/2 Ham, bone-in Thriftway $1.49  
Farmland Bacon, 2 for $5 Price Chopper $2.50 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Farmland Hickory Quarter Ham Hen House $3.29  
Farmland Premium Boneless Ham Hen House $3.49  
Farmland Skinless Shankless Whole Ham HyVee $1.88  
Hormel Cure 81 Spiral Sliced Half Ham Hen House $2.79  
Hormel Little Sizzlers Price Chopper $0.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Jimmy Dean Roll Sausage Price Chopper $1.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Pork Loin HyVee $1.99  
Pork Loin Chops Thriftway $2.49  
Pork Loin Roast, fresh, boneless SaveALot $2.29  
Pork Picnic Roast SaveALot $1.99  
Pork Sirloin Roast SaveALot $1.79  
Pork Spare Ribs, Cry-o-Vac SaveALot $2.29  
Pork Tenderloins Thriftway $4.99  
Chicken:
Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts, fresh SunFresh $1.69  
Boneless/Skinless Chicken Tenders, fresh SunFresh $1.69  
Butterball Turkey Dillons $1.29  
Drumsticks, fresh Thriftway $0.99  
FRESH Hen or Tom Turkey Hen House $1.69  
FRESH Turkey Breast Hen House $2.99  
Honeysuckle White Whole Turkey Breast Dillons $0.99  
Leg of Lamb Dillons $5.99  
Thighs, fresh Thriftway $0.99  
Fish:
Atlantic Salmon Hen House $5.99  
Lobster Tail Hen House $8.99  
Raw Shrimp, 26-30 ct Price Chopper $7.99  
Snow Crab Leg Clusters Dillons $6.99  
Tilapia Fillets Price Chopper $3.99  
Dairy:
A&E Egg Nog, 1 quart, 2 for $5 Price Chopper $2.50  
Best Choice Butter, 16oz SunFresh $1.88  
Best Choice Large Eggs, 1 dozen Price Chopper $1.19 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Blue Bonnet Spread Quarters, 16oz SaveALot $0.69  
Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream, 1.75 qt HyVee $2.99  
Crystal Farms Shredded or Chunk Cheese, 8 oz Price Chopper $1.49 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Dillons Large Eggs, 18 ct Dillons $1.88  
Hy-Vee Milk, 1/2 gallon HyVee $1.59  
Kraft Chunk Cheese SaveALot $1.99  
Veggies:
Asparagus Hen House $1.99  
Avocados, Large Haas, 4 for $5 Price Chopper $1.25  
Bell Peppers, 2 for $3 Price Chopper $1.50  
Best Choice Frozen Veggies, 16 oz Thriftway $0.69  
Broccoli Bunches HyVee $1.48  
Celery SaveALot $0.79  
Dole Salads, 5-12 oz, 2 for $4 Price Chopper $2.00  
Green Giant Baby Cut Carrots, 2 lbs, 2 for $5 Price Chopper $2.50  
Green Giant Steamers, 12oz Hen House $0.89  
Green Giant Whole White Mushrooms, 8oz Price Chopper $1.69  
Harvest Club Red Potatoes, 5 lbs HyVee $1.99  
Russett Potatoes, 8 lb bag Thriftway $2.99  
Santa Sweet Grape Tomatoes, 10oz Thriftway $1.99  
Sweet Grape Tomatoes, 10 oz, 2 for $3 SaveALot $1.50  
Sweet Potatoes, jumbo Thriftway $0.39  
Yellow Onions, 3lb bag, 2 for $3 Price Chopper $1.50  
Fruit:
Apples Price Chopper $1.29  
Bananas Thriftway $0.25 Every Tuesday
Blueberries, 1 pint Price Chopper $2.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Clementines, 3 lb bag Thriftway $3.99  
Cranberries, 12 oz bag,  HyVee $1.69  
Golden Sweet Pineapple Price Chopper $1.99  
Oranges, 4lbs SaveALot $2.99  
Red Seedless Grapes, jumbo HyVee $2.18  
Tangerines, 3lbs bag, 2 for $3 SaveALot $1.50  
Texas Red Grapefruit, 3lbs bag, 2 for $3 SaveALot $1.50  
Washington Pears Price Chopper $1.29  
Other Great Food Deals:
Best Choice Apple Juice, 64 oz Price Chopper $0.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Best Choice Sugar, 4lb Thriftway $1.69  
Bigelow Herb Tea Hen House $1.88  
C&H Brown or Powdered Sugar, 2 lbs Price Chopper $1.69 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
C&H Sugar, 4 lb Price Chopper $1.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Coke Products, 12 pk, 4 for $11 HyVee $2.75  
Cool Whip HyVee $0.69  
Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue, 9 rolls HyVee $3.99  
Crisco Cooking Oil, 48 oz Price Chopper $2.49 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Duracell Batteries Price Chopper $3.99 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
Folgers Coffee, 11.3 Price Chopper $2.99  
Folgers Coffee, 33.9 oz HyVee $8.77  
General Mills Cereals, 5 for $10 Price Chopper $2.00 PC's Lowest Price Guarenteed
HyVee All Purpose Flour, 5lbs HyVee $0.99  
Jell-O Gelatin or Pudding, 3 for $2 HyVee $0.67  
Keurig K-Cups, 12 ct Price Chopper $6.99  
Lay’s Potato Chips Dillons $2.29  
Maxwell House International CafĂ© Hen House $2.99  
Nestle Morsels, 12 oz Thriftway $1.99  
Ore Ida Potatoes, 2 for $4 Dillons $2.00 Buy 2, get one FREE
Pepsi 6 or 12 pks, 3 for $9 Thriftway $3.00  
Pillsbury Cake Mix HyVee $0.88  
Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits, 2 for $3 Price Chopper $1.50  
Swanson Broth, 14.5oz HyVee $0.58