Join me on my quest to save money and time in Kansas City while stocking up on what my family (and most families) use on a regular basis. I will be using coupons (facebook coupons, sunday coupons, and online coupons), as well as, price matching to save as much as possible each week!
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 Café | 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 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)