Maybe I should start a coupon spotlight?

So I've been reviewing my page views for my various blog posts, and it seems that my coupon posts get the most views.

Now, I'm not looking to make money off this blog or anything, but more page views (like 17 as opposed to 3, I know, I might crash the site) is a nice thing to see.

So I'm going to start a coupon spotlight.

Especially since I have little time to cook during the holidays. I'm attempting to be crafty. That's time consuming.

Anyway, so here we go.

My preferred coupon blog is The Krazy Coupon Lady. I like it's tips, shopping lists, and format. Also, It feels like there are fewer ads, even though there might not be. I even like that they organize sending expired coupons to military families. I've sent them two envelopes already.

So, it turns out The Krazy Coupon Lady is on Pinterest. Totally starting following that, especially the Freebies, Steals & Deal board.

And because I follow that board, I saw this deal on Stouffer's meals at Target.

See, I had seen something similar in the Target circular, but the prices were off. The circular said buy two, get a $5 gift card, but the two were the 57- to 96-oz. Stouffer’s family meals for $11.39 a piece.

I was intrigued, mostly because I knew I had four $1.50 off one Stouffer's family meal coupons in my envelope. (Yes, I have an envelope. I haven't graduated to a binder yet.)

So I grabbed the circular and my coupons and went to the store.

Where the But 2, Get a Gift Card was as The Krazy Coupon Lady said. I could buy the smaller portions, the ones that were $5.49 or $5.99 each and still get the $5 gift card.

So, let's do the math. The meatless options were $5.50 (because I'm rounding to make this easier). You need to buy two to get the gift card. That's $11 for two. Minus the $5 gift card, $6 for two. Minus the two coupons ($1.50 each, $3 for the pair), $3 for the two. That's $1.50 for a family-size meal.

For the meat options, $6 each, two for $12. Minus the $5 gift card, $7. Minue the $3 in coupons, $4. That's $2 a piece of a family-size meal (with meat).

And these things feed six people easy.

Seriously.

I wish I owned an upright freezer. Or had the space for one in my apartment. Boo.

I bought four, two meatless, two meat. I knew I really didn't have room in my freezer for four, so what did I do? I proceeded to sell my mom two of them for her freezers (because she gets to have a fridge in the garage). I figured they were easy things for my dad to throw in the oven while he's off work recovering from knee surgery. He can have dinner ready for her when she gets home, that lucky lady.

And that was my awesome score of the week.

Yes, More Coupons. Deal.

Hamburger Helper is 10/$10 this week at Kroger.

I got six boxes for $4.

See this post for the math.

Cherry Beer Margarita

Yes, it is fall. Yes, this is definitely a summer drink.

But it was so tasty sounding, I couldn't help myself.

Plus, I had limeade in my freezer. So Cherry Beer Margaritas it was. 

I had put my friends in charge of getting the ingredients over a couple of weeks, and I bought the Corona, so we were ready to go.

I made it up as directed, skipping the Mason jars, because really, who has the time? 

(And I don't know where this photo has got to either. Oh well, you can't taste the alcohol through a photo anyway.)

It was super delicious. Tasted a lot like summer beer, but, you know, with cherry. 

Just make it. You'll like it.

Crescent Roll Jalapeno Poppers

I find it frustrating that the coupons for Pillsbury products always require you to buy two or three cans.

But as frustrated as I am, I still do it because I have the coupon. I do, however, try to line up up a few meals in a row that can use them.

Or in this case, an appetizer or two.

I decided to make these Crescent Roll Jalapeno Poppers. I was hoping my dad would still have some jalapenos at his shop, but he did not, so I did have to buy that. I had baked the bacon the day before so all I had to do was assemble and bake.

I followed the directions. I kinda wish I owned a pizza cutter because it was difficult to cut the raw rolls in half with a regular knife. Maybe next time I should flower it?

Either way, I used a butter knife to put portions of cream cheese on the dough, stuck on the bacon, places on the jalapeno slice, and wrapped up as best I could.

Then I baked them.

My friend Amy was the first to try them once they came out of the oven. She said they needed a sweet sauce, like you get with poppers at Arby's. I asked her how she felt about strawberry jam. I then pointed to where the strawberry jam was. (Not in the fridge, but in the pantry, with the other unopened condiments.)

Evidently the jam made them a hit.

(And I seem to have lost the photo of my own...they looked unimpressive.)

But I think there was room for improvement.

First, although I'm not usually a fan of overly stuffed anything, the cheese to dough ratio was off. I needed to put in more cream cheese, which I will next time.

Additionally, I want to try the pickled jalapenos from a jar instead of fresh. Sure, fresh are better for you, but I think the pickled ones have a better bite.

Lastly, I liked the crunch of the bacon, but I didn't think it was necessary.

I'm definitely glad to know this recipe now. I will use it again!

Apology, Random Coupon Score

I swear, readers, I haven't forgotten the blog. We've just had some family stuff going on, so I haven't been able to finish up the blogs I have started, much less have time to keep cooking. I hope to post some more this week.

The good news is, I found an awesome deal for area bakers.

I was at Jungle Jim's International Market this weekend with an out-of-town friend. While she was perusing the map (the fact that there was a map boggled her), I looked at the circular.

A jar Fleichmann's Yeast was marked down to $4.49, a savings of $3.16. And, oh, what is this? A manufacturer's coupon? Yes, I had that too, $1 off. The jar of yeast cost me $3.49, I have $4.16.

I view it as a mandate to bake.