Tuesday's tid-bit...

Monday's value meal...

This is a fun and easy recipe that is a favorite in our house.  It also has the added benefit that it looks like you spent a lot of time to make, so its great for company too.  You can use canned or precooked refrigerated chicken for this dish, but we like to use our left overs for this dish.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Chicken Pot Pie in a Shell

1 package (10 ounces) Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Shells
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup milk
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas and carrots
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey

*** I added a little curry powder to this to give it a little extra flavor since its a little bland.

Prepare the pastry shells according to the package directions.  Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until tender.  Stir the soup, milk and peas and carrots in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the chicken and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Spoon the chicken mixture into the pastry shells.

Makes 6 pastries.

---Main dish---
 
$0.55 off Pilgrim's Pride Chicken
$1.50 off 3 Campbell's Condensed Soup
$0.60 off 3 Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables (currently listed on page 3)
 
---Salad---
 
$2.00 off 1 Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals
 
---Beverage---
 
$1.00 off  1 Tazo Zero Calorie Iced Tea
or
$0.75 off Smart Balance Milk
 
---Dessert---
 
$1.00 off 2 Pillsbury Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts
$1.00 off 2 Lucky Leaf Pie Filling
 
Have a great Monday everyone!
 
C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

My friends know my two biggest reality TV musts are Top Chef and Project Runway, I love Chef Tom Colicchio of Top Chef and Tim Gunn of Project Runway, their insights are great and the stories they can tell about things within their respective industries is very eye opening!  While both have books out I have totally fallen in love with Tim Gunn's latest, Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work, released earlier this month.  This book has some great stories from the fashion industry, many involving names you know, plus a lot of inside information on both Project Runway as well as his now defunct show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, including why it is no longer on the air, you may be surprised.  I am also impressed with his emphasis on manners in the book, its is chalk full of great reminders for us all.  Here is the book information from Amazon:

Product Description:
On the runway of life, Tim Gunn is the perfect life coach. You’ve watched him mentor talented designers on the hit television show Project Runway. Now the inimitable Tim Gunndivadom as he describes Vogue’s André Leon Talley being hand-fed grapes and Anna Wintour being carried downstairs by her bodyguards. And you’ll get Tim’s view on the backstabbing by one designer on Project Runway and how it brilliantly backfired. Then there are his down-to-earth guidelines for making life better—for yourself and others—in small and large ways, especially in an age that favors comfort over politeness, ease over style. Texting at the dinner table? Wearing shorts to the theater? Not in Tim’s book. Living a well-mannered life of integrity and character is hard work, he admits, but the rewards are many: being a good friend, being glamorous and attractive, and being a success— much like Tim himself! He is never one to mince words. But Tim Gunn is always warm, witty, wise, and wonderfully supportive— just the mentor you need to design a happy, creative, and fulfilling life that will never go out of style.

About the Author:

Beloved pop culture icon Tim Gunn is best known as co-host of the twelve-time Emmy-nominated reality show Project Runway. He also hosted two seasons of his own former Bravo makeover series, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.
 
I personally downloaded a copy from Amazon to my Kindle so I could take it with me where ever I go, this version was $9.99 directly from Amazon, Barns and Noble has the e-book available for down load to iPad, iPod, iPhone, Android, PC, Blackberry, Mac and the Nook for $9.99.  If you are a member of The Book of the Month Club you can order the book for $9.95 with free shipping, if not you can find the hardcover selling at Amazon for $14.03, if you don't order enough for the free shipping the final cost will be $18.02, if that is the case then go to The Book Depository, they have the hard cover version for $17.99 with free shipping.  If you know someone who is a huge fan and are looking for a terrific gift idea there is a seller with 4 autographed copies on eBay, the asking price for them is $42.95 + $7.50 for expedited shipping.
 
I hope you are all having a great weekend!
 
C.Q.

Eating up the savings...

The folks who know me know that I am somewhat of a foodie, I enjoy dining out and if I were unable to go out at least once a month I would get a little glum so I have found ways to be able to do this without over spending. I have touched on a few of these ideas before but I just read a great little article in the Consumerist that made me think its time to bring this up again.  With money still tight for folks we can tend to get a little stir crazy because we are staying home more, its nice to be able to get out and have a nice sit down dinner away from home where someone else cook, serves and cleans.  This may sound like something that could potentially break the bank but there are some great ways to save money and indulge at the same time.

First, check all the great general sites for discounts and half off gift cards.  If you live in areas served by Groupon, Half Off Deals,  Neo Fill and Half Off Depot check out the savings on their sites, also remember to check out your area Entertainment book for additional coupons that can be used together with your half price gift certificates.  The other fantastic place to check is Restaurant.com where you can find gift certificates for area dining at more than 50% off plus, if you use coupon code AUTUMN right now you will save 80%.  They are also giving a free $10.00 gift card with every order. 

Before you head off to dinner be sure to check out Facebook and Twitter as well, many restaurants are trying to get dollars in their door through social media and will offer an instant coupon if you follow them on line.  Also check the establishments web site directly, many times you can find promotions and coupons there as well.  While you are at the restaurants web site to sign up for their birthday clubs if they have one, then you will get some great deals when your birthday rolls around each year.

Next is to figure out the best time to go to a restaurant, some places have great deals on Monday's to get traffic through the door; or consider making appetizers your meal, you will get to try a couple of items for less than the price of a full meal, and some places offer great appetizers for half off during Happy Hour.  If you decide to use Happy Hour to stretch your dollars remember not to order more than  one drink, better still just have a soda or a glass of water.  Again, checking the restaurants web site to look at the menu in advance will also help you stay within your budget, knowing what you want to order before you are even seated can really help your bottom line, also you will be able to see if where you are going has joined the new wave of dining establishments with a prix fixe menu.  These are great and let you have some of the best food at quite a reduced cost. While you are there consider what you may want to take home for later, many restaurants offer large portions which you can easily make into two meals, plus, if you are at a place that serves free salad, bread sticks or chips for a starter then you can have the freebies to fill you up a little, allowing you more to take home and enjoy later. If you qualify for it, be sure to ask the waitstaff about a senior discount as well, you have earned that discount, why not ask for it?

I also found a great web site called Pocket your Dollars while writing this article that I think can help you find even more savings.  I would love to hear some of your tips for a great night out at a fancy restaurant.

Have a great weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Friday’s freebie…

Today’s freebies are all about taking care of those pearly whites. First up get a free sample of the new Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection toothpaste from Walmart, just fill in the quiz then enter your name and address in the on line form and allow a couple weeks for it to arrive at your door.

To complement the new Crest Toothpaste I found an offer from Colgate for a free children’s toothbrush, the promotion runs through December 31, 2010 with a limit of one per address. All you need to do is fill in the information on the Colgate web page and they will mail one out to you as long as supplies last.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday, enjoy the weekend.

C.Q.

Thursdays picture perfect deal...

The picture...

When I was in Montana my friends fiance took me to a place called Norm Schoenthal Island, a Natural area located on the north side of the Yellowstone River.  Its a great spot and a haven for birds....and folks with cameras.  I was able to get a great shot of this Cedar Waxwing up in the trees. 

The deal...

All the Bon-Ton stores, which includes Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Yonkers are having their annual Goodwill sale.  Bring your donations to one of the stores and you will receive a 20% off coupon for every piece of apparel or home textiles you donate!  The sale ends September 29th and is good for everything in the store, even cosmetics and sale items.  If you are looking for a specific item that is not available in your local store you can use the coupon generated in the store on line when you get home.  This is a great sale and it helps support a good cause, especially in these hard economic times.  Even if you don't need the coupon please stop by your local store and drop off a gently used item for the Goodwill, you can give the coupon to a friend or co-worker and do a double good deed for the day.

I hope you are all having a great day!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

~WORD OF THE DAY~

insouciance \in-SOO-see-unss\ ~ noun

DEFINITION: lighthearted unconcern : nonchalance

EXAMPLES: The teenager’s careless insouciance about her schoolwork does not bode well for her grades.

DID YOU KNOW? Don't worry -- be insouciant. Perhaps your mind will rest easier if we explain that English speakers learned "insouciance" from the French in the 1700s (and the adjective "insouciant" has been part of our language since the 1800s). The French word comes from a combination of the negative prefix "in-" and "soucier," meaning "to trouble or disturb." "Soucier" in turn traces to "sollicitus," the Latin word for "anxious." If it seems to you that "sollicitus


~THE REBATE~

Need some new make-up or hair care goods?  If you purchase $30.00 worth of Revlon and/or Nexxus products at Walgreen's between 9/1/2010 and 9/30/2010 you will get a $10.00 gift card to Walgreen's. 
All you need to do is send in the completed rebate form together with a copy of your Walgreen's receipt(s) with the items circled.  All rebate forms must be postmarked 9/30/2010.

Have a great day everyone, you're half way to to the weekend!

C.Q.