More Halloween Food Freebies

Chick-Fil-A: free ice cream for costumed kids from 3-9.  Check here to see if your local store is participating.

Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes: costumed kids eat free (one per grown-up purchase) on Friday and Saturday 30/31.  Info here.

Taco Bell: free Black Jack Taco per person from 6pm - midnight. Details here.

Papa Murphy's Pizza: each constumed kid can get a personal-sized pizza! This is supposed to be nationwide, but some of the stores are franchised, so I would definitely call ahead.   Check out the store locator here.

Also - don't forget the round-up of fast food deals and booklets! And free drinks at 7-eleven until the 31st. 

Potential Free Pizza

Certain Papa Murphy's locations are offering a free individual-sized pizza to kids in costume on Oct 31st.  Get the number for your local store here to see if they are participating in this fun promotion.

My Favorite Meal Right Now

So, this recipe is ridiculously easy and I'm embarassed to say we have it at least once a week (my husband and son love it too). 
It doubles easily if you want to make a big batch and freeze poortions.  Also, the original recipe calls for ground turkey.  I don't include it because it's already high in protein from the beans and we don't seem to miss it. 

1 can corn (yellow and white, regular or hominy work)
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans (light or dark)
1 can diced tomatoes or tomato/green chili blend
1 envelope taco seasoning

Don't drain! This keeps more nutrients and flavor in, plus you don't have to worry about measuring the liquid.  (But, when you don't rinse beans they have more flatulance-inducing chemicals so slip a Beano onto your husband's plate... trust me.)

Heat and serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and corn chips.
*feel free to substitute any kind of beans you have on hand.  (pinto, garbanzo, navy etc. they all work well)

Smith's Closeout

The Smith's store on 40th and Harrison in Ogden is remodeling.  I went in last night for sour cream and came out with my arms full.  (Luckily I had my coupon binder in my purse!).  I scored and $8 Air Wick i-Motion for...free:) and got some other fantastic markdowns!  The sale bins at the back of the store have been relocated to just behind the checkout lanes - and every dept. is getting a shakedown.  I would check this out frequently because I'm sure the best deals will go quickly.

Last night I noted the following in the bins:
Comforts infant formula in the big cans, hot chocolate, panty hose, Halloween paper plates and napkins, electronics, and chips (can't remember what else there was).  Check it out - most of these were marked down at least 80%. 

ps - last day to use your Albertson's Double Coupons! and it's Double Coupon day (up to .50 on coupons .50 and under) @ Family Fresh grocery store (by Ogden Regional hospital). 

$2 off $5 @ Fazoli's

She Shops Smart just posted this great deal! Coupon is available for the week, but the deal is good until mid-November.  Pair this with joining e-club for free Spaghetti and Fazoli's Kid's Eat Free discount (check with your local store - nights and hours vary by location).

Another reason to steal your kids' Halloween candy

Send your kid's candy wrappers from 10/31 - 11/13 to: 
Shaina Zalma 
YoCrunch
9507 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 300
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

And receive a free YoCrunch coupon! (One offer per household)
Get more info here or here. 

- Thanks City Mommy

Free Hot Drink(s!) @ 7-eleven

Free12-oz hot drink (excluding espresso items) through 10/31 by printing off this coupon.
The fine print says it is limited to one coupon a day per customer.  Um, so I can use one every day until the 31st? This might even be better than Free Slurpie Day.  Call ahead to make sure your store is participating.

*If you encounter an error when loading the coupon, right click the link and select "save target as" to your desktop; then open and print it from there.  (Thanks for the tip Jessica!)

- Thanks Utah Deal Diva!  

$5.00 Rebate

Purchase and five participating items, get five bucks back! Print your rebate form here.

Haha... I like that it says "Make the Holidays Special" at the top.  Okay, brownies can make it special, but Hungry Man dinners?  Thanks for coming to our special holiday dinner everyone! We're serving up Hungry Man fried chicken!...

- Thanks Todd and Erin!

Rockstars of Food Storage

So, I don't usually watch Studio 5 (local cable-access style morning show).  There is one female anchor who I think is really talented but frankly, the rest of the show feels like a train wreck.  But it was on yesterday in the nail salon and there was some interesting info on food storage.

Read the program transcript here.
And you can check out the "Rockstars of Food Storage" on their blog Fun with Foodstorage.

Little Duck Sample

Request a free sample of Little Duck Organic snacks for toddlers here!

BOGO Free Carton Eggs

Click here to print off a coupon for BOGO free dozen eggs! (Not brand-specific). 

Access your coupon by taking the "Pleadge to Eat Good.  Do Good Every Day."  For every pledge made, the Good Egg Project will make a food donation to Feeding America. 

Thanks That Went Well!

Free Breakfast @ Ikea

I  love love love this store.  Can't get my husband to go (even with prospect of a free meal) because we spend way too much money in there! (But honey - they've lowered prices on thousands of items
!) 

Anyway, free plate of food and cup of coffee from Oct 10th through 12th. 
To find your nearest store click here.

- Thanks One Cheap Chick!

Free @ PF Chang's

Free lettuce wraps TODAY only (Oct 8th).  Say "I acknowledge the craving" to your PF Chang's server (hahaha) and they will be added to your meal.
- Thanks It's Hip to Save!

Baking Day?

Money Saving Mom just posted some great info on having a "Baking Day" - making a few bulk items and then freezing portions for later.  I remember my mother doing this with waffles; she'd make hundreds in an afternoon and then we'd pop them in the toaster in the mornings (Eggo Shmeggo...). 

Read about it here. 

I've also heard of casserole exchanges - where a small group of friends (or mortal enemies) gets together and cooks.  Each person makes one or more dishes, doubling or trippling (etc) the recipes.  Then you swap and each have a variety of ready-to-bake meals.  You save money this way by buying bulk too.  Tip:  You can pick up foil baking pans w/ lids at Family Dollar on the cheap. 

  

It's just not going to happen!!!

So, I just made a lovely video for this blog aaaannd... can't upload it.  A little frustrated and I'm kind of pissed becasue I broke the egg perfectly.
(sigh) Well, here's the info anyway:

Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies:
(Preheat oven 350 degrees)
Betty Crocker (don't use store brand for these) Yellow Cake Mix
One egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 C white flour (optional - I'm at high altitude so I add it)
1/2 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients (if dough is too dry add a few T. water or milk)
Shape into golf-ball sized mounds and place about 12 per cookie sheet
Bake 8-9 minutes until cookies look dry in the middle (not very golden)
*I like to freeze half the dough on a cookie sheet and transfer frozen cookie blobs to Ziplock bags so I can take out one or twoo cookies at a time and bake them. 

So, I tried hard and made a super-amazing video, but no harm done, at least I have a batch of yummy cookies now! (and no career prospects in the field of video editing)

OH! I almost forgot -
SUGAR COOKES: use white cake mix (exact same directions as above, but no choc. chips).  Add a packet or two of Kool-Aid mix to the frosting (if using) to make it a little tart - otherwise the sweet is a little overwhelming
CHOCOLATE SANDWICHES: use chocolate or devil's cake mix, follow directions above (minus chocolate chips) but increase oil to 1/2 cup.  Squish two cookies together using cream cheese frosting for glue.