Deal of the Day: College Football Hoodies

Are you a Trojan or a Bruin? Or maybe you root for the Wolverines? Or cheer for the Irish? Need some school gear? Maybe you will find it here? (Hey, that sounded like a cheer!)

Cheap and Cheerful Chatter: $300 Grocery Challenge -- Menu Ideas?

I've spent $134.21. This means I have $165.79 left to spend. I am thinking (because why not add a challenge on top of a challenge!) that I will grocery shop this week at Target. I need trash bags, body wash, and toilet paper in addition to food and I have several high value, Target specific coupons. So, my faithful readers, my goal is to spend less than $70 on groceries at Target. Any good menu ideas?

Here's what I will still have on hand that can "roll over" into next week:

1 loaf of wheat bread
1 package pita bread
3 boxes of pasta
2 cans of black beans
1 can of white beans
cheddar cheese (large brick)
18 eggs
tomato sauce
tomato paste
frozen green beans
frozen corn
frozen fruit (bananas, strawberries, blueberries)
a few packages of Shells and Cheese
the huge box of Cheerios that will not die
large box of Bisquick
(plus other odds and ends not worth mentioning like yogurts, applesauce, etc.)

Help!

Cheap and Cheerful Chatter: $300 Grocery Challenge

Any Target grocery shoppers out there? I got some Target coupons in the mail for produce, bread, and frozen food. Before I rule out using them, has anyone out there had good luck getting groceries at Target? If so, do tell!

Cheap and Cheerful Chatter: $300 Grocery Challenge -- Shopping Trip #2

On my grocery list for this week:

apples

bananas

red onion

green beans

cheddar cheese

corn tortillas

ground beef

white beans

milk

wheat bread

peanut butter

yogurt

eggs

snacks: pretzels, granola bars, peanuts, Goldfish

paper towels

My goal was to spend only $50. I came in at $48.79. Yay!

On the menu this week:

pasta salad: box of pasta, can of white beans, diced red onion, tomatoes and basil from our garden, parmesan cheese; toss with a dressing made from red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve with veggies or garlic bread.

tostadas: corn tortillas, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce. Serve with sides of black beans, rice and corn (pantry and freezer items).

grilled cheese and soup (pantry item) -- not the most exciting dinner but great for after soccer practice on a Fall evening

homemade pizza -- We still have so many great, fresh toppings from the garden to use up!

ravioli (freezer item) and sauteed green beans OR tamales with leftovers from tostada night

"cheater" meal: We have an In and Out $20 gift card that my husband got as a birthday gift. We will be out of the house for most of the day tomorrow and will likely stop and get dinner there on the way home.

Breakfasts: We still have a massive box of Cheerios and a huge box of Kix. We also used a muffing mix from the pantry and made muffins yesterday so we will eat those. We also have pancake mix in the pantry and smoothie ingredients in the freezer.

Lunches: Peanut butter and jelly! Also, yogurt, applesauce, crackers and cheese, hummus and pita (still have lots from last week), plus all of the snacks we have on hand -- raisins, peanuts, goldfish, etc. I also have ingredients for another cold pasta on hand (lemon pepper pasta with sage butter and shaved parmesan) so we will make that for lunch if we need to fill in.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What's on your menu this week?

Favorite Things: Skippyjon Jones Lost in Space

I'm watching the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon and thinking about tomorrow's 9 -11-01 anniversary. Sigh. This book provided a little smile. After all, what's not to like when a siamese cat who thinks he is a chihuahua goes on a pretend journey to the planet Mars?

Cheap and Cheerful Cooking: Mini Maple-Chocolate Chip Muffins

I "won" a free Betty Crocker Fall Baking magazine by answering a survey on the Betty Crocker website. It arrived yesterday and it has the best recipes. I was particularly drawn to this mini muffin recipe from the issue's featured cook, Bakerella. She is a super clever baker and these would be fun for a special fall holiday breakfast or brunch treat.

Ingredients

2/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tbsp real maple syrup
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini or regular milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup real maple syrup (optional for dipping)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 24 mini muffin tins with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, beat buttermilk, egg, 2 tbsp syrup, and butter with a wire wisk. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Reserve a few chocolate chips to sprinkle on muffin tops. Fold remaining chocolate chips into batter. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle with reserved chips. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until very light brown around edges and toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool 3 to 5 minutes; remove from pan. Place 1/2 cup syrup in small bowl; serve with warm muffins for dipping.

Enjoy!

Favorite Things: Cherry Lime Boutique

My friend just started an online store that sells adorable hair accessories. Check out Cherry Lime Boutique on Facebook or click here! Happy Shopping!