This collection of simple Mexican recipes includes party appetizers, simple and delicious Mexican desserts, our always-popular Mexican chicken casseroles, and more. The recipes in this eCookbook are nice and easy, so no matter your skill level, you’ll be able to cook up some of the most fantastic Mexican recipes for your family and friends. Gather everyone around, and enjoy these delicious recipes together.
Whether you’re hosting a Mexican fiesta to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or just feeding a crowd of Mexican food fans, this eCookbook has something for you. These Mexican recipes are simple to prepare, but still provide a complex flavor profile that will please even the pickiest eaters. Includes 42 pages of great recipes.

Link to Mexican Recipe eCookbook

You can get 2 cases of HammerMill® Copy Plus Copy Paper, 8 1/2″ x 11″ for $5.61 each. It might be slightly a little more if your state sales tax rate is higher than 6%.

1. Go to Staples.com and click on “Order by Catalog Item #” near the top of the page.
2. Enter 122374-QJ for item number and 2 for Qty.
3. Add a filler item to get the total over $50. (Example: Staples cap erasers 12 pack .79 Item #771352) All orders over $50 ship for free.
4. At checkout, apply promo code 47617 to take $10 off.
5. Go to stapleseasyrebates.com to submit the rebate. For Staple Rebates FAQs, click here.

Subtotal = $50.77
Coupon = -$10
Tax = $2.45
Total = $43.22
Rebate = -$32 (2 $16 Prepaid Visa cards)
Out-of-pocket total = $11.22

Heres a few transaction scenarios for you, you can also check out the walgreens thread for more great ideas.

Transaction #1
Sale: Natures Bounty Vitamin D-1000 IU 120 ct Tablets $5
Buy: 1x Natures Bounty Vitamin D-1000 IU 120 ct Tablets
Use: -Natures Bounty HERE (gave me a $2/1 just for signing up! And it let me print 4)
Pay: $3 +tax
Get: $5 Register Reward

Transaction #2
Buy:1x Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Strength Toothpaste 4 oz or Wave Toothbrush $2.99
1x Kotex U Ultra Thin Pads 14 to 18 pk, Pantiliners 50 or 60 pk or Tampons 18 pk $3.49 (2.5rr)
1 filler item equaling at least .27 (a filler item is just a cheap item to either bring your total after coupons up so you can use a register reward, or to make it so you have as many items as coupons)
Use: There are a few coupon options out there-
Colgate: Colgate Total Toothpaste .75/1 HERE
Kotex: Kotex U Products $1/1 HERE
Kotex U Liners, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Kotex U Pads, any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Kotex U Tampons, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Use Register Rewards: $5 from Transaction #1
Pay: Tax
Get: $2 register reward for Colgate and $2.50 register reward for the Kotex.

I plan on rolling into another Transaction #1. Useing the $2 coupon for signing up with Natures Bounty and the $2.50 register reward from Transation #2 I’ll just pay .50 +tax and get $5 back! If you dont want a zillion Vitamin D tablets you could roll between the toothpaste and Kotex. Heres how:

Alternate Transaction #1
Buy:1x Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Strength Toothpaste 4 oz or Wave Toothbrush $2.99 (2rr)
Use: Colgate Total Toothpaste .75/1 HERE
Pay: $2.24 +tax
Get: $2 Register Reward

Alternate Transaction #2
Buy: 1x Kotex U Ultra Thin Pads 14 to 18 pk, Pantiliners 50 or 60 pk or Tampons 18 pk $3.49 (2.5rr)
Use: Kotex: Kotex U Products $1/1 HERE OR
Kotex U Liners, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18 OR
Kotex U Pads, any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18 OR
Kotex U Tampons, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Use Register Rewards: $2 from Transaction #1
Pay: .49 + tax
Get: $2.50 Register Reward

Questions about how Register Rewards work? Go here for the answers.

If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid, check out my Navigating Rite Aid posts to help you along you way! Remember, you can use a Rite Aid in-ad manufacturer coupon with a manufacturer coupon from the newspaper or online. Read the Rite Aid coupon policy HERE.

Also, this list was made with the Idaho ad. Please verify prices in your area before shopping.

I am only listing best deals at Rite Aid this week here. If you want to see the complete list or sale items this week, head on over to the PYP Rite Aid forum thread. You will also find helpful discussion on this weeks sale items.

Additionally, you can use this $5/$25 printable coupon or use the $5/$20 coupon from Rite Aid Video Values to save you more this week!

U by Kotex $3.49
Use any of the following:
Kotex U Liners, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Kotex U Pads, any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Kotex U Tampons, Any $1/1 (5-30-10) SS-4/18
Get a $3.49 Single Check Rebate
Final Price: FREE plus overage after coupon and rebate!

GE Reveal Light Bulbs 2 for $2
Use (2) GE Energy Smart, GE Reveal, or GE Edison halogen product, any $1/1 (5-5-10) SS-3/7
Get a $2 Single Check Rebate on two
Final Price: FREE after coupon and rebate!

Sea Breeze Astringent $4.99
Use Sea Breeze Product, any $1/1 (5-31-10) SS-4/11
Get a $3 Single Check Rebate
Final Price: $.99 cents after coupon and rebate!

Huggies Jumbo pack diapers $8.99
Use $3/1 printable coupon AND
the $1/1 Video Values coupons from March (no longer available to print)
Final Price: $4.99 if you have all the coupons!

Neutrogena Cosmetics 40% off
Use $3/1 Neutrogena Cosmetics Product, exp. 5-14-10 from ALL YOU April 2010

Neutrogena skin and bath products B1G1 50% off
Use possible printables HERE

**Spend $20 in Neutrogena products get a $5 SCR (offer #53)**

Starts Monday! To celebrate Customer Appreciation Week, you can buy one Blizzard at participating Dairy Queen locations, and get the second for only .25! Valid only the week of April 19-25. Valid only at participating locations.  No coupon required.

Store Locations

Today only! Buy 1 Get FREE on all 3″ to 5″ potted vegetables and herbs at Home Depot.
Limit 10 per customer. While Supplies Last.

All week long – April 18-24th – Buy 1 Get FREE on all Vegetable, Herb, and Flower seed packets.

Today only! FREE water-saving faucet aerator! In-store only, limit 1 per customer while supplies last. Minimum 200 available per store.

Home Depot sends out some fantastic newsletters with coupons and in-store savings. You can sign up for them at these links:

Home Depot Pro newsletter for Pros and DIY’ers

Free crochet patterns can be really fun to make whether it’s a summer pattern or winter pattern. Use up the rest of your yarn that’s been laying around the house for so long. The Editorial team at All Free Crochet has put together an eBook for your enjoyment. Learn up to 13 crochet stitches in this free crochet patterns eBook. You can also find 10 free crochet patterns you can make for you or a friend. Download this eBook for free.

Free Crochet Patterns and Ideas

Get the hottest travel deals delivered to you by email! You’ll get exclusive savings and deals!

Sign up for the Hotwire travel deals email!

One way that I have found to save a bit of money is to cook more from scratch. It takes a little extra time, but the money is worth it. Plus, food made from scratch are usually better for you.

Here are some average cost breakdowns:

Rolls: 40-46 cents per dozen for homemade vs. $2.50 per dozen from the bakery

Brownies: 95 cents a dozen for homemade vs. $4.00 for nine from the bakery

French Bread: 33 cents per loaf homemade vs. $1.50 per loaf from the bakery

Peanut Butter Bars: 96 cents per dozen homemade vs. $4.50 for nine bars from the bakery

Chocolate Chip Cookies: $1.00 per dozen homemade vs. $3.-4.00 per dozen from the bakery

Cake: made from a mix and homemade frosting $1.50 vs. $14-16.00 from the bakery

Another thing that I have done ever since I got married, 15 years ago, is making my own baking mix. Someone gave me a gallon bucket full and of homemade mix and I have kept it full!

Here is the recipe that I am currently using:

Homemade “Bisquick” for Biscuits and Pancakes

• 8 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/3 c. baking powder
• 2 tsp. salt
• 8 tsp. sugar (optional)
• 1 c. shortening

Directions: Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Store sealed in pantry or refrigerator.

To use with:

• BISCUITS – add 1/3 cup milk to cup of mix.
• PANCAKES – 3/4 cup milk to a cup of mix, and I like to add an egg also but the original recipe didn’t do that.

I actually add 3/4 cup powdered milk to the whole batch as I make up the mix; and then I just add water when I use it.

Here also is a muffin mix recipe, found on Taste of Home:

Ingredients

• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup baking powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 
  ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 
  FOR CHEDDAR MUFFINS:
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 2 tablespoons minced chives
• 
  FOR CINNAMON-RAISIN MUFFINS:
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in airtight containers in a cool dry place or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Yield: 4 batches (10 cups).
• To prepare plain muffins: Place 2-1/2 cups muffin mix in a bowl. Whisk egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
• To prepare cheddar muffins: In a bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups muffin mix, cheese, bacon and chives. Whisk egg and milk; stir into cheese mixture just until moistened. Fill muffin cups and bake as directed for plain muffins.
• To prepare cinnamon-raisin muffins: In a bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups muffin mix, raisins and cinnamon. Whisk egg and milk; stir into raisin mixture just until moistened. Fill muffin cups and bake as directed for plain muffins. Yield: 1 dozen per batch.

As Seen On TV- Magic Chopper Vegetable, Fruit Slicer And Dicer
$4.99 + $4.99 shipping
RETAIL PRICE: $29.99
CONDITION: NEW
SHIPS IN: 1-2 Business Days


DailyCheckout.com LINK

This “smoking” (ha ha ha ha ha) deal has been confirmed at numerous Wal-Marts around the country and in the region. In fact, I haven’t heard of a single person who tried it and didn’t have it work. When you spend 98.00 or more on a patio set or grill at Wal-Mart, you will also receive a 50.00 gift card.

Some of the stores have signs advertising this deal, but I’ve received numerous reports that even at stores which do not have signs advertising it or clerks who know anything about it, the register will still prompt the cashier to give you a 50.00 gift card when you buy one of these items. That would make their cheapest patio set only 48.00 after gift card.

Happy grilling!

*Update* Some folks are reporting that when they try to check out they’re getting an error message indicating that there are no more free codes available but that when they click “my account” or check their e-mails, they see a coupon code there.

Today only you can get a coupon code for buy one movie ticket get one free up to a 14.00 value from Fandango. You must request the code today; however, you can use it anytime within the next two months. Here’s how to get it:

1. Go to Tropicana Juicy Rewards.
2. Register for an account or log in if you already have one.
3. Do at least two of the following to earn two points, the cost of the coupon.
4. Complete the survey you see right when you log in (1 pt.).
5. Enter codes FBOOK TROPI or MOMCE NTRAL or possibly BLOGG-HER11(1 pt. each).
6. Go back to the home page and click on the big sign advertising the Fandango offer.
7. Request and confirm your reward.
8. Save your coupon code and use it at Fandango some time before June 16.

Ten Tips for Planning Healthy Meals with Success

1. Just get started! Any plan, regardless of how good or bad it is, is better than having no plan at all. An easy way to start is to simply have a list on your fridge of meals that you can make with what you have on hand for the week.

2. Review the grocery ads. Planning your meals around 4 & 5 Star items will really help make your grocery trip more cost effective! If the local grocery store is having a sale on chicken breast. Reviewing the ads helps ensure you take full advantage of your store’s sales cycle.

3. Start your shopping list during the week by writing down items you need. By starting your week during the week and keeping a runny tally of things you need, you won’t forget them on shopping day. If I do forget something, I try to go without it so I can avoid a second or third trip to the grocery store and I feel I can save some money that way.

4. Shop around the edge of the store for healthy options and discount bins. The items around the perimeter of the store tend to be the fresher, less processed items. It’ll save you some money and you’ll have better nutritional options in those areas. There are healthy options all throughout the store, but they tend to concentrate on the edge of the store. Another thing that I have found at the stores I shop is that there are discount bins around the edges of the store – great deals can be found here. Use a shopping list — the lists available on Pinching Your Pennies are FANTASTIC!

5. Don’t bring your kids if you can help it. Grocery stores are designed to appeal to children, they keep all the sugary cereals and all the sweets at their eye level so they can beg and plead for them. IF you can help it try to go without them. I enjoy shopping without my kids – it gives me time to think!!!!!!!!

6. Keep your normal meals and create new meals by tweaking ingredients a bit. With pasta, for example, buy whole wheat instead. When thinking about rolls or biscuits, try making your own using whole wheat flour.

7. Cook ahead of time. Whether you make a couple of meals to freeze for busy nights or just make extra to freeze half, I have found it’s wonderful to know there is a home cooked meal sitting in the fridge or freezer. It’s a lot easier to defrost and/or stick something into the oven than to make a meal entirely from scratch!

8. Do what you can ahead of time. This kind of sounds like the one above, but here I’m talking about the daily preparation. Last night, for example, we had a chicken stir-fry. I washed and cut the vegetables in the morning as well as marinated the chicken so that everything was ready to go into the pan when I was ready. For my family – that hour before dinner always seems to be crazy with homework and extra curricular activities. It’s nice for me to have as much prep done as possible.

9. Use leftovers! Whether you rethink them and use them to create a new meal or just eat the same thing twice, this saves so much money! I even write leftovers into our meal plan each week as “Must-Go’s,” the things in the fridge that must-go. I know that we’ll have them to use and I want to make sure we use them. If you hate eating leftovers, but often have food leftover from your meal, just start making less at each meal. Learn how much your family really eats. One thing that my family loves is when we have left over rice, I make rice pancakes. You just mix in 1 egg for every cup of rice and cook them like you do regular pancakes. They are good topped with syrup or fruit.

10. Have fun and keep it flexible! A meal plan is supposed to be helpful to a simple and peaceful home, not an extra burden. Enjoy it! There are so many benefits to meal planning, especially giving you more time and energy to do the things you really want and need to do!

For a link to the Utah Smith’s shopping list, click HERE. If your local store is doing the Digital Reward promo, this offer may be available at your store as well!

For list and deal discussion, click HERE.

Catalinas are printing for Uncle Ben’s Rice dishes.

Uncle Ben’s rice dishes are part of the buy 10 get the digital reward promo seen on the shopping list, but aren’t on the shopping list because they aren’t advertised as part of the promo.

The ready to serve pouches and boxes of Long Grain and Wild Rice are $1.69 ea.

Scenario:
Buy 10 boxes Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice dishes (assorted flavors) $1.69 ea = $16.90

Use:
3 – Uncle Bens Long Grain and Wild Rice, any boxes $1/2 (5-23-10) RP-3/28
2 – Uncle Bens Rice products, any $1/2 (4-18-10) RP-2/21
(If you don’t have the coupons listed above, use a .75/2 printable from THIS LINK. )

Total = $11.90 out of pocket

Get three $1 OYNSO (valid just like cash on your next shopping order) checkout coupons at checkout = $8.90 + earn 1 movie ticket/downloads code.

This was tested with the boxed rice mixes but it might work with the pouches too.