From Coupons to Cuisine Archive

From Coupons To Cuisine: Clam Chowder & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

– October 31, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine

Welcome to From Coupons to Cuisine. Each week, I will use one of the grocery store sale flyers to create a dinner based on the sales for that week. The emphasis for each meal plan will be to create a dinner that is both healthy and frugal. Each meal plan I create will make the assumption that you have certain staples in your refrigerator or pantry. I will include links to recipes for your convenience.

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the Big Y Deals and Coupon Match Ups 11/1 – 11/07/12.

I have a wonderful husband who willingly does most of the cooking. Mind you, I can’t send him to the grocery store because he has no patience for the deal seeking and coupon using, but he’s very content to do the rest. Hubby is from Kansas so meals are always very hearty. You never go away from our table hungry! What Hubby does not and will not cook is fish of any kind. In fact, he can’t stand the smell, so I stay away from making fish at all. However, every once in a while, I get a craving and just NEED something fishy. I use my mom’s clam chowder recipe, which I actually think she lifted from one of her friends and then tweaked. It’s easy, delicious, and fabulous. This is also a wonderful make ahead meal because it really does taste better the next day.

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What’s for Dinner?

Easy and Delicious Clam Chowder and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

3 cans of Snow’s canned clams -$1.00 each
2-3 Russet potatoes – 5 lb bag B1G2 free (1.34 each)
1-2 bottles of clam juice (8 oz.)
handful of fresh parsley, chopped – Optional (I only use this in the summer when I have parsley growing in my garden.)
WC American cheese 4.99 lb (silver coin)
Tomatoes on the vine 2.79 lb
Big Y Italian bread .99

From Your Pantry:

1 large onion
2 -3 stalks celery
handful of baby carrots (I use regular and just slice them)
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 stick butter
salt, pepper, paprika, Herbes de Provence
Mayo

Putting it all together:

Clam Chowder

Drain liquid from clams into a bowl and put aside to use later
Dice onion, celery, and saute in butter until golden; stir frequently. Put in pot.
Add cubed potatoes and chunky sliced carrots to pot.
Add the drained clam juice from the cans to the pot and additional clam juice so that the liquid just covers the veggies.
Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Herbs de Provence.
Cover pot and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are medium soft (5-8 minutes).
Add the chopped clams, evaporated milk, and parsley.
Bring the chowder to slow simmer and cook for about 10 minutes; cool and refrigerate.
For maximum flavor, let the soup sit overnight for flavors to blend before serving.
Heat on low flame so soup doesn’t burn on bottom.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Assemble sandwiches with cheese and tomato.
Spread mayo on outside of one slice of bread and place in skillet. Grill until golden brown
Spread mayo on opposite side of bread and turn sandwich. Grill until golden brown and cheese melts.

This meal will cost you approximately $15.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $18.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons To Cuisine: Easy Peasy Vegetable Frittata

Gina

– October 15, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Shop Rite

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the ShopRite Deals and Coupon Match Ups 10/14 – 10/20/12.

One of my families favorite dinners is breakfast. However, sometimes a new twist on an old favorite keeps dinner from getting borning. Try this very easy veggie frittata that reduces prep time and mess as well as pleases the palate.
What’s for Dinner?

Easy Peasy Vegetable Frittata

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

8 – 10 SR eggs, beaten 18 pk 1.88
1/2 – 1 lb Broccoli crowns, chopped into small pieces .89 lb
1 Red pepper, diced 1.69 lb
1-2 Tomatoes on the vine, diced 1.69 lb
SR white bread 1.00
Farmland bacon 2.99

From Your Pantry:

1-2 Tablespoon of olive oil
1 – 2 cups Shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, jack)
2 Tablespoons water or milk
Salt & Pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook and stir vegetables in 10-inch ovenproof skillet on medium-high heat 3 min. or until crisp-tender.
Beat eggs, water and salt/pepper in medium bowl with whisk until well blended. Sprinkle cheese over vegetables in skillet; cover with egg mixture and vegetables.
Bake 30 min. or until frittata is puffed and golden brown.

Serve with Bacon and toast.

You can add any veggies to this dish as well as meats. Cook bacon (or sausage or use leftover ham) and crumble it into the egg mixture before you top the veggies and cheese.

This frittata is also a fantastic make ahead meal. You can serve it cold or room temperature with a small garden salad and crusty bread – great for a book club meeting or “fancy” luncheon.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

IT’S BACK! From Coupons To Cuisine: Potato Chip Chicken

Gina

– October 1, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Shop Rite

Welcome to From Coupons to Cuisine. Each week, I will use one of the grocery store sale flyers to create a dinner based on the sales for that week. The emphasis for each meal plan will be to create a dinner that is both healthy and frugal. Each meal plan I create will make the assumption that you have certain staples in your refrigerator or pantry. I will include links to recipes for your convenience.

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the ShopRite Deals and Coupon Match Ups 9/30 – 10/6/12.

This recipe comes from my very first cook book: The Better Homes and Gardens Junior Cook Book for the Hostess & Host of Tomorrow (1963). My grandmother gave me this book and I made MANY recipes from it while growing up. This Potato Chip Chicken recipe is the very first one I made all by myself. The picture above is from the cookbook! I STILL love this chicken.

What’s for Dinner?

Potato Chip Chicken

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

2-3 lbs Perdue chicken leg quarters .79 lb ($1/1 Facebook Q)
Herr’s potato chips 1.88 ($1/1 printable HERE, HERE, and HERE = .88)
Broccoli rabe .99 lb

From Your Pantry:

4 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 Tablespoon powdered garlic
Pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

Crush the chips in the bag until they are small crumbs
Add spices and mix thoroughly
Coat chicken pieces in melted butter
Roll chicken in potato chip crumbs and place on baking sheet
Sprinkle remaining crumbs over chicken pieces
Bake at 375 for 1 hour

You can serve this meal with broccoli rabe, sauteed with garlic and parmesan. YUM!

This meal will cost you approximately $6.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $7.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Gina

– April 3, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Price Chopper, recipe

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore. Photo by hungry_kungfu

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the Price Chopper Deals and Coupon Match Ups 4/1 – 4/7/12.

Easter is fast approaching which means lots of running around. This crock pot meal is an easy way to feed your family a healthy, great tasting meal without too much fuss. A really great tip is to put everything in the crock pot in the evening before bed and have it cook while you sleep. In the morning, place the crock in the refrigerator. All you’ll have to do is heat up the Chicken Cacciatore and make some pasta when you get home from work.

What’s for Dinner?

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

3-4 lbs PC oven roasting chicken 1.00 lb cut into pieces
1 Can Hunt’s crushed tomatoes .68
2 Cans (6 oz) Hunt’s tomato paste .68
Dole salad kits BOGO ($.75/2 printable)

From Your Pantry:

1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons olive oil
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, sliced thin

Putting it all together:

Place onions in bottom of crock pot
Add the chicken
Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl and then pour over the chicken
Cook everything on low heat for 7-9 hours, or on high heat for 3-4
Serve over rice or pasta with a salad

This meal will cost you approximately $9.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $11.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Zesty Salsa Chicken

Gina

– March 16, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Geissler's, recipe

Fast, Easy Chicken in Salsa with Zucchini. Photo by Novice Cooking Boy

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the Geissler Deals and Coupon Match Ups 3/18 – 3/24/12

This week the big push at the grocery stores is corned beef brisket; however, what happens if you’re not a big corned beef fan? Luckily, pork chops are on sale this week for only $1.77 per pound. Not only is the following recipe really yummy, it only takes about 30 minutes to prepare, baked, and get onto the table.

What’s for Dinner?

Zesty Salsa Chicken

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

2 lbs boneless chicken breast cut into “fingers” 1.89 lb
2 Zucchini julienned .89 lb
2 Summer squash julienned .89 lb
1 Bag Pennsylvania Dutch egg noodles prepared according to directions on bag .89 ($1/2 03-04-12 SS = .39 each)
1 Jar Chi-Chi’s salsa 2.50 (.50/1 02-12-12 SS = 1.50)

From Your Pantry:

1 tablespoon olive oil

Putting it all together:

In a large skillet, saute the chicken in the oil until lightly browned on both sides, then add the zucchini and saute it until lightly browned on all sides.
Add salsa and continue cooking until salsa is heated through
Serve over egg noodles

This meal will cost you approximately $9.50 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $9.60.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Pork Chops in An Orange Marmalade Mustard Sauce

Gina

– March 11, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, recipe, Shop Rite

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the ShopRite Deals and Coupon Match Ups 3/11 – 3/17/12

What’s for Dinner?

Pork Chops in an orange marmalade mustard sauce

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

2-3 lbs (4 chops) of Center cut pork chops 1.77 lb
Russet potatoes 5 lb bag 1.99

From Your Pantry:

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

MUSTARD SAUCE:

2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Putting it all together:

In a bowl, combine the first four ingredients.
Dredge pork chops in flour mixture. In a skillet over medium heat, brown chops in oil on both sides, about 8 minutes.
Combine the sauce ingredients; pour over chops.
Cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 20 minutes. Spoon sauce over ch0ps when serving.
Serve with mashed potatoes.

This meal will cost you approximately $7.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $8.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Walking Tacos

Gina

– March 5, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Price Chopper, recipe

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the Price Chopper Deals and Coupon Match Ups 3/4 – 3/10/12

I don’t often see ground beef on sale for such a good price, so that’s what I’m basing this week’s recipe on. Although this week’s sale would be perfect for Gary’s Shepherd’s Pie because both ground beef and canned corn are on sale, I’ve already “been there, done that” as a recipe. Instead, I think tacos are in order this week. My family LOVES tacos and it’s a way I can make a small amount of meat go much further. This version uses tortilla chips instead of traditional shells.

What’s for Dinner?

Walking Tacos

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

2 lbs 80% Lean Ground Beef 1.88 lb
Vine ripe tomatoes 4 pk 1.00
Earthbound Farms spring mix or spinach 4.99 ($5/1 printable = FREE)
PC tortilla chips 1.00
1/8 cup Jiffy corn muffin mix .47

From Your Pantry:

Taco Seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Taco meat

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 med. onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper, to taste

Putting it all together:

Taco Seasoning – In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.
Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet until shimmering. Add onion; saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and 3-4 tablespoons of taco seasoning; saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add beef and cook, stirring often, until it loses its raw color.
Stir in tomatoes; simmer to blend flavors, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Stir in Jiffy corn muffin mix; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens, almost instantly
Serve meat over tortillas. Garnish with fresh tomatoes and lettuce.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Easy and Quick Chicken Cacciatore

Gina

– January 8, 2012Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, recipe, Shop Rite

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the ShopRite Deals and Coupon Match Ups 1.8-1/14/12.

Ham is on sale at all the grocery stores this week. Let’s face it, unless you have 10 people in your family, a ham is going to leave you with a ton of leftovers. That’s why I’ve decided to include two recipes this week. The first is a basic baked ham recipe with a twist. The second recipe is my favorite thing to do with leftover ham.

What’s for Dinner?

Chicken Cacciatore
Salad

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

1 lb boneless chicken breast (40% off Tyson poultry)
Olivia’s organics salad 3.29 ($1/1 printable = 2.29)
1 Can Tuttorosso tomatoes (12/$6.99 – must buy 12 = less than .59 each)
1 – 2 Cans Red Pack pasta sauce .79
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

From Your Pantry:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 Box pasta of your choice
Additional veggies for your salad

Putting it all together:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the chicken, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, and garlic until the chicken is no longer pink inside, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and basil. Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce heat. Cover the skillet and simmer for 30 minutes.
While the chicken mixture is simmering, prepare the pasta according to the box directions. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
Serve the chicken cacciatore over the hot cooked noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

This meal will cost you approximately $8.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a fabulous meal for 4 people for about $10.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Easy Baked Ham and Split Pea Soup

Gina

– December 11, 2011Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Odd Bits, stop and shop

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the Stop & Shop Deals and Coupon Match Ups 12/9-12/15.

What’s for Dinner?

Easy Baked ham
Ham and split pea soup

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

4 lbs S&S spiral sliced ham 1.79 lb
Fresh whole pineapple 2.99
Birds Eye veggies 1.00 ($50/2 11-13-11 SS = .50 each)
Rhodes dinner rolls 2.39 ($1/2 11-13-11 RP = 1.89 each)
1 lb Bag split green peas

From Your Pantry:

1 cup dark brown sugar
1 liter ginger ale
2-3 Carrots peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
2 Stalks celery, diced
1 Medium onion, diced
2-3 Cloves garlic, minced
1 Bay leaf
Ham bone (if you have one) or 2-3 cups of leftover ham, diced. You can also use both the ham bone and some of the leftover ham.

Putting it all together:

Easy Baked Ham

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Peel, core and slice pineapple.
Remove as much of the ham from the bone as you can (if applicable). Layer one third of the ham in the bottom of a 6 quart casserole dish. Top with a few pineapple slices and 1/4 of the brown sugar. Repeat the layers, ending with pineapple slices on top, but don’t sprinkle the last 1/4 of brown sugar.
Pour in enough of the ginger ale to fill the dish about half way. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar over the top.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Uncover and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
Serve with warm Rhodes dinner rolls and Birds Eye veggies.

Ham and Split Pea Soup

1 lb Bag split green peas
2-3 Carrots peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
2 Stalks celery, diced
1 Medium onion, diced
2-3 Cloves garlic, minced
1 Bay leaf
Ham bone (if you have one) or 2-3 cups of leftover ham, diced. You can also use both the ham bone and some of the leftover ham.

I don’t have an actual recipe I follow to make this soup. I just throw all the ingredients in a pot with enough water to cover everything and let it cook for 2-3 hours until the peas are soft and mushy. If I’m using a ham bone, I remove it toward the end of the cooking process, remove the meat from the bone and then put the meat back into the soup. If the soup seems a bit lumpy, I will sometimes use a hand blender to make the soup smoother.

My mom just made this soup last week and used her crock pot, which I never thought of doing. She said it was the first time she tried making split pea soup in the crock pot. It was awesome, and I think I will try it next time. Again, she just put all the ingredients into the crock pot and covered everything with water until the pot was 3/4 full. She set the crock pot on high and let it cook for 6 hours.

These two meals will cost you approximately $18.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have two meals for four people for about $21.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*

From Coupons to Cuisine: Pork Chops Italiano

Gina

– November 20, 2011Posted in: From Coupons to Cuisine, Odd Bits, recipe

This week, our healthy and frugal meal comes from the ShopRite Deals and Coupon Match Ups 11/20-11/26.

We’re just a few days away from Thanksgiving and LOTS of turkey and turkey leftovers. I’m sure by the end of the week, we are going to be in the mood for something that has nothing to do with turkey. This recipe uses the pork loin that will be on sale on Friday. You can have the butcher cut the roast into pork chops for you. Although I linked to the original recipe, I have tweaked it a bit.

What’s for Dinner?

Pork Chops Italiano
Baked Sweet potatoes
Salad

Shopping List (Based on a family of four)

Whole boneless pork loin 1.24 lb
1 Large bell pepper, sliced
Sweet potatoes 5 lb box 2.49
Olivia Organics salad 3.29 ($1/1 printable = 2.29)
Pillsbury Crescent rolls 3/$5 – must buy three ($1/2 11-13-11 GM or printable = 1.33 each)

From Your Pantry:

2 Cans sliced mushrooms, undrained
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 (3/4 inch thick) pork loin chops
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Medium onion, sliced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced Italian tomatoes, undrained
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup water, if necessary
Veggies to add to salad

Putting it all together:

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the pork chops, browning on both sides, 7 to 10 minutes. Place the pork chops on a plate, then drain all but 1 tablespoon of drippings from the skillet. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
Pour in the tomatoes and mushrooms, then season with basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Transfer the pork chops back to the skillet; cover and simmer until the pork chops are tender and no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes. Stir in some water if the mixture becomes too dry. Place the bell pepper on top of the pork. Continue to simmer until the bell pepper is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve with baked sweet potatoes, salad, and Crescent rolls.

This meal will cost you approximately $10.00 at the grocery store this week. If you add in the cost for the few other ingredients from your pantry, you have a meal for four people for about $13.00.

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.*