Bargain Meal of the Week

At Dillons, grapes, berries, and other fruits are priced for the summer season.

We've been taking this idea and using it, and we've been eating more fruit than junk food.

Anything that keeps us eating healthfully is good in my eyes!

Go here for other ideas!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

I love this time of the year. Fresh produce starts going on sale! Nothing beats fresh corn on the cob or juicy, ripe tomatoes!

This week we have some good produce bargains at Dillons:

Red Ripe Tomatoes on the Vine .99/lb
Fresh Florida Sweet Corn 5/$1
Fresh Green Beans .99/lb
Dillons Eggs .77/dozen
Kroger cheese $1.66/8 oz

With all those inexpensive eggs, how about a lovely quiche, served with steamed green beans and sliced tomatoes? Elegant, easy, and delicious!

Go here for more Bargain Meal Ideas.

Bargain Meal of the Week

Dillons is filled with cookout specials! Now's the time to stock the freezer and pantry for your summer cookouts!

Here's some great deals:

Kroger Flavorseal Ground Beef 1.97/lb (in a 5 pound roll- 9.92 per roll)
Dillions Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns 8 ct $1 each
Lays Potato Chips- 1.88 for 11 oz
Coke or Pepsi 12 packs (2.50 each when you buy 5)
Oscar Myer Original Hot Dogs 16 oz $1.50
Bar S Meat Franks 12 oz $1
Bush's Baked Beans 22-28 ox $1.66
Sweet Corn 5 for $2
Cantaloupe $1.97

Fire up those grills! Hamburgers, Chips, and Baked Beans sound like a weekend party to me! What are you eating this holiday weekend? Head here for more ideas.

Bargain Meal of the Week

When stress attacks and my schedule becomes overloaded, cooking dinner seems like a ludicrous proposition. I've had one of those overloaded weeks, and the temptation to dial a pizza has been strong.

For those days, let the grocery store be your friend.

One of my secret "can't deal" weapons is to head over to Dillon's for a rotisserie chicken.

Most of the time, they're around $5. I used to resit the chicken, but then I realized that I could get several easy meals out of one chicken, which helps my busy schedule for multiple days.

Day One: Chicken, salad in a bag (on sale for $2.5o this week!), canned veggies, sliced strawberries (organics on sale for 1.99/lb this week!) for dessert.

Day Two: Chicken salad sandwiches with the leftover chicken, sliced strawberries, carrot sticks.

Day Three: Make chicken stock from the carcass, have soup that night. Yum!

Healthier and less expensive than your local burger joint, with little fuss!

Head on over to Bargain Meal of the Week for more great ideas!

Bargain Meal of the Week

Welcome to Bargain Meal of the week! Each week I feature meals using great deals from the local Dillon's circular. You can have great, healthy, inexpensive meals without using coupons just by keeping an eye on the circular. (No time to head to the store to pick on up? Check it out online.)

Today's bargain ingredient? Shrimp. We fill our freezer when the Kroger shrimp goes on buy one get one free. At five dollars a pound, it is an expensive protein, but it's a tasty one!

Here's some meal ideas:

Penne with Shrimp (substitute the canned tomatoes for fresh ones at $1.77/lb!)

Shrimp Scampi is an elegant dish to serve to guests. Pair it with a big salad. (Fresh Express bagged salads are $2.50 this week!)

Shrimp Chowder is sure to please.

Head over to Five Dollar Dinners for more!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

It's time for another Bargain Meal of the Week, using the Dillons circular!

Today's theme: Quick, healthy, good!

Here's the deal:

Get a 4.99 Roast Rotisserie Chicken (bonus: already cooked!) and pair it with Kroger Brand frozen broccoli ($1) and a pound of grapes ($1/lb for seedless red ones).

That's $6.99 for a delicious meal!

There is bound to be leftover chicken, which you can use in chicken salad- excellent sandwiches (Dillon's bread $1 a loaf!).

Don't forget to save the carcass for chicken stock. What is more delicious than a bowl of homemade chicken soup? Of course, chicken broth can be used for so much more!

Head over to $5 Dinners for other Bargain Meals!

Bargain Meal of the Week: Turkey Edition

Welcome to Bargain Meal of the Week!

Turkey is on sale at Dillons for .79 cents a pound this week! That's a lot of meat for a little money, and you can use the carcass to make stock when the meat is gone.

Pair it with some .99 cents a pound sweet potatoes for a delicious meal.

Here's some of the things you can do with all that turkey:

Turkey Shepard's Pie

Turkey Florentine

Turkey Bone Soup

The One Dish Wonder- Thanksgiving in a Pan!

Sweet Potato Dishes:

Baked Sweet Potato sticks (YUM!)

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Bargain Meal of the Week: Ham Edition

Today's bargain meal (From Dillons in the Kansas area) is entirely built around ham. Cook's shank half ham is $1.19/lb. There's a lot you can do with ham- and often, a little bit goes a long way!

Here's my famous Spinach quiche. When I see cottage cheese on markdown or super cheap, I buy it up and freeze it to use in this delicious dish! (The texture of the cottage cheese changes, but it does not matter in this recipe.) We make it both with crusts and without. This dish freezes well!

Beans are inexpensive, healthy, and filling. Add some ham for some soup magic!

Here's a pleasing breakfast casserole featuring ham.

Hungry for more? Head on over to $5 Dinners Bargain Meal of the Week!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

I'm short on time this week, which means I'm looking for easy, inexpensive meals!

Reasonable Deals:

Hunts Pasta Sauce 26 oz- $1
Kroger Pasta 12 oz $1
Monterey Whole White Mushrooms (8 oz) $2
Fresh Express Salad $2.50

Meal Idea:

Spaghetti and sauce is sure to please! Take 4 oz of mushrooms ($1), saute. Add the sauce ($1) and heat while the pasta ($1) is cooking. Serve with salad in a bag. ($2.50). Quick and easy for a mere $5.50!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

Welcome to Bargain Meals of the Week! Since I've started doing these, I can hardly look at any grocery ad without calculating all the awesome, inexpensive meal possibilities! Here's a few ideas I got out of the Dillons ad this week.

Reasonably Good Deals:

Kroger Eggs .99 cents a dozen
Kroger Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breats $1.66/lb
Kroger Value Bacon $1.67 (12 oz)
Strawberries $1.88/lb
Fresh Express Salads $2.50 each

Two Meal Ideas:

Classic Breakfast- two eggs, two slices of bacon, and 1/4 lb of sliced strawberries! .90 cents each, or $3.60 for four people.


Salad with Chicken Strips- Take a bag 'o salad and add 1 lb of cooked, cubed chicken. Yum! Total: $4.16 I'm assuming that you have salad dressing on hand as a staple. Salad is incredibly versatile- you can add a lot more veggies without adding a lot of cost. Carrots are inexpensive, and look lovey grated on a salad.

What's going on at your local grocery store? Head on over to $5 Dinners to see!

Take control of your budget using a prepaid debit card from AchieveCard.com

Bargain Meal of the Week: My Crockpot Saves the Day

I'm having one of those weeks. You know the one. You're so busy you can't even think. The very *idea* of cooking seems ludicrous!

I pull out my crockpots in those weeks. Luckily, one of my crockpot standbys is cheap this week with the sales at Dillons!

Somewhat reasonable sale items:

Kroger canned beans .60 cents each
Kroger canned tomatoes .60 cents each
Sterling Silver Ground Beef $2.79 per pound

Meal Idea:

Crockpot Chili.

Use two cans of beans, one can of tomatoes, ($1.80 for all three cans) and 1/2 a pound of beef ($1.39) I brown the beef before I put it in the crockpot. I also throw in an onion and maybe a couple of cups of chicken broth or water. Add chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin to taste, then simmer on low all day. Delicious and versatile! Leftover chili is yummy. We also throw leftover chili over baked potatoes for an easy next day meal.

Total: Approximately $4, when you include the onion and spices. :)

Psst...don't forget about my Mrs. Meyers giveaway! Head on over to sign up!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

Here's some fabulous bargain meals without coupons, courtesy of the Dillon's circular ad.

Reasonably Good Deals:

• Hamburger Helper .99 cents (If you have coupons, especially coupons that double, these are a steal! We keep a few on hand for those days when we just can't deal with the idea of cooking. Even if you don't have coupons, .99 cents is not so bad!)
• Kroger Cheese $1.68
• Red Seedless Grapes .88 cents/lb
  
• Kroger Canned Fruit 15 oz $1 each
• Kroger Value Bread .88 cents/loaf
• Kroger Value Pack Drumsticks or Thighs $1.19/lb
• Kroger Value Pack Chicken Wings $1.99/lb
  
• Kroger Canned Spaghetti Sauce .99 cents
  
• Kroger Canned
  
• Cantaloupe $2 each

Meal Ideas:

Pressed for time? Serve grilled cheese sandwiches using 8 slices of bread (.58 cents) and 1 pack Cheddar cut up ($1.68). Serve with two cans of sliced peaches. ($2). Total: $4.26

Cheese and Fruit Tray using two kinds of cheese cut into cubes ($3.76), 1/2 cantaloupe cut into chunks ($1) and 1 lb grapes (.88) This is a nice, light dinner for a hot day. If you have kids, give them a toothpick to pick up the cubes of fruit and cheese with. It makes it more fun! Total: $5.64

Tomato Chicken Parmesan, substituting the breasts with thighs: (chicken $1.19, Cheese 3.76, pasta sauce .99) serve with a side of grapes (1/4 each for 4 people, .88 cents total!) and 1/2 a cantaloupe cut into chunks ($1). Total: $7.82 A bit over $5, but delicious and good for you!

Bon appeitit!

For other ideas and other stores, go here!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

Saving money without coupons is possible! Here's some fabulous meals right from the Dillon's sales circular!

Reasonably good deals:

Apples (assorted varieties) $1/lb
Grapes $1.77/lb
Kroger Frozen Vegetables $1 each (9-16 oz)
Potatoes $2.99 (10 lb bag)
Kraft Macaroni and cheese .58 cents
Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna .58 cents
Tyson Fresh Chicken Thighs $1.99/lb
Pork Shoulder Roast $1.79/lb
Kroger sour cream ($1 for 16 oz)

Meal Ideas

Slow cooked Pork Roast ($1.79 served with mixed veggies ($1) and a baked potato (4 potatoes, aprox 2.5 lbs so .73 cents) Total: $3.52

Baked Chicken Thighs (1.99) with fresh mixed vegetables ($1) and grapes (aprox 1/4 lb each person, $1.77)

3 Pepper and onion pizza using homemade crust (aprox .45 cents using the Artisan Bread method), cheese ($1.88) and Mixed Peppers and Onions Kroger Frozen Veggies ($1), and canned Kroger spaghetti sauce (.99 cents) Total: $4.32

Too tired to cook? Take a box of macaroni (.58) and dump in a can of tuna (.58) and 1/2 a bag of frozen broccoli ($1). Serve with homemade apple sauce (using 1 lb of apples- $1! This recipe freezes well!) Total: $3.16

There you have it! Head on over to $5 Dinners for more ideas!

Bargain Meal of the Week!

Here's three fabulous meal possibilities from this week's Dillon's ad! I'm assuming that you have no coupons and that you have some basic pantry items, like BBQ sauce. Here we go!

Reasonably Good Buys

Eggs $1.25/dozen
Red Seedless Grapes .99 cents per pound
1/2 gallon Kroger Milk $1.33
Kroger Frozen Vegetables .99 cents
Chicken Leg Quarters .59 cents a pound
Sarah Lee Bread $1.78 per loaf

Two Quick Easy Meal Ideas: (click on links for recipes!)

Egg salad sandwich with 1/4 lb grapes and 8 oz glass of milk each- aprox .9o cents each serving, or $3.63 for 4 servings. Excellent for lunch!

Baked BBQ Chicken (1/4 lb each person) w/ frozen green beans and 1/4 grapes. Aprox .62 cents each, or $2.48 for 4 servings. Don't forget to save the bones to make stock!

Head on over to $5 Dinners for more Bargain Meals from the sales circulars!

Bargain Meal of the Week (from Dillons!)

I'm thrilled to be on the list of bargain meal hunters over at $5 Dinners. This week I'm listing several things from the circular that could be considered good buys. I'm assuming that you have a Dillons Plus Card and no coupons. If you have coupons for these items, the deal is even sweeter! After the list I've included several possible meal ideas that include the sale items. The sales at Dillons in my area (Wichita, KS) run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so the prices below are good through February 17th!

Reasonably Good Buys:

• Kroger Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $2.33 per pound
• Potatoes- $2.99 per 5 pound bag
• Fresh Salad Leaf Lettuce $1.00 each
• Kroger Tortilla Chips $1 per bag
• Rosarita Refried Beans .85 cents a can (when you buy a case)
• 16 oz Kroger Cheese Blocks $3.77
• Kroger Value Cereal .99 cents (for 8-14 oz, selected varieties.)
• Naturally Preferred Organic Milk $3.29 for 64 oz. (I know that you can get milk for less, but I am sticking with what is featured in the sale ad only!)
• 5 lb bag Kroger Red Delicious Apples $2.50 (aka .50 cents a pound!)
• Hothouse Beefsteak Tomatoes $1.49 per pound
• Ocean Spray Juice Cocktail $1.98 for 64 oz

Possible $5 (or less!) Meals

Breakfast Corn Flakes with Organic Milk and Apples (Serves One)

Simple, easy, good!

1 cup corn flakes (.08 cents)
1/2 cup (4 oz) organic milk (.20 cents)
2 small apples (about 1/2 lb- or .25 cents worth)
1 cup Cran-Apple Juice Cocktail (8 oz- .24 cents)
Total: .77 cents

Baked Chicken with Baked Potatoes and Salad (click on links in the title for recipes- serves 4)

1 lb Chicken ($2.33) with 3/4 c. corn flakes (.08 cents for chicken coating)
You can use chicken stock if you have it. Water works if you don't.
1.5 lb potatoes (.88)
Salad with 1 head lettuce ($1) and 1/2 lb diced tomatoes .74. This is also a good time to use up random veggie leftovers before they go bad.

Note:I consider butter, salt, pepper (for the baked potatoes/chicken) and salad dressing (for the salad) pantry staples, so I did not include them in this cost calculation.

Total: $5.03

Friday Night Nachos (Serves 4-6)

Take 1 bag Kroger Chips ($1) and put into a casserole dish.
Spread 1 can refried beans on the chips (.85 cents)
Add 1/2 lb grated Kroger Cheese ($1.88)
Top with 1/4 lb cooked, diced chicken (.58 cents)

Put in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Enjoy!
Total Cost: $4.31

Head over to $5 Dollar Dinners for more Bargain Meals!

Bargain Meal of the Week is Coming Soon to FHP!

Last month I reported my dinners, sharing with you how much I saved by combining coupons and sales. It's an awesome way to save money. But what if you don't clip coupons or have the manager markdowns I find?

Never fear! With lots of other fabulous folks over at $5 Dollar Dinners I'm going to show you how you can have delicious meals (with recipes even!) using nothing but the weekly sale circular. That's right- no coupons, no special manager deals- just the things that everybody can get by paying attention to the sales.

I'll be concentrating on Dillons bargains in the Wichita, KS area. In this area, Dillons sales run Wednesday-Tuesday. I'll be posting my $5 Dollar Dinner from Dillons every Thursday.

Even if you're not from Kansas, you can apply the same principal to your meals. Check out the sale ads and see what you can come up with. You may be surprised how much money you can save while still eating delicious, nutritious meals.


Head on over to see the list of stores and participating bloggers! See you there!