Wow! Got a couple great deals and got the pantry stocked a little. *SOUP REC ADDED*

[Kimberlina]

I went grocery shopping today. Maggie needed to get out of the house, so we went to the store and wandered around a little. I stuck to my list almost completely, but I did get a few things I hadn't intended to, because they were such reat deals.

I bought 12 cans of Muir Glen Oganic Fire Roasted diced tomatoes for .50 each. That is .06 less than the store-brand-not-organic-usually-chapest tomatoes. I won't need to buy canned tomatoe products for a little while now (I use them for my Chicken Marengo and sauce etc.)

I also bought some canned soup that was on sale for .50 a can. I generally prefer homemade- I finally figured soups out about 5 years ago and have never looked back- but I do like to have some canned on hand in case DH is looking for a quick winter meal. It is much better than him buying pizza. I also bought a few Soup-At-Hand containers (also .50 each since the store is no longer going to carry them) for him to put in his desk so that he won't go out to lunch if he forgets to take it. I know my homemade soup is healthier, but it won't last in his desk drawer for an in-a-rush kind of day. I bought all they had left. Unfortunately, the woman in line behind me got to them first and pretty much wiped them out- she had to have had about 15 of them, adn there were only three left by the time I got there. (Great minds think alike- I got to the tomatoes first, but there were lots there and she also stocked up on them.)

Lasagna noodles were also on sale for only .35 a pound, so I bought a couple boxes. I already have two stored away, but I paid a lot more (I think they were close to $1 more, normally.) I also picked up a box of store-brand macaroni for 1/2 price. (Would have bought another but I just did last week.)

I finished up the rest of my shopping in the regular grocery store and headed over to the natural foods store. I don't ever get rock-bottom deals there, but the prices are always fair and the food is often organic. I picked up some barley and TVP and completed my shopping with only about .17 left in my pocket.

My pantry is gonna' be full tonight!

(And on an OT note, I also found out that the natural foods store is happy to take my plastic grocery bags to reuse them. They won't take Wal-Mart bags [and who can blame them] but it is good to know my bags will be reused before they are recycled! )

[Kimberlina]

Yowza! I just looked up the price of those tomatoes at online stores- they are ypically 3.5 to 4 times more than I bought them for!!!

[forestdale]

Great deals on your canned good, Kimberly. I agree about the soups, homemade is much tastier and you don't get all that salt they put into canned soup.

Good luck with building your pantry stocks even more.

[Darlene]

Hey  where you shoppin? My guess is Walmart. If you time it right you can get some good deals there.

[Kimberlina]

I actually went to 4 stores yesterday- Wal Mart (can't wait till I make enough money not to shop there anymore!) Price Chopper, that little independent dollar store, and Natural Foods and More.

Most of my good deals were at Wal-Mart. Who even knew they HAD organic tomatoes there? I also sometimes get deals right near the door that leads to the stock area of the Price Chopper.

[Mom23boys]

WTG on your great deals! I bet DH will be thanking you on those rushed type of days when he can just grab his soup.

[Early Bird]

I think you're really smart to realize that sometimes there isn't time/opportunity for homemade soup -- and for stocking up when you find a deal.

[hollyhill]

Way to go!

But what is your soup secret? Want to share?

I also find Organic canned foods sometimes at Liquidation world. I also do a lot of "gleaning" at this time of year. Wild fruits and abandoned trees are everywhere.....

[AmyBoz]

great job!!!

[Kimberlina]

Hollyhill, I don't actually have a secret for soups, but I can finally make them. I don't know what I figured out, but they come out well now. I do have some recipes I can share. I have a mushroom soup recipe, a potato soup recipe (posted here last week) a clam chowder recipe, and a chicken enchilada recipe that all always get raves. Everything else I just do without recipes, and even those recipes I fiddle with a bit.

Let me know if you are interested in any of those and I will post them.

[Dedlered]

Chicken Enchilada Please... ohhh so many, can we see all of them Kimberly? Pretty Pleas3?

[Kimberlina]

Okay, you twisted my arm... LOL

Actually, I think all those recipes oiginally came from allrecipes.com, so I will link them,t hen give you my take on the recipes (except, the potato soup recipe, which originally came from there, but I changed it a lot, so I will just link you the post I made here last week.)

Chicken Enchilada (like Chili's recipe: ) http://soup.allrecipes.com/az/ChicknnchildSpII.asp

Hungarian Mushroom Soup: http://soup.allrecipes.com/az/HngrinMshrmSp.asp

Clam Chowder: http://soup.allrecipes.com/az/MyBestClamChowder.asp

Creamy Potato Soup: Potato Soup

Okay, here are my notes:
Chicken Enchilada Soup- *This is always a big hit, so I DOUBLE the recipe. *I have had good luck using cheddar or other non-processed cheeses in this. I just make sure the soup in at a low heat before adding the cheese. *Store-brand "mexican style" tomato sauce can be used in place of enchilada sauce for much less (or make your own.)

Mushroom Soup: I don't eat this so don't really have notes. I think I DID add a splash of vinegar (red wine or cider is good) to this and DH really liked it.

Clam Chowder: Again, I don't eat this, so no changes to it. DH loves this.

Potato soup- all my notes are in the other thread.

Bonus recipe- my Cheddar Corn Chowder recipe (adapted from Ina Garten's recipe: )

Cheddar Corn Chowder 10-12 Servings

1/4 c olive oil
2 T butter
6 c chopped onions
1/2 c flour
2 t salt
1 t black pepper
12 c stock (vegetable or chicken)
6 c diced boiling potatoes
2 c fat free half and half
10 c corn kernals (3 lb frozen)
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded


Over medium heat, cook onions in butter and oil till translucent, about 10 minutes.

Stir in flour, salt, and pepper and cook for 3 minutes.

Add stock and potatoes. Bing to a boil then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes till potatoes are tender.

Add corn, half and half, and cheese. Cook, stirring, till cheese is melted.


Enjoy!!!

[Early Bird]

Thanks. I'm looking at chicken enchillada soup for tonight!

[britbunny]

Good shopping! Stocking my pantry gives me far too much satisfaction to be normal!

I think I'll give the mushroom soup a turn, I always have more paprika than I know what to do with. Cheers!

[Dedlered]

Thanks Kimberly!! Just in time for fall

Have you tried any of these in the crockpot?