Recipe Round-up (Meijer Ad 4/29/12 - 5/5/12)

Ready to try out some new recipes?  Or ready to make one of these again?  Here's what else you can make using on-sale ingredients from Meijer this week:

Kids' Favorite Green Beans

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/29/12 - 5/5/12)

We love the classic green bean casserole at our house, but this recipe is a nice change of pace from that old stand-by.  My friend Bobbi over at Favorite Family Foods posted this recipe a few weeks ago, and I knew I wanted to try it right away.  My kids actually turned up their noses at it until I told them what it was called...and then they tried it and of course, liked it!  I doubled the recipe and it was GONE, so I'll probably triple it next time.

8/11/12 edit:  I've made this with fresh green beans many times this summer, and it's even better!

Cherry Chip Bread

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/29/12 - 5/5/12)

This moist and delicious quick bread really is quick, because gets a jumpstart from a boxed cake mix.  Betty Crocker is the only brand that makes Cherry Chip, so snatch up a box this week while it's on sale!

Cheater Chicken Parmesan Dinner

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/29/12 - 5/5/12)

This "shortcut gourmet" recipe is my go-to meal on busy days!  It comes together quickly, and I always have the ingredients in the house.  My mom came up with it years ago, and now my family enjoys it as well.  The result looks like you spent hours in the kitchen instead of only 20 minutes, and the combination of flavors is delicious.

Stock-up Alert: Free Air Freshener at Target

Head over to Target in the next few weeks and grab some FREE Glade Air Freshener!

OOPS!

We took advantage of the nice weather and fired up the grill tonight.  Our Grilled Pork was just a delicious as always...probably because I followed my recipe correctly!

I figured this would happen eventually...I messed up on a recipe.  And it wasn't just a minor mess-up:  I left out an entire ingredient!  I posted Grilled Pork a few weeks ago, and this morning, I clicked on the recipe as I was preparing the marinade.  I realized that something was wrong right away, so I hauled out my old cookbook.  I realized that when I typed up the recipe a few weeks ago, I forgot to add SOY SAUCE to the list of ingredients.  Oops.  I fixed it now!

Recipe Round-up (Meijer Ad 4/22/12 - 4/28/12)

Here's what else you can make using on-sale ingredients this week:

Grilled Mushrooms

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/22/12 - 4/28/12)

Grilled mushrooms are big treat around here!  We eat them with steak, but they would be delicious on burgers as well.  These babies don't last long at our house...even our kids who "don't like mushrooms" fight over these.

Alfredo Bow Ties and Chicken

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/22/12 - 4/28/12)

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes.  I don't make it very often because honestly, it's time-consuming and creates a lot of dirty dishes.  (There, I just talked you right out of making it, didn't I?)  However, every time I make it, I remember again that the time involved really IS worth it, because it is soooo good!  Even so...anyone want to come over and do my dishes?

No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/22/12 - 4/28/12)

The only thing wrong with the above picture is that I didn't cut my piece large enough!  Yes, this dessert has three layers...but it really doesn't take too long to put together.  Plus, I guarantee you'll like it better than the Jello No-Bake version!

A Few Changes

Notice anything new around here?  :)

I did some reorganizing of the blog that went live today.  I hope these changes will make Cooking Up a Sale more user-friendly for all of you!  (If you're reading this post in your email newsletter, please click on over to the blog to see the new look.)

The most noticeable difference is probably the blog title.  That's just something fun, and it won't necessarily make this blog any easier to use, but I'm pretty excited about it.  What do you think?  Do you like the new look?

Make It or Buy It? Granola

I think it's about time for a Costco recipe!  I shop Costco at least twice a month, and there are some ingredients that are always cheaper there than anywhere else...even if I compare it to a "Meijer sale minus coupon" price.

My family eats a lot of yogurt parfaits, and we top them with this simple and versatile homemade granola.  See the options and tips section below for more uses for this yummy granola.

Costco Ingredients Used:

• Quaker old fashioned rolled oats ($7.49/10 lb box)
• honey ($11.99/5 lb jug)
• cinnamon ($2.59/10.7oz container)

Yogurt Parfait

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/15/12 - 4/21/12)

A few years ago we visited some friends who served us yogurt parfaits as part of a light breakfast.  We really enjoyed the simple treat, and I bought the ingredients for parfaits as soon as we got home.  We've eaten a LOT of yogurt parfaits since then...if I had to guess, I'd say I've made well over 500 parfaits in the last few years!  My husband eats one for breakfast almost every day, and my kids will quite often choose this for an after-school snack.  I hope you enjoy this (somewhat healthy!) treat as much as we do!

Recipe Round-up (Meijer Ad 4/15/12 - 4/21/12)

What's on sale is what's for dinner!  Here's what else you can make this week with on-sale ingredients:

My Mom's Crockpot Meatloaf

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/15/12 - 4/21/12)

When I was a kid, I didn't realize that most people cooked their meatloaf in the oven.  Nor did I realize that most people's definition of meatloaf would include the word "dry".  I was privileged to grow up on THIS version of meatloaf...and meatloaf cooked in the crockpot is anything but dry.  Try it once, and you'll never go back to your old way of cooking it!

Italian Stuffed Shells

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 4/15/12 - 4/21/12)

Although the picture doesn't look like much more than a pile of cheese and sauce, this casserole really is fabulous!  It's one of our favorite Italian dishes.  Your kitchen will smell amazing when this is in the oven.

Recipe Round-up (Meijer Ad 4/8/12 - 4/14/12)

Ready for your weekly menu-planning tool?  I hope you find this feature useful!  Enjoy your week!

Bow Tie Chicken Pasta Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week of 4/8/12 - 4/14/12)

My sister-in-law recommended this refreshing salad recipe from her church cookbook.  I gave it a try the last time avocados were on sale, and we loved it!

Peanut Butter 'n' Honey Bars

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week of 4/8/12 - 4/14/12)

This recipe was created out of desperation...and sometimes those kind are the best!  The inspiration for these treats came from an old-time favorite:  Scotcheroos.  Substitute Honey Nut Cheerios for the Rice Krispies, and voila, you have Peanut Butter 'n' Honey Bars.  But wait!  We have options!  If you leave off the frosting, these bars taste almost exactly like a peanut butter and honey sandwich.  If you have a thing for chocolate (who, me?), then add the frosting.  Enjoy!

Grilled Pork

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week of 4/8/12 - 4/14/12)

Grilled pork chops have a bad reputation for being dry and tasteless.  There are two easy ways to fix that problem:  use thick, center-cut, boneless chops, and marinate them all day.  The words "dry" and "tasteless" won't even cross your mind when you try these!