spiffykerms.com » In the Kitchen

Come help me find @EqualCanada at Walmart! #CBias

Nancy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:53:37 +0000

Good morning! I’ve decided to take you all on a journey of our weekly grocery shop, and how I make lists to keep sane.

My boyfriend and I normally grocery shop at the grocery store or Walmart once a week. This time we decided to go to Walmart because of all the deals we spotted on their online flyer. But before we head out, I make a list of what we’ll be eating for dinner that week, and what coupons we need to use up before they expire.

This list honestly saves so much time trying to come up with ideas when I’m tired from coming back from CrossFit, or just right after work, and especially when I’m not feeling up to coming up with creative ideas for supper. The meat is always thawed in the fridge the night before so it’s less work.

The menu plan comes from searching for bargains online and Walmart had a ton of sales this weekend, so that’s where I got all of our supper ideas from. Onto the grocery list.

Mitt scrubber isn’t usually on my grocery list, but I wanted a mitt to exfoliate my skin when I do my self tans. Hee hee.

We then headed out to Walmart at about 9:30pm—we have our routine so down pat we always know what time to hit up the stores. We like going to Walmart later at night since it’s not busy with a ton of weekly shoppers.

First thing we do is look through the flyer. Even though we’ve already looked through it online before leaving. It’s just nice to take one to cart around with us, for when something pops up that we were needing.

Sneak peak of what we buy for the week.Can you spot the coupons? I ended up getting those Corn Pops cereal for $0.47 with the coupons we had, plus the Charmin I had two free coupons.

By the end of our shopping trip the cart got way fuller than we expected. But there was still one item missing. The Equal canister for baking with was nowhere to be found.

It wasn’t in the baking section of Walmart, nor was the specific kind I was looking for at the Pharmacy section either. See?

We ended up just checking our purchases out and heading to the next available Walmart which was probably about a 15 minute drive away.

Ta-da! At the second Walmart location, we found the yellow canister of Equal! My boyfriend’s eagle eyes saves the day. It was labeled as $7.97 which was the rollback price. It used to be $9.97.

Score one for us!

Up close and personal with the Equal sweetener. Little #EqualCanada buddy, you were not an easy find! It was difficult to find since they changed the color of the packaging to yellow.The Equal was spotted again in the Pharmacy section next to the protein powders. My boyfriend drinks protein shakes a lot, so I knew this would be an ordeal for him, picking out a new brand to try next.

I bolted towards the patio chairs which are (already!!) out for purchase.

Spying on the Boyfriend. Can you spot him? I even had a great conversation with a woman picking out potted plants for someone’s house-warming present. I think we did a pretty good job picking out one of the plants for her ;)

After we finished our shopping trip we headed home to finally chill out for the night. Since I did a pretty good job using my coupons on Saturday, I had to take a photo of my great finds.

My best deals:
Charmin toilet paper = free with coupon
Carnation Instant Breakfast $5.97. I had a $1 off coupon.
Rice Krispies squares on sale for $2.00 and I used $2.00 off coupon. All 3 free!
Corn Pops $2.97. I used three $2.50 off coupons = $0.47 each!
Royale Toilet paper was $4.47 and I had a $2 off coupon making it $2.27.
Equal was on rollback from $9.97 to $7.97, so I saved $2.00.

The other stuff shown is some produce, whey protein and two bags of milk and frozen fish which I put away immediately. We have enough meat from our last week’s shopping trip, which chicken and pork were on steep discount.

So, do I buy anything unusual that you wouldn’t normally buy on your grocery shop? What are your must-have’s for a grocery trip? I always love getting fresh bell peppers and bananas. This time I wanted to try out the new brand new Equal canister made for cooking and baking.

You can find out more information about Equal Canada on Twitter, or Equal Canada on Facebook.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All opinions are my own.

Curry Chicken and chickpeas

Nancy — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:20:33 +0000

Over the Christmas holidays my Mom and I went to visit some long-time friends. While I was over there I was talking about cooking new foods and experimenting with different things. She gave me a taste of the curry she made the previous night and I loved it so much I asked for her recipe.

It is so EASY.This was the original recipe shown below. But I added chicken and cauliflower to the mix. Next time I’m definitely not adding an entire tin of chick peas and half tin of kidney beans to the mix. It made me gag. I couldn’t handle it. But the sauce itself was scrumptious and I’m already planning my next meal around it. Add more or less curry to your mix, as you wish. Mine was pretty bland tasting so next time I’ll add another teaspoon of curry.

2tsp of oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
3tsp of curry

Simmer, but do not brown

Add 1tsp of brown sugar
1 tin of chick peas
1 tin of kidney beans (I used a half can)
1 small tin of tomato paste

Serve over basmati rice.

Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nancy — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:15:07 +0000

I’ve had my eye on Courtney’s Nutella Chocolate Chip cookies for a while, and last weekend I finally got around to making them.

While the idea behind the cookie sounded great, and the batter tasted even better. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like the finished product.

The recipe called for a little bit more sugar than I am used to. I do like the recipe, and I like how moist and chewy the inside is, I’ll just definitely be using ½ cup sugar next time, instead of the full 1 cup. We could literally feel the granules of sugar on our teeth when we were eating them. Even when I used the electric mixer. I’m not trashing her cookies, because they were amazing. Just too sweet for our liking.

It’ll also be posted on my recipe page, once I tweak the recipe a tad! Don’t worry, I will still link back to her original recipe.

Parm balls

Nancy — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:09:44 +0000

Say wha?

Parm balls! They’re so delicious. They’re cheesy goodness wrapped up in chicken and covered with panko crumbs. Want to know how to make it? Keep reading!

Rather than me typing it all out (and I may put it up on my recipe page), here is the photocopied recipe for the parm balls. I grabbed it from a Campbell’s cook book at work!

Just a note. I wasn’t a huge fan of the spaghetti sauce on the top of the parm balls. Plus, I’m not sure if rice was the right side to add with it. What would you have put with the parm balls?

This one below kinda looks tasty as well!

It’s a S’mores party!

Nancy — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:05:30 +0000

My trip to San Diego in August to go to BlogHer was all about a lot of firsts. First time I met Shannon, Jess, Nikki, Judy and even Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats, my blogging idol! BlogHer was also the first time I tried a S’more at the Hershey booth and first time I tried a Balance Bar. Can you take a while guess as to what my favorite flavor was?
Aw, yes. S’mores no less. It honestly tastes like a yummy chocolate bar. It’s a fair size as well at 50g per bar. August 14 was my last s’more bar, so it was a sad day when that last bite was taken, wrapped in that gorgeous gold packaging.

But I we don’t have to be sad anymore because I’m here to share the tasty amazing goodness with all of you ladies and gents today residing in the states! Who wants to win a free box of my favorite flavor of S’mores Balance Bar? 15 S’mores bars come in a box!

Share or hoard it, I won’t judge. It is a pretty amazing flavor.

But first! I must tell you about all the amazing different types of Balance Bars! There is a great selection of bars to choose from carb loading bars, cafe bars, bare bars (trail-mix inspired), gold bars (which were my favorite because it included the S’mores) and of course original bars. Each “section” of bars has a few flavor variates for you to choose from! There are so many flavors, my mouth is salivating.

Alright, I know everyone here just wants to get right to it and enter away at this giveaway. So I’ll tell you how you can enter and who is eligible to win a free box of S’mores Balance Bars.

PLEASE NOTE THIS CONTEST IS ONLY OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE USA.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me where and when you would eat your BalanceBar? (Me? I’d eat it after a CrossFit WOD or a climbing sesh. I love to fuel up after a work out!)

For Extra Entries:
Extra Entry #1: Follow @BalanceBar on Twitter
Extra Entry #2: Follow @spiffykerms on Twitter and tweet this giveaway, “#WIN a 15ct box of @BalanceBar on @spiffykerms’ blog here: http://www.spiffykerms.com/2011/11/its-a-smores-party/“
Extra Entry #3: Share this entry on any social networking, bookmarking or contest site {i.e. StumbleUpon, Digg, etc}

Extra Entry #4: Blog about this giveaway on your own website.
Extra Entry #5: Subscribe to spiffykerms.com on Google Friend Connect

The contest will end on November 28, 2011 at 2pm EST. Please do not enter any more comments there after. They will be removed.

Good luck, and enter away!

Christmas gift basket – for a good cause!

Nancy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:10:22 +0000

Why hello there…

I have a special blog post for you all today. Something I always look forward to receiving.

This is my third Gourmet Gift Basket (see one and two) that I have gotten to review on my blog. If you remember last December I reviewed a Gourmet Gift Basket that was full of great treats. Well, a few months ago I was contacted again by the company and I decided to stick to what I knew I enjoyed and loved last time, which is the Christmas Gift Basket Classic.

It retails for $59.99. I’m diggin in!

MY FAVORITE. Their chocolate chip pecan cookies. These are the first to go in our household.

Tons of chocolate goodies. Every girl’s dream.Chocolate, popcorn, peanut crunch? All, to die for. That’s my crazy face for Let’s dig in now! No more photos!

Hey, what? Alfie! What are you doing in there? Guess he wants some of our Gourmet Gift Basket as well. Ha! Too bad, not dog friendly.

Unfortunately, I do not have a giveaway to offer my readers this time. However, if you would like to take part and give a donation to the Military (no purchase necessary! Just a blog post!). All you have to do is review the selection of these Christmas Gifts on your own blog. The topic of the blog post should discuss their Christmas gift selection and how great of a gift it would be for someone. For every blog post written about the Christmas Gift selection — Gourmet Gift Basket will donate two care packages to the Military on your behalf.

Please note that the Military Donation blog posts should be posted between November 21 — December 9.

Leave it in the comments below to let me know if you have written a blog entry on the baskets. Then I can forward it back to my contact person at Gourmet Gift baskets by December 14 so he can make sure that all the care packages being donated can reach the soldiers in time for Christmas.

Doesn’t that just warm your heart? I hope you end up participating! :)

Success in the kitchen

Nancy — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:22:57 +0000

I made quinoa for the first time last night. It turned out beautifully. It’s my new favorite, grain… plant? What is it? I love it.

I have my menu plan all set out for the week in advance, and I knew last night was salmon night. I was thinking of having basmati rice, cooked in chicken stock. But then I remembered I have yet to attempt quinoa.

All I did was follow the instructions on the box, and wouldn’t you know, it actually turned out okay! I did have to drain a bit of the stock out, as it was too watery even with the recommended amount. But whatevs. No biggie.

Supper served with a salad, garlic bread, lemon pepper salmon with a side of broccoli and chicken stocked quinoa. Mmm-mmm! Doesn’t it look deeerrrrricious? :)Halloween is coming up on Monday, is anyone dressing up or going out this weekend? I’m sure there’s tons of you out there. I haven’t dressed up in literally years. But my co-workers and I are all dressing up on Monday for work. I don’t own any costumes but my co-worker has a tickle truck full of goodies. Just like Mr. Dress-up! She let me borrow something. I can’t show you what I’m going to be until Halloween, and I was going to show you a sneak peak, but then the outfit is so simple that you’d definitely guess it right away. Ha.

Pulled Chicken Sandwich

Nancy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:58:12 +0000

I woke up Saturday morning with basically a full blown sinus cold. I was miserable and wanted the pain in my nose to go away. I ended up taking some over the counter sinus med’s all day Saturday and on Sunday it was still there, but not as bad as the day before. Monday morning I woke up and coughed all day. I did go to work yesterday, because I had a TON of stuff to do, regarding the campaign I’ve been organizing for Breast Cancer Awareness, so I needed to go in! Maybe I’ll post more about that later in the month. It’s totally fun and I was contact companies for some “goodies” for the staff I work with.

Today is the first day that I’m starting to feel like myself again. Finally. It’s been forever.

Anyway. Onto a recipe blog post, since I haven’t done one in a while.

I’m not a fan of pulled pork sandwiches. What I am a fan of – is pulled-CHICKEN sandwiches. Mouth watering and derrrrioucous in my mouth.

I made them a few weeks ago. I photocopied a recipe out of a Campbells Soup cook book I found at work. I didn’t end up using it because it consisted of way too many ingredients for my liking. Apple cidar vinegar, brown sugar… so what I ended up doing was just pan cooking the chicken, and shredding it with two forks. Took it away from the heat and dumped in some of my favorite BBQ sauce: Peppercorn found at Save On Foods in Western Canada (BC is where we bought ours).

Pulled Chicken Sandwich “recipe”, and I quote that word since it’s the second easiest thing I’ve ever made. First thing being Kraft Dinner. Oh yeah.

As I said, I’m not the hugest fan of pulled pork sandwiches since I felt the meat was too wet and slimy on my palette. So I decided to go for a better option!

While the chicken was cooking on the grill I heated up some of this BBQ sauce I purchased in British Columbia at Save On Foods. Since we don’t have one of those grocery stores here in Ontario, I still can’t seem to find a substitute for it at Zehrs or Sobeys! I’ve also used Diana Honey Garlic Sauce for this as well and it was scrumptious.Open faced sammich. I like mine pretty dry, but I may have needed to add something to it since it may have been too dry with the panini bread I used with it. My Boyfriend usually adds more BBQ sauce to his. Lotsaflava.I serve it with a simple salad! I’ve bought all kinds of different variety packs of salad spicer-uppers at Zehrs and I kinda like this one, but the Mexican one is better (and hotter/spicier).

Help yourself…

Nancy — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:10:43 +0000

…the note says.

Anyone want some zucchini? lol how does it even grow to be even half that size! Moses!

Weekend photo re-cap

Nancy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:25:15 +0000

My weekend in pictures…

[Saturday]: painted my nails

[Saturday]: Hung out on the balcony

[Saturday]: Did 7 (!!!) loads of laundry

[Saturday]: Found some old school books in the laundry room…

[Saturday]: …and some creepy dolls. This will give me nightmares.

[Saturday]: Watched some youtube videos

[Saturday]: Made my delicious pork tenderloin recipe along with some yummy garlic bread[Saturday]: Dessert #1

[Saturday]: Dessert #2

[Sunday]: Breakfast

[Sunday]: Made Buttermillk Blueberry Breakfast Cake (recipe). Hint, if you don’t have buttermilk (Courtney taught me this) — you can sour your own milk by putting in either a tablespoon of lemon juice OR vinegar in your 1 cup of milk to sour it. [Sunday]: It was dericious [Sunday]: Watched Tour De France on the boyfriend’s PlayBook

[Sunday]: Played some soccer.