When Block Cheese Is On Sale...

I bought a LOT of block cheese on sale at Price Chopper this week.  However, I rarely use chunks or slices of cheese.  Especially this sort of more processed cheese.  (That's not me being snotty- or maybe it is but not on purpose- just keeping it honest.)  I really only use it shredded.  In casseroles, pizzas, Mexican, etc.

And while this might be stating the obvious for some, I don't doubt it will be a mini ah-ha for others.  So I am sharing.

You can just shred your own cheese in about 30 seconds with a food processor.

Even if you don't have a food processor but instead have a grater, you're not going to spend more than a few minutes per block of cheese.  It's really so fast and simple.

My only advice is that if using softer cheese (these are softer), pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes first.  It's not an absolute but they tend to gunk up (y'all are loving my technical terms, right?) on the blade of the processor.  But that's certainly not the end of the world.  Just roll with it.  I mean, it's cheese.  That you are likely going to melt into something eventually.  Who cares?!

Stick the grater blade in your processor and you are 30 seconds away from your goal.

Oh I do have another tip.  Measure out your cheese and mark your baggies.  As you can see, after the cheese I needed to use that night, I had enough to put two cups in one baggie and one and a half cups in a second baggie.  I tossed them both in the freezer for future use.

Easy peasy orange cheesy!

More Eggs And Cheese

I had a few more coupons I wanted to use this week and popped into Price Chopper again.  More eggs.  And let me be honest, I printed two more coupons on my dad's computer and plan to stop in tomorrow for four more dozen eggs.  At $0.44/dozen that is just crazy to not buy.   I can always freeze them if I don't think I will use them in time.  But that's a last resort because while eggs freeze well, they also have a crazy long shelf life so should be fine in the fridge for quite a while.

The pizzas are 2/$9.  I had two print coupons for $0.75/1.  Bring the price down to just $3/pizza.

The cheese was a great deal this week too.  I popped all of these in the freezer already.  Including the yummy herb feta.  This flavor is a rock star in omelets, y'all!  Mmmm!!

The catalina machine however, was my stumbling block.  As you know, it should have given me a free Coke product coupon with the Pepsi (free with coupon) purchase.  But it turns out the machine had a paper jam.  I waited in the longest line ever for customer service (because of the lottery sales) to ask what could be done.  The nicest gal ever gave me a rain check for a free coke.  I thought that was incredibly nice of her considering it was a catalina issue.  So thanks Price Chopper!

My Price Chopper deals are explained in full here.

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What To Make For Dinner

Did everyone pick up the yummy sausage and inexpensive green peppers at Price Chopper too?  If you are looking for a way to use those up, you can give this recipe for stuffed peppers a try.  I made this last night (without the red sauce because I forgot all about it) and it's a total no fail.  Even without the tomato sauce, it's such a delicious winner of a recipe.  Even easier if you keep rice in your freezer too!

Great Grocery Deals At Price Chopper

I am s l o w l y getting my rear back in gear when it comes to coupon blogging.  My issue is not seeking out the deals.  It comes down to two things.  First is that I have not clipped coupons in nearly TWO MONTHS.  Not even kidding.  And second is because I have had zero extra time to clip or blog.

But my plate has a wee bit of free space right now and I am using my time wisely to get back in the groove.

Starting with some GREAT grocery deals at Price Chopper this week....

Transaction #1 Purchased...

(2) Dozen Price Chopper Large Eggs  reg. $1.99, sale $0.99
- (1) $0.50/2 Facebook print coupon
= Out Of Pocket $0.49/each when you buy (2)
saved: 75%

(1) Pepsi Next  reg. $1.67, sale $1
- FREE Pepsi Next Price Chopper coupon
= OOP $0*
saved: 100%

(1) Athentos Feta Cup 6oz  reg.$4.49, sale $2.25
- (1) $0.75/1 FB print coupon
= OOP $0.75
saved: 85%

Green Peppers  reg. $2.99/lb, sale $2,49/lb
- Price Chopper FB coupon $0.99/lb
saved: 67%

(1) Johnsonville Sausage  reg. $5.49
- Price Chopper FB coupon $2.99
- $1/1 SS 3/11
= OOP $1.99
saved: 64%

(1) Minute Maid Pure Squeezed Orange Juice 59 oz.  reg. $3.29, sale $2.50
- $0.75/1 print coupon (no longer available)
= OOP $1
saved: 70%

(1) Breyers Ice Cream  reg. $4.99, sale $2.49
=OOP $2.49
saved: 50%

(2) Heluva Good Cheese 8oz  reg. $2.99, sale $2
- (1) $1/2 SS 3/25
=OOP $1.50/ea wyb (2)
saved: 50%

*Purchasing the Pepsi 2L triggers a catalina for a FREE (up to $1.25) 2L of Coke!

Transaction #2 Purchased:

(1) Pepsi Next  reg. $1.67, sale $1
=OOP $1**
saved: 40%

(1) Coke Zero  reg. $1.99, sale $1.66
- (1) FREE Coke Zero catalina from Trans #1
= OOP $0 (the cashier had trouble and just subtracted the total paid but looking at my receipt a day later,  I realize it should have only deducted $1.25)
saved: 100%

** I purchased another Pepsi Next for a few reasons.  First, because I don't like when my total ends up at zero at Price Chopper.  It requires a manager to come over and when busy, that can take forever.  It just creates chaos.  Second, I go to a lot of meetings.  Even if I don't use the Pepsi, there will be plenty of meetings form my various groups when I need to bring a drink.  Good to have on hand.  Third, with it being on sale for just $1, it's one of the cheapest things in the store this week.  And last, because I wanted to see if it would trigger another catalina for a free Coke.  It did!

Now I didn't use a Free coupon in my second trans because you need to purchase a min of $15 to use it.  I didn't have time or energy to work that many transactions out.  But for a buck, I earned a cat for a free Coke,  my drug of choice, truth be told!

Oink Oink!

Head's up...

Both boneless pork ribs and pork loins are on sale BOGO Free this week at Price Chopper.  I just picked up two packs of the ribs and tossed them in the crockpot with some BBQ sauce, salt and a splash of wine.  I stuck the two loins in the freezer.

This is exactly how I save big bucks on great meats.  My pork loins were in the range of $11.80/each.  Meaning I saved $11.80 by buying two!  They are in the vacuum sealed packages so they freeze especially well.

So go get your piggy on at the P Chop, my thrifty pals!