Freebie Friday: January 12, 2007

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Amy

Get a free sample of Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners

Family Circle Magazine is offering free sample of Swiffer Dusters.
I was ineligible for this offer because I have applied for it before, but if you didn’t get this deal earlier you can get it now!

Get a free sample of Metamucil. This Fiber Starter kit includes a sample of wafers, powder, & capsules plus calcium. There is also a guide to explain how to eat a high fiber diet. Please limit one per household. This sample will arrive within four to six weeks.

Receive a free sample of Maximum Strength Pepcid AC by filling out their quick form.

Scholastic Books is offering a free digital audiobook download. They offer over ninety books and these include many of the classics for kids. This does not require putting in your address or credit card information.

The current coupon code for a free rental from Redbox is ICICLE.

This freebie, offered by RogerOger, is for the new Swiffer CarpetFlick. I hope this is the real deal because this would be a fantastic freebie! Please allow four to eight weeks for delivery.

Please complete the form to receive a free sample of Estroven PM and a money saving coupon from the company.

Try a free sample of Digestive Advantage Lactose Intolerance Therapy pills. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery. Currently the only sample available is their pills for children.

Get a free sample of Move Free Advanced for joint care relief. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.

Try a free sample of Viactiv Flavor Glides Vitamins. Please limit one per household and allow up to four weeks for delivery.

I am very, very excited about this freebie. Get a free copy of An Inconvenient Truth on DVD. There is no catch, just fill out the form. They should send you a confirmation email for this one. I do want to note, a nonprofit organization runs this venture and they are trying to get as many people to watch this as they possibly can. I understand it is a very inspiring movie full of information that we should all be seeing if we want to preserve our earth. Please do not apply for this freebie because you just want to sell it or don’t care to really see it. These people are doing this to help spread the word about caring for our earth, so please be respectful of their time & efforts. Many thanks to them for making sure these get in the right hands!

DVDPlay is offering a free movie rental using the coupon code DVD123. Please visit their site to find a location near you.

Get a complimentary subscription to Spin Magazine. Just answer no to all of the extra offers when filling out the survey.

Bicardi Silver is giving away Shake Up the Party cards. Limit one per household and no purchase is necessary.

Try a sample of Kotex Maxi Pads or Poise Ultra Plus Pads from Sam’s Club (you do not need to be a member to apply for this freebie.)

Frugal Solutions for the Swiffer

Posted on January 11, 2007 by Amy

I love my Swiffer WetJet and have used it for a couple of years now. Unfortunately, like all of these types of products, I need to purchase refills on the solution and the mop pads.

Once I ran out of the solution though, I began filling it with my own homemade solutions. I have done every type of solution known to man. I have filled it with a mixture of hardwood floor cleaner with water, a vinegar & water solution, and other floor cleaners in our cabinets. They all worked wonderfully and cost us a fraction of the cost. As a disclaimer though, the company suggests that you use only their cleaners, otherwise you risk clogging the unit and they will not warranty the product anymore.

I also did not want to pay for the pads, as they too cost quite a bit of money for something you just throw away. I tried using microfiber cloths, but they wouldn’t hang onto the mop head well. I then tried just using the regular pads (as they cost a little less) and ended up with a soaking mess.

The solution that I found works better than anything I have ever tried and I promise you, if you buy these, you will never have to buy the disposable stuff again. These terry mop heads fit my Bissell Steam Mop (which they no longer sell) and they fit on the Swiffer WetJet PERFECTLY!. They have a little adjuster on it that can help you hug the mop head tighter and they do not come off. They are made out of terry cloth and when you are done with them, just throw them in the wash with your towels. I had bought several packages, for fear that they would discontinue selling these like they did my steamer, and I absolutely love them. This is a great reusable solution that will cost you much less in the long run. You receive two mop heads in a package and they are currently listed at $9.70.

Product endorsement over- hope you can try these! You won’t be disappointed!

Spinach & Tomato Orzo with Chicken

Posted on January 10, 2007 by Amy

This week’s Works-For-Me Wednesday has a theme and the theme is sharing a low-fat recipe with everyone. I wish I would have saved my low-fat chocolate chip cookie recipe for this week, instead of last week, but hopefully you can still enjoy that recipe.

Here is one of my absolute favorite low-fat dishes that I love to eat. The chicken in this dish could be omitted if you wanted to keep the dish vegetarian.

This recipe came from one of my Rachael Ray cookbooks and it was originally prepared without the chicken, and was served as a side dish. I thought the addition of the chicken would make it a wonderful main dish.

This is one my favorite recipes to bring to potlucks because it something different than people normally prepare and it can be served warm, room temperature, or cold.

I hope you will enjoy this recipe as much as I do. The only bad thing about this dish is that it isn’t as good reheated the second day. The tomatoes make it a mushy mess. The good news though is that there are rarely any leftovers! Enjoy!

Be sure to swing by Rocks in My Dryer for more great recipes!

Spinach & Tomato Orzo With Chicken

1 pound spinach, washed, dried, stems removed

1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

2 lemons, zested

1 1/2 cups orzo, cooked to al dente

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

24 basil leaves, torn or thinly sliced

1 pound cooked chicken breasts, diced

Salt and pepper

Pile spinach leaves in stacks 1 on top of the other. Thinly slice stacks of leaves to make spinach confetti. Pile shredded spinach into the bottom of a medium sized mixing bowl. Halve grape or cherry tomatoes with a paring knife and add them to the mixing bowl. Add the zest of 2 lemons to the bowl and save the lemons in the refrigerator to juice for another recipe. Next add, the cooked chicken to the bowl. Add hot cooked and drained orzo pasta to the mixing bowl. The heat of the pasta will wilt the spinach and warm the tomatoes at the bottom of the bowl and get the juices flowing from veggies. The heat of the pasta will also release the flavor and oils in the lemon zest. Drizzle 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil over the pasta and toss to combine the veggies and orzo. Add basil and salt and pepper and toss to combine. Taste your orzo to adjust seasonings and serve.h

Frugal Momma’s Test Kitchen: Roast Chicken Recipe #1

Posted on January 8, 2007 by Amy

I am a big fan of roasting whole chickens, particularly because they are so darn affordable. I can get a good five to six pound chicken for only around$3.50 at Aldi. For only $3.50, we are able to get a dinner out of the chicken and usually enough for sandwiches or for taco meat the next day.

Since we eat roasted chickens often, I wanted to start sharing my chicken recipes and different variations that we experiment with. I ran across this recipe and thought we would give it a try.

This chicken is incredibly moist and flavorful and the smell drove me mad because my stomach growled the entire two hours that this cooked.

This recipe is very simple, but elegant enough to entertain with. We served this with a side of mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.

I do want to warn you to either spray your roaster really well with nonstick cooking spray or line your roasting pan with foil because the balsamic vinegar became almost like a tar on my dish and required much scrubbing and soaking before I was able to get all of the vinegar off of the bottom.

I hope your family can give this recipe a try. The thing that I loved most about it was that these were ingredients that I already had in my pantry so I didn’t have to buy anything special to make this dish.

Make sure to make two of these because you will regret it if you only make one…they are that good!

Roasted Balsamic-Glazed Chicken (adapted from Food Network)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons herbes de Provence

1 medium lemon, juiced and halves reserved

1 (5-6 pound) roasting chicken

4 sprigs rosemary

8 cloves garlic (I omitted this and used garlic powder instead)

1 thinly sliced white onion (also omitted because we do not like onions)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, herbes de Provence, and lemon juice in a bowl, whisking until emulsified. our over the chicken, taking care to completely coat it. Insert the reserved squeezed lemons, plus the rosemary & garlic into the cavity. Layer the onions in a roasting pan and place the chicken on top (I just used a roasting rack). Put the chicken in the oven and cook at 350 for two hours, basting it occasionally.

Freebie Friday: January 5, 2007

Posted on January 5, 2007 by Amy

I was able to make this cute button for free on our site thanks to Laurie, over at Blooming Lily, featuring a cool site of the week on her blog. I must warn you, the site is extremely addicting and I came up with a zillion different buttons to use. I know all the moms out there have hours on end to kill, so here is a great time waster for you!

The week in freebies:

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels offers a coupon for a free pretzel to you, should you choose to join their mailing list. This will be a great freebie the next time I am at our mall!

Walmart is offering a free sample of Olay Definity. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.

Get a free two ounce sample of Head & Shoulders shampoo by completing this quick form.

As far as I am concerned, this is the best freebie of the week. I am extremely addicted to flavored creamers in my coffee and love the fat-free choices that Coffee-Mate offers. My friend Tracy sent me this link as I was on the site, so much thanks to her for helping me locate this freebie. You can sign up to get a free seven day supply of Coffee-Mate. It is a coupon (valued up to $3.99) for a free creamer of your choice. YES! That should definitely help the addiction & the grocery budget this week! I will not put this freebie in hot pink or in all capitals, but this is one worth applying for, if you are a coffee drinker, so get over there now!! This offer expires February 28, 2007 or good only while supplies last.

While we are on the coffee kick, one of my favorite sites is TolerateMornings.com from Folgers. They are now offering free morning wake-up calls. If you can’t get your rear out of bed to go exercise in the morning, you might like a wake-up call to remind you. What a great way to accomplish a New Year’s resolution this year. There are three wake-up calls to choose from. I choose Sheldon- how about you? Of course, the Eagle one is a great way to have a really good pep talk in the morning. If you need a reminder how awesome you are, preview the Eagle one!

How about a free lunch for you and up to five of your co-workers? The rebate requirements have you host your lunch at work by February 3, 2007 and purchase a maximum of six single serve Michael Angelo’s frozen entrees, submit a receipt, and include a story about your lunch together. Playgroup, anyone? Lunch is on me!

Get a free sample of Pure Decadence Gourmet Hot Cocoa Mix.

Use Target’s Photo Services and get ten free prints. This will be handy for all of those Christmas pictures you took.

Print out this coupon for a free ten pack of CD-R Media Discs. This freebie is valued at $9.99 and must be picked up at your local Office Depot. This offer will expire on February 10, 2007.

Discovery Health Channel has launched their National Body Challenge for 2007. By completing their form, you can receive a free eight week pass to Bally Total Fitness to get a jumpstart on the new you! There are a lot more benefits with this freebie so be sure to check this one out!

The National Arbor Day is offering a free gift tree. Visit this site to learn more!

Kraft Foods is offering a free meal & fitness plan service on their site this year.

Tylenol is offering a free pedometer. Hurry and get this freebie before it is gone!

Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Work: Light Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on January 4, 2007 by Amy

I recently ran across a recipe in my Redbook magazine for a light chocolate chip cookie. I was intrigued by the ingredients because there were no fat substitutes or sugar substitutes and only four tablespoons of butter. How could a cookie with no substitutes and little fat actually be yummy?

That is the goal in Nick Malgieri’s new cookbook called, “Perfect Light Desserts.” He makes fabulous cookies, pies, and more made with real butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. What a concept, huh? This is the kind of cookbook I have been looking for and all of the recipes are under three hundred calories per “generous serving.”

I was able to check the cookbook out from my library and I was not disappointed at all. The desserts are exactly what I would want if I was trying to eat better, and have no replacement ingredients that leave you with a nasty aftertaste in your mouth.

First, I had to share a picture of my new dessert set of plates & mugs that my best friend got for me for Christmas. Each of the plates has a different design on it and they came with a matching little espresso mug & napkins. Aren’t they so cute? She knows me so well!

Back to my review… I made these Light Chocolate Chip cookies and they were absolutely divine. Not too soft, not too hard, chewy, but not too chewy. Mine did come out a little flatter than I had hoped, but that second tablespoon of whole milk, probably ended up being four tablespoons so I fault only myself.

Each cookie contains a mere 114 calories and five grams of fat. This made me think…how much fat were in the ones I was eating before? I shudder to think! These are perfect if your New Year’s resolution is to lose that extra baby weight or just to eat healthier. (Chocolate chip cookies are healthy, right?)

Hope you can give these a try. Feel free to post your impressions of the recipe under our comments section!

David’s Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (about ¾ of a 12-ounce bag) chocolate chips
2 cookie sheets lined with parchment or foil

Set racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside. Beat the butter and sugars together by machine with the paddle attachment on medium speed until well mixed (about one minute). Beat in the egg and milk until they are absorbed and then the vanilla. Don’t worry if the mixture looks curdled, the flour mixture will smooth it out. Scrape down the bowl and beater and beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Use a large rubber spatula to fold in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough in the bowl for fifteen minutes to keep the cookies from spreading too much while they are baking. Form the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls or use a small ice cream scoop to form the cookies. Arrange the balls of dough 2 inches apart all around the prepared pans. Bake the cookies for eight to twelve minutes, or until they look dull on the surface, have spread, and are still quite moist. Cool the cookies on the pans on racks for five minutes. Slide the papers to racks and cool the cookies completely. For storing: keep the cookies between sheets of wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.

Per cookie: 114 calories, 5 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 2 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 11 mg cholesterol, 85 mg sodium

Free is Just So Good!

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Amy

I went to the Supermarket on Monday afternoon. I returned some movies that I had gotten for free at our local RedBox (Coupon code: PAPERBOY). Next, I made a pitstop at the Starbucks in the supermarket where I used my gift card to get a free cup of coffee. I then headed over to the cat food aisle and picked up a bag of Purina One Cat Food, which I had received a coupon (value good up to $7 and some change) for and handed the bag to the cashier.

She looked at the coupon, looked at me, looked at the coupon and then rang my order up. When she handed me the receipt she said, “It must be nice to get things for free.” What I wanted to say was, “Oh, ma’am, you have absolutely no idea!”

How do you even begin to tell someone how you live your life looking forward to your mail instead of dreading it? How do you explain the joy of figuring out free things to do with your kids? How do you explain that living a life free of debt is my goal? I think it would take more than a quick stop in a grocery line to explain all of that.

Isn’t free just so good?

Product Review: Kashi Kashes in With Moms

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Amy

Don’t you just love that play on words in the title? I hope you didn’t miss it! In all seriousness, I was never familiar with the Kashi company or any of its products. The supermarket that I shop at does not carry their products, so I was excited when a representative from Kashi sent me an email asking if I would try their new frozen dinners and give my opinion on them. Assuming that they had planned to send me some coupons, I told them I would be more than happy to try their new frozen meals if they would direct me where to purchase them since I had never tried any of their products before and wouldn’t even know where to look for them.

Imagine my delight when two short days later I receive not one large box, but two large boxes full of Kashi products to try. They sent me five different kinds of cereals, Fruitabu snacks for my son (which reminded me of a fruit leather minus the sugar factor), crackers, granola bars, and nine different frozen dinners to try. Our family was in Kashi heaven! We spread the box out and acted like we had never eaten before. My husband tried two kinds of granola bars and a bowl of cereal within the span of ten minutes. My son begged for the FruitaBu saying how much he enjoyed his new candy (can you tell that we don’t give our kid very much sugar?) and I devoured a bowl of cereal myself.

This past week I have tried almost all of the frozen dinners, which was the whole reason Kashi contacted me in the first place, and they are delicious! I will be the first to raise my hand when saying that I don’t buy frozen dinners very often because they aren’t very good for me and I don’t find them to taste very flavorful. I am not going to waste my money on more junk food for our house, but these dinners really tasted delicious and were packed with whole grains, protein, and lean meats.

The nine flavor choices are: Pesto Pasta Primavera, Chicken Florentine, Lemongrass Chicken, Black Bean Mango, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Southwest Style Chicken, Chicken Pasta Pomodoro, Lime Cilantro Shrimp, & Lemon Rosemary Chicken.

Of all of the flavor choices, the Chicken Pasta Pomodoro, the Lemon Rosemary Chicken, & the Chicken Florentine were my favorites. They all tasted amazing though and incorporated some really great flavor combinations.

I do also want to mention that the FruitaBu is about the best thing that has ever hit the fruit snack world. My son has been begging for these every chance he gets. He calls them his, “special treat” and I don’t mind giving him these as they actually use real fruit. These contain minimal sugar, no artificial flavor, and no preservatives. Best of all, they are not messy. Anyone who has ever had to take a vacuum to the back of their car because their child had a party in the back mashing up Cheerios can totally relate to where I am coming from. They are thin so they take up very little space in a lunchbox and would be perfect to stick in your child’s backpack for a special snack.

We thank Kashi for the opportunity to review such great products. It was truly our pleasure to review such great food and we applaud them for encouraging families to eat healthier, without sacrificing the flavors that we love.

For more information on Kashi, please visit their website.

If you would like us to review a product for you, provided it fits with our audience of moms, please email me at amy@momadvice.com .

Make Your Own Scented Oil Refills

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Amy

I have an obsession with making sure our house always smells really nice. House that smells really nice= six or seven of those scented oil plugins all over the house. The problem with having all of these is the cost to maintain them.

My first solution was to find the generic versions at Aldi. They had lots of scents to choose from and they are only $1.67 per plugin. That was a better deal than most places, but times that by six each month and that was quite the cut into the grocery budget.

I was reading a list of tips from Mary Hunt, that are provided by her readers, and I saw this tip. This is one of those tips where I literally smacked my head and said, “Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

The tip was to take scented oils, from cheap places like your local Dollar Store, and refill those puppies yourself.

I went to our Dollar Store last night and picked up an apple cinnamon scented oil. I brought it home and took the oil refill apart. The generic ones basically come apart by being pulled. I am sure the brand name ones probably can screw apart. I then took a small funnel and poured in the new scent. I dipped both ends of the scent-stick-thingie in the oil, just to give it a good start, put it back together & plugged it back in.

Total cost, about five cents a pop! Isn’t that such a brilliant idea? I just love when I find a good idea like that!

Oh, and our house smells like a dream. I did get a few weird looks from my husband as I was performing my science experiment, but whatever!

Be sure to visit Rocks in my Dryer for more great solutions!

Monthly Archives: January 2007

Freebie Friday: January 12, 2007

Frugal Solutions for the Swiffer

Spinach & Tomato Orzo with Chicken

Frugal Momma’s Test Kitchen: Roast Chicken Recipe #1

Freebie Friday: January 5, 2007

Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Work: Light Chocolate Chip Cookies

Free is Just So Good!

Product Review: Kashi Kashes in With Moms

Sponsored Post: Chefs.com Helps Moms With Dinner

Make Your Own Scented Oil Refills

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