Chocolate Cola Cupcakes Recipe

Diet Pepsi has been FREE at many stores this week after using that awesome $0.50/1 Diet Pepsi Coupon (18501) printable coupon that is still available.  Use the Grocery Price Comparison Tool to see exactly where it’s FREE or cheap this week!  Whenever I get a bunch of completely FREE items using coupons, I like to find out creative new ways to use the product.  Of course I can just drink my FREE Diet Pepsi, but I also think this recipe will be pretty cool to try.  My dad is diabetic so it’s great if I can find recipes omitting sugar so he can enjoy a sweet treat too!  These only have 80 calories per cupcake! I will definitely be trying this simple recipe soon

Head over to Heart of a Country Home for the very simple recipe!

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Buffalo Wings Recipe

Happy Super Bowl Weekend!  I love this weekend.  I love it because I love football, I love food, and I love my little girl Annabelle who turns 1 today!  She was born on February 2nd and I’ll never forget coming home from the hospital with her last year just in time to watch the Super Bowl.  It was important that I watch the game because I’m a big Patriots fan and they played in the Super Bowl last year, although the outcome wasn’t too great!  I was born and raised in Connecticut and ever since I was a little girl I have memories of watching the Patriots every Sunday with my dad.  They were so close again this year!

My hubby is a big 49ers fan so he’s excited for Sunday.  Even though my team didn’t make it this year (we have to give others a chance ) I’m still looking forward to some great food and fun with friends and our 1-year-old!  You can’t have the Super Bowl without some good wings!  Use your FREE Frank’s RedHot Sauce you got at ShopRite this week to cook up some delicious wings this weekend.  I know that’s what we’ll be doing

Head over to Blog Chef to find a bunch of different ways to make your favorite boneless wings!  What will you be cooking on Super Bowl Sunday?

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Have you picked up some free or cheap grapefruit juice recently with that awesome $2/1 Grapefruit Coupon?  I’m not a huge fan of grapefruit juice to drink, but when something is FREE, I’m always willing to give it a try.  I was searching for recipes using grapefruit juice and came across this recipe for Yucatán Pork Tenderloin.  This recipe caught my eye because I love to pick up boneless pork tenderloin when it goes on sale at ShopRite for $1.99/lb — or $0.99/lb on Black Friday (too bad that only happens once a year).  Last week Best Market had a beautiful pork tenderloin for only $1.69/lb!

The recipe I found suggests serving this pork tenderloin with a Jicama, Avocado & Red Onion Salad.  I think I will pass on this salad and serve the pork with traditional salad and roasted potatoes.  What about you guys?  Willing to give this recipe a try?  What would you serve with it?

Enjoy!

Yucatán Pork Tenderloin Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons pure chile powder (preferably ancho)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
• 1-1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup grapefruit juice, preferably fresh
• 2 small pork tenderloins (1 to 1-1/4 lb. each), trimmed

Directions:

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 450°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, chile powder, oregano, cumin, 1 tsp. each kosher salt and black pepper, and enough of the grapefruit juice (about 1/4 cup) to make a paste.
3. Rub the paste all over the pork and set on a rack in a small roasting pan.
4. Roast until the thickest part of each tenderloin registers 140° to 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes.
5. Transfer to a clean cutting board to rest. 

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Photo & Recipe  from: FineCooking

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Lasagna Soup Recipe

A few years ago a friend shared this recipe with me and it has quickly made it’s way into our weekly menu plan, especially in the cold winter months like we’re in!  This “Tastes Like Lasagna Soup” recipe from Paula Deen is awesome.  It’s hearty and filling and you can make some easy substitutions for a lighter version, such as using ground turkey instead of ground beef.  I make this change to the recipe often and it still tastes wonderful even with the ground turkey!  I’ve also brought this soup to a potluck (huge hit) and also have tried cooking this in a crockpot and it worked great.  Lots of options with this recipe but one result…a delicious meal!

Use your cheap Tuttorosso Tomatoes from ShopRite this week as your inspiration to give this a try

Enjoy!

Lasagna Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground chuck (or ground turkey)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 (32 ounce) box chicken broth
• 2  14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1  15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cup broken lasagna noodles
• 1 (5 ounce) package grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Garlic Crostini:

• 1 thin French baguette
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves smashed garlic
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large Dutch oven, combine ground chuck, onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is browned and crumbles. Drain well. 
2. Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add noodles, and simmer until noodles are tender. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
3. Preheat broiler. Ladle soup into 8 to 10 ovenproof bowls. Evenly sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Broil soups, 6-inches from heat, 3 to 4 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly. Add a garlic crostini slice on top. Serve immediately. 

For the garlic crostini: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Cut bread into 1/4-inch round slices. Place on baking sheet and brush each slice with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper; place in oven and bake until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Rub each side with smashed garlic cloves. 

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Photo & Recipe  from: Paula Deen

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Pita Pocket Breakfast Sandwich Recipe

How many of you have begun the New Year trying to lose weight?  After the gluttony of the holidays, many of us are trying to cut back and watch our food intake this time of the year.  We should be instilling these principles all year long,  but let’s face it, now is the time everyone jumps on the bandwagon and at least attempts a New Years Diet of some sort.

Whether or not you’ve got a good plan in check, any attempt at healthier choices when preparing meals is a step in the right direction.  Here is a simple and practical meal idea for breakfast–one of the most important meals of the day that often takes least priority for many busy Americans.  Say no to grabbing a donut with your coffee and try and take the extra 10 minutes in your morning to give this delicious and satisfying pita pocket recipe a try!

I think Arnold Pocket Thins would work perfect for this recipe. Each pocket thin half has 100 calories.  They have been on sale at ShopRite for $2.00 each (Must Buy 3) for 2 weeks now and there was a $1/1 printable coupon recently available on SmartSource.com, making these just $1.00, however I’m pretty sure it is NLA to print now.  Plus this item should qualify for the Weight Watchers Catalina Deal that carried over to this week!

Here’s to healthy eating on a budget in 2013! We can do it!

Enjoy!

Pita Pocket Breakfast Sandwich Recipe:

Visit: SkinnyMs for the entire recipe

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Thai Chicken Recipe

We have seen some great deals recently on Campbell’s Skillet Sauces! You can get them for only $0.50 at ShopRite, through Saturday 1/5.

I love trying new products for Free. If we don’t like the product, we don’t have to sweat it since we didn’t pay for it, however if we love it, we know we can stock up for a great price using coupons!  With that said, I’m excited to try this Thai Green Curry Chicken Recipe!  I don’t eat Thai Food often and Curry Chicken isn’t something I’ve ever attempted to make, so I figured this flavor Skillet Sauce would be a nice change at supper time for my family and I.

Enjoy!

Thai Green Curry Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients:

• One package of Thai Green Curry Campbell's Skillet Sauce
• One pound boneless chicken breast
• Two tabelspoons of oil

Directions:

• Heat oil in skillet over medium/high heat.
• Add chicken & cook until browned.
• Season with salt & pepper while browing.
  
• Stir in sauce and heat to boil. Reduce heat and cover for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and/or vegetables are tender.
• Serve over Basmati rice.

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Photo & Recipe adapted from: Campbells

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Pepperoni Bread Recipe

This week you can score Free Pillsbury Crescent Rolls at A&P and Pathmark after stacked coupons, as they are priced at only $1.00 through 12/27!  Check out the A&P Coupon Matchups and the Pathmark Coupon Match Ups for the details.  If you took advantage of this great deal, check out this delicious and simple appetizer recipe for Pepperoni ‘n Cheese Crescents.

This easy snack is a great option to serve your guests this holiday season or for your New Year’s Eve parties!  I love any variation of Pepperoni Bread, but the simplicity of this one is hard to overlook.

Enjoy!

Pepperoni ‘n Cheese Crescents Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
• 24 slices (about 5 oz.) pepperoni
• 2 oz. (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese or mozzarella cheese sticks halved
• 1 cup tomato pasta or pizza sauce, heated

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Separate dough into 8 triangles; pat out each triangle slightly.
2. Place 3 slices pepperoni, slightly overlapping, on center of each triangle. Top each with about 1 tablespoon cheese.
3. Roll up, starting at shortest side of triangle and rolling to opposite point. Place rolls, point side down, on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 375°F. for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm crescents with warm pasta sauce for dipping.

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Photo & Recipe adapted from: Pillsbury

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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Italian Struffoli Honey Ball Recipe

Today is baking day for me starting with our family’s favorite, Italian Struffoli Honey Balls! Italian Struffoli Honey Balls are a recipe that my family has been making for years! This is Grandma Anna’s recipe and is the most delicious recipe that I’ve tasted for these.  Much, much better then any bakery.  Nikki and I are making these together today.  I highly recommend doing this as a team as it’s much easier.  Nikki rolls the doll and slices it and I drop it into the oil and drain it.

Another tip, is to place all the sliced dough onto a paper towel and then “funnel” them into the oil.  I recommend using a deep pot so that the oil doesn’t splash out.  Ouch, I’ve gotten oil burn before.  Once in the oil, be sure to stir them to separate them or you’ll end up with one big blob.

This year we will be making them in honor of Grandma Anna who pasted away in September. This recipe was her pride and joy and she absolutely loved that we are carrying on this recipe.

Here is the recipe.  Check the box to print.

Struffoli Honey Ball Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 48 oz. vegetable oil (use 4 tbs for dough & the rest to cook with)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp anise
• approx 3 cups flour (start with 2 1/2 cup and add more as needed)
• 1 jar Honey
• nonpareils

 

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Directions:

1. Mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl by hand.
2. Heat up the rest of the vegetable oil over med high heat.
3. Take a golf ball size of dough and roll it into a snake till about 1/2″ thick.  Cut about 1/4″ slices off of the “snake”.  They will not be balls but not to worry, they will come out looking like a ball once cooked.
4. Test 1 ball in the oil.  Once it is brown you are ready to start your batches.  Cook about 1 “snake” worth at a time.  Place in the oil until just slightly brown.  Don’t over cook them.
5. Scoop out with slotted spoon and place on a plate with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.  Continue with each batch until you have used up all the dough.
6. Mound the balls on a plate (you’ll need one that can hold liquid well). 
7. Heat up honey by placing the honey container in boiling water until thin. 
8. Pour over the balls to completely coat. 
9. Sprinkle with nonpareil.
10. Enjoy!

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Also, make sure you check out our other family favorites:

• Saltine Toffee Bars
• Thimble Cookies

What are you baking today?

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{ 12/22/2012 with 10 Comments }

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Fudge Recipe

I saw this Five Minute Fudge Wreath Recipe on the Rachel Ray show recently and I told myself I have to try it!  This seriously is the easiest recipe for fudge, and from the reviews I’ve read, the most delicious too!

What a cute and festive idea to make this fudge into a wreath shape using an 8-inch round cake pan and sticking a tin can lined with plastic wrap in the middle to create the hollow circle of the wreath!  Top with that holiday candy we get for cheap with coupons to complete this festive holiday treat.

This recipe is also very versatile…switch up the type of morsels you use to accommodate your likeness.  Don’t have currants? Add a different dried fruit, switch up the type of nut you throw in, etc.  Any variety of this seems to come out delicious.

What I love most about this fudge recipe is that it makes 2 pounds — this is an awesome treat to make, slice neatly and place in holiday tins from the dollar store or cute little boxes with a bow around it, making for cheap and delicious holiday gifts for teachers, co-workers, the mailman…the list goes on

Enjoy!

Five Minute Fudge Wreath Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 bag semisweet chocolate morsels (12 ounces)
  
• 9 ounces butterscotch morsels (3/4 of a 12 ounce bag)
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can or package of walnut halves (8 ounces)
  
• 1/2 cup currants (a couple handfuls) --> My ShopRite doesn't carry currants so I'm trying craisins and raisins in place of currants!
  
• 8-inch cake pan, lightly greased with softened butter
• Candied red and green cherries, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Place a heavy pot on the stove and pre-heat it over low heat. Add chocolate and butterscotch morsels and milk and stir until morsels are melted and milk is combined. Save the empty condensed milk can. Stir in the vanilla and remove the fudge from heat. Add the nuts and currants and stir in immediately.
2. Cover the empty condensed milk can with plastic wrap and center it in the greased cake pan. Spoon fudge into pan around can, making sure to center the can if it drifts.
3. The fudge will set up almost immediately. Garnish can only be added in the first minute or two that the fudge is in the pan, so work quickly. Decorate your wreath with "holly" made from cut candied red and green cherries. A wreath left plain can be garnished with a pretty fabric bow when serving.
4. Chill covered in the refrigerator. Slice the fudge very thin when ready to serve – a little goes a long way!

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Photo & Recipe from: Rachel Ray

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons. She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

 

 

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{ 12/21/2012 with 2 Comments }

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Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage Fettuccini Alfredo Recipe

It’s time to come up with some meal ideas for the week based off of what I got a good deal on this week while grocery shopping!  I absolutely love Al Fresco Chicken Sausage and always pick some up when it’s on sale and pair it with a coupon.  I was excited to get a $2/1 Al Fresco Chicken Sausage Coupon recently via e-mail from the Al Fresco e-newsletter, which worked great this week because Al Fresco Chicken Sausage is on sale at ShopRite for $3.99.

One of my favorite flavors of this sausage is the Spinach & Feta.  Yum!  Check out this quick, easy and cheap Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage Fettuccini Alfredo Recipe.  I’m using my free Meuller’s pasta and cheap Treasure’s Cave Feta (both in ShopRite unadvertised deals) I picked up this week too!

Enjoy!

Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage Fettuccini Alfredo Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1-12 oz al fresco® Spinach & Feta Chicken Sausage, fully cooked
• 1 jar of your favorite Alfredo Sauce
• 8 oz Pasta, fettuccine
• 2 Tbsp Olive oil, extra virgin
• 1 Garlic clove, fresh, finely minced
• ¼ Cup Onion, fresh, chopped
• 1 Tbsp Rosemary,fresh, finely chopped
• ½ Cup Sundried tomatoes, sliced julienne
• ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded
• ½ Cup Feta cheese, crumbled
• 9 oz Spinach, baby, fresh
• Cooking Spray

Directions:

1. Cut the al fresco Spinach & Feta Sausages on the bias ¼" thick.
2. Cook the fettuccini according to package directions. Drain and reserve ¼ cup of pasta water. Keep warm.
   
3. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over high heat. Add the olive oil & sauté the garlic and onion for 2 minutes.
   
4. Add the sliced sausage pieces and sauté for 3 - 4 minutes. Fold in the fettuccini, rosemary, sundried tomatoes and cheeses. Add the light creamy Alfredo sauce and reserved pasta water. Simmer over medium heat for 8 - 10 minutes or until well heated.
5. Toss in the baby spinach at the end, and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together (about 1 minute). Remove from heat and serve immediately.

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Photo & Recipe Adapted from: Al Fresco

 

Melinda Dilione is a contributor at Living Rich With Coupons.  She lives in New Jersey with her husband Mike and their little bundle of joy, Annabelle.

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