Thanks for your ideas!

So, I was just about ready to share some of my zucchini with my neighbors when I saw that a bunch of readers have shared some great recipes and ideas. I think I am going to keep it and try some of these this weekend! Thank you so much for sharing!


From Brittany:
mmmm... I grew up with Fried Zucchini. You cut it up, dip it in egg, then ritz cracker crumbs and cook/fry in butter with salt and pepper on them! Yumm it is amazing! Let me know if you do try it!

Brittany, I will be trying this one tonight! It sounds so good! Thanks!

From Brittany:
I got this one from my Mother in law. It is a Egg and Zucchini casserole. You just put egg and copped Zucchini in a casserole dish Cheese mixed in it and bake it until it doesn't jiggle. Then you put the dryed onions on top.


From Shelley:

This is not really a recipe, but when we are swimming in zuchinni, I freeze it for future use. If you shred it and then measure it into two cup increments (or whatever your favorite recipe calls for) and then freeze it in a baggie, you can use it quickly. When it thaws, it will be very watery, that's okay because zuchinni has a naturally high water content, just throw the entire contents of your pre-measured bag in your recipe and you can have warm zuchinni bread at Christmas time! :)

From Mel:

Chop the zuchinni up and boil in water until soft. Puree and freeze. This is great to add to minestrone and other soups in the fall/winter.

Thanks Shelley and Mel and for the tips! I love having things ready to use! It makes me so much more motivated to cook/bake when some of the work is already done. Thanks for the recipe ideas Brittany, I cant wait to try them!

Free Chicago Dog

Yummy. I just found this e-mail in my junk box! My husband will enjoy this coupon!

Free National Park Access

This is the last weekend to take advantage of this offer!'

Fee-Free Weekends in Your National Parks
America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:
June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
July 18-19, 2009
August 15-16, 2009

And to make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.

Here’s a tip – many national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can plan inexpensive visits year round!

For a list of family fun activities this summer, visit

National Parks: The Place to Be for Family Fun.

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

FREE Chocolate Friday!

Dont forget to register for your FREE chocolate today!Click here to register . I love taking my coupons to the store and getting a sweet treat for FREE! No idea what FREE chocolate friday is? Click here to read more about it.

Zucchini, from the GARDEN!

This is the first year that I have planted a garden. Well, a real garden, that was not in pots that sat on my deck. Being first time gardeners we have learned that you do not need many zucchini plants to turn a large harvest! We have zucchini, zucchini and more zucchini!

Here are a couple of recipes that we have tried, and a few we are going to try. All three recipes were found on AllRecipes.com. I love that site. I ususally only try ones that have had lots of people rate them, and so far my family has loved the ones we have tried.

Grilled Zucchini

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 4 Minutes
Ready In: 10 Minutes
Servings: 3

Ingredients:
1 large zucchini
1/4 cup Italian-style salad dressing

Directions:
1.Slice zucchini in to 1/4 inch slices. Toss is a bowl with Italian dressing.
2.Place on a hot grill and grill about 4 to 5 minutes or until nice grill marks appear and the zucchini is slightly limp. Serve and enjoy.

*** we have used this one but sliced the zucchini lengthwise so the it was easier to keep from falling through the grill. We have also made it with out the dressing and sprinkled cheese on top when almost done. Both are good.

Zucchini Pineapple Bread
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Servings: 24
"Luscious pineapple is strewn throughout these ambrosial zucchini loaves, perfectly spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon."

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Directions:
1.Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2.In a large bowl, mix oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend in pineapple and zucchini. Stir flour mixture into zucchini mixture. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
3.Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Cool on wire racks.

* havent tried this one yet but it sounds like a fun variation or traditional zuc bread

Cheesy Sausage Zucchini Casserole

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Ready In: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup water
1 pound pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced fresh tomato
4 cups cubed zucchini squash
2 (4 ounce) cans sliced mushrooms, drained
1 (8 ounce) package processed cheese food
, cubed
1 pinch dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1.Combine the rice and water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
3.Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until evenly browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in zucchini and tomatoes, and cook until tender. Stir in rice, mushrooms, and cheese. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish, or a 2 quart casserole dish.
4.Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned and bubbly.

** going to try this for dinner one night here soon.

If anyone else has any recipes for zucchini or squash that you love let me know!

Dinner on Schwans!

A deal this HOT deserves a reminder post! If you havent already taken advantage of the Schwans free food deal you should! Its completely FREE! I was shocked! You dont have to buy anything else. Just pick the item you want under $10 and delievy is FREE TOO! Its open to the first 500,000 new customers. So, HURRY and get your order in! I love a night off from making dinner. Especially when the dinner is FREE! Chicken Pot Pies were delivered to my house this morning! I think I know whats I am having for dinner tonight! No idea what I am talking about? Check out the details in the first post here. Enjoy your free food!

Walgreens $20 off Contact Lenses

I just barley went to order my contacts and found this deal. Click here to get to the website to order.

Show and Tell

This is another great show and tell from this week! This is from Abbie my old neighbor in Levan. Abbie was at the very FIRST class I taught! You are so awesome Abbie! Vegas weeks are the best aren't they? Do you remember when you e-mailed me about not feeling like you were building up food storage? I would love to see your pantry shelves now. Thanks Abbie for sticking through this with me! You are such an awesome She Shops Smart reader! Miss you! I got:
18 bottles Ragu pasts sauce (yes 18)
7 bottles Dove shampoo & conditioner
4 BC cake mix
4 bags Chex mix
2 bags Bugles
4 boxes cereal
4 BC frosting
6 boxes Bisquick
4 bottles All laundry soap
4 bags Nut Clusters
4 boxes Popsicles
4 bottles Vaseline lotion
2 Best Food Mayo
4 BC muffin mix
4 BC fruit snacks
1 box Dusters
15 Powerade
6 Yoplait yougart
2 Danimals drinkables
2 Dannon crush cups
4 cans biscuits
1 bottle Parmesan cheese
1 qt buttermilk
4 lbs hamburger
2 bags baby carrots
4 lbs chicken
1 loaf bread
2 pkgs hamburger buns
1 pkg hot dog buns
1 12pk pepsi
1 12pk dr pepper
1 bag salad
3 bags pasta
1 pkg tortillas
2 pkgs country gravy
6 boxes hamburger helper
10 lunchables
1 bag Tyson frozen chicken nuggets
4 tubs Country Crock spread
Can I have a drum roll please
total spent $91.04
total saved $373.10
That is an average of .61 cents an item.
WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!

Free Scope Outlast Sample Kit

Fill out this form, HERE, to receive a free* sample kit featuring Scope Outlast - kit includes Scope Outlast Rinse, Crest plus Scope Outlast Paste and an Oral-B Floss Pick with Scope Outlast.

FREE Glade Fragrance Gift Pack

Glade® Fall into Fragrance Gift Pack
First 10,000* to respond will receive one free Glade® PlugIns® Scented Gel Warmer plus Refill.

HERE

Thank you for registering for the Glade® Fall into Fragrance Gift Pack offer. The first 10,000* eligible registrants will receive one free Glade® PlugIns® Scented Gel Warmer plus Refill. Gift packs will be mailed by October 15, 2009.

MORE GIVEAWAYS!

Guess what all you She Shops Smart Readers! We have TWO more awesome giveaways for you! They both come from very talented She Shops Smart readers!

The first giveaway comes from

Heather

at Kantan Designs

She wants to let one lucky winner choose one poster design/item from the shop. There are lots of different fun color options to pick from.

One of these would be a fun addition to any end table wall, or room in your house!

Check out her Etsy shop here.

Tori and I both love the Etsy site. There is so much amazing talent displayed on there!

----

The second awesome GIVEAWAY we have comes from:

Jessa Stadtler of

Bella Inspired Boutique

She would like to give our lucky winner

3 letters - either a set of initials, or the winner can just use them towards a name. The letters will be 6" and in the font of their choice. The letters are $17.95 a piece, so that is over a $50.00 value. Everything 100% hand painted by Jessa, and the winner can have the letters in any style, theme, colors, etc. She can match bedding, hobbies, sports teams, etc.

If you are the lucky winner you will get to pick 3 letters!

Click here to check out her website.

-----

Three ways to enter

these two AWESOME giveaways:

1. Leave us a comment telling which prize you would like to win and why.

2. Become a follower on our blog

3. Copy/paste this text into a post on your own blog, and leave us a

link to it in the comment section.

"She Shops Smart is having a great giveaway sponsored by two Etsy Shops. Stop by the blog before Friday August 7th at midnight to enter to win.
-Contest is open to U.S. Residents only. Contest closes Friday, August 7th at MIDNIGHT with the winner to be announced the following day.

Precentage Calculated

You guys are AWESOME! Our inbox has been FLOODED with your show and tell pictures! We are so proud of you guys! Most of you also want to know how to figure out the percentage you are saving.

(I can't believe I am making a post about math! Math was my least favorite and most difficult subject for me in college! I saved my math classes for very last! I guess this is simple enough!)

Here is how you would figure it out:

I spent $36.98

I saved$ 212.98

1) Take both numbers and add them together: $249.96

2) Divide the number you spent by the sum of both numbers( 36.98/249.96) : 0.1479

3) Now take that number (14) and minus it from 100: 86

4) That makes it an 86% savings!

I know there are other ways to figure it out too, I just have found this way the easiest for me.

McDonalds- Yummy!

Go here to get a coupon for FREE medium fries and FREE medium soft drink at McDonalds with the purchase of ANY new angus third pounders! Yummy! I plan on using this one, although it is one I should say I am passing on =) The coupon I printed doesn't expire until 8/31/09! I am sure I will use it within a week!

Thanks Jill for this great find!

Meal Planning

I know, its a day late, but I was hoping I could get away without doing meal planning this week, because we are going on vacation, but you readers keep us on our toes!

To read how I plan my meals click here.

This week I am planning my meals around Albertson's sales and Buy Low Market's produce in Provo.

Breakfast

Yogurt, blueberries and graham crackers

Strawberries, cold cereal and toast

Pancakes, eggs and ham

Eggo Waffles, bananas and milk

Pop tarts, fruit cups and apple juice

Oatmeal with peaches and toast

Lunch

Turkey wraps with tomato slices (from the garden) and fruit bars

Lunch ables at the park with watermelon slices

Peanut Butter and Jelly, crackers and cheese

Hot dogs, chex mix and grapes

Hot pockets, cucumbers (from the garden) and cheez it crackers

Macaroni and Cheese and smoothies

Dinner

Grilled Steak, Asparagus, french bread

Pork Chops, Carrots, and Knorr pasta side

Fajitas, rice, and homemade chips and salsa (use Tyson ready cooked beef slices and Knorr rice sides)

Chicken Cesar salads (using Tyson ready cooked chicken slices and Mrs. cubbisons croutons, and wishbone dressing)

Macaroni Grill Dinner kit with salad and french bread

Chicken Enchilldas, beans and left over chips and salsa

Snacks

Fruit snacks and crackers

Chex mix bars

Nature Valley Nut Clusters

Crackers and Cheese

Dessert

Watermelon Bars

Key lime pie

Root beer floats

Free Dessert at Mimi's Cafe

Valid for one (1) Mimi's Cafe dessert with the purchase of any meal valued at $10 or more, excluding tax and gratuity. Offer does not include alcohol purchases and is not valid with any other offers or on holidays. One per party per visit. No cash value. © 2009 SWH Corporation.Coupon valid from 8/5/2009 to 8/12/2009.

Click HERE

Teak Wicker and More Giveaway WINNER

Thank you so much to those who participated in this giveaway! We love hearing from our awesome She Shops Smart readers. All names were entered into the drawing and the winner was picked randomly. The winner of this giveaway is #51

Mitchell Family

"The Mitchell Family said...
I love FREE things and I love PICNICS. What a great way to combine both! Love ya! P.S. We appreciate all your hard work! You're great!!"

Congratulations Amy Mitchell!

(And no we promise we didn't rig this drawing. It was complete coincidence. In fact Tori suggested we pick another number, but that wouldn't have been fair to our winner!)

Prize will be shipped to you directly from Teak Wicker and More. Please send us your info via e-mail so we can get them your information!

We also want to thank Teak Wicker and More for this giveaway!
They have so many awesome products! Click here to check out their website!

$5 off $25 at Walgreens

Here is a coupon for $5 off when you spend $25 at Walgreens. The coupon is good from Aug. 5th- Aug 6th.. Click here to print yours off.

Wednesday Weekly Show and Tell

This weeks Show and Tell is from Rachel! Keep it up Rachel! You are doing great!This is my show and tell for the week. Love albertsons. Two transactions 6 doublers and a total of $21.55 and a savings of $87.65 Just wanted to let you know that your blog has helped me save so much money. Thanks!

MORE show and tell!

OH WOW! Shopping this week was so fun! I love Vegas weeks! Two grocery carts full and only 3 albies double coupons (i forgot to take them with me) here is a picture of what I came home with.

2 bags of Lays chips

2 2 ltr 7-up

1 2 ltr Dr. Pepper

2 2 ltr Coke

1 2 ltr A&W

1 bag David ranch sunflower seeds
2 boxes ziploc bags

1 skippy peanut butter

4 wishbone dressings

10 boxes of cereal

10 lipton rice sides

4 boxes chex mix bars
6 bags chex mix

1 bag gardettos

2 bags gardettos rye chips

2 bc browine mixes

4 bc warm delights

5 boxes bisquick

5 Macaroni Grill pasta kits

2 dove deod.

3 Bertolli Alfredo sauce

12 boxes bc fruit snacks

4 jars best foods mayo

1 bag of Bugels

3 bags nature valley nut clusters

4 ben & jerry Ice creams

and catalinas for $15 off of my next shopping trip

1 catalina for a free flat of water (up to $5)

AND

I made two new friends while at the store (the checker and the guy behind me who was AMAZED by my totals).

TOTAL SPENT $78.04 oop
if you subtract the $15 in catalinas I have for my next trip then total tonight is

$63.04

TOTAL SAVED

$246.15

SWEET!

.

Em-It's Tori messing up your GREAT post! While we were there it seriously didn't look like you had that much stuff! Where are you going to put it all LOL! Clear out more dishes you don't use I guess? I can't wait to post mine later today! You did AWESOME!

Arbys Freebie Wednesday!

Remember is Freebie Wednesday at Arbys!

This week at Arbys with the purchase of a soft drink you get a

FREE REGULAR ROAST BEEF SANDWICH!

Click here to read more about Arby's freebie Wednesdays and see their summer calendar.