50-70% Off At Borders Bookstore - Going Out Of Business Sale

As many people know, Borders Bookstore is going out of business soon.  While I am very sad the store is closing (we adore books and reading in this family), it does mean that some good deals are to be had.  We stopped by our local Borders today to check out the sale.  Everything in the stores is now 50-70% off.*  Some of the items were pretty well picked over, but there was still plenty to browse through.  We didn't spend much, but did come out with a few bargains.  My girls found some paper doll books that ended up being 80 cents each after the discount (they were bargain priced, with an additional 60% off), I found a book for myself, and we also bought a jewelry craft book.  All in all, we spend a little under $7.00 and came out with a few things to keep us busy (for now, anyways!).

*These deals can only be found in Borders stores, and it excludes items from Borders.com.

Kohl's Discounts - Just Sign Up For Their Emails

Do cashiers at department stores ever try to convince you to sign up for their credit cards because of the coupons and discounts you will get if you do?  This is the script I hear oftentimes when I shop at Kohl's - all the wonderful discounts imaginable will be mine if I just sign up for their credit card (they just don't mention the exhorbitant interest fees on the card that will eventually cancel the discounts out in the long run).  Of course, I always decline.  I don't want their credit card! 

Kohl's consistently offers extra discounts to those who do not hold their credit cards, you just have to sign up for their email.  I signed up in the store a few years ago, and I often receive printable coupons and online coupon codes for and extra 10-15% off of my total purchase, and this includes all sales and clearance items too.  When I shop at department stores, most of the time the only things I purchase are on the super duper clearance racks.  It ends up being an even better deal when I add my coupon.  Over the years, I have gotten some really great deals at Kohl's, and I get higher quality clothing at sometimes cheaper than Wal-Mart prices by doing it that way. 

You can sign up for the discounts at the store, or online here.  Right now when you sign up online, you get a $5 off coupon for your next in-store purchase, and a 10% off coupon towards your next online purchase. 
In my experience, the best deals are found in the store, but there are still a few good deals to be found online.

Safeway Fuel Discount - Now You Can Stack Them!

Over the last several years that I can remember, Safeway has always offered a fuel discount for every $100 of groceries purchased.  The usual discount was always 10 cents off per gallon for every $100 spent, but you could only use one 10 cent discount per fuel purchase.  We have recently discovered that Safeway is now allowing these discounts to accumulate and be used together.  I just saved 30 cents per gallon today when I filled up, for a total savings of $4.50 off of my tank of gas.  Woohoo!

We have a tendency to not always use all of our fuel discounts because Safeway fuel is on the other side of town, and it wasn't worth a 10 cent per gallon discount to drive all the way over there.  Now that we can let them accumulate, it will be worth the drive there when we have amassed a few discounts.  They do have an expiration date once accumulated, but Safeway separates them by yearly quarters.  Just thought I would pass on our recent gas discount discovery!

Crockpot Salmon, Veggies, and Rice

We were recently gifted some lovely salmon filets.  I have been mulling over exactly how I wanted to cook them.  I did a little internet search and discovered that they can be baked in a crockpot.  The nice thing about this is that it is a crockpot dish that can be put in the crock in the afternoon, and ready by dinnertime.  It only takes a few hours to cook.  My husband, who thought he would not like salmon, really enjoyed it.  This meal is one that bakes the side item and the main course all in one dish (convenient!).  For the veggie part, I had just recently harvested from our garden, so I chopped up those veggies and utilized them for this recipe.  We had green beans, pea pods, some white eggplant, and a few carrots.  Plus I added an onion to the mix.  I think this dish would turn out well with just about any veggie combination.  As for the salmon, I had a very large salmon filet, which was enough fish to feed five people.  I am fairly certain that this recipe would also work with several smaller filets together as well.  For this recipe, I put the salmon in tin foil and placed it on top of the veggies and rice as it baked.

Crockpot Salmon, Veggies, and Rice

2 cups brown minute rice, uncooked
2-3 cups chopped fresh veggies
1 cup water
1 cup Italian dressing, plus a little extra to drizzle on fish
Salmon

Place 2 cups of brown minute rice in the bottom of the crockpot.  Place chopped veggies over the top.  Pour one cup of water over veggies and rice, followed by pouring one cup of Italian dressing evenly over the top.  Place salmon filet/s on a piece of tin foil (large enough to wrap fish in).  Drizzle desired amount of Italian dressing over fish.  Wrap in foil and place on top of veggies and rice.  Bake on high for around 3 hours.  Fish is ready when it flakes easily with a fork, and veggies are tender.

August Vitacost Coupon Codes

I just received some new Vitacost coupon codes for August.  Vitacost doesn't offer coupon codes for money off of a total order very often, so I definitely wanted to pass these on! 

$5 off a purchase of $100 or more + free shipping
Source Code: EMFNOW

$10 off of a purchase of $125 or more + free shipping
Source Code: EMTNOW

$15 off of a purchase of $150 or more + free shipping
 Source Code: EMFTNOW

These codes expire on 8/31/11.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal Cake

Recently, a friend brought me some zucchini from her garden.  I didn't plant any zucchini this year, but every year it seems that friends and neighbors gift me some.  It is an abundant crop around here!  I am always looking for recipes and new ways to use my zucchini.  I decided that I would like to try a very chocolately zucchini cake, with oatmeal.  However, a recipe search for such a thing did not avail much.  So I did what I always do when I can't find just the right recipe - I made my own!  And besides, if my kids are going to eat chocolate cake, it may as well have vegetables and lots of fiber :-)  I topped this cake with a simple cream cheese icing.  It was yummy!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal Cake

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups quick cooking oats
3/4 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup milk
3 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, cocoa, baking powder. baking soda, and salt.  Mix well.  In another large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, honey, eggs, and vanilla.  Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing well.  Add milk and continue to blend until combined well.  Mix in the zucchini, and then the chocolate chips.  Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13 cake pan and bake at 375 degrees for 60 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Crockpot Meatloaf and Rice

We haven't had meatloaf in a long time, and I have never made it in the crockpot before.  Being summer and all, I would rather use my crockpot because it doesn't heat up the house like the oven does.  It has been so hot around here lately!  I decided to try my hand at coming up with a crockpot meatloaf recipe.  I must say that I am certainly glad that I had a meal in the crockpot!  We had unexpected company this evening, and it worked out perfectly that I had a meal ready to go with plenty to share.  I formed the meat mixture in a ring around the edges of the crockpot, and filled the center with rice.  I had a main dish and a side dish all in one pot!  Here's the recipe!

Crockpot Meatloaf and Rice

Meatloaf:
2  pounds ground beef
2 cups oatmeal
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 onion, diced
2 eggs

Rice:
2 cups brown minute rice
1 cup water
1 cup italian dressing

In a large bowl, combine all meatloaf ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Place meatloaf mixture in the crockpot and form into a ring around the inside, leaving an open space in the center.  In the center of the crockpot, pour two cups of brown minute rice.  Pour one cup of water over the rice.  Take one cup of Italian dressing and pour evenly over the meatloaf and rice.  Cook on high setting for 5-6 hours.