Rainbo Bread Stores

I'm not sure how many of you shop at the Rainbo Bread Stores, but I have found that it is well worth the visit. Today I was able to get a loaf of whole wheat Sara Lee bread for $1. They also have the smooth Sara Lee white and wheat bread 3/$2. I know that there is a store located on 13th just west of Meridian (near the Copper Oven) and one on K-15 south of Pawnee.

$1.95 Dry Cleaners

Wanted to make sure everyone knows that there is a dry cleaners in Wichita that only charges $1.95 per item. I took a dress there last week and it looks great. Egads, I cannot remember the name of the cleaners, but they are located in the strip mall on the west side of the parking lot of the Target near Maple and Ridge. If you have your clothes in by 9am it will be ready by 5pm the same day; otherwise, you have to wait until after 5 the following day. I'm not sure when they open, but they close at 7pm.

Grapes

I was at the Wal Mart at 53rd and Meridian today (Friday, August 28th) and they had grapes for 89 cents a pound. It's possible that they are this cheap at other Wal Marts as well.

An Idea from Jen Lancaster

Here's an idea - When you eat out at a "real" restaurant (you know, one where you sit down, then order), save the lidded cups the kids' drinks come in. They come in handy when you have company over (color coded straws keep drinks separate, and lids keep them neat). I use them when the neighborhood kids need a drink. I put a stack of those cups and a pitcher of water outside on hot days. If the cups blow away (or if they get put on the back bumper of the Explorer and you happen to drive away without noticing them) it's no big deal. Double bonus - they are dishwasher safe!

Enjoying Chips and Salsa at Home

We love eating at On the Border not only because we like the food, but because we really enjoy their chips and salsa. As much as we might want to go there every weekend, it usually isn't feasible. A good substitute is to buy the On the Border chips and Salsa. Sam's has a really great price on both the chips and the salsa. A big bag of chips cost around $4 and the large jar of salsa cost the same. For some reason, the salsa they sell in the store is chunkier than the salsa served in the restaurants, so I chop up the salsa in the blender and we find that it taste more like what they serve.

Bananas

Okay, so we'll start with a small discovery...
At the Derby Wal-Mart on Thursdays, bananas go on sale for $0.19/lb. A friend told me about this last year and I had no idea, but it sure beats the $0.67/lb at Dillons. Not sure if all the Wal-Marts do it on the same day, but for sure the Derby one does.

Saving Money while Eating Out

Maranda sent me the link to this website where you can purchase gift certificates to restaurants for a discounted price. Just make sure you read the details for the gift certificates. I noticed that there is a minimum dollar amount you must spend to use the gift certificates.

Easier Dinner Idea

Well, to start us off, I thought that I would share an easy Chicken Parmesan recipe I got from the Campbell's Incredibly Easy Recipes book.

Presto Parmesan
2 1/2 cups Prego Traditional Italian Sauce
6 frozen breaded chicken breast fillets
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)

1. Pour 1 cup of the sauce in a 13x9 (3 quart) shallow baking dish. Top with chicken, remaining sauce and cheeses. Cover.
2. Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes more or until the cheese is lightly browned.

When I made this recipe, it was just for the two of us so I used a small jar of spaghetti sauce and four breaded chicken breast tenders. I also topped it with Provolone cheese instead of mozzarella. I served it with some penne pasta and corn (we're carb lovers at our house).

Need a Better Name

I would like to come up with a catchier name for this blog; any suggestions?

Here's the Plan

What am I going to cook for dinner tonight? I feel like I always cook the same meals over and over.

I wonder who has the best price on cheese?

I wish I knew about the special deal at store X last week.

I have been thinking lately that it would be handy to have a place where we can all share various tips and ideas with one another, so I thought I would create a blog with that specific purpose in mind. I would like to see this be a place where we can share recipes, news about specials deals around town, and ideas about how to make running a household a little bit easier.

I do not want this to just be my show because I certainly am as lost as the next person on many of these issues. Let me know if you are interested in contributing to this blog and I will add you to the list.