Thursday Nights Menu - Chicken Pasta Casserole

Chicken Pasta Casserole

I have been trying to cook more meals lately but with 2 picky kiddos and 1 that will eat just about anything it is kind of hard to make one meal that the entire family will eat.  We also have very busy schedules with sports and gymnastics and everything else so any meal I make needs to be quick or one that I can make in the morning and just reheat at dinner time.  I am going to try to post our menu on the days that we aren't just grabbing whatever is left over or quick heat. We call those nights "fend for yourself" night.  The kiddos actually like those nights because that is when they get tuna fish on crackers or spaghettios. (=

Tonight we are having a chicken pasta casserole, a recipe that I got from my younger sister several years ago when I was out in Texas visiting.  It is really simple and only takes a few minutes to prepare.  My husband and kids love this meal.

Ingredients:

1-2 chicken breast (diced)
2 tbsp butter
1 box penne pasta (or whatever kind you prefer)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 pkg shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375

Place 2 tbsp of butter in skillet on medium heat and add chicken. cook until not pink.  (season if desired, i usually use a roasted garlic seasoning)
Boil noodles according to package, drain and rinse.
In a large casserole dish add noodles, chicken and spaghetti sauce and mix.
Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake in oven 20 - 25 minutes.
I usually serve this with garlic bread or rolls and butter.

See really simple and quick. You can even prepare it all early and bake it later when you are ready to eat.  This can also be frozen in an aluminum pan (before baking) tightly wrapped.

CVS Extra Care coupons

This is a list of the Extra Care coupons I received from the CVS coupon center this morning:

$1 off ANY pad, tampon or liner  (i used this to get the Carefree body shape liners for FREE)

$1.50 on any Excedrin exp5/22

$5 off WYB all 3: Listerine 500ml, Reach Brush and Floss exp 5/22

$3 off any full size Cristophe hair care exp 5/22

$3 off $10 beauty purchase exp 5/9

$0.25 off 2 Snickers, M&M PB, 3 Musketeers or Milky Way singles exp 5/15

$2 off 2 Hershey Bliss 8.6 oz or larger exp 5/15

Feel free to leave comment on which ones you received if they are different than mine. (=

Publix trip 5/6 Saved 50%

$60.08

Sorry for the blurry image.  (I got all of this in 2 transactions) I also got (not included in pic or totals) 2 of the gas gift card deals. $10 off $50 gas gift card when you buy $25 in groceries, thats why I did 2 transaction. I dont include that in my totals because I have a seperate budget for gas that that goes under.  I forgot one coupon for the  Birdseye steamfresh veggies. But here is what I got and how I did it:

(2) Post Cereals BOGO @ $2.89
1.20 LBS Publix deli oven roasted turkey breast = $9.23
(2) Nabisco Variety snack packs BOGO @ $5.99 - (1) MQ $2 = $3.99
(6) Knorr pasta sides BOGO @ $1.49 - (2) MQ $1/3 = $2.47
(1) Uncle Bens Ready Rice @ $1.97 - Free product coupon = FREE
(1) Publix giant loaf bread @ $1.79
(1) Publix hamburger buns @ $1.19
(6) Tidy Cat odor control litter BOGO @ $2.25 - (2) MQ $1.10 & (4) MQ $1 = $0.55 (not too bad for 60Lbs of litter)
(1) Capri Sun $1.79
(1) Garlic $0.89
(1) Publix sugar 5lb $2.95
(5) Kool aid @ $0.20 ea - (1) MQ $0.50/5 = $0.50
Bananas $0.97
(1) Publix garlic mashed potatoes $1.19
(1) Borden cheese $2.89
(1) American Heritage cheese $1.19
(1) Kraft Mozzarella w. touch of Phill. $3.79 - (1) MQ try free = FREE
(1) Kraft cooking creme $2 - (1) MQ 1.50 = $0.50
(4) Edwards singles pies BOGO @ $2.95 - (4) MQ $1 = $1.89
(1) Watermelon seedless 1/4 @ $2.56
(1) Breakstone 4 pk cottage cheese @ $2.89 - (1) MQ try free = FREE
(3) Breakstone 100 cal. singles @ $1 ea - (1) MQ try free & (1) MQ $1/2 = $1.00
Ground Turkey $3.24 - (1) SwetBay Q $2 off $2+ meat purchase = $1.24
(4) Peppridge Farms Artisan rolls BOGO @ $3ea - (4) MQ $1 = $2.00
(1) Bolthouse smoothie $2.79 - (1) MQ $1 = $1.79
(1) Chesters puffcorn $2.00
(3) Totinos pizza @ $1.25 ea - (1) MQ $0.50/3 = $3.25
(2) Publix bread @ $1.09 ea = $2.18
(2) Reusable Publiz bags @ $0.99 ea - (2) PQ  free bag wyb 4 honest tea = FREE
(1) Daily's strawberry daquiri $2.00
(1) Marie Calendars pumpkin pie CLEARANCE $2.50
(2) Birdseye Steamfresh $0.89 & $1.19 (forgot to use coupon!) = $2.08
(4) Publix sodas @ $0.50 ea = $2.00
(2) Dr Pepper @ $1.25 ea = $2.50
(8) Honest Ade teas @ $1.25 ea - (4) B1G1 MQ = $5.00
(2) Rold Gold Pretzels @ $2.99 - (1) MQ $2 & (2) PQ $1 = $1.98
(2) Propel Zero @ $0.50 ea = $1.00

(I had 1 Publix Q for $5/$50 purchase & 1 Sweet Bay Q for $10/$40)

Pre total = $120.29
coupons = -$62.33
tax = $2.12
TOTAL = $60.08   I saved 50% 

Coupon Booklet in mail

I cant remember if this is a booklet I requested or if it is one that just showed up with my junk mail, but I wanted to post it to let you all know to keep an eye out for it in your mailbox. The following coupons are in it and they all expire 12/31/11:

$2 off one Dryel Starter Kit or refill cloths

$1 off any 500ml or 1L Downy Wrinkle Releaser

$1 off one 15 Minute Dry Cleaner

$2 off one Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator

$1 off any size Tide Washbag or Brabag

$1 off Bounce Lint & Freshness 45 layer lint roller

$1 off any Dreft product (not including detergent)

$1 off any Evercare lint roller or refill

Walmart Coupon Policy

We gladly accept the following types of coupons*

• Print-at-home internet coupons
  • Must be legible
  • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" printed on them
  • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
  • Must have a valid expiration date
  • Must have a scannable bar code
  • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons with a specified price
  • Are acceptable in black and white or color
  • May not be duplicated
• Manufacturers' coupons
  • For dollar/cents off
  • For free items (except those printed off the Internet)
  • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons
  • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" printed on them
  • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
  • Must have a valid expiration date
  • Must have a scannable bar code
  • May not be duplicated
• Competitors' coupons
  • A specific item for a specified price, for example, $2.99
  • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons for items with a specified price
  • Have a valid expiration date
  • Are acceptable in black and white
• Soft drink container caps
• Checkout coupons ("Catalinas")
  • Printed at our competitors' registers for dollar/cents off on a specific item
  • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" with specific item requirements printed on them
  • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
  • Must have a valid expiration date
  • Must have a scannable bar code
  • Are acceptable in black and white
  • May not be duplicated

We DO NOT accept the following coupons:

• Checkout coupons
  • Dollars/cents off the entire basket purchase
  • Percentage off the entire basket purchase
• Print-at-home Internet coupons that require no purchase
• Competitors' coupons
  • Dollars/cents off at a specific retailer
  • Percentage off
  • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons without a specified price
  • Double- or triple-value coupons

*The following are guidelines and limitations:

• We only accepts coupons for merchandise that we sell.
• Coupons must be presented at the time of purchase.
• Only one coupon per item.
• Item purchased must be identical to the coupon (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc).
• There is no limit on the number of coupons per transaction.
• Coupons must have an expiration date and be redeemed prior to expiration.
• If coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied toward the basket purchase.
• WIC or SNAP items purchased in a WIC or SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
• Great Value, Marketside, Equate, Parents Choice, and World Table coupons have no cash value and are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
• The system will prompt for supervisor verification for:
  • 40 coupons per transaction.
  • A coupon of $20 or greater on one item
  • $50 or more in coupons in one transaction

CVS 5/1 $2.40

$2.40 OOP 

I had no plans on getting anything at CVS this week but the freebies were too tempting. (=  I started off with $3.99 in Extra Bucks and the cashier put thru 2 of my FREE product coupons at the "up to" price instead of the actual price (which i brought to her attention to be honest) but she didnt seem to care. So i got a little more savings than I thought I was going to get.

Transaction #1

(2) Right Guard Total defense body wash @ $2.99 ea - (1)MQ B1G1 = $2.99 earned (2) $1 EB's

(4) Ivory 3 pk bar soap @ $0.99 ea - (4) MQ $1 = FREE + $0.04 overage 

(1) Carmel candy (filler) $0.33

 Pre Ttl = $10.27

Coupons = -$6.99

Extra Bucks = -$3.99

Tax = $0.72

TOTAL = $0.01

Earned $2.00

Transaction #2

(2) Sunchips @ $3 ea - (1) MQ $2/2 = $4

(2) Sierra Mist @ $0.88 ea - (2) Free WYB Chips MQ (up to $1.99) = FREE + $2.22 overage (cashier took off the up to price)

(1) Colgate Max toothpaste $2.77 - (1) MQ $0.75 = $2.02 earned $2.77 EB's

Pre Ttl = $10.53

coupons = -$6.73

EB's used = -$2.00 (from transaction #1)

Tax = $0.32

TOTAL = $2.12

Earned $2.77 EB's

Transaction #3

(1) Colgate Max $2.77 - (1) MQ $0.75 = $2.02 earned $2.77 EB's

(1) Gold Emblem peppermints (filler) $0.77

Pre Ttl = $3.54

coupons = -$0.75

EB's used = -$2.77 (from transaction #2)

tax = $0.25

TOTAL = $0.27

earned $2.77 EB's for next week

PepsiCo coupon insert in Tampa Tribune

I found a PepsiCo coupon insert in my Tampa Tribune today it has the following coupons in it:

$2 off any 3 Life, Quaker oatmeal squares, Cap n Crunch cereal, Tropicana Pure premium or Trop50
Free 32oz Gatorade WYB 1 Gatorade Recover
Free Pepsi Max 2 liter with purchase of any Tostitos chips and any Tostitos dip
$1 off any Tostitos Tortillas chips or any Tostitos Dip
$2 off any 2 Pepsi Brand 18 pack , 20 pk, or 24 pk 12 oz cans
$2 off 2 Lipton 2 Lipton 12 packs
$2 any 2 Frito-Lay 22ct Multipacks
$2 on 2 Starbucks Frappuccino or Double shot 4 pks
$0.55 off 2 Quaker Quakes Rice Snacks 3oz or larger
$1 off 1 Propel or Propel zero 6pk
$1.50 off 5 Sobe 20oz
$1 off 4 AMP energy 16 oz
$2 off 2 Lays Kettle cooked, sunchips, rold gold pretzels and size any variety
Free Sierra Mist 2 liter WYB Sunchips or Lays kettle cooked chips