Recipes

Be Your Best You With $60 in Savings at Publix + Cream Cheese Chicken Pocket Recipe Featuring Tyson® Chicken and Arla® Cream Cheese

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Best You Available at Publix. The opinions and text are mine.

As the mom of two very busy school-aged boys, I am always on the lookout for ways to simplify my life and to make it the best that it can be. Whether it be time management, meal-planning or even weekly routines, it is important to have a game plan so that I am able to be the best wife and mother that I can be.

One of the most important ways that I can simplify my life, and to let it be the best that it can be is by preparation. I especially love to prepare in the area of meal-planning. There are many nights that we have sports practices or other school activities, so I love to have my meals planned the week before if at all possible.

My local Publix is going to help me in the area of preparation with their BEST YOU sale that begins May 26. During this sale, you can save $60 on all sorts of products to help you with everyday life. I love to save money on the products that I use, don’t you? Be sure to check out all of the coupons at www.GetTheSavings.com/BestYou so that you can see what items to stock up on at your local Publix! I plan on using the following coupons towards ingredients to make my Cream Cheese Chicken Pockets for a quick and easy dinner!

  • $1.00 off Any One (1) Tyson® Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips 12 oz.
  • $1.50 off Any One (1) Arla® Cream Cheese 7 oz. Tub or 6.2 oz. Squeeze Tube

Would you like a quick and easy dinner idea to have on hand that is sure to make you the BEST wife and mom on the block? My Cream Cheese Chicken Pockets featuring Tyson Chicken and Arla Cream Cheese will be a hit with your entire family! Tyson Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips are so versatile and they allow you to prepare a meal in just minutes since they are already fully cooked! Arla Cream Cheese is my favorite cream cheese as it is creamy, delicious and made with natural ingredients. Combine these 2 products together in my Cream Cheese Chicken Pockets and you have one tasty dish!

Cream Cheese Chicken Pockets

Ingredients:

1 bag Tyson Fully Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, 12 oz. shredded

1 7oz. tub Arla Cream Cheese removed from package and softened in the microwave

2 8-count packages of crescent rolls

2 cups breadcrumbs

1 stick butter, melted

salt/pepper to taste

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. onion powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place shredded chicken and softened cream cheese in a bowl.

Add in seasonings and mix until combined.

Unroll the crescent dough. Use 2 squares of dough to form your pocket. Place the chicken mixture inside the dough and fold over to form a “pocket”.

Dip the chicken pockets in the melted butter then into the breadcrumb mixture.

Place the pockets in a baking dish and bake until golden brown.

Serve with your favorite vegetable or salad and enjoy! My guys love this dish and ask for it quite frequently!

I love shopping at Publix and appreciate that the products they sell allows me to be my BEST ME! How will you be the best you and what coupons will you be using to stock up on your family’s favorite products? Be sure to let me know!

Fish Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa

This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however, all opinions expressed are my own. 

 I often feel that since we live in Florida it is sometimes easy to take for granted the wealth of fresh in-season produce that abounds. Whether it be fresh sweet corn, zucchini, tomatoes or peppers, there is always something in-season! While Florida farmers make it easy for everyone to eat fresh produce year-round, my local Publix supermarket is my go-to place for Fresh From Florida in-season produce.

A couple of our favorite varieties of Fresh From Florida produce are tomatoes and sweet corn. I used these products last week to whip together a batch of our favorite Fish Tacos and Sweet Corn Salsa. My entire family loves this dish, and I take pride in knowing that I am giving them fresh, quality ingredients. Why not try my Fish Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa for yourself? 

Fish Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa

Ingredients:

1 lb. fresh tilapia

1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro

4 ears of fresh sweet corn, cut off the cob

1/2 red onion, diced

1 small diced jalapeño

1 small diced chili pepper

1 carton of red grape tomatoes halved

the juice from 2 limes

salt/pepper to taste

1/2 tbsp. butter for the fish

tortillas, warmed

Cotija Mexican cheese

avocados sliced

Directions:

Season tilapia with salt and pepper. Place into a buttered skillet and cook until flaky and tender. Cut into bite size pieces and set aside.

To make the Sweet Corn Salsa, combine the tomatoes, corn, red onion, jalapeño, red chili pepper and cilantro. Add in the lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.

To assemble the fish tacos, place bite-sized fish pieces into a warmed tortilla and top with salsa. Add avocado slices and cotija cheese. Squeeze fresh lime juice on top and serve. These are so fresh and mouthwatering. Each bite has the perfect amount of sweetness and heat!

Follow the Fresh

Would you enjoy seeing more recipes made with Fresh From Florida produce? I highly recommend that you Follow the Fresh! Get healthy and flavorful recipes as well as how-to-videos and more.

Black Bean & Corn Salsa

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I made a similar version to this salsa last weekend and my family loved it! I decided to add black beans to the mix this week and it is even tastier! If you love a good chunky salsa then you are sure to love this Black Bean & Corn Salsa! Once you start eating it though, be warned that you will not be able to stop! It is that good!

Ingredients:

1 can of drained black beans

1 can of drained sweet corn (last week I used fresh corn; either will work)

2 medium sized tomatoes, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped

fresh squeezed lime juice (I just eyeball and add for taste)

salt/pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Check seasonings for taste. Add as much salt/pepper and lime juice to your preference. Refrigerate at least 3-5 hours. Eat with corn chips and enjoy!

Centsible Suppers: Barbecue Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

It is once again time for Centsible Suppers with My Sweet Savings! This week I shopped at Walmart and everything for my meal was right under $10. I had a great idea for this week’s meal as it combines all of my favorite items from a barbecue chicken dinner into one dish- Barbecue Chicken Shepherd’s Pie! I have to tell you that my family loved this dish and I will definitely be making it again! This should be enough to feed 4-6 people easily. You could add in another veggie if your prefer to make the meal go even farther. 

Here is what I bought:

Rotisserie Chicken marked down to $3.74. TIP: If you go to Walmart in the morning, they often have meat on markdown. I always buy several chickens, take the meat off the bone and freeze it!

1 can of sweet corn, drained $0.50

1 bag of mild cheddar and monterey jack shredded cheese, $2.24

1 bottle of honey barbecue sauce, $1.27

1 carton of pre-made mashed potatoes cooked according to microwave directions on package, $2.78

2-3 diced green onions, $0.50 (I forgot to add them in the picture)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shred the rotisserie chicken and place in a bowl. Pour 3/4 jar of the barbecue sauce over the chicken and mix together.

In a small baking dish, place the barbecue chicken as the bottom layer

Layer the corn on top of the barbecue chicken

Sprinkle on the diced green onion

Add half the bag of cheese (around 1 cup)

Pour over the remainder of the barbecue sauce

Top with your cooked mashed potatoes and sprinkle with some seasoned salt.

Bake until bubbly around 20-25 minutes. During the last few minutes of baking, turn up the heat on the oven and let the potatoes broil.

Serve and enjoy! If you make this dish I would love to hear what you think!

Centsible Suppers with My Sweet Savings: Slow Cooker Turkey Polish Kielbasa with Green Beans and Potatoes

(All posts may contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy) 

One of the things that I want to do on this blog is to empower you to be a smart and savvy shopper. One of the areas that we can all definitely afford to save in is the area of groceries, right? Groceries can be such an expensive part of any family budget, so when we can find ways to save, that is always a plus!

I thought it would be fun and helpful to our budgets to come up with one weekly supper idea that is based entirely off of sale items from the grocery store. This supper will be $10 or less, and if there are applicable coupons, you can add those into the mix to really get a great deal! I will be looking at ads from several stores, but my primary focus will be Publix, Walmart, Aldi and Target. Those are the 4 stores that I primarily shop at for groceries. I may ask some of you to come up with your own ideas from time to time and share other stores in your area. That would be so much fun to get you involved in this too!

For this week, I shopped at Publix and the current Publix ad that is valid through March 31. (this week’s ad is longer because of Easter). I purchased ingredients to make Slow Cooker Turkey Polish Kielbasa with Green Beans and Potatoes. My total came in at $8.36. This is enough to feed at least 6 people.

Here is what I bought:

2 packages of Butterball Polish Turkey Kielbasa BOGO, $2.99

1 lb. red potatoes $1.64

1 small onion, $0.37

1 small can of chicken broth, $1

3 cans of Libby’s green beans, $0.52 each ($1.56 total)

1 box of Jiffy corn muffin mix

Directions: 

Cut up both packages of the turkey kielbasa into chunks and place in the slow cooker

Quarter each of the potatoes, dice the onion and place in the slow cooker

Drain and empty the green beans into the slow cooker

Add the can of chicken stock in the slow cooker

Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder

Place the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.

Serve with cornbread and enjoy!

My entire family loves this frugal and delicious meal!

Strawberry Coconut Granola Using Dehydrated Strawberries #SundaySupper #FLStrawberry

This post is sponsored by Florida Strawberry in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

Preserving Florida Strawberries

I will admit that I have a deep affection for Florida strawberries. Since I had the opportunity to visit the glorious strawberry fields with some blogging friends last year, I have grown quite a love for Florida strawberries! Whether I eat them by the handful, as a topping for ice cream or yogurt or in a smoothie, there is nothing better than the taste of fresh strawberries. Since Florida Strawberry season runs December through April, right now is the perfect time to stock up and enjoy these red gems of juicy goodness!

Florida strawberries are in such abundance right now so be sure to stock up while you can! Did you know that Florida strawberries can easily be preserved to enjoy all year long? This makes me so happy! Preserve fresh strawberries by freezing, drying, pickling, and canning them. This is a sure way to enjoy your favorite berries any time of the year.

Drying Strawberries

One of my favorite ways to preserve strawberries is by drying them out in the oven. Yep, you read that right, in the oven! This really is a simple process and when you dry out (dehydrate) the strawberries in the oven, they taste like candy!

How to Dry Strawberries in the Oven:

 -Purchase Florida strawberries from your favorite store or produce market. You will want to ensure you pick berries that are plump and ripe. Discard any berries that are mushy as these will not dry out properly. I would also suggest that you dehydrate at least 2lbs. since the berries shrivel up significantly.

-Preheat your oven to 200. While the oven is pre-heating, wash and dry the strawberries.

-Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Make sure to use parchment paper and nothing else. This will ensure for even, dried out strawberries.

-Remove the green leafy part of the strawberry. A little trivia for you….did you know that the green leafy part is called the calyx? I learned about all of the different sections of the strawberry when I had the opportunity to visit a Florida Strawberry Grower’s Association event last year with my blogging friends from Sunday Supper. This event gave me an even deeper love for my favorite strawberries, as I was able to see first-hand what goes into to the strawberry growing process.

-Cut your strawberries in half lengthwise. If you have some larger berries, you may need to cut them into thirds. Place the berries skin side down on the parchment paper. Make sure that you leave enough space in between each berry to let the air circulate through and dry them out. Do not overcrowd your baking sheets. This is very important!

-Bake for 2 hours. Take out of the oven and turn the berries over. Bake for another 2 hours. If you feel that the berries need to dry out further, you can cook for another 30 minutes to an hour. Just be sure to keep an eye on them. The berries should slip right off of the parchment paper.

-Store in an airtight container and enjoy! These berries are the perfect addition to cereal or yogurt, or just to eat by themselves. You can also use your dehydrated strawberries in my Strawberry Coconut Granola. This granola is packed full of delicious flavors that your entire family is sure to love!

Strawberry Coconut Granola Using Dehydrated Strawberries

Ingredients:

6 cups rolled oats

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup flax seed

1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup vegetable oil

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in the liquid ingredients and mix together until well combined.

Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Cook for 45 minutes. Halfway through the baking process, stir the granola to avoid burning.

Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool for several hours. After the granola has cooled, stir in the dehydrated Florida strawberries.

Store in an airtight container or jar to keep on hand and enjoy for snacking! You can also serve with milk as a cereal or use the granola as a topping for your favorite yogurt or ice cream!

Enjoy! You won’t be able to keep your hand out of the jar, I promise!

Need more Florida strawberry inspiration? Visit Strawberry Sue or follow Strawberry Sue on You Tube or Twitter. Florida Strawberry can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +and Pinterest.

In addition, be sure to check out my fellow Sunday-Supper blogging friends below who have even more delicious inspiration for preserving Florida strawberries.

How to Preserve Strawberries

Canning

Dehydrating

Freezing

Pickling

Sunday Supper MovementThe Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

Spring Savings at Publix and Caprese Grilled Cheese & Turkey Sandwiches

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Spring Savings available at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine.

Is anyone else glad that spring is finally here? There is nothing more delightful to me than the cool, crisp air and sunny breezes that abound this time of the year! Nothing tastes better than those first few springtime meals. Everything is so light and bright!

From 3/24/18-4/22/18, we can stock up on springtime essentials with over $100 in savings at Publix! Be on the lookout in-store at the Publix Communication Center, or behind customer service for the Spring Savings Coupon Book at Publix. You can also print coupons at home from: www.GetTheSavings.com/SpringSavings. This booklet is filled with coupons to help your family save on all of the necessities that you will need as we head into spring. Save on food, personal and health care items, household products and more!

What better way to celebrate springtime than with a flavorful and fresh sandwich? How delightful does a Caprese Grilled Cheese and Turkey Sandwich sound? Be sure to take advantage of the coupon offer in the Spring Savings Coupon Book at Publix to save $2 off when you buy any ONE (1) Hillshire Farm Naturals© Lunchmeat, 8 oz. AND any ONE (1) Arnold© Country Bread, 24 oz. OR Arnold© Sandwich Thins© Rolls, 11–12 oz. This sandwich is sure to be a new favorite that your entire family is sure to love!

Caprese Grilled Cheese and Turkey Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 24 oz. loaf of Arnold Country Buttermilk Bread

1 8oz. tub of Hillshire Farm Naturals Turkey Breast Lunchmeat

Spreadable butter

Fresh basil leaves (add as much or as little as you prefer)

1 package of Mozzarella deli cheese slices

2-3 sliced tomatoes

Directions:

Preheat a griddle or non-stick skillet.

Butter the slices of bread. Add on the turkey, tomatoes, basil and cheese. You can pile the ingredients on however you prefer.

On a griddle or non-stick skillet, add the sandwiches and cook each side until golden brown and the cheese is melted through.

Serve and enjoy! Be careful. You will not be able to stop at just one sandwich! My husband told me 4 times how delicious that they were and he asked when I would be making them again!

What items from the Spring Savings at Publix coupon booklet will you be stocking up on?

No Bake Chocolate Strawberry Lasagna #SundaySupper #FLStrawberry

This post is sponsored by Florida Strawberry in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

It is no secret that I like strawberries. But, I LOVE Florida Strawberries! Living in Florida, I feel especially blessed to be right near the gorgeous Florida strawberry fields. The plump red gems of juicy goodness are the perfect portable bite, and I love that they can be eaten any time in any place. Just wash, eat and enjoy!

You may not know this, but Florida strawberries are actually harvested in the winter. Florida strawberry season is ALL winter long from December through April, so you don’t have to wait until the summer months to enjoy them! If you don’t see Florida strawberries carried at you local grocery store, be sure to ask your produce or store manager. You will be so happy that you did as there is nothing like a juicy and mouth-watering Florida strawberry!

Not only are Florida strawberries packed full of flavor, they are also packed full of nutritional benefits. Strawberries are virtually fat free, have no cholesterol, and are full of Vitamin C! In fact, did you know that just 8 medium strawberries contain more Vitamin C than one orange? You can learn about all of the nutritional benefits of strawberries HERE.

One of the things that I love most about Florida strawberries is just how versatile that they are. They can be preserved, used in desserts and salads and so much more! Today, I am sharing with you just how easy Florida strawberries are to use in no-bake desserts. No bake desserts are often much simpler and easier to make than baked desserts, and many of them are even healthier. I also feel that no bake desserts are such a time-saver! When you pair Florida strawberries into your no bake dessert, you have a win-win! And, you didn’t have to fire up the oven!

What can be better than Florida strawberries combined with chocolate and cream cheese? My recipe for No Bake Chocolate Strawberry Lasagna will definitely have you coming back for more! Layers of fresh Florida strawberries, Oreo Thins and a decadent cream cheese mixture couldn’t be easier to make! This will be the perfect treat for your next party or potluck and your guests will think you spend hours on it!

No Bake Chocolate Strawberry Lasagna

Ingredients:

2 lbs. fresh sliced Florida Strawberries

2 (8oz.) packages of softened cream cheese

1 (8oz.) container of Cool Whip

¾ cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 (10.1 oz.) packages of Oreo Thins Cookies (set aside 4-5 cookies to crumble for the topping)

Directions:

With an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Fold in the container of Cool Whip. Set aside in a small bowl.

In the bottom of a 9×13 dish, place one layer of Oreo Thins. Place a layer of the cream cheese mixture, then a layer of the sliced Florida strawberries. Repeat this process one more time. On the top, you can decorate with the last strawberry layer how you prefer. I did not take them across the entire way so that you can see part of the cream cheese layer. On the top, sprinkle your Oreo Thins crumbles that you set aside.

Chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. Serve and enjoy this berry-licious no bake dessert! You will not be able to eat just one slice!

Need more Florida strawberry inspiration? Visit Strawberry Sue or follow Strawberry Sue on You Tube or Twitter. Florida Strawberry can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +and Pinterest.

Do you have a no-bake strawberry recipe that you would make with Florida strawberries? I would love to hear!

In addition, be sure to check out my fellow Sunday-Supper blogging friends below who have even more delicious Florida Strawberry no-bake recipes.

No Bake Strawberry Desserts

No Bake Strawberry Cakes and Pies

Tasty Strawberry Layered Desserts

Special and Delicious Strawberry Treats

Sunday Supper MovementThe Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

Homemade Strawberry Valentine’s Day Love Notes

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

If you need a cute yet inexpensive treat for your family this Valentine’s Day, these Homemade Strawberry Love Notes are perfect and oh so yummy! Oh, and did I mention that they are super easy to whip up! I made these for my guys last night and they were gone in a flash!

Homemade Strawberry Love Notes

(recipe inspiration from Delish)

INGREDIENTS:

1 2-count box of refrigerated pie crusts

1/2 cup of your favorite jam. I used strawberry, but you could really use any that you like.

Egg wash

1/2 cup Granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 pie crust. 

With a paring knife, make diamond shapes roughly 4 inches in size.  You will also want to make little hearts for the love notes.

Place a small layer of jam in the middle of the love note.

Form the dough to look like a little envelope.

Place the heart on top of the love note.

Repeat until you have used up the majority of the dough. You should yield around 12 love notes depending on how big that you make them.

With your egg wash brush each love note.

Sprinkle sugar on the top of each note to give them a nice glisten when they bake.

Bake in the oven on 375 degrees for around 15 minutes or until nice and golden brown.

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Curried Chicken Salad With Envy Apples #BiteandBelieve

Disclosure: As part of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I was provided with Envy Apples in exchange for my honest opinion. Please see my disclosure policy)

I love a delicious and juicy apple, but it seems that they are becoming harder and harder to find these days. That is, until, you try an Envy Apple! From the moment you bite into an Envy Apple, the juices flow and the crunchiness that you get with every bite is so delectable! There will be no turning back to other apples, believe me. You are sure to see why Envy Apples has the antidote Bite and Believe.

Envy Apples are grown for busy, modern lives. A pure and pristine apple that’s a genuine work of orchard-growing genius. And one you can enjoy just about anywhere. With its extraordinary crunch and texture, refreshingly sweet palette and beautiful colours – it’s nature’s passport to a magical moment of indulgent time. Brought to you from the world’s most caring growers.

Envy Apples were born using natural plant-breeding methods, crossing Braeburn with Royal Gala apples, to take full advantage of New Zealand’s ideal growing conditions. The result is pure bliss! In addition, Envy Apples are free from genetic modifications. This helps to make them a perfectly natural apple; hence, they are the apple with everything! 

You can find Envy Apples at many retailers nationwide so make sure that you are on the lookout the next time you hit the grocery store! GO HERE and view the store locator to see if your local store carries Envy Apples. If they don’t, please request Envy Apples from the store manager or produce department manager. You will be glad that you did! 

I was recently sent a huge box of Envy Apples and I was thrilled at this opportunity to get my creative juices flowing! Of course, I immediately thought of numerous things that I was going to make with them. At first, I thought that I would bake. But, that is the obvious choice, right? So, I decided on a Curried Chicken Salad with Envy Apples throughout every bite. Boy, was my decision a good one. My family could not stop raving about how yummy that the chicken salad was! I still have a few apples left and plan on making another batch next week!

Curried Chicken Salad with Envy Apples

Ingredients:

2 Envy Apples, diced

1 Rotisserie chicken, shredded

2 stalks celery, diced

1/2 cup green grapes halved

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1 Tablespoon Curry powder (you can add as much or as little of this as you like. It really gives the chicken salad a nice flavor)

1 cup mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients until well-mixed. (You may need to adjust the mayonnaise and add more if the salad seems to dry.) Cover and refrigerate for several hours until ready to serve. Serve on your favorite crossiants or bread and enjoy!

 

Be sure to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Envy news and promotional offers by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.