But after I finally got a system figured out and was pretty stocked up on my kitchen and laundry supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, deodorant and other household items, I quickly tired of the constant upkeep. Coupons would come in, I’d clip, sort and file them away, then every month or so I’d spend hours tossing expired coupons.  It got to the point that I was spending more time sorting and organizing than shopping. An extreme couponer I was NOT. 

Making matters worse is the fact that I have a major problem with math. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have dyscalculia, kind of like dyslexia, only with math instead of letters. A shopping trip for me involved approximately two hours of putting together lists, matching my coupons to sales, then another two hours of trying to make it through a store without crying. If something went wrong, it was like making a wrong turn in a labyrinth. 

I reached a point where I was happy with my stockpile, but disgusted with the amount of time (up to 30 hours a week) I was spending with coupons.

Eventually, I abandoned the constant clipping, sorting, shopping, tossing cycle in favor of a system where I – to this day – keep my inserts uncut in file folders until I need them for a sale that catches my eye. I was not under the impression this was a blog-worthy topic. 

That is, until I got a tweet last month from Jude Seymour, a local journalist-turned stay-at-home dad and couponer, asking if I thought the new Target would be a good coupon contender, I was floored. 1) A coupon-savvy boy? 2) The guy was schooling me in where to buy the cheapest yogurt.

It wasn’t long before I was begging Jude to write about his very practical approach to using coupons. Luckily for me and anyone else who wants to find a way to save some cash, he agreed.  So, my friends. Hopefully you bought a newspaper yesterday. Meet Jude! 

Hello, readers. My name is Jude – and this is why I coupon.

Last fall: It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.  My 18-month-old job abruptly ended just 10 days after the birth of my first child. For the first time since I joined the labor force, I was unemployed with no destination on the horizon.

My wife and I had accrued a modest savings, but we both knew it wasn’t going to be easy living on one income. Immediate sacrifices were in order.

I began thinking of ways to cut expenses.

I had eaten out for lunch and dinner almost every workday, but that was no longer necessary. Eating, unsurprisingly, was still quite necessary.

While I recognized that eating in would naturally save more than dining out, I dreaded grocery shopping. Probably like most husbands, my trips were infrequent and usually for emergency items.

I hated how my specific items were never easy to find, how people stared aimlessly at overpriced goods while jamming aisles and how checkout lines seemed interminably long.

Frankly, I wished shopping was more like “Supermarket Sweep” – a fun challenge, not an annoyance.

I can’t recall why I decided to watch “Extreme Couponing” for the first time. But after a few episodes, two things occurred to me. Couponing can be fun and I could definitely learn how to do it – and do it well.

The “reality” they show on TV is a terrible reflection of the couponing experience, as I’d come to learn. But knowing little – and scared about a lot – I bought my first Sunday newspaper on Jan. 6.

In five short months, I’ve scored dozens of great deals and made my fair share of mistakes. I’m still a novice, and there’s nothing “extreme” about my methods. I can teach you how to start couponing and start saving right away – without losing your mind. I live in Watertown, so my advice will be hyper-local. I’ll be using local newspapers and local stores to help you get a good deal on your groceries.

I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences, hearing about yours and learning together how to make the best use of every dollar.

Let’s get started.

Jude will return with his first post this coming Saturday. In the post, he talks about how to fit couponing into your life based on how much time YOU have. 

In today’s Sunday Times, you’ll find three coupon inserts so be sure and buy (at least) two copies today!

PLUS, beginning this week, Jude Seymour the new NNY Life “Relaxed Couponing” blogger will show you that coupons can fit into just about any lifestyle regardless of time, diet restriction or budget.

Today’s Redplum has a value of nearly $100, and there are two SmartSource coupon inserts in today’s Times.  One has coupons valued at over $550 with some amazing savings at Harbor Freight Tools (just in time for Father’s Day).  The other SmartSource coupon insert has coupons valued at over $80.

Meat & Seafood

Aldi
80% Lean Ground Beef $2.79/lb.
85/15 Ground Beef Patties 3 lb. $8.99
Roseland Pork Baby Back Ribs $2.99/lb.
Roseland Center Cut Pork Chops $2.79/lb.
Kirkwood Chicken Breasts $2.49/lb.

Big M
1893 Premium Angus Porterhouse or T-Bone Steaks $6.99/lb.
1893 Premium Angus Boneless Sirloin Tip Steaks $3.99/lb.
Whole Beef Tenderloin $6.99/lb.
80% Lean Ground Chuck $2.49/lb.
1893 Premium Pork Baby Back Spareribs $2.99/lb.
1893 Premium Pork Spareribs $2.59/lb.
Smithfield Marinated Pork Loin Fillet 27.2 oz. $6.99
1893 Premium Split Chicken Breast $1.69/lb.
1893 Premium Chicken Breast $4.99/lb.
Littleneck Clams 50 ct $19.99
Hormel Pepperoni 5-7 oz. 2/$7 

Hannaford
Hannaford USDA Boneless New York Sirloin Steak $3.99/lb.
Nature’s Place 90% Lean Ground Beef $5.49/lb.
Baby Back Ribs $3.49/lb.
Hannaford Pork Tenderloin $3.99/lb.
Hannaford Split Chicken Breast 4-6 lb. pk $1.79/lb.
Taste of Inspiration Boneless Chicken Tenders $3.99/lb.
Hannaford Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 3-5 lb. pk $1.99/lb.
Hormel Pillow Pack Pepperoni 4-7 oz. $3.79
Swordfish Steak $7.99/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Boneless Beef Tenderloin $12.98/lb. Steaks at $13.98/lb.
90% Lean Ground Beef $3.98/lb.
Pork Spareribs $2.98/lb.
Split Fryer Chicken Breast $1.38/lb.
Hormel Sliced Pepperoni 5-6 oz. $2.99

Tops
Tops Quarter Pound Beef Burgers 3 lb. 12 ct $9.99
Boneless Top Sirloin Steak $5.99/lb.
Smithfield Boneless Pork Tenderloin BOGO
Smithfield Marinated Pork Sirloin Roast 22.4-23 oz. BOGO
Smithfield Pork Spareribs $1.88/lb.
Smithfield Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops $3.99/lb.
Tops Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast BOGO
Tops Boneless Chicken Breast Tenders $3.69/lb.
Live Littleneck Clams 16 ct $4.99
North Atlantic Live Lobster $7.99/lb. (5/24-5/27 Only While Supplies Last)
Boneless Swordfish Steak $8.99/lb. 

Deli

Aldi
Little Salad Bar Potato, Creamy Coleslaw, or Macaroni Salad 30-32 oz. $2.49 

Big M
Grandma’s Coleslaw, Macaroni or Potato Salads $1.99/lb.
Kretschmar Brown Sugar Ham $6.99/lb.
Kretschmar Off the Bone Roast Beef $8.99/lb.
Big M Turkey Breast $4.99/lb.
Russer Wunderbar Bologna $2.49/lb.
American Cheese $3.99/lb.

Hannaford
Hannaford 3 lb. Salads (Potato, Macaroni, Potato & Egg, Cole Slaw) $6.99
Smithfield Honey or Virginia Ham $4.99/lb.
Wunderbar German Bologna $3.49/lb.
Carolina Smoked Turkey Breast $5.99/lb.
Old Neighborhood Roast Beef $7.99/lb.
Land O Lakes American Cheese $4.99/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Potato/Macaroni Salad or Creamy Coleslaw $1.98/lb.
Wunderbar Bologna $2.88/lb.
Russer’s Virginia Style or Black Forest Ham $4.78/lb.
Honeysuckle Golden Roasted Turkey Breast $5.78/lb.
Shurfine Roast Beef $7.48/lb.
Shurfine American Cheese $3.98/lb. 

Tops
Deli Potato Salads, Macaroni Salad, and Coleslaw 15-16 oz. BOGO
Russer Canadian Maple Ham $5.49/lb.
Deli Traditions Reasoned Roast Beef $9.99/lb.
Land O Lakes American Cheese $6.99/lb. 

Produce

Aldi
Seedless or Seeded Watermelon $4.99
Blueberries Pint $1.99
Strawberries 16 oz. $1.49
Vine Ripened Tomatoes 24 oz. $1.29
Sweet Corn 4 pk $1.49 

Big M
Whole Seedless Watermelon $4.99
Lemons or Limes 2/$0.99
Jumbo Vidalia Onions $0.99/lb.
Bi-Color Sweet Corn 5/$1.99
On the Vine Cluster Tomatoes $1.99/lb.
Stoplight Peppers 3 pk $4.99
Dole Coleslaw or Shredded Lettuce 10-14 oz. $1.79
Yellow or Green Squash $1.49/lb.
Purple Eggplant $1.49/lb. 

Hannaford
Red Seedless Grapes $1.69/lb.
Seedless Watermelon $4.99
Limes 3/$0.99
Vidalia Onions $0.79/lb.
Summer Squash or Zucchini $1.69/lb.
Rainbow Pepper Pack 16 oz. $2.99
Eggplant $1.49/lb.
Yellow Sweet Corn 5/$1

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Strawberries 1 lb. 2/$4
Seedless Watermelons $4.98
Red Seedless Grapes $2.68/lb.
Dole Classic Cole Slaw 14 oz. $1.28

Tops
Whole Seedless Watermelon $3.97
Strawberries 1 lb. $1.99
California Cherries $3.99/lb.
Blueberries or Blackberries 6 oz. 2/$5
Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes on Vine $1.99/lb.
Tricolored 4 Pk Sweet Bell Peppers $2.99
Yellow & Zucchini Squash or Purple Eggplant $0.99/lb.
Vidalia Onions $0.99/lb.
Sweet Corn 12/$4 

Dairy

Big M
Kraft Shredded Chees 5-8 oz., Cheese Singles 12 oz. 2/$5
I Can’t Believe Its Not Butter, Brummel & Brown, or Promise 8-15 oz. 2/$5

Hannaford
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter 15-21.3 oz. $2.79
Nestle Coffee-mate Flavored Creamer 32 oz. $3.39 

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
General Mills Cereals (Select Varieties) 11.5-12.25 oz. 5/$10
Kraft American Singles 16 oz. 2/$7
Coffee Mate Coffee Creamer 32 oz. $3.99 

Tops
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Promise, and Brummel & Brown Spread 15-16 oz. $2.79 

Freezer

Big M
Friendly’s Ice Cream 48 oz. 2/$5
Cool Whip Topping 8 oz. 3/$4
Best Yet Vegetable Blends 16 oz. 2/$3 

Hannaford
Cool Whip 8 oz. $1.25
Pepperidge Farm Layer Cakes 19-19.6 oz. $3.49
Weight Watchers Frozen Novelty Bars or Sandwiches 6 ct 24 oz. $4.29
Luigi’s Italian Ice 6 ct 36 oz. $2.39

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Perry’s Ice Cream or Sherbet 48 oz. BOGO
Minute Maid Juice Bars or Luigi’s Italian Ice 6-12 pk 2/$5
Cool Whip Topping 12 oz. $1.99
Pepperidge Farms 3 Layer Cakes 19.6 oz. $3.99
Shurfine Lemonade (Reg or Pink), Limeade, or Fruit Punch 12 oz. 4/$5
Super Soft Pretzels 9-13 oz. 2/$5 

Tops
Perry’s Premium Ice Cream or Sherbet 48 oz. BOGO
Weight Watchers Frozen Novelties 12-24 oz. $3.99
Tops Sherbet 32 oz. BOGO
Kraft Cool Whip Topping 8 oz. 10/$10
Luigi’s Italian Ice or Minute Maid Bars 24-36 oz. BOGO
Tops Premium Ice Cream 48 oz. $2.79
Tops Lemonade or Pink Lemonade 12 oz. 2/$3
J&J SuperPretzel Soft Pretzels 9-13 oz. BOGO
Tops Steamin Easy Vegetables or Frozen Vegetables 12-16 oz. 10/$10 

When I first started cooking using ingredients instead of boxes I had to buy all the pantry staples. Pantry staples get used often in many recipes. For me, rice, onions, Italian seasoning, canned crushed tomatoes and pasta are all kitchen staples. My local North Country staples are maple syrup, local eggs, Spicy Wench seasoning blends, River Rat cheese and sweet corn.

North Country is about to be a wonderland of gorgeous produce. The growing season is underway and fresh produce should be making it to your table very soon!This year I hope to can whatever we can’t eat. In the past I’ve blanched and frozen produce we had in surplus. I’m hoping my pantry will look like this in September:

I’m also double checking and restocking all pantry staples so I can dive right into cooking without an emergency trip to the grocery store. Below is a list of foodstuffs I’m going to make sure I have on hand. I compiled this list with guidance from Martha, Real Simple, and The Kitchn.

Now I just have to Google recipes using sardines. Sardines and anchovies. Not the same thing. I always forget.

Restock-Refill-Replenish

• Black Pepper
• Canned Beans
• Canned Tomatoes
• Chicken Stock
• Cumin
• Flour: wheat and almond
• Garlic
• Garlic Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Lentils
• Nutmeg
• Olive Oil
• Onion Powder
• Onions
• Oregano
• Pasta
• Potatoes
• Rice
• Sea Salt
• Soy Sauce or Coconut Aminos
• Spicy Wench Spice Blends
• Sugar
• Thyme
• Vegetable Cooking Oil
• Vingar: white, balsamic, and red wine

Aldi
All Natural 80% Lean Ground Beef $2.99/lb.
Roseland Assorted Pork Chops $2.29/lb.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Jumbo Pack $1.69/lb.
Kirkwood Chicken Drumsticks $1.19/lb.

Hannaford
Whole Select Beef Tenderloins $8.99/lb.
Hannaford Boneless Chuck Steak $2.79/lb.
Hannaford Chicken Leg Quarters $0.99/lb.
Whole Young Chicken $0.99/lb.
Bar-S Jumbo Franks 16 oz. (Excludes Beef) $0.99

Price Chopper
Certified Angus Beef Top Round London Broil BOGO
Price Chopper 80% Lean Ground Beef (Savings Pack) $2.99/lb.
Price Chopper Assorted Pork Chops $1.99/lb.
Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops $2.99/lb.
Lamb Loin Chops $6.99/lb.
Price Chopper Boneless Chicken Breasts $2.99/lb.
Bar S Jumbo Meet Franks 16 oz. (Excludes Beef) 4/$5

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Beef Chuck Steak or Roast $3.48/lb.
Beef Chuck Shoulder for London Broil $3.28/lb.
Whole Bagged Fryer Chicken $1.28/lb.
Chicken Leg Quarters $0.78/lb.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.98/lb.

North Country Super Markets
Beef Chuck Steak or Roast $3.48/lb.
Chicken Fryer $1.28/lb.
Chicken Leg Quarters $0.78/lb.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets $1.98/lb.

Tops
Assorted Pork Chops $1.88/lb.
Center Cut Pork Rib or Loin Chops $2.49/lb.
Loin Lamb Chops $9.99/lb.
Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks $1.29/lb.

Deli

Hannaford
Carolina Skinless Turkey Breast $4.99/lb.
Hannaford American Cheese $3.99/lb.

Price Chopper
Sara Lee Old Fashioned Cooked Ham $3.99/lb.
Price Chopper Cooked Roast Beef $6.99/lb.
Dietz & Watson Lacey or Baby Swiss Cheese $7.99/lb.
Finlandia American Cheese $5.99/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Cooked Ham $2.88/lb.
Shurfine Roast Beef, Corned Beef, or Pastrami $7.58/lb.
Butterball Turkey or Chicken Breast $6.48/lb.
Margherita Hot Ham Capicola $6.38/lb.
Land O Lakes American Cheese $5.98/lb.

North Country Super Markets
Shurfine Virginia Baked Ham $3.98/lb.
Deli Sliced Cooked Ham $2.48/lb.
Shurfine Roast Beef, Corned Beef, or Pastrami $7.58/lb.
Butterball Turkey Breast $6.38/lb.
Swiss Cheese $4.98/lb.

Tops
Sahlen’s Turkey Breast $6.99/lb.
Mrs. Ressler’s Roast Beef $6.99/lb.
Sahlen’s Italian Hot Ham $6.99/lb.
Lorraine Swiss $6.99/lb.

Produce

Aldi
Iceberg Lettuce $0.79
Sweet Corn 4 pk $1.49
Blackberries 6 oz. $1.29
Strawberries 16 oz. $1.49
Pineapple $1.49

Hannaford
Nature Sweet Tomatoes 10.5 oz. 2/$4
European Cucumbers 2/$3
Strawberries 1 lb. 2/$4

Price Chopper
Broccoli Crowns $0.99/lb.
Seedless Cucumbers 2/$3
Roma Tomatoes $1.49/lb.
Sweet Corn 4/$1.98
Blueberries 6 oz. 2/$5
Strawberries 1 lb. $2.99
Navel Oranges 5/$5
Raspberries or Blackberries 5.6-6 oz. $1.99
Sweet Cherries $6.99/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Red Potatoes 5 lb. 2/$4
Whole Mushrooms 8 oz. $1.69
Roma Tomatoes $1.28/lb.
Fuji Apples 3 lb. $3.48
Seedless Navel Oranges 4 lb. $2.98
Blueberries 6 oz. 2/$5

North Country Super Markets
Red Potatoes 5 lb. $1.48
Roma Plum Tomatoes $1.28/lb.
Whole Mushrooms 8 oz. 2/$3
Fuji Apples 3 lb. $3.48
Seedless Navel Oranges 4 lb. $2.98
Blueberries 6 oz. 2/$5

Tops
Sweet Corn 12/$4
Greenhouse Grown Seedless Cucumbers BOGO
White Mushrooms Whole or Sliced 8 oz. BOGO
Sweet Grape Tomatoes Pint BOGO
California Sweet Cherries $4.99/lb.
Washington State Extra Fancy Apples (Multiple Varieties) $1.77/lb.
Strawberries 1 lb. BOGO
Blueberries or Blackberries 6 oz. BOGO
Red Seedless Grapes $1.97/lb.

Dairy

Aldi
Happy Farms Deluxe American Cheese Slices 16 oz. $2.99
Happy Farms Cheese Block 8 oz. $1.79

Price Chopper
Price Chopper Large White Eggs dz $0.99 (Limit 3)
Price Chopper Natural Cheese 8 oz. $1.88
Heluva Good! Brick Cheese 6-8 oz. $1.88
Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 4 pk 2/$4

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Black River Valley Large Eggs dz $1.28
Yoplait Yogurt 4-6 oz. 2/$1
Shurfine American Singles 12 oz. $1.99

North Country Super Markets
Shurfine Shredded Cheese 8 oz. 3/$5
Shurfine Large Eggs dz $1.28
Yoplait Yogurt 4-6 oz. 3/$2
Shurfine American Singles 12 oz. 2/$5

Tops
Tops Grade A Medium Eggs dz 10/$10
Tops Shredded, Chunk, or Cubed Cheese 6-8 oz. 2/$4
Breyers Ice Cream 48 oz. BOGO
Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 4 pk 24 oz. 6/$10

Freezer

Hannaford
 Hannaford Bake & Rise, Flatbread or Multigrain Pizza 11.35-32.7 oz. $3.99
Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables 11-12 oz. $1.69

Price Chopper
Stouffer’s French Bread Pizza 10.375-12.5 oz. 5/$10

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Edy’s Grand Ice Cream 48 oz. BOGO
Banquet Chicken 12-15 oz. 2/$4
Kahiki Meals 10-11 oz. BOGO
Stouffers French Bread Pizza 9 ct 47.37-51.12 oz. (Cheese or Pepperoni) $9.99
Totinos Pizza Rolls 19.8 oz. 2/$5

North Country Super Markets
Totinos Pizza Rolls 19.8 oz. 2/$6
Banquet Chicken 12-15 oz. 2/$5
Kahiki Oriental Entrees 10-11 oz. 2/$5

Tops
Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables 10-16 oz. 5/$10
Tops Self-Rising Crust Pizza 28.2-32.7 oz. $4.99

Other Deals We Noticed…

Tops is having a meal deal sale where you buy one big pack of ground beef 80% lean and you get seven preselected items free plus a bonus pet item.

Clayton Shurfine has included three coupons that double any manufactures coupon up to $1.

The Redplum coupon insert has coupons valued at over $54.

The SmartSource coupon insert has coupons valued at over $630 including high value coupons for Harbor Freight Tools.

P&G BrandSavers coupon insert has coupons valued at over $58.

Happy Mother’s Day! We’re celebrating with breakfast in bed “cooked” by the kids…so cereal and bananas. This week I’ve gotten pinspiration from recipes I’ve pinned at Pinterest and keep meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’ve seen all the pinstrosities but I have high hopes for these recipes. Have you tried any recipes you’ve pinned? How have they turned out?

Sunday: Rich Beef Barley Soup
big batch, left over’s. freezer friendly, dairy free (barley contains gluten!), local organic grass fed beef from Cross Island Farms

Sunday’s weather is cool and rainy again and normally I’d be disappointed but I pinned a fantastic looking beef barley soup recipe. The Barefoot Contessa has never failed me before. I’ve already used up the oxtails that were part of my mixed quarter of beef from Cross Island Farms, but I think beef shanks will make a good substitution. Barley can be found in the baking aisle or next to the oatmeal in the cereal aisle.

Ingredients: olive oil, beef oxtails, salt and pepper, leeks, carrots, yellow onion, celery, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, beef broth, pearled barley

Recipe here.

Monday: Addicting Chicken with Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes
gluten free

This recipe looks oh so simple and is made with pantry staples! I’m always looking for new ways to cook chicken breasts and this one looks like it could become a regular.

Ingredients: skinless chicken breasts, grated parmesan cheese, dried parsley, dried oregano, paprika, pepper, butter, green beans, potatoes, milk

Recipe here.

Tuesday: Leftover Rich Beef Barley Soup with Garden Salad
leftovers, 30 minutes

Tuesday is going to be a very busy day at my house and leftover soup will save us from cereal for dinner. A garden salad rounds out the meal. If you serve this with bread you can tell your family you’re having Olive Garden style all you can eat soup, salad and bread. Not that I would exaggerate to get my family to eat leftovers.

Wednesday: Portabella Pizza Bites with Steamed Broccoli
30 minutes, gluten free

My favorite pizza topping is mushrooms and Portabella pizza bites takes that to a whole new level. To make this a filling meal I’m serving steamed broccoli as a side. These little pizza bites would make a great hors d’oeuvre for a party.

Ingredients (per person): 2 large portabella mushroom caps, marinara sauce, turkey pepperoni, black olives, mozzarella cheese, egg white

Recipe here.

Thursday: Pan Seared Steak with Crispy Cornmeal Sweet Potato Fries and Steamed Green Beans
gluten free, dairy free, local steak from Cross Island Farms

Forget the steak, focus on how amazing the crispy cornmeal sweet potato fries sound! I can’t wait to try these! I’m keeping the main course, steak, simple so I can put effort into a side more complicated than dumping salad greens into a bowl. If these were at a restaurant I’d order a large side and nothing else.

Ingredients: sweet potatoes, melted coconut oil or ghee or butter, cornmeal / polenta, salt, garlic powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, black pepper, dried parsley

Recipe here.

Friday: Odds & Ends with Bits & Bobs
clean out the fridge/freezer/pantry

Ok, Friday is kind of a cop out but there are so many tiny bits of leftovers I can’t salvage into a whole meal for the entire family. Alternatively, you could make any leftover vegetables into an egg scramble or do something super cute like these egg stuffed baked potatoes.

Saturday: Support a Local Restaurant

Maureen, Betsy and I each chose one book from the Unbound: A Book Club Goodreads Bookshelf for you to vote on for our first club selection.

I’ve included links to book reviews from a few different sources below. Click on the image of each book cover to be linked to the book’s Goodreads page so you can see reviews of other readers there.

Please feel free to offer feedback on our selections. We tried to choose books that would be a juicy read for our first cycle but from a variety of genres.

Please vote for your choice on either our Unbound: A Book Club Facebook Group page or our Goodreads Group page (whichever site is your preference – you need only vote ONCE).

Betsy’s Selection:

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Genre: Literary Fiction
*Winner of 2012 National Book Award

From the New York Times Book Review, published October 12, 2012:

“Law is meant to put out society’s brush fires, but in Native American history it has often acted more like the wind. Louise Erdrich turns this dire reality into a powerful human story in her new novel, in which a Native American woman is raped somewhere in the vicinity of a sacred round house, and seeking justice becomes almost as devastating as the crime.”

NPR’s The Round House book page includes audio author’s interview, several book reviews and two features.

Entertainment Weekly has a brief review here

Katie’s Selection:

With or Without You by Domenica Ruta

Genre: Memoir

From the New York Times Book Review, published March 22, 2013

“Nikki, the childhood incarnation of Domenica Ruta and the daughter of a sometimes charismatic, other times irascible Italian-American single mom, makes the following precocious observation early on in “With or Without You.” “Even nature programs revealed to us the brutal world as we recognized it: sharks leaving flesh wounds as part of the courtship ritual, procreation by gang rape and, for the finale, intrauterine cannibalism! Shakespeare couldn’t have done a finer job.”

A New York Times Interview with author Domenica Ruta

A WBUR radio interview with author Domenica Ruta

NPR’s With or Without You book page includes two audio book reviews

Maureen’s Selection:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fantasy/Popular Fiction

From the New York Times Book Review, published October 7, 2011.

“In “The Night Circus,” her debut novel, Erin Morgenstern works hard to create just such a sense of magic, but there finally seems to be something too sensible about her sensibility to pull off the trick. The novel is — and it’s an odd thing to say about a work of fiction — just too real to be believed. True magic is dangerous, and there is little of that sort of propulsive danger in these pages; where it does occur is surprising, and oddly marginalized.”

NPR’s The Night Circus book page includes two audio book reviews and an author interview.

Here’s the link to the Entertainment Weekly book review.

You are always free to add as many books to our Goodreads Bookshelf as you like. We try to span different genres and reading styles for our choices, so the more books we have to choose from, the better!

We’ll announce the winning book on Monday, May 13, 2013 so please vote before midnight on Sunday, May 12.

Registration is required. Click the image below for more information.

Redplum has coupons valued at over $114! Included in this is a coupon for $3 off any 10 Smart Ones frozen products, which is on sale at Hannaford and Price Chopper!

Meat & Seafood

Aldi
Cattleman’s Ranch Fresh Filet of Beef 16 oz. $5.99 (Wednesday 5/8 Only)

Big M

No Big M ad included this week

Great American
Boneless New York Strip Steaks – $5.99/lb
Hot or Sweet Italian Sausage Links – $2.49/lb
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders – $1.79/lb
Chicken Leg Quarters (Friday Only) – 69 cents/lb
Boneless Sirloin Tip London Broil – $2.99/lb
Boneless Chuck Tender Steaks – $3.99/lb
Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops – $2.99/lb
Bone-In Shoulder Picnics – 99 cents/lb
Whole Frying Chickens – $1.19/lb
Boneless Round Tip Steaks – $3.49/lb
Tender Round Cubed Steaks – $3.99/lb
Country Style Pork Spare Ribs – $1.49/lb
Bone-In Pork Butt Roasts – $1.49/lb
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs – $1.99/lb
Bone-In Shoulder Blade Lamb Chops – $3.99/lb
Boneless Veal Shoulder Steaks – $3.99/lb
Perdue Fresh Ground Chicken – $2.99/lb

Hannaford
Hannaford Rib Eye Steak $6.99/lb.
Hannaford USDA Choice Beef Boneless Eye Round Roast $3.49/lb.
Taste of Inspirations 85% Lean Ground Beef $3.99/lb.
Hannaford Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops $2.99/lb.
Live Lobster $8.99/lb.

Price Chopper
Clear Value Bone-In Rib Steak $5.99/lb. (Price Good Thru 5/12)
Certified Angus Beef Eye Round Roast $4.59/lb.
Price Chopper Pork Baby Back Ribs $3.99/lb.
Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops BOGO
Rock Lobster Tail BOGO (Price Good Thru 5/12)
Red King Crab Cluster $9.99/lb. (Price Good Thru 5/12)

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Boneless Beef Eye of Round Roast or Steaks $3.98/lb.
Whole Boneless Center Cut Pork Loins $1.88/lb. (Cut Free for Chops or Roast)
Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Chops or Roast $2.48/lb.
Split Fryer Chicken Breast $1.68/lb.

North Country Super Markets – Sackets Harbor
Boneless Pork Loin Chops or Roast Center Cut $2.48/lb.
Split Fryer Chicken Breast $1.28/lb.

Tops
Fresh 85% Lean Ground Beef $4.29/lb.
Smithfield Fresh Pork Baby Back Ribs $4.99/lb.
Jumbo Snow Crab Clusters $6.99/lb.

Deli

Great American
Wunderbar German Bologna (Saturday only) – $1.79/lb
98% Fat Free Ham – $3.99/lb
Russer Rare Roast Beef – $6.99/lb
Cotto Salami – $3.99/lb
Genoa or Hard Salami – $4.99/lb

Hannaford
Hormel Cooked Ham $3.99/lb.
Taste of Inspiration Turkey Breast $6.99/lb.

Price Chopper
Price Chopper Seasoned or Italian Roast Beef $6.99/lb.
Price Chopper Cooked Ham $5.99/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Wunderbar Bologna $1.98/lb.
Sugardale Virginia Style Cooked Ham $3.98/lb.
Charlie’s Pride Roast Beef, Corned Beef, or Pastrami $5.98/lb.
Honeysuckle Oven Roasted Turkey Breast $4.78/lb.
Great Lakes Provolone $3.98/lb.

North Country Super Markets – Sackets Harbor
Charlie’s Pride Roast Beef $5.98/lb.
Shurfine Turkey Breast $4.58/lb.

Tops
Sahlen’s Smokehouse Ham $4.99/lb.
Butterball Turkey Breast $5.99/lb.

Produce

Aldi
Pineapple $1.75
Strawberries 16 oz. $1.49
Navel Oranges 4 lb. $1.89
Bananas $0.44/lb.
Kiwi 3 pk $0.99
Mangoes 30 oz. 3 pk $1.99

Great American
Sweet Vidalia Onions – 69 cents/lb
Seedless Navel Oranges (4 lb bag) – $2.99
Tomatoes on the Vine – $1.69/lb
Eggplant – $1.49/lb
Yams – 69 cents/lb
Anjou Pears – $1.29/lb

Hannaford
Strawberries 1 lb. 2/$4
Yellow Mango $0.89

Price Chopper
Broccoli Crowns $1.49/lb.

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Golden Pineapple $1.77
Bananas $0.49/lb.
Kiwi 2/$0.98
Bi Color Sweet Corn 6/$2.99
Sweet Tomatoes on the Vine $1.88/lb.
Vidalia Jumbo Onions $0.98/lb.
Broccoli Crowns $1.48/lb.
Sliced Mushrooms 8 oz. $1.69

North Country Super Markets – Sackets Harbor
Strawberries 1 lb. $1.98
Bi Colored Fresh Sweet Corn 3/$1
Fresh Cut Green Beans $0.98/lb.
Sweet on the Vine Tomatoes $1.48/lb.
Broccoli Crowns $0.98/lb.
Sliced Mushrooms 8 oz. 2/$3

Tops
Strawberries 2 lb. $3.99
Jumbo Seedless Navel Oranges $0.99
Tropical or Manila Mangoes $0.99
Green Beans $1.49/lb.

Dairy

Aldi
Friendly Farms Greek Yogurt 6 oz. $0.85
Fit & Active Nonfat Yogurt 6 oz. $0.39
Nature’s Nectar 100% Orange Juice 59 oz. $2.29

Great American
Grower’s Pride Orange Juice – $1.69 with in-ad coupon
Stonyfield Organic Greek Yogurt – 99 cents/5.3 oz cup
Shedd’s Spread Country Crock – 2/$4
Large White Eggs (Wednesday Only) – 99 cents/dozen

Hannaford
Chobani Greek Yogurt 6 oz. $0.88

Price Chopper
Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice 46-59 oz. 2/$5 (Limit 6)
Yoplait Yogurt Cups 4-6 oz. 20/$10
Eggland’s Best White Eggs 18 pk $2.99

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Florida’s Natural Orange Juice 59 oz. $2.99
Shurfine Yogurt 6 oz. 2/$1
Shurfine Sour Cream 16 oz. $1.79

North Country Super Markets – Sackets Harbor
Byrne Dairy Orange Juice 64 oz. 2/$5
Shurfine Yogurt 6 oz. 5/$3
Shurfine Sour Cream 16 oz. $1.88

Tops
Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice 46-59 oz. 2/$6
Egglands Best Large Eggs dz 2/$5
Chobani Greek Yogurt 6 oz. 10/$10
Tops Light Yogurt Fruit on Bottom or Blended 8 oz. 10/$6

Freezer

Hannaford
Weight Watchers Smart Ones 8.5-11.5 oz. $1.99
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel 10-11.5 oz. $2.49
My Essentials Frozen Vegetables 16 oz. $0.98

Price Chopper
Smart Ones Classic Favorites 8.5-10.5 oz. 5/$10
Smart Ones Smart Creations, Beginnings, or Anytime 3.95-10 oz. 4/$10
Price Chopper Rising Crust Pizza 28.2-32.7 oz. 2/$8

Clayton Shurfine (from Times)
Shurfine Vegetable Blends 16 oz. 5/$5
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel 11.5 oz. 2/$4

North Country Super Markets – Sackets Harbor
Shurfine Vegetable Blends 16 oz. 2/$3

Tops
Smart Ones Entrees 2/$5
Tops Self-Rising Crust Pizza 28.3-32.7 oz. $4.99

Other Deals We Noticed

Price Chopper is having its grand opening of the new Alexandria Bay store on Sunday May 4! They have also added new bonus fuel items to help increase discount you can receive on your gas purchase.

Clayton Shurfine is having a double fuel reward special. You can get $0.40 off fuel with a single $100 purchase this week.

Tops is also having a special sale on select items in which you buy two get three free! Items in this sale include bacon, kielbasa, potato chips, toothpaste, and salad dressing!

Goodreads (GR) is a social networking site for readers. Not a fan of social networking sites like Facebook? Don’t worry – you can control exactly how “social” you want to be on GR. Have friends or not – your call. Join one group or twenty-three groups – your call. Concerned about protecting your privacy? To the best of my knowledge, I have never received anything other than the newsletters I signed up for as a result of my membership – they protect my privacy. If you do spend a lot of time on Facebook, you can link your accounts so that your activity on GR will post to your Facebook page, or not – your call again.

A Quick Tour of Goodreads

Creating a free account shows up on the right hand side of the home page – you may think you have to do this before getting past the home page, but you don’t – it’s okay to look around a little, in fact, you might want to take the GR tour of the website also. But let’s say you are ready to go – just enter your name, your email, and a password – and now you’re ready to go!

They will immediately ask you to share access to your other accounts such as Facebook or Yahoo, but you can skip this if you prefer, or do it at a later time. Next you’ll be asked to identify some genres you favor. Based on your responses, GR will show you a page a books you might have read and ask you to start rating, so they can get to know you. Again, do this now, do it later – your call. It just serves to personalize your experience with GR better. If you have done at least 20 ratings, GR will create a set of recommendations for you. Very much like Netflix if you are familiar with that. When you get here, you have finished the on-boarding process. You have the option in the upper right corner of the screen to visit your profile and share as much (or as little) information about yourself there as you are inclined to.

Some Engaging Goodreads Features

· Friends – you can send friend requests just like on Facebook – please friend me if you like! You will get a feed on your homepage of your friends’ most recent updates. If you read someone’s reviews that you like, but don’t know them, you can also follow their reviews – pretty much the same thing, except they don’t see your updates – similar to liking a page on Facebook.

· Bookshelves – this is your virtual library! Everyone has three standard bookshelves – to read, read and currently reading. You may create an unlimited number of shelves to catalog your books any way you wish – again, friend me if you would like to see examples of this. Books may also be placed on multiple shelves, and you will see across the top that there are number of points on which you can sort your shelf – as well as export it to a data file if you would like to keep a wish list handy (not necessary if you have a smart phone!).

· Groups – this is where our book club discussions will take place, as well as whatever other sorts of things members want to discuss. There are an enormous number of groups on GR, some based on certain genres of books, geographic areas, book clubs, reading challenges, etc. They are easy to browse. Many groups are public; others require you to ask permission to join. Click here to get to the Unbound: A Book Club group page and click to join. Threads will be visible, some organization will be apparent, which will grow over time, and members can start conversation threads themselves. There will be a bookshelf for our books we read as a club as well. When we have a book club discussion, it will occur at a set date and time, with one of us moderators starting a number of conversation threads for folks to chat away on. These will be well publicized, because you receive messages from the groups you belong to.

· Giveaways – a personal favorite of mine! In the upper right hand side of your screen there is a drop down menu under “explore,” where you will find giveaways. Hundreds of free books are given away every week on GR! The only catch is that you must add the book to your “to read” shelf when you enter the contest. There is a social contract here – if you win a book, you should be prepared to move it to the top of your reading list and then write an honest review of it when you have finished, noting that you did receive it as a giveaway. Yes, this is just a huge marketing program to build hype about new books – who cares? Free books! I will clue you in on the real story though – it is not totally random. If you actually want to win books be sure that you are actively rating and reviewing the books you read – they want to know there is a good chance you will hold up your end of the bargain!

· Lists – or as GR calls it, “Listopia.” To me, this is really just another browse books. Anyone can create a list, anyone can add to them, and anyone can vote for their favorites. The topics are endless, find this under the “explore” menu also.

Okay, this is more than enough to get you started, and yet it barely scratches the surface – get out there and get exploring – see you in the group! We will have a place there for asking questions as well.

Feel free to comment with any questions!

Sunday: Picadillo with Tortillas and Refried Beans
dairy free, local beef, big batch, freezer friendly

Today is Cinco de Mayo (May 5^th) ! To celebrate the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla I’m cooking an easy family favorite: Mexican picadillo. Picadillo is basically ground beef and any combination of vegetables stewed with tomatoes and classic Mexican spices. Some families like theirs with a lot of broth and served as a soup but we like ours thick enough for a taco filling. If you make a double batch it freezes very well for a quick meal on a busy night. Serve your picadillo with crunchy or soft tacos and all your favorite traditional taco toppings.

I follow this recipe but omit the suggested extra seasonings and add carrots.

Ingredients: store bought flour tortillas, store bought canned refried beans, hamburger from Cross Island Farms, olive oil, garlic, chile powder, oregano, cumin, water, potato, favorite taco toppings

Monday: Fish Baked in Parchment with Steamed Veggies and Salad
gluten free, dairy free, meat free

Ina Garten made this recipe in an Italian themed episode of The Barefoot Contessa and I cannot wait to try it! I’ve made fish and chicken baked in parchment paper before and every time it came out great. Parchment paper is inexpensive and found next to the plastic wrap. It’s great for lining cookie sheets for non-stick cookies!

Ingredients: boneless fish fillet, salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, thyme, green olives, egg, parchment paper

Recipe here.

Tuesday: Sesame Chicken with Broccoli and Steamed White Rice
dairy free, gluten free, local honey from Little Barn Bulk Foods

Martha Stewart’s Lighter Sesame Chicken is one of my favorite pantry friendly recipes. Be very careful while sautéing the chicken! The hot oil splatters very easily!

Ingredients: brown rice, honey, sesame seeds, soy sauce, garlic, egg whites, cornstarch, chicken, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, scallions, broccoli

Wednesday: Pacific Rim Marinated Flank Steak, Steamed Veggies, Faro
dairy free, gluten free, local beef from Cross Island Farms

This Asian inspired marinade was first published in Gourmet magazine but I found a version altered for stovetop cooking. If you forget to marinade the steak overnight, a few minutes still makes a big difference. I was digging through my pantry and way in the deep dark back I found a mushroom and farro pilaf style mix I can’t even remember purchasing. Hope it goes well with steak!

Ingredients: flank steak, teriyaki sauce, onion, honey, orange juice, sesame oil, garlic, orange slices, rosemary, salt and pepper.

Recipe here.

Thursday: Chipotle Chicken with Leftover Steamed White Rice

It’s Cinco de Mayo again on Thursday! This recipe only uses two canned chipotle pepper but they freeze well. Canned chipotles in adobo sauce are in the Mexican aisle usually next to Goya brand products.

I just realized the unintentional theme of this week is rice! Hope you like rice.

Ingredients: vegetable oil, boneless skinless chicken thighs, salt and pepper, red onion, garlic, cumin, chipotle chiles in adobo, tomatoes, white rice, lime wedges, cilantro

Friday: Venison Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries and Salad
local venison processed by Spruce Acres II, dairy free

For Christmas our neighbors gave us a wonderful gift of venison burgers from a deer they hunted themselves and then had processed by the Hanni family. These aren’t just ordinary burgers! Onions and peppers are ground right into the meat mixture for extra flavors. Next week: no more burgers!

Ingredients: venison burgers, buns, favorite toppings, sweet potatoes, salad

Saturday: Take Out Pizza!

Support a local small business and visit a mom and pop restaurant. Here’s our pizza from Cam’s in Watertown.