Meijer Deals this Week

If you'd like to find out about some great buys at Meijer this week, go to my money-saving blog here. :)
Laurie

Clip Those Coupons! :)

Lots o' coupons in the paper today: 2 Red Plum inserts and a fairly hefty SmartSource! Don't overlook them. A little time clippity-clipping (lol) now = tons of savings in the coming weeks!

Easy Coupon Organization

Here is a link to my post on an easy way to organize coupons.  The video is the method I use, and then there are some links at the bottom for alternate methods.  Hope these are helpful to you!  -Laurie

http://lovinthesavings.blogspot.com/search/label/Coupon%20Organization

Super Savings!

Click here to see some super deals at Meijer and Kroger this week!

Also, I haven't forgotten the coupon organizing tips I promised.  Stay tuned!

Laurie :)

Quick Banana Coffee Cake Streusel Muffins

I don't know how it is in your household, but my dear husband and son have what I call a "conspiracy," where, whenever I buy bananas at their request, they make sure there are 2 or 3 left to go brown.  This, you see, is because they know I prefer almost any other fruit over bananas, so won't eat them myself.  Thus, they are almost guaranteed some banana bread or other baked banana treat once in awhile.

I don't dislike bananas.  They have a good flavor and do make for some yummy baked goods.  They just have a higher sugar content than most other fruit and when I'm wanting a healthy snack, bananas rarely seem appetizing.  Don't get me wrong, though, I don't mind making and partaking of those treats from time to time! :)

I saw this recipe in our local newspaper.  Come to think of it, Dear Husband saw it first and made sure I saw it! lol  And, lo and behold, we had some overripe bananas to use up!

Before I give you the recipe, let me give you a tip:  Don't take phone calls or text people while you're baking.  I have to laugh because I was doing both, and thus it did not take 30 minutes from start to finish, as the recipe states, but more like an hour-and-a-half, some of which was spent scooping the batter out of the full muffin tin because I realized I had forgotten to put in the butter, and then, while I was mixing that in, I realized I forgot the baking powder, too!  Both seem like fairly important ingredients, so I did what I needed to do.

It was all worth it when Dear Husband and Darling Son tasted the finished product.  I had one, too, and that's why I feel compelled to share the recipe!  It's definitely a keeper! :)

Quick Banana Coffee Cake Streusel Muffins
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Makes 12 muffins

For the streusel topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut into small pieces and softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For the muffins:
3/4 cup sour cream
2 bananas
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large eggs
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut into small pieces and softened

Heat oven to 350* F.  Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with baking spray, or line it with paper muffin cups.

To prepare streusel
In a food processor,** combine the flour, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Process for 15 seconds, or until well blended and resembles slightly clumpy wet sand.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

To prepare muffins
In food processor,** combine sour cream and bananas.  Process until smooth.
Add cinnamon, ginger, salt, vanilla, egg and brown sugar. Process again until smooth.
Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and butter. Pulse only until combined.
Add 1/4 of the streusel mixture, pulse the processor 2 to 3 times.
Scoop a generous 1/4 cup of batter into each muffin cup.  Top each with a heaping spoonful of streusel topping, pressing it lightly into the top of the batter. 
Bake for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the center of a muffin comes out clean. 
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes.

**I didn't use a food processor.  Mixed the streusel with my fingers (the best chefs say these are the most handy kitchen tool there is!) and the muffin batter with a mixer.  Worked just fine!

Enjoy!
Laurie :)

Best Store Deals for the week of 10/24/10

Click here to check out some of the best deals for this week! :)

Laurie

Sunday! Coupon Day! :)

If you want to get in on some great deals in the coming weeks, make sure to clip those coupons from the Sunday paper!! :)  Stay tuned for some handy hints on how to keep all your coupons organized (hopefully later this week).

Want to know what coupons are supposed to be in the paper?  Click here.

Laurie