A Savvy Giveaway - Exclusive Shopping Trip With Amy

 Taste Of Home Ticket Link

Every year I am the emcee for multiple Taste of Home Cooking School shows.  The Taste of Home Cooking School is truly one of my absolute favorite events of the year.  If you have never been, every person who attends gets a goody bag filled with product samples, coupons, Taste of Home Magazines etc....  In addition, I fill a shopping cart to the brim with products and ask attendees to guess how much I paid for all the groceries with the closest "guesser" taking home all the groceries.

I swear, every year someone guesses that I paid $400-$500 dollars for the groceries.
What!?! 

If this was you - you need a grocery intervention and I am here to intervene!

I decided that instead of giving away a couple tickets to the show, as I normally do, I would give away an exclusive, one on one, shopping trip* with yours truly.  I'll provide the coupons and even $100 to spend (can you imagine how much we can buy with that!!!) to one lucky winner who is in attendance at the Taste Of Home Cooking School on April 19th.  I'll share insider shopping tips and tricks and show the winner how to maximize grocery savings by simply shopping smarter! You must be in the audience to qualify to go shopping with me.  I will randomly draw one name out of the grocery cart giveaway registration cards as the winner. (Estimated prize value... Priceless ;-) Your odds of winning are actually pretty dang good seeing as there are only 750 seats available!

Tickets are only $10 for the boutique shopping, show and gift bag and only $20 for the boutique, show, gift bag and ALL YOU CAN EAT soup & salad bar.  

Hurry and buy your tickets before they sell out - and they ALWAYS do!

Taste Of Home Ticket Link

*Shopping trip date, store and time to be determined by Amy.

A Savvy Recipe - Budget Gourmet Mom's Chili Con Carne

I was so excited when I found Krista's Budget Gourmet Mom Blog!  I love her easy, no-nonsense recipes which follow local Utah grocery ads.  I asked her to share one of her fabulous pantry recipes with my readers.  Make sure you check out Budget Gourmet.  I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do. (I LOVE her food photos as well - they make me drool!)

I am a busy stay-at-home mom (kinda redundant, I know) trying to balance family and gourmet food on a budget.  I live with four handsome boys...five, if you include my husband!

I began blogging 2 years ago after my third son was born as a way to connect to other moms out there and to have a creative outlet for my cooking.  Never could I have imagined the lessons and tips I would learn in the process or that I would have another son during my journey which is where the "budget" comes into play!  I have discovered my strengths, weaknesses, and a desire to serve my family healthy meals while staying on a budget.  It's not always easy but definitely doable!

I am so excited to be here on Savvy Life and The Savvy Shopper to share everyday recipes that may help you provide gourmet food to your family while cooking on a budget!  My first recipe is for Chili con Carne...a spicy, filling, and very inexpensive meal!

Every couple of months, in Utah at least, there are several grocery stores who have a case lot sale. It is my favorite time to restock my pantry with canned fruit, vegetables, baking supplies, and canned beans! I feel a sense of calm knowing that my family can live on what is stored in our pantry if there were ever the loss of income, natural disaster, or one week where I simply can not get the grocery store...I know you have those weeks! My recipe for Chili con Carne uses many of the ingredients I have on hand. It is simple, flavorful, and the best part is you can make it ahead of time!

Spicy Chili con Carne

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 tblsp vegetable/canola oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1-2 jalapeño peppers, chopped with or without seeds
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 tblsp chili powder
• 1 tblsp chipotle chili pepper
• 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1 15 oz can corn, drained
• 1 14 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce

In a large skillet heat the oil and add the ground meat. Brown the meat then add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic. Good for 2-3 minutes and add the spices. In a crock pot mix the rest of the ingredients. Pour the meat mixture into the beans, corn, and tomato and stir. Cook in the crockpot on low for 6 hours.

Cooks side note: You could put this chili together in a large pot, heat, and serve it immediately if you needed to. If you do throw it together quickly make sure to cook the vegetables for about 7 minutes.

Wal Mart has the best price I have found for Chipotle Chili Pepper and I LOVE this spice! I have used it in numerous recipes to have smoky heat including adding it to mayo for burgers.

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Fuddruckers

Sign up with Fuddruckers Fudds Club and you'll get a FREE 1/3lb burger for your birthday!

See My Favorite Birthday Freebies! 

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Denny's

Sign up with Denny's Rewards and they'll wish you a Happy Birthday with a FREE Grand Slam!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Payless Shoes

Here's an interesting birthday freebie from Payless Shoes!

Sign up for Payless Shoes emails and get an extra 20% off coupon to celebrate your birthday - Plus additional promotional sales and codes all year long! (I'm sure the hubby won't mind if I steal this birthday freebie away from him!)

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Ihop

Sign up for Ihop's Pancake Revolution and get a FREE Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity for your birthday PLUS a FREE meal just for signing up and a FRE meal on your membership anniversary!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Farm Rich

Sign up with the Farm Rich Birthday Club and you'll get a $2.00/1 Farm Rich Coupon on your birthday!!!! (Don't forget to print 2 by using your back arrow!)

See My Favorite Birthday Freebies!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Orange Julius

My husband is the king of birthday freebies.  Every year he tries to use as many birthday freebies coupons as humanly possible.  I swear he is going to make himself sick someday!  His latest birthday freebie comes from Orange Julius.  He actually just signed up for this one, but the offers are already rolling in!

Here's what you get if you sign up for the Orange Julius Quench Club:

 (This is a B1G1F coupon just for signing up!)

I'll let you know what the actual birthday coupon is when it arrives, though my guess is that it changes frequently.

UPDATE: The coupon came and it's a BOGO Smoothie Coupon!

See My Favorite Birthday Freebies!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Macaroni Grill

Sign up with Macaroni Grill to Get The Dish and you'll get a free dessert coupon in honor of your birthday!  You also get a $5 off coupon right now!

See My Favorite Birthday Freebies! 

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Mimis

Sign up for Mimi's eClub and you'll get a FREE Meal coupon to celebrate your birthday!  PLUS - Get A FREE Breakfast coupon right now!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Ruby Tuesday

Sign up with Ruby Tuesday and you'll get a FREE Burger coupon to celebrate your birthday!

A Savvy Birthday Freebie - Sweet Tomatoes

My hubby and I LOOOOOOOOVE Sweet Tomatoes restaurant and have since we first tried it in California as Souplantation!  We'll it's the hubbies b-day next week and his free offers just keep rolling in!

Sign up for the Sweet Tomatoes Veg Club and get a BOGO coupon on your birthday!