Coupon Claim News – April 28,2011

 

Happy Easter! What a special time of year this is for so many people-there are family get-togethers, egg hunts, meals and time spent traveling. But all of these activities can mean a serious dent in your household budget. Here are some great ways to save and still have fun.

 

 

 

Enjoy a free ice cream cone from Baskins Robins. Just "Like" Baskin Robins on Facebook and get a free ice cream cone with the purchase of one. The coupon can be difficult to find…look for it on the B-R wall.

 

If you are looking for some treats for those Easter Baskets or a special Easter gift for a friend, check out Borders.com. Use the code:BJF0427Y to save 40%.

 

Want to set an elegant, yet inexpensive table for your Easter gathering? Here are a few dishes From All You magazine to get you started.

 

Spinach Salad ($1.65 per serving; serves 8)

1 bag of fresh baby spinach rinsed and dried (rinse in large colander, spread on a kitchen towel and pat dry)

8 oz. of feta cheese (blue cheese or freshly shredded parmesan could also be used), crumbled

½ cup sliced almond or walnuts

8 oz. Fresh sliced strawberries (sliced apples could also be used)

Toss all ingredients together and serve with a light vinaigrette of your choosing. A fruit based vinaigrette is the best, but any light dressing will do.

 

Mustard and Molasses Glazed Ham ( $3.85 per serving; serves 8)

1 7- to 8-lb. ready-to-cook, bone-in smoked ham half, preferably from the shank

20 whole cloves

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 325°F. Trim off ham rind to expose thick layer of fat underneath. Use a sharp knife to score fat in a diamond pattern, making sure to not cut all the way through. Press 1 clove into center of each diamond. Place ham in a large roasting pan and pour in 2 cups of water. Cover loosely with foil and bake until heated through, about 18 minutes per pound (2 hours 25 minutes for an 8-lb. ham).
 

Make glaze: Combine molasses, mustard, lemon juice and butter in a small saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat until butter has melted and mixture is blended.

Remove ham from oven and brush entire ham with about 1/4 of glaze. Return ham to oven and continue baking, uncovered, until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of ham reads 160°F, about 45 minutes. Brush with remaining glaze every 15 to 20 minutes of baking time. Transfer ham to a work surface and loosely cover with foil. Let stand at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before thinly slicing.

 

Asparagus with Lemon ($1.12 per serving; Serves 8)

2 pounds fresh asparagus

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Break off tough ends of asparagus. Place asparagus on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.

In a small bowl, rub 1 tsp. salt with lemon zest until crumbly. Sprinkle over asparagus and toss to coat. Arrange asparagus in a single layer and roast until tender, 18 to 25 minutes, shaking baking sheet once or twice during cooking time. Season asparagus with pepper and sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

 

Fruit Kebabs with Honey-Yogurt Dipping Sauce ($.69 per serving; serves 24)

2 cups plain low-fat Greek yogurt

1/4 cup honey

2 cups seedless grapes

2 cups pineapple cubes, from 1 small pineapple

2 cups melon balls (cantaloupe, honeydew or a combination)

2 1/2 cups halved or quartered strawberries
 

In a bowl, mix yogurt and honey. Refrigerate until well chilled. Thread grapes, pineapple cubes, melon balls and strawberries, alternating fruits, on 24 6-inch wooden skewers. Serve kebabs with sauce in bowls for dipping.
 

All of these recipes can be made for less than $8 a person. Of course, if you watch the sales papers, you may even be able to prepare them for even less. These are great recipes sure to please all those you are serving.

 

Bon Appetite!
 

We look forward to hearing from you! If you haven't read our recent posts, be sure to take some to visit the weekly Coupon Claim blog post. In addition, be sure to visit Coupon Claim on Twitter. We would love to hear from you!
 

Wishing you all the best,
 

–-Mo and Z