Triple Coupons and Breakfast for Dinner

Get out those 75 and 50 cent coupons and head to Harris Teeter. It’s triple coupon time (ends 5/24/11) and I’ve read the fine print  so you don’t have to.  You can triple 20 coupons per day.  Even though HT policy states, “Coupons that state 'do not double' should not be doubled or tripled the operative word is “should not.” All my coupons have doubled or tripled automatically at the register.  This may change in the future.  Harris Teeter and other grocery stores do not double or triple store coupons or coupons printed at the register.  You can use a Giant or Target coupon but it will not be tripled. 

I shopped on Thursday and saved $39.70 (includes $10 off $25 purchase) and all my coupons tripled even though some stated “don’t double”.  My big gets were three free items:  Frank’s hot sauce, McCormick lemon-pepper seasoning and a Betty Crocker cake mix.  I also paid 29 cents for Luigi Italian ice and 74 cents for a 24 oz bottle of Smart Balance oil.  My strategy is to buy items I normally purchase and match the coupons with items on sale.  Please share in the comments section how you saved at the grocery store.

If you have a McCormick 75 cent coupon, like I had, use it to purchase fennel seeds or paprika to use in the turkey sausage recipe shown below.  As parents of school aged kids, we‘ve all received the notes and e-mails that say it’s SOL time and to send our kids to school with a good breakfast in their belly.  What about a good carb and protein rich “breakfast for dinner” that can be enjoyed by the whole family.  Whip up some pancakes or waffles and try my turkey and apple sausage recipe.  If you think ground turkey has to be dry, this recipe will change your mind. 

Turkey and Apple Sausage

Grind whole fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder.  They can also be placed in a plastic bag and crushed (a crab mallet works well).    Twenty turns (let the kids grind the pepper into a small bowl and then measure) of a peppermill equals approximately 1/4 teaspoon.  Sweet, smoked or sharp paprika can be used.  The secret to the sausage staying moist is the apple. Shred the apple on the largest holes of a box grater.

16 ounces ground turkey, 97% lean can be used

1/2 cup shredded peeled apple, Granny Smith works well

2 tablespoons oatmeal

3/4 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon dried sage or 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh sage (5 or 6 leaves)

½ teaspoon ground fennel seeds

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

¼ teaspoon paprika

2 teaspoons olive or canola oil (Smart Balance is a mix of both)

1. Place the ground turkey in a large bowl.  Add the apple, oatmeal and spices, mix well.  Form the ground turkey into small patties. 
2. Coat a non-stick frying pan with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Using a rubber spatula, distribute the oil so it covers the entire surface.  Heat the pan over medium heat.  Place half the patties in the pan and cook 5 minutes on each side. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. (If the patties brown before reaching 170 degrees, cover the pan for a few minutes to help the turkey cook through.)  Remove patties to serving plate and tent with foil to keep warm.  Add the remaining teaspoon of oil to the pan and cook the second batch of patties.  Makes 8-10 sausage patties.