It’s a #SavingsNation Twitter Party! Trying to figure out how to save money so you have more to spend this Summer on that vacation? Then this is the party for you! We’re launching our Summer Savings Nation Workshops across the country, so get ready to learn how to save both time AND money to have a better Summer!

When: Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 9:30 EST/6:30pm PST

Where: On Twitter in the #SavingsNation hashtag, or join our exclusive #SavingsNation Tweet Grid page or the Tweet Chat Page.

Who: Your party hosts: @SavingLifestyle, @HappyHousewife, @5DollarDinners, @CrystalECollins, @Savings_Nation and @Savings

Why: To celebrate the launch of Savings Nation Summer workshops, where we’ll show you how to save time and money on food so that you have more available for your Summer vacation!

Prizes: $250 grocery gift card, and two $50 grocery gift cards.

My husband loves to eat fried rice, but an order of Chicken or Pork Fried Rice at our local Japanese restaurant is $6.95.  Fried rice is so easy to make and super cheap, not to mention that it can be made almost entirely out of leftovers (one of my favorite qualities in a recipe).

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This week only print a coupon from Quiznos (click on the above banner) to get any Small Sub, Regular Fountain Drink and Chips for only $2.99!  What a great way to save on a fast, easy, and healthier meal!

Plus, don’t forget about our other weekly Restaurant Deals and Coupons.

As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to get the kids in the kitchen and make some Yogurt Pops.  Check out this great recipe over on Paula Deen!

I wanted a fast and easy recipe for Sunday dinner because the eclipse was going to occur right about the time we usually eat dinner. However, I only took into account the timing of the full eclipse and forgot that it would start 20 minutes before that time and last for quite awhile afterwards. Family kept wandering in and out of the house as they took turns looking at the various stages of the eclipse, occasionally stopping in the kitchen for a bite of dinner. So I am lucky that I picked a recipe that tastes great whether served warm, at room temperature, or chilled!

One of the things I like most about Lemon Pasta is it meets a variety of dietary needs with one dish. It is low in calories and fat, it is dairy-free, use brown rice noodles and it is gluten-free, and if you leave out the chicken you have a tasty vegetarian dish. It also happens to be amazingly delicious, so you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything.

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If you pack lunches each day, we all know sometimes mornings can be a bit of a rush!  To keep lunches simple, check out this Lunchbox Cupboard over on Blessings Multiplied.

If you are looking for some coupons and freebies to to help you save on dinner on the town, date nights, and for when you need a break from cooking, then you’re in the right spot!

While we certainly know that eating out is more expensive than eating in, it is nice to treat yourself and your family every now and again to a meal out on the town. Our family eats out 2 or 3 times a month, and we’ve been able to do so for less than $60 for the month…in part because of all the great coupons, daily deals, and other offers from restaurants in our area.

Check out the latest coupons that will help you spend less on your next “out to dinner” night!

Restaurant Coupons

• Bakers Square Coupon - 20% Off Entire Check (zip 90210) (exp: 7/7/2012)

• Baskin Robbins Coupon – $3 Off $17 Cake (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Beef O Bradys Coupon – $5 Off $25 Purchase (exp: 5/30/2012)

• Bertuccis Coupon – $10 Off $20 Online Order When You Create an Account (exp: 6/30/2012)

• Boston Market Coupon – Free Kids Meal WYB Individual Meal & Drink (exp: 5/22/2012)

• Chilis Coupon – Free Appetizer to Share When You Visit the Bar Area with 2 or More Friends (exp: 5/30/2012)

• Cousins Subs Coupon – $1 Off 7.5 Inch Sub, Chips or Fries & Drink (exp: 5/22/2012)

• Jamba Juice Coupon – Any 16 oz. Smoothie For $2 – select areas

• Maggie Moos Coupon – Buy 5 Push Pops, Get 1 Free (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Marble Slab Coupon – Buy 5 Push Pops, Get 1 Free (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Max and Ermas Coupon - $5 Off $20 Purchase (zip 48090) (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Olive Garden Coupon – Free Appetizer or Dessert WYB 2 Adult Dinner Entrees (exp: 5/27/2012)

• Panda Express Coupon – Free Entree Item WYB 2-Entree Plate & Drink (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Papa Murphys Coupon - $2 Off Any Pizza (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Planet Hollywood Coupon – $10 Off $20 Food & Drink Purchase (exp: 6/30/2012)

• Quiznos Coupon – $1 Off Sub or Large Salad, $2 Off Large Sub, and FREE Fountain Drink WYB 1 Of Several Menu Items (exp: 5/25/2012)

• Red Mango Coupon- $2 Off $5 Purchase – zip 33303 (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Restaurant.com – save on highly discounted restaurant gift certificates

• Smashburger Coupon - Buy 1 Wedge Club Burger, Get 1 Entree Free (exp: 6/3/2012)

• T.G.I. Fridays Coupon – $5 Off $15 Purchase (exp: 6/30/2012)

• T.G.I. Fridays Coupon - 20% Off Entire Purchase (click on “Click Here” to forward the coupon to your email account with a new serial number) (exp: 5/24/2012)

• Teds Montana Grill Coupon - $2 Off Purchase (exp: 5/31/2012)

Restaurant Freebies

• Chili’s – Sign up for the Chili’s Email Club and receive exclusive offers and print a coupon for FREE order of Skillet Queso & Chips.

• Genghis Grill Coupon – FREE Appetizer When You Become a Facebook Fan (exp: 5/31/2012)

• Maggianos Coupon – FREE Flatbread Coupon Mailed To You When You Enter The Sweepstakes (no purchase required)

• On the Border Coupon – FREE queso or sopapillas

• Waffle House Coupon – FREE Waffle (exp: 5/23/2012)

Kids Eat Free

• Bob Evans – Kids eat free on Tuesdays with adult entree purchase

• Earth Fare – Thursdays from 4 – 8 pm, with $5 adult purchase

• Ikea: Kids eat free on Tuesdays

Thanks to Savings Lifestyle, Coupon Cravings, Common Sense with Money, Surviving the Stores, and Stretching a Buck for helping us compile this list!

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It just took a quick look through the fridge, pantry and freezer to know that this week would be a pantry challenge week! We are fully stocked up with plenty of food to make it through the week. We’ve got what we need for grilling out a few meals, and enough for spaghetti and homemade pizza too. And the GF pizza crust and GF spaghetti that I ordered from Vitacost.com came yesterday, so we’re all set for the week!

We’ve got plenty of chicken from the last $1.99/lb sale, and I scored some discounted steaks at the store last week that we’ll grill up this weekend. Bring it on, Summer!

The only things I need to pick up from the store this week…bread, toilet paper & some polish for our hardwood floors (keeping them extra shiny while the house is for sale!). It will certainly be strange just having 3 things in my cart!

So here’s what we’ll be eating…

Our Pantry Challenge Week Meal Plan

• Monday – Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Curry
• Tuesday – Grill Brats
• Wednesday -Spaghetti (Brown extra ground beef for tacos next week)
• Thursday -Slow Cooker meal (I’ll be up in Canton for a Savings Nation Coupon Class!)
• Friday -Homemade Pizza
• Saturday -Grill Chicken
• Sunday – Grill Steaks
• Monday – Memorial Day Potluck-Grill Party with Friends! (Check out my Summer Food board on Pinterest for ideas of what to make this weekend!)

We’ll likely pick up a few things for Monday’s potluck we’re hosting…but the menu has yet to be determined! Otherwise, we’re set for the week!

Anyone else on a pantry challenge this week?

Chicken Guacamole Enchiladas.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Avocado Enchiladas.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Guacamole Enchiladas.

CLCG Enchies. For short.

I really don’t care what we call these, because it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that they are packed with flavor. And they are the perfect summer enchilada.

Sales for avocados have started, you can pinch cilantro from the plant in your garden, and you can usually get a fresh lime for less than a quarter. Add some shredded chicken you’ve got on hand in the freezer, roll it all up, pour the sauce and cheese on top and bake. Sure, you might heat up your kitchen for 20 minutes….but it will be so so worth it!

If you absolutely do not want to heat up your kitchen, you could probably put the enchiladas in a metal baking dish and cook them on the grill. Just cover with foil and heat them up for 20 minutes or so in a 300-400 degree grill. I only recommend this with a gas grill. Use hot pads, obviously.

Other Enchilada Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Enchiladas
• 15 Bean Enchiladas
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
• Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas

Here’s how these cilantro-lime-chicken-avocado enchiladas, or whatever you wanna call these beauties, work…

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Have a Frugal and Healthy Recipe to share?

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Perfect for summer swimming…grab a great deal on Huggies Little Swimmers (or diapers and wipes) at Kroger this week!  Here’s how:

• SavingStar Huggies Promotion: Buy $35 on any Huggies Diapers, Baby Wipes and Little Swimmers Swimpants, receive $5 back! (valid through 6/13/12) AND

• Kroger Catalina Promotion: Buy $20 or more on select Huggies products (including diapers, wipes, and swimmers), receive a $5 catalina (valid through 5/27/12) AND

• Huggies Coupons including:

$0.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes 05/20/2012 SS Insert (exp 06/16/2012)
$1.50/1 Huggies Little Swimmers 05/20/2012 SS Insert (exp 06/16/2012)
$1/1 Huggies Diapers with Hawaiian Design (IE) Rolling (if included)
$1/1 Huggies Little Swimmers Disposable Swim Pants Rolling

This adds up to some huge savings when combined all together!  Happy shopping (and swimming!)

Thanks, Savings Lifestyle!