With Spring around the corner we can't hide behind our winter coats and baggy sweaters for much longer! Although we didn't have a very bad winter, I'm sure we could all feel a little bit better about getting into our Spring wardrobe...
I love a hearty soup....one that leaves me full, satisfied and feeling good about me! Its hard without having to compromise flavour. This soup is full of flavour, the leeks add heartiness and flavour and the barley makes it creamy and rich.
This is a perfect freezer meal, and reheats very well! If your looking to feel better before all this March snow melts, this is the way to start!
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 cups finely chopped cabbage
1 cup chopped potatoes
1/2 cup chopped leeks
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cups of pearl barley
6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
~Place the oil in a medium sized pot
~Turn the heat to medium/high
~Toss the leeks, celery, cabbage and carrots in the oil and sauté for 2 minutes and season with a pinch of salt and pepper
~Add the zucchini and the potatoes and stir to combine
~Gently pour the stock over the vegetables
~Add the barley
~Bring the soup up to a boil for 5 minutes then lower to heat to medium and let simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables and barley are tender
This soup stores well in the fridge for 3 days and also is a great soup to freeze. Its hearty and filling and will reheat well! My kids enjoy a sprinkle of Romano Cheese on their servings!
Natalie
There is just about an app for everything these days and although most of them are built to make our lives convenient there aren't many out there that make you money!
A few months ago I came across a new App that has made its way to my home screen I am that in love with it! If you are one of my frequent blog readers you will know that one of my main goals is to help families eat a well balanced, delicious meal without breaking the bank.
Checkout 51 is an earn money by buying groceries kind of app! Not just your average coupon clipping app, this one actually gives you money back! With just 5 easy steps you can be earning cash to buy your families favourites grocery items!
First, you download the App- Checkout51
https://www.checkout51.com
Browse this weeks deals
Head to the grocery store and buy
Upload your receipt (just take a quick pic of your receipt)
Select the offers you want to claim
Earn your cash
Its that easy! After a few months of using the app I wanted to learn the successes and failures of the app before sharing it with everyone. Im glad I took the time to find the best ways to help everyone save.
First off, to save the most you can and still earn cash try to purchase the items that are on sale at your local grocery store that are also items you can claim. For example, when Dempster's Bread is in the flyer for $1.00 off, and its also an item on Checkout 51 for a $1.00 off claim, you can save and earn cash back. Making a regular priced $2.99 loaf of bread only actually costing you .99 cents.
Checkout51 allows you to cash your cheques once you've reached a minimum of $20.00. I just allow mine to accumulate so its a bigger cheque when it comes in the mail! I feel like I've saved more when I receive a $50.00 cheque versus $20.00.
There are limits on the claims, thats the one part that gets me...You can only claim one item per offer. So, for example if the offer you are claiming is banana's, and you purchased 2 bunches of bananas you will only get the cash back on one. Which in the end is no big deal, the fact is your still getting cash back to buy the items you would normally purchase anyway.
Also, the offers are not valid at every grocery store. However, there are several big name stores like Zehrs, Sobeys, Dollarama, LCBO, Walmart, Food Basics, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Tire and many many more!
This app is not just for grocery items! You can save on anything from toiletries, home cleaning supplies and pet food! There are over 15 categories...everything from Pantry items, Pets, Babies and Kids and even Beer, Wine and Spirits! I get the best pricing on Diapers on checkout 51. I wait for them to go up as a claim then find where they are on sale at any of the participating stores. Last week, I saved $9.00 off one case of diapers!
Every Thursday morning, Checkout51 releases the offers for the week. Make a note to check out what they are offering you to save money on this week and see how much you can save!
I love it, it works for me and who doesn't like getting a cheque in the mail with no strings attached?!
Natalie
