Bargain Meal of the Week, 2/18 - 2/24

It's time for another week of Bargain Meals! Erin over at $5 Dinners (a great read!) is hosting a gathering of bloggers all over the internet, creating frugal meals straight from the sales circulars of their favorite stores. Check it out for even more inspiration. I will be contributing every Thursday for the current sales at Publix, which run from Wednesday to the following Tuesday. Keep in mind that you do not need to purchase two of a product to get the buy one get one price. Publix marks down their products to half price for the BOGO deals.

Meal #1

Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 Package Contessa Frozen Cooked Shrimp (currently $3.40 at BOGO Price or $2.64 at BOGO with printable)
• 1 Package Ronzoni Pasta, 16 oz (.70 BOGO Price)
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped (.24 - currently 1.99 per lb)
  
• salt
• fresh coarse ground black pepper or lemon pepper seasoning
• juice from 1 fresh lemon (.25 - currently 4/$1)
  
• zest from 1 lemon (from above)

Directions:

1. Boil pasta in salted water; remove from heat just before pasta reaches al dente.
   
2. Heat skillet on medium; add olive oil & garlic. When heated, add shrimp and butter - cook for 2 minutes and add lemon zest. Gently toss shrimp with garlic until shrimp is heated. Remove from heat.
3. Drain pasta; return to pan.
4. Add shrimp mixture (including oils), Italian seasoning, salt and pepper (or lemon pepper seasoning, if you prefer) - to taste.
5. Toss well with fresh squeezed lemon juice and serve immediately.

Total Cost: $4.59 or $3.83 with coupon, plus a little more for oils and seasoning.

Meal #2

Caribbean Rice and Sausage
This is one of our favorites!

Ingredients:

• Publix Mild or Hot Italian Pork Sausage (on sale 2.49)
• Zatarain’s Caribbean Rice Mix (BOGO price $1.00, BOGO with Manufacturer Coupon .75/2 MF Q (RP 2/08) or $1.25/3 MF Q (RP 2/08) would be .58-.62 each)
• Chopped Red Bell Pepper ($1.00 - on sale $1.99 per lb.)

Directions:

1. Slice sausage. In a pan, add chopped pepper and sliced sausage and brown. Do not drain.
2. Add rice mixture and water as described on rice package. The oil from the sausage should be enough that you do not have to add the oil as described on the package (adds to the taste).
3. Cook rice as instructed from package.

Total cost: $4.49 or $4.11 with coupon