Chocolate-Cinnamon Salty Fudge

I watch a lot of cooking shows! I love to cook! I don't go near any type of sea food, well except tuna in a pouch or can....but even that I like to think it is chicken. If you ask my husband he will tell you "It's just chicken" haha That's what I say when I eat it. When I cook I will buy every ingredient needed. Now baking I cannot do! Jello No Bake Cheesecake, I can make that all day long! But to make a cake from scratch, forget it!

I was watching Giada At Home last week when she made Cinnamon-Chocolate Fudge. It looked super simple and just a few ingredients. I thought I can make that! So I went to Safeway last night to get the chocolate chips and canned milk and decided to make some. Wow it was super simple and didn't take long to make. The only thing that took long was the 2 hours it had to sit in the fridge. By the way, longest 2 hours of my life! Lol

Recipe is from foodnetwork.com / Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

Butter, for greasing the pan
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pound (about 2 cups) bittersweet (60 percent cacao) chocolate chips (recommended: Ghiradelli) see Cook's Note
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
Kosher or flake salt, optional

Directions


Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 by 8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with a sheet of parchment paper, about 14-inches long and 7-inches wide, allowing the excess to overhang the sides. Set aside

In a medium glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the condensed milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate chips and butter. Put the bowl on a saucepan of barely simmering water and mix until the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth, about 6 to 8 minutes (mixture will be thick). Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.

Run a warm knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the fudge. Remove the fudge to a cutting board. Peel off the parchment paper and cut the fudge into 1-inch pieces. Store refrigerated in an airtight container or freeze.

Cook's Note: The fudge can also be made using 1 pound (about 2 1/2 cups) of semisweet chocolate chips.

Don't mind me peeps, I'm just a happy couponer!!

I haven't followed a coupon blog in a very long time! Yes I 'LIKE' coupon blog pages on Facebook, but I don't follow them. I may see a deal here or there, but ya know what.....I FIND MY OWN DEAL! It's much more satisfying to say "CHECK OUT THIS DEAL I FOUND"!! Plus theirs no drama and I know the deal is legit. So many times have I found a blog owner saying "such and such is on sale and if you use these coupons it's a MM (money maker)". They proceed to say the coupon isn't for the exact product, but it scans. That bugs me to my couponing core! Just because a coupon scans, doesn't mean it is legit! I actually had a coupon beep today and for a second the cashier was thinking about questioning me! I had $1/1 Hefty Waste Bag and I was buying Hefty TRASH Bags (wordage might of been vice versa, forget what the coupon said). I thought to my self, don't question me lady! She did sit their thinking and checking coupon and product. My thinking was TRASH BAGS VS. WASTE BAGS.....same thing right?? She ended up pushing it through.

I went to Safeway a few weeks ago and found $1.50/1 McCormick Gourmet Seasoning. Plus at the time Safeway had a deal going on BUY 2 GET 1 FREE and an in store coupon for $2 off. I bought some at the time but made sure to grab extra peelies. I am so glad I did! Seasoning is sooooo expensive! I find myself getting the store brand or better yet the little baggy of seasonings in the Spanish Culture isle.

Last night I went in to Safeway for a few fudge ingredients and decided to check out the McCormick seasonings. I had loaded a Just4U price of $3.63 and had the $2/1 in store coupon as well as my $1.50 peelie in hand. After I rang out and paid I started thinking, that my bill came out cheaper than expected! I bought sweetened condesed milk $2.99/can, chocolate chips $3, flowers $8 and a few other items. I got home and noticed that the seasonings were a $8.69 MM!

I went back today and did another seasoning deal, immediate COUPON HIGH AND HAPPY DANCE!

Deal idea:

Buy 3 McCormick Seasonings *Prices Vary

Just4U Price $3.63

Saffron $19.49

J4U Price -$15.86
In Store Cpn -$2
Manu Q -$1.50

Final Price $.13

Toasted Seasame $5.19

B2G1Free -$5.19
Manu Q -$1.50 (Don't know why coupon was used for this it was free. But that is how the register scanned it.)

Final Price -$1.50 (overage)

Cajun Seasoning $5.69

J4U Price -$2.06
In Store Cpn -$2

Final Price $1.63

(Total Price $.26)

(2) Hefty Trash Bags $17.98 (Save $3 when you buy 2, sale running right now)
Card Savings -$7
J4U Price -$4.84
Manu Q -$2.00

Final Price $4.14

***TOTAL SPENT $4.96 (including tax)
***SAVINGS 91% $43.96


When I loaded the JUST4U price I thought their would be exclusions seeing how some seasoning was $15 and up! But I didn't see any exclusions. So I thought I would test the waters and grab Saffron which was $19.49! HOLY CRAPOLY THE JUST4U PRCE OF $3.63 WORKED!!

You can find the $1/1 Hefty waste bags coupon in the 1/06/2013 Red Plum or on Hefty's Facebook page.

Hope you get the JUST4U price and find peelies!

***Stores/cashier may vary and prices will vary depending on your JUST4U price and coupons used***

Bzz Campaign Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Peel

Another BzzAgent Campaign! I love being a BzzAgent!! Being a BzzAgent means you get FREE products to try out and test. Yes I said FREE! BzzAgent is such a great word of mouth company! I have been with them for a year now and have no complaints! I like that I have a chance to try a product for free before going out and spending money. What if you don't like a product? Such a hassle to return an item and what if it is a 'unreturnable' product such as coffee.

Here is my before and after picture. I only used this product for 8 days because I did get a few whiteheads while using this product.



Now I know I said this product made me breakout, but I think it is because of my sensitive skin. I love the Garnier brand! I actually use the Skin Renew moisturizer daily and have never had a problem! Their hair care products are awesome! I plan on giving this product another try and promise to report back!

Positives of Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Peel:

No perfumey, strong smell. Easy to apply.

Negatives of Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Peel:

Sticky even after you let it dry for a minute. Not super sticky but a little tacky.



#GotItFree

Neutrogena BzzAgent Campaign

WOOT WOOT! I just received my latest Bzz Campaign which was Neutrogena cosmetics. Being a BzzAgent means you get FREE products to try out and test. Yes I said FREE! BzzAgent is such a great word of mouth company! I have been with them for a year now and have no complaints! I like that I have a chance to try a product for free before going out and spending money. What if you don't like a product? Such a hassle to return an item and what if it is a 'unreturnable' product such as coffee. Which I also received from BzzAgent. I received Cafe Escapes coffee/latte/cocoa a few weeks ago, YUM! I am usually a coffee with creamer and Sweet and Low type of girl. This coffee changed my mind! Not only do I get tro try out great products for free but I also get high value coupons to share with my friends. So WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE!

Alright lets get back to Neutrogena cosmetics campaign. This is what I received in my campaign:

(1) Crease Proof Eye Shadow #40 Constant Copper
(1) Crease Proof Eye Shadow #50 Lasting Taupe
(1) Healthy Lengths Mascara #02 Black
(1) Mouisture Smooth Color Stick #30 Sweet Watermelon
*All full size products

Reviews:

Mascara

*Positive: Doesn't flake and when I had a little crying episode the mascara did not burn my eyes
*Negative: The applicator is too long and the brush isn't thick enough. I didn't feel like my eye lashes had length and volume. I ended up using another mascara on top to add volume and length.

Eye Shadow:

*Positive: Not sticky, doesn't crease and easy to blend when using it alone.
*Negative: I like to add layers of and blend. When I used a regular powder eye shadow, I was unable to blend the powdered eye shadow and the crease proof eye shadow. It left a line of the second color, which I didn't like. Also when I added my eye liner, the eye liner stuck a little to the crease proof eye shadow. Didn't glide on.

Color Stick:

*Positive: Smells great, easy application, stays on for a few hours and doesn't dry out my lips.
*Negative: NONE

STEP BY STEP APPLICATION:



(Bottom left picture and top right piture need to be switched. Ooopsies! I use elf eye shadow primer before applying any eye shadow.)



FINAL PRODUCT:





THANKS BZZAGENT & NEUTROGENA #GotItFree



PRODUCTS I USED TO GET THIS LOOK: