Grocery Archives - Thrifty Minnesota

Farmers Markets

July 2, 2017 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Photo credit: MFMA website

Each year I attempt a garden. I sure don’t have my Grandma’s green thumb that’s for sure. Tomatoes seem to grow plentiful but they aren’t my favorite to eat. Would love for our green peppers to grow better than they do, they seem to prefer to the fall months for some reason. Thankfully there are Farmers Markets where there’s plenty of fresh produce, fruit, flowers and other local items to be found.

Take a look at the locations and schedules, some of the markets have special events and you may even be able to pick up lunch or dinner while you’re shopping.

Filed Under: Groceries, Grocery

Kids in the Kitchen Classes at Hy-vee

December 25, 2016 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Sometimes grocery stores can be a fun place. Not used to seeing fun and grocery store in the same sentence? Hy-Vee offers classes, with some geared towards kids. If you go here to their website, you start by finding the store closest to you. I chose Lakeville as it’s one of their newer and largest stores in the metro area. I then checked the calendar and events. Keep in mind some of the classes are not very large, and they do require registration. Still a great thing to check into now and again, at a store closest to you.

Location: Simple Fix Room
Type: Kids

Thursday, December 29, 2016 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Join Rachel, your Lakeville Hy-Vee dietitian, for a Quick and Tasty themed kids class! We will make Ooey,Gooey,and Cheesy Quesadillas, English Muffin Pizzas, and a fun drink. Parents must remain in class or stay in store. Register and pay at Customer Service or by calling 952-423-9344 at least one week before class. Cost: $8/child, non-refundable. Ages 6-12. Location: Simple Fix room (by Market Grille restaurant).

Filed Under: Events, Grocery, Kids

FREE + FOOD + FUN = FARM FEST at Valley Natural Foods

September 13, 2016 by Kristi 1 Comment

FREE + FOOD + FUN = FARM FEST at Valley Natural Foods this coming Saturday, September 17th from 12-3. Located in the parking lot of Valley Natural Foods in Burnsville. It will take place rain or shine. Activities for kids, free food sampling, music and more.

FREE Food – A record number of local companies are attending this year, which means there will be plenty of delicious food to try!* See below for the list of participating local producers and what they’ll be sampling.

FREE Essential Oil Samples.

FREE Inflatable Kayak Giveaway For One Lucky Winner. Visit Board of Directors Table to Enter Drawing.

FREE For the Kids – Face Painting, Food Stamping Art, Lawn Bowling and Bean Bag Toss.

FREE Goodie Bag to First 100 In-Store Purchases of $75.

FREE Compostable Bracelets from Dakota County Master Recycler/Composters.

FREE Music by DJ UPBEAT!

SPECIAL DEALS ON SELECTED PRODUCTS AND A STORE COUPON TOO.

Filed Under: Attractions, Events, freebies, Groceries, Grocery

Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store

August 6, 2016 by Kristi Leave a Comment

Photo from Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store FB page

Just recently we were heading west on a road trip. Our journey took us past the Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store, so we had to stop. The huge yellow building just beckons people to stop. They’ve added on to the already giant place, since our last visit, hard to imagine it could be any bigger than it was previously. If you’ve never been, it’s certainly a place to add to your bucket list of destinations. Yes, worth it for a day trip, or even to go a little out of the way if you are sort of near it. The amazing part of this place, was the customer service. No I am not getting paid to say that. Between the three of us, I think we talked to at least four of the employees. Asking them where different candies and snacks were, or if they even had them. All of the employees were amazing and either knew exactly where it was, or to tell us they usually had it, but were currently out. Very friendly and didn’t just stare at us and say “I don’t know”. I have to say, I was very impressed, and proud that this place is in MN.

To be honest, we did not load up on a bunch of candy. We were heading out of state for a few days, so we each bought some of our favorite soda (pop). They have shelves and shelves filled with bottles of the stuff. We love their beef jerky and it’s in a cooler up near the front of the store, it comes in the perfect size to share. The fresh kettle corn was also one of our snacks we chose, another great thing to share along the way. I’m pretty sure I will be finding kettle corn hidden in nooks and crannies of the car for a while, but soooo delicious!. Yes we each chose some candy as well, carefully seeking out things we don’t find elsewhere.

Filed Under: Attractions, Groceries, Grocery, Kids

Save on Your Super Bowl Party with Cub Foods + Reader Giveaway

January 30, 2014 by Chrysa 18 Comments

The big game will soon be here. Are you ready to watch some football this Sunday? Personally, I really don’t care about the game of football AT ALL. BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good Super Bowl party!!! The food (and the commercials) are why I enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not the only one who thinks a lot about the eats for game day. It’s estimated that during Super Bowl XLVII Americans will consume more than 1.23 billion chicken wings, 11 million pounds of chips and $2.37 million worth of soda!!!

With all those munchies piled up on our paper plates, it’s easy to see how the game day food budget can add up. But, you CAN enjoy your food without spending a fortune thanks to some handy tips and recipes from Cub Foods.

Cub has lots of unique, delicious – and affordable – on-trend Cub Foods menu ideas for under $35 for a party of 8-10 people that won’t break the bank and are perfect for fans looking for something more than the run-of-the-mill potato chips and frozen foods:

And if you want to enjoy a main dish that really carries out the football theme of your party, you can make a football-shaped meatloaf like we did. It’s delicious and looks awesome sitting on your Super Bowl buffet table!

Football Shaped Meatloaf Recipe

1 pound lean ground beef
2 slices white sandwich bread (I use the crusts)
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup minced onion
1 egg
salt and pepper
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp ground mustard
mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Tear or cut bread into small pieces and place in large bowl. Add milk and mash together.
Add ground beef, onion, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well with your hands.
Place on a baking sheet. and use your hands to make a football shape.
Mix together ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Spread over the top and sides of the loaf.
Bake 45 minutes. Cut pieces of mozzarella into thin strips (you can use string cheese if you have it on hand). Lay one long strip down the middle of the loaf. Place 6-7 short strips across the long strip to form the laces.
Return to oven until cheese melts into place.

Reader Giveaway: Two lucky Thrifty Minnesota readers will each win $20 in Cub Foods gift cards. To enter, jut complete the entry form below by 11:59pm ET on 2/2/14. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Giveaway, Grocery

FREE Jar of Our Family Peanuts at Lunds or Byerly’s with $10 Purchase

January 23, 2014 by Chrysa Leave a Comment

This week at Lunds or Byerly’s you can get a FREE jar of Our Family Peanuts with an additional $10 purchase. You can either print the coupon or show it to the cashier on your smartphone. Coupon expires 1/29/14.

They are also having a BOGO sale this week with some good prices on Kraft shredded cheeses (2 for $3.85), Earthbound Farm Organic Salads ($4.49 for 2) and others.

Filed Under: coupons, Grocery

Huge Deals at Lunds and Byerly’s – $.99 Baking Items!

December 6, 2013 by Chrysa Leave a Comment

In my opinion, this is by far the best sale that Lunds and Byerly’s has all year! They have lots of baking supplies on sale for only $.99 each! Available at this price are:

Ghiradelli Baking Chips – 10-12 oz, limit 2
Pillsbury Flour – 5 lbs, limit 2
Crystal Brown and Powdered Sugars – 2 lbs, limit 2
Crystal Granulated Sugar, 4 lbs, limit 2
Pillsbury Cake Mixes, 15.25 oz, limit 4
Crystal Farms Eggs, 1 dozen, limit 2
Crystal Farms Butter, 1 lb, limit 1

The sale is valid through Wednesday, December 11 – so head on over and stock up!

Filed Under: Great Deals, Grocery