Enjoy the last warm days and cool evenings of summer with these inexpensive party and cookout tips.

Grilled Vegetable Kabobs

Vegetable kabobs are delicious, healthy and very easy to make.  Here’s our favorite recipe.  (You can use almost any kind of firm vegetable.  These are our favorites.)

2 zucchini, cut into 2" chunks
2 yellow squash, cut into 2" chunks
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, cleaned
2 red and green bell peppers, cut into 2" chunks
2 medium red onions, cut into wedges
2 ears sweet corn, cut into 2" chunks
16 whole cherry tomatoes
8 oz. teriyaki sauce

Wash vegetables except mushrooms. Brush mushrooms clean. Prepare vegetables according to recipe. Cook corn in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Toss vegetables in teriyaki sauce. Thread vegetables onto skewers. Place on grill over medium-hot heat. Baste occasionally with teriyaki sauce. Grill 20 minutes or until tender.
Serves 8.

You can also add cubes of beef, pork, or chicken to get in some protein.  Grocery Outlet has a bunch of tasty options for you to try.  Just make sure the kabobs are cooked through, and then enjoy with this easy Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce.

 

Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce
1 ½ cups plain whole-milk yogurt
¾ cup finely chopped cilantro
4 ½ tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tsps. finely chopped garlic
¾ tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. salt

Stir together all ingredients, then chill, covered, at least 30 minutes (for flavors to blend). Bring to room temperature before serving.

 

 

For dessert, you can have fruit kabobs.  Fruit can also be grilled, or eaten fresh on skewers.  Kids love stringing their own skewers and dipping them in our tangy and sweet yogurt dipping sauce.  Try strawberries, oranges, blueberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, and chunks of banana (sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice to slow down the browning process for the banana if you’re not going to serve immediately).  

Fruit Dip
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. whipped topping
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Let cream cheese soften to room temperature. Combine all ingredients in a large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth.  Serve immediately. 
Serves 8.


Top off your party with some frugal, fabulous Sangria.  

Sangria
1 bottle dry red wine
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 lg. lemon, sliced
1/2 lg. orange, sliced
2 c. club soda, Sprite, or Seven-Up

In large pitcher, combine all ingredients except club soda. Chill in refrigerator from 2 to 24 hours. Just before serving, add 2 cups club soda to pitcher. Serve over cracked ice in large glass goblet with a slice of lemon and orange.

Announcing our August Facebook Contest: "I Scream for Grocery Outlet!"

As the summer heat rises in August, we want to keep our fans cool with some free ice cream! Our August Facebook contest, "I Scream for Grocery Outlet!" will award the most-loved Grocery Outlet store with a free ice cream social for their loyal customers.

To participate, just tell us which Grocery Outlet store is your favorite - post a message on the Grocery Outlet Corporate Facebook page and include the reason you love that store.

• Each Wall Post will count as one (1) point for said store.
• Add a photo of your favorite Grocery Outlet product/s and your Post will count as three (3) points.
• One entry per person.  
• Contest runs through August 15th.

So go ahead and scream for ice cream!

 

One of the best things about summer is how evenings last so much longer.  You’re a little too keyed up to hit the pillows early, but what to do while the weather is so invitingly warm?

Our bargainistas compiled a couple of our favorite ideas on how to keep cool, save money, and take advantage of the long, dusky summer evenings.

1. Make special meals with your family.  Avoid the high price of going out to dinner but increase the fun by cooking something out of the ordinary.  In our $3-A-Day brochure, we have several inexpensive, easy recipes to help you shake up your routine.

2. Host a trivia night.  You can either break out a traditional trivia game, or make up your own, based on whatever interesting facts you can find on the internet.  One of our favorite things to do is to come up with trivia facts about our friends and family and share them at the end.

3. Have a campout overnight in your backyard.  Pitch a tent or sleep out under the stars in your sleeping bag.  Get a book on astronomy from the library, pull out your flashlight, and see if you can find Ursa Major and her little sister, Ursa Minor.

4. Speaking of flashlights, play Flashlight Tag!  Choose someone to be “It”, and give that person a flashlight.  The person who is “It” counts to 50 while everyone else hides.  The person who is “It” tries to find people.  When they find someone, they shine the flashlight on that person and call out their name.  The first person to be caught then becomes “It”.  Be careful bumping around in the dark though.  Safety first!

5. Your Own Outdoor Theater - It doesn't take much to have your own outdoor theater. If you don't have a projector and DVD player, rent one (try your local library or community college).  Hang a sheet on the side of your house, (preferably where people can lounge on the lawn or set up chairs) run an extension cord, set up the system and play a DVD from Grocery Outlet.  Or throw open the windows and invite everyone around the TV.  Paired with a barbecue, this will create an enjoyable night your friends and neighbors won’t forget.

Share your tips with us!  What do you do on warm summer evenings?

Even though the economy has picked up a little, frugal families are still choosing to stay at home during vacation season.  There are numerous benefits to a “staycation”—you save money and enjoy the comforts of home, while avoiding the hassle of travel and the stress of constant activity.  

It’s easy to get bored with the same old routine however, so we at Grocery Outlet want to share our favorite ideas on how to make your staycation spectacular:

 

 

1.   Treat your staycation the same way you would if you were a tourist in your home city.  Plan out how you’ll spend your time, research popular tourist attractions, and map out the best way to group locations together so that you save gas by not driving all over town.  
2.   Check the internet and your local paper for free or reduced admission blocks, which many museums, sporting events, and amusement parks have during the summer months.
3.   Look on your county and city websites for what the Parks and Recreation Department is up to.  It may be a big surprise to you what cool stuff is going on in your neighborhood, and many times, for free!  One of our favorite things is a free concert in the park.  Grocery Outlet has a bunch of great deals on meat and picnic food, so stop by your local store on the way to the concert to stock up!
4.   Create a scavenger hunt for your kids around the house.  Give a prize to the winner.
5.   Take a vacation for free—sit under an umbrella or pitch a canopy with some travel books, sip a cool beverage and imagine what it would be like to travel to the featured destination.   Truly free travel and an afternoon escape all in one!

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy it.  Contentment comes not from the money you spend, but spending your time well. 

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last post.  I'm glad to know there are a lot of other frugal shoppers out there. I'm going to try to keep a steady schedule of useful content coming to you, as well as have some weekly features, one of which will be this Frugal Friday column, sharing what's going on at Grocery Outlet and what I'm excited about.

This week I want to talk about Super Bowl.  Entertaining can be tough when you're on a budget.  I know it is for me, because I want to make sure I have enough food and drinks on hand to take care of all my guests.  The Super Bowl is a long event too, so that doubles the cost. 

I know I work for Grocery Outlet, but seriously, it's so great to be able to shop for big events at the store.  We had Premium Brand (so good, I can't tell you which!) chicken strips this week, $4.79 for 2 lbs.  I liked the Honey BBQ flavor.  We also have 2.5 lbs of Party Wings for only $4.99 (I saved $3 on them). We’ve also got Chicken of the Sea cooked tail-on shrimp, 2 lbs. for $7.99—super easy, since it’s already cooked.  

Chips and salsa are always a big hit at my house, so I got some Santitas tortilla chips (20 oz. for $2.49) and Pace Picante Sauce (24 oz. jar for $2.49), mild for me, medium for my husband and his friends.  Kettle Organic Chipotle chips were on sale this week, and I thought they'd be worth a try for the boys at only $0.99 for 5 oz. 

Most importantly, we're set on beer.  I asked one of our wine and beer buyers which beer they'd recommend and they sent me over to get the Widmer Brothers’ Best Craft Brew Beer, 12-pack for $10.99 (you save $4!).  This popular beer is a best-seller and a fantastic value.  We also have Mendocino White Ale, 6-pack for $4.99 (you save $3) and Pabst Blue Ribbon, a 16 oz. can 6-pack for $3.99.  In the malt beverage category, (where I live!) there’s Mike’s Hard Lemonade Variety Pack, $10.99 for a 12-pack (you save $4!). I know, I'm a "girly drinker" but that's fine—I'm loving my Mike's Cranberry Hard Lemonade.

The best news is that I can now throw a fantastic Super Bowl party at a fraction of what I would have spent conventionally.  When it's just the two of us, I can fudge it a little for a splurge I particularly want, but having this many people meant no room for error.  It's times like this that I really see the savings. 

And as for who I'm cheering for?  Team Frugal, all the way!

Happy holidays!  It's the season for giving and at Grocery Outlet, we know how tough it can be to participate in all of the holiday's many events and gift-giving opportunities when you're on a tight budget.

The good news is that we've created a delicious holiday meal that totals a little over $3 per person, and includes glazed ham, potatoes au gratin (yummy, and with a lot of cheese!), salad, rolls—even dessert!

 

 

 

Sitting down together for a good meal without spending a lot?  That sounds like a great gift to give yourself and your loved ones.  Remember to enjoy the togetherness, traditions, and kinship that make this holiday season so special.  And from Grocery Outlet, our best wishes for a happy, peaceful holiday, and an incredible, renewing New Year.  

 

Download our $3-A-Person Holiday Dinner menu by clicking here.

 

As the holiday season begins, it can be pretty stressful trying to get presents for everyone you care about.  The good news is that with a little creativity, you can provide gifts for family and friends without blowing your budget.  Here are our best gift ideas:

- Gourmet coffee, paired with biscotti and a mug
- Scent diffusers, perfect for making your home smell festive
- Hats and gloves for cold weather days
- Slippers, to keep feet warm on cold floors
- Throws—snuggle up!
- Pasta and a jar of spaghetti sauce inside a big bowl
- Family snapshots in inexpensive picture frames
- Candles are always appreciated, especially at holiday parties
- Fancy chocolates or stack of gourmet chocolate bars, tied up in a holiday bow
- Cheese, paired with a great bottle of wine
- Bottle of sparkling cider
- Previously viewed DVD with popcorn
- Bubble bath, shower gel, and lotion
- Muffin mix with muffin pan
- Prepaid long-distance phone cards
- Puzzles or board games
- Jar with homemade cookie mix and recipe

Grocery Outlet stocks nearly all these items and many more that you can turn into fantastic, frugal gifts.  And if you get really stuck, there’s always a Grocery Outlet gift card.

We know you’ll find a way to bring in the yuletide cheer on even the tightest budget.  And let us know if we can help you in any way.

Happy Holidays!

 

Thanksgiving is the foundation of autumn's traditions and a very important celebration.  With rising prices however, it can be difficult to provide a traditional Thanksgiving dinner without breaking the bank.  At Grocery Outlet, we've put together a menu for Thanksgiving dinner, complete with side dishes and dessert, that works out to $3 per plate.  Now you can be the hero of your Thanksgiving table.

To download our $3-A-Person Thanksgiving menu, please click here.

Who doesn’t love a good appetizer?  When you’re hungry and waiting for dinner, a delicious starter can really hit the spot.  At Grocery Outlet, you can satisfy your guests and not empty your wallet.  Here is a brief selection of our favorite cheap and easy appetizer recipes to surprise and delight friends and family.

 

Pistachio Goat Cheese Balls
1/2 cup shelled salted pistachios 
6 ounces goat cheese, softened
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

Toast nuts in small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes; chop finely.  Combine goat cheese and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Drop mixture by heaping teaspoons onto a parchment-lined baking sheet; refrigerate 15 minutes.  Roll into balls, and then roll in chopped nuts.  Refrigerate, tightly covered, up to 1 day.  Serves 10, makes 30 balls.


BLT Bites
48 whole cherry tomatoes
1 lb bacon (cooked and crumbled)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions (chopped)
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (snipped)

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato.  Scoop out and discard the pulp (I use the handle end of a small teaspoon, or use a melon-baller).  Invert tomatoes on paper towels to drain.  In a small bowl, combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.  Spoon into tomatoes.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 12, makes 48.


Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
6 roma tomatoes, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
8 slices Italian bread, cut about 1 inch thick
2 tablespoons grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Whisk together chopped garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, and basil.  When combined, slowly drizzle in oil.  Add tomatoes and let sit for 20 minutes at room temp.  Toast the bread.  This can be done either in the toaster (if it's got really wide slots) or under the broiler (if using this method watch closely so it doesn't become a brick).  When the bread is toasted rub each piece, on one side, with the whole garlic pieces.  Place the bread on a cookie sheet and top with tomato mixture.  Sprinkle on a little cheese and broil until the cheese melts.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4.


Nearly all the ingredients in these recipes can be bought at Grocery Outlet at a significant value.  Other ideas for appetizers would be chopped vegetables with guacamole and hummus, chunks of fruit with sweet yogurt dip, nuts, crackers and cheese.  We’ve got a significant selection of all of those items, so shop your local Grocery Outlet to save while you stock up for holiday parties!

Staying healthy during Halloween
If you’re trying to stay away from the candy and junk food during Halloween, we have some great tips on how to have a healthy Halloween.  Wondering what to do with all those pumpkin seeds you dug out of your pumpkins? Turn them into a delicious, easy, and healthy snack!  All you’ll need is:

Pumpkin Seeds
Olive Oil or Butter
Seasoning of your choice

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Rinse off the pumpkin seeds, then toss seeds with olive oil or melted butter, enough to coat. Sprinkle them with a seasoning of your choice (some ideas: salt, pepper, garlic salt, cayenne pepper, or Cajun seasoning). Spread seeds onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, tossing occasionally, or until golden brown.  Enjoy!

Healthy Tip: pumpkin seeds are a great source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids.  They also help promote prostate health (for the men in your life!).





Throwing a party at your haunted mansion?
Every Halloween party needs jack-o-lanterns, so why not come to Grocery Outlet to get them for bargain prices!  Follow this tip when picking out pumpkins to carve: look for the lighter colored pumpkins—the lighter the skin, the softer and riper the pumpkin is, making it easier to get your knife through.

Save money by making your own fake blood from grocery store ingredients:
Corn Syrup
Water
Flour or Corn Starch
Red Food Coloring
Blue Food Coloring (optional)

Mix 3 parts corn syrup with 1 part water, to make as much blood as you want. Drip red food coloring in to reach desired color, if you want a deeper more realistic shade add a few drops of blue food coloring. Whisk in flour or corn starch to create the thickness you want. Let sit for about 5 minutes, and then have fun applying!  

You can really creep out your guests with this recipe.  It’s called blood and guts, and it’s a great dinner meal!

Blood and Guts
more commonly known as spaghetti and meatballs:

1lb Ground Beef
¼ cup diced yellow onion
1 clove crushed garlic
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
½ cup breadcrumbs
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
1 Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1package Spaghetti noodles

Start by combining your meat, egg, onion, garlic, milk and salt and pepper. Use your hands to combine. Then slowly add the bread crumbs little by little, combining as you go. After all the bread crumbs are added and you have reached the correct consistency start forming meat into small (about 1 inch) balls. Coat the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil and turn to medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the meatballs in the pan, brown on each side for 2-3 minutes. Empty the jar of sauce into a pot and turn to medium heat. Once the meatballs are finished, remove them from the pan and put them in the pot of sauce; let simmer for at least 30 minutes. When ready to eat, prepare a package of spaghetti noodles by following the directions on the package. In a large serving dish combine the sauce and meatballs with the cooked spaghetti and mix together. Mix some grated parmesan with a few drops of green food coloring and then sprinkle over the blood and guts!  Ew!

Crazy Costumes
Feeling crafty? Try making a cheap and easy present costume. All you need is a box, wrapping paper, some string, and ribbon. Just cut the top and bottom out of the box, and wrap it in gift wrap. Attach the string on each side of the box, like suspenders. Once you are finished with that, put the box on and add ribbon to your hair, and voila, you’re a present!