Homemade Pancake and Muffin Mixes

Thanks to Pinching Your Pennies for these recipes.

Homemade “Bisquick” for Biscuits and Pancakes

• 8 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/3 c. baking powder
• 2 tsp. salt
• 8 tsp. sugar (optional)
• 1 c. shortening

Directions: Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Store sealed in pantry or refrigerator.

To use with:
BISCUITS – add 1/3 cup milk to 1 cup of mix.
PANCAKES – add 3/4 cup milk to 1 cup of mix, and I like to add an egg also but the original recipe didn’t do that. Or, add 3/4 cup powdered milk to the whole batch as you make up the mix; then just add water instead of milk when you use the mix.

Muffin Mix Recipe from Taste of Home:

Ingredients

• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup baking powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup shortening

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk

FOR CHEDDAR MUFFINS:

• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 2 tablespoons minced chives

FOR CINNAMON-RAISIN MUFFINS:

• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in airtight containers in a cool dry place or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Yield: 4 batches (10 cups).

To prepare plain muffins: Place 2-1/2 cups muffin mix in a bowl. Whisk egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
To prepare cheddar muffins: In a bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups muffin mix, cheese, bacon and chives. Whisk egg and milk; stir into cheese mixture just until moistened. Fill muffin cups and bake as directed for plain muffins.
To prepare cinnamon-raisin muffins: In a bowl, combine 2-1/2 cups muffin mix, raisins and cinnamon. Whisk egg and milk; stir into raisin mixture just until moistened. Fill muffin cups and bake as directed for plain muffins. Yield: 1 dozen per batch.

Walmart Coupon Match-Ups

I just went for a quick trip to Walmart.  Next week, I am planning on a regular trip, so I will post more then.

Coupon Lingo:
.50/2 means the coupon is good for $.50 off 2 products
PG Procter & Gamble Coupon Insert
RP Red Plum Coupon Insert
SS Smart Source Insert
12-27-09 RP - means the coupon came from the Red Plum Insert on 12/27
(2-28-10) is the expiration date
*** means the price is commonly found, but not horrible
**** and ***** means it is a stock up price

****Coke 24 packs $5 each

*****Snuggle 120 count dryer sheets $4.12
Use Snuggle Fabric Softener Liquid, Any 32 Load Or Larger Or Dryer Sheets, Any 70 Ct. Or Larger $3.00/1 from 03-28-10 RP  (5/2/2010)
Final Price $1.12

****Delimex Taquitos, various kinds $4.38
Use Delimex Item, Any 24 Oz. Or Larger  $2.00/1 from 04-11-10 SS  (8/1/2010)
Final Price $2.38

Deals from KCL:
****Dreyers Dibs Value Pack (140 bites) $3
Use $1 off from coupons.com
Final Price $2

*****Yoplait Dan-o-Nino 6 Packs $1.50
Use Dannon Dan-o-nino product, any SS $1.00/1 from 03-28-10  (5/2/2010)
Or Use $1/1 from coupons.com
Final Price $.50

****TGIF Potato Skins $2.98
Use $1.50/1 from coupons.com
Final Price $1.48

Counterfeit Coupons

There are a lot of counterfeit PDF file coupons for free items floating around the internet.  At first glance the coupons seem legitimate, but you know that a manufacturer is not going to give out unlimited copies of coupons for free items.  A lot of times counterfeits can be scanned at the store, because the people making the coupons know how to duplicate a legitimate bar code.  This is what I have learned in the last year of couponing about PDF file coupons:

• Never use PDF file coupons for free items.  100% off them are fraudulent and stores will not accept them.    Go here to view current fraudulent coupons under investigation.
• Don't even use PDF file coupons from a manufacturer's website.  While these coupons are put out by the manufacturer, there is no limit to the number of prints and the company will usually retract those coupons and not honor them.  An example of this is a Quaker pdf file coupon for $1 off oatmeal that was posted on quaker.com back in January during a big Quaker sale.  People were printing them off like crazy to get free oatmeal.  The second day of the sale, the stores quit taking the coupon because Quaker pulled it from their website and denied the existence of the coupon.  Quaker said that they would not reimburse the stores for the coupon.
• Make sure there is a watermark on the coupon.  All of the major companies, like Smart Source, Bricks, Coupons.com, and Red Plum, have watermarks on their coupons and/or other ways of insuring coupons are legitimate.  If there is not a watermark, then the store will most likely not take it.
• A lot of the time, counterfeit coupons will scan just like normal coupons.  Just because the coupon will scan does not mean that it is legitimate.  Just like counterfeit money can be passed off as real money, counterfeit coupons can be passed off as real coupons. 
• Using or making counterfeit coupons is illegal.  It is the consumer's responsibility to make sure the coupons you are using are legitimate, not the store's responsibility.  It is not really worth breaking the law just to save a few dollars.
• Using fake coupons costs the stores money.  They do not get reimbursed for fraudulent coupons. 

Internet Printable coupons are a great way to save money, because they are free.  Just do your homework on your printable coupons and only trust reliable sites for printing them.