Couponing: A Game

It's a game to me.  It really is.  I gear up before it even starts.  Carefully, looking through every add.  Clipping coupons that I think will be able to use--and get a great deal doing so.

As I drive to the grocery stores, I think of my game-plan.  How I'll hit every sale, using every coupon possible.  Doubling.  Stacking.  You name it, I'll do it.  One coupon from the store.  One from the manufacturer.  Oh, sweet joy!

I've come out quite a champ many times with my crazy couponing, but it really REALLY isn't easy.  Unfortunately, I live in a metropolis.  Right on the border of one of America's largest, thriving cities.  The extreme-couponing you see on television is impossible here.  Only one store I know of doubles coupons with a maximum of 5 coupons per purchase.  Don't even think about tripling coupons here.

Yet, I have found ways around the system to maximize my coupons to whatever I can get for the smallest amount possible.

Surprisingly, some of my greatest bargains have been on the healthiest foods!  Organic canned tomatoes totaling in at 15 cents.  Two-percent brand-named (and local!!) milk at 4 cents.  Cage-free all natural eggs at 75 cents.  Whole, all natural chicken at $3.00 each.  They are few.  They are far between.  But, my dear Minnesotans, do not dismay.  They are out there.

My Best Resources:

Star Tribune Sunday Paper

coupons.com

Rainbow Foods

Poem of One Words.

New.  Fresh.  Fear.  Flesh.

Touch.  Pain.  Guilt.  Gain.

Need.  Release.  Return.  Ease.

Doubt.  Fight.  Know.  Sight.

Coconut Shrimp with Pina Colada dipping sauce

I was flipping through one of my old Cooking Light magazines and came across a coconut shrimp recipe that had a side of fiery mango dipping sauce.  Instantly, I thought about Red Lobster's coconut shrimp with pina colada sauce.  My second thought was: "Maybe we'll go to Red Lobster tonight."  But, the idea to create my own version of this masterpiece came to mind.  My primary desire was for it to be HEALTHY- no deep frying, no mayonnaise (I think that's what they use??).  So, after doing some research and calculating, I created a possible recipe.

Not only did it come out very healthy and delicious, David claimed it tasted BETTER than Red Lobster's original.  He raved about it all night.

Pina Colada dipping sauce
1/2 cup light sour cream (be generous, slightly heaping)
1/3 cup crushed, drained pineapple that was in 100% real pineapple juice (no syrups)
1/4 cup pina colada liquid drink mix
1 teaspoon sugar

Coconut shrimp
1 pound raw shrimp, without shell or vein (I got the "large" ones which came to about 40 per pound)
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 eggs whites
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
cooking spray

To make the dipping sauce:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Cover and let chill while preparing the shrimp.

To make the shrimp:
Set oven to BROIL.
Clean and rinse shrimp in a strainer.  Cover a large cookie sheet with foil and generously sprain with cooking spray.  Set aside.  In a mini chopper or blender, combine the coconut flakes and Panko bread crumbs.  Pulse until combine and mixture looks finer (BUT, do no pulse until it looks like cornmeal.  Only until the flakes looks smaller).  Line up 3 medium-sized shallow dishes.  In the first, put the cornstarch.  In the second, mix together the egg whites and salt.  In the third, put the coconut/bread crumb mixture.

Coat each shrimp individually.  Cover shrimp in the cornstarch first.  Run your fingers over the shrimp to remove extra cornstarch.  Second, dip in egg white mixture.  Third, dip in the bread crumb mixture.  While in the bread crumb mixture, cover the shrimp with the crumbs and press down lightly to get a good coating.  Place shrimp on lined baking sheet.  Repeat this process until all shrimp are coated.  Generously spray tops of coated shrimp with cooking spray.

Put the baking sheet in the oven/broiler on the rack farthest from the heat.  Broil for 5-8 minutes.  Shrimp should be pink, not clear.  Coating should look toasted, not black.

Let cool for a couple minutes and serve with chilled dipping sauce.

Enjoy!!