Looking for more penny pinched recipes? Here you go!
It really is the little things in life that get me oh-so-excited! This week when I saw all the fantastic prices on PB&J at Publix & Kroger, it dawned on me (because I'm so smart? ~ahem~ ) that I should try out making homemade uncrustables.
Seriously folks, why has this taken so long????
I ordered my very own homemade-uncrustable-maker Monday from Amazon, it arrived in my mailbox today, and this afternoon I whipped up exactly 20 PB&J sandwiches all ready to go for school. (School that doesn't even start for two weeks. I was just too excited to wait.) 😉
WHY HAS IT TAKEN ME SO LONG TO FIGURE THIS OUT???
I absolutely hate racing around in the morning before school trying to put together sandwiches, but even more than that I hate paying so much for Smuckers to make Uncrustables for me, so this was brilliant. B.R.I.L.L.I.A.N.T., I'm telling you! Kinda sad that it took 14 years of mommying for me to figure this one out, but I'm going to teach you how to make them too now so that you can be just as smart as me, probably a whole lot sooner.
Ready? 😉
Gather up your ingredients.
Use your Wonder Sandwich Seal'R N' DeCruster.
Slather some peanut butter in the center part of your bread (not too close to the edges since you'll lose them – I like to put peanut butter on both sides of the bread so it keeps the sandwiches from getting soggy.)
Plop some jelly on each sandwich and spread it out. (The photo shows too much jelly, I ended up using a little less on each sandwich but was in a hurry taking the pictures!)
Then use the your de-cruster to remove the crusts. (I can't believe I missed getting a picture of trying it out! Be sure to press down on the outsides only of the de-cruster so you get a nice seal.
Then wrap in plastic bags, foil, or saran wrap, and place in larger freezer bag, being sure to label which type you've made if you have picky pb&j eaters like I do. (I have a crunchy-peanut-butter-and-jelly-eater, creamy-peanut-butter-only-eater, and creamy-peanut-butter-and-jelly-eater at home, so I love that I can make all of them at once this way!)
Pop those babies in the freezer, and your lunches are made for school. WOOOOHOOOOO!
(kinda sad, but I really am just that excited about this. I think I'll say it one more time . . . WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!) 😉
Here are the best sales I see to watch for this week on PB&J so you can get your supplies ready too (as of 7/30/14):
Kroger
- Jif Peanut Butter Mega Sale $1.49, use $.50/1 coupon from the 7/13 Red Plum insert
- Smuckers Jelly $1.99, use $.35/1 coupon from the 6/29 REd Plum insert or $.50/1 coupon from the 7/13 Red Plum insert
- Kroger Bread $1
Publix
- Peter Pan Peanut Butter $1.80, use $.25/1 Saving Star, also spend $30 on participating Conagra products, submit for $10 Publix gift card
- Smuckers Jelly $1.62, use $.35/1 coupon from the 6/29 REd Plum insert or $.50/1 coupon from the 7/13 Red Plum insert
Winn Dixie
- Peter Pan Peanut Butter $1.99, use $.25/1 Saving Star
Aldi
- Peanut Delight Peanut Butter $1.49
- Berryhill Grape Jelly $1.59
This post is linked up to Living Well Spending Less Thrifty Thursday – thanks for the opportunity to link up! Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups. If you need a little more menu inspiration, go HERE.
I *almost bought a box of uncrustables today because my 2.5 year old is going through a phase where he won’t eat. I had them in the cart and then I fought, hmmmm… I can just back a pb&j and cut it in a circle for him. But I might have to try out that wonder bread thing you used.
I promise it was soooooooo worth it Lydia – I can’t believe that I didn’t find it sooner! Your babies are lots younger than mine, so you can enjoy years of smart mommying 🙂
You’ve GOT to get this cutter…it’s AMAZING…it’s just like the uncrustables in the freezer section and there’s only one piece to it…push down..seal done! You won’t be sorry! 🙂 I do a whole loaf at a time and use the crust to make breakfast casserole! 🙂 🙂 love your posts! 🙂
Sorry here’s the link!
EVERYONE needs one of these..they are seriously awesome!
http://new.pamperedchef.com/pws/michellerankin/shop/Cook%27s+Tools/Cut-N-Seal%C2%AE/1195
A friend of mine uses a burrito size tortilla shell..cuts three cur let out with this cutter…uses a squirrel bottle with pizza sauce and some shredded mozzarella cheese and ta da homemade pizza lunch ables for super cheap! 🙂 Thought I’d share..this cutter has been kinda life changing for us! 🙂
I agree with Kristen; the Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal is really the best! You can choose to simply cut the crusts off or cut the crust off AND press it sealed completely! So many uses.
Thanks for sharing Kristen!
The sandwich maker is at the dollar tree! I bought mine from amazon, and one from Walmart last year. Was AMAZED to see them at Dollar tree today. I got 6 for back to school baskets for my sons 3 best friends and a few to save for me..lol. Just had to share this amazing deal. Same brand name and everything 🙂
I haven’t seen them at the Dollar Tree, but that’s so good to know – thanks so much for sharing Mari!
Weird..there is no smuckers coupon in my redplum 6/29 inserts..checked all 3 that I have.
Lemme know if you have issues with soggy sammies after they defrost in the lunch bag….I make these daily – kids LOVE them – but haven’t pre-made and froze them yet. Thanks!!
I think they’ll be fine Lisa – I’ve frozen PB&J’s before (with crusts) and they’ve worked great, so these should be fine! 🙂
WOW I have an 18 year old that has graduated & didn’t know about this. A rule of thumb at our house is the kids pack their lunches the nite before put what they can in their lunchbox & rest in fridge & then they just throw the fridge stuff in in the morning. My kids have all packed their OWN lunches since they were in the 2nd grade, saves me & they can’t complain about their lunch :)I very rarely buy convience items either so their lunches are pretty healthy. We do a lot of baking here & there is always fruits & veggies available. Amazing enough we only have 5 more years of regular school here….where has the time gone. Oldest has a full time job & at this point no college unless nite courses.