Gator Pam

Crissy, is your schedule via prdnme on mycoupons? I've been looking for her schedule for weeks and have not been able to find it.

I just posted what I heard on another board on the Perimeter Perusing thread. I think 75% off will be Monday, but I'm not really loosing anything if I'm wrong since I don't want anything in particular and don't plan to go look until 90% off.

I explain the phrase in the very first post of this thread. :-) I have heard some of the Targets that are doing the markdown testing may have gone 75% off already. The others may be going NYD or 01/02, although one poster on a board claims she was told tomorrow. I'm not planning on buying anything until 90% off, as I don't really need anything, so my money is on it going 75% off on Monday since I won't miss out if it does go on Sunday.

Is he into trading card games? One year I found some Harry Potter TCG booster packs on clearance at Target for 75% off and loaded Beorn's stocking up with those. He was in heaven!!

Here's my schedule for the next several weeks: Monday: regular day, i.e., drive Beorn to school, work my morning hours, pick up Beorn from school, take him to his semi-annual dental appointment, bring him home and have him work on homework while I try to figure out what clothes to pack Tuesday: The same as Monday except load the van and hit the road for FIL's when we pick Beorn up from school Wednesday: Catch flight out of Orlando for Newark, NJ at 11:45 AM, which means we need to leave FIL's by 8:00 AM or so Thursday and Friday: Hang out with MIL or perhaps take bus into New York City (we were going to go to Philadelphia to visit some online friends, but can't figure out a way to go that won't take 5 hours each way or cost a fortune) Saturday: MIL has a get together planned, but I have no idea how long or at what time. May get to do something other than hang out at MIL's, such as visit with some online friends on LI, but it all depends on timing Sunday: Get together with an online friend from kevinswatch.com. He's driving to us and is taking us to dinner, so we have told him we are totally free and he is planning our day Monday: If MIL agrees to a day alone with Beorn, Paul and I will take a trip together to 'do the city' on a budget. Then at 8:00 PM we'll go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Madison Square Garden. Catch the bus at 11:00 PM back to MIL's to arrive about 1:00 AM. Tuesday: Sleep in, pack up, and fly out of Newark, NJ for Orlando at 3:15 PM. Will probably have to depart MILs for the airport around noon. Meet FIL at Orlando airport and begin holiday preparations on Wednesday at his house mid-state. Most likely head back to Gator Town on New Years Eve. Watch the Gators play in the Outback Bowl on January 2nd, start our regular routine on January 3rd.

This is similar to what I got for $27 on clearance several years ago. The hockey is not air powered. I don't know about the ones from Sears or K-mart though.

Ah...the air hockey makes it difficult. I have gotten a 12-in-1 game table after Chr-stmas at Target when it's gone 75% off for about $27.00. But, it has knock hockey, not air hockey. I don't think I've seen a combo table that plugs in for air hockey...

I never heard who my referrrals are. All I know is I have 99. I have no idea whom they are though.

LMK which one you try, and how it turns out for you. :-)

Here you go. I'll include the Creme Brulee I already posted, in case you didn't see it. Apple French Toast A delicious baked french toast recipe with a wonderful spicy apple syrup. It is prepared the night before and baked just before serving. 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup 2 large tart apples, peeled and sliced 1/4" thick 3 eggs 1 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 9 slices day-old french bread (3/4" thick) Syrup: 1 cup applesauce 1 10 oz jar apple jelly 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp ground cloves In small saucepan, cook brown sugar, butter and syrup until thick about 5-7 minutes. Pour into ungreased 13x9x2 pan and arrange apple slices on top. In mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla. Dip bread into the egg mix for 1 minute and place over apples. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 30 minutes before baking remove from refrigerator and let sit out. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30-40 min. Meanwhile, prepare syrup. Combine all syrup ingredients in medium saucepan. Cook and stir until hot. Invert french toast onto a serving platter and serve with syrup. Yield: 4 servings. Blueberry French Toast (Kimberly Amstutz) 12 slices day-old white bread, cut into 1” cubes 2 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, cubed 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 12 eggs 2 cups milk 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup Place half of the bread cubes in a greased 9"-x-13" baking dish. Place cream cheese cubes over bread. Top with blueberries Sprinkle remaining bread cubes on top. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and honey or maple syrup Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover and chill for 8 hours, or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until golden brown and center is set. For sauce: 1 cup sugar 2 TBS cornstarch 1 cup water 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 1 TBS butter or margarine Combine sugar and cornstarch in a medium sized saucepan. Add water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in blueberries. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-8 minutes, or until blueberries have burst. Stir in butter or margarine. Stir until butter is melted. Serve sauce over French toast. Note: Bottled blueberry syrup can be substituted for the homemade sauce. Creme Brulee French Toast Serves 6-8 2 TBS corn syrup (light or dark) 1/2 Cup butter (stick) 1 Cup brown sugar, packed 1 Loaf French or white bread, thickly sliced - with the crust removed. 5 Eggs 1-1/2 Cups half & half 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp Grand Marnier or orange baking liqueur, 70% alcohol (optional) 1/4 tsp salt In a small saucepan combine the syrup, butter and brown sugar; simmer until syrupy. Pour this mixture into a 9" x 13" baking pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Set aside. Slice the loaf into thick slices, and place the syrup in the baking pan. Place the bread on top of the syrup. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla, Grand Marnier and salt. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, leave the casserole at room temperature while the oven preheats. Bake at 350ºF uncovered, for 45 minutes. Cut into squares and serve immediately. Serve with maple syrup and butter. (Can be reheated) Eggnog French Toast (Debbie/Doberlady) 1 TBS butter, softened 2 cups eggnog 2 cups milk 6 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt 10 slices (about 3/4-inch thick) good quality white bread with crusts 1 cup maple syrup Optional: 1 tsp rum extract 2 TBS powdered sugar Butter the inside of a 2 1/2-quart baking dish and set aside. With a large whisk, beat together eggnog, milk, eggs, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Arrange bread in the prepared baking dish, overlapping the slices. Pour batter over bread, then turn slices over, making sure that both sides are covered with batter. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, bake the French toast in a preheated 400-degree oven about 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top.While the dish is baking, warm maple syrup with optional rum extract over medium-low heat. Sift powdered sugar over French toast and serve with the syrup on the side. Makes 5 to 10 servings Make-Ahead Chocolate French Toast From: The Times Record News (Wichita Falls) Recipe shared by: LyndaMc994 1 loaf day-old French bread 1 c milk chocolate chips or cinnamon chips 5 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 c milk 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp vanilla extract Maple syrup, optional Spray a 13x9" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cut French bread into 6 slices, each 1 1/2" thick. Using a small sharp knife, cut 2" long slits in one side of each bread slice; cutting 3/4 of the way through the bread, to create a pocket. Spoon 2 heaping tablespoons of chips into the pocket of each bread slice; press to close. Place filled slices into baking pan. Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon & vanilla. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread; carefully turn pieces over; spooning mixture in pan over top of bread. Cover pan with plastic wrap; refrigerate several hours or overnight. Heat oven to 400°. Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer toast to plates. Serve with warm maple syrup, if desired. Serves 6. Stuffed French Toast with Strawberry Sauce From: Favorite Recipes from the Mainstay Inn/PPFQP (Pam) 1 loaf firm white bread (Wonder bread) 10 eggs 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese 1 1/2 cups half and half -- or milk 1/4 cup maple syrup 8 TBS butter -- melted Strawberry Sauce: 2 cups sliced strawberries -- fresh or frozen 2 cups strawberry preserves Cube bread and layer half in a 12-x-8.5-in pan. Cut cream cheese into small pieces and scatter across bread. Cover with remaining bread cubes. Mix eggs, half-and-half, maple syrup, and melted butter together well. Pour evenly over bread cubes and press bread cubes down to soak up egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes. Serve with fresh strawberry sauce or maple syrup. To make sauce, heat sliced strawberries and strawberry preserves together (I use the microwave). Serve over french toast. Some other teriffic brunch recipes that require a little more work assembling in the morning: German Breakfast Pancakes looks like http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/images/php_dutch.jpg Recipe By : Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Breads Breakfast German 6 Eggs 1/8 tsp Salt 1 cup Flour -- unsifted 1/2 cup Milk 1 tsp Sugar 1/4 lb Butter Powdered Sugar Preheat oven to 450ºF. Lightly beat eggs with salt. Gradually add flour to milk, blending until smooth. Add this mixture and the sugar to the eggs and blend well. Place the butter into the cast iron skillets and place them into the oven until butter melts. Brush butter up sides of skillet(s). Add the batter to the pan and bake for 15 minutes, or until the pancakes rise and puff and are lightly browned. Lower the temperature to 400 degrees if pancakes are browning too fast. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately with one or more of the toppings suggested below. Topping Suggestions: Fruit jam, fresh berries, sliced fresh fruit, sour cream, applesauce, sugar and cinnamon. Apple Pancake looks like http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/images/php_apple.jpg Batter Ingredients: 6 eggs 1 cup flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1-1/2 cups milk 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla Topping Ingredients: 4 apples, peeled and sliced 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup butter 1/4 cup raisins Combine dry ingredients for batter, add liquids. Blend until smooth. Melt butter in oven in a 10” cast iron skillet. Pour apples, raisins, and brown sugar into hot butter in skillet, stir until apples are coated and brown sugar is melted. Return to oven until butter is hot again, add batter. Bake for 20 minutes at 425ºF. Cut pancake into serving pieces. Serves 6-8. Bagels and More Tomato Melt (Pam/FanofPern) 1 bagel or bialy, split and lightly toasted (I get an ET bagel) 2 TBS scallion cream cheese (can use any type of cream cheese), divided 2 slices sweet onion 2 thick slices good beefsteak tomato 2 slices muenster cheese (can use any sliced cheese) Spread 1 TBS cream cheese on each half of the bagel or bialy. Put a slice of onion, tomato, and sliced cheese on each side, in stated order, on each half. Broil both halves of the bagel until sliced cheese turns bubbly and melts. Serve both halves open faced. Banana Pancakes with Peanut Butter & Jelly Syrups (Belinda/BAR2969) 2 cups biscuit mix 1 cup mashed banana (2 to 3 ripe bananas) 1 cup buttermilk 2 large eggs 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 3 TBS butter or margarine Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a large bowl just until moistened. Melt 1 TBS butter on a hot griddle. Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto griddle. Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Turn and cook the other side of pancakes. Repeat procedure with remaining butter and pancake batter. Peanut Butter Syrup (Belinda/BAR2969) 3/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup peanut butter Whisk together maple syrup and peanut butter until smooth. Serve pancakes with peanut butter mixture and strawberry syrup. Yield: 12 (4-inch) pancakes Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook: 12 minutes. Notes: I found this recipe in an old Southern Living Magazine that I picked up out of a freebie box at a yard sale. The recipe looked pretty simple to make and even though I did not have any strawberry syrup I made them anyway. They were delicious. My daughter and I both enjoyed them. :) If you have any leftovers, put them in a single layer on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and freeze them. When they are frozen, place in an airtight container, and return to the freezer (they will keep for a month). To reheat, broil 6 inches from heat for 2 minutes on each side. :) Blintz Casserole Filling: (1) 6 oz package cream cheese (room temperature) 1 cup cottage cheese 1 egg beaten 1 TBS sugar 1 tsp vanilla Batter: 1/2 cup butter or margarine (room temperature) 1/3 cup sugar 4 eggs 1 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 cup plain yogurt 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup orange juice Preheat oven to 375ºF. Butter and flour a large casserole dish (9x13). In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, add cottage cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla, mix well and set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time beating well. Add flour and baking powder. Mix in sour cream and yogurt and add orange juice. Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared casserole dish, layer in filling and then top with remaining batter. Bake 45-50 minutes until lightly browned. Slice into squares and serve with a dollop of sour cream and yogurt and fresh berry preserves

Here are the threads I know of: http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=17149&highlight=overnight+french+toast http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=17590&highlight=overnight+french+toast I posted one of the several overnight French toast recipes I rotate through each year in the second thread. LMK if you want more.

I just saw this for the first time today. Paul (my dh) would love this, but it is way out of my budget for one gift, even on sale. Who knows, maybe by next year I'll catch it on 75% off clearance... :wink:

Same here. No K-mart ads in my paper all week.

>>Has anyone ever hidden an item and waited till it when 90% off?<< :::meekly raising hand::: Guilty as charged!! Keep in mind this will only work with holiday/seasonal merchandise that are automatically marked down via corporate on the computer. If you hide a regular item that needs to be scanned by the mark down team, and it's the last item, it will go NOF without going lower in price since there was no merchandise to mark down. :::learned that from experience as well:::

Ah... Last year toys followed a completely different schedule. Beorn has pretty much outgrown toys but from what I remember reading last year many Targets put their toys at 30% off on Chr-stmas Eve. I believe the 50% off markdown happened mid-January and 75% off was late January/early February. But since it is a departmental markdown, and not a holiday/seasonal one, it is much harder to predict. BTW, welcome to gottadeal.com, mdsmithers!

Target used to be owned by Marshall Field's, but they split off from each other awhile ago. I believe Target and Mervynn's are still afilate though. No longer any Mervynn's IN FL that I know of though. A shame, as I heard Mervynn's does do a similar type of clearane schedule thing as Target, but I never investigated the detailsof it since they aren't aroun here. AFAIK, Target and Kohl's are two completley different companies.

Oh! Was that last year's scheudle then?

Keep in mind the cooking temperatures were reset higher about five years ago by the manufacturers. Many new crockpots cook old tried and true recipes in half the time stated in the recipes now. Slow Cookers Change as published in the Hartford Courant, Sept. 20, 2000 A reader e-mailed the Food desk to comment on a recipe story about crock-pots - or slow cookers, as they are now called - that appeared in the Food section last Wednesday. This man finds that his new crock-pot, a 6-quart Hamilton Beach model, takes less time to cook than his original cooker by the same company. Through some research, he found that his old model had a temperature setting of 140 degrees for low. The new model is 180 degrees at low. He says food reaches the boiling point in about 4 to 5 hours. A call to Hamilton Beach Proctor-Silex in Glen Allen, VA., confirmed that the new pots have a higher temperature on low. The change was made to prevent any food contamination and ensure that foods cook to the proper temperature. Crock-pot cooks should consult the manual that accompanies the cooker and adjust recipes they find elsewhere accordingly. As our e-mailer points out, he has found that a 4-pound pot roast, cooked in his new pot, "is over-done after six hours on low." He compared his experience with the recipe for flank steak with gravy, published in the crock-pot story, which listed cooking times as 8 to 10 hours on "low." This recipe was taken from an older crock-pot cookbook, whose recipes were developed for the older models.

I have always wanted to attend a La Vigilia feast. But being Jewish, and not knowing any Italians who do this has thwarted any invites. We get together with my FIL, who is not Jewish, and celebrate a secular Chr-stmas. So far my menu for a mid-afternoon dinner (got to get to Universal City Walk in orlando by 6:00 PM for their huge Universal Chanukkah celebration) includes: Deviled Eggs Turkey Matzah Ball Soup Field Greens Salad Standing Rib Roast a la Tyler Florence au Jus (sp?) Yorkshire Pudding Corn Pudding Broccoli-Artichoke Casserole Southern-style Green Beans (no squeekers here, and Paul had his Green Bean Casserole for Thanksgiving) Sweet Potato Casserole (yes, with the marshmallows) Crockpot Stuffing Mashed Potatoes Coconut Layer Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

allmfp shared the Chr-stmas clearance dates on the Perimeter Perusing thread already. You can find it on page 5 about half way down at http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=14835&page=5 However, as I am still farily new to gottadeal (truly nothing against you, alimfp) the only poster I have ever trusted to share the dates in advance was a poster on the mycoupons.com LWIF forum, as she was shown to be right again and again. But, I haven't been to mycoupons in a long time, and have heard she hasn't been posting lately. alifmp, could you tell me where you got the dates from? prdnme on mycoupons never said, but she was always dead on.

I don't remember a series for Maxwell House coffee like this, but I do remember an almost soap opera series of commercials along this theme for Tasters Choice instant. The last one I remember is where they had been dating for awhile, and then her ex-husband shows up or some such.

Spinach Artichoke Casserole Carrot Souffle Vanilla Glazed Sweet Potatoes Scalloped Cabbage Scalloped Eggplant Scalloped Turnips Acorn Squash with Apple Stuffing (also a good option as an entree for vegetarians) Gratin of Four Onions Hazelnut Mushroom Pilaf I have recipes for all. LMK if any interest you.

It really depends on the individual store, and how many Targets are in the area. The actual Chr-stmas merchandise may sell out, although I have seen full pallets of Chr-stmas items being brought out a week after Chr-stmas, but the 'hidden' items that follow the markdown even though they don't necessarily have an apparent Chr-stmas connection may still be in plentiful supply.

Here in the south US, there is a grocery chain called Publix. They have had seasonal commercials for about 20 years that I love. The first I remember was a family traveling by train to spend Chr-stmas with their family on a boat off the coast in FL. There was no dialog, just shots of the family cuddling together on the train and celebrating over a sumptious dinner on the boat while a Pat Metheney song played in the background. They have reached out to include Thanksgiving commercials with a pair of pilgrim salt and pepper shakers. Only their faces are animated, but the expressions are precious as they get passed around the dinner table. Last year they introduced a second set of salt and pepper shakers called the Lilgrims, which are supposed to be their two children. Another one is where a family is about to sit down to their holiday feast, and the ornaments and decorations around the house are all eyeing the food wistfully. The angel on the top of the tree pulls out her light bulb, so all of the lights on the tree go out. While the family tries to find which bulb is 'bad,' the camera focuses on them. When they return to the table, all of the food is gone, and the camera pans over the decorations and ornaments, which are swollen and stuffed. The last shot is of the angel on the tree top, smiling...angelically. Publix has several others that I have enjoyed over the years, but these are the ones that stand out to me. I have emailed their marketing department, asking if there is a way for them to put the commercials on their website as I had described them to online friends in other areas of the country for years, and they all wish to see them. The response I got back was that they didn't include web casts in their 'talents' contracts, so they didn't see it happening anytime soon. But, I put the idea into their head, so maybe someday...

Ooo... Any idea about the 90% off date? I haven't seen the person who usually informs us of the markdown date over on mycoupons.com in ages.