Clipping Coupons Makes Shopping, Cooking A Little Easier

Every Wednesday, readers take our IN Food section and cut it to pieces - literally. They clip recipes and coupons; they plan their menus and decide where to shop to save money.

Grocery stores are in the midst of their “Great American Coupon Celebration,” which runs through Thanksgiving. This happens to be the 100th anniversary of coupons, according to the Promotion Marketing Association of America.

The very first coupon was from Coca Cola for a free glass of pop at the local soda fountain. Nowadays, you’ll find consumers using coupons for almost everything, with the most popular item being cereal.

In this country, 71 percent of shoppers use coupons on a regular basis. It’s a billion-dollar business.

Although you’ll find coupons on Wednesdays in the newspaper and in separate shoppers (or fliers, or inserts, or whatever you like to call them), weekends are especially important times for food advertising. More than half of working adults do their grocery shopping on weekends.

You’ll find more newspaper coupons on Saturdays, and on Sundays are the “free-standing inserts,” those glossy, magazine-size sets of coupons inserted in the newspaper.

Newspapers such as ours are also in the business of sending out samples of products, such as shampoo, coffee and cereals. More samples are planned for this year.

So grab your scissors, clip the recipes that appeal to you and go for the coupons!

Recipe Secrets Lemon-Twist Chicken

Adapted from a recipe by the Lipton Recipe Soup Mix people.

2 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

1-1/2-2 pounds boneless skinless chicken parts (breasts or thighs)

2 envelopes Lipton Recipe Secrets soup mix, such as Golden Herb with Lemon or Savory Herb with Garlic

2-1/2 cups water

2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons soy sauce

In nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and brown chicken parts. Stir in dry soup mix blended with water, honey and soy sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 10-15 minutes or until chicken is done. Serve, if desired, over hot cooked noodles or rice.

Yield: 4-6 servings.

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