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Recipe: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Abby H.

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The kids have been begging for homemade cookies lately, and I’ve been busy with other stuff, so I haven’t had tons of time to make cookies.

I dug through the cupboard last week and realized that I had all of the ingredients except baking soda. I used the last half box I had to deodorize the kids bathroom.

So I turned to an old favorite, Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix. and because of the other ingredients, I used a smidge of baking powder (please remember that soda and powder are not interchangeable in recipes- it has a lot to do with the other ingredients and their pH/chemical makeup) and the cookies turned out perfect!

Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix contains leavening, so the added baking powder was just a little *bump* to make sure the cookies didn’t come out flat.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • One stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth preferred
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup white/granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups quick oats, uncooked
  • 2 cups of chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter.
  3. Add sugars one at a time and mix until fluffy.
  4. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated fully.
  5. Mix in baking powder, salt, flour, and oats. Once all are blended into the dough, add chocolate chips.
  6. Drop tablespoon-sized dough balls on cookie sheets that have been greased or are lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking pad.  I prefer silicone baking pads.
  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  Let cookies rest 1-2 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.

This recipe makes approx. 3 dozen cookies. If you are allergic to peanuts, you can substitute sunbutter or your favorite nut butter. Do Not use Nutella- It contains a lot of sugar and other ingredients that will throw off the chemistry of the recipe and you won’t get yummy cookies.

Q-insights Survey Grocery Shopping Survey Pays $75

Abby H.

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Q-insights is another company that I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County, and less often San Diego County. These days they are doing most of their studies online via chat or online surveys.

Right now Q-Insights is recruiting for an upcoming online study:

Males and females ages 18-70 in California for an upcoming survey regarding grocery shopping.

The survey would involve making a grocery shopping trip to a particular store that they will ask you to go to and to record your trip using an app that they will provide for you on your smartphone. The total trip should take less than 1 hour.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out your information here.

If you qualify and complete the survey, you will receive $75 payment in the form of a digital VISA card, physical VISA card, Amazon Gift Card, or a choice of 91 other gift cards for national retailers. Payment will be emailed to you within about 1 week of survey completion.

Q-insights Survey for Females Pays $125

Abby H.

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Q-insights is another company that I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County, and less often San Diego County. These days they are doing most of their studies online via chat or online surveys.

Right now Q-Insights is recruiting for an upcoming online study:

Females ages 30-85 wanted to participate in a 45 minute webcam interview on Friday February 26th. Participants will be compensated $125 in the form of either a digital Visa gift card,
physical Visa gift card, Amazon gift code, or your choice of 90 different store gift cards.

If you are interested in participating please fill out the survey here. If you pre-qualify, they will call you to ask some additional qualifying questions.

Fetch Rewards: Mix & Match Grocery Rewards are Back!

Abby H.

Fetch Rewards is hooking us up again with sweet grocery rewards!

Tons of points and lightning-fast rewards! Now through 2/21/2021, spend $15 on a wide range of popular Unilever brands and get 5,000 points*. Redeem this Special Offer up to 4X for a total of 20,000 points.

If you aren’t sure which brands are included, here is a list of brands that are made by Unilever:

Redeeming this offer is simple. Head to any of these 5,000+ participating grocery stores, buy your favorite products from these Unilever brands, and snap your receipts!

And if you are wondering how fast it is to earn Fetch Rewards, I’ve earned $20 in Fetch Rewards since 1/1/2021.

If you are new to Fetch Rewards, download the app and get started. It’s super easy! Use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score 2000 points ( that’s the equivalent to $2 in rewards) after you scan in your first receipt with Fetch Rewards. You can find Fetch Rewards in your app store.

2 Upcoming Research Studies from Q-Insights!

Abby H.

QI-logoNOslogan.png

Q-insights is another company that I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County, and less often San Diego County. These days they are doing most of their studies online via chat or online surveys.

Right now Q-Insights is recruiting for two upcoming online studies:

1- The first is for an online study on the topic of over the counter medicine.

The study will run January 11th to January 13th and you will be compensated $25 via check in the mail for a 20 minute for an online call and if selected you can earn up to $300 to participate in additional phases of the study

If you are interested in participating please fill out the survey here. If you pre-qualify they will call you to ask some additional qualifying questions.

2- The second study is recruiting for Females to participate in an upcoming In-Home Product Test for Feminine Hygiene Products.

Project requirements include using a test product, completing an online diary and completing a 15 minute online after use questionnaire.  Compensation is $100 for completing the diary and questionnaire.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here to see if you qualify.

You will be prompted to provide an ID number. Please enter your 10 digit phone number.

f you are looking for other online survey opportunities, here are a few online survey companies I like:

Pinchme Samples still available!

Abby H.

I missed Sample Tuesday when it came around last month- I was busy doing pre-holiday activities, etc. I love the samples that Pinchme sends, so I was excited when I checked the website this morning and discovered that there were some samples/coupons still available.

Don’t have any idea what I am talking about? PinchMe! Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.

Here are the samples that are still available as of the time of this post:

  • Impossible™ Burger Patties 100% Free Gratuity Coupon
  • Life’s Grape Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Classic Vine-Dried Grape Snack Variety Pack
  • Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds
  • Blue Diamond Nut-Thins: Hint of Sea Salt
  • Blue Diamond Nut-Thins: Cheddar

I opted for all of them, because, why not?

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

(San Diego, CA) Flagship Research Seeking Parents fo Upcoming Study!

Abby H.

I got an email this morning from Flagship Research, and they are looking for parents or grandparents with children ages newborn to 4 years old who live in the household that want to take part in an upcoming research usability study. This study is being held at an offsite location in the Carlsbad area in San Diego on Thursday, January 7th, Monday, January 11th through Friday, January 15th at various throughout the day. The study will consist in taking part in a 2-hour one-on-one interview that will compensate $150 if you qualify and participate.

If you are interested, contact Flagship at (619) 849-1111. And let them know that Abby Hewes referred you.

If you don’t live in San Diego and are interested in earning money, here are a few online survey companies I like:

 

San Diego, CA Area Research Study Opportunity!

Abby H.

I love doing research studies. They are a great way to help companies develop products and services, and make a little extra money for yourself.

Most in-person studies are not happening right now, but I did one this morning that was in person and they took a lot of precautions to keep the study participants healthy and safe.

TechResearchStudies is looking for people to help test tech products.

The payment is via Visa Gift Card and varies $150-$350. To get started, visit their website here.

They are looking for adults, 18+, and all genders and races are being recruited!

I do 1-2 research studies per month, most of them are at home, either testing products or online.

If you are looking to get hooked up with companies that do research studies, I recommend the following:

  • Q-Insights 
  • Digsite (I don’t know if they are actively recruiting or not- you can message them through their Facebook Page)

In San Diego there are the following research companies:

I try to post opportunities for Research Studies when I run across them, either here on the blog, or on my Facebook Page.

Free Backpacks and School Supplies for 2020!

Abby H.

10997200_1551314338450648_5653174165881717305_nThis article contains location specific giveaways- for nationwide info, scroll to the bottom of the article.

For the past few years the great folks over at SMOAC have been doing an incredible service to the Eastern San Diego County school kids by offering free backpacks and school supplies.

And this year is no different! This year, they are hosting a drive-thru style event at two locations:

  • Rio Seco School 9545 Cuyamaca Street or Pride Academy 9303 Prospect Ave (Both in Santee)
  • August 16, 2020
  • 10AM until supplies run out
  • Kids must be present in the car
  • 1 backpack per child
  • This will be a contactless delivery event- Please Print the form here and complete it per the directions.

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And for those of you not in the immediate area, there are all sorts of other free school supply and backpack giveaways going on.

Boost Mobile is giving away backpacks and school supplies. More info is here. In San Diego County, there is 1 Boost Mobile in Oceanside that is participating.

Operation Homefront is having giveaways for military families on bases all over the US. Here is a list for 2020.

Rentacalc does free giveaways for backpacks, graphing calculators and protractors! You can learn more and enter to win here.

Hungry For More Fetch Rewards Points? Snap Restaurant Receipts!

Abby H.

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Woo Hoo! Ready for some good news?

Every time you order from a restaurant, you’re one step closer to a Reward. That’s because Fetch now accepts ALL shopping and dining receipts.

So, be sure to save and snap your receipts, whether it’s pizza delivered to your door, a quick stop at the drive-through, or enjoying a meal at your favorite bistro.

 

If you haven’t signed up for Fetch Rewards yet, or want to learn more, check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points.

In 2020, I’ve earned $39 in Amazon Gift cards! Sometimes there are extra point offers for buying specific brands or items, which is how I’ve earned extra points- but it was stuff I was buying anyway!

 

*Fine Print: The receipt processing function for the expanded set of retailer types and restaurants is currently only available on iOS devices on version 2.32.0 (on receipts dated 4/27/2020 or later) and Android devices on 2.29.0 (on receipts dated 5/26/2020 or later). At this time, we only accept paper receipts for these new retailers and restaurants.