Turkey Croquettes

Turkey tamales? Turkey Tettrazini? Turkey Chili? Does the word "yuck" pop into your head? Does your family rebel at your most creative after-holiday culinary efforts? Mine did, too, until I found Turkey Croquettes.

I've had this recipe for so long. It maybe came from the Sunday Chicago Tribune mag, or maybe the Boston Globe. Best guess is the Tribune from days of yore.

Important note: get going in mid-afternoon on this, as you need two hours of refrigeration between various steps.

Turkey Croquettes

3 slices whole-wheat bread, crusts remove (save for the birds)
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped turkey, white and dark meat
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
2 eggs
1 t. dried thyme (my garden still yields fresh thyme through Thanksgiving)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 cups seasoned bread crumbs (far cheaper to buy "stuffing bread" and make your own)
3 T. chopped Italian parsley (my garden may still have a few springs of parsley)
2 T. papripa (sweet not hot)
3 T. unsalted butter, melted (no margarine, please, but if you use salted butter, cut down the rest of the salt)
1 cup corn oil (you may get by with less)
2 T. unsalted butter

Giblet or Turkey gravy--leftover is best

1. Soak whole-wheat bread in milk for 10 minutes. Remove bread, squeeze dry and shred. Reserve.

2. In a separate bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups turkey, reserved bread, onions, eggs, thyme, salt and pepper. Toss well. Place mixure in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Using pulse action, process until mixture is well-blended but not completely pureed. Fold in remaining 1 cup chopped turkey. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

3. Combine bread crumbs, parsley,paprika and melted butter in a 9-inch pie plate. Stir together with a fork.

4. Shape chilled turkey mixture into 6 large patties. Coat in bread-crumbe mixture and return, covered, to refrigerator for 1 more hour.

5. Place 1/2 cup corn oil (I actually use canola)  and 1 T. butter in a skillet. Over med. heat, cook croquettes 3 at a time, 7 minutes on one side, 5 minutes of the other side. They should be golden. (Keep warm in 300 degree over). Proceed with remaining croquettes, adding more oil and butter if necessary.

6. Serve hot croquettes immediately with heated gravy on top.

Serves 6

Note: Turkey gravy can be purchased. Be sure to check seasoning. Some dried or fresh herbs and pepper may be required.

The Cheese Parer

Traveling on the Cheap

Now that gas is affordable again, you may be planning a car trip. We like the Microtel chain for cheap lodging, although I've noticed that depending on the season and the part of the country, what's cheap in one locale may not be in another.

Take your lunch! Take your breakfast! Take your snacks! A little pre-planning can save big bucks on the road and offer better taste, nutrition and even unexpected sightseeing.

We have two coolers--one with wheels and a small edition. We make blocks of ice. Every motel/hotel has an ice machine, so there's no problem keeping food cool. Juice, milk, other beverages (we like smoothies and water) are a no-brainer. Muffins, cereal, granola bars and fresh fruit (or juices) make a great breakfast. Lunch can be salads or sandwiches you bring from home. Potato chips? Sure? Fried chicken? Yowsa! Picnic Pork Chops? Holy freakin' crap! This could be an entirely cool experience. Cheap, too.

We use the AAA guides and maps (also roadside signs)to find rivers, parks and scenic places where a roadside picnic becomes a delightful, relaxing experience. Not available? We park in the various interstate oases and discover that others have the same idea. Eat in the car? Or on a picnic bench. Some states (North Carolina) have beautiful rest areas. If you belong to the Audubon society, you can take a list of preserves and wildlife areas.

Kids get to run about a bit. Local color, too. If you must eat out, we really like Panera Bread. Great sandwiches and tasty breakfasts at prices that do not break the bank. Cheap gas, cheap lodging, cheap food. Treat yourself to a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Avoid chains if possible. Get out into the world. Explore.

The Cheeseparer

American Chop Suey

I had some mending and hand-sewing chores (long put off) today, and so I turned on Public Television, which on Saturday afternoon is totally devoted to cooking. The problem was, we are having a really cheapy dinner tonight (and tomorrow and lunch on Monday). This meal is called American Chop Suey, which I learned when I came to the Boston area and discovered a dish by the name on the cafeteria menu.

American Chop Suey is tubular pasta, tomato sauce, ground beef and seasonings baked in a casserole topped with Parmesan cheese. I bad been eating in all my life in school cafeterias. It was one of the few things on the school menu that I would eat.

Now this is tasty, but no one on the PBS or the Food Network is ever going to devote any time to this dish. It's homemade, frugal and plain. Not dreary. We love it.

I put the rest of the ricotta in mine, and used a combo of canned tomatoes and pasta sauce. Again frugal, maybe even cheeseparing. Meanwhile, Ming was roasting delicious chicken and cooking salmon on a bed of veggies and Christopher Kimball was going crazy with smoked and grilled pork chops, all stuff one can get excited over. Todd English was in Japan eating Kobe beef and tongue and noodles and of course Todd is so sexy one can get excited about just strolling through Japanese restaurants with him, vicariously. Then the Foodie Gourmet showed up and they did slow food in Australia and the sight of all that wonderful rhubarb was giving me
palpitations, and the wine and the cute black pigs.

So I finally pulled myself away from the quasi-gluttony and made my way to the kitchen to brown the beef, the onion and garlic, cook the pasta and mix everything together. It's waiting to go into the oven, and I'm still feeling a little let down, but of course the price is right, and unlike Kobe or Wagu beef, it won't break the budget. Hell, it hardly dents it.

Frugally yours, and feeling someone out of sorts,

The Cheeseparer

Don't Spend $400.00!

Todays New York Times had a hilarious article about people who never look at the price of anything suddenly trying to cut back on expenditures. They were clueless. One guy bought a $400.00 electric fireplace to save on his fuel bills. It barely heats anything. Someone else bought a gazillion heads of cauliflower trying to save money. Another person "frugally" eliminated her $12.00 soup purchase and bought $500.00 dog bed. Go figure.

I didn't even know there were $12.00 soups. Not where I shop. Cripes, I could live for a week on $12.00 worth of soup: goulash, onion and chili, and maybe some bean or pea thrown in. Soup is the cheapest thing you can serve.

To save, what you do is not spend money on anything that you don't have to. Nothing. If you discover that the cauliflower is $5.00 per head and you have carried 6 to the checkout counter, tell the clerk you only want one. Or none. Just because it is in your cart, you don't have to buy it. The man who bought the stove should have done a cost/benefit analysis. The woman with the cauliflower is supposed to be good at math.

I don't know.

Today I checked at the resale shops I take used clothing to, and the one wanted nothing until after Thanksgiving, and the other wanted nothing until after December. Wha? The economy must be so bad that everyone is taking old clothes to the resale shops instead of donating them.

Think I'll try EBAY or Craig's List. Really.

I bought all the sale items for ingredients I need to take my Thanksgiving side dish and dessert to our hostess' house. Amazing how much is on sale. I'm taking a Brussels Sprouts/Cauliflower side side and a pumpkin cheese cake with a marshmellow-sour cream topping. Both dishes are rich as Croesus and have some nutritive value, i.e. vitamin a, beta carotene, protein, calcium, well, you get the idea, as well as loads of fat.

It's cold out and we need an extra layer to keep us warm. That's what I keep telling myself. Have you ever noticed how skinny people are always cold? They must dread winter.

The Cauliflower woman has started a blog. EconoWhiner.com. Maybe we should all give her the wisdom of our experience.

Stock Market Terminology Reconsidered

A friend emailed this, and I'm sorry that I can't give credit where credit is due for these humorous (we laugh that we may not cry) redefinitions. Hats off to a clever investor.

CEO --Chief Embezzlement Officer.

CFO-- Corporate Fraud Officer.

BULL MARKET -- A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

BEAR MARKET -- A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.

VALUE INVESTING -- The art of buying low and selling lower.

P/E RATIO -- The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.

BROKER -- What my broker has made me.

STANDARD & POOR -- Your life in a nutshell.

STOCK ANALYST -- Idiot who just downgraded your stock.

STOCK SPLIT -- When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.

FINANCIAL PLANNER -- A guy whose phone has been disconnected.

MARKET CORRECTION -- The day after you buy stocks.

CASH FLOW-- The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.

YAHOO-- What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.

WINDOWS -- What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR -- Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.

PROFIT -- An archaic word no longer in use.

Stuffed Peppers - Yowza!

Our supermarket had big green peppers on sale for 77 cents a pound. I had some ground beef (from a previous BOGO) in the freezer, and all the other ingredients were on hand.

These babies were good. It would have been even cheaper to stuff the ones we grew in the garden this summer.

The second photo is with cheese sprinkled on during last five minutes of cooking. Yum! The recipe called for parboiling the peppers before baking, a definite improvement in getting rid of the harsh raw taste. Those Southern folks sure do understand cooking.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/stuffedpepperrecipes/r/bl30220q.htm

Savings at the Grocery Store

This week, with a hard memory of our retirement investments tanking, I went over the grocery specials more earnestly than usual, and the store, perhaps responding to the bad economic news, had a number of tempting specials.

We broke down and bought one large pumpkin for $9.99. We usually buy three but the crop failure this year has them at astronomical prices. Hard to do without a pumpkin. Just need one.

Except for the specials, I only bought groceries I needed for this week. We're trying a new cheese spread for the cocktail hour. We've discovered some of the pretty good "spreads" made in-house at the store are about $5.00 a pound, which is a decent price, cheese-wise.

So the final grocery total came to $65.77 and the savings were $40.73. That's not bad. I didn't have to buy any paper, plastic or cleaning products. We bought a 24 case pack of cat food earlier in the week at Walmart. BTW, Walmart has the best and the cheapest cat litter. We never buy anything else.

I potted up 8 geraniums that I saved last winter and put in the big whiskey barrell by the side of the house. They grew and flourished and will spend the winter indoors again, thereby saving beaucoup bucks.

I made spaghetti alla amatriciana this week. We got three meals out of a pound of spaghetti and a 28 oz. can of tomatoes and 1/4 lb of bacon. This works out to pennies a meal. Can't beat that. Tasted first-rate, too.

Cheaply yours,

The Cheeseparer

Collecting Junque and Collectibles in a Faltering Economy

This is from Kovel's email newsletter. Some good thoughts. I had just about given up on this blog, as no one is reading it, but what the hell?

From Kovel's:

News, News, News
COLLECTORS VS. THE ECONOMY
Collectors should be able to survive a bad economy better than most. We are used to buying "used" things. Antiques and collectibles are all recycled parts of the best of the past. Buying good "used" furniture from consignment shops or a Salvation Army store is a challenge, but a knowing collector can search and find a worthwhile antique. Vintage clothing is praised by our friends and we brag about shopping at secondhand stores. We are trained to barter and negotiate prices by our years of buying at flea markets. Now it is acceptable to use the same money-saving techniques at local department stores. And of course we understand the financial gains from a garage sale, cashing in old gold and silver, and redecorating by refinishing, painting, and reworking some inexpensive "finds." We learned to repair our antiques, so we have always balked at buying a new blender when an old one can be made to work. We already like to cook from scratch, so let's do everything the old-fashioned way. Let's "waste not--want not." And don’t forget to clip grocery coupons and make the kids turn off the lights when they leave a room.

Eating Cheap

Just back from Northern Nevada where the living is frugal because no one has much money.

Chicken and rice: the day after I returned, I was busy with unpacking, bills, mail, laundry, well, you know, a million and one things which did not yet include grocery shopping.
Found two nice boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces in the freezer. Halves from the look of them. While they thawed, I got out the rice and put some dried tomatoes to soak. Chopped up 3/4 of a red onion and some garlic.

When the breasts were thawed, I cut each in half and sauteed them in a mixture of butter and canola oil. For the yin and the yang as it were. Removed the chicken from the skillet and dumped in the onion and garlic. Once that was softened I added the tomato and a generous pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and another pinch of Herbes de Province. Cook the seasonings for a minute them dumped the rice in and sauteed that. Opened a carton of low-salt chicken broth and measured out the correct amount for the rice, minus what the tomato water would add. Dumped the broths in and set the breasts back on top of the rice/veggie mixture. Put a tight-fitting lid on the skillet and put the whole business into the oven for 20 minutes.

Served with a can (79 cents) whole green beans. This was really tasty and we made two meals out of it which made it even cheaper. The second night I served carrots and a salad along with the chicken dish.

Today, I found some pieces of pot roast in the freezer and made beef and barley vegetable soup. This will also make two meals. Browned onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until limp. Added some thawed peas and a handful of grape tomatoes. Paprika, salt, pepper, and some cilantro and dill thinnings from the garden. Poured in the barley and added the leftover chicken broth from the previous meal along with a carton of mushroom brother from the Ocean State Job Lot ($1.50). Are you getting the idea? This meal cost next to nothing. We had a salad and some bread sticks also from the Job Lot.

I hope you keep barley, beans, lentils, rice, couscous, pasta and grains around. They are cheap, nutricious and filling. I always have onions, garlic, carrots, celery and tomatoes, and frozen peas in the freezer. Chicken vegetable, beef barley, the soups practically make themselves. Keep herbs on hand or better yet, grown your own.

Plan your meals around the grocery store's specials. And learn to make your own pizza. We can buy the dough for $1.59 and enjoy experimenting with various meats, veggies and cheeses. When tomatoes and basil are in season, you can't go wrong.

The Cheeseparer

In the Good Old Summertime

Here are some tips for your summer savings. Enjoy the thrill of the grill, too. Did you know you can grill practically anything? Sign up for a grilling newsletter that will discuss grilling fruits, veggies, even romaine lettuce. Using indirect heat, you can cook meatloaf and almost anything on your grill. Don't heat up the house on those hot summer evenings.

Remember that spices, herbs and seasonings can create memorable flavors. Be creative. Make your own rubs.

Get a jump on summer with these tips to save $$$$

http://genxfinance.com/2008/05/06/get-a-jump-on-summer-with-these-warm-weather-money-saving-tips/

And speaking of summer, here are some ways to save on your water bill and help the planet, too.

http://www.moneyaside.com/10-money-saving-tips-on-water-in-your-garden

The Bah Humbug Award

Boy, talk about cynical! Here is one person's opinion of the Worst Money Saving Tips. I agree with the booze, internet and walk stuff, but the store specials are another matter.

Here's the link:
http://americannonsense.com/?p=8749

And another link to some hints on summer vacation savings. I absolutely concur with the take your own food in the car. More nourishing, faster, cheaper and tastier. And you can plan fun picnics along rivers and in parks and have scenery for lunch.

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/tips-and-tricks-for-saving-on-summer-vacations.html?id=2561427

No Knead Bread

Eating on the cheap --this paper has good advice and they also have the no-knead bread recipe. I've made it several times and it really works. Not much trouble at all, and with the price of bread you will save! Just don't eat the whole loaf at once. Mais non!

Scroll down for the cheap eats advice.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/

The Cheeseparer

All the way from Jacksonville, Florida to You

Cheeseparing (money-saving) tips from Florida.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050408/lif_274807536.shtml

Hey, I donated that dress you're wearing to the Salvation Army. Used clothing can be an excellent buy. Most resale shops are ultra-picky. Even cheaper: wear the clothes you have for a year or two. Most of us have far too many clothes. For big parties, weddings, etc., the second hand shop has a lot of offer. You may never wear the dress you got for your cousin's wedding again.

Lounge socks are cheaper than houseshoes. I buy them at Ocean State Joblot (my fave cheeseparing store) for $1.00. Warm and comfy.

Now I have to go clip those coupons from the Globe. Three different booklets in today's Sunday paper. Zowie!

Hearty Breakfast

Woke up to gloomy weather and rain on a bleak Saturday. First thought was "ugggh!" and the next thought was oatmeal!

Oatmeal is cheap and filling and nourishing. It even tastes good. We make sure it tastes good by sticking a few plump golden raisins into the pot right before it's done. 2% milk with a dollop of cream and a spoonful of demarara sugar (or brown) puts the icing on the cake, so to speak. Of course you will want a helping of juice or fruit to balance the meal.

At our house we don't "do" instant oatmeal. We buy the stuff that has to cook for five (5!) whole minutes, which gives you time to set out the bowls, tiding up the kitchen, pour the juice and get your head centered. It tastes better, too. For a real (non cheeseparing) treat, sometime buy the steel cut oats when they are on sale. I also like Silver Palate oats, but don't have anymore coupons. Occasionally the house brand oatmeal can be purchased for a dollar.

Oatmeal also makes good filler for meatloat, and good bread, and you canmake make oatflour out of it in the Cuisinart and use it in cookies. Good source of fiber, too. So what are you waiting for?

It's tasty anytime, so don't procrastinate until you get a gloomy Saturday.

The Cheeseparer.

Chicken Soup From a Nail

Not chicken soup for the soul, but rather a belly-warming nourishing soup for practically nothing.

I started with the reduced broth I used to cook some chicken breasts that had both bone and skin, so there was some substance to it. I always cook chicken breasts or pieces with aromatic vegetables for more resonance. I had a small piece of pork tenderloin that I chopped up and added to the chicken.

Apropos the chicken, I always have a cup or so of white meat "scraps" in the freezer. Bits and pieces not used in another dish. Could be trimmings or just extra.

O.K. Chop up something from the onion family. I used three scallions, but anything will do as well. I chopped up some carrot, celery, and one clove of garlic and set them to cook in a mixture of butter/olive oil.

I added some peas that that been defrosted and a few chopped grape tomatos. Then I added the broth and some thyme, marjoram, a pinch of rosemary and some dehydrated chives. A goodly sprinkle of sweet paprika. Salt and lots of pepper. Add chicken and cook until the veggies are tender.

In a separate pot, cook 1/3 cup of rice in some water. When the rice is done, add to the soup and cook a few more minutes. Correct seasonings and serve.

I made some biscuits from low-fat Bisquick and 2% milk. They were delicious, especially with softened whipped butter. Yum!

The taste is good and believe it or not, it sticks to the ribs. I made the soup from stuff on hand, bits and pieces. It was like free food.

We ate the leftover biscuits for breakfast with butter and honey. I love Bisquick. They have a recipe for "onion cheese supper bread" that is the best. Google it.

Regards from the Cheeseparer

Save Money on Groceries and Clothes

The resale shops are doing great in the recession. You can buy and sell. Such a deal.

http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=8254721

The grocery store sucks up lots of our dollars. Here are some useful hints about shopping smart as well as frugally.

http://www.news4jax.com/money/16102954/detail.html

Go Forth, but Cheaply

Here are some tips for budget travel. Sometimes ya just gotta get outta the house.

http://www.alondb.com/Budget/Articles/Money_Saving_Tips_For_Budget_Travel.php

The Cheeseparer

Eat Indian to Save Money on Groceries

This week we had Puerto Rican Rice and Beans. 3 meals and 1 lunch cost practically nada.

Here's another take on frugal feasting:

http://recipeexchange.tribe.net/thread/5706c3b7-2cc7-479e-b702-fb9a98cfd02f#f7c71c90-0d6a-4efe-9798-f12c17bdf7f6

Eating cheap doesn't mean not eating well. It's takes a bit more time and more imagination. Hey, we've all got that. Just do it.

The Cheeseparer

El Cheapo Travel Trips

A Brit can give us Amis a few lessons:

http://plonkee.com/2008/04/23/21-resources-for-budget-travel/

Site is slow to load, but you can do other stuff while you're waiting, or maybe I need a new computer. Sigh.

The Cheeseparer

Mary Mary Quite Contrary and also a little bit frugal

I don't know about you, but last year I spent over $200 on annuals, a few perrennials and bedding plants and didn't have a lot to show for my money, although the garden looked good.

Every year it seems we spend more for fewer plants. I've taken to keeping my geraniums from one year to the next and have had luck with that. You just have to be patient when they hit the sun in the spring and cry "uncle!" They do recover.

Here's a garden site with beaucoup good advice about gardening on the cheap. By the way, you get a lot of bang for the buck with nasturtiums and even a screw-up gardening can grow them from seed.

Read on: http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/tips/money-saving-tips-in-the-garden/

On the Road

Here are some great tips for car travel. We like a cooler on wheels for longer trips, packed with granola bars, smoothies, water and lunch. I've noticed a lot of people parked at the food emporiums along the Interstates eating their own brought-from-home-food in the car.

It's nicer to find a river bank or a park or a pleasant scenic spot. Picnics are never out of season.

http://www.kivitv.com/global/story.asp?s=8012796

Don't forget napkins and wipes and a trash bag--reuse a plastic bag from a store. Reuse everything. Good for the wallet, good for the earth.

The Cheeseparer

Eating on the Cheap

Amatriciana Sauce With Bacon and Tomatoes AKA Bucattini all'Amatriciana from the province of Abruzzi

Serves 4-6

I splurge and buy Schaler and Weber smoked slab bacon. We use it for everything and for flavoring several meals, it pays for itself. Meat as flavoring.

1 medium onion, chopped fine
2 oz. slab bacon or pancetta, finely diced
3 T. butter
28 oz can Italian plum tomatoes, crushed (from the Ocean State Job Lot)
1/4 t. chili pepper flakes or to taste
salt and pepper
1/4 cup pecorino Romano cheese

1 lb. bucattini, penne or spaghetti (from the Ocean State Job Lot)

Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Saute onion until transparent, about 5 minutes.

Add the chili flakes and bacon and saute until the onion is golden and the bacon nice and crisp, about 8 - 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, making sure sauce does not burn, about 15 minutes.

Add salt to taste. Go easy, as the bacon and cheese are salty.

Cook the pasta during the last 15 minutes of the sauce prep. When done to taste, drain and pour into a warm serving bowl or directly into the pan with the sauce, mixing well, adding grated cheese to taste.

Pass extra cheese at table.

Serve with bread sticks and a green salad. Tonight ours will have red leaf lettuce, English cucumber, and arthichoke hearts with dressing and blue cheese.

The Ocean State Job Lot, in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area, sells sale-priced prepared foods. I also bought the artichoke hearts for the salad there. They have interesting ethnic foods, and great buys on jam, coffee, cereal and pasta.

I hope your area offers a similiar business where you can buy cheap foodstuffs. Shop smarter, not harder.

Remembrance of Things Past

Washing out bread bags! That was one of my jobs as a kid, because I had frugal family who had experienced the depression. How I hated it. Hated margarine, too. Still do. My grandparents raised a big garden and kept chickens. As a kid I wore pajamas made out of muslin feed sacks. Soft fabric and pretty patterns. My grandma and I used to giggle about our "feed sack pajamas." Can you beat that? Comments to this blog are always welcome, if clean.

We had a cheeseparing dinner (without cheese) last night. Tuna and noodle casserole. The tuna was on sale. Confession: I hate tuna in water. Doesn't taste right. Doesn't even taste good. So I suck it up and buy the fancy Italian kind packed in olive oil. Of course I drain the oil out, and last night I used the oil to make the sauce, a white sauce with bits of scallion and red bell pepper. Salt and pepper. Sometimes a sprinkle of cayenne for complexity. 2 cans of tuna. 3/4 lb. noodles (on sale at Ocean State Job Lot). Nice thick sauce. Crushed potato chips on top. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Served with a green salad. A bit of ice cream (on sale, natch) later on.

This will yield two evening dinners and at least one lunch. How frugal is that?

Here is the link for savings hints from the Grandma. Mine was the same way. Loved the photos and the commentary. Love the web for finding such treaures. Frugal Tips from the Past.

http://untraditionalhome.com/?p=309

The 10 Most Hated Money Saving Tips

I love this guy.

http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2007/11/the-10-most-hat.html

At least he waffles a bit on the pet issue. Since I stopped smoking (20 years ago), I've always had money in my wallet. And that was before the cost of ciggies went through the roof. I have also saved on cold medicines, sore throat medicines, etc.

Used clothes are cool. Just have them cleaned.

The tip below is the funniest one I've seen yet.
Donate shirts to the Salvation army, then buy them back for 50 cents, already cleaned. Whooeee!

http://blog.andyblume.com/?p=513

A tasty and frugal dinner

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Fried Apples

Buy low fat ricotta when it's on sale. Tasty and nutricious.

The Cheeseparer's Wednesday Extravaganza

This site will help you stay within your clothing budget:
http://1stmoneysaving.blogspot.com/

Save $$ on your water bill AND save the earth—a no brainer:
http://www.walletpop.com/2008/04/14/tips-for-saving-water-we-all-need-to-internalize/

The Frugality Festival:
Everything you need to know to pare cheese
http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2008/04/15/festival-frugality-121/

Save a little or Save a lot

Household items: we all have to buy ‘em
http://www.moneyaside.com/10-tips-to-save-money-on-household-items

Save a million bucks:
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/10/money/doc47fed98810f4e040369549.txt

Cut Your Entertainment Budget:
http://www.moneyaside.com/10-tips-to-save-money-on-entertainment

Family Budgeting
http://www.businessrockford.com/biznews/x623552672

Earth Day is coming up. Give a thought to saving mother earth.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/save-money-save-energy-save-earth,348043.shtml

Today's Money Saving Tips

Above: Make good choices at the deli counter.

Bring your lunch to work: spend time at the deli-counter. There are always weekly specials. You can make your own tuna salad. Don't eat the icky thin-sliced turkey/ham loaded with nitrates, preservatives and water. Yuck. You can roast a turkey or chicken breast on the grill or the oven, have a main course, and take the leftovers to work. Buy (or make) decent bread. Create your own salad at home and carry the dressing and croutons to work in separate packages. You can eat healthy, cheaply and it tastes wonderful.
http://savesavesave.blogspot.com/2008/04/money-saving-tips.html


A blog that’s not exactly light-hearted, but one you should take to heart.

http://moneyning.com/money-tips/understanding-key-saving-more-money/

One of my shabby little secrets: dilute the dishwashing liquid. It will last 4-5 times as long.

You don't have to show up at the party wearing a barrel

Money saving tips on clothing:

The best way is not to buy anything. Most of us have enough clothes hanging in the closet to last for years. You might need socks or underwear or a pair of pj's.

Growing-like-a-weed kids are another matter.

Read on.

http://www.moneyaside.com/10-tips-to-save-money-on-clothing

Money Saving Tips Galore

For your Sunday morning perusal:

http://frugal1stopmom.wordpress.com/

Saving for a Vacation and Educating Kids About Money

I found the Geeky Housewife blog. She has a good take on vacation saving.

http://www.geekyhousewife.com/

The other article talks about teaching children about money. That's a hard one. Take heed.

http://halife.com/finance/money_and_you0331.html

University of Maine has some tried and true tips

Holy cow! I didn't know that universities still had "extention" programs just like in the old days. These tips have been around for a while, but as new generations need to know how to tighten ye old belt, these suggestions are good.

http://extensionnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/tips-for-saving-money-on-groceries.html

Planning menus and cooking for several meals makes a lot of sense and takes much of the work out of cooking. The food channel has a mid-afternoon program that gives details on how to do this.

Here are more grocery saving tips. Never shop hungry is some of the best advice. Take a list. Yada. Yada. You should commit these ideas to memory.

http://www.dchieftain.com/news/79070-04-02-08.html

Cook once, eat twice.

Tips for Organic Groceries and Everything Else

Organic foods tend to be a lot more pricey than "regular" foods, but sometimes the payoff is better. We have been eating organic carrots, and they taste so much better that we will pay the extra money.

The mom below can guide you through finding coupons for organic foods:
http://greenandcleanmom.blogspot.com/

Yum!

This blogger has, like the cheeseparer, collected tips from everyone. You should have enough saved to finance a cool weekend somewhere.
http://beingfrugal.net/2008/04/03/frugal-tips-to-survive-a-recession/

Money Morning Cheese Parings

Tried and true advice, but maybe new for you. I don't know where he/she goes for dinner for $20 -$30. Fast food emporiums? Yuckko cafeterias? No booze? We think we got off cheap if we spend $60.

http://www.delayedquote.com/money-saving-tips-for-the-rest-of-us/

The best way to save is not to spend. Duh!

Got a new rug rat?

Here are some good money-saving tips if you have a new (and aren't they all) baby.

http://financialgal.com/2008/03/30/baby-money-saving-tips/

A humorous look at cheeseparing

Maureen Lang has an internal debate about how to save money for a vacation.
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/lang/866286,033008lang.article

Saving money is sort of like losing weight. If you already eat healthy meals and don't "do" junk food, you have far fewer options than if you're a burger and fries person. Likewise, with personal finance, if you are already frugal and clip those coupons and shop those sales, how to make further cuts is more difficult.

Maybe my readers have some ideas?

The Cheeseparer

Gina is a Coupon Guru

Some interesting ideas about saving money at the supermarket.

http://sixinthecountry.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-policy-and-promise.html

Cheap Mama from Philly: A Woman After My Own Heart

The hairdresser is one place where the dollars can add up fast. I just go longer and longer between appointments (very little gray, just mouse brown) until a big event comes up, then I spend the money.

Back in the day (wayyyy back in the day) when I was a young mom, my friend and I would always go to the beauty school, and we were generally satisfied with the results. And the price was right.

Cutting or coloring my own hair is something I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Don't have talents in that direction. One thing about being mature (well, that's a word for it) is that you realize you own talents and limitations. Do I take an HTML class and put together a website? You bet. Do I buy color at the drugstore and have trainwreck hair? No way.

I liked Mama from Philly's blog: http://cheapmama-chris.blogspot.com/

What is cooler than the blogosphere? It's like having a million neat friends that share with you. Love it. Love it.

The Cheeseparer's Wife

Cheeseparing Tips From All Over

Today’s cheeseparing tips from all over:

Tried and True Tips for Grocery Savings:
http://www.courant.com/business/custom/consumer/hc-savemoney.artmar27,0,3570490.story

And MORE: http://www.mlive.com/food/index.ssf/2008/03/savvy_shoppers_share_tips_to_f.html

I liked the idea of planning your menus around the meat and produce specials. In the Boston area there are occasionally BOGOS (buy one get one) on meat, and you can pop one into the freezer for a “free meal” later in the month.

Paring Lots of Cheese Today

You may not save enough for a cruise, but save you will. I thought the fish recipe sounded pretty good.
http://yp2m.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/there-is-life-after-budgeting/


You can also use various “rubs” on fish, beef, pork, chicken, or anything. If you have a well-stocked spice cabinet, it’s cheaper to make your own, but if you don’t, try the rubs at Penzey’s spices. www.penzeys.com. Penzey's are great because you can buy the quantity you need, large or small. That way the spices and herbs stay fresh and you don't have to pitch them or use old tasteless spices. Do grow your own herbs in the summer. The rewards are many.

I haven’t yet tried a Penzeys rub that I didn’t like.

Below are tips to save money in Lawrence, KS, but I believe they will work as well in Lawrence, MA. The library here in town has DVD, Tapes, Music, and all kinds of good stuff as well as books. Free books. You just return when read. We should all support our local libraries, because some of them have fallen on hard times here in Massachusetts. For some, the local library is their only access to the Internet.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/mar/25/ideas_saving_money/

The Dough Roller provides 20 ways to save on utilities, which take such a big bite out of our budgets. Listen up!
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/mar/25/ideas_saving_money/


Due to the Net, we can get tips from all over, all the local papers, large and small. Isn’t that cool?

Tips for Smart Shopping
http://www.mygtv.net/?p=2412

Northern Nevada Rocks

The ever-reliable Reno Gazette has good tips for European travelers. You don’t have to live in Northern Nevada to take advantage of these.

Northern Nevada is one of the least populated areas in the U.S., a land of strange contrasts and vast deserts, also a land of extreme beauty. A camping trip to Soldier Meadow would be a cheap vacation. Southwest has flights to Reno.
http://www.soldiermeadows.com/

Or hie thee to the Olde Country
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080323/NEWS/803230350/1321

Of course you could go to Burning Man and have the experience of a lifetime. Depending upon your camping accommodations this could also be a frugal experience. Or not.

http://www.burningman.com/

No tickets at the event this year. It’s a life-changing experience.

The Cheeseparer

47 Ways to Save!

TechnoCrunch has a handle on saving 47 different ways.
http://www.techocrunch.com/47-tips-on-how-to-save-money-every-day-without-much-effort/

Understanding and Managing Your Money

There was an article in this morning's paper about how many women still resist managing money and especially investments. Ladies, it's not rocket science. Don't stress out. Dig in and learn something. Good, diversified mutual funds are one answer. Living within your income is the big answer. Getting out of debt is hard, but do-able. Who needs $3000 handbags and $1000 shoes? Not me. I shop for shoes and DSW and find great bargains. Even if you're hard to fit (like me), you can always find something. Never spend big bucks for a white handbag. They look like hell at the end of the summer. Straw is better and cheap, too. Don't forget resale shops and ebay. Or just be happy with last year's. Who the hell really cares?


Money Math You Need to Know: Basic financial and economic information
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/Advice/MoneyMathYouNeedToKnow.aspx

May The Eastern Bunny Bring Coupons Galore

Here's the Friday stuff:

From the Contra-Costa Times.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_8622799?nclick_check=1

The tip about using the Sunday funnies for wrapping kids birthday presents is great. I used to do that a million years ago. The presents always looked cool.

Cook and home and save money. Save even more money with these tips:
http://sixoclockscramble.blogspot.com/

Wallet Pop:
http://www.walletpop.com/2008/03/21/get-a-great-start-on-a-healthy-frugal-and-green-life/

Eat Ethnic!

One of the best ways to cut your grocery bill is to cook "ethnic" meals. Goulash soup, Puerto Rican rice and beans, stuffed cabbage, pasta with tomato sauce--the list of yummy, nourishing recipes imported from countries near and far is amazing. One of my favorites is to take the scraps from a chicken or a pork roast and make fried rice.

In the coming weeks, I'll feature some of my favorite cheap ethnic treats. In the meantime, here's more cheap living (grocery) tips from our friends in California:

Stretch your food budget! http://www.insidebayarea.com/food/ci_8622808

Great Ideas from All Over

The Money Case will help you save:
http://blog.themoneycase.com/

Read the comments for good money saving tips:
http://someonebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/03/where-is-money-going.html

Buying coffee all the time can be a real wallet drainer. Use a commuter cup from home. We buy good, cheap coffee at the Ocean State Job Lot.

Look for the free day at local museums. Search out free or cheap concerts in the local paper.

Save on groceries! Great blog:
http://becentsable.blogspot.com/2008/03/works-for-me-wednesday-centsable.html

Another excellent blog: Clean you house with baking soda, well, almost:
http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!74E2ED49D47DDB89!993.entry

And Thrifty Mommy know a thing or two about clipping coupons. ://www.thriftymommy.com/

I’ve been doing that for years and years. I have a pretty good organizational system that I’ll share on a day when there aren’t so many GOOD BLOGS to recommend.

The Cheeseparer

Monday Morning Tips for Your Edification

Thisbe on the desk top. Cats are easy to entertain and do not require expensive cat toys.

The cursor on your computer screen, pipe cleaners, Q-tips, Twist Ties: all make great cat toys. Of course nothing beats the little furry grey and white mice that come in a package.

More information for your cheeseparing needs:

Saving Money on Groceries with Cool Photos Galore
http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/

Serious stuff for the serious budgeter:
http://jimbehrle.com/archives/2008/03/17/getting-past-the-idea-of-budgeting-saving-money/

Tips from Vacaville

California comes in with some handy-dandy money saving tips for you.

http://www.thereporter.com/horizons/ci_8593872

On the Road, But Not With Jack

Road Trip Tips: What a tongue twister! Say it twenty times. Quickly.

http://www.koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8012796

Family Travel from the Tehran Times! That’s right. Gee, they sound just like us. But you knew that.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=165156

Bon Voyage

Think Ahead to Summer

Here is a link to some worthwhile advice about your driving vacation this summer.

http://news.carjunky.com/gas_mileage/gas-saving-tips-for-summer-vacationers-cdh010.shtml

Pack a cooler with food. We usually try to eat the cheap motel breakfast. Otherwise, a smoothy and a granola bar make a great breakfast. We always eat lunch on the road and try to find a park or a river, someplace pleasant with a picnic table. We eat better than at a fast food place at a fraction of the cost. Take fresh fruit, meats, breads, cheese, crackers, olives, and your favorite snacks. Hummus with crackers, cherry tomatoes, olives and maybe a container of tabbouleh can be a special treat.

We have found some excellent places that are reasonable in the AAA Guide. Bon Voyage.

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Testing font sizes. It is not too soon to think about your garden, and how cool it will be to pick tomatoes, lettuce, peas, spinach and all those wonderful herbs that are so easy to grow. If you grow from seed, now is the time to start the seedlings, depending on where you live. The web is a good source of information as it your local library.

Not only will your garden save you money, it's fun, relaxing, good exercise and a wonderful experience for children. Do plant something that butterflies and hummingbirds like. Sharing is a part of gardening.

New Baby Frugality

Another cool website, with some great advice.

For years I shopped for kids clothes at the Wellesley, MA used clothing sale, a sale which had been running annually since World War II. Alas, due to various economic conditions, and Wellesley's becoming ultra-upscale, the sale closed down.

Maybe with the current financial crunch, someone will revive it again.

http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/

Money Saving Tips Galore

Here's a big blast of bloggers who will help you save money.

Rent a car cheap(er):

http://yp2m.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/how-to-save-money-on-car-rentals/

Working Girl has some useful tips. You can buy cool used clothing on EBAY, too. Recent and vintage fashions for good savings. This is a fun blog.

http://www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com/?p=290

http://www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com/?p=227

Debt free living:

http://www.debthacker.com/how-to-be-debt-free/

Clip them coupons:
http://mindyvasil.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/works-for-me-wednesdays-couponing/

Do you shop online? Here are some tips.
http://zymetricalblog.com/blog/2008/03/12/5-money-saving-tips-for-online-shoppers/

Now, the Cheeseparer's cheapo recipe of the week, an old family favorite, known by the German side of the family as "Hoppel-Poppel." We just call it fried potatoes with stuff.

Boil a medium large potato per person. Do not peel.

When cooked, let cool. Add some chopped bacon to a large skillet. Any kind of bacon will do.
While the bacon is frying, chop some onion, again, proportional to the number of servings.
Add the onion. While the onion is cooking, peel and chop the potatoes into about 1/2 inch cubes, roughly. You may want to add a bit more fat, either canola oil, bacon grease or even butter, your choice.
Add the potatoes. Chop some tomato, a few cherry tomatoes will do. Add them to the skillet and salt and pepper everything. When the potatoes are nice and brown, add one slightly beaten egg per person to the skillet and stir around. Top the skillet with some chopped parsley and chives if you are feeling virtuous, and we hope that you are.

Sprinkle a little grated cheddar over all. A sprinkling of paprika if you like.

Serve with whole grain bread and a salad, again if you are feeling virtuous. This is good cheap rib-sticking food. And it tastes good. Bon appetit!

The Cheeseparer's Wife

Just so you know.


Cheeseparer
(A). A skinflint: a man of small savings; economy carried to excess like one who pares or shaves off very thinly the rind of his cheese instead of cutting it off. The tale is well known of the man who chose his wife out of three sisters by the way they ate their cheese. One pared it- she (he said) was mean; one cut it off extravagantly thick- she was wasteful; the third sliced it off in a medium way, and there his choice fell.

An Appreciation of Cheese

What would the world be like without cheese?

Welcome to the Cheeseparer

With the recession underway, I thought the blogosphere could use some money saving tips.

Ben Franklin would be proud. By the way, did you know that a penny is worth more in copper than in monetary value? A penny saved is more than a penny earned.

Did you know that gold is very high right now? This is a good time to sell your coins, old jewelry, yea, verily, the family jewels. The Wall Street Journal had a great article about his last week. Use the cash to pay off credit cards, if you have debt, or to save if you don't. That rainy day is just around the corner.

The Cheeseparer's Wife