Friday, December 23, 2011

Living Large In Lean Times

The New York Times today has a review of Clark Howard's book, Living Large in Lean Times.     Lots of advice to hanging on to your money, and according to the review, some good, some weird.   It's been on the best seller list for a while, so you should have no trouble finding it, and maybe you can even get it used on Amazon, a practice I resort to occasionally, because I see MY book out there for sale, especially in MA where we live.   Sauce for the goose.  If  you have intimations of "saving money" as a New Year's resolution, you might want to dip into this book. 


We returned from the grocery store with the Christmas roast, an expensive business to be sure, but no more than the organic turkey breast.  We've having broccoli, salad, potatoes and apple cake for the rest of the dinner, so only the roast is pricey.  


I'm making rice pudding from the old Betty Crocker cookbook.  No eggs, and it cooks to a  creamy, dreaminess that is so comforting without breaking the caloric bank.  Not always easy to do.  Old Time Rice Pudding


 Every week you should be saving 15-30% at the grocery store using coupons and specials.  Try to do that.  And try not to do what I did today, and buy a roll of heavy duty foil when I had just bought a new one.   Well, it was on sale and we'll use it next summer.  Cold comfort.   Do you turn the thermostat down at right?   And also if you leave the house for the day?  I hope so.    Paring cheese is  in the details.  No bargains on cheese at all in the grocery store.  Trader Joe's is the place for cheap cheese.  You may not even need to pare it.  


Happy Holidays to all.  Here is a photo of my mother-in-law with the Christmas goose, years ago, back in Germany. 







Monday, December 12, 2011

Free Food!

I once had a colleague who stated that the most beautiful words in our language were "free food."  And all the time I had been thinking those words were "cellar door."  


Whatever. We  had an  almost free meal tonight, and it's called turkey soup.  It only takes a few minutes to remove the last scraps of meat from a turkey carcass.  I froze it for later and later arrived.  I also saved the turkey fat and have been using it in my chili and various other dishes.  Almost like schmaltz, it was delicious. 
I used old scallions, an odd shallot, and some chopped onion.  Carrots leftover from last weekend.  A celery stalk purchased today.  Some baby bella mushrooms from Whole Foods.  They left you buy however many you need, not a whole box.  I cut up a small tomato and added that with some old cilantro and plenty of herbs and spices:  thyme,  oregano and paprika.  Some dried chives.  Added to cans of chicken broth, which were part of a BOGO  (buy one, get one).  I speak retail.  Salt and pepper, of course.  I cooked some small macaroni and added it when the soup was done.  This was good stuff.  Dinner for two (with seconds) and lunch for two.  Guilt free.  Lots of veggies.   I tossed in a couple of the "on the stem" Brussels sprouts from Trader Joes.  You  dare not use too many or it will taste like Brussels Sprouts soup.  '
We ate it with a salad of red leaf lettuce topped with  yellow cherry tomatoes and some "campari" tomatoes.  Both were on sale.  Good whole grain baguette. 
I am baking Christmas cookies and make some shortbread topped with mixed cocktail nuts.  You can't believe how easy this is and how fast.  I'll try to find the recipe.  Of course the nuts were on sale, too. Mixed Nut Shortbread- fast, easy and good

I saved $36. at the supermarket today. How much did you save? 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Meatless Monday

If you're like me, you view vegetarian recipes askance.  I was pleased to find one for our vegetarian guest at Thanksgiving, and lo, the good 'ol Boston Globe published another one recently.  This was a real winner.  Curried cauliflower and chick peas


It's your starch,  your protein and your veggie all in one spicy package.  I have a very hot Madras curry powder from Penzey's, so I only use 2 teapoons and it's plenty hot.  I had used my fresh ginger up earlier, so I substituted ground ginger and this was also fine.  Nothing tastes better with curry than (get ready) fried bananas.  And nothing is faster.  Allow one banana per person.  Slice in half longitudinally, and in half again if the banana wants to break.  Saute in a skillet in a little butter.  Turn once.  They cook REALLY quickly, and brown up nicely, too.  I also had a small salad, but you may not need to, depending on family preferences. 

We've had a hot appetizer recently that we've enjoyed several times.  Our supermarket sometimes has a BOGO on pork tenderloins.  This uses just one out of the package.  It could also be a main course.  Good for low-carb diets, too.  Not real spicy, but the spice combo is good.   Spanish Pork Skewers  Good for a company meal.  I have a tiny cast iron skillet that I brown the spices in.  I also have (purchased cheaply) a coffee grinder than I reserve for grinding spices.  A mortar and pestle is good for creating the garlic paste.  


Try something new today, either meatless or meaty.  Wake up your taste buds.  Don't forget to enjoy!