Sunday Shepherd

I hate to say it, but fall is definitely in the air. I know September is still considered summer to some, but I don’t see high 80 temps in our future anymore—but we shall see!

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Even though school has started up once again, I think my life has finally slowed down a bit—knock on wood. Between my summer job of working full-time and then jetting off to Chicago a few days after work ended, and then 2 days later had to start school again. I felt like I was never home, never had time to just chill, and was getting behind on quite a few things. But alas, I am blogging from the comfort of my couch!

School has consisted mostly of this..

Studying and iced lattes.

Although my class schedule is pretty packed (Ad Management, College Algebra, Bowling, Management, and Marketing Management), I still find time to do other things besides hitting the books. Mom came down on Thursday for dinner because we haven’t been together since our Chicago trip a few weeks ago. Applebee’s was on the agenda, and I knew what I wanted before we even got there!

Steak and shrimp, seasonal steamed veggies, and a baked potato.

Sometimes a steak is all I need to get me through a rough week, I swear. And check out the cutest dessert my mom got..and it was only $1!!

Brownie bites—small warm brownie and mini scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled in hot fudge sauce.

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In other food news, look what has finally appeared on store shelves in my town!!

Kabocha squash!!

If you’ve never tried it, I highly suggest you do. Find out more on this fabulous fall food here!

And a new addition to my spice rack that I am head over heels for is McCormick’s Salad Supreme.

“This blend of Romano cheese, sesame and poppy seeds, paprika, garlic, and black pepper adds great flavor and a colorful garnish to tossed salads or pasta salads.”

I use it on eggs, pasta, vegetables, sandwiches, and a sprinkle on soups—it’s not overly salty, but instead a very robust cheese flavor which sets it apart from other spice blends I’ve tried. (Note: I’ve found Wal-Mart has the cheapest price on this)

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Now onto the recipe for the day—lately I’ve been trying to calculate how much my meals are actually costing me. Not just for fun, but to try and get the most bang for my buck. Shepherd’s pie has always been known to be an economical and hearty dish, so I figured out the exacts to share with you! And by the way, this isn’t your typical, everyday Shepherd’s pie..I amped it up a bit with a Mexican twist!

Grocery list:

• 1 lb lean ground beef—$3.78
• 1 package Betty Crocker Homestyle Reds Instant Potatoes--$0.78
• 1 can Mexicorn--$1.22
• 1 jar thick and chunky salsa (Great Value brand)—$1.98
• 1 package green onions--$1.18
• 1 bag of Mexican cheese blend(Great Value brand)—$1.77

Makes 5 servings

Cost per serving=$2.14

Mexican Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 (11oz) can Mexicorn
• 1/2 c sliced green onions
• 1 c thick and chunky salsa
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 3/4 tsp cumin
• 1 pouch Betty Crocked Homestyle Reds instant potatoes
• 1/2 c shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions:

In 10-inch skillet, cook ground beef and 1/4 cup of the green onions over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salsa, chili powder and cumin. Spoon corn evenly over beef mixture in skillet. Cover and cook over low heat until mixture is thoroughly heated.

 

Meanwhile, follow directions on package of potatoes, adding the water, stirring well, and microwaving 2-3 minutes.

Spoon potatoes over corn in skillet; spread evenly. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining 1/4 cup green onions. Cover; cook over low heat about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with tortilla chips if desired around outside edge of skillet.

What’s your favorite economical meal to make?

Flea Markets and Universal Studios Fun

Sunday the sunny Florida skies decided to disappear behind the clouds which left us the perfect opportunity to hit up the flea markets. We hit up the 192 flea markets and the Maingate flea markets which are both located in Kissimmee. I absolutely love scrounging for random things and of course getting major  bargains. I didn’t go crazy buying stuff like past years because I finally realized I don’t like stuffing it in my suitcase. I did find a nice watch for only $8 though!

I almost wish we had flea markets back home. Do you ever go to flea markets?

And lucky for me I found a Cold stone right around the corner. I got Sinless Sweat Cream flavor mixed with Pumpkin flavor, blueberries, and cinnamon. Really good combo!

Monday we took a short drive into Orlando to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures. I haven’t been there for three years now, so I was looking forward to seeing everything again. Unfortunately, the weather was only in the high 40’s—I just can’t escape this cold weather, but it seems like it’s everywhere in the US right now. What are your temps where you are?

Up first was Islands of Adventure which is more of the theme park rides.

Comic Strip land was really cute! I love reading comics in the Sunday newspaper.

The highlight of the day was Dr.Seuss land—I used to read all of his books when I was younger!

 Grandma and I!

And couldn’t forget about my first love, Spongebob!

Then we headed to Universal Studios park.

We went on the Twister ride which simulates a tornado from the movie Twister—fire, wind, rain, loud noises—it was intense! I have a few videos from the trip, but I forgot the cord to the computer, so it’ll be up when I get home. =) The ET ride is another one of my favorites—I always would see it on commercials when I was younger and now I’ve been on it a few times, so it’s neat! Jaws is another one of the good ones you’ll want to experience. You do get wet, so we skipped it this time unfortunately. I still snuck a picture with him though!

All of that walking definitely worked up an appetite, so we headed out to find somewhere to eat. If I had a choice of restaurants, I would usually choose a buffet just because I am one who likes to pick and choose. We found Ponderosa Steakhouse which was a really good deal and great tasting food. For $9.99 here’s what I got--

Grilled chicken breast with a baked potato

Big plate of assorted veggies

I thought that was a pretty good deal for such a good and healthy meal—we ended up eating there almost every night of our trip being it was so close to the hotel.

Also, when I am on vacation, being the ice cream connoisseur that I am, I always try to scope out different ice cream places I don’t have back home. I chose to stop at TCBY which I’ve heard raves about, and now I know why! It was divine!

Large peanut butter frozen yogurt with waffle cone pieces hit the spot. 

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Perfect Your Pizza

Do you ever go to a local pizza place or buy a pizza at the store and wish you could recreate that same flavor, texture, and of course taste? Ever since I was little, I have been eating pizza from a local mom and pop shop called Dave’s Pizza. It’s nothing completely out of this world, but I think the thin crust, their special sauce, and the overall put together of the pizza is to-die-for. So, through the years I have been trying to perfect my own pizza pie making skills—finding the right base, the right sauce, and the right combo of flavors. After a few years, I am finally happy with my pizza technique! And the awesome thing about it is that it’s totally customizable and takes under 30 minutes to whip together. This is not gourmet, but it’s good nonetheless!

I could make my own dough, especially with my bread machine, or I could whip together a quick whole wheat crust by hand. I could even buy premade pizza dough, but I choose to use a unlikely candidate. Lavash bread—more specifically Joseph’s Lavash bread, and I use their pitas interchangeably for this recipe also.

Do you have these in your area?! I’m interested as to what areas don’t have them, because you are missing out on a AWESOME bread opportunity and should request them at your stores stat!

Now usually when using pita breads or flatbreads in pizza recipes, they can turn out a soggy mess instead of the pizza crust you were going for. This happened a few times to me, and besides being a mess to eat, it wasn’t like pizza at all. So, after a few tries of different techniques to getting the perfect flatbread pizza—I found it and couldn’t wait to share!

The key to prepping the crust is to pan fry is before adding toppings and baking. Using the dry heat method (turning your burner on high and letting the skillet completely heat), you need to place your pita or flatbread on the skillet and place a heavy spatula on top, flipping the bread about every thirty seconds until the desired crispiness is reached.

Once you’ve completed that step, since your skillet is already hot, you can add all your pizza toppings you are going to add and sauté them until caramelized. If adding spinach, wait until the last minute or so to throw it in.

Meanwhile, place pan-fried bread on a tinfoil lined cookie sheet and spread with the desired amount of sauce. Once toppings are finished sautéing, place those on next. If you’re adding some type of protein, this would come next followed by cheese! I then add some roasted tomatoes to add the the overall appeal. :-)

Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted. Take out, cut, and savor each bite! I can never get enough of this—the crust turns out fabulous with a hint of that “brick-oven” taste so many pizza places try to achieve. Check out how I made my latest pizza creation! 

 Garden Veggie & Crab Pizza

• Started by pan-frying my Lavash bread.

• Meanwhile, I chopped my veggies. This time I used fresh garden spinach, garden onion, and garden bell pepper(good ol’ grandpa is a fab farmer I tell ya!), mushrooms, zucchini, and canned stewed Italian tomatoes.

• Next, I spread the Lavash with pizza sauce while the veggies were sauteeing. Once they were done, I layered them next, then came the canned flaked crab meat(if you’re a seafood fan this is an amazing addition!), Italian blend of cheeses, and then some Italian stewed tomatoes to give it a real tomato kick! Once I sprinkled it with some fennel seeds, in the oven it goes!

• And then here is the finished result—this super satisfying pizza in less then 30 minutes. Plus it’s not expensive to make either! One pack of 4 Lavash’s runs about $2.08 give or take a little. I use 1/2 a Lavash per pizza :-)

What’s your favorite method for creating a priceless pizza?!

Let me know if you try my method—I’d love to hear what you think!

Summer Salads

Hey everyone!

Even though it feels nothing close to summer here (58 degree daytime highs—no joke!), I am still all about eating certain summer fare. Besides an over-abundance of summer fruit and veggies, I tend to eat a lot of “salads”—not just the green leafy kinds, but things like potato salads, tuna salad, coleslaw, etc. What’s your favorite “summer” food or meal? So I thought I’d share some recent salads I have been enjoying—so if your in the need for some new recipes and products, look no further than this post!

I have had my eye on Hungry Girl’s I Can’t Believe It’s Not Potato Salad for quite sometime, and since her 200 Under 200 Cookbook is my cookbook of the month, I figured now would be a great opportunity to make it. What lured me in to this recipe was the awesome method of getting a super creamy(healthy!)sauce mixture—and although the original recipe does not include potatoes, hence the name, I did add a few peeled red potatoes to the mix—I just can’t justify a “potato” salad without the poor potatoes. Either way this would is great! I definitely am making another batch soon, because the first batch is on its’ last leg! Get the recipe here!

New product that just hit the shelves alert: StarKist Chunk Light Tuna Salad Sandwich Ready Spread in a convenient on-the-go pouch! I don’t know about you, but I won’t eat tuna from a can—it just has that canny taste I can’t get past, so I have been a pouched tuna girl, and now that they have a pre-mixed sandwich spread, you better believe I stocked up! At about $1.30 a pouch you can’t go wrong. It was the perfect blend of spices and flavors, and the stats are super too! Each 3-oz. pouch has 90 - 100 calories, 2.5 - 3.5g fat, 4 - 6g carbs, 1g fiber, and 11 - 13g protein depending on if you get the Albacore or the Chunk Light.

Do you have some cans of tuna lying around that you want to use up before you go out and buy more? Try these ideas!

• Combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and Serrano chilies—add tuna and fresh squeezed lemon. Serve on top of tostadas or in taco shells!
• Combine pitted olives, tuna, garlic, thyme, rosemary, anchovies(if you want), capers, lemon juice, mustard and olive oil in a food processor for a black olive tapenade with a twist!
• Brush pitas with olive oil, then sprinkle with grated fontina cheese. Top with light tuna chunks, minced garlic, halved marinated artichoke hearts, diced tomato, and kalamata olives. Bake until just bubbly for a tuna pizza!
  
• Make some tuna meatballs by combining oil-packed tuna with minced onion, scallion, parsley, marjoram, and salt. Add egg and panko bread crumbs that have been moistened with a little milk. Form small, firm meatballs and simmer in sauce made with canned diced tomatoes, the oil from the tuna, a splash of white wine, garlic, and onions. Bon appétit!
• Toss tuna into a Middle Eastern-inspired salad, tossing with some chickpeas, chopped tomatoes, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mound it on crispbread and enjoy!
  
• Pair your tuna with pasta by mixing a can with chopped garlic, several spoonfuls or EVOO, black olives, capers, and a sprinkle of oregano. Toss with cooked pasta(or sprouts) and add a can of tomato sauce!
• Make a melt by combining a can of tuna with sweet relish, red onion, celery, lemon juice, light mayo, and half of a sweet pickle. Scoop on top of a toasted English muffin half, add a slice(or two!) of cheese, and broil till bubbly.
• Stuff peppers by sautéing diced onion and eggplant until caramelized. Mix with tuna, parsley, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, then stuff in to prepared bell peppers. Bake until steaming hot and serve with a bed of rice if desired.
• Add a can to lentils, chopped tomatoes, and parsley along with your favorite low-fat vinaigrette, plus salt and pepper. 

Have a great day as sweet as this fruit!

(yes, it was delish!)

Shout For Sprouts

  When it comes to trying new foods, sometimes I am all for it, other times I go back and forth while deciding if I really want to try it. Ever since I started blogging, I have realized how many foods I really haven’t tried! I still need to try an avocado, feta cheese, and different cuisines such as Thai and Indian. What are foods you have on your “to try” list? One of the foods I recently checked off of my list was bean sprouts. I had never had any type of sprout and was impressed by their nutritional value--

Sprouts are a great and inexpensive way of obtaining a concentration of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. They contain all of the nutrients found in various fruits and veggies. Eating sprouts is a safe way to get the nutritional advantage of produce without that contamination of harmful insecticides. Studies have shown that in comparison to dried seeds, sprouted foods contain an amazing increase in nutrients. During the sprouting process, the vitamins, minerals and protein increase substantially and the calories and carbs decrease.

 Are you interested in how to eat your bean sprouts? Why not--

• Make some sprout hummus?
• What about a bowl of sprout cereal?
• Maybe a side dish? Try out this sprout coleslaw.
• Something summery? This tropical gazpacho sounds great!
• An entree you say? Black beans and rice sounds nice.

  And I am sure you want to know how I now eat my bean sprouts? I use them in an unlikely way—for a lighter summer pasta swap. I buy em’ in the can so they are a little bit mushier than fresh ones, and I squeeze the excess juice out of them, warm them in the microwave and top with pasta sauce, meats, and veggies, just as you would normally make your favorite pasta dish. Much lighter to accompany summer appetites!

For this meal, I topped a can of sprouts with some chicken sausage, sautéed bell peppers and mushrooms, and some pasta sauce with a little shake of parmesan! It truly is delish!

Make sure to check your grocer’s Oriental aisle which is where the canned bean sprouts can usually be found.

Speaking of pasta, I recently was asked to review a product for My Blog Spark. Unfortunately I haven’t gotten around to it yet, but I have made these meals before, and I would highly recommend them! They are cheap, fast, and restaurant quality. I did happen to snap a few pictures!

  These newer Macaroni Grill meals come in five flavors, so there is surely one that will suite you. All you need to complete the meal kit is some chicken breasts and your ready to whip up a restaurant meal at home. Included in the package from the generous folks at My Blog Spark was also a really great metal colander, a pasta spoon, and a grater to grate fresh cheese—can you say Italian night? What’s your favorite Italian food? Mine would have to be anything smothered in a good pasta sauce—it’s in my blood =)

And since I am on a roll with all things pasta , I recently tried the new Healthy Choice All Natural entree in Pumpkin Squash Ravioli.

  I am not a huge fan of frozen meals at all, but when I get a good coupon, I figure I might as well try it. Well I picked this one because I thought it would be a savory ravioli dish, but instead the noodles were too rubbery, the filling was way to sweet, which I was not expecting, and the sauce just did not pair well at all. Maybe some people like it, but I ended up tossing half of it. But there are other flavors in the All Natural line—here’s some info:

All-natural ingredients such as pumpkin, asparagus, nine-grain pastas, and 100% extra virgin olive oil are highlighted in our line of new All Natural Entrées, which includes four vegetarian options. Each contemporary recipe was crafted to deliver delectable food packed full of nutrition.

• High in fiber for digestive health
• Antioxidants such as lycopene and vitamins A and C
• Low in fat and saturated fat
• Vegetarian options include Mediterranean Pasta, Pumpkin Squash Ravioli, Sweet Asian Potstickers, and Tomato Basil Penne

Enjoy your finally Friday!

It’s Game Time!

 

The Get Your Groceries Game that is. Haven’t heard of it? Well I wouldn’t be surprised because I made it up awhile back and haven’t shared it yet! It all started when I came to college last fall. I began to notice how much groceries cost me—and this was just for one person! And not only that, but I had 3 big chain grocery stores to choose between. Of course I automatically assumed Wal-Mart was the cheapest for everything, but then I would see bananas or bagged lettuce cheaper at a different chain. So instead of trying to remember how much everything cost at every grocery store, I decided to collect my receipts and start tracking in a notebook. Then I would stick the little notebook in my purse and compare to make sure I was getting the lowest price possible. Even a few cents can add up, especially when you pair that savings with coupon savings! So what are you waiting for? You should totally play this game too! Here’s the “rules”:

• Gather up all you recent receipts that include your groceries.(You can do this for anything really, not just groceries!)
• Grab a notebook, paper, or whatever you want to write on and designate a page for each store you shop at. (I color code mine just for fun!)

• List all the items for each store along with the oz or lb and the price.
• And then use your handy list to compare before you shop and when your there. Make sure to update if prices change, and keep and eye out for sales because that would mean you could get something cheaper at a different store regardless of the standard price.

Since I started playing this “game”, I have definitely noticed a significant dip in my grocery spending, which leaves the money for other fun things! It doesn’t take too long to do, but it does add up in the long run! Do you see any significant price differences between stores in your town? One thing I noticed is Wal-Mart’s generic brand Great Value has rock-bottom prices on a lot of staples like oats, yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, and canned goods, so I usually head there for that kind of stuff. Also my 8th Continent soymilk I always buy is $1.04 cheaper at Wal-Mart than at the other two grocery stores! Looking for other ways to save on your groceries?

• Always check your pantry and cupboards before you leave to make sure you don’t already have something on your list.
• Eat up fresh fruits and veggies before buying more to avoid spoilage.
• Try to make your own deli-salads or other things you would normally buy pre-made to save some money.
• Try to plan menus based on weekly sales.
• If you have food co-op in your area, join it! You can reduce your weekly food bill by as much as 50%.
• Meat is a good source of protein but it's expensive. Cheese, poultry, eggs, peanut butter, dried peas, beans, lentils, and some fish are less expensive and excellent sources of protein.
• Use your freezer to stock up when there is a sale on frozen or dairy items, such as cheese, butter and milk.
• Pretty packaging costs you money. You are not only paying for the product, but for the packaging (and advertising) as well.
• Send off for rebates to get items free, or nearly free!
• Learn the sales cycles of your favorite stores, and know when to expect certain items to go on sale.
• If your store offers a members card, sign up to get significant savings.
• Plan one big trip a month for bulk staples. You can get fresh items at another store on other weeks, but doing a big bulk trip will cut back on the expense and amount you have to carry for the other three weeks. Avoid buying on impulse at the bulk store too — just because they sell a lot of it doesn't mean you're saving, if you weren't planning on buying it in the first place. Buy in bulk only when it makes sense. If you can save money, over the course of a month or two, by buying in bulk, plan to do so. But be sure that you're going to use all of it before it gets bad — it isn't cheaper to buy in bulk if you don't use it.
• Use leftovers in every way possible—visit the Leftover Chef—he’ll help you utilize every last drop.
• Know how long this last before they go bad. Visit Still Tasty which is the ultimate shelf life guide.

And lastly, make sure to check this blog for updates on how to save big!

And it wouldn’t hurt to use your reusable bag!! Saving money + saving the earth= double whammy!

Let me know your tips and tricks for saving on groceries—I may feature you! =)