Under the Sea

 Spongebob is my favorite thing under the sea, but tuna and crab come in at a close second! That doesn’t mean I still don’t want to try a Krabby Patty sometime, but it would have to be vegetarian style—soy Krabby Patties anyone?

I’ve been trying my best to save money on groceries by making sure I use up what I have before buying more. It definitely stretches my creativity!! I came across this tip for impulse buying at the grocery store..

Before you put something in your cart, ask yourself, “Will I use it this week?”

Do you have a recipe, or a meal plan that includes the item you are debating on?

Of course this doesn’t pertain to super sales and bulk non-perishables, but basically just be aware and plan ahead to save money!

 Now lets get to what you came for! Today’s recipe was a attempt to use up things in my fridge, and it turned out surprisingly good for a use-what-I-have meal. =) Not only was my lunch mighty tasty, I used a wonderful appliance that I have had for about 2 years, and sadly has been collecting dust. Do you have any kitchen appliances you don’t use or forget that you have?

Under the Sea Quesadillas

Ingredients

• 1-8” tortilla
• 1/4 c shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1/8 c chopped bell pepper
• 1/8 c flaked crab
• 1/8 c pouch tuna, or canned
• 1/8 c of canned beans {I used chili beans, yum!"}
• 1/4 c of fiesta shredded cheese blend
• Salsa for dipping, optional
• Any other veggies or add-ins you want!

Directions

• I used my quesadilla maker to make these, but if you don’t have one, you can still make quesadillas! Go here for a stovetop method.
• Plug in your quesadilla maker and lightly spray with non-stick spray.

• Get out your tortilla and start layering your filling. I start with lettuce, then meat, cheese, and finally the veggies and beans.

I used Buena Vida Low Carb Tortillas because they’re whole wheat! And then these Chili Beans really added some pizzazz to my quesadilla. If you ever happen to see these, get em’ because you can use them in so many ways!

• Once the light on the maker says ready, fold your quesadilla in half, carefully place on the grill and close the lid until the ready light comes on again. Then lift up the lid and use a spatula to take your quesadilla out.

 

Happy Hump Day!

Kitchen Favorites and New Finds

Hello blog friends! Wow it feels so weird not blogging every single day—it became such a routine for the past 5 or so months. I cannot wait for this semester to be over in 2 weeks so blogging can become a daily occurrence again. I barely have time to keep up with all my blog reading, which I consider a must in my day just because I love the variety of people, topics, etc. Anyway I plan on baking up an awesome surprise this weekend because I am going to finish the last 2 papers of the semester this week so I will have ample time to for some R&R on the weekend and of course like I said, bake this recipe I have been dying to try out!

Today I decided to whip together something fun. I was packing up a lot of my kitchen stuff today to make its way back to my real home, and I kept out a few things—one being a favorite of mine! So I thought it would be fun to see what your favorite kitchen item is—whether it is something practical, or something that makes you feel like a kid again—like mine! If you want to shoot me over a picture or even just tell me about it in the comment section, I’d love to hear! Without further ado, here is mine--

Call me crazy, but I absolutely am in love with SpongeBob. I have been since he burst into the scene in 1999 when I was 7, and I have a feeling we’ll be pals for a long time. He’s a guy who has me wishing Sponge guys really existed because he is always so cheerful! And plus have you seen him whip up a mean Krabby Patty? Wow! I might even have to bend my vegetarian ways if SpongeBob offered me one of those! Anyway, this is a TV tray, so not a typical kitchen “tool” but I love to display it or eat on it when I want to watch some TV. Other kitchen favorites of mine include my Kitchen Aid Mixer, my whole round up of pink kitchen things (you can see them in the header of my blog), my Food Network rolling pins, my pizzele press and basically anything that can make my cooking experience fun and easy! 

Besides that, I recently got a new catalog called Kitchen Krafts. I wanted to share some goodies I have my eye on and that I may potentially buy in the near future. Check, check, check em’ out—>

Rolling Pin & Rings Set

Price: $19.95

“The ultimate in ease and control is provided with this simple rolling pin design. Roll and direct with slightly arched palms. No-handle design reduces strain often caused by grasping. Preferred by many professional bakers for its large working length and ease of maintenance. Solid wood, 18" x 1-1/2" diameter pin. Use roller rings to roll your dough to a uniform thickness. Rubber rings slip onto any standard size rolling pin. Four sets of rings provide 1/16", 1/8", 1/4" or 3/8" thickness.”

 Self-Level Spoons

Price: $12.95

“Easily measure and level ingredients with a quick slide of your thumb. Scoop the ingredients, then slide the lever over the top to level the ingredients, and add to your food . It keeps fingers and food clean. Set of 4 spoons includes: 1 Tbsp., 1 tsp., 1/2 tsp., 1/4 tsp. Dishwasher safe.”

 Silicone Pastry Mat

Price: $29.95

“Use it as a working surface to roll or knead dough - it will stay put on your counter or table and not move around while in use. And since nothing sticks to the silicone, the mat works great for rolling out pie crust, pastry dough, cookies, biscuits, and pizza dough. Mat is 19” x 25-1/2” and preprinted with imperial and metric measurement, line and circle guides. FDA approved. Easy-to-clean up, just wash with hot soapy water.”

 Cupcake Bouquet Kit

Price: $10.95

“

Cupcakes seem to be blooming in all sorts of places - bakeries, delis, baby showers and even weddings! Now you can have cupcakes blooming on your counter or table. Create a delightful bouquet of 6 cupcakes to set on the table, serve to guests, or give as a gift. Enjoy the sight as well as the taste of dessert! Kit includes: flowerpot base with floral sticker, flowerpot cover, stems, and cupcake cups. Instructions for assembly included.”

Hope you enjoyed this post! Stay tuned tomorrow for brand spanking new Good for You Goodies review—you won’t want to miss this one if you’re in the market for some new ways to get your fruit and veggies.