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Archive for May, 2010|Monthly archive page

The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter for May 2010

In Budget Smart Girl's Newsletter on May 26, 2010 at 10:35 pm

This month’s newsletter is once again food focused so I hope you’ll give some of the recipes a try over the upcoming holiday weekend.

The New Dirty Dozen
If you remember my article about ways you can buy organic produce on a budget, you’ll know about the Dirty Dozen…produce that contains the most pesticides. The Environmental Working Group just released their new Dirty Dozen list. Check it out at www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php Remember don’t waste your money on buying produce with the least amount of pesticides.

Putting on a Party or a Crafter?
After visiting the local Dollar Tree store and picking up a flyer, I checked out their Web site and discovered two things. One, you can buy items online and two you can buy things by the case. A great idea if you need lots of one item for say a party and perfect if you’re a crafter. www.dollartree.com

Love the Garden
I’ve always wanted to go to the Chelsea Flower Show in England, but never got around to it. I found this site that’s connected with the event and has some gardening tips from amateurs to professionals. www.lovethegarden.com

Buy Some Plants in Distress
And speaking of gardening…I was working in the front yard last week when someone walked by, admired the garden and we got talking about how expensive plants can be year after year. This person mentioned a great way to get a discount is to look for plants that look distressed with wilting leaves and drying flower buds. Stores will often sell them to you for a deep discount but if the root is healthy…and that’s what you need to check before you hand over the money, with some TLC and grooming they’re as good as new again.

Ideas for a Memorial Day Feast
I always think of Memorial Day as the first of many days of eating outside, firing up the grill, or even putting together a picnic to take to the park or beach. Here are some ideas and recipes to use on either Memorial Day or all summer long.

Hamburgers with a Twist
Everyone loves hamburgers and they’re easy on the budget, but once in a while it’s nice to give them a little twist or two. There’s the cheeseburger, but how about forgoing the regular slice of cheese. Switch to something with a little more kick, like blue cheese, and placing it inside the burger, so it melts into the meat while it’s on the grill.

Not Just any Salad
How many picnics and get togethers have you either been invited to, or thrown yourself, where the same recipe for coleslaw or potato salad is rolled out? Over the years I’ve been adding different items to potato salads, like chopped eggs, roasted red peppers, chopped celery, sun-dried tomatoes. So experiment and see what works best for you. I also like leaving the skin on the potatoes, and also using a combination of white and sweet potatoes.
As for coleslaw, I’ve been using the broccoli slaw you can find it just about any produce department, and adding blue cheese dressing instead of mayonnaise.

Potatoes
I never think any meal is complete without the potato, but just throwing one on the grill can be a bit bland. Here’s an herb butter I’ve been using .Add some to the potato as soon as it comes off the grill, everyone says it compliments just about any type of dish.

Fresh Herb Butter
½ cup trans fat free spread or if you’re not watching the cholesterol, butter
1 cup of fresh herbs, I like a combination of thyme and basil, sometimes dill if you’re serving fish
1 small clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

Place the butter into a bowl, and add the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything’s blended. Cover and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

Another tip is to wash and scrub the potato, rub it with oil and then sprinkle with salt. It flavors the potato from the outside in.
And sometimes I’ll cook the potatoes indoors. I love homemade seasoned fries. Cut the potatoes into wedges, toss in oil and add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and I’ve even had success adding soy sauce for a really savory taste.

Quick Picnic Fare
I’ve always been a big fan of picnics and here’s something that is so simple and easy to put together. It’s best made the day before the picnic. I like to use bread like a foccacia, or you can use French loaf, Italian bread, anything that’s not pre-sliced. You want to slice it in half horizontally. On both halves spread either some olive oil, or pesto sauce. Then just start laying it with whatever you like. My favorites are cheese, roasted red peppers, artichokes and olives. You can use sliced ham, turkey. When you’re done layering, place the other top on the sandwich and wrap the whole thing tightly in cling wrap. Put it on a plate and then place it in the refrigerator. Next put something heavy like a large can of tomatoes or a gallon jug of milk, and leave it overnight. In the morning just put it into your picnic basket and when you’re ready to eat, cut it into wedges.

The Best Time of the Year For…This week’s a great time to stock up on grilling and picnic fare. Stores have sales on ketchup, hamburger and hot dog buns, hot dogs, canned baked beans. And if you can freeze them, stock up on corn on the cob and green beans.

Quick and Easy Summer Recipes
The great thing about running a site like Budget Smart Girl is companies send recipes for me to try. Here are two I received this month from La Tortilla Factory. www.latortillafactory.com They seem perfect for summer dinning.

Cheeseburger Quesadilla
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 large La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb/High Fiber tortilla
1 Boca Original Meatless Burger, thawed
1 slice fat-free American cheese, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped pickles
Optional ingredients: salt, black pepper, garlic powder
Optional topping: ketchup

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut burger into small bite-sized pieces. Bring a pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add onion and burger pieces. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until onion is soft. Season mixture to taste with optional ingredients, if you like.

Spray a medium-large baking sheet lightly with nonstick spray. Lay tortilla flat on the sheet and evenly top with the cheese pieces. Bake in the oven for about 2 minutes, until cheese has melted slightly. Leave oven on. Spread burger mixture over one half of the tortilla. Top with pickles and fold tortilla in half, pressing down lightly with a spatula to seal.

Bake in the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes, until tortilla edges are slightly brown. Remove from the oven and cut into triangles. Top or serve with ketchup, if you like. Yum!

Asian Rotisserie Chicken Salad Wrap
Serves 2

2 La Tortilla Factory 100 Calorie Tortillas
3 ½ oz shredded Rotisserie Chicken, breast meat only
¼ c shredded cabbage
¼ c shredded carrots
2 Tbsp coarsely chopped green onion
2 ½ Tbsp coarsely chopped cilantro
4 Tbsp Reduced Fat Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing (or any other favorite Asian dressing)

1. In a bowl, combine the chicken, cabbage, carrot, green onion and cilantro and toss with dressing to mix well.
2. Place half of the chicken salad on a tortilla and roll away from you into a wrap.
3. Place the remaining mixture in the second tortilla and roll into a wrap.

Two Sites of Interest
I have to give credit to my husband for finding these two sites

Free Fax
I can’t remember the last time I faxed anything but if you ever need to this site lets you do it for free www.faxfree.com

What To Do
And if you’re wondering what’s happening in your neck of the woods, check out www.eventful.com

Summer Reading
I do most of my reading in the winter but one of my favorite guilty pleasures is sitting on the deck soaking up the sun and enjoying a good book. I had a stack of novels I’d finished reading and planned to donate them but then decided I’d swap or trade them for new ones for the upcoming summer reading season. Two sites I’ve been using are www.titletrader.com and www.swaptree.com All you do is pay for the postage to send the other member the book they request. And you can also trade and swap things like CDs and DVDs on these sites too.

Articles I found on the Web-
And finally, here are the best articles I found on the Internet this month.

What to know what it takes to be a millionaire, check out-www.tinyurl.com/27cp6jy

Are there any foods you should never buy-www.tinyurl.com/2a9mzet

Think you’re getting ripped off www.tinyurl.com/29rta9z

Learn how not to make budget planning mistakes www.tinyurl.com/28qk655

Next month, ways to stay cool this summer.

Have a great month and a relaxing holiday weekend.

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The Blog-Grocery Challenge

In The Blog on May 24, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Each time I get asked what are my favorite money saving tips, one thing that always makes it to the list is a subscription to All You magazine. The June issue arrived in my mailbox last week with more great coupons and tips. I was going to put this in the newsletter but thought I’d tell you about it here The Second Annual All You Grocery Challenge Contest. You signup at www.allyou.com/grocerychallenge. The contest runs from June 20-July 17th. The goal is to spend $25 or less per family member per week on groceries during this four week period. Winner gets $1,000. They’ll also have a blog with money saving tips and ideas from the editors. I’d love to see a reader of Budget Smart Girl win this contest. Leave a comment if you’re thinking about entering and we’ll be sure to cheer you on.

This whole grocery challenge thing got me thinking about next week’s feature on BSG. Yes, you guessed it, ways to cut down on your grocery bill. Hope all the contestants get some good ideas they can use.

This week on Budget Smart Girl-Newsletter time again, this month lots of recipes and other good stuff. Plus, as it’s an upcoming holiday weekend, I’ve decided to merge this week’s feature into the newsletter with some tips on Memorial Day entertaining.

Have a good week and a save Memorial Day.

Cooking Shortcuts

In Budget Smart Cook on May 21, 2010 at 3:07 pm

I ask myself the same question every week, how can it be Friday already? If you’re on a budget and/or hate relying on convenience foods, you have to think of cooking shortcuts, ways to prepare meals and sneaky little tricks that can get you in and out of the kitchen when time’s not your friend.

Here are some tips I’ve found to help me make it through the week-

Prepare Ahead of Time
I’ve recently gotten into the habit of preparing vegetables and salads on the weekends. Most of the recipes I use call for onions, carrots and celery. Now I chop and slice extra, put them in zip lock bags and store in the fridge. It’s really cut down on meal prep time. I also wash extra salad and fixings. I was putting everything together in one large bowl but found that if just one thing spoiled or lettuce started to brown, it ruined everything. Now I put the lettuce in one bowl and everything else in separate containers, things like radishes and shredded carrots.

Give Vegetables a Head Start
I love roasted vegetables but sometimes they (seem) to take forever to cook in the oven. My tip is to parboil them for about five to ten minutes while you warm the oven and then add them to the pan.

Have Ingredients Ready and Waiting
Another trick I’ve found to make meal preparation that much easier is to put everything out on the countertop along with the recipe. Anything that doesn’t spoil like canned vegetables and spices can even be sitting there ready for when you get home at night.

Smelly Foods
I love to use garlic in just about everything but I hate chopping it and I really dislike the smell that lingers on my hands. One local supermarket sells chopped garlic in jars for just a dollar and now I wouldn’t be without it.

Make Clean Up a Breeze
I always think that aluminum foil is the best thing to happen to a cook. When I’m cooking dishes I know are going to stick to pans or maybe even drip in the oven, I use foil. Easy clean up and once again it’s an item you can find at the dollar store.

The Microwave Comes to the Rescue
One appliance that does so many jobs is the microwave oven. Not only for heating foods, but also for melting things like butter and chocolate. And yes, even softening things like squash for easy cutting. I microwave it for about a minute and it makes the job so much easier and no more cut fingers.

Budget Gourmet
And yes, we all have to cheat now and then. I buy the packages of fried rice made my Michelina’s. They’re the Budget Gourmet line and cost just a dollar a piece. I keep these in the freezer all the time. I used a couple of them the other night to accompany some grilled salmon and for a quick vegetable side dish, edamames. And do check out the company’s Web site. They have lots of great articles on budgeting. www.michelinas.com

When All Else Fails
My favorite I’ve got no time to cook, or what’s for dinner rescue meal is soup and sandwich. Last Sunday I had to interview a source for an article I was working on and made this soup to accompany grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s quick but to make it even simpler I used an immersion blender. Saves time and not to mention clean up.

Spicy Black Bean Soup (Serves 4-6)

1 large onion, chopped
½ chopped roasted red pepper
2 tablespoons oil
2 cans (15 ounces) of Kuner’s Southwestern Black Beans with Cumin/Chili Spices (do not drain them)
I can (14 ½ ounce) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies, undrained
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon (or more or even less depending on how much heat you can tolerate) crushed red pepper flakes

In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until lightly golden brown. Stir in the beans, broth, roasted red pepper, tomatoes, pepper flakes and cilantro. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool mixture slightly. If you’re using a regular blender, add half the soup and blend then add it back to the pan. If you’re using an immersion blender, you just need to break up about half of the beans and mixture to thicken it. Reheat and serve with more chopped cilantro and sour cream.

This soup is spicy hot and pairs perfectly with the grilled cheese sandwiches.

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Eating Well on a Budget While You’re Traveling

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 19, 2010 at 12:43 pm

Maybe you have big travel plans this summer or just planning a few days out and about seeing local sites. Either way traveling away from home and eating out can put a dent in your budget. However, with a little preplanning, you can save money and still eat well.

A Room with a Kitchen
More hotels have rooms with kitchens and they’re a smart choice. Eat half your meals in the room instead of eating out and you’ll save a ton of money. If you can’t find a hotel room with a kitchen, ask if any of the rooms have at least a fridge or microwave. If the price of the room doesn’t come with a free breakfast, stock up on things like milk, cereal, bread for toast and you can save money by eating breakfast in your hotel room.

Take It on the Road
One way you can save money while you’re traveling (and avoid the fast food drive through) is to pack a lunch before you head out for the day. If you’re traveling by car, it’s easy enough to put a cooler in with the rest of the luggage. If you’re going by air, stop by a local supermarket or drugstore when you get to your destination and pick up a Styrofoam cooler. They cost around $3-4 so it’s no big deal to just leave them behind when the vacation is over.

Amusement Parks
I know children look forward to eating food at the amusement park vendors, but sometimes the prices are double. One way you can save and still keep the children happy is to take your own packed lunch and then stop by one of the vendors for dessert.

Bed and Breakfast
Lots of hotels/motels now include a free breakfast in with the price of the room. And they’re no longer just coffee and a sweet roll. The last one we stayed at had hot dishes, cereals and make your own waffles so we were never tempted to go anywhere else for breakfast.

Supermarkets
Find a supermarket and stock up on items like crackers, fruit, cold cuts, string cheese, etc. so you can take them out and about with you. And if you have the kitchen back at the hotel room, buy some groceries just like you would at home and eat in a couple of times.

Early Bird Specials
Just about every town has restaurants that offer early bird specials. It’s a way for them to attract customers when business gets slow, and a great way for you to save. Most of the meals and portion sizes will be exactly the same, but you can sometimes save up to $5 a meal by eating between 4-6 p.m. And when you’re on vacation eating earlier frees up the rest of the day for more sightseeing.

Ask the Locals
If you want to know where all the good deals are, ask the locals. And ask the hotel’s front desk personnel for advice on cheap places to eat. And don’t forget to stop by the tourist office and ask if they have any coupon books or can recommend great deals.

Those Entertainment Books Again
Remember the Entertainment books I told you about last week? There’s one for just about every city now. Buy one before you leave. Okay, you won’t be able to use every coupon in the book during your stay but for the investment you get coupons for the very things you need like discounts to restaurants and local attractions.

Stick With The Chains
Most areas also have the same restaurant chains you’ll find at home, TGI Fridays, Olive Garden and many run specials. Plus, you can clip coupons at home and take them on the road with you.

Happy Hour
Most hotel chains and restaurants now offer Happy Hours and it’s not just about chips, dips and half price drinks any more. Many slash 50% off the price of appetizers and some entrees if you’re willing to sit in the bar.

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The Blog-Supermarket Wars

In The Blog on May 17, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Things are really getting interesting where I live. It couldn’t be a better time to be a Budget Smart Girl. One local supermarket’s been printing a coupon book for things like frozen foods, breads, produce. Now their biggest rival has jumped on the bandwagon. Last week their coupon book arrived in the mail. I noticed some coupons are for exactly the same products as the other supermarket but their prices were even lower. I guess when they’re fighting for our dollars, we win.

It’s been another busy week for me, work wise and trying to catch up with gardening chores after a week of rain every single day. I’ve been planning easy to put together meals and came up with two new one. I’ll be sharing one of them later this week, the other one in this month’s newsletter.

Speaking of gardening. I’m going to try growing asparagus and potatoes. I’ll be ordering my supplies from www.gardeners.com. Even if you’re not in the market for gardening stuff, check out their two contests. One is for rain barrels. I’ve been meaning to buy one of those for a couple of years now. And as the Budget Smart Girl’s philosophy is why buy it when you can try and win it, you can guess I entered the contest. Plus, if you click on ‘growing vegetables’ you can win a $250 vegetable garden kit.

This week on Budget Smart Girl-Last week I gave you some suggestions for eating out while you’re on a budget, this week, I’ll tell you about ways to cut the cost of meals when you’re on vacation.
Also, quick tips, short cuts to get you out of the kitchen and keep you on budget. Plus, a recipe that just about anyone can make…it’s really budget friendly too.

Have a good week.

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Foods For Grilling

In Budget Smart Cook on May 14, 2010 at 1:34 pm

It’s been raining all week but this weekend I’m determined to take the cover off the grill, clean it up and think about foods I’m going to cook on it this summer. Grilling is no longer about steaks and expensive cuts of meats. Here are some of my favorites to try.

Roasted Chicken
One Memorial Day when I was thinking about what to cook for a family get together, I remembered I had two whole frozen chickens I’d just bought at Costco. I don’t know why but I decided not to cut them up but cook them whole on the grill. Okay, I cheated somewhat because I did cook them for about 45 minutes in the oven before transferring them to the outside grill. They turned out to be perfect and I got so many requests for the recipe that I wondered why I didn’t cook this way all the time. It’s also the perfect way to cook more than you actually need and use the leftover chicken in other dishes like sandwiches, salads, pasta and even topping for pizza throughout the week.

Pizza
Speaking of which, I’d always seen cooks on TV prepare pizza on the outside grill and tried it for myself a few years ago. It’s easy, the crust is perfect and you can add your own toppings and make a crowd size pizza for a lot less than you’d pay at your local pizza store. One of the best ones I’ve made was using leftover chicken, mushrooms, green peppers and as a base, Ragu’s Classic Alfredo Sauce.

Quesadilla
The whole pizza on the grill thing got me thinking about other foods I could cook outside and the next thing I tried was quesadillas. One combination I especially like is cheese and onions.

Fish
Fish doesn’t take that long to cook inside but on the grill you can have a meal in minutes. One of my favorite ways to cook it is take aluminum foil, cut it into squares, place fish, seasonings and chopped veggies on top and seal it up. These ‘packages’ are easy to carry outside, take about ten minutes on the grill and clean up is easy too.

Potatoes
One of my favorite summer time treats is a baked potato cooked on the grill, but they seem to take forever and the other foods are cooked long before the potatoes are ready. Just like the roasted chicken, I’ve found the trick is to cook them for about 30-45 minutes in the oven and then transfer them to the grill. Another way to cook potatoes is to dice them, put them in foil packages, throw on some salt, pepper and herbs and they go great with hamburgers.

Desserts
One summer I’d bought a pineapple for a dollar and decided to slice it and grill it outside. It was simple to make but one of the best desserts I’d eaten. Next time I tried it, I served it with frozen yogurt topped with shredded coconut. I’ve heard lots of people say they grill peaches, plums, and apricots too.

Money/Energy Saving Device
And one thing you have to love about the grill is it saves energy. You don’t have to turn on the oven in the house. It also keeps the kitchen cooler during hot days. And because it stays so hot for a long time, it’s the perfect way to cook lots of foods all at one shot…another energy saving plus. Roasted veggies for the whole week, grilled chicken, and yes, even pizza for a quick lunch.

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Eating Out on a Budget

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 12, 2010 at 1:00 pm

I’m a firm believer in spoiling yourself once in awhile. Whether it’s a bar of chocolate when you’ve stuck with your diet or a day of relaxation when you’ve been working too hard. We also need to reward ourselves when we’ve stuck with our budgets.
A great way to do that is to treat yourself to a meal at a nice restaurant. And yes, it can still fit into your budget, here’s how-

Choose Ethnic Cuisines
Where I live there are both high priced and mid priced restaurants. While we only visit the high priced ones for special events like birthdays and anniversaries, we do treat ourselves to meal out at least once a month. We’ve discovered that some of the best prices can be found at ethnic restaurants serving Chinese, Indian and Mexican cuisines.

Eat Lunch Not Dinner
Most restaurants have cheaper prices at lunchtime. It’s basically the same food, maybe smaller portions but you can net big savings.

Hit the Buffets
One of my favorite restaurants serves buffets both at lunchtime and during evening hours. You get to pick and choose what you want and the price includes salad, soda and a dessert.

Read Your Local Newspaper
Some restaurants place coupons in local newspapers. Sometimes it will be buy one meal, get one free, or 15% off the total bill. Don’t just read your local publications for the news, lots of businesses not only buy advertising space to let everyone know they exist, but also place coupons in them to attract new customers.

Sign Up For the Newsletters
Many restaurants give you an opportunity to receive their e-mail newsletter. At a local Italian restaurant we’ve received coupons for a free appetizer and $10 off a bill totaling $30 or more. Many give you a free appetizer or dessert when you first sign up and some give you a free dessert on your birthday. If you’re worried about SPAM or these newsletters filling up your e-mail in box, sign up for an e-mail account just for newsletters and other promotional goodies.

They Make You Bake It
A couple of years ago a new pizza place opened its door in our neighborhood. This one makes the pizzas, but you have to cook them at home. Okay, it’s not exactly eating out, but it is a break from you doing the cooking.

Be Flexible
If you’re not picky about when you eat sometimes you can get some really good deals on Mondays and Tuesdays…two of the slower days in the restaurant business. And another plus, it’s usually much quieter and more relaxing to enjoy your meal.

Think Outside the Box…or the main entrée
Don’t always think you need to eat an entrée to enjoy a good meal. I’ve discovered some really great appetizers on just about every menu.

Watch Your Wallet and Waistline
What restaurant doesn’t serve portion sizes that should really be feeding two people? You might not want to pay $20 for a meal but if you eat half at the restaurant and then bring the other half home for the following day’s lunch you’ve stretched your budget.

How About A Nice Dessert?
When we have out of town guests stay for a week or more we like to treat them to meals at restaurants but that can get expensive. On days when we don’t take them out, we eat our main meal at home and then go to a fancy restaurant for dessert. It’s another great way to stretch your budget.

Be a TouristI’m not sure if Rachael Ray’s show, ‘$40 a day’ is still airing on Food Network, but if you haven’t seen it, she visits various cities with just $40 to spend on food for the day. She always offers these two great tips. Be a tourist and check your local visitor’s bureau, not only for advice on great places to eat on a budget, but sometimes they have tourist brochures containing coupons and specials.

That’s Entertainment
Most cities offer the Entertainment books loaded with coupons. We’ve found if you use just a couple of them, they pay for themselves. I found this site through one of the newsletters I receive. Here you can buy the book at a discount and if you sign up you can also print restaurant coupons too. www.shopathome.com/coupons/entertainment.com

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The Blog-If You Don’t Have a Green Thumb

In The Blog on May 10, 2010 at 4:29 pm

I saw this article last week www.tinyurl.com/27efprm perennials that just about anyone can grow. If you’ve been thinking about growing vegetables and worried your thumb isn’t green enough, this article lists plants like garlic, asparagus etc. that are easy to grow. Rhubarb was also on the list. My parents always used to grow it and after reading the article I decided to go and buy some. I also picked up some strawberry and broccoli plants. The store was crowded and I was surprised how many people were buying vegetables plants this year.

Some contests to check out-If you’re a golf fan visit www.naturevalley.com where you can win a golf trip for two. And if you’re a mom and an entrepreneur, be sure to check out this promotion from Huggies www.huggiesmominspired.com. You can win a grant of $15,000 to launch a product or business. Even if you don’t want to enter, the site has some articles on business related topics, like writing a business plan, hiring staff etc.

This week on Budget Smart Girl-The weather’s been warm then it’s been cold and can’t really decide what it wants to be, but one thing’s for sure, it’s almost time to dust off the grill and do some outdoor cooking. However, the BBQ grill isn’t just for steaks and chicken any more. Some ideas for low cost meals you can cook outside.

Plus, many people have skipped eating out since the recession started. I’ll give you some tips on ways you can enjoy a restaurant meal for less.

Have a good week.

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Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea

In Budget Smart Cook on May 7, 2010 at 1:51 pm

It’s wonderful to pamper mom on her special day and one way you can do that without going to a lot of expense is to throw an afternoon tea. When I started freelance writing and needed some extra income I decided to teach cooking classes. One was how to throw an afternoon tea party. It always sold out within a day or two and all the participants loved it. Here are some tips and recipes I used in the class.

Scones
No afternoon tea would be complete without the scones and just about everyone has their own recipe. This is my favorite one-

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoon butter
½ cup raisins
½ cup milk
1 lightly beaten egg

Preheat oven to 424 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl, cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse oatmeal. Add the milk and mix until the dough clings together. Turn dough onto a floured surface and roll it out until it’s about 1 1/1-2 inches thick. Cut the scones using a round biscuit/cookie cutter. Place the scones on an ungreased baking sheet and brush with egg. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until scones are golden brown.

I found this site with more scones recipes and mouthwatering photos too. A warning here, don’t visit it if you’re really hungry! www.joyofbaking.com/scones.html

I also love cheese scones. Just leave out the sugar and add about a cup of shredded sharp cheddar and when they’re cooked dust them with some paprika. I usually make these into mini sized scones. They’re great served with whipped cream cheese and chives.

The proper way to eat a scone is to cut it in half and place a dollop of cream on one side, a dollop of jam on the other. I used to buy imported Devonshire Cream which if you can afford to splurge is the best, but I sometimes make my own. No, it’s not quite as good but it’s still a special treat. It’s easy to make too-

8 ounces package of softened cream cheese
½ cup sour cream
Confectioner’s sugar to taste.

In a chilled bowl, mix the cheese and sour cream together and add enough sugar to lightly sweeten the mixture.

Sandwiches
I like to serve at least three sandwiches. You can cut them into fingers or triangles. The key is to make them as light as possible so once they’re made, trim off all the crusts. Don’t use really fresh bread, day old bread is perfect. Plus, let the butter stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you use it. I use a combination of whole wheat and white bread. Here are some fillings everyone seems to like-

Tuna and Egg Mayonnaise
12 slices of whole wheat bread
3 eggs, boiled and chopped
1 7 ounce can of tuna in water
6 tablespoons mayonnaise

Mix everything together spread on the bread, trim the crusts and cut them into quarters.

Cucumber…a must for every afternoon tea
1 teaspoon dill weed
4 tablespoons butter
1 cucumber, the seedless variety is best
6 thin slices of bread

Mix the butter and dill weed together and spread on all six slices of bread. Peel the cucumber and slice it very thinly. Places the cucumber slices on the bread, top with the other slices, trim the crusts and cut into fingers.

Sliced smoked salmon also is great to add to these sandwiches.

Cheese Walnut and Pear

About ¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
1 pear, peeled and cut into thin slices; sprinkle with some lemon juice to stop it from browning.
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
3 slices white bread
3 slices wheat bread

Mix the walnuts and blue cheese together and then spread onto the three slices of white bread. Top with the sliced pears and place the whole wheat bread on top. Trim the crusts and cut into four triangles.

Super Fast Cookies
If you’re looking for a cookie to accompany the tea but short on time, buy shortbread cookies and dip them in melted chocolate and let them set on waxed paper. I sometimes stir chopped candied ginger or a sprinkling of powdered ginger into the melted chocolate.

Have a Happy Mother’s Day

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Living the Eco and Budget Friendly Life

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 5, 2010 at 4:25 pm

Here’s another book that got my attention a few months ago, Fix It, Make It, Grow It, Bake It, An Eco-Fabulous Guide to Life. I discovered that its author, Billee Sharp and I have two things in common. One, we both follow budget savvy lifestyles and two, we’re both originally from England. Sharp’s book offers budget savvy wisdom and tips on consuming less and is another must for the Budget Smart Girl’s bookshelf. Here is my interview with her. The book is available at www.vivaeditions.com

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell us about yourself?

Billee Sharp (BS)-I live in San Francisco with my Scots musician husband and my two sons. I have been a California resident for 18 years and I am originally from England. I studied at University College London and received a Joint Hons degree in Ancient History & Social Anthropology. I became a contemporary art curator and dealer in my twenties, setting up Building One, a gallery space in South London, working with a group of artists who became known as the YBAs ( Young British Artists). In 1991 I left London for California and started an independent record label, Reflective Records, with my husband. We also started our family here.

BSG-How did the book come about?

BS-I was approached by Brenda Knight of Viva Editions to submit a proposal for a book about living on a budget. Brenda has known my husband and me for many years and knew that we sustained ourselves on what can be the meager earnings of artists. Like most creative types our income can fluctuate quite widely from one month to the next and we have developed strategies for dealing with lean times.

BSG-Have you always lived the simple life?

BS-No, although there has always been something appealing about it for me. In my twenties when I was pursuing a career in the art world, conspicuous consumption and displaying the appropriate symbols of affluence were important considerations for me. I knew that to be credible in certain circles I had to be legitimate in their eyes, this meant a good deal of expenditure on wardrobe. I was always aware that this kind of display was necessary for certain types of activity but living that reality came to feel very superficial and unappealing to me.

BSG-Although the economic downturn has been a wake-up call for most, many are still ‘keeping up with the Joneses” What would you tell people about consuming less and its advantages?

BS-I think it’s hard for people to re-assess their desires. After all, our society approves and encourages us to seek more materially as a sign of our personal success. However, one’s bank balance is the ultimate reality check. If money is not available, it’s impossible to keep spending. I think in times of scarcity our desires get scrutinized and people generally realize that they don’t need all the stuff they think they do. I think when we are being careful with our resources we get more satisfaction from the things we do acquire. There is a special joy when you get exactly what you need for free or really inexpensively! Also, abandoning consumerist desires is a personal epiphany. I think most people feel liberated when they seek less materially.

BSG-What about people who say this is all about going without?

BS-I say just be discerning, give up things you feel ambivalent about and try to want things that are positive in your life. A good life isn’t characterized for me by having anything and everything that I might like the look of. It’s about making good sensible ecologically aware decisions about what I spend my money on.

BSG-For the person who has never lived a simple life, what’s a good (and pain free) way to start?

BS-I think that everybody has an inkling of how they can improve their life. If you find yourself in a place where you are buying everything, then try and win back something- make your own sprouts instead of buying them. Make your own eco-house cleaning products for pennies. Make a decision to volunteer in your community- there are lots of great charities and non-profits that will welcome your support. Wean yourself off buying everything in your life.

BSG-You own a green cleaning company. Any tips for cleaning our homes using inexpensive and eco friendly cleaners?

BS-The great news about eco-cleaning is that the ingredients are super cheap: if you have distilled vinegar, baking soda and castille soap in the house you have everything you need to clean. Lavender oil or another essential oil is nice to add to cleaning solutions, the aroma is delicious and lavender is also a natural disinfectant. For a general purpose eco cleaning solution, good for all types of surfaces, wood, synthetic, metal, tile take a spray bottle and mix : 1 teaspoon castille soap, 1 teaspoon baking soda ( or Borax), 3 drops of lavender oil or squeeze of fresh lemon, 1 quart of warm water. Shake well and apply to surfaces with rag or sponge. If you are dealing with a lot of grease, add a cup of vinegar to the mix.

BSG-Many of us are starting vegetable gardens so we can grow our own foods. Any tips for success?

BS-When you are starting a garden, plant easy-to-grow basics. Mint for example is a prolific herb. It grows well in all soil types and doesn’t need a lot of attention. It is important to have positive growing experiences to begin with because it encourages you to expand your horizons. I recommend getting an herb garden up and growing while planning and preparing for a vegetable crop. Seek out the advice of local gardeners about what grows best in your micro-climate, look at the allotment gardens in your neighborhood and see what seems to be flourishing.

BSG-Your book has a section on organizing a free market. Can you tell us what that is and how it works?

BS-We are lucky in San Francisco to have a local chapter of the Really Really Free Market movement www.reallyreallyfree.org
The idea is to work as a collective, designate a space and invite people to come and give what they have to the market. Some people bring clothes, books, furniture, plants, food, anything really. Others bring their skills be they hair-cutting, tarot reading, pedicures, music, legal advice, health advice, massage etc. The most effort will go into alerting people to the event and explaining how to contribute-everything is free. At the end of the market the organizing group can decide how to deal with whatever is left, our chapter generally donates everything that’s left to a local thrift store.

BSG-What are your favorite money saving tips?

BS-Simple things like: don’t pay for a gym membership just walk everyday- I walk to our local supermarket everyday and walk the dogs, its plenty of cardio for me, especially as I live on top of a San Francisco hill! I learned that walking will keep you in shape years ago from a girlfriend who had an amazing body, very slim and toned. I asked her what she did to look so great and she told me she walked to and from her work every day – four miles in all. The other advantage to walking more is saving the environment and spending less on gas and transport.

BSG-Any recipes you’d like to share?

BS-Most of my recipes come from my friends. I have one who has turned her love of healthy eating and cooking into a business, where she prepares food for individuals in their homes, tailored to their particular needs. She has a great blog with many affordable, delicious and healthy recipes, do visit www.nutritiousdeliciousfoods.blogspot.com

BSG-Any simple living websites or books you think we should check out?

BS-I think the internet is an amazing resource generally and searching for specifics will lead you to a lot of interesting resources. D-I-Y and alternative thinkers abound on the internet. There are many useful blogs out there and chat room communities. I recommend www.simpleliving.net as a good starting place. Also, join your local online Freecycle community and make friends. If you’re thinking about living a simple life away from the city I still think Alicia Bay Laurel’s beautiful book “Living on the Earth” (Random House, 1971) is the best.

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