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Archive for March, 2011|Monthly archive page

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The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter-April 2011

In Budget Smart Girl's Newsletter on March 31, 2011 at 4:45 pm

 It’s spring, almost April and in this newsletter lots of different things to tell you about-

Coupons on ebay

Seems the auction site isn’t just for buying and selling any more. You can get coupons too-

http://extras.ebay.com/

Spa Night on the Cheap

I saw this article and bookmarked because I”m always looking for inexpensive ways to treat myself to my own spa at home-

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/diy-beauty-treatments-you-can-make-in-your-own-kitchen-1263801/

Erasing Debt

Thought this was an interesting article-

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/112352/how-to-erase-70000-in-debt?mod=bb-debtmanagement

Time to Do Some Spring Cleaning

I tend to hang onto things, yes, sometimes when I should toss or donate them so this was definitely an article for me-

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gadgets-You-Should-Get-Rid-Of-nytimes-1557697455.html?x=0

Jiffy Mixes

I often buy the popover and corn muffin mixes from Jiffy because they’re always great value and oftentimes cheaper than making my own, now they’re offering a book-

http://www.jiffymix.com/bookorder.php

Gourmet Breads

Another thing I love but the prices deter me from buying them more often are gourmet breads. Here is a link to some great bread machine recipes-

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/recipes/category/methodCategory–tx_met_bread_machine?&cuisineCategory=tx_cui_american&pg=2

How to Do Most Anything

I can’t remember how I stumbled upon this site but when I did I spent an hour browsing all the content. Lots of good stuff about how to make various items and I warn you once you click on the link you’ll want to stick around for awhile-

http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/category-living/

Retirement for Women

We’re reminded just about everyday that we need to save for retirement and women often fall behind with that goal. Here’s a book that outlines specific details just for us girls.

http://www.wiserwomen.org/index.php?id=83&page=What_Women_Need_To_Know_About_Retirement

Bootcamp for Budget Smart Girls

I was sent this and thought I’d pass it along to you. Real Simple Magazine is offering a bootcamp dedicted to getting you on the right money track-

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/planning/learnvest-bootcamp/?xid=roundtable-bootcamp

Phone Service

Just about every budget related article focuses on ways to save money on your phone service. When I was sent details about Ooma I thought I’d pass them along to you. Here are the details and the company kindly answered a few questions I about the service-

Ooma provides free home phone service using broadband Internet and your existing home phone. All the customer has to do is purchase an Ooma device (MSRP $249.99),  plug-in their high-speed Internet and an existing home phone into Ooma Telo – and then calls anywhere in the U.S. are free, with extremely cost-effective international calling at pennies per minute.

Ooma Telo can be purchased online at Amazon.com or Buy.com and is also available at major retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, J&R, Fry’s and more.

Is this a one-time purchase or is there a renewal fee each year?
Yes, by making a one-time purchase of the Ooma Telo (MSRP $249.99), customers are able to enjoy crystal-clear voice quality and great features such as free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, 911 service. They only need to pay applicable taxes and fees (typically less than $3.50 per month). There are no yearly renewal fees or contracts.
Can people keep their same phone number?
In most cases, yes, Ooma can transfer (port) an existing phone number to Ooma. Normally there is a one-time processing fee of $39.99, but if they sign-up for an annual subscription to Ooma Premier ($119.99/yr), Ooma will waive the porting fee. Customer can confirm that their number can be ported by going to www.ooma.com/products/port. New customers are advised porting typically takes up to three weeks and they must keep their current phone service until the transfer is complete.
 
What are some international calling rates? Are there any special codes that have to be used?
Customers can call most countries for standard Ooma rates that are usually less than a penny per minute. Ooma Premier customers also have the option to save even more by subscribing to one of Ooma’s international calling plans. More information about the calling plans and bulk rates can be found here: http://www.ooma.com/premier/international-bundle
Some sample rates include:
·         Canada less than $.02 per min.
·         Italy less than $.03 per min.
·         Hong Kong less than $.03 per min.
·         Mexico less than $.14 per min.
A list of country calling rates and country code can be located by going to http://www.ooma.com/products/international-rates
 
To make international calls customers are required to use a country code, it’s essentially the same experience as if they were calling from a landline or cell phone. 

Drop Your Debt

Something else to pass along to you-

Mint.com wants people to win big money; by helping others lose—money, that is. Mint’s Drop Your Debt Challenge, “The Biggest Loser” for your finances, is awarding a $5,000 prize to the person who refers the mos tpeople to the challenge.  The challenge ends April 4.

To officially register for the Drop Your Debt challenge, and the $5,000 prize, go here: official registration. Then get as many people as possible to sign up. Facebook it, tweet it – or even hire the Goodyear blimp – just make sure friends/family put down the e-mail of the person who referred them when they sign up.

Looking After Your Car

 

And yes, one more thing to pass along to you. This time an offer from Bendix and some tips on looking after your car-

According the Consumer Reports, vehicle maintenance and repair costs account for about 4 percent of the total cost of ownership over the course of five years. While that might not seem like much, it can really add up.  And after the warranty expires, repair and maintenance costs can become very expensive.

Bendix Brakes is launching a program, “Bounce Back with Bendix” that helps consumers with some of those expenses.  Between April 1 and May 31, 2011, when consumers have qualifying Bendix brake products installed at a participating repair shop, they will receive a coupon to be applied toward future maintenance costs. 

 Tips for consumers

·         A good reputation goes a long way – Ask your friends or neighbors if they recommend a repair shop or check out sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List or Consumer Reports to see what people are saying.

·         It never hurts to get a second opinion – especially for larger repairs.

·         Make sure the work ticket lists the problems your car is experiencing , not just the recommended repair.

·         If you car is towed, make sure you specify which repair shop you would like it towed to.

Good Buys for April

New To the Stores: Hass avocados, beets, Texas sweet onions, peas, green beans, some strawberries

At Their Peak: Asparagus, artichokes, spring salad mix, field rhubarb
Grab Them Now: Kale, leeks, spinach, navel oranges

A Desperation Dinner

I mentioned that I put together a list of menus for April, meals I call desperation dinners and thought I’d share one with you-

You can just eat this as is or you can add chopped cooked chicken or marinated tofu. I like to serve it with plain white or whole grain rice.  This serves four.

For the marinade-

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce, sodium reduced if you’re watching your salt intake.
  • 1 tablespoon light sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons finely minced ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Mix everything together.
  • For the vegetables-
  • Two tablespoons oil
  • 2 cups broccoli
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup sliced onions
  • Optional, cashews, baby corn and water chestnuts, sliced

Add all the vegetables in a bowl and mix, add the marinade, coat all the vegetables and put in the fridge for at least an hour before preparing.

Heat about two tablespoons oil in a skillet or wok. Add the vegetables and stir fry until they’re tender but still have some bite left to them. Keep stirring them because the honey in the marinade has a tendency to make them stick to the skillet. If you’re using chicken or tofu, add this now.

Have a good month.

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The Blog-Desperation Dinners Ahead

In The Blog on March 28, 2011 at 4:40 pm

Before I forget…Congratulations to Alma who was the winner of the Debbie Macomber novel.

I spent most of yesterday working on a couple of week’s worth of menus as April’s going to be a busy month. I”m teaching an online writer’s workshop and getting back to work on The Budget Smart Girl book. I’m now half way done with the project and hope to have it completed by the beginning of summer. I’d love to have some input from you about what you’d like to see in a budget related book. Is there something you think most books miss? Topics that are never covered? Feel free to e-mail me with your responses.

Yes, almost April which means the newsletter. I hope to get that ready for Friday and there’s lots of good stuff this month.

Here are some articles I thought worth reading this week-

Inexpensive ways to add value to your home-

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/improving-your-home-for-1000-or-less.html

One ingredient face masks-

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/11-one-ingredient-diy-face-masks-2460089/

Classic American Beauty Products…some are very budget friendly-

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/554/9-classic-american-beauty-products/

Have a good week.

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A Budget Smart Good Buy

In Budget Smart Cook on March 25, 2011 at 5:01 pm

One food I always think’s a good buy is fish. And this time of the year it’s an even more of a bargain. Two reasons-Lent and Frozen Food Month. During March I stock up on lots of items like fish sticks, canned tuna, frozen cod and salmon, stick it in the freezer or pantry and use it throughout the coming months. Besides being a good price there are lots of reasons to like this budget smart good buy-

Perfect Speedy Meal

I have about ten favorite desperation dinners as I call them. Meals that can be ready in less than 30 minutes and at least half of them are fish dishes. It’s easy to defrost and simple to cook too.

Freezes Well

Even if you cook a fish meal ahead of time you can freeze it for later. Just about any type of fish freezes well too.

Variety

There are more varieties of fish than I’m sure most of us can name so you never get bored. It’s also great to take a recipe and try a different type of fish for a change.

It’s Good For You

In moderation, fish is a good food choice. Many years ago I wrote an article about Omega-3 and how most of us don’t get enough of it in our diets. Salmon is one of the best sources and canned salmon is on my list of budget buys.

It Makes Any Kind of Meal

Best thing about fish is you can make a hearty dinner with it, use it as a filling for a sandwich, or even a light salad on a hot summer’s day.

Favorite Fish Recipes

Some of my favorite stand by recipes include, salmon fish cakes…I always use crackers now instead of mashed potatoes as I think, one, they taste better and two, they hold together much better which makes freezing them easier too. I sometimes make tuna pot pies. I have made them with salmon too and puff pastry is really good with it. Salmon quesadilla are easy as well. Fish sticks often get turned into tacos. I sprinkle on taco seasoning before I cook them. I’ve even tried using cod with some taco seasoning and lime juice added which is really good. Top it with coleslaw and it’s a quick and easy meal.

One of my favorite sandwiches for a light supper is salmon and cucumber. The combination is great and perfect for the summer.

Fish chowder are also easy to put together. In the summer and when it’s too hot to cook I often make gazpacho soup and add shrimp so it’s more of a meal.

Fish Recipes

Here is a recipe I recently found on a UK site-

http://www.allaboutyou.com/food/italian-fish-linguini-recipe/recipe

I actually made this other night because I was short on time and thought what’s quicker than fish and pasta for dinner? I didn’t have any red wine so I used vegetable stock. I think you actually need more than the recipe states so if you try it, double it. I used the tilapia but next time I’d opt for the cod. I didn’t have linquini on hand so used spaghetti instead. While I was making it I thought it might work with canned tuna too. Plus, next time around I’d use more olives.

I also found this on another UK site, ten classic fish dishes-

http://www.redonline.co.uk/food/10-best/10-best-classic-fish-dishes

And if you missed my salmon chowder recipe the first time, here it is again

 

(Serves 4-6)

1 tablespoon oil

½ cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups diced peeled potatoes

1 cup sliced carrots

1 teaspoon of fresh dill or ½ tsp. Dried dill

1 can (14 ½ oz.)  chicken or vegetable broth

1 cup corn

1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk

Leftover ingredients-

Salmon—I used a leftover salmon steak from a previous dinner. It was probably about 1 cup of salmon, a 7 ½ oz. can of salmon could probably be used to0, maybe two if you wanted more salmon in the chowder.

Green Beans—I used about ½ cup chopped cooked green beans.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan, sauté the onion until softened, add the garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes and stir together, sprinkle in the dill and add the chicken or vegetable broth. Lower the heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the corn, green beans and then gradually stir in evaporated milk. Gently stir in salmon and heat through.

Serve with bread or crackers.

Coupons

One site I always check for coupons is Gortons-

http://www.gortons.com/coupons_promotions.htm

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Fashion Finds on a Budget

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 23, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Don’t know about you but when the seasons change I get the urge to sort through my closet, reorganize and yes, gather items I no longer need and either sale or donate them. Investing in your wardrobe can take a bite out of your budget but with some planning you can look like a million dollars.

Places That Have Good Deals

Here are some of my picks for finding good deals on clothing for both work and play-

http://www.forever21.com/  (Check out the red one shoulder maxi dress in the dress category for just $22.80)

I haven’t bought anything from H & M but the commercials always show great clothing at Budget Smart Girl prices- Here’s a link to find a store near you in the US.

http://www.hm.com/kw/storelocator__storelocatorhtml.nhtml

Another store I like to browse is Old Navy, here’s a link to their latest trends

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=58739

One of my favorite online stores is Chadwick’s. I’ve always been happy about the price and quality of the items, here’s a link to their clearance page…always find some good buys there http://www.chadwicks.com/chadwicks/browse/subCategory.jsp?icCategory=cat40362

 Expert Advice

 

And here to give us more tips and advice is Lori Bumgarner who is the owner of paNash Style, she’s an image consultant and also author of the book, Advance Your Image. You can visit her Web site for more information or to purchase her book and there’s also a link to her blog-

www.paNASHstyle.com  

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-What are some of the biggest mistake we make when buying clothes? 

Lori Bumgarner (LB)-Buying something we’re not completely in love with. Buying something that doesn’t fit and telling yourself you’re going to eventually fit in it. Buying something full price without putting it on hold first while you shop around and then determining if you really want/need it.

 BSG-How can we take care of our clothes for maximum longevity?

LB-Whenever you get your garments back from the dry cleaners, always remove them from the dry cleaners’ plastic.  Their plastic can do damage to your clothing if it’s kept in the plastic for an extended period of time.  If you need to keep the items stored in something, put them in a nice garment bag instead.

 BSG-If we only have $100 to spend on clothing, what are some must haves?

LB-Accessories.  Accessories of any kind (including shoes) can update several pieces of clothing you already have.  When it comes to shoes, metallic sandals in pewter or mixtures of gold, pewter, and bronze will go with just about any summer outfit.

BSG-What’s hot for spring and summer? Anything that are fad and should be avoided? 

LB-Check out my recent blog post for this one: http://panashstyle.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-finally-spring-spring-2011-fashion.html

 BSG- What’s your opinion on sites like Smashion and consignment stores? Any tips for shopping these sites and venues? 

LB-It’s one thing to buy new clothing online.  It’s another thing to buy second-hand clothing online.  When shopping for second-hand/consignment clothing, you want to do so in person so you can check it for any damage the store may have missed when accepting it.  You want to be able to touch it and feel it, examine it, and smell it!  I love consignment shops!  Most are pretty good about accepting only current trends and good condition clothing.  Always try everything on when shopping at consignment shops and don’t be tempted to buy something that doesn’t fit or you’ll never wear just because it’s $5.00.  That’s $5.00 that you could be better spent elsewhere!

 

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The Blog-Another Giveaway

In The Blog on March 21, 2011 at 6:06 pm

One of the best things about more people reading Budget Smart Girl is companies learning about the site and offering you giveaways and special offers. This week I have two to tell you about-

The first one is a book giveaway. It’s Debbie Macomber’s A Turn in the Road which is set for a May release. One lucky winner will win a copy. Rules as always are simple. Either leave a comment or e-mail me by midnight Eastern on Wednesday March 23rd, 2011 and I’ll pick a winner at random on Thursday. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.

Spring is officially here and that means allergy season for lots of people. The folks at Zytec have a both $2 and $4 coupons for their products, you can find out more here www.zyrtec.com 

Found this interesting article about 6 little known laundry ingredients and they’re probably things you already have sitting around the house-

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/6-secret-laundry-ingredients-2457417/

And thought this was interesting about why inflation hurts more today-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110318/ap_on_re_us/us_inflation_economy

This week on Budget Smart Girl-finding the best fashion finds and as fish is on sale now, fish recipes to try.

Have a good week.

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Saving Money The Vegetarian Way

In Budget Smart Cook on March 18, 2011 at 5:27 pm

 An easy way to trim your budget is to cut out more expensive items like meat and prepare vegetarian recipes a couple of times a week or even add things like beans and legumes to meat dishes. The great thing about vegetable based foods is they’re full of fiber which fills you up quicker. Foods like grains, beans and pulses are very inexpensive, most of them are both fat and cholesterol free. And these days ready made vegetarian foods are available at most supermarkets and, yes, no longer taste like cardboard!

Tofu and Tempeh

I make lots of my own vegetarian dishes like shepherd’s pie, pot pies, lasagna and veggie burgers. Just about any dish can be converted into a vegetarian one. Even mixes like Hamburger Helper or taco kits can go veggie by using tofu or one of the veggie burger crumbles. Best thing is you can buy tofu for about $2.50 and the tempeh product was only $1.75 and I used it to make sausages.

Morningstar Farms

Some items I always keep on hand for quick meals are veggie burgers and sausages. One company that sells them is Morningstar Farms. http://www.morningstarfarms.com/ I usally stock up when they’re on sale and stick them in the freezer. And I took advantage of the coupons I told you about last month, some great buys with $2 and $3 ones.

Quorn

One product I found at my local co-op was Quorn. They sell it in a variety of forms, like nuggets, crumbles, patties and this roast. It’s the more expensive of the vegetarian foods so I don’t buy it that often. However, it’s very dense and goes a long way. I often buy one of these roasts and use it for mock chicken salads in the summer. Combining it with things like mayo, roasted walnuts and grapes is perfect.

Eggs, Beans, Legumes

And then there’s dishes you can make with eggs, beans, legumes and the savings really kick in.

Meatless Monday

You might have already heard me mention this site before. Meatless Mondays. It’s a great resource for finding vegetarian recipes. Starting next month there will be a  meat less recipe on the site each week.
http://www.meatlessmonday.com/

Vegetarian Site

Check out some vegetarian books from the libary or this site has recipes to get you started-

http://vegweb.com/

Veggie Sausage and Mushroom Bread Pudding

(Serves 4-6)

Here’s a recipe I adapted on two counts, one I used the Morningstar Farms vegetarian Italian Sausages in place of regular ones. Two, I turned this into a dish for my slow cooker which is perfect on busy days.

4 eggs

2 cups milk, I used 1 %

Pinch of thyme and basil

1 package Morningstar Farms Italian Sausage, cut into bit size pieces

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups, bread cubes, older bread is best

8 ounces of mushrooms, chopped and saute until they are lightly browned.

Spray the slow cooker pot with non stick spray. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, add the milk, stir in the thyme and basil and then add the sausage, mushrooms, cheese and bread. Toss everything together well so the bread is well coated.

Pour the mixture into the slow cooker. I’ve found that adding some aluminim foil that you’ve buttered and placing it face down on this mixture helps brown it.

Cook on low for about 4 hours.

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Cutting Down on Ready Made Foods

In Budget Smart Cook, Uncategorized on March 16, 2011 at 4:56 pm

March means St. Patrick’s Day which always makes me think of my grandmother who was from County Cork. I’ve been paging through cookbooks figuring out what I’m going to make this St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate my Irish heritage. I’ve found recipes for dishes like colcannon and Irish soda bread. Aside from trying to recreate the foods my grandma grew up eating, I’ve been thinking about the approach her generation took toward preparing a meal.  Nothing came prepackaged and they shopped for fresh local produce every day. Besides being healthier, my grandmother’s generation probably saved a whole bunch of money too. It seems supermarkets aren’t just about food any more but places we go to buy convenience. Here are some foods I say pass by every time you see them-

Ready Prepared Produce

One thing that always amazes me is the individually wrapped potatoes and onions you find the produce department. I’ve seen price tags of $1.50 stamped on them. Today I bought a 3 pound bag of onions for $2.99 (seven onions) so there’s a big markup for having someone do the little work of peeling an onion for you. The same goes for the stew packs I often see, potatoes, celery, onions and carrots, vacuum packed and double the cost than if you put them together yourself.

Cheeses
Yes, I’m guilty of this one. I’ve been tempted to buy the bags of shredded cheese and  cheese squares. And really how long does shredding cheese take us? It’s probably one of the quickest chores. I’m a big fan of those soft cheeses flavored with garlic and onion and packaged in tubs. In fact, I had a holiday recipe that called for two tubs and got a bad case of sticker shock when I saw they were almost $5 each. It’s basically whipped cream cheese and a little milk to thin it down with chopped garlic, green  onions and black pepper. Next time you’re thinking of buying something like that check your cookbooks or even the Internet and I’m betting you can find a replica recipe. (In fact, check out the Web site below)

Juice and Jell-O

I never buy pre-made is juice and Jell-O unless they’re on sale or I have a coupon because making your own is a lot cheaper. And if these are items you regularly eat, invest in small plastic containers and juice boxes and fill them yourself.

Mixes

It took me a long time to get out the habit of buying packaged taco and gravy mixes but there are so many recipes on the Internet that it’s much cheaper to make your own. Plus, you always have a supply on hand and they’re preservative free too. One site I really like is this one-http://www.copykat.com/2009/03/27/homemade-taco-seasoning-mix/

Salad Dressings

Salad dressings are another food item that I used to buy ready-made but then decided to make my own. It all started when I had a recipe for a dressing I just couldn’t find and ended up making my own. Now I like making them not only for the money saving aspect but I can put my own spin on things like Thousand Island and blue cheese dressings. http://www.recipetips.com/recipes-collections/salad_dressing_recipes.asp

My Thousand Island Dressing Recipe (makes about 1 ½ cups)

 

 

1 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup chili sauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

½ teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard

Pinch of salt and pepper

Mix everything together and this keeps for weeks in the refrigerator. It’s also a good dipping sauce for fish sticks too!

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The Blog-Spring is Almost Here

In The Blog on March 14, 2011 at 3:43 pm

The days are getting longer, nights are lighter and yes, it has me thinking about a whole bunch of things I want to get done in the months ahead. One being hold a yard sale. During the winter the basement has become my makeshift craft area for my flower arranging. I realized just how crowded it was and when next year rolls around I’ll face the same problem trying to fit everything in there. I took a look around and saw some items we no longer use or want so looks like in May I’ll be holding a sale.

Check out the April issue of Reader’s Digest…I’ve been receiving a free subscription from ELF cosmetics. Lots of good stuff in there, where to find the best deals, discounts, etc. Making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Also an interesting feature on how the rececession has changed so many lives and the way people think about money.

Remember Marlene Alexander, the Dollar Store Diva who gave us some great tips on furnishings our homes with dollar store finds? This morning she set me a link to this great article she’d written about saving money while you’re traveling, here’s the link for you to check out http://www.walletpop.ca/2011/03/12/how-dollar-stores-can-save-you-money-on-food-when-you-travel/

Check out Gorton’s they have a BFF contest where you and your best friend can win a home theater system http://www.welovefishtacos.com/promotions

And as spring is around the corner it’s time to get outside and start walking. What to know how many miles you’ve walked? Check out this free giveway http://www.icejump.com/specials.php A great idea when you fill out a request for freebies is to have an e-mail address just for this type of correspondence.

On Budget Smart Girl this week–Cooking the old fashioned way means saving money. And how preparing vegetarian meals can help stretch your dollar.

Have a great week.

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Another Budget Buy-Green Split Peas

In Budget Smart Cook on March 11, 2011 at 1:50 pm

 

Last month I featured black beans as a favorite budget find. This time it’s split green peas. Like beans, split peas are also a fat free, high in fiber food. And they’re inexpensive…this bag cost just 99 cents. Unlike beans, they need no presoaking. All they require is a wash and rinse to make sure they’re free of dust and the odd small stone that can sometimes creep into the mix.

One of my favorite recipes is split pea soup. I had one I’d used for years but it took a long time to cook. Unless I continually monitored it, I was always faced with split peas and potatoes that got stuck to the bottom of the pan. The soup was sometimes ruined and clean up, a nightmare.

Lately I’ve been relying on on my slow cooker when it’s time to make any type of soup. So I thought about ways I could convert this recipe. If you’ve ever read tips on how to do that, everyone seems to recommend that you cut the liquid in half but I found for split peas it doesn’t work. They expand and soak up the liquid quickly, even in a slow cooker. I also found that the vegetables didn’t have as much flavor as the old method. So with some trial and error, I decided to saute the veggies with the spices and then add them to the slow cooker. The old recipe also used sage and as I was out of my supply from the garden, I switched to poultry seasoning which is perfect. When you’re cooking this soup you’ll think of the Holiday season and stuffing.

So here’s my new version of the split pea soup, slow cooker style. It serves 10-12 and freezes very well.

1 bag (1 pound) split dry green peas

8 1/2 cups of water (even stock if you prefer)

2 bay leaves

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon of dry mustard

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

2 slices of bacon, chopped (optional and this recipe is just as good without, bacon just adds a little smoke flavoring).

1 cup chopped onions

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 cup chopped celery

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed

Some oil for sauteing the veggies

Wash the peas, add to the slow cooker and add the water, bay leaves, salt and mustard. Turn the cooker on low while you’re preparing the vegetables.

In a large skillet heat the oil and add, the bacon…if using, all the vegetables and garlic. Saute until they’re starting to get slightly golden and then add the poultry seasoning and make sure everything gets coated. Continue cooking until the vegetables are light golden brown and then add to the slow cooker.

I cooked mine on high for about three hours and I think on low would be about five.

This soup is great all by itself for a hearty lunch. Also good with French or Italian bread and a salad for a dinner.

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March-It’s Frozen Food Month

In Budget Smart Cook on March 9, 2011 at 5:25 pm

March is Frozen Food Month and there are plenty of reasons for the budget smart cook to celebrate. Frozen food and freezing your own foods are some of the best ways to stretch your food dollar-

Leftovers

We all have to deal with leftovers and if you can’t face another day eating the same foods but can’t bring yourself to toss it away, freeze it for later. Right now I have a chili casserole with cornbread topping, shepherd’s pie and gnocchi with pasta sauce sitting in the freezer. All three dishes started out as leftovers and ideal for a quick meal.

Take Advantage of the Sales

How many times have you wandered through the supermarket, spotted a buy one, get one free deal on say chicken breasts and thought you wouldn’t be able to eat that much in a week? Never pass on these deals because you can stock up while they’re on sale, freeze half and keep the freezer full of foods that in the coming months will probably see a price increase.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

The freezer is the ideal partner for those days when you’ve finally decided to cook several meals all in one shot. By freezing them you don’t have to eat everything all in the same week or even the same month.

Enjoy Seasonal Foods Year Round

How many times have you craved summer fruits like peaches in the middle of winter? The freezer allows you to buy things while they’re in season and at their cheapest and eat them off season.

Tips on Freezing

Over the years I’ve had my share of freezing disasters and here’s what I’ve learned-

Choose the Right Containers

Not all containers are suitable for the freezer…yes, I learned this the hard way. I froze leftover pasta sauce, when it came time to defrost it and I couldn’t figure out why it leaked until I saw the container had tiny holes in it. Some plastics don’t hold up to below freezing temperatures so check first.

Room to Expand

Food expands more than you think…or plan for. Allow at least an inch or two for the contents to spread out.

Rotatation

It’s easy to just keep filling the freezer with new bargains and forget about the old stuff. My rule is when a new item goes in, one is taken out and used for the meal that day.

Chest Freezers

I know not everyone has the room or budget for a chest freezer but it’s something to consider. Mine’s been a real money saver. Discount stores that sell dented or scratched appliances often have great deals and some even have compact versions that fit into even the smallest area.

Sites to Check Out-

I’ve found these two sites have all the information you need on freezing foods-

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/freezer_shelf_life.html

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp

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