Confession ... I'm a Slacker (Sort of)

I have a confession to make. Because of my dedication to the FFC cause, my dedication to making all of the entries before casting judgment (due to Rob's enthusiasm about all the recipes), and my dedication to not getting fired from my two jobs, I'm extending the judging deadline for the FFC. Probably will have the results posted as of Sunday. I hope.

I apologize for any inconvenience ... and I'll have the new contest posted tomorrow, as promised, despite not having any winner for the January contest.

Please stay tuned!!

Tip of the Week: Ingredient Clustering

When we looked at the Frugal Foodie Challenge entries and tried to choose just three, the head judge (aka Rob) couldn't pick just three - they all looked (and sounded) delicious! So ... we're making all seven entries!

And that brings me to my Tip of the Week. Since I'm cooking SEVEN full meals this week, I needed to buy a lot of ingredients. Thing is, all of the recipes use mozzarella, and some of them repeat on other things. So, I "consolidated" my grocery list - figured out how many of each item (for example, chicken breasts) I needed and purchased accordingly. If I had planned seven meals for the week that had no major ingredients in common, I probably would have spent $100+ dollars on the shopping trip - things like beef, chicken, fish, pork, etc all add up quickly.

However, because I was able to use the same ingredients in several different dishes (i.e. chicken), I spent less because I could buy in larger quantities.

Another great example of this is when I had first started the blog - anyone remember the Neverending Can of Tuna?? (To make a long story short, I made meals for almost 2 weeks out of a 5-pound can of tuna fish). Because I didn't have to shop for multiple protein sources, I saved a TON of money!

The other area in which clustering can save a few dollars is on expensive specialty ingredients. For example, I never use pesto. Until this week, I'd never bought it before. The reason - it's almost $5 in our grocery store and it takes a lot to eat it all. However, if I had three recipes (or even two) that called for pesto, I can split its cost out over several meals and use an expensive ingredient - without spending a ton or wasting food.

Have you ever tried clustering? Does it work for you? Why or why not? Leave me a comment!!

Poll Results: People In Your Household

Last week I wondered about how much you spend on groceries. THAT purely unscientific poll left me wondering about another question - how many people are you buying groceries for? I mean, if everyone's spending $100 per week on groceries, but buying for 8 people, they are doing WAY better than I am on frugal shopping. Turns out, though ... if you infer that most of the same people (plus a few extra) answered this week's poll that answered last weeks, most people are spending $25-$50 per person per week. Seems logical ... but here are the actual results, based on 32 votes:

Just Myself - 1 vote (3%)
2 People - 19 votes (59%)
3-4 People - 10 votes (31%)
5-6 People - 1 vote (3%)
7+ People - 1 vote (3%) ... More power to you, whoever you are!!


Thanks for answering. Be sure to check out my new poll question for this week - what do you spend most of your grocery budget on?

Apple-Cranberry-Pecan Baked Brie

Last week I bought my first "specialty" grocery item - brie. I've never had it and always wanted to try it. First, let me say that I'm not entirely sure this brie was completely ripe. It seemed a little firm. However, it was yummy in its context: baked, with carmelized apples, cranberries, and pecans.

I made this recipe up as I went along ... so I'll do my best to approximate ingredient amounts.


COST: $6.09
Brie - $3.19
Apple - $0.75
Cranberries - $0.50
Butter - $0.50
Pecans - $1.00
Brown Sugar - $0.15
Cinnamon - Negligible
Salt - Negligible


INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup pecan halves (enough to almost cover bottom of skillet)
1 smallish wedge brie - peeled
1 large apple, peeled and diced (I used Braeburn)
1/2 cup cranberries
1 stick butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
Cinnamon to taste
Pinch salt


DIRECTIONS:

Toast pecans over medium heat. When lightly browned, add butter and turn down until just barely simmering. Add brown sugar, apples, cranberries, and spices and saute until apples are slightly cooked - still a little crunchy.

Meanwhile, peel rind off brie and place in bottom of small baking dish. When carmelized mixture is done, pour over brie and place in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.

New (Old) Cookbook!

One of my decisions at the beginning of this year was to try and make our meals healthier.

One of the cookbooks I remember, growing up, is my mother's American Dietetic Association Cookbook. It was an old one, and, according to my mother, has gotten "too complicated" of recent years. She bought it to help my (diabetic) grandmother eat healthier. However, all of the recipes in this cookbook are simple, but healthy - not too much sugar, carbs, or fats.

So, after a quick consultation with my mother to get an ISBN for her copy of the cookbook, off to Half.com I went. This is the perfect website for frugal cookbook shoppers - I found a "like-new" copy, price tag and dust jacket still intact for $3.99. How could I resist? So ... I present to you, my new (old) cookbook:

Frugal Foodie Challenge: The Entries!

Well, the deadline has officially passed. We had a grand total of seven entries this month (more than the 5 I was originally hoping for). Here they are, in no particular order:

Pepperoni Pizza Snacks by Clara of iheartfoodforthought
Chicken Noodle Soup with Cheesy Garlic Bread by Nikki of Crazy Delicious Food
Italian Quesadillas by Beth of Supplicious
Sausage Bread with Mozzarella by Jack of Redacted Recipes
Macaroni and Peach by Mindy of Oh, Mindy!
Chicken Casserole by Chris of Mele Cotte
Tomato Pasta with Chicken, Sausages, and Garlic-Mozzarella by Jenny of I'm Hungry


If I've missed your entry or you know of any others, please let me know! Thanks all for entering ... I'll be starting the judging process tomorrow. Stay tuned!

(And if you should, dear reader, be inclined to try out one of these fantastic, creative recipes, let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment!)

He Who Dies With The Most Toys ...

I don't know if this is necessarily a food-related post, but it does relate to being frugal, so I'm going to write about it anyway.

Today I was reading through my usual online forums and websites, getting caught up. A comment on a post about a man who saved money all his life and wound up a "millionaire-next-door" caught my eye. The man apparently was a janitor all his life, but through sound investments and frugal living, ended up donating two million dollars to several schools and colleges. I love stories like that ... if you live quietly, cover your basic needs, and invest wisely, there will be more than enough money for you at the end of your line (so to speak). However, the comment was more than disturbing. A poster who didn't identify himself left the following comment: "I still say that he who dies with the most toys, wins."

I hate to be abrupt, but that one sentence sums up exactly what is wrong with our society. There's nothing wrong with being wealthy, but when you hoard it all for yourself and give nothing back - that speaks of greed. And honestly, he who dies with the most toys ... is still dead. And no one really cares, because that person never bothered to touch others' lives in a positive way.

As Rob and I work on managing our money, getting out of debt, and perhaps accruing a little for our later use, I can't help but think on that quote and pray that we never end up that hardened. Money is a tool - best used on others.

What do you think? Is the poster right or wrong? Leave me a comment!

POLL Results: Weekly Grocery Budget

The results are in - 17 people responded to this week's poll. Here's what they said:

$0-$50: 5 people (29%)
$51-$100: 7 people (41%)
$101-$200: 4 people (23%)
Over $200: 1 person (5%)

Be sure to answer my new, corresponding poll: How Many People Do You Buy Groceries For?

Grocery Shopping Tip of the Week: Making a List

You know that old Christmas song that goes, "He's making a list, he's checking it twice ..."? Well, its not just Santa Claus who needs to make a list. Right up there at the top of my money-saving grocery shopping tips is: MAKE A LIST. And even check it. Twice, if you want!

Why? Well, have you ever gone to the grocery store, bought a whole cart full of stuff, then got home and realized you were still missing the one thing you needed for that pie you were going to make (or whatever)? Or what about going to the grocery store for a couple of onions and a gallon of milk and coming home with $50+ worth of stuff??

Sure, it happens to all of us, the urge to impulse-buy. But for some reason, most of us are WAY more prone to overspend at the grocery store than the mall. Maybe because everything is so (relatively) cheap at the grocery store? Who knows. But admit it, this has happened to you.

My Solution: As simple as it sounds, I recommend just making a list and sticking to it. There are several smaller steps that are part of this process, and that's what I'm going to expand on.

1. Make a menu for the week. I've been "mentally" doing this for a while. For example, this week I work Wednesday through Saturday. So I will make two meals this week - one Monday and one on Tuesday. They will have to last R (via leftovers) for the entire week. Plan out breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks. Don't go overboard, but say you always eat cereal and yogurt for breakfast (like me). You know you'll need those two items, plus any "sides" - enough to make it through the week. Don't forget snacks of some sort - and drinks.

2. Make a list of all the ingredients you KNOW you'll need, and in what quantities. For example, if I'm going to make fajita chicken, I know I need the fajita chicken itself, plus tortillas, salsa, a little cheese, wondra (for the gravy) and potatoes.

3. Next, do an "inventory" of all the stuff you already have. It's always irritating to come home from the store and realize you already have enough of something you just spent money on.

4. Finally, when you get to the store ... STICK TO THE LIST. Don't buy stuff just because they are doing a sample and you like it. Don't buy stuff because it looks good. Don't buy stuff just because its on sale. If its not on the list, DON'T BUY IT.

So there it is ... the Tip of the Week. What do you think? Any other suggestions or strategies I've missed? Leave me a comment and let me know!

REMINDER: Frugal Foodie Challenge - 1 WEEK Left

Just a quick reminder - I know I've been a little lax on the updates this last week. (I have an excuse ... working FIVE 16-hour days in a row) But, I wanted to remind all of you that the deadline for entry into this month's Frugal Foodie Challenge is fast approaching. So far I have three finished entries, 1 finished entry that I still need a blog address for (Mindy - that's you!), and at least 10 other people who have mentioned that they were interested ... but I haven't yet heard from.

Please, if you're going to participate, I'd love to see what you've got as soon as you get it posted. Email me or leave me a comment here with your blog entry's address!

Apple-Cranberry Strusel Muffins

So, earlier this week we were grocery shopping and I did something TOTALLY out of character: impulse buying. Well, sort of. I was doing a great job of sticking to my list, but then I came across the grapes, which I was intending to buy for snacking purposes. But they were $4 a pound. Seriously! So, they were a no go. However, they were right next door to this little display of 12oz bags of fresh cranberries. I like cranberry - so I bought a bag.

But then what to do with them? Rob really doesn't love cranberry sauce, and I don't know how to make it anyway. I should bake them into something. But what? A quick search turned up the idea that you can use them as a replacement for some of the apples in any recipe calling for apple. So I made a few alterations to a recipe in one of my favorite "cookbooks" - the Taste of Home Bread Bonanza (which is really just a magazine).

COST: $3.45

Flour - $0.30
Sugar - $0.30
Baking Powder - $0.10
Baking Soda - $0.10
Cinnamon - $0.05
Salt - Neg.
Eggs - $0.20
Sour Cream - $0.50
Butter - $0.40
Apples - $0.75
Cranberries - $0.75


INGREDIENTS:

Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups diced peeled apples (I used a Johnagold - yes, just one - it was huge!)
3/4 cup whole fresh cranberries

Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons cold butter


DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. (I just put them all into the KitchenAid Mixer)
In another bowl, beat the eggs, sour cream, and butter. (Just rapid whisking)
Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. (Turn the mixer on to STIR, let it mix up the dry ingredients, then pour in the wet ones.)
Pour in diced apples and cranberries, stir in briefly.
Pour into greased muffin tins to 2/3 full.

Preheat oven to 400.

For topping, combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Use pasty blender to cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle a rounded teaspoonfull over each muffin.

Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (you may want to test this before 18 minutes, my oven temp is consistently low and 18 minutes was perfect for me.)

Cool 5 minutes in pans, then transfer to wire racks. Serve warm. Yield - 16 muffins (I actually got 21, but they were VERY randomly sized)

Ravioli Lasagna

This is a quick and easy meal. Cheap? Not exactly ... it costs quite a bit, but if you figure out the number of servings you get for the money, you do okay. This recipe is one I made up a number of years ago, and then found out that there are lots of other people who do it, as well. But I still claim that this one is MY recipe. This one gets an A for easy and a A- for taste from me. The reason is that I used too much (and too thin) pasta sauce and it ended up not sticking together when it was hot. I had to put it in the fridge overnight before I could take a successful photograph. But, you live and you learn - some recipes just don't do as well with cheap ingredients. Still tasty, just not quite right.

This recipe will make 12 servings. Lots of leftovers. As you can see, its a little pricey, but its cost per serving is relatively low.

COST: $13.82

Raviolis - 2 x $4.99 = $9.98
Pasta Sauce - 2 x $0.85 = $1.70
Mozzarella Cheese - 1 x $1.99 = $1.99
Spices - $0.15


INGREDIENTS:

2 Small or 1 large bag Frozen Ravioli
2 16 oz cans generic spaghetti sauce (you can probably get away with MUCH less sauce than this)
1 bag shredded mozzarella, pizza, or italian cheese
Onion Powder to taste
Garlic Powder to taste
Oregano to taste


DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375.
In the bottom of a 13x9 pan, spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce.
Next, place frozen raviolis on pan so that the bottom is completely (or as close as you can come) covered.
Spread a THIN layer of spaghetti sauce over the raviolis (don't make my mistake of adding WAY too much sauce)
Sprinkle cheese over the spaghetti sauce.
Repeat the layers - ravioli, sauce, cheese - until your pan is full or you run out of ravioli. I can usually fit three layers.
Sprinkle spices over top of final layer.
Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Let stand on stovetop about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Top 10 Annoying Grocery Shoppers

Well, here's my first top 10 list. I was never expecting to make one, but last night Rob and I went grocery shopping, and there were SO MANY things to be annoyed at, I couldn't really focus on just one. Of course, there are really more than 10 things to be annoyed at in the grocery store, but I'll just list 10, and if you have more to add (or just want to throw in a "right on!"), please feel free to leave me a comment!

Top 10 - Annoying People You Meet at the Grocery Store

10. The Lazy Susan. I am seriously bothered by people too lazy to walk the extra 50 yards and put a shopping cart in the "cart corral." Seriously - you just spent an hour (or so) wandering aimlessly around the grocery store ... you couldn't take another 50 steps to keep your cart from hitting other people's cars?

9. The Rolling Road Block. Sadly, my parents fall into this category. Typically this is either an entire family or just one very talented individual who walks VERY slowly and somehow manages to take up the entire width of the aisle. This creates a serious backlog of shoppers - and just PRAY they don't stop moving, or a traffic jam will ensue that makes LA look like smooth sailing.

8. The Confused Person. This person either has a list and didn't put it in any logical order, or is just wandering randomly around the store. They will generally make several false starts, turn abruptly, stop suddenly and then glare at you if you bump them with your cart.

7. The Mario Andretti. This person is determined to set a world record in speed-shopping. That generally means they weave dangerously, take blind intersections without even slowing down, and huff and puff impatiently when stuck behind a rolling road block. Generally this is the kind of person who also drives like a maniac. Usually a woman in her 20s or 30s, she would push you out of the way to get the last artichoke on the shelf.

6. The Cheapskate. I will confess to being this person. Sometimes. This is the person who spends 15 minutes deciding which can of tuna is going to save them $0.05. She'll block an entire display while deciding, too. And meet her cousin:

5. The Nutritionist. This person will read the nutrition labels and/or ingredient list on each item she picks up before she puts it in her cart. Apparently this show of healthiness is important whether the item in question is a can of peas or a gallon of ice cream.

4. The Coupon Cutter/Price Watcher. Another friend of the cheapskate (and hopefully NOT the same person), this person will take her monthly grocery shopping to the register and insist on checking the price on every item as it goes across the scanner. "That should be $3.24, not $3.26" They generally will also have a fistful of coupons with them - at least one for every item in the cart, and will still be looking for more in their bottomless pit of a purse when the clerk (40 minutes later) comes up with the final total.

3. The Sampler/Muncher. This is the person who will pick up a box of cookies and a soda and eat the entire thing while shopping. Or worse, this person wanders through the produce aisles, treating the place like one giant free-for-all. A grape here, a banana there, etc. This person will also show up on days when the store is offering free samples and will possibly make the rounds twice.

2. The Line Cutter. This person was always first in line, no matter how many people were actually there ahead of them. Whether its the deli, bakery counter, or the checkout, this person will somehow weasel in ahead of you.

And the #1 WORST person to meet in the grocery store:

1. The Bad Parent. Now, I can't complain about all people who bring kids to the grocery store. I know sometimes its necessary and all that. However, I'm talking about people who think the grocery store is their child's personal funland. It usually starts in the parking lot. No hand-holding, just running ahead without watching for cars. Then, in the store, this child is not under control. They are running, pulling things off shelves, wandering off, making messes, screaming, picking things up, and generally being a hazard. And there's no age limit to this child, either. Last night I witnessed a parent allowing their 10-year-old children to wander around the liquor section. Picking up bottles, etc. Yikes! Wait until that child breaks a $100 bottle of wine. And cuts themself. The older kids in this group also generally have "wheelie" shoes. Um ... NOT in the grocery store. The kid loses control and there goes an entire display of glass jars. Please, people ... if you can't control your kid, DON'T subject the rest of us to him. Especially not at the grocery store.


Sooo ... there it is, my first Top 10 list. What do you think? Leave me a comment!!

"Sunday Morning" Pot Roast

This is one of the easiest meals in my repetoire. Right up there with crockpot fajita chicken. And SO tasty. Rob took the pictures on this meal, and I'm so impressed - you know how hard it is to make pot roast look good?

COST: $12.24
Beef roast - $9.00
Potatoes - $0.50
Carrots - $0.36
Mushrooms - $1.99
Onion - $0.38
Wondra - $0.01

I know, I went WAY over budget on this meal, but keep in mind that this makes about a week's worth of leftovers (this was a GIANT roast). I am excusing myself in this regard.

INGREDIENTS:

3 lb Chuck Roast
4 medium-size potatoes, peeled
4 carrots, peeled and cut in half
1 box button mushrooms, cleaned
1/2 large sweet onion
Wondra


DIRECTIONS:

Put all ingredients into roasting pan. (I usually put the roast on the bottom, surrounded by the potatoes, with the carrots and mushrooms next, then the onion on top of the meat to provide a little flavor). Place in preheated 325 degree oven and allow to cook for about 3 hours.

Remove from oven, remove all ingredients from pan, leaving the pan drippings. Put pan on stovetop and turn heat on high. Whisk in wondra until desired gravy consistency is reached. Serve while still hot. Enjoy!

Tag, You're It.

Wow. I can't believe I'm doing this. My friend Clara from i heart cuppycakes has tagged me in her blog to do a meme. If it was anyone else, I might've blown it off. But how can you refuse such a nice person? So ... here it is, folks.


What were you doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was finishing my senior year of high school, fully convinced that I was MUCH cooler than I actually was.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Unpacking. Seriously, I had just moved down here to the valley and was still trying to get settled into my new (now previous) apartment.


Five snacks you enjoy:
1. anything baked-goods (cookies, cake, pie, I'm not particular)
2. french fries from McDonalds
3. Sour Cream and Onion Pringles
4. Edamame (hot preferably)
5. Ben & Jerry Chunky Monkey ice cream

Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:
There aren't many I know ALL the lyrics to. But I can sing along with most songs without sounding like a total moron.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Put at least 1/2 my money into mutual funds for retirement (can't count on SS anymore!!)
2. Buy a house. Doesn't have to be huge. Just perfect. :)
3. Take a degree from Johnson & Wales.
4. Start my own bakery.
5. Start on my 100-things.

Five bad habits:
1. Ignoring housework.
2. Cracking my knuckles.
3. Procrastinating. A lot.
4. I'm not as thankful as I could/should be.
5. Interrupting.

Five things you like doing:
1. Spending time with Rob.
2. Baking.
3. Sitting at the beach, watching the waves.
4. Taking a walk.
5. Eating. (Sadly)

Five things you would never wear again:
1. Wedge shoes
2. Tye-dye
3. Poufy bangs
4. Plus-size clothing (Yay, diet!)
5. A perm

Five favorite toys:
1. Cookbooks
2. Smoothie maker
3. dishwasher
4. microwave
5. space bags


I'm not going to tag anyone just yet. I'll be back a little later with a couple of people ... but I need to decide on who. :)

POLL Results

The results are in for my poll to discover what you, my loyal readers, want from me. And they are, in order from most-wanted to least:

• Grocery Budget Tracker - 7 votes
• More Frequent Updates - 7 votes
• Grocery Shopping Tips - 6 votes
• Product Reviews - 3 votes
• More Recipes - 3 votes
• More Personal Posts - 2 votes
• More Photos - 1 vote
• Newsletter - 1 vote

Not receiving any votes were: Updated design, fewer personal posts, and "Other".

So the people have spoken! A grocery budget tracker is in development. I'm trying to be a bit more active in my posting, and hopefully you've found a few grocery shopping tips in the last week or two. More are coming. I'll also add the occasional product review and try to get a lot more recipes in the works.

Thanks for your input! Keep it coming - see my new poll to the right!

Coupons - Worth The Trouble?

Okay, I know I'm going to take a lot of flack for this post from the frugal community. I admit that what I have to say here is probably anti-thetical to all that a true frugal-hack would say. But here it is:


Coupons do not save me money.


There, it's out. Here's the deal: I'll use an example from our newspaper yesterday. In one of the coupon inserts there were ads for money off tomatoes, butter, cooking spray, peanut butter, guacamole, yogurt, cottage cheese and almonds. Of course, most of these coupons were for $0.35 or so per item. And these are name-brand items. The problem: In most cases, I can still get a generic for less than the name-brand with the coupon. Sadly.

Of the aforementioned list of items, I have the need (and the space) for 1 thing. I do need cooking spray. And I prefer PAM. And the coupon was for $1.00 off. Could be useful. The problem: When I go the the grocery store with PAM on my list - will I remember to take the coupon with me? And more importantly, will I remember to use it? Coupons are a great money-saver ... for very organized people. Which I am not.

Finally - the cost analysis. If I buy a newspaper for $1.25 so that I can get (and maybe use) a coupon worth $0.35 - who is the idiot consumer?? That would be me.

Yes, there are people (and you read about them all the time on various blogs, online news stories, etc) who have the time, organizational skills, and patience to successfully clip coupons, use them on triple-coupon day at the grocery store, and walk away with $200 worth of groceries for $35.

I am not one of those people. They don't work for me - but I'd love to try them again ... if you have any tips for me on successful coupon-using, please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you, and I'll try each method suggested and write a follow-up piece in a month to let you all know how it turned out.

Frugal Foodie Challenge Update

Just a reminder, we are getting closer to the deadline for the Frugal Foodie Challenge! As of right now, I have only four people who've told me (decisively) that they are entering ... and I'd love to see at least 10 entries! So get the word out - the Frugal Foodie Challenge is the next big thing!!

And if you're not one of those four people who've told me they're entering - email me and let me know your intentions. Thanks!!

Chocolate Snack Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting

I made this cake as a "birthday cake" for my father. Admittedly, I had already made him a pie, but who am I to refuse such a nice man? I found the recipe in my Betty Crocker Cookbook (Bridal Edition), which is a great cookbook for newlyweds, as a lot of the recipes are easy and don't require much knowledge or fancy ingredients. This cake drew good reviews from everyone who tried it (namely myself, my mom and dad, and Rob), and it was certainly easy enough to make. An excellent choice for a "quick" dessert recipe.

The unusual thing about this recipe is that it does not include a lot of the ingredients you think of as "staples" in cakes - notably EGGS. So if you know anyone with an egg allergy, this is a great choice!

COST: $2.30
Flour - $0.30
Sugar - $0.15
Cocoa - $0.35
Baking Soda - $0.10
Salt - $0.05
Vegetable Oil - $0.25
Vinegar - $0.10
Vanilla - $0.10
Water - FREE
Butter - $0.35
Powdered Sugar - $0.50
Milk - $0.05

INGREDIENTS:
Cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon (I used 1 teaspoon) vanilla
1 cup cold water

Frosting:
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Cake:

Heat oven to 350F. Grease bottom and side of 8 inch square pan.

In medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In small bowl, stir oil, vinegar and vanilla until well mixed (this should be vigorous - you are mixing oil and vinegar). Vigorously stir oil mixture and water into flour mixture for 1 minute or until well-blended (small lumps are okay - do not overmix). Immediately pour into pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (mine took 38 minutes). Cool 15 minutes before frosting.

Frosting:
Melt butter (I used a microwave, a small saucepan over medium heat would also work). Add cocoa and mix in. Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over cake, then spread with spatula if necessary.

Lemon Meringue Pie - the Right Way!

If you've been keeping up, you know that my prior lemon-meringue pie did not turn out at all. So here's the recipe that I used when I re-did (successfully) the pie. I will not be publishing cost on this recipe, since technically it was a gift. I will say, though, that it is most definitely an under-$5 pie. (If you don't screw it up on the first attempt!)

INGREDIENTS:
1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust (I used Keebler)
1 2/3 cups sugar
6 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 cup lemon juice (I cheat and use Realemon)
4 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 300. In heavy saucepan, combine 1 1/3 cups sugar and cornstarch. Add lemon juice. In small bowl, beat egg yolks, then add to lemon mixture.

Gradually add boiling water, stirring constantly. Over medium heat, cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens (will happen fast - usually 5 minutes or so!). Remove from heat. Add butter, stir until melted in. Pour into pastry shell.

In small mixer bowl (I used my KA 6qt stand mixer), beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form (use mixer setting 8 or 9 for this). Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form.

Spread on top of pie, sealing the edges to the shell. Bake 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool and chill before serving (unless you like lemon meringue soup). Refridgerate leftovers.



This is what the pie looks like while baking. Pardon the fuzzy photo - my oven's manufacturer was kind enough to add little dots to the oven window ... I swear they're only there to prevent good photography.


This is what the meringue looked like after baking. I like mine a little less brown than most people - just the peaks should be brown, in my opinion.

Christmas Day

Our menu this year was varied, but only cost us $25.88 total. The reason? Free food from HEB!! They have these "meal-deals", where if you buy a certain item, all the other items that would typically go with that item as part of a meal are free. This year the item was spiral-sliced ham. We bought a 9.5 lb half-ham for the $25.88 and got everything else for free. Whoo!!

COST: $25.88
Honey Baked Ham - $25.88
Canned Peas - FREE with Coupon
Canned Corn - FREE with Coupon
Cranberry Jelly - FREE with coupon
Salad - FREE with coupon
Mashed Potatoes - already in pantry (approx $0.14)
Gravy - made from ham drippings - FREE

The only thing in this photo that we paid for was the ham. And the crackers and dip, but those technically weren't part of the meal. We were just using those as "pre-meal-waiting" munchies.


Cat says, "Merry Christmas!"

A Foodie's New Year Resolutions

Well, here we are at the start of another new year. Happy 2008 to you all - I hope it is a great year for all of you!

As I sit and review the things which have happened in 2007 - moving (twice!), getting married, starting a new job, pursuing new life avenues - I can't help but wonder if 2008 could possibly top the great year that was 2007. But it can. You know why? Because I will make it so. :)

In that vein, here are my (food and blog related) New Year Resolutions:
• I will make at least seven blog-updates per week. I can't guarantee they'll be one per day, but I will make the effort.
• Every time I go grocery shopping, I'll buy one new food item. Foods like exotic cheeses, ethnic foods, etc. I'll report back to you on each new thing.
• On the same line, I'll try at least 3 totally new recipes per month. At least.
• Finally, I'll make the effort to improve and update the blog to meet and exceed your expectations!


Cat wishes you all a very Happy New Year, too!!