We've Moved!

Due to some technical issues (I can't load Blogger any more without freezing my computer up), I'm moving my blog to:

http://foodrevolution.wordpress.com

Please update your links accordingly. Hope to see you there!

We Interrupt This Broadcast ...

I apologize for the recent lack of posts. I've been crazy-busy these last couple weeks, and now, I'm afraid, there may be another drought.

You see, Rob and I are off to Alaska (writing presently from our hotel room in Anchorage) for 10 days. I'm not sure how consistently available internet access will be, so to be safe, I'll let you all know now that there may be issues with posting for the next 10 days or so.

However, I'll be sure to post photos and some food-related information as soon/often as I can.

Thanks for your patience!

And the Runner-Up

Yes, that's right. There was one more entry I just couldn't ignore.

This was a great recipe, easy, and with a delicious flavor. So ...


Pepperoni Pizza Snacks by Clara of iheartfoodforthought


Clara, email me for your prize!

And the Winner Is ...

After much cooking, tasting, and general over-stuffedness, we at Food Revolution are (finally!) proud to announce the winner of our first monthly "Frugal Foodie Challenge."

And the winner is ...


Sausage Bread with Mozzarella by Jack of Redacted Recipes!!!


While there wasn't a single entry we didn't enjoy, Jack provided a recipe that was delicious, filling, and easily adaptable. He also provided a recipe that was easy to follow and didn't leave out any important steps. This was important because I followed each recipe as much as possible and I think some dishes may have fared better with easier/more in-depth directions.

So, Jack ... now that you've won the inaugural FFC, please contact me to collect your prize!

February Frugal Foodie Challenge!

It's here - the February edition of the Frugal Foodie Challenge!

This month's featured ingredient is ... APPLES! You may also any direct derivative of apples - apple juice, applesauce, and/or apple cider are fine. Apple-flavored items are not part of the challenge - so no AppleJacks please. (Yes, CB, I'm aiming that at you! HA!)

Deadline: Because of the shortened month and my not being in town for almost two weeks this month, I'm going to extend the entry deadline until 5pm on Friday, February 29th. Enjoy the extra time!

Budget: I'm going to stick with $7 again for this month for two reasons - first, I realize that not everyone lives in as cheap an area of the country as me. Second, the logical food to go with apples is going to be meat - and that's not a cheap item.

You can define a complete meal for yourself ... if you'd normally eat it by itself and its enough - you don't have to add anything!

Leave me a comment if you have any questions!!
So ... on that note ... GO!

More Delays ...

I feel like an airline stewardess ... I'm sorry to inform you, but FFC January will not be landing as scheduled. Due to overcommitment by the staff, we will be forced to circle at least one more time prior to landing.

Roughly translated into english ... because of my absolutely INSANE work schedule (65+ hours) these last couple of weeks and my agreement with Rob that we should try all 7 recipes, I still don't have a winner because there are two recipes I have yet to make. I apologize for my lame-ness and I promise I'll get you your response as soon as possible.

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!