Wise Bread (Myscha Theriault)

5 Classy Gift Ideas for Any Time of Year

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:00:02 +0000

Looking for Thanksgiving hostess or Christmas gift ideas that will be well received? Trying to keep your holiday spending in check? Here are five elegant gift ideas that are suitable throughout the year. All of them can be purchased affordably.

Crystal

Vases and fruit bowls might be seen as girl-only gifts by many folks, but well chosen photo frames, mantel clocks and spirit decanters in a neutral design (stay away from hearts and flowers) can easily serve as elegant gift ideas for both men and women. Crystal is timeless, elegant, and if you shop at places like Home Goods and Tuesday Morning, darn cheap.

Book Stands

If you don’t happen to be traveling to Indonesia, Thailand, the Middle East, or Africa, check your local import stores like World Market or outdoor markets where travelers bring back goodies from abroad to sell for a small profit. Hand carved wooden display stands provide an affordable yet exquisite backdrop for sacred texts, coffee table books, and photo essay titles. They make a dramatic decorative statement suitable for numerous design styles. Bonus? They aren’t something you can pick up at just any box store on the street, although they are available to those with a little time to look.

Wine Stoppers

My folks bought us two of these a few years ago and we are complimented on them all the time. The trick? Look for some nice hand blown glass ones with metallic accents and skip the tacky primary colored fruit replicas. I’ve also seen some reasonably tasteful wine stoppers done in various metals. These don’t take up a ton of space, so they are easy to ship. They are also suitable for every decorating style and are not holiday specific, making them suitable for year round giving as well as the numerous winter holidays representing multiple faiths and denominations.

Easels

The more dramatic, the better. As affordable gifts go, this one is still higher end and probably more appropriate to give a family member. That being said, if you’re wanting to spend more on someone and want something they will use for years regardless of changing tastes, these things are perfect. They can be a bit tough to find, but I’ve seen brass and other decorative metal ones at furniture stores and custom frame shops. Years ago, I saw the perfect one for me and did not go for it — still regretting the missed opportunity, really. A large brass display easel can hold oil paintings in antique frames, enlarged black and white photos for a theme party, a framed dinner menu, program schedule, and much more. If you can’t get your hands on larger museum quality version, go for a medium table top easel with classic decorative elements. The person who receives it will still get miles of use out of it. Trust me.

Liquor

I’ve suggested this before in last year’s hostess gifts article, but I’m tossing it out again here. Why? Because it’s timeless, unisex, and depending on what you select, uber affordable. Think butterscotch schnapps or coconut rum versus twenty year old single malt.

Do you have a favorite standby gift that’s elegant as well as affordable? Sound off below.

Closely Related Readings:

When Going Green is Classy

A Classy Christmas on the Cheap and Easy

Spirited Christmas Cocktails

Six Strategies for Green Gifting

Other Holiday Posts on Wise Bread: Dreaming of a Frugal Christmas, Making Christmas the Smart Way, Dreaming of a Green Christmas and DIY Christmas Gifts for the Under 6 Crowd.

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6 Healthy Snacks that Won’t Break the Bank

Myscha Theriault — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:07 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

We all need a little something to get us by between meals now and again. Healthy snacks are a way to ward off hunger without getting too far off track calorie wise. Problem is, if you listen to all the ads and hype, you might think keeping a few appropriate items on hand has to cost big bucks. Here are six healthy snacks that won’t break the bank.

Popcorn

The giant bag I picked up at the warehouse store came in at just over thirty cents a pound. Definitely within anyone’s definition of a cheap healthy snack. Now, you can dress it up, turn it into caramel corn and generally take it to the next level calorie wise quite easily. In fact, our favorite way to enjoy it is by making garlic Alfredo popcorn to watch online movies with. The point is, the base ingredient is unprocessed and relatively healthy. From there, you can omit salt, or reduce the butter by half by mixing it with grape seed oil. Or just enjoy it plain as an extra item to tuck in with your brown bag lunch. Bonus? Kids dig it.

Fruit

In addition to the seasonal fruit access which varies depending on your location, there are a few which are reasonably affordable all year long. My top four for price and function? Apples, bananas, clementines and raisins. Apples are a grab and take snack that require no preparation and dirty no dishes. They can also go into a myriad of other recipes, providing serious flexibility. Bananas are quick, always available at your local Save A Lot for less than forty cents a pound, and like apples can be used for many other things besides a quick healthy snack. (Think bananas foster, daiquiris, breakfast cookies and more.)

Clementines may not provide as much flexibility, but as far as appropriate snack size and low mess items go, these things rock. Kids dig ‘em, they peel easily and are much lower on the messy scale than oranges if you’re looking for something to dress up the school lunches. I know I’ve written before about recipes and ideas for raisins, but I’m throwing them out again here. Why? Because honestly they’re pretty tough to beat when it comes to price, ease of storage and menu planning flexibility. A handful or two makes a great quick treat, and having them on hand for the pantry allows you to jazz up some otherwise humdrum meals with affordable ease.

Sauces, Dips and Spreads

These don’t exactly stand alone in the category of healthy snacks. You pretty much have to pair them with something. That being said, if you choose veggies instead of potato chips and carefully select your dipping medium, you’ll come out ahead in the calorie game. Think peanut sauce, spicy eggplant spreads, guacamole or bean dips instead of heavy cheese sauces or ranches. Mix up your honey mustard dip by using agave nectar instead. Some of the more flavorful vegan recipes in this category are worth considering, if calorie shaving is your main concern. Personally, we’re dippin’ and dunkin’ fans at our house, so finding substitutes in this area is an ongoing process. (Look for a post in the fairly near future on healthier dips and spreads, FYI.)

Pretzels

These things are available in uber bulk for a song if you enjoy shopping at Costco. Not only do they meet my definition of healthy snacks, they bring a flexibility to the recipe arena that’s comparable to popcorn. Two favorites at our house are chocolate covered pretzels for holiday treats and gifts and baked honey mustard pretzels for a low calorie upgrade to the plain variety. We’re always on the lookout for more bulk pretzel ideas however, so feel free to share your inspired ideas below in the comment section.

Smoothies

There are more recipes out there for smoothies than could ever be properly listed here. We do have a couple of favorites however, including peanut butter banana smoothies with soy milk and a cholesterol lowering berry smoothie that was doctor recommended to my Dad. I don’t have cholesterol issues, but do like the flavor and protein punch this one provides. (Again, would love it if you all would share your fave smoothies below.)

Trail Mix of Choice

This is sort of wide open for recipes as well. Starting with another frugal food I’ve written on before, peanuts, toss in raisins, dark chocolate chips, sunflower seed kernels and whatever else floats your boat. You can really mix and match here according to your ingredient preferences and budget.

9 Things That Are Worth Buying at Costco

Myscha Theriault — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:28:21 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

We all want to get a good deal when we shop, and warehouse stores are some of the most popular places to make that happen. One of my favorite ones to shop at is Costco. The trouble is, some deals are better than others, especially when large amounts have to be purchased at one time. Here's a list of some of the items available there that work nicely into our eating style, budget and rate of consumption.

Organic Strawberry Jam

Costco carries seriously large glass jars of low sugar, certified USDA organic strawberry jam/fruit spread for less than half of what I can get it for at my regular grocery store stops. Since organic strawberries are steep anyway, this is a great way to integrate them into our menu planning via PB&J sandwiches and various other recipes you can whip up with jam such as sauces, thumb print cookies, etc. It's been a while since I stocked up, but I recall the price being around five USD.

Almond Butter

Whether you just enjoy almond butter or need a financial break from the exorbitant cost of having to buy it if you have a child with peanut allergies, you can grab it for a comparative song here. For under eight bucks, I can score a glass jar more than twice the size of the ones I see going for twenty dollars or more at my favorite health food store. Definitely a bargain, as anyone who's ever had to shop for almond butter can attest to.

Tapenade

Got a last minute party to plan and don't want to pay five bucks for the teeny little jars at the grocery store? Costco also has large jars of the artichoke variety for around seven bucks. Use it to toss in pasta or get through several weeks of holiday party season by using it to spread on toasted baguette slices from the toaster oven. Easy elegance on a dime. Gotta love it.

Ecos Brand Planet-Friendly Laundry Detergent

They sell the giant 210 fluid ounce jugs for around 12 bucks, and it's suitable for regular and HE machines alike. That's less than half of what that same brand costs at my favorite health food store. For those who haven't tried it, it's a seriously slammin' soap. Costco's the only place I've found that offers any sort of reasonable price break on it.

Fresh Seafood

Every other weekend, you'll find cases of fresh seafood items on special. Many of them are still a bit pricey to include in the menu regularly, but they routinely have mussels and clams in the two dollar a pound range. Definitely doable for a jazzed up dinner party in the form of a pasta dish or combined with mixed frozen seafood for paella on the cheap.

Organic Chicken Broth

A case of one-quart cartons of broth lasts a long time in the pantry. Having it on hand for those times I haven't had a chance to make stock from scratch really helps things run smoothly at home. Also, those who cook often likely realize, as I do, that many recipes call for chicken stock but not chicken. Even if you are one to make the stock from scratch regularly, you're eventually going to be out of balance with your supply. Having this stuff on hand will help keep things flowing.

Organic Soy Milk

We buy the cases of nongenetically modified soy milk that's USDA certified organic. Like the chicken stock, this stuff comes in shelf-stable one quart cartons. Perfect for the way we tend to use it.

Lunch Deals

For $1.50, you can score a full quarter pound all beef hot dog or Polish sausage and an extra large fountain drink. Deli mustard and other toppings are available on tap in pump dispensers. So if you arrive hungry and don't want that to be a cause of overspending, grab a dog deal before you hit the aisles. It's affordable, packed with protein and available without a wait. It's also a quick to eat lunch deal that you can snag without plastic packaging if you skip the straw and cup cover.

Glass Food Storage Dishes

I just picked up my second set of glass storage dishes for leftovers at Costco the other week. The first set was from Sam's and is one of those multi-piece Pyrex sets. You know, the ones that are casserole dishes mixed in with round storage dishes and have the snap on lids? They are working great, but I'd been wanting to find an affordable square set to the mix as I needed a few more anyway, and the round ones were a tad less efficient with regards to space. Costco has a case of multi-sized square glass containers with snap on lids for the same price. These can't be used in the oven, but are fine for everything else and they are great for being able to see what's inside.

3 Kitchen Hacks for Lazy Cheapskates

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:02 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Things have gotten increasingly busy at our house lately, and they don't seem to be slowing down. Three kitchen hacks in particular have helped me save time and energy costs when it comes to cleaning and food prep.

Double compartment crock pot insert

My extra large crock pot has been doing extra duty lately. We've started experimenting more with ground and whipped up beans and nuts in order to incorporate more plant based recipes into our diet. The slow cookers are great for that, but up until now I'd only been using the extra two-compartment insert crock for parties where I needed hot items standing by. When I wanted to try getting both black beans and chick peas cooked ahead the other evening, it hit me. Why was I using two crock pots when I only had to use one?

That's where the kitchen hack portion of the crock pot use comes in. The one with the double sided extra insert is enormous anyway, with each side holding a fair amount of food when you are slow cooking. So I put the black beans in one side and the chickpeas in the other. Voila! Half the cleanup time. If you want even more convenience, put them in to cook before you go to bed. You'll get up to cooked beans you can either freeze until you're read to use, or drain and put away for later that evening. I have no idea why I hadn't thought of this before, but I'm sharing now. Has anyone else been doing this all along?

A squeegee

When I need to get the sliding glass door streak free and don't have half an hour to spend doing it, this is what I use. I also use one on the glass shower doors. Again, not sure why this didn't come to mind before this year. All I know is it's saving me major stress now. So if you are one of those folks out there feeling irritated with glass door cleaning, give it a whirl.

The toaster oven

For years I resisted these, considering them a total waste of money. What was I thinking? Toasters are a complete pain in the tush and can only be used for one thing. Toast. If you want to upgrade to even a bagel, you need an entirely different machine. Screw. That. This thing rocks and I can cook anything from salmon fillets, to English muffin lunch pizzas and shrimp toast. The toaster oven also takes your basic lunch sandwich to the next level by giving you something freshly toasted instead of soggy and squashed. Chicken pesto with tomato and cheese and horseradish BLT sandwiches are two of our favorites to toast up. Not only can we jazz up a boring work at home lunch with minimal extra effort, the toaster oven uses way less energy than a traditional oven for things that just need a quick broil. They also don't heat the house up obnoxiously during the summer.

Well, that's my news flash folks. I've been waiting until I had the third brainstorm and the double sided crock pot epiphany I had this week put it over the top. Hope this helps. Please feel free to share any of your awesome kitchen hacks below.

Related Readings:

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Affordable Inside Tips from a Celebrity Personal Trainer

Myscha Theriault — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:00:02 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Many of us are trying to make healthier choices these days when it comes to exercise and eating. And many of us are also struggling to make it happen successfully. I recently had a chance to spend the afternoon via phone with Kathy Kaehler, Today Show fitness correspondent for over thirteen years and personal trainer to such celebrities as Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan and Michelle Pfieffer. Her most heavily weighed piece of advice was on a surprising topic. Read on for details.

One might have expected the entire advice list to be about exercise. What does a personal trainer focus on, if not specific fitness moves? In point of fact, we did cover that topic. Additionally however, Kathy was incredibly passionate about food choices and how to work in healthy ones more easily. Basically, what sense does it make to work your tush off in the gym and head home to ice cream sandwiches? Food choices are critical to getting the most out of your workout and training regimen. Here are the highlights.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Use your body as a natural weight when working out.

This is perfect for those not wanting to dish out for a set of free weights. Working out against a wall, or by leaning on a chair can do just as well on a budget. Think squats, leaning push ups, etc.

Mini workouts of approximately one minute.

For those with trouble finding larger blocks of time who can't necessarily get to the gym from work, these are great. They are also a fantastic way to flush some oxygen into your system to stay focused as well as fit. Pick a simple move or two to work on a particular muscle group, and repeat. She believes in this approach so much she's even developed a free online program for teachers to use in the classroom that I've reviewed over on my education blog. It's called Schoolhouse Workouts, and provides teachers and students with quick mini workouts to use for class transitions, unexpected time gaps or to kick off a group fitness activity.

Remember the importance of food choices in your overall fitness plan.

Getting the whole family on board is key here. Kaehler is passionate about including the kiddos in all phases of food preparation and cooking. Surprisingly, many children today don't participate in meal prep at all, or in some cases even know where it comes from. Involving them will not only give them some ownership, it will get them excited about the family's overall menu choices.

Storage containers for dips and sauces, as opposed to jars or bottles with pour spouts.

Kaehler says these help keep her honest. If she has to spoon out a particular dip or sauce, she is more likely to pay attention to portion size. Inside tidbit: Kathy's also been making the transition to glass instead of plastic, and you have no idea how hip I felt when she shared that the glass containers with plastic snap on lids I've been using along with my canning jars as a budget hack are the same ones she has in her refrigerator. (Score one for the budget crowd! If these are good enough for woman who trains the red carpet crowd, I feel absolutely no pressure to upgrade.)

Common challenge? Convenience.

With today's busy careers and lifestyles taking so much time, and kids' schedules getting crazier than ever, it's no big mystery why people cave for prepared and take out foods. According to Kathy, the answer lies in making fruits and vegetables as convenient as potato chips, and freshly prepared meals faster than takeout and sexier than casseroles. How does she make this happen? Through a process she calls Sunday Setups. Basically, it's sort of a twist on OAMC and weekly lunch box prep that handles everything you'll need for the week – from snacks to suppers, and lunches to morning meals.

KATHY'S SUNDAY SETUP PROGRAM

Basically it's easier than you think, and can be implemented with a variety of food pairings to suit your particular family favorites. Here are her main procedures and tips for making this work in her own home, and what she encourages her clients to do.

Set up a fruit and veggie snack buffet.

She and her family set this up on Sunday along with their other menu items for the week. Getting this done allows for simple lunch packing through the week, and healthy after school snacks that leave junk food eating dust. One healthy dip is selected for the week. You can mix and match according to what's popular at your house. From there, you just incorporate produce choices that work for your budget and family preferences. Kathy's current list includes blueberries, seedless grapes and cherry tomatoes. Your list might be carrot sticks, wild strawberries and apple wedges. Before her kids make it in the door, she grabs these items out of the fridge (remember, they're all pre-washed and prepped from Sunday) and has them available on the counter. These are also elements you can select from when getting school lunches ready to go.

Incorporate seasonal shifts.

Kaehler's lucky enough to have a farmers' market close to her home, but even if you don't you can work this in by observing the sale trends on produce at your local grocery store. Not only is this a more planet friendly way to go, but will keep the budget on track while mixing up the fruit and veggie selections to provide that variety all families need to keep going full steam on the healthy eating front.

Stock up on staples.

Obviously, the healthy pantry staples will vary slightly from household to household. Kathy shared her base ingredients and current fresh items, which are basic enough to work in with any budget: brown rice, a variety of healthy pastas, kidney beans, black beans, 4-8 boiled chicken breasts for use throughout the week, one dozen hard boiled eggs, a container of chopped onion, one container of chopped mixed peppers, a container of cherry tomatoes and three bunches of kale sautéed down to mix in with rice or tuck in with sandwiches. From this base set of items, she incorporates such meals as salad, stir fry, rice and beans, tacos and more throughout the week.

Do you have a frugal food pairing list that you use in your home? What tricks do you use to keep nutrition on track for the whole family?

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Leftovers: 6 Money Saving Ideas for Those Bits at the Bottom of the Jar

Myscha Theriault — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:04 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

We all have them. Those little bits of good stuff left at the bottom of one jar or another that we don't want to really throw out, but don't know what to do with. Here are six great tips for scraping the bottom of the barrel, so to speak.

Pesto

Slosh around some chicken stock or water in the jar to get out all of the pesto clinging to the inside. Dump it in with your chicken soup and add a splash of lemon or white wine to take it from hum drum to high end.

Orange marmalade or other citrus preserves

Put in a little vinegar and shake to loosen all of the preserves. Then add a touch of corn starch and water and shake like crazy. Add in some additional orange or lemon juice if needed for a great sweet and sour stir fry sauce on the cheap.

Extra tomato sauce or paste

When you have leftover paste or sauce in the jar or can, slosh around some water to get the last of it out and toss in with your slow cooker pot roast or beef and vegetable soup. It will round out the flavor and provide extra tenderizing support for those cheaper cuts of meat.

Mustard

Got a little in the bottom of the jar? Dijon with a little mayo and horseradish makes a great meat condiment or sandwich spread. Also, adding a little vinegar and honey can make an awesome vinaigrette for dinner salads.

Extra Italian salad dressing

The thick stuff at the bottom of the jar can be stretched with vinegar and a bit of water for a great budget chicken marinade.

Peanut butter

Use a miniature rubber spatula to scrape out every last bit of peanut butter. Then try a ginger peanut salad dressing, or a small batch of blender sauce to accompany tonight's dinner.

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Do you have any hot tips for scraping the bottom of the barrel with jar leftovers? What are your secret ways to save pennies where it doesn't necessarily show?

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Back to School: Savings and DIY Projects for Craft Capable Cheapskates

Myscha Theriault — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:00:24 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Everyone knows that back to school time can reek havoc on the pocketbooks of all parents. Two of the biggest culprits are gear and school supplies. Here are ways you can make the most of seasonal sales on supplies and ideas for DIY backpacks, pencil cases and lunch bags.

Make your own backpacks.

If your teen is showing signs of wanting to branch out with individuality as they head back to school, consider letting them attempt making their own backpack this school year. The following projects are suitable for boys and girls alike, from intermediate grades through high school.

This video from Threadbanger shows you how to make your own backpack from a men's suit jacket.
Duct tape is apparently a DIY fashion item when it comes to backpacks. Who knew? Check out this pink and green duct tape school bag from Thrifty Fun.
Sew your own simple drawstring backpack.

DIY pencil cases.

Personalized pencil cases are fun and provide tons of room for individuality. They are also a necessary item for student organization. Loose pencils, pens and erasers floating around the desk, locker and backpack can cause a number of problems with student productivity. Try working with the kids at home to make their own as a fun activity to wind up the summer and get ready for school.

Here's a cute felt pencil case with instructions, courtesy of Martha Stewart.
For the more craft capable who have fabric scraps to use up, here's a pencil case you can make out of leftovers from other projects.
Personally, I love this vintage style pencil case made from a recycled mailing tube

Make your own lunch bag.

Going eco is so chic these days, why not ditch the plastic lunch boxes and try making your own washable, reusable lunch bags?

You could try these instructions on how to make your own designer lunch bag, courtesy of Tip Nut.
If you loved used denim, try making a drawstring lunch bag out of a cut off leg from an old pair of jeans. There's a link in this article listing things to do with old jeans.
For those who ride their bike to school, this DIY option shows you how to make a lunch bag that will hang from your bicycle.

Maximize the savings at the office supply stores.

Use these supply sales as a time to get prepared for needs throughout the coming year. You'll be surprised how much money you can save if you use these sales for more than just back to school.

Stock up in advance for December holiday teacher gifts and children's stocking stuffers.
Art supplies are a great present any time of the year.
Pencils and erasers make great Halloween handouts that skip the sugar.
Have a good idea what your consumption rate is for your standardly used office supplies? Stock up on those too.

Related readings:

Got another great idea for back to school savings? Share your tips below.

This post was included in the Carnival of pen, paper, and pencil.

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Win a Green Makeover and a Spa Trip to New York City

Myscha Theriault — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:00:01 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Turn in a friend in need of a makeover, and you could both win a green makeover and spa getaway. Just score a picture of your friend's under the sink area in the kitchen and submit it with a write up on why you think they deserve to win. Better yet, in addition to the overall contest, Wise Bread readers get an extra shot at two separate prize packages by participating right here in the comment section. Read on for details.

Got a friend who needs a green makeover on the home front? This contest, which runs until August 14th (2009), lets you turn in a friend by submitting a photo of his / her under the sink area. That and a 250 word description as to why your friend needs the makeover and consult will get you entered. Contest details on the “under the sink” program are available via this link. Sponsored by Seventh Generation, the prize includes a consult with eco living expert and pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, a year's supply of Earth friendly cleaning products and a major spa getaway package to New York City. For the Wise Bread portion of the contest, two separate prize packages will be given away. One spa package from Lavera, and one starter kit prize package from Seventh Gen. Here are the details for both winning opportunities.

UNDER THE SINK NYC CONTEST

Grand Prize Package ( One Winner )

In-home consultation at the friend’s house with Dr. Alan Greene, a practicing pediatrician and specialist in green living.
A one year supply of Seventh Generation products for both the entrant and the friend in need.
A trip to New York City for the entrant and her friend that includes a one-night stay at the W New York Times Square hotel.
A day of pampering at New York’s Green Spa that will include a body polish, wellness massage and ocean vegan spa manicure/pedicure, along with a one hour make-up application and lesson.

Semi Finalist Packages ( Four Winners )

Four other finalists and their friends will receive a Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit containing a variety of home-cleaning products.
In addition, the four semi finalists will win a luxurious Lavera home spa kit containing Lavera’s customer favorite body spa shower gel, body scrub and bath salts, and premium anti-aging body lotion to pamper themselves.

Not a bad package for 250 words and a picture. So take your shot, and let me know how it goes if you win. I promise I'll try not to be envious. Once again, here's the link to Seventh Generation's under the sink contest details.

TWO EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN RIGHT HERE ON WISE BREAD

In addition to having a crack at the full spa getaway and semi finalist packages mentioned above, leaving a comment below explaining why you'd like a chance to go green with either your make up routine or house cleaning regimen. You'll be entered to win one of the following two prize packages. I'll close this one out the same day as the main contest. August 14th. (For the Wise Bread entries, please get your comments posted below by 9:00 in the morning EST.)

Lavera Spa Kit for Wise Bread Winner

Body spa shower gel
Body scrub
Bath salts
Anti-aging body lotion

Seventh Generation Wise Bread Winner's Package

Ruby Red Grapefruit Glass Cleaner
Green Mandarin & Leaf All-Purpose Cleaner
Emerald Cypress & Firr Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Green Mandarin & Leaf Shower Cleaner
Emerald Cypress & Firr Tub & Tile Cleaner
Wild Orange & Cedar Spice Kitchen Cleaner
Natural Paper Towels (120 Count)
Reusable Tote

Pretty cool, huh? So to recap the details, both opportunities to win end on August 14th. For the New York getaway and four semi finalist prize opportunities, apply directly through Seventh Generation's under the sink page (link provided above). To enter for one of the two Wise Bread prize packages, just leave a comment below telling me why you'd like to win.

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10 Tasty Ways to Use Canned Corn

Myscha Theriault — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:00:02 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Canned corn is super affordable even when it isn't on sale. When it gets marked down to less than fifty cents a can, it's time to stock up for the long haul. Here are ten tasty ways to use up those cans you have sitting in the back of your cupboard.

Sex up your salsa.

When I was cruising the aisles at the nearest Super Target the other day, I noticed a particular type of gourmet salsa and nearly picked it up. It was your basic organic tomato salsa with the addition of corn kernels and black beans. Since I had all three of those things back home, I decided to make my own for significantly less money. It was such a hit with the hubster, I'll be doing this more often to be sure.

Side salad ingredient.

I'm sure there are other recipes out there, but I whipped up one last week based on a basic idea from a friend. Quinoa and black bean salad. Since I had extra canned corn and a few other ingredients such as cilantro and jalapenos, I decided to get creative. Those ingredients plus a lime juice, sea salt and olive oil dressing made for a protein rich dish we enjoyed as a side with dinner, and for lunch for a couple of days afterward.

A cheesy, crowd pleasing side dish.

Whether you bake up a batter style casserole or go for the spicy cheese and corn in the crock pot option, cheesy corn side dishes are usually a hit when cooking for kids and adults alike.

Budget friendly shepherd's pie.

Toss it in with some browned ground beef, onions and an additional can of creamed corn and top with seasoned instant potatoes. Bake it off in the oven and serve with a crisp green salad.

Superior soup ingredient.

Not only can canned corn jazz up chowders and bisques effectively, it's also great for broth based soups when you are running short on fresh ingredients and need something else to round it out. Toss on some slamming soup toppers and you'll be dining in style.

Put some in a meal muffin.

They can be made with cornmeal or homemade biscuit mix, but meal muffins are a great way to add pizazz to brown bag lunches or beef up main courses of thinner broths and purees. Add in corn or leftover chopped cooked broccoli, and extra chopped meat from last night's dinner such as chicken or ham.

Pan roasted as a sassy side dish.

Toss in some zippy seasonings and mix in some fresh chopped herbs when you're done to take canned corn from hum drum to hubba hubba. Consider this with a Tex Mex dinner theme, or with fried chicken and a greener vegetable.

Green salad add-in.

I'm big on choosing salad ingredients with oomph. Corn certainly has that and makes for a healthy filling option when trying to transform salads into meals. As with the salsa, black beans pair nicely with this option for a taste of the Southwest that will leave you feeling satisfied.

Jazz up the cornbread.

I like to add in canned corn, jalepenos, crushed dried red pepper and shredded cheese when I'm serving cornbread with a meal. It takes it to the next level flavor wise, and makes an excellent side to crock pot chili. Again, if you're having it with a thinner and less hearty soup, sassing it up with canned corn and other ingredients will ensure your hungry eaters leave the table full.

Fritters.

Not exactly low calorie considering the oil and syrup, but an affordable day time snack or after dinner treat nonetheless. Corn fritters are great way to please company and family alike while keeping the grocery budget on track.

These are my top ten picks for using canned corn on the home front. Other budget ingredients that can go the distance menu wise are canned fruit, surimi, canned salmon, peanuts, frozen spinach, pumpkin and potatoes. Related Readings: Meals in Ten Minutes or Less, Simple Side Dishes, Healthy Convenience Foods and the Versatility of Peanut Butter.

Do you have any tasty recipe ideas for canned corn you'd like to share?

This post was submitted to Wanderlust and Lipstick's Wanderfood Wednesday. Stop by to see other food related posts and photos.

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Saving at Starbucks: Gourmet Coffee Just Got More Affordable

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:06 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Starbucks. They're convenient, hip, and synonymous with coffee. Many assume they can't afford Starbucks on a regular basis. However, a recent conversation with their national communications manager Alisa Martinez introduced me to several areas of savings I never knew existed. By ordering strategically and taking full advantage of their extra services, you can still afford to enjoy Starabucks coffee while out and about. Aromatherapy included.

Starbucks can be a great value, depending on how you use it. I've never been an “out for coffee every day” type of girl. I indulge when I'm traveling, running errands or need to pull together a quick business meeting on a budget.

For under five dollars, I can snag a few minutes away from the rat race. The smell of the fresh ground beans is all the aromatherapy I need. The atmosphere, which usually comes with soothing background music, is relaxing. There's usually an electrical outlet available, along with Wi-Fi. All of these things combine for a soothing rest in the middle of a hectic day, as well an excellent backdrop to discuss all things business related.

I've developed my share of hacks to keep Starbucks trips affordable. But Alisa turned me on to several tips I didn't know about out, which is where the "just" portion of the title came into play.

Hot Tips Straight from Seattle

Tweak your latte.

Ordering a brewed coffee with steamed milk (caffe misto ) instead of a caffe latte will knock around eighty cents off the tab. Not bad, considering you won't have to clip a single coupon.

Order a French press for two.

This produces four eight-ounce cups for around three dollars, which comes in at less than what two sixteen ounce drip coffees would cost separately. So if you're looking for affordable romance (otherwise known as a cheap date), this might fit the bill. After all, they say frugality makes the heart grow fonder.

Pick up a pound for the road.

I'm sure the idea of brewing your own at home won't strike anyone as Earth shattering, but since they actually did the math I'm throwing it out there. Thirty cents a cup. Not bad, considering it's a higher priced coffee to begin with. If it's the flavor of their particular roasts you're craving, this is hands down the most frugal way to work it in to your lifestyle. If you want to jazz it up a bit, go for a DIY pumpkin pie latte or other hot coffee cocktail as an after dinner treat the next time you're having people over.

Hang around for a refill.

This one was news to me. Refills on brewed coffee are available for a mere fifty cents. Who knew? Don't forget to bring your own coffee cup.

Pick up a Starbucks reward card and register it online.

This is one of my favorites. By purchasing a prepaid Starbucks Card and using that to pay for your Starbucks purchases instead of cash or a debit card, you open up a number of seriously slammin' rewards. Free refills on brewed coffee, complimentary flavor shot upgrades, upgrades of things like soy or cream at no charge, a free beverage with the purchase of every pound of coffee and up to two free hours of AT&T Wi-Fi per day while you're there. I had no idea these kinds of rewards were available, but now that I do I'm feeling like I can have a change of pace more often.

Tips I've Been Using All Along

Add a shot.

Instead of buying two medium cups of whatever coffee drink I'm indulging in, I get only one medium (or even a small) and add a shot of espresso. I get the double kick without the double price.

Snag the free music.

Actually, this one's more my husband's gig, since he's the family music and entertainment coordinator. Every month, one or two single music downloads are available for free at Starbucks. I've seen them by where you pay as well as by where you pick up your coffee. They're like little gift cards that feature the artist and the tune. It's a great way to test drive new artists for free. Who doesn't love free entertainment, especially when it offers way more than one-time access? You get to keep the music and enjoy it for as long as you like. Score!

Limited indulgence.

As I mentioned above, I'm not a “go every day” kind of girl. In addition to being a relatively inexpensive treat, it's also an affordable way to meet up with friends that costs way less than a long lunch and bar drinks. Have you noticed the new value pairings they're offering? There's at least one offered every day and they are all under five dollars. Each one features a coffee beverage and a food item. It's hard to find experiences these days with less than a five dollar price tag that still feel luxurious. Starbucks has poured enormous resources into developing a globally available network of locations with consistent quality. The result is a higher end coffee experience you can enjoy as an infrequent indulgence.

As an affordable location for on the fly business meetings.

Way less expensive than wooing a client at the hottest new bar in Manhattan, and the atmosphere is predictably upscale as I mentioned above. It's also a completely appropriate venue for elite level clients. Two examples come to mind. One took place in Los Angeles (although I stayed in Arizona while my boss and coworker went) during a script shopping session. The author I was working for at the time had already had one of his books turned into an academy award winning film and was hoping for the same to happen for the book's sequel. One of the actors interested in starring in the second film, a household name who fits anyone's definition of well to do, wanted to get back to us with the location of his choice once his schedule firmed up. His chosen meet up point? You guessed it. Starbucks.

The other example is a meeting I snagged in the Arabian Gulf with an extremely heavy hitter who had major influence over a particular oil revenue development fund. Where did he suggest we get together to discuss the details? You guessed it. I bring these examples up not to be crude and over share, but to illustrate the following point: If glitzy Hollywood celebs and elite investors from one of the wealthiest regions in the world deem this place a suitable meeting spot, then your average Joe can feel more than confident in setting up meetings with executive level clients there as well.

Do you have a savings strategy for when you are on the road and craving your favorite roast? Sound off below. Related Readings: Thrift on the Sly and How to Be a High End Cheapskate

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