Recipe: Lemon Roast Chicken and Parsley

This is a recipe that I learned years ago when I first started living on my own and have been roasting chicken like this ever since. I saw Chef Jeff Smith make a roast chicken on TV when he used to have his show on PBS and I adapted his simple recipe to give it more flavor. Whole chicken is often on sale for 79¢ to 89¢ a pound.

Ingredients

• 1 three to four pound chicken
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup olive oil (I use extra virgin for more flavor)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 bunch fresh parsley

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Rinse the chicken inside and out with water and pat dry with paper towels.
3. Rub the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper.
4. In a small bowl, make a dressing with the olive oil, lemon juice, and ground thyme.
5. Rub the chicken inside and out with the dressing.
6. Stuff the chicken loosely with the parsley and bake uncovered in a roasting pan for about 1 1/4 hours.

Note: Originally the recipe did not mention if the lemon juice was from a bottle or not but if you are using juice from a large fresh lemon, go ahead and stuff the chicken with the juiced lemon halves as well to give more flavor.

My tip: It's easier to make the dressing in a glass measuring cup so that you can see the measurements and have one less bowl to clean.

The resulting juices at the bottom of the pan make a delicious gravy.

Cooking hint: Pour the salt and pepper into a small bowl and mix together well and use it to season the chicken. This way you have less of a risk of getting chicken juices all over the place, cross contamination, and makes seasoning food fast and easy.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Bread

One of the Thanksgiving sides seems to traditionally be a sweet potato dish. This year we boiled and mashed sweet potatoes instead of baking them and were left with quite some leftovers.

Since I made the mashed potatoes into gnocchi, I figured I'd change the sweet potatoes into something as well. The same evening after I made the gnocchi, I made sweet potato bread for the next day's breakfast.


There was apple sauce in the refrigerator which is a perfect replacement for oil in these mix and pour recipes to make it low fat. Try to use unsweetened apple sauce when replacing the oil in recipes otherwise your end result will be too sweet.


Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potatoes

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F
   
2. Use a spray oil to grease a 9"x5"x3" loaf pan.
3. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.
   
4. Stir in the sugar, pecans, and raisins.
5. In another bowl, combine the eggs, applesauce, milk, and mashed sweet potatoes. Mix well.
6. Add the sweet potato mixture to the flour mixture and mix with a large spoon until combined.
7. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and then remove from pan.

Recipe: Mashed Potato Gnocchi

Thanksgiving has come and gone and you're stuck with leftover mashed potatoes.
What to do?
You can make gnocchi with them! Gnocchi are Italian soft dumplings that are gently poached until they rise to the water's surface, then drained and served with a sauce.
Depending on how "wet" your mashed potatoes are, you may have to add a few more tablespoons of flour until the dough is dry enough to handle without sticking to your fingers. Recipe makes 8 servings or 4 hearty dinner portions.


Ingredients

• 4 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 whole egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes and egg until well combined.
2. Add the flour and mix well until the dough is workable. If the dough is still a bit wet and sticky, add tablespoons of flour until the dough is dry enough for you to handle.
3. Turn the dough out on to a clean work surface and using a knife, cut the dough into 4 even pieces.
4. Roll a piece of dough into a long 1/2" thick rope and with a knife, cut into 1" pieces.
5. Set a side on a plate.
6. Do the same with each remaining piece of dough.
7. Once all the gnocchi are made, drop them gently into a pot of simmering salted water. When they rise to the surface, they are done (about 3 minutes).
8. In the meantime, prepare in a saute pan, the sauce that you will serve the gnocchi with (tomato, pesto, or sage butter)
9. Gently lift the cooked gnocchi out of the water with a slotted spoon and toss with your favorite sauce.
10. Serve.

You can also freeze the uncooked gnocchi separated on a cookie sheet and then transfer them into a storage bag and keep in the freezer.

Recipe: Banana Nut Bread

Bought a bunch of bananas and they ripened too fast? Don't throw them out! A banana that is turning black is actually very ripe and perfect for making banana bread.
Banana bread became a standard of American cooking books in the 1930s and gained popularity in the 1950s.

This recipe is adapted from one by Milliken & Feniger.

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 4 ripe bananas
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups all purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

Fold in the chopped walnuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.

Recipe: Orange Fennel Salad

In this week's Pathmark circular, Anise (Fennel) and Navel Oranges are on sale for $1.50 and $1 respectively. With the addition of arugula and a red onion, you can make this salad that I first posted last year.


http://itscommoncents.blogspot.com/2010/12/window-garden-and-orange-fennel-salad.html

Recipe: Omelet and Breakfast Sandwiches

In this week's Pathmark supermarket circular, I noticed that a carton of 18 large eggs is selling for $1.69, Banquet Brown 'N Serve Sausage Links or Patties is $1, and Pillsbury Grands Biscuits are $2 (use the $1 off 2 coupon here and get the cans for $1.50 each).

Putting them all together, I can make my own breakfast sandwiches just like the famous "Golden Arches" and save!
Total cost for all the ingredients: $4.19 and makes 8 breakfast sandwiches.

Before we start, we must first learn the technique of how to make a basic omelet.
Here is a video of Julia Child showing us just how it is done:



Ingredients

• 1 box of Banquet Brown 'N Serve Sausage Patties
• 1 can Pillsbury Grands Biscuits (I prefer Southern Style)
  
• 8 eggs
• butter or oil to cook the eggs
  

Directions

1. Prepare and bake biscuits as per manufacturer's instructions on can.
2. While biscuits are baking, prepare and cook sausage patties as per manufacturer's instructions on box.
3. Using an 8 inch non-stick pan, cook the eggs omelet style 2 at a time.
4. Flip the omelet in half and then cut in half with a spatula.
   
5. To assemble the sandwich, cut a biscuit in half sideways and lay half the omelet and then a sausage patty and then top with other biscuit.
6. Continue cooking the rest of the eggs the same way.
   

This is a recipe to make all the breakfast sandwiches at once (great for a family) but you can just bake the biscuits and then prepare the eggs and patty on the day that you are going to eat one (or two).

I don't season my omelet with salt & pepper as the biscuit and sausage have salt and seasonings already.

Coupons, Circulars Are Key Ingredients To A Cheaper Grocery Bill

I've been doing this for years. Good to see that it's finally made the local news and more people are starting to do it.

From NY1 News:

Clipping coupons can certainly cut down on a grocery bill, but consumers don't need to spend excessive amounts of time with scissors to see substantial savings. NY1's Money Matters reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.

There are those who clip coupons and those who take it to the extreme. Melissa Zambito, a mother from Piffard, N.Y. whose high couponing caliber landed her on the show "Extreme Couponing" calls coupons "legal shoplifting."

But just like time is money, saving money takes time. Zambito spends roughly 20 hours a week clipping and categorizing her coupons, and mapping out her strategy before she hits the stores.

However, Jeanette Pavini of Coupons.com says using coupons does not need to consume a shopper's life or basement.

"The reality is you can save a tremendous amount of money," says Pavini. "You can save thousands of dollars a year using coupons and using different strategies with an investment of a modest amount of time."

Rather than 20 hours a week, Pavini says shoppers should just spend 20 minutes going through newspaper inserts and surfing for coupons online and can still shave hundreds off a monthly grocery bill.

"If you can save $200 a month on groceries, and so maybe $50 a week, and you're investing 20 minutes, well, 20 minutes for $50, that's worth it to me," says Pavini.

She says the first place to look is not at the coupons themselves, but rather the store circulars. They may not have clippable coupons, but shoppers can still find tons of savings, no scissors required.

"The circular is your best friend. You look at the circular and you build your weekly menu off of what is on sale," says Pavini. "Once you have that menu established, you look for coupons that match what's on sale, so that you get double the savings, and then clip coupons and print coupons for things that you would need anyway, even if it's not on sale."

Whether shoppers have one coupon in their wallet or a binder-full, like Zambito, there is no need to be embarrassed when approaching a cash register. Couponing is in, as is saving money.

Pavini says, "3.3 billion coupons were redeemed last year -- 3.3 billion coupons, that's a lot of coupons. It's like the new black."

"Extreme Couponing" airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. on TLC.

Grocery Shopping

A friend of mine was amazed when she learned that I only budget myself $20-$30 for the week on groceries and I stick to it. She spends almost $70 for one person!

My trick is to peruse the supermarket circulars and buy only what's on sale. I have a small pantry but I try to stock it up with the basics like canned stock/broth, dried pasta, jarred sauces, and canned beans. Most often times these go on sale for 99¢ or less.
Frozen vegetables periodically go on sale as well and I stock up on corn, peas, chopped broccoli, chopped spinach, whole leaf spinach, and okra when they sell at 99¢. These vegetables come in handy to bulk up a meal and I have recipes that utilize these in this blog.
Bread freezes very well so if you find that loaf on sale for $1.50, buy a couple and freeze one for later.

I buy the store brand most times since it's cheaper and I find it's just as good as major name brands. When I DO find name brands on sale, I also search the internet for manufacturer's coupons for that product for the additional savings.

Specialty spices and sauces I buy in Chinatown or Little India as they are often sold at better prices than major markets.

I shop at Costco for bulk savings like cereals and bevereages and they also have coupons on specific items. Fresh produce is cheaper there than at supermarkets as you can buy a package of 6 romaine hearts for about $3 (great for making Caesar salads and wrapping Galbi Gui). Don't forget the drugstores and 99¢ stores!

When buying fresh produce or items from the refrigerated sections, always look at the expiration date and chose the one that will expire later. Supermarkets usually put the newer stock behind the ones that will expire sooner. When you get home, do the same with your refrigerator and pantry.

Once your pantry and freezer are well stocked, you'll be spending less to make a meal. Many recipes will make a dish to serve a small family. If it's just you, freeze the rest for meals you can eat later and you will have saved yourself money AND time.

Recipe: Korean Grilled Short Ribs - Galbi Gui

Galbi (or kalbi) is a Korean dish of grilled marinated beef short ribs. The dish is pretty popular and is usually served with fluffy white rice and lettuce leaves for wrapping.
One would take some grilled meat, pulling it off the bones, placing it in a lettuce leaf with some rice, wrapping it up into a roll, and then traditionally dipping it in a spicy fermented bean sauce.

Making it yourself is more economical than going out to a Korean restaurant and this feeds the craving when you don't happen to have a Korean restaurant in your neighborhood. Short ribs are selling $2.59/lb at Assi Plaza in Queens.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of beef short ribs (the thin sliced L.A. rib style is most often sold)
  

For the marinade:

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Asian pear chopped
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 4 tablespoons dark sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

Directions

1. In a food processor, puree the chopped pear and onion. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse to mix.
2. Place ribs into a large zip lock plastic bag and pour the marinade in to cover meat.
3. Seal bag shut and allow to marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator but over night is best for optimum flavor.
4. Heat a large non stick pan and coat with a bit of cooking spray.
5. Remove short ribs from marinade and cook 2-3 minutes each side.
   

Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken

Here is a recipe that makes wonderful use of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sake (or cooking wine) that you should have on the Asian side of your pantry.

Dark meat chicken is usually used to make this as the meat is more tender than white meat. Besides, chicken thighs and legs usually cost less than breast meat so this is a dish that everyone can afford to make.

Mirin is a sweet sake seasoning used quite often in Japanese cuisine.

Teriyaki is usually broiled or grilled and the sauce is constantly brushed on the meat as it cooks but with this recipe you do it on the stove, thickening the sauce as the chicken cooks. Definitely a one pan dish!

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken thighs (you can debone them now or later)
• 2 tablespoons sake (you can substitute Chinese Shao Hsing wine or Dry Sherry)
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons mirin (this gives that shiny luster of teriyaki)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger (grate using the small, not fine teeth of a box grater)

Directions

1. Place the chicken thighs in a plastic zip lock bag.
2. Mix the teriyaki ingredients well in a bowl and then add to the chicken.
3. Seal the plastic bag and allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes.. The longer it marinates, the more flavor it absorbs.
4. In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil.
5. Take the chicken pieces out of the bag and reserve the marinade.
6. Cook the chicken pieces skin side down over medium heat until browned then turn the chicken pieces over and brown the other side over low heat.
7. Add the teriyaki marinade to the chicken in the pan and cover.
8. Steam cook the chicken until done.
9. Remove the lid and continue to simmer the sauce until thick.
10. Turn off heat and remove chicken.
11. Remove the bone and slice the chicken into strips.
12. Pour thickened teriyaki sauce over the chicken.

$1 Off 2 Pillsbury Grands Biscuits and Sweet Rolls

The local supermarkets here at times offer Pillsbury Grands for 99¢ each. Using these manufacturer coupons I found on the internet, it's like getting them as a buy one get one free!
Print up a couple copies of each coupon and stock your refrigerator for the holidays.


Pillsbury Grands Biscuits $1 off 2

Pillsbury Grands Sweet Rolls $1 off 2

Coupons expire 30 days from the date you print.

Video: How To Brown Ground Beef

There are quite a few people out there who don't know what it means to brown ground meats especially when you are making something like Hamburger Helper (what I first ate when I moved out of my parent's house and started living on my own) or making meat sauce for lasagna.

This technique can be used for any type of ground meat.

Video: How To Sauté

Here is a cooking technique that everyone should learn. When you sauté, you are constantly moving the food so that it "jumps" about in the pan. Here, it is demonstrated with potato but the technique goes for any vegetable or seafood that you do not want browning or color.

Video courtesy of VideoJug

Video: How To Baton and Julienne

This cutting technique comes in handy to make vegetable sticks for your crudite platter.

Videos courtesy of Howcast.

Cutting thinner than 1/4" (usually 1/8") is called Julienne. Many recipes call for this especially stir-fries. The vegetables will cook faster.

Video: How To Chop An Onion

A person who doesn't have proper knife skills and doesn't know how to prep vegetables for cooking will most likely be turned off by the whole idea and decide to order out instead.

Here's a video courtesy of Good Housekeeping on chopping an onion, one of the most basic and most used skill in cooking. Learn how to chop and cut and you can save money eating in instead of ordering out.

Video: How To Chop Garlic

I've seen bottles of chopped garlic sold in supermarkets that cost much more than a sleeve of garlic that usually runs for around $1 USD. Garlic from these jars has lost most of it's flavor as they are usually packed in water or oil. Don't be lazy and scared to chop your own garlic.

Here's a video to learn how to chop your own garlic and save money.

Video: How To Cut Up A Whole Chicken

Cutting up a whole chicken by yourself is not as difficult as it might seem. It's much cheaper to buy a whole chicken and cut it up into pieces yourself. Here is an instructional video courtesy of Gourmet Magazine.

Recipe: Kabocha no nimono (Simmered Japanese pumpkin)

Kabocha is a wonderful sweet Japanese pumpkin with a fluffy texture that is prepared by cutting in half and then seeds scooped out, cut in half again, then chopped into 1" pieces. The sharp edges are trimmed with a peeler and then the pieces simmered in a sweet & salty broth for 20 minutes.

Kabocha freezes nicely so if happen to buy a large one, you can cut, prep, and freeze half for another use.

Kabocha is ususally served in many bento boxes and since it is rich in fiber and beta-carotene, healthy for you too!

Dashi is a cooking stock made of kombu seaweed and bonito flakes and can be bought as an instant powder in Asian markets. It is used in many soups and simmering liquids.

Mirin is a sweet cooking sake which can be omitted in this recipe if you don't have it. Just increase the sugar by 2 tablespoons.

Ingredients

• 1 pound kabocha squash
• 1 cup water (or dashi for more depth of flavor)
• 2 tablespoons mirin (sweet cooking sake)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Directions

1. Rinse the kabocha squash under running water and dry the skin.
2. With a sharp Chef's knife, cut off the stem.
3. Carefully cut the kabocha in half and with a spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds.
4. Cut the halved kabocha in half again to get 4 quarters.
5. Cut the quarters into 1 inch pieces.
6. With a peeler, trim the sharp edges of the skin.
7. Layer the kabocha pieces skin side down in a large skillet pan
8. In a large measuring cup, mix the water (or dashi), mirin, sugar, and soy sauce together and pour over the squash.
9. Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 20 minutes.
10. Serve warm or room temperature.

Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad with Cucumber, Peas, and Mint

I bought a bag of wheat berries in a Chinatown supermarket for $1 a while ago and have been wondering what to do with it for quite some time.

Cucumbers are on sale this time of year and I bought 3 for $1 along with a box of frozen peas for 99¢. With my mint growing profusely in the herb garden, I decided to put the ingredients all together and invented this light Summer salad. Peas, cucumber, and mint seem to go together quite nicely.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup wheat berries
• 1 large cucumber (diced) if it has a waxy coating, peel it first!
• 10 oz. box of frozen peas (thawed)
• 1/4 cup fresh mint (chopped)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

1. Rinse the wheat berries and put into a pot with enough water to cover by 2 inches.
2. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered for an hour.
3. Drain the wheat berries and allow to cool.
4. All all ingredients into a large bowl and toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve.

Recipe: Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

Pasta is on sale this week for 80¢ a box at my local supermarket. Italian Turkey Sausage is on sale for $2.99. Broccoli Rabe is $2.99 per pound. I already have extra virgin olive oil and garlic in my pantry so I decided to buy all these ingredients to make this popular Italian dish for about $7.

Orecchiette (Italian for "ear") is the pasta shape that is normally used for this dish. I substituted Medium Shells which is similar.

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch of broccoli rabe (stems trimmed off and rinsed)
• 1 pound of Medium Shell pasta
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage (hot or sweet, the taste is up to you) cut into bite sized pieces
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup reserved broccoli rabe water
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add a handful of salt and bring back to boil.
2. Add the broccoli rabe and cook for a minute. Remove from water with tongs and allow to cool and drain in a colander.
3. Bring the water back to a boil.
4. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat and cook the sausage until browned, about 12 minutes.
5. Add the chopped garlic and saute for a minute more.
6. Add the drained broccoli rabe and toss to coat everything in the flavored oil.
7. Add 1 cup reserved broccoli rabe water and salt and pepper to taste.
8. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente (about 10 minutes)
9. Drain pasta and return to the pot.
10. Add the broccoli rabe and sausage sauce to the pasta and toss.
11. Transfer everything to a serving plate and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.

Recipe: Simple Pasta Salad

It's been a REALLY hot Summer so far and one does not want to cook in such weather.

I came up with this recipe using grocery items I saw on sale at the local supermarket this week.

These are the prices for the America's Choice brand which I find just as good as national brands.

Frozen boxed vegetables (10 oz.) are on sale for 99¢ each.

16 oz. box of dried pasta is 80¢

8 oz. block of cheese is $1.50

16 oz. bottle of salad dressing $1.50

Ingredients

• Half of a 16 oz. box of shaped pasta such as Rotini, Rotelle, (or your favorite shape)
• 10 oz. box of frozen mixed vegetables
• 4 oz. of sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup salad dressing (Italian, Caesar, Balsamic, Ranch, or your favorite)

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil and follow pasta manufacturer's direction on cooking the pasta shape of your choice.
2. While pasta is cooking, dice up the block of cheese into 1/4" cubes.
3. Add the box of frozen vegetables a few minutes before pasta is ready.
4. When pasta is done, drain the pasta and vegetables. Add to a large bowl.
5. Add the salad dressing and toss to coat. You want to cool down the pasta before adding the cheese.
6. Add the cheese and toss again.
7. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Hello Summer! What do you think of my outfit?

If you want to save money on clothing, this is the time to buy your Summer pieces that you need. The stores are already ordering and stocking the floors with Fall and "Back To School" outfits and need the floor space. This means that the clothes that you would normally wear now are marked down or on sale so that they can get rid of it and make space.

Buy classic shapes and colors and you can wear these items every Summer and save money knowing that you have a full wardrobe. Buy the swimsuits on sale now. Outfits and pieces that are Fashion Fads are in today and out tomorrow so you are best to avoid these if you want to save money.

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

If you check the supermarket circulars, you'll notice that many traditional BBQ ingredients are on sale right now for the holiday weekend. Watermelon, hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, corn, BBQ sauces...

This is the perfect time to buy and stock up if you can for the week. Buns and meat freeze nicely so you can always have an impromptu BBQ and know that you saved money having bought all the ingredients on sale. When purchasing groceries, always remember to look for the expiration date (or in some cases, the manufacturing date). Purchase the one that will have the the longest shelf life for instance, I just bought a half gallon carton of Florida's Natural for $2.50 and chose the one with the exp date of September 2011 over August. Same for the Bacon Bits I just bought on sale that expires in 2013.

Recipe: Easy Mango Kulfi (Indian style ice cream)

Here in NYC mangoes are in the markets and the fragrant fruit is quite often on sale now that it is Summer. In the supermarkets here, the Indian green mango is often sold. Sometimes it has a reddish pink blush to it. You can also find smaller yellow mangoes at fruit stands and in Asian markets. These tend to be sweeter.

I decided to pull out the ice cream machine to celebrate the first weekend of Summer and make mango kulfi, an Indian style ice cream that is rather simple to make. I was inspired by watching an Indian cooking show and wanted to try making the dessert. I've seen kulfi sold in Little India here in NYC and it can be pretty pricey for a small container so really, you save money making a batch yourself. Scouring the internet came of with quite a few recipes but I spied one that used frozen yogurt.

Yogurt tends to go on sale at 32 oz. (907 g) for about $2 or so and I always stock up on a couple containers to make smoothies (you can find a recipe for that here too). I decided to use the yogurt in place of the frozen yogurt (it's going to be frozen anyway) and add honey to sweeten and further enhance the mango taste. The base mixture can be considered mango lassi and you can enjoy it as a refreshing drink as well.

You'll need a food processor and an ice cream machine to make this.

Here is my version on the classic Indian dessert. Recipe makes about 1 1/2 quarts.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe yellow mangoes
• 2 cups mango nectar (you can find this in the Latin aisle of your supermarket)
• 2 cups low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey (or more to taste depending on the sweetness of the mango)

Directions

1. Follow the instructions on pre chilling your ice cream maker's tub.
2. Stand the mango up on it's stem end. There is a large pit that run down the middle of the fruit. Carefully cut the mango down both sides of the pit with a Chef's Knife. The meat that surrounds the pit you can nibble on and see how sweet it is.
3. With the knife, score the mango meat and using a spoon, scoop out the meat from the skin and put into a food processor fitted with the blade.
4. Add the mango nectar and process until smooth.
5. Add the yogurt and honey. Process again until fully mixed.
6. Pour the ice cream mixture into your ice cream machine and follow manufacturer's instruction.
7. About 20-25 minutes it should be ready. With a rubber spatula, transfer the kulfi into a plastic container (it will be soft serve at this point) and allow to set up in the freezer for a few hours.

Kulfi is pretty dense since it has low fat content and this recipe is no exception. You may want to allow the container to thaw a bit to make serving the kulfi easier or pour the mixture into disposable paper cups and then freeze to make individual servings. To unmold from the cups, dip them in warm water then slide out onto a serving plate.

Recipe: 7 Bean and Barley Soup

Here in the big city we have Whole Foods that are starting to spring up around town to give competition to the other large supermarket chains already established here.

I recently visited one and liked how they sell their dried grains and beans in bulk which often times is cheaper than pre-packaged name brands. There is a scale in the department so you can weigh and print out the price tag for your purchase. I bought their 7 Bean and Barley mix for $2.69/lb.

The soup mix bin has a miniscule little blip of a recipe stating that you need 1 chopped onion, 1 pound of soup mix, and 8 cups of water but that sounded too bland. Searching the internet came up with a couple of recipes but they utilized bacon, smoked ham hock, or smoked turkey and I wanted to make it simple, healthier (after all it's a bean soup) and not needing expensive ingredients.

That being said, I created this simple, economically friendly recipe.

You can also use vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock if you wish to make it purely vegetarian.

Makes about 4 hearty servings.

Ingredients

• 1 pound 7 Bean and Barley soup mix
• 1 large onion (chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons oil (corn, canola, olive oil... it's your choice)
• 2 cans low sodium chicken stock (14.5 oz cans)
• water (2 cans worth)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Rinse the bean mix and soak in a large bowl of water for 8 hours or overnight to plump the dried beans back up again.
2. Drain the bean mix and set aside.
3. In a large 4 quart pot, saute the garlic and onion in the oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
4. Add the drained bean mix
5. Add the 2 cans of chicken stock
6. Add 2 cans worth of water (great way to rinse out the chicken stock cans for recycling!)
7. Cover pot and bring to a boil.
8. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours.
9. Add salt and pepper to taste.

$1 Off Pine-Sol Coupon

Just read in the NY Times today that the scent of Pine or Citrus will deter you mice problem. Here in the big city, we occasionally have little visitors especially if you live above a restaurant or in an old pre-war building.

Having read that article, I instantly though about Pine-Sol since it comes in those fragrances (and it's perfect for cleaning the kitchen too!) and lo and behold, the website's coupon is for $1 off!

Turn on your printer and click on the pink flower in the upper right hand corner of the website (www.pinesol.com) or you can print out one here.

The coupon appears to expire 30 days from date you first print.

A delightful find at the 99¢ store

Periodically I pass by Jack's 99¢/ Jack's World in Midtown. This place is HUGE and carries a pretty large variety of food stuffs as well as the atypical items you'd find in a dollar store.

I was strolling through the aisles when I spied 2 pound bags of brown rice for only 99¢!

WOW! What a bargain and for BROWN RICE!

I bought 2 bags. Call me crazy but it was a delightful find.

Check out your local dollar store from time to time and you too may have a delightful find of your own!

Recipe: Bang Bang Chicken

This dish is so named because of the sound of banging as you hit the cooked chicken breast into loose meaty threads.

Consider this a Szechuan Chinese version of the American chicken salad. It's a great way to utilize the poached chicken breast from making White Cut Chicken ("Bak Chit Gai") which you can also find on this blog.

The Szechuan pepper lends a lemony flavor and numbing sensation to the dish.

This dish stimulates all the tastes of sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy.

Serves 4

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 1 large chicken breast (cooked)
• 1 large cucumber (or you can substitute 1 head of romaine lettuce sliced thinly)
• 1 large carrot julienned (cut into match stick sized pieces)
• 3 scallions cut into 2" pieces and then thinly sliced lengthwise (so it looks like grass)

For the dressing:

• 2 tablespoons tahini sesame paste (you can also use smooth peanut butter)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce (I use Kikoman)
• 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil (I like Kadoya brand)
• 1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar (you can substitute Balsamic)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground Szechuan Pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Chili flakes (optional)
• 4 tablespoons water

Directions

1. With the back of a chef's knife, bang the chicken (skin side up) until the chicken starts to flatten and loosen into fibers. You can then pull the chicken meat into bite sized pieces.
2. If using cucumber, cut in hald lengthwise, scoop out seeds with a spoon, and slice thinly.
3. Put all the salad ingredients into a large bowl.
4. In a small bowl combine all the dressing ingredients and mix well. The sauce will look like it's breaking but keep stirring until it is all smooth.
5. Toss with the salad ingredients and serve.

Recipe: Spaghetti with Anchovies and Bread Crumbs

Dried pasta always seems to go on sale at the supermarkets. I stock up on it when it sells for less than $1.

I learned this recipe from my roomie who learned it from their Italian boss. Originally it called for much more bread crumbs but I found it too dry and adding more pasta water made the whole thing gummy. I modified the recipe a bit.

The pine nuts add extra crunchy texture and a nice flavor. I bought a bag at Costco and keep in the freezer.

This dish does not have a fishy smell or taste as anchovies lend a salty and fullness of flavor (they're used in Caesar dressing).

Paired with sauteed zucchini and yellow squash, you'd think you were in an Italian restaurant!

This will make 8 servings.

Ingredients

• 1 tin of anchovies in oil
• 1 pound of spaghetti
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 6 large cloves garlic chopped finely (or you can use a garlic press)
• 3/4 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs (has more flavor than plain)
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti al dente (about 10 minutes)
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. Open tin of anchovies, drain off oil and chop finely.
3. Add the olive oil, chopped anchovies and minced garlic into a deep large frying pan (you are going to put the pasta into the sauce to finish so you'll need something with high sides) and simmer over low heat stirring until the anchovies dissolve into the oil.
4. When pasta is done, reserve a 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
5. Add the cooked spaghetti to the garlic-anchovy sauce and toss well until fully coated in the sauce. If it looks too dry, add a little bit of the pasta water to loosen it up to your liking (you could use more olive oil instead but it will add more calories to the dish).
6. Add the bread crumbs and toss well again.
7. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle the pine nuts on top.

Recipe: Cranberry Walnut Granola

I still have Ocean Spray dried cranberries and walnuts from a previous trip to Costco. A large 10 pound box of oats was on sale last month and I had also bought a bottle of honey from Costco all using their coupons. After getting a bit tired of eating oatmeal everyday, I decided to attempt making my own granola for use in yogurt parfaits after seeing how expensive they are in the local delis.

You can use any type of raw oats but "Instant" just means that the oats were pressed thinner during processing to cook faster. I like "Old Fashioned" style which is thicker and give more crunchy texture to the finished product.

Ingredients

• 3-1/2 cups uncooked oats
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup honey (*check out my tip below)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats and walnuts.
3. In a small bowl, combine oil, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well!
4. Pour over the oats & nuts. Mix until oats are totally covered in the honey mixture.
5. Spread mixture evenly on a aluminum foil lined jelly roll pan or on rimmed baking sheet.
6. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes so that granola bakes evenly. Watch to prevent burning!
7. Cool granola completely.
8. Stir in dried cranberries and store in an airtight container.

Since there are no preservatives, the granola can store tightly covered up to 1 week.

Makes about 12 half cups servings.

*TIP I measured the oil first with a tablespoon so that when I measured the honey, it wouldn't stick to the spoon. 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup liquid

Mambo Sprouts Free Coupons

Searching the internet for more coupon resources, I discovered Mambo Sprouts

You can access the coupon page here and select the coupons you want to print out and take to your nearest store.

Coffee filters are not just for making coffee

I was recently at a store that sold all kinds of kitchen gadgets and stuff and noticed all these items for protecting your bowls and plates from scratching each other when stacked. Pricey!
It got me thinking about alternatives that I could use that wouldn't be just a uni-tasker (to borrow wording from Alton Brown).

I brew my own coffee at home (saves money on having to buy it at a coffee shop) and my machine requires coffee filters (which I buy at the dollar store). It dawned on me to try using the filters as liners for my glass bowls and sure enough it was the perfect shape to do the job! Flattened out, it works for small salad plates.

Recipe: Chicken & Dumplings

Pathmark tends to have kale, mustard greens, collards, and the like on sale for 79¢ per pound.

When that happens I usually buy a bunch of kale to make this dish that is perfect on a cold Winter's Day or cool Spring Evening. I just bought chicken thighs for 95¢ per pound and it's perfect to make this dish. Dark meat has more flavor and hold up well to stewing than white meat which toughens up. This recipe will serve 2.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Stew:

1 pound chicken legs or thighs or mixed

3 cups chicken broth (fresh or low sodium canned)

1 bay leaf

1 celery rib sliced crosswise into 1/4" pieces

2 medium carrots peeled and sliced into 1" pieces on the diagonal

4 small onions skins removed and cut in half (or you can also use 2 cups frozen pearl onions)

2 springs of fresh thyme

1 cup packed of coarsely chopped kale leaves

Salt and fresh ground pepper

For the Cornmeal Dumplings:

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces

1/3 cup milk

Directions

For the stew:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the chicken pieces, broth, and bay leaf and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Skim the broth of fat that floats at the surface with a spoon. Stir in the celery, carrots, onions, and thyme springs. Cover pot slightly and allow to simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the chopped kale and season to taste with salt and pepper.

For the dumplings:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. With your fingertips, work the butter pieces into the flour until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in milk until blended.
2. Drop tablespoons of dumpling bater in 8 clumps over the top of the stew. Reduce the heat to low and cover allowing the dumplings to steam and cook through for about 10 minutes.
3. Discard the bay leaf and thyme springs before serving.

Find Local Gas Prices (and where it's cheaper)

Gas Buddy is a website that tell you what the gas prices are in your area (United States and Canada). This website also tells you WHERE the gas stations are.

Info is updated and input by members.

You can also get this application on your smartphone.

Coffee Prices Are On The Rise

My solution to your morning wake up routine? Make it yourself. Buy a simple coffee maker, coffee beans or ground coffee, add water, and make it at home for so much less. Don't think you have time to make coffee? Prepare everything in the coffee maker the night before and turn it on in the morning before you take your wake up shower. The coffee will be done and waiting when you get out.

You can find coupons for coffee and coffee creamers online. Print the coupons and buy the coffee and creamers when they are on sale and save even more!

Coffee Creamer websites & coupons:

http://www.baileyscreamers.com/sp/coupons.aspx

http://www.internationaldelight.com/

http://www.coffee-mate.com/Offers/Default.aspx

Hypermiling

The turmoil in the Middle East is causing the gas prices at the pump to climb before the traditional Summer months making filling your car's gas tank even more painful.

Gas is more than $4 per gallon here now (and on the West Coast I hear) so what are you supposed to do?

Cut back on spending is the first thing. Tightening that belt and eating less helps. Then there's hypermiling.

What is hypermiling? Well, it's a way to maximize fuel consumption when you drive. I started doing it on my own (not knowing what it was called then) when I was driving back and forth visiting upstate. I wasn't thrilled about having to constantly refill the gas tank on trips when my room mate would drive (it cut into travel time and finding a gas station is like finding a needle in a haystack at times) so when I took the wheel, I would let the car coast downhill and move forward on it's own keeping up with posted speed limits by just tapping the gas pedal when needed. I'm not one for speeding and so long as you give yourself enough time to travel, you won't need to speed. Drivers with a lead foot will change their behavior as well soon with gas prices expected to hit $5 come Summer.

Hypermiling isn't so feasible in the big city when you have to constantly stop at street lights but try it when you are on the open road and see how less often you'll be refilling that gas tank.

Recipe: Arroz Caldo : Filipino Chicken Rice Soup

I made White Cut Chicken (Bak Chit Gai) the night before (recipe here) and have this lovely chicken stock left over. It's quite chilly and sleeting outside and I started craving Arroz Caldo, a thick Filipino rice soup that is inspired by the Chinese rice congee. Arroz Caldo means "Hot Rice" in Spanish and was probably given that name by the Spanish settlers in the Philippines when they discovered Chinese congee.

Since the stock is already flavored with ginger and garlic, I found it perfect for this comforting dish. I used some left-over cooked chicken to make this and sped up the process.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 2 inch piece of ginger (thinly sliced)
• 2 tbs vegetable oil
• 1 cup rice (either sweet rice or long grain or a combo of each)
• 1 pound boneless chicken meat (chopped: your choice of chicken breast or thigh)
• 6 cups water or chicken stock
• 2 tbs fish sauce (you can use salt or chicken bouillon if you don't have)
• 2 scallions (white and green part finely sliced for garnish)

Directions

1. In a medium sized pot, heat oil and cook the onion, garlic, and ginger for a minute until fragrant.
2. Add fish sauce and the chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the rice and stir until coated with the flavored oil.
4. Add the water or stock and cover.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat and then lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
6. When done, turn off heat. You may need to add a little water to adjust thickness to your preference.
7. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with the sliced scallions.

I'm going to the Pharmacy to buy... Groceries???

Yes! Many big name drugstores and pharmacies like Duane Reade, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid all are starting to carry a larger selection of groceries and food. While the selection may be smaller than a grocery store or supermarket, the prices can be MUCH cheaper.

You can use manufacturer's coupons along with the store's coupon or membership card to get even better savings on your groceries! So, when you are making a trip to the supermarket, stop by a drugstore/pharmacy along the way and check them out.

My weekend ritual of perusing the online weekly supermarket circulars for sales now includes the drugstore/pharmacies!

The following are links to the the weekly circulars. You may have to enter your zip code to see the savings in your area.

Duane Reade Weekly Circular

CVS Weekly Ad

Walgreens Weekly Ad

Rite-Aid Weekly Circular

Dollar Store Deals [Video link]

I'm sure there are 99¢ Stores or Dollar Stores some where in your neighborhood. At one time they were known as the "5¢ and 10¢" or the "Five and Dime". Woolworth's was one of the original American discount stores which disappeared in 1997.

Here is a video I found about shopping in dollar stores. You may also find it helpful.

MSN video: Dollar store deals


From About.com, here is an article that also shares the same thought on Dollar stores:

Dollar Stores - Top Ten Dollar-Store Deals


Just be careful though, just because it costs a dollar, doesn't always make it a deal!

Dollar Store Duds

Every dollar store is different and carries different items. Make it an adventure to explore one.

Recipe: Indian Style Rice

This is a simple rice dish that you can make to go with the Indian dishes that I posted before.

I was able to find the cloves, cinnamon, and cumin in a 99¢ Store. The green cardamom pods you can find in an Indian spice shop. Remember to remove the whole spices (cloves, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pods) before you serve!

I used regular long grain rice (as that's what I had on hand) and the results came out nicely.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 (2 inch) piece cinnamon stick
• 2 pods green cardamom
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon cumin seed
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place rice into a bowl with enough water to cover. Set aside to soak for 20 minutes, then drain.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot or saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and cumin seed.
4. Cook the spices all the while stiring for about a minute, then add the onion.
5. Sauté the onion until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
6. Add the drained rice to the pot/saucepan.
7. Cook and stir the rice for a few minutes, until lightly toasted and coated with the flavored oil.
8. Add salt and water to the pot, and bring to a boil.
9. Cover, and reduce heat to low.
10. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all of the water has been absorbed.
11. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

Which Sales to Target When, Throughout the Year

Just saw this on the Saturday Early Show on CBS and thought to share it with you. Some of us know this already but it bears mentioning again...

Different Products Tend to Go on Sale at Same Time Each Year; Planning Around That Timetable Can Help Save You Big Bucks!

It's said that timing is everything - and that certainly applies when it comes to finding things on sale. Getting the best bargains is all about timing, and knowing which deals to look for, when.

When's it best to buy a bike? Computer? Cookware? So much more?

Hitting big sales when you're out shopping may feel like a matter of luck, but the truth is, if you put a little forethought into it, you can time your shopping to find sales on major items throughout the year.

On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," Jason Cochran, editor at large of AOL's WalletPop.com, highlighted months spanning the seasons, discussing the kinds of items usually on sale at the different times, and why.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY: LINENS, BICYCLES, FURNITURE

Linens: January is always the time of the white sale ever since department store owner John Wanamaker introduced them in Philadelphia in 1878. It's thought he did it because it was normally the slow time for such sales, and now it's a tradition. Back then, sheets were available mostly in white, hence the name.

Bikes: It's simple: Few people want to be out in the snow, breathing cold air. That's a warm-weather thing. So bike shop owners need to make their rent, and they'll deal.

Furniture: Many manufacturers, such as Crate and Barrel, get their new stock in January and February, and they need to clear their old stuff to make room.

APRIL: COOKWARE & ELECTRONICS

Cookware: May and June sees lots of newlyweds and graduates, and because cookware is a big gift for them, stores stock up and make deals. Join the crowd for discounts. (There may be another bump in late summer as college students head off to school.)

Electronics/TVs: The big Consumer Electronics Show happens every January (it was last week in Las Vegas) and by the spring, the new models are rolling out. The old ones need to go. Last year's models are still pretty cool; they were getting us excited only a year ago.

AUGUST: SWIMSUITS, COMPUTERS, LAWN MOWERS

Swimsuits: Don't get warm-weather stuff at the start of the season, in May. Get it now, because everyone will have purchased by now and the clearance sales begin. Don't wait until fall or winter for swimsuits- they won't be on the floor anymore at all.

Computers: especially mid- to low-end, are in good supply because of all the college kids going to school.

Lawn Mowers: As with the bathing suits, fewer people are thinking about warm-weather things like mowing lawns come the end of the season. There are big sales to be had here.

OCTOBER: SCHOOL SUPPLIES, JEANS, APPLIANCES

School supplies: School supplies are marked way down because everybody has already supplied themselves. Get next year's now -that's the key to a lot of things. Plan ahead! It feels silly buying this stuff so far ahead, but the deals can stack up. If you buy at peak season, there may be no incentive to mark down.

Jeans: Jeans are also subject to back-to-school sales since so many parents dress their kids in them. They're durable and can be work a few times before being washed. Stores have lots left over after the back-to-school rush. Also, since so many product lines come out in the spring, the pricing heat has cooled off many styles.

Big appliances: New models for appliances come out around now, so the big stuff (washers, dryers, compactors) are on sale. Really, there is very little difference between the washer of 2010 and the one of 2011. Get last year's. If you miss October, no problem: Black Friday is the next month and the appliances, once again, are marked down.

DETAILED LIST OF WHAT TO BUIY, WHEN

January:
Linens (it's white sale season)
Christmas cards
Wrapping paper
Furniture (new lines arrive February at Crate and Barrel)

February:
Weddings (May-Sept is peak season. Honeymoon cheaper, too)
Home theaters (Super Bowl sales)
Bikes (new models are released this month and in March; get old ones)
Boats (better prices to clear docks for new models)

March:
Video games (new titles come out Nov and Dec; cheaper by now)
Gardening tools (plan ahead for gardening season)

April:
Cookware and kitchen accessories (sales for graduates and newlyweds now)
Electronics (Japanese manufacturers release new models; old models marked down)
Televisions (ditto)
Office furniture (home businesses often start up after Tax Day, so there are deals for the higher traffic)

May:
Vacuum cleaners (new models come out after spring cleaning)
Snow blowers (of course)
Winter coats (of course)
Mattresses and box springs (new models on their way)

June:
Gym memberships (January is worst: resolutions and weather)
Hardware (Fathers Day sales)
Paint (people paint during hottest days, ergo, lots of competition)

July:
Heating items/oil for your home
Furniture (second wave of year's new product arrives August)
Suits (spring suits on sale)
Appliances (Fourth of July weekend sales)

August:
Computers (back-to-school volume creates deals)
Lawn mowers (peak season is passed)
Swimsuits (same reason)

September:
Patio furniture (it's big, and Walmart and Target need to make room)
Houses in the suburbs (school will have started-most people move by then)
Shrubs, bulbs, trees (that you can store until spring)
Wine (latest vintages are coming out)

October:
School supplies (clearance)
Cars (dealers are clearing lots of old models)
Big appliances (washers, dryers: new models rolling out now)
Jeans (post back-to-school)

November:
RVs (dealer clearance, and owners sell them before winter)
Outdoor and camping equipment
Black Friday biggies: electronics, appliances
Candy (post-Halloween)

December:
Air conditioners - in summer, people pay up to alleviate the misery, but in winter, stores can't move them
Champagne (lots of stock for New Year's)
Wedding dresses

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