How to Chop an Onion

What's for dinner?

I know, I know... It's been a while since I blogged... Please forgive me.

So hopefully you've been using your computer to peruse the supermarket circulars of ALL the supermarkets in your neighborhood, looking online for printable manufacturer's coupons and making a shopping list of items that are on sale. If you have a membership or know of a friend who belongs to Costco you've been buying bulk and splitting the cost. Your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer are well stocked with your sale purchases.

Now what?

If you are tired of your favorite recipes (sometimes it happens) just use the search engine on your computer or websites like Food Network, Gourmet, Epicurious, All Recipes, etc... and enter in a vegetable, protein, and/or starch that you have and a few recipes will show up. Pick one that interests you and your taste buds. If you have basic cooking skills this shouldn't be so daunting to take on a new recipe. Just make sure that you follow instructions or videos provided. Don't be afraid to experiment. You might find a new favorite.

Tip: I keep my flour and sugar in airtight zip lock bags to maintain freshness and keep little buggers from getting into them. Fresh vegetables and fruits should not be left sitting in the refrigerator in the plastic bags that you put them in when you bought them at the supermarket. Moisture gets trapped in there and they could spoil faster. Put them into the crisper or drawer marked for them or in an airy plastic basket lined with paper toweling.

How To Cut A Whole Chicken

Save money by buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself. The technique can also be used to cut a cooked chicken as well.

This video lesson courtesy of the Pampered Chef.

BJ's Wholesale Club

6626 Metropolitan Ave.
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-326-9080


I just visited the BJ's Wholesale in Middle Village, Queens for the first time and wanted to compare it to Costco. They are both about the same in price with Costco a little cheaper. BJ's on the other hand offers a lot more of big name food products. Their own brand doesn't seem to be in conjunction to these large manufacturers as Costco's Kirkland Signature line is.

One marked difference is that BJ's accepts all methods of payment from credit or debit cards to cash to EBT. Costco just accepts cash, debit cards, and their own AMEX credit card.

I went with a friend who became a member so I was able to use their membership card.
Good exchange as when we go to Costco we use my membership card.

Bought a 3 lb bag of bananas for $1.44 (Costco sells it for $1.32) and a double pack of whole Perdue chickens for 89¢ pound. Brookstone's Dark Chocolate covered Pomegranate and Dark Chocolate covered Acai Berry candies are available here whereas the pomegranate variety is only available at Costco.

Recipe: Avocado Shake

I've had this in many Filipino restaurants and discovered that it is quite popular in Vietnam as well!

Avocados are naturally buttery in texture and flavor and are good for you.

Ingredients

1 ripe Hass avocado
1 cup fat free milk
2 tablespoons honey (or to taste)
6 ice cubes

Directions

1. Halve the avocado and remove pit.
2. Scoop the avocado flesh into a blender using a tablespoon.
3. Add the milk and honey into the blender.
4. Add the ice cubes.
5. Cover the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
   
6. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw.

Makes about 2 cups

*Note: You can use any milk and sweetener of your choice (I've used condensed milk and it works wonderfully)

Recipe: Crispy Fried Tofu

I bought a carton of House Brand firm tofu from Costco (3 packages in the carton for about $4) and decided to make this simple and tasty Chinese appetizer.







Ingredients

2 squares of firm tofu
1/4 cup cornstarch for dredging
6 oz. Oil for frying

Directions

1. Heat oil in a 10" saute pan.
   
2. Drain tofu from packaging. Lightly pat dry with paper towels.
3. Cut tofu into 1" lengths or in half.
4. Dredge tofu in a plate of cornstarch coating all sides.
5. Carefully place coated tofu into the hot oil and fry until golden on all sides (I used chopsticks to carefully turn the tofu but you can use two forks).
   
6. Drain on paper towel lined plate.
7. Serve with soy sauce, and/or black vinegar (you can use balsamic) on the side.

$10 Off Coupon from JC Penny

Never too late to save money on your purchases and JC Penny is giving you $10 off a purchase of $25 or more!
Just go here and print out the coupon for use in-store only. Expires Feb 27th.

http://f.chtah.com/i/2/95827765/main_20100214.html