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

© MMXI, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala

I bought a large tray of boneless skinless chicken breasts when they were on sale and stored in the freezer until I could figure a variety of things to do with them. A 32 oz. container of yogurt is on sale this week for $1.99 at the supermarket so I bought it to make this dish.

Since I have a craving for Indian food, I decided to take a trip to Kalustyan's and pick up a small packet of garam masala and green cardamom pods. You can probably find garam masala in your local supermarket in the spice section or make it yourself. Recipe below.

Chicken Tikka Masala is such a popular dish in England that it has become the national dish. It is grilled kabobs of chicken simmered in a creamy tomato sauce. I cooked the chicken in a pan to show that it can be done without a grill. Besides, it is a snowy 29°F outside.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes

Marinade

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground red pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 piece minced ginger (about 1 inch long)

• 6 bamboo skewers (soaked in water)

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garam masala (recipe below)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream (can use half & half to lighten the dish)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Prepare and cook the Tikka:

1. Mix all marinade ingredients in a bowl and toss chicken chunks to coat. Thread chicken on skewers, place in a shallow dish and pour marinate on top. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour.
2. After an hour, discard marinade.
3. Grill or broil chicken, turning occasionally, to cook through about 8-10 minutes. If you don't have a grill, you can cook in a large saute pan.
   
4. Remove from grill and set a side while you make the sauce.

For the Masala sauce:

1. In a large saucepan, heat butter and add garlic and the jalapeno. Cook 1 minute.
2. Stir in coriander, cumin, paprika, garam masala and salt. Cook until fragrant.
3. Stir in tomato sauce.
4. Simmer 15 minutes.
5. Stir in cream and simmer until thickened about 5 minutes.
6. Remove chicken from skewers and add to the sauce.
7. Simmer 5 minutes until chicken is warmed through.
8. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice.

Garam Masala is an Indian spice mix. If you can't find it in your area, you can make a quick version by mixing:

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

This mix can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place