Tag Archives: Cheap

14 Tasty and Cheap Meals for One

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

I’ve always loved to cook, but when I was single it was chore. I mean, what’s the point of spending all that time in the kitchen cooking — then cleaning — if you’re the only person who’s going to enjoy the meal? 

That was a poor philosophy to have, mostly because I didn’t put any effort into thinking of delicious dishes to prepare. I deserved better than ramen and ham-and-cheese roll-ups — you know you’ve made that for dinner more than once — and so do you.

To help you get cooking, here are two weeks’ worth of meals I go to when it’s just me, myself, and I enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of my culinary skills. (See also: 6 Tips for Making Cheaper, Faster, Better Meals)

1. Spinach and Parmesan Omelet With Hash Browns

Anderson Cooper and I have a few things in common, one of which is a hatred for greens, especially spinach. Maybe that’s because when I was younger my mom made me eat (force fed is more like it) canned spinach, which is absolutely disgusting. I was on a trip to California once when I saw this healthy-ish omelet on the menu, so I decided to order it — totally out of character for me. When in Rome, right? To my delight, I loved it — and it’s totally easy to make at home. Prepare an omelet the way you normally would — whole eggs or just the whites — and when it’s still just a tad undercooked, add in the spinach and Parmesan cheese, flip, and season with salt and pepper. For a quick starchy side, peel and grate one potato and sauté it in butter on one side on low-medium heat for about five minutes or until golden brown. Flip to cook the other side to perfection.

2. Beet Salad

You can use canned beets for this recipe, but I wouldn’t recommend it; at many markets you can find fresh, cooked beets in the produce section. Build the salad with mesclun greens, the sliced beets (perhaps even quartered), orange slices (a smaller type would be ideal, like a clementine), walnuts, and Parmesan cheese; and top with a citrus vinaigrette that you can make with the juice from another orange, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Carrot and Ginger Soup With Oyster Crackers

Have you seen this soup maker and blender from Cuisinart on TV lately? Even though I don’t need it — and you probably don’t either — I live for anything that pulls double duty. In any case, for this carrot-ginger soup recipe you’ll need chicken broth, carrots, fresh ginger, parsley, onion, sour cream, sweet cream butter, and whipping cream. If it sounds rich, that’s because it is — taste-wise, anyway; it’s fairly easy on the wallet. Top with oyster crackers, because, well, who doesn’t love those? This recipe yields eight servings, but freezes very well.

4. Lemon-Pepper Grilled Shrimp With Mixed Greens

This may be hard to believe, but shrimp are relative expensive, depending on the size and quantity you’re purchasing. For a meal for one, pick up about six medium-size shrimp, which will probably cost you less than three dollars. At home, sprinkle the shrimp with a lemon-pepper seasoning salt and grill in a pan while brushing with a bit of butter. When the shrimp are cooked through — one to two minutes per side is all it takes — arrange them on a bed of greens lightly dressed with a lemon vinaigrette that you can make with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

5. Grilled Cheese and Bacon With Tomato Soup

Everybody knows how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, but this one gets extra oomph by placing slices of cooked bacon between the bread before putting the sandwich together. You can use any kind of cheese you want, but I believe that there isn’t a better tasting grilled cheese than one made with good ol’ Kraft American Singles. Once your sandwich is grilled, golden, and bubbly, dip it in a bowl of warm tomato soup (Campbell’s condensed, of course) that will take you right back to your childhood.

6. Chipotle-Cilantro Quesadillas With Mexirice

All you need to make quesadillas is tortillas and cheese, but to kick this version up a notch, add a few chopped chipotle peppers and cilantro. Place one tortilla in a 10-inch skillet — no butter; that’ll make it greasy — and top it with the ingredients. When it’s all good and melty, top with the other tortilla and flip until that side is crispy and golden brown too. Cut the quesadilla in quarters so it’s dippable in salsa or sour cream, and serve alongside a Mexican-style rice, like Uncle Ben’s.

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7. Baked Potato With Broccoli and Cheese 

A friend of mine in Hawaii says I make the best baked potatoes in the world — and that’s probably true (I’m patting myself on the back right now) — but the problem with making the best baked potatoes in the world is that it takes time. Cut the time it takes to make yours in more than half by poking holes in the potato with a fork and microwaving it for whatever time your microwave recommends. While it’s cooking, steam a handful of broccoli florets and heat up a bit of Cheez Whiz. When the potato is tender inside, cut it open, add the broccoli tossed in butter, and top with the Whiz.

8. Turkey Club With Homemade French Fries

Here’s how this goes — toast three slices of bread (preferably whole wheat) and spread one side of two slices and both sides of one slice with mayo. On the bottom piece of bread (one with only one mayo-ed side), layer turkey breast, lettuce, bacon, and tomato, and top with the slice of bread that has mayo on both sides. Repeat the process until you have a double-decker sandwich. Before that, however (because making the sandwich doesn’t take long at all), cut one large Russet potato in wedges, season with olive oil, salt and pepper, and cook on 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.

9. Prosciutto and Melon

I was in Spain when I had melon and jamón for the first time, and that’s all it took for me to fall head over heels for this incredibly delicious and quick dish. In fact, among these dishes on the list, this is the fastest. You can buy a whole cantaloupe, but unless you’re going to eat the entire fruit before it goes bad, I would recommend buying a slice or two of prepackaged melon. While you’re at the store, go to the deli and pick up about four slices of prosciutto or another salty, thin ham. When preparing this dish, all you need to do is drape the ham over the sliced prosciutto and dig in.

10. Tuna Tartine

Tartine is French for an open-faced sandwich. For this version, toast a slice of bread, and top with tomato, cucumber, mixed greens, and a scoop of prepared tuna. If you want to get real fancy, you can crumble feta or blue cheese on top if you have it.

11. Pork Chop With Sautéed Cauliflower and Raisins

You have to go to high-end market or butcher to get single slices of pork (or any meat, for that matter), so to cut costs, buy a pack of two chops and put one in the freezer. Pan fry or grill the chop — your preference — and serve along side steamed cauliflower and raisins. The latter may seem like an unusual combo, but trust me, it’s good.

12. Mussels Provencal

I know what you’re thinking — mussels are expensive. And, like most seafood bought in a large quantity, they can be. But if you’re eating for one, you only need to purchase as many mussels as you think you’ll consume; my recommendation would be 10 to 12. When you’re ready to eat, prepare the mussels with this recipe that calls for ingredients that you probably already have on hand. This dish is a real treat for those who want to eat like a prince on the budget of a pauper. 

14. Beef With Brown Rice and Gravy

This is a no-frills, very affordable dish that I used to make in college. My roommates would laugh at me because it’s one of those meals that you eat when there is nothing left in the house, but I had the last laugh when it was in my belly. Stew meat, which is totally cheap, is what this dish calls for. Sauté the meat in olive oil, salt, and pepper while boiling one pouch of brown rice; I buy my fast-cook rice in pouches so it’s perfectly portioned, by the way. Prepare the brown gravy from an instant mix as directed and pour over the combined beef and rice. The mix makes enough gravy for two, but I use it all. Mikey don’t share his gravy.

Have even more recipes or tips on how to make meals for one? Let me know in the comments below.


Wise Bread

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The Cheap Girl’s Guide to Lowering Cholesterol Without Suffering

Posted on January 1, 2012 by admin| Leave a comment

Two months ago, I had a nasty little note in my mailbox at work. It was not a good way to start a Monday.

A laboratory near my hospital department needed volunteers to have their blood drawn so that their new employees could practice. I have easy-to-find veins, and their manager asked me to help, so I signed up. In return, I was told that I would receive a free printout of my cholesterol levels. So I submitted to a lab tech, let her practice on me, and promptly forgot all about it. When I arrived at work a couple of days later, I noticed a note in my mail basket, and opened it to find the cholesterol test results. Shocker! For the first time in my life, some of my cholesterol levels were “borderline.” (See also: 25 Healthy Changes You Can Make Today)

I am sure that those of you who read my posts about hot dogs or sauces are now thinking, “Well, duh, stupid!” Whoops, almost forgot about those corn flake cookies (which are truly exceptional). Anyway, I’m just shamelessly plugging my posts, and I digress.

I spent a little time bothering my co-workers with my results (oddly, they didn’t seem shocked or surprised). I also whined to my husband, who suggested I check to see what Paula Deen recommended. He’s a laugh a minute.

Finally, I sat down with our friend, the Internet, and did some reading. Sure enough, my diet needed some work. Yes, readers, I admit it — I have been in total denial. In retrospect, I think I was just wondering how long I could get away with my life of dietary debauchery.

The answer — 49 years. There you go.

I was not interested in using drugs to lower my cholesterol, nor was there an indication from my physician to do so. As you know from my previous posts, I always prefer the do-it-yourself approach.

What You Should Know About Cholesterol

If you are age 20 or older, you should get checked at least once every five years. This is especially true if you are overweight, have a family history of heart problems, are not physically active, are diabetic, or eat a high-fat diet.

Finding the lab results page a little confusing, I did some research about what the terms mean. From the Mayo Clinic:

Total cholesterol. This is a sum of your blood’s cholesterol content.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This is sometimes called the “good” cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL cholesterol, thus keeping arteries open and your blood flowing more freely.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is sometimes called the “bad” cholesterol. Too much of it in your blood causes the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries (atherosclerosis), which reduces blood flow. These plaques sometimes rupture and can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn’t need into triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. High triglyceride levels usually mean you regularly eat more calories than you burn. High levels are also seen in overweight people, in those who eat too many sweets or drink too much alcohol, and in people with diabetes who have elevated blood sugar levels.

So, just how much cholesterol should a normal, healthy person be eating? The magic number is about 300 mg a day.

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What I Have Been Doing to Improve

I need to point out to you that I refused to suffer. I love to cook, and eat, and if I couldn’t make things that tasted good, it wasn’t going to work.

Diet Changes

My husband, always supportive, purchased several cookbooks for me. One of them has become a sort of bible — the American Heart Association’s Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook. I also purchased Mark Bittman’s Food Matters. Besides a lot of information about healthy eating, it contains great recipes. The internet also contains hundreds of low-cholesterol recipes. It’s just a matter of educating yourself and picking up some new techniques. I have become a huge user of herbs. We eat a lot more fish and vegetables. I even snack differently — now I will have a handful of nuts instead of some slices of sharp cheddar. I have really re-vamped the way I shop and cook.

What foods should you look for? I started by following the Mayo Clinic’s “Top Five” recommendations:

  1. Oatmeal, oat bran, and high-fiber foods
  2. Fish
  3. Walnuts, almonds, and other nuts
  4. Olive oil 
  5. Foods with added plant sterols or stanols (these help to block your absorption of cholesterol)

For breakfast, I love eggs. I made the switch to egg whites, and now I scramble them with leftover brown rice and whatever vegetables I have handy. Not only is it fast and easy, but I find it equally satisfying. Lunches are usually either a half of a sandwich on wheat bread, or leftovers. Dinners are my favorite meal to cook, and I am enjoying the challenge of using the “Top Fives.” For example, fresh pesto made with walnuts, olive oil, just a little Parmesan, and fresh basil is great over oven-baked fish and whole-wheat pasta.  

My big nemesis is portion control. It isn’t enough to change what you eat; you have to stop OVER-eating. The American Heart Association recommends, for the general public, these guidelines:

  • Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
  • Eat at least six servings of grain products daily.
  • Eat no more than 6 ounces (cooked weight) of lean meat, fish, or skinless poultry per day.  Have at least two servings of fish per week.
  • Limit yourself to less than 300 mg of cholesterol and less than 2,400 mg of sodium daily.
  • Include low-fat and fat-free daisy products, legumes, and poultry in your plan.
  • If you drink, limit yourself to one drink per day if you are a woman and two drinks per day if you are a man.

Exercising Regularly

Why exercise? It helps you to lose weight, and if you are overweight, you tend to have more LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. A good basic start is to get at least 30 minutes a day. You do not have to join a gym — check out Andrea’s great post about Fitness for People Who Hate Exercise, Janey’s Exercising in a Winder Wonderland, or Camilla’s Where to Find Free or Cheap Yoga Classes.

I am still not where I want to be with exercise, but I have found several types that I like (wait — make that “tolerate”). I walk, use a mini-trampoline, do a little morning yoga, and am occasionally dragged by friends to Zumba. When the weather improves, I’ll swim. I know it is a matter of commitment and increasing duration.

What Are My Results?

In roughly two months:

  • My total cholesterol dropped 27 points, from 209 to 182, and my HDL (“good cholesterol”) increased from 73 to 75. Unfortunately, my volunteer test did not provide my LDL (“bad cholesterol”), so I have no benchmark to compare, but my second test shows it at an acceptable 73. 
     
  • My triglycerides, which should ideally be under 150, actually went up from 158 to 169. There are several factors which may be influencing it, and I hope those are my underactive thyroid, since I have issues with that, or another medication I take. 
     
  • I have saved money. Over two months, I have saved $ 160 from my grocery budget. All you vegans and vegetarians can scream, “I TOLD YOU SO!” As it turns out, vegetables and grains are pretty cheap. Who knew?  
     
  • I have lost 3 pounds.

It’s a start. I am going to keep working on it, because I love a challenge and I know it’s high time I took better care of myself. My new goals include:

  • Monthly “try a new grain” recipes.
  • Increasing my exercise time from 30 minutes a day to 45.
  • Building my low-fat/low-cholesterol cookbook collection (the used bookstore has been a treasure trove).

And finally, here’s a link to one of my new favorite recipes, from The American Heart Association’s Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook — a turkey and vegetable calzone.

If any of you smarty-pants vegetarians or vegans have recipes that are really, truly, good, please share. I now have an open mind.

Before embarking on any diet or exercise programs, consult with your physician.


Wise Bread

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Are You Frugal or Cheap?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

It seems that when it comes to money, many people fit into one of two groups: those who carefully count and save every penny they earn, and those who blow through their paychecks so fast they hardly know what hit them. In writing about money, I’ve spent a lot of time watching how other people talk about, spend, and manage theirs. And while the term “frugal” has become chic in recent years, it’s my observation that some people take it too far — way too far. While I do my best to avoid debt, put away for retirement, and save money where I can, I have no interest in shivering through the winter under a single light bulb just to keep my costs down — and boy am I grateful that I have the luxury to make that choice.

When frugality is a means to an end — a way of achieving stability and working toward future goals — it’s a good thing. But when it crosses the boundary of common sense and logic and takes a turn toward the obsessive, it’s described by a less gracious term — cheap. (See also: A Beginner’s Guide to Frugal Living)

The Purpose of Frugality

So what’s the difference between frugal and fanatical? I think motive’s a good indicator. In my own experience, I find that thrifty people have a number of motives that help keep their spending under control. For example, I once met a young woman who would work like a dog for months at a menial desk job, living in a tiny apartment for next to nothing. Meanwhile, she was socking away cash, which she’d use to spend several months traveling in a foreign country. When she ran out of money, she’d start all over again. While this kind of lifestyle isn’t for everyone, I admired her thrift, because it was a means to an end — she had a goal, and she made financial sacrifices to make it happen. That’s what money’s for!

But not all of the motives that keep people from overspending are positive. I’ve also met many people who just can’t bear to spend their money on, well, anything at all. It isn’t because they’re struggling to get by or are working away at paying off a mortgage. Instead, it seems that they don’t like the way spending money makes them feel, so they just save it (and save it and save it). I understand that some people are forced to live pretty spare lives for a number of reasons, which is why I find it so baffling that some people take this route by choice, often isolating themselves in the process. Yes, how you spend your money is up to you, but when those decisions are governed by guilt or fear, I don’t think it’s much of a choice. 

Finally, there are a few people whose thrift goes beyond fear toward being truly mean spirited. You’ll know you’ve crossed into this territory when your savings come at someone else’s expense. These are the people who conveniently forget their wallets when they go out for lunch with a friend, never tip their servers, or show up at a potluck empty-handed. Some people might even cross the line into returning items they’ve had for years to the store to get new ones or stealing cable from their neighbors. The bottom line is that if you’ve cut your budget so much that you feel you need to take advantage of others, you’ve crossed line from frugal to cheap.

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Which Side Are You On?

When it comes to people’s spending habits, I’ve seen both extremes, from asceticism to over-indulgence. I try to balance somewhere in the middle. Because while I’m so grateful to have money to spend on both the things I need — and a few things I don’t — frugality is a valuable skill to hone, especially in a world where so many people live paycheck to paycheck. But taking frugality to its extremes may be no better than falling prey to overspending. After all, neither approach leads to living well. And isn’t that what saving money’s all about?


Wise Bread

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4 Tips for Living Spontaneously on the Cheap

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

By nature, I am not a spontaneous person. I’m a worrier, a planner, and occasionally a make-sure-every-detail-is-just-so nutcase. But I have an airtight excuse for my lack of impulsivity — I don’t have enough money. A big pile of money has always seemed like the ticket to freedom for me, and while I enjoy a simple life, some days I just want the whole world — more travel, more of a social life, more stuff — basically, just the ability to say “yes” any time the mood strikes. The problem is, this brand of carefree is at odds with most people’s budgets — and certainly with mine. What to do? While you can’t have it all, I think there are some simple ways to fit spontaneity into your frugal life. Here are my suggestions. (See also: 6 Ways Money Really Can Buy Happiness)

Save Some Mad Money

If you want a chance at getting out of your rut when opportunity knocks, keeping a solid savings account is the best way to give yourself that chance. This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to jump at every upcoming concert ticket or vacation sale. But if you have some money saved just for fun, you’re more likely to have options next time something fun and exciting is on the horizon. How much you can save will depend on your circumstances, but keep in mind that a spontaneous indulgence doesn’t have be a four-week Mediterranean cruise; it might just be seeing something you really want in a store window and marching right in to buy it.

Remember, The Best Things in Life Are Free

When you’re standing in the checkout line at the grocery store in the dead of winter it can be easy to wish you were one of the celebrities lining the checkout aisle in their vacation bikinis. Sure, their money affords them the privilege to fly to St. Barts and lay on the beach, but it probably also ties them to a fleet of bodyguards — and hungry photographers angling for a shot of their tanned flesh. I think it would be foolish to say that having money doesn’t make a difference in how you live your life, but no matter how much money you have, there will always be limits on what you can do. Rather than assuming the limits to your ability to be spontaneous are greater than those faced by someone with a bigger bank account, just consider them different. Also know that spontaneous doesn’t always mean spending. There are lots of things that are free (or nearly free) that you can do on a whim. Make the effort to capitalize on each and every one them, and you’ll be less likely to feel like you’re missing out.

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Practice Your Balance

As with all things in finance, balance is probably the key to breaking loose without busting your budget. Depending on what type of person you are, it’s probably either a struggle for you to spend money on something you enjoy, or you do it far too often — and to your own detriment.  Find some middle ground between austere and ostentatious in all areas of your life. After all, if you don’t allow yourself to get any pleasure out of your money, what are you working so hard for?

Make Every Dollar Count

For many people, being spontaneous means being able to say “yes” to something fun or out of the ordinary on a moment’s notice. That’s a tall order, but I think it’s possible as long as you understand that those thrilling moments of spontaneity won’t come often. What this means is that you have to choose the ones that will give you the biggest thrill for your dollar. If you’ve always, always wanted to do something — such as travel around the world, start your own business, or retire early — save for that. If you accept a consolation prize, you might just find yourself with a golden opportunity you’re in no position to cash in on.

Spontaneity carries a notion of freedom, of being able to do what you want when you want. And really, who doesn’t want that? The truth is, everyone faces constraints in life. If, like me, yours revolve around money, your finances might become an easy place to pin the blame when you feel like you’re stuck in a rut. But spontaneity really isn’t about getting everything you want when you want it. Almost no one has this luxury. Instead, it’s about loosening the constraints you’ve put on yourself and learning to welcome and celebrate the spontaneous moments in your life, whether they cost money or not.


Wise Bread

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Cheap, Quick Homemade Breakfasts

Posted on September 17, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

I’m not a morning person, but that doesn’t mean I skip breakfast. Because I am slow-moving in the a.m., though, I don’t like to take a lot of time to eat before launching my day. So, I have discovered some quick-to-fix, simple-to-eat breakfasts that are nutritious and cheap, ranging in price from 50 cents to a couple of bucks. (See also: 25 Frugal Food Changes You Can Make Today)

Here are ideas for the morning meal.

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies

My mainstay smoothie is made with bananas, blueberries, yogurt, orange juice, and milled flax seed of variable quantities, blended to drinkable form in a blender. By keeping peeled bananas and blueberries in my freezer and the remaining ingredients in the refrigerator, I always have a fast breakfast at my fingertips.

Alter the recipe for your preferences (or mood) using this basic formula:

  • 1 1/2 cups of fruit, fresh or frozen: banana, blueberries, pineapple, mango, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
  • 3/4 cup dairy or dairy-like substance: plain or flavored yogurt, ice cream, sherbet, milk, soymilk.
  • 3/4 cup juice: orange juice, apple juice, or juice blend.
  • 2 tbsp of add-ins: milled flax seed, whey protein, wheat germ, antioxidant powder, etc.

This breakfast has been great for pre-workout or pre-race meals as well as recovery snacks (I store a glass of leftover smoothie in the refrigerator). To make an ultra-frugal smoothie, use homemade yogurt.

Approximate preparation time and per serving cost: Five minutes and $ 1.50 – $ 2.00, depending on size of smoothie.

Eggs

For a cheap meal packed with protein, eggs are a great option. A simple way to prepare just one egg quickly is to pour a cracked egg (yoke intact) into a frying pan coated with oil or butter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium heat until the egg white is cooked to your liking.

If you want to add some variety to your egg dish, cook an omelet or try one of these meals.

Scrambled Eggs

A basic meal is scrambled eggs, possibly with whole wheat toast. Crack a couple of eggs in a bowl, scramble with a fork, add some milk (a couple of tablespoons will do, though I never measure; use yogurt if you have run out of milk), season with salt and pepper, and place in a frying or omelet pan with butter or butter-equivalent like Smart Balance. Cook on medium heat. When the eggs start to solidify, scramble them some more; repeat until the eggs are cooked, being careful not to let them cook too long.

Embellish the eggs with cheese; veggies like mushrooms, green peppers, and onions (sautéed the night before and reheated in the pan before cooking the eggs); and/or hot sauce if you are daring.

Egg Sandwich

For a hearty meal that my teenage son especially likes, place scrambled eggs on a toasted and buttered whole wheat bagel, top with cheese, and serve like a sandwich. Substitute an English muffin or regular toast for the bagel if you are interested in a lighter but still substantial meal. Get the bagels and/or English muffins during regular BOGO sales at the grocery store to keep costs down for the sandwich.

Approximate preparation time and per serving cost: Eight minutes and $ .75 for eggs alone, or $ 1.25-$ 1.50 for extra veggies or sandwich.

Egg Casserole

To feed a crowd of six to eight people, make an egg casserole. Assemble the night before and bake in the morning. This option requires planning, but active preparation time in the morning is minimal (baking time is about an hour). You’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 lb. bulk pork sausage, browned, crumbled, and drained
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup milk
  • 6 slices of bread, cut up in cubes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Cooking spray or butter to grease baking dish

Place bread in greased 9″x13″baking dish. Layer sausage and cheese on top of bread. Beat eggs and combine with milk and salt, then pour over sausage, cheese, and bread. Refrigerate over night. Remove from refrigerator in the morning 15 minutes before baking; bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until done.

For variations, substitute half-and-half for milk, add spices such as parsley and dry mustard, and include sautéed veggies such as green onions, peppers, and mushrooms.

For a slow-cooker egg casserole recipe, check out Thursday’s post on fast, inexpensive breakfasts.

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Breakfast Bars and Breads

Try some homemade treats with some healthy ingredients. These bars and breads are great for on-the-go meals. Grab a bite before you leave for the day; or wrap them up and enjoy with a cup of coffee, milk, or juice after you have arrived at work or school.

Granola Bars

Many of the healthy recipes for breakfast bars that I’ve tried had the consistency and flavor of cardboard, but I did find one that I liked and seemed reasonably nutritious. Though this chewy granola bar recipe does not specify the type of oats, I used old-fashioned rolled oats rather than instant or quick-cooking kind for excellent results. I added dried apricots (cut up) and substituted dark chocolate for the regular chocolate chips or M&M’s.

For a cookie that uses similar ingredients, check out Myscha’s breakfast oatmeal cookie.

Zucchini Bread

My favorite sweet-bread recipe (snagged from a bread-making class at the community college) makes a great quick breakfast or snack.

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups zucchini, grated
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp each salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg

Beat together eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla. Add zucchini and applesauce. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Add to first mixture. Pour in bread pans (three medium-sized or four small pans) and bake in 350°F oven for 40 minutes. Test center for doneness and bake more if needed.

Usually I use a few zucchini for this recipe. If I don’t have enough zucchini, I add more applesauce to make up the difference. If I have too much zucchini, then I use less applesauce. For a yummy variation, I substitute butternut squash for the zucchini. To prepare the squash, place it in a casserole dish filled with some water (about halfway up the side), cook in a 350°F oven until fork tender on all sides (rotate the squash for even baking), remove pulp from cooked squash, and use mashed pulp instead of grated zucchini.

Bagels With Specialty Spreads

To make a specialty spread, soften cream cheese and mix one or more of the following in the cheese: honey, chopped walnuts or pecans, or fruit spread (jam, jelly, etc.). Spread on bagels for a made-at-home treat.

Approximate morning preparation time and per serving cost: A couple of minutes and $ .50–$ 1.00.

Leftovers and Throw-Togethers

Many people like leftovers for breakfast. These may be traditional lunch or dinner meals like homemade pizza or sweet treats like dessert. Peruse your refrigerator or kitchen counter for already-prepared meals or key ingredients for a new dish. Here are a couple of my favorites in this style.

Fruit Crisp

To make this dish for a dinnertime dessert, place fruit in baking dish (I use blueberries, cherries, or apples), top with a combination of butter, oats, flour, and brown sugar; and bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes. In the morning, reheat a portion or eat cold, alone or with yogurt.

Yogurt Parfait

Layer chopped-up breakfast bars from chewy granola bar recipe (or granola) with yogurt, and fresh or frozen fruit in a parfait.

Approximate preparation time and per serving cost: A couple of minutes to reheat and/or assemble the meal, and less than $ 1.00.

What’s your favorite fast and frugal homemade breakfast?


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New Ways to Listen to Music for Free or Cheap

Posted on August 24, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

It seems like everyone has an iPod or a cell phone with mp3 capabilities now. But paying for music stinks, and every week seems to bring a new favorite song, so why keep paying just to fill your iTunes with thousands of songs you don’t listen to? I don’t consider myself a music junkie, and even I have about 100 hours worth of music on my computer. That’s the equivalent of listening to music non-stop for over four days! Sounds interesting, but it’s unlikely to happen.

There are lots of free music services out there, so paying for music may be a thing of the past (and not just by downloading it illegally). Here are a few great ways to listen to music for free! (See also: 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained)

Listen to Your Favorite Radio Station Online

In Los Angeles, 102.7 KIIS FM is the bomb. They’re always playing the most popular songs, and there’s a solid argument for setting all six pre-set radio stations in your car to this one channel.

If there’s a station you absolutely love, it’s possible (and likely) that there’s an option to listen to it stream online. And if not? Give KIIS a chance! You won’t regret it!

The plus side is great, free music. The downside is the regular commercials that come with the radio. So let’s explore some options that have fewer or no commercials at all.

Pandora

Pandora is a music-streaming service that allows users to create customized radio stations based on a song, album, artist, or genre. Pandora plays songs that it thinks are similar to your song (or album, artist, or genre). A thumbs up lets the program know it did a good job in picking a song for you, while a thumbs down lets it know you’re not interested in that song. The more feedback it gets, the better job it does at picking music you like.

Pandora has short, 15-second commercials approximately every 10 songs, so it’s a small price to pay for such a great service. The more significant downside is that free listeners are limited to a total of 40 hours each month. However, for $ 36 a year, you can avoid the commercials and get unlimited listening by upgrading to Pandora One, which also offers higher-quality audio, though I’ve never noticed low-quality sound in the free version.

Last.fm

This service is similar to Pandora in that it plays songs similar to your original choice. Last.fm is free to use, though ads appear on the site while playing music. Last.fm also has a social network aspect to it, and while it scores high in matching new music to your tastes, the website is not all that user friendly or intuitive.

If having music chosen for you isn’t your thing, there are two services that let you choose the exact music you want to play.

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Grooveshark

With Grooveshark, you can search for music and create customized playlists with the songs you select, and there’s no need to sign up just to play music. If you’re always connected to the Internet, you can create a library with the songs you want and play it from wherever you are.

For $ 6 a month, you can get the service ad-free, and for $ 9 a month you can also stream the service to your Grooveshark application on your smartphone.

Spotify

The newest addition to the streaming music scene is Spotify, which is similar to Grooveshark, but comes as a desktop application (similar to iTunes). Once you download it, the user interface will blow you away. It’s very easy to use (and fast, too!), and searching for the song or album you want is a breeze. Creating playlists is as simple as dragging and dropping your selections, and the playlists are accessible from wherever you use Spotify. You can also add your own files into the program, so it can become your one stop shop for all your music needs. It’s my favorite way to listen to music these days, so if you can get your hands on an invite (or have the patience to wait for it to become public), check it out!

The free application comes with a few unobtrusive ads that pop up while playing music, but for $ 10 a month, you can get full access on your smartphone, enhanced sound quality, and offline mode (which keeps your favorite playlists synced for a plane ride).

There’s no shortage of free music services out there. And splurging to get rid of ads or higher quality audio is pretty cheap as well, far cheaper than buying the songs individually only to forget about them a month later. Plus, as opposed to illegally downloading music, all four of these services pay a royalty fee to artists, so not only do you get your music for free (or at least very cheap), but by listening to music through the services, you’re helping the artists get paid as well!

Which free music service is your favorite?


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Cheap Fun and Libations: Brewery and Winery Tours

Posted on July 20, 2011 by admin| Leave a comment

Brewery and winery tastings used to be more of a way to score a free drink. Today, however, they offer not only gratis samples of select drinks, but also an opportunity to learn the difference between a regular brew and a microbrew or how your favorite vineyard fared during Prohibition. If you don’t consider yourself a full-fledged beer enthusiast or oenophile, fear not — that’s why tours and tastings are offered in the first place. And, if you don’t even know the first thing to expect when embarking on one of these experiences, read on! (See also: 10 Great Wines Under $ 10)

What to Expect on a Brewery or Winery Tour

Most brewery tours are free, with more in-depth tours or experiences costing extra. Anheuser-Busch, for example, has a Beermaster Tour that takes guests to more behind-the-scenes locations than its free version and costs $ 25 for guests over 21. It also has a Beer School that teaches visitors pouring techniques, food pairings, and the different ingredients used for brewing and costs $ 10 for guests over 21.

Winery tours and tastings, on the other hand, often cost a flat fee, depending on the size and prestige of the winery. I have been on tours of wineries dotting the Midwest countryside for as little as $ 2.50 per person, while others in more prestigious locations can run you about $ 40. Unlike brewery tours, which often run continuously throughout the day, winery tours and tastings are sometimes by appointment only. Cakebread Cellars, one of my personal favorites located in Napa Valley, is just such a winery.

Generally people of all ages can participate in brewery and winery tours, although those under a certain age (normally 21) must be accompanied by an adult. The tours often end with a free tasting of select products which can, of course, only be sampled by those of us who are aged 21 or over. Although all ages can tour, however, it doesn’t necessarily mean they should — think about whether your pint-sized companions would enjoy said tour without the promise of a pint of their own at the conclusion of the visit.

As far as the size of your tour or tasting group, it varies widely depending on the time, day, and season of your visit, as well as the size of the facility. Groups of 6-40 are standard. Like most attractions, brewery and winery tours and tastings are more crowded on the weekends, particularly during the summer when people are vacationing. If you choose to take part in one of these attractions during those times, be prepared to be jostled, and don’t get upset if you can’t hear the tour guide or tasting leader that well. It comes with the territory. If you really want to ensure individual attention, you can sometimes reserve private tours or tastings by calling ahead of time. Unlike the option open to the general public, though, private events often cost money.

Your tour or tasting will be conducted by an employee of the brewery or winery who has been trained in that establishment’s history, beer- or wine-making process, and products. The guide won’t necessarily have any training beyond that, although many are required to become TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS to help recognize potential alcohol-related problems) certified.

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On average, tastings and tours alike last about 45 minutes. As expected, though, the more the tasting or tour costs, the more in-depth the information you will receive, and the longer the experience.

One little-known fact about both brewery and winery tours is that there are cold parts of the tour. Fermentation in both the beer- and the wine-making process occurs best at low temperatures, so you’ll most likely be spending time in pretty chilly areas. Consider dressing in layers when going on these excursions. Also good to know — closed-toed shoes are required for the majority of brewery tours. I honestly can’t say why (please share if you know!), but I have seen it on the vast majority of brewery websites and in the breweries I’ve visited. Another good tip is to avoid cologne and perfume, as well as smoking, during your visit. Particularly during wine tastings, scent is an integral part of the experience. Taste is also important to both beer and wine tastings, and smoking affects taste.

How to Find Brewery and Winery Tours and Tastings

If you’re looking for the real deal, try this list of ABC’s ten best brewery tours in America or find the best wine trails (groupings of wineries by region) at Wine Trails USA. If you’re looking for things local to your area, a quick Internet search of breweries or wineries should yield useful results, although you should pair that search with one for reviews of that establishment to avoid disappointment. You could also try your friendly local chamber of commerce or tourism bureau — both of those offices often has information on attractions in the area, including breweries and wineries.

When to Try a Tour

Although grapes are harvested from early September until early November in the U.S., winery tours and tastings are generally conducted year-round. As expected, though, more people tend to visit wineries when the weather is best, starting in May each year, through mid-October. Winery tasting and tour groups swell to their largest size during grape harvest season, which is in full swing in September and October. Like wineries, brewery tours also tend to be more crowded in the summer months. You should also expect large crowds during Oktoberfest (held from mid-September to early October).

Do you have any tips for how to have an enjoyable brewery or winery tour or tasting? Share your thoughts in the comments!


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