Save Money Cooking

How to cook meat to the correct temperature

2010-10-21T16:18:00.002-04:00

I often find myself wondering what safe meat temperatures really are. Today I found a useful guide on the food network's website with a chart of recommended meat temperatures. The meat temperature guide lists guidelines for poultry items such as chicken and turkey as well as beef, lamb, steak and pork. To view this handy meat reference list, click here.

Free Cereal

2010-08-23T20:07:00.003-04:00

I am always looking for ways to save money on products I use every day. One of those products is cereal. I never seem to be able to get moving in the morning without a big bowl of cereal and two cups of coffee. Perhaps you can imagine my excitement when I found that my favorite grocery store which already has amazing deals on cereal had a special promotion going for Kellogg's brand cereals.

As part of the promotion, I could save $3.00 by purchasing three or more boxes of selected Kellogg's brands. Typically, I head straight for the Mini Wheats when they run that type of promotion, but today I decided to give some other cereals a chance as well. I am glad I did.

As I scanned the fronts of the packages to see what would catch my eye I noticed that Kellogg's Corn Flakes has released a new product. This new cereal called Corn Flakes Simply Cinnamon says it is lightly sweetened. I love cinnamon, so I thought it would be worth a try.

Another thing that caught my eye was the phrase "try me FREE after mail-in rebate" at the top of the box. The free after rebate promotion would make my super cereal deal even better. Rebate details are on the side of the specially marked box. The side of my box also contains a free recipe for a very delicious looking cinnamon apple crisp.

Although I did not find this cereal promotion listed on the Kellogg's website, I did find several others on their promotions page which you can find at http://www2.kelloggs.com/PromotionSearch.aspx. The website is also an excellent source for free online printable coupons (http://www2.kelloggs.com/Coupon.aspx).

Finding a local food bank

2010-06-30T11:46:00.001-04:00

When times are tough, frequently the first place we look to cut is our food budget. Money spent on groceries can easily add up to $100 to $200 a week or more for the average family. For families attempting to survive by taking lower paying jobs, this amount can be a significant portion of their income.

When personal economic situations become more and more challenging, what is someone to do in order to cut food costs? Well, there is always sale shopping and couponing, but sometimes even these strategies are not enough. That is where food banks come in to play. They are designed to help unemployed and underemployed people survive until they can get back on their feet financially.

The internet can be a very resourceful tool in helping you locate local food banks. The Feeding America website has a food bank locator feature which allows you to search within a state or local zip code to find food banks.

Make Money Cooking.

2010-03-11T08:26:00.001-05:00

These days we could all use a little extra income. Below are some ways to turn your love of cooking into some extra cash.

Please note that you should check with your local health department before beginning a food business because you will need a health inspector to check your kitchen. There may also be additional rules and regulations regarding food preparation in your area such as the number of sinks required, etc.

Another word of caution: There are a lot of scams out there. Please be careful when considering any opportunity. If you have friends or family members that you trust to give you their honest and unbiased opinion, it may also be wise to run the idea by them prior to investing any money in a business venture.

Fund-raising:

Perhaps you want to give some money to a church or other local charitable organization, but it just hasn't been in your budget. Why not volunteer your services to coordinate a bake sale or fund raising dinner. If you don't have the money for supplies, perhaps another volunteer will. Perhaps, however, the other volunteer does not have the cooking skills you do. Work together to make it happen.

Wholesaling:

Many retailers want candies, fresh baked goods, etc. for their businesses. You might also find a market for your products online if they are non-perishable. Consult your local health department for preparation and packaging advice if you plan to ship your products.

Flea Market:

Some flea markets have strict rules on which food items they will and will not allow, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Catering:

You can advertise catering services online, in your local newspaper, at local events such as bridal fairs, and through word of mouth.

Home Cooked Meals:

Many people lead busy lives these days. Perhaps you could go to their home or offer prepared meals that they can pick up.

Parties:

Pampered Chef is a work from home business that allows you to spend time with family and friends as you earn a second income. Find more information at http://www.pamperedchef.com.

Start a blog:

Websites like www.blogger.com allow you to start a blog for free. You can keep a portion of the revenue generated by advertisements on your blog. Please note, however, that this is more of a hobby at the beginning. It takes a very long time for most bloggers to make any income from the blog posts that they write.

More Ideas:

For more ideas about how to work from home, visit www.wahm.com.

McCormick Product Testing

2010-02-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered that McCormick, the company that we all know and love for their excellent spices and seasonings, has a consumer testing panel. Panel members can test products up to four times a year and are even given compensation for their time. Most opportunities are at McCormick's headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland. McCormick does, however, offer occasional online surveys as well.

For more information, visit http://www.mccormickcorporation.com/ContactUs/ConsumerTesting.aspx.

Food Cycling

2010-01-30T13:51:00.005-05:00

You can cycle economy sizes of basic ingredients using your imagination and some solid meal planning. Using leftover ingredients for a second meal can save you both time and money with a little creativity.

Here are a few examples....

Let's take two ingredients: A whole chicken and one bunch of celery (the kind with leaves). These two ingredients can be combined with other ingredients to make multiple types of meals. Here are just a few ideas: Cook the whole chicken in a Reynolds oven bag for a delicious baked chicken. Next, wash each stalk of celery then remove the leaves only from the celery (don't throw the leaves away). Cut up the thinner portion of the celery stalk which was attached to the leaves and the larger (white colored) part of the celery stalk at the bottom of each stalk of celery into fine cube-like pieces. Cut up the leftover chicken and mix it with the celery. Add fruits such as leftover grapes and leftover nuts if desired. Mix in some mayonnaise for meal number two with the chicken - chicken salad. Now, take the leftover celery stalks and cut them into smaller pieces about the length of your pinky finger. Add some peanut butter inside for a quick and tasty snack or cut up the celery into very small pieces and use it to stretch the meat in some spaghetti sauce. Now, use those leftover celery leaves, some remaining chicken and a few other ingredients such as leftover spaghetti noodles to make a warm and hearty chicken noodle soup.

I didn't know that was edible!

2010-01-30T13:00:00.003-05:00

I grew up in a family were wasted food was frowned upon. Even today it bothers me to leave food on my plate. It also frustrates me to throw any food that can be used into a garbage can. That is why I was thrilled when I came across a short article on Texas A&M's Department of Horticulture website which lists parts of vegetables we normally throw away which are actually edible. You can read the article here.

Milk, Bread and Snow

2010-01-30T10:49:00.002-05:00

In my area of the country, snow is a rare treat that we frequently only experience once a year or less. As you can imagine, many of us who are locals are very excited and welcome the cold, white beauty as it drops from heaven on those rare and special days. There is another side of my local community, however, that brings out craziness and even rudeness from normally extremely cordial neighbors.

Most of us are not accustomed to driving in icy conditions, so many local businesses frequently shut down. With their places of employment closed, most of us opt to stay inside or enjoy the outdoors in our local neighborhoods. Our natural survival instincts tell us, however, that there are at least two essential items that we must have if we are unable to make it to the grocery store for one day or more - milk and bread.

Personally, I stock bread mix and dehydrated milk powder, so I am not quite as frantic as the rest of my neighbors. I can't help but take a peek at the madness in the grocery store in the days,hours, and minutes prior to a storm, however. Some people are pushing and shoving. Others are shortening their conversations with friends, others are driving like maniacs in the parking lots, and for what? Milk and bread!

If there is one nugget of truth I would like you to remember after reading this post, it is this. Be courteous to your neighbors. Share. Love. Be respectful. All of those are essential qualities of the human condition that make us who we are. Do your best not to lose sight of the important things in life, your friends, neighbors, loved ones and relationship with God over more temporary things such as being ahead of someone in line at the grocery store to get your milk and bread.

A Gourmet Dessert on a Cracker Jack Budget

2010-01-03T10:20:00.001-05:00

Lately I have been experiencing a post-holiday let-down. The excitement and hectic pace of the holidays is behind me, and I am finding myself desiring to make one more holiday treat, just to get it out of my system. If you are feeling the same way today, why not make chocolate covered strawberries? They only require a few simple ingredients and are well worth the work of preparation.

Chocolate covered strawberries are considered to be a gourmet delicacy, but I recently discovered that they are fun and fairly easy to make.

Here is what you will need:

~One container of strawberries
~One or two packages of almond bark baking chocolate or chocolate chips
*If two, buy white chocolate and regular chocolate. If one, chocolate of your
choice.
~A colander for washing the strawberries (optional)
~Vegetable wash (store bought or homemade)
*For homemade, mix 1 Tablespoon of white distilled vinegar per One cup of
water. Use a clean spray bottle to apply. Inexpensive spray bottles
should be available at your local Wal-Mart, dollar store, or beauty supply
store.
~Running water for washing the strawberries
~A box of toothpicks
~Paper towels for drying strawberries once they are washed (VERY IMPORTANT)
~Flower foam or styrofoam (optional, but it makes dipping easier)
*I used circles of styrofoam which I found at my local Dollar Tree. They
worked very well.
~A double boiler or pan for melting the chocolate
~Wax paper for cooling the chocolate once the strawberries are covered
~A ziploc-type bag or icing glaze bag (optional)
~A pair of scissors (optional)
~Sprinkles and/or other edible decorations such as colored sugar (optional)

Instructions:

~Melt chocolate at a low setting.
~Thoroughly wash and dry strawberries. Do not remove stems.
~Put a toothpick through each strawberry at the stem. Toothpick should be inserted enough so that the strawberry will not fall off if you hold the toothpick but not so much that it goes all the way through.
~If using flower foam or styrofoam, insert other end of toothpick into styrofoam. You can prepare several strawberries at a time this way.
~Once the chocolate has melted, hold the strawberry by the toothpick and dip it into the chocolate. Double check to make sure the strawberry is thoroughly dry prior to dipping. This is important for smoother chocolate.
~Allow excess chocolate to drip back into double boiler or pan for a few seconds. Chocolate may still look lumpy after dipping but should smooth out as it cools.
~Place each strawberry with toothpick onto wax paper and decorate exposed area with sprinkles or other dry edible decorations if desired.
~Allow strawberries to cool completely. Decorate with other chocolate if desired. Allow to cool completely then remove toothpicks. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a few hours. Best if consumed the same day as you prepare them. May be "mushy" after a full day in the refrigerator.

Cookie Baking Tips

2009-12-15T21:40:00.001-05:00

The holidays without cookies are like peanut butter without jelly. I always use my mom's favorite cookie baking tip of separating the egg white from the yolk and beating the white until stiff when making chocolate chip cookies, but I found a link to even more cookie baking tips in my e-mail. Just had to share because it's such a great idea to share secrets of baking better cookies.

Click here to see the top 10 cookie baking secrets from www.myrecipes.com.

Playing with your food

2009-12-09T17:15:00.004-05:00

I found some fascinating videos on youtube of gentlemen who made musical instruments out of produce. Just had to share. See the videos here, here and here.

Seeing the musical instrument videos was a great inspiration to me, encouraging me that food really can be fun in many ways. You can use it as an instrument, as a decoration and much more. The uses are only limited by your creativity or ability to copy the culinary creativity of others.

Transporting Holiday Party Foods

2009-12-09T15:45:00.001-05:00

Check out this article from Home Made Simple about how to bring your food to your Christmas celebration. Although it is for Thanksgiving, this can easily apply to Christmas Holiday Parties as well.

Click here to view the article about transporting various types of food to your holiday get together.

Food Baskets - Creative and Inexpensive Last Minute Gifts

2009-12-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

Have you made your list and checked it twice and still forgotten someone's gift? If so, don't panic. Create a holiday gift basket with your gift recipient's favorite foods inside instead. Even if it's Christmas Eve and the only thing open is your local grocery store, you are still in luck. Many of them will have everything you need for a thoughtful-looking gift that doesn't cost a lot of money to make.

First, you need an idea for inspiration. What type of food does your gift recipient like? Are they a coffee connoisseur or a chocolate junky? Are they a health nut or do they love Mexican Food, Italian Food, French Cuisine, or Maybe Chinese Meals? Are they expecting a baby soon? Having a bit of an idea of your gift recipient's tastes is definitely helpful.

Next, you'll need a basket. It doesn't have to be a wicker one. Maybe you have a pretty metal bucket or a nice flower pot at your house which can be easily decorated to look really nice. Be creative in your selection and make sure it will be a good size for the type of contents you want to use to fill your basket.

Now you need to fill your basket. It is a good idea to have some sort of filler to put between items to give your basket more appeal. You may already have construction or computer paper at your house which can be cut with scissors or put through your straight cut shredder and fan folded (back and forth like you did when you were a kid) to make pretty filler.

Now you are ready to fill your basket with the goodies you have selected. Maybe you will do a variety basket with your recipient's favorite items. Maybe you will do several different types of the same item. Contents are up to you, but try to be creative and choose a wide variety of colors and shapes in your items. If you need tips on arranging your items, the grocery store's florist may be able to assist you if one is available. If not, maybe you have a creative friend or neighbor who can help.

Now it's time to finish up. Maybe you will choose to present your gift unwrapped as is, or maybe you will wrap it in clear cellophane or gift wrap. Presentation is up to you.

Holiday Cookies Top 20 Recipes

2009-12-09T14:29:00.004-05:00

The fast-approaching holidays have caused many of my thoughts to center around holiday entertaining. Since I am on a college student's budget this year, I am looking for new and creative ways to save money cooking for the holidays. Earlier this week I wrote about holiday appetizers made easier. Today, however, I am having a sugar craving, so I went in search of inspiration online.

Betty Crocker's website is where I am going to start for ideas. They have a great top 20 list of cookie recipes for the holidays on their website. I hope you find it as helpful as I am.

Christmas Party Holiday Appetizer Recipes

2009-12-07T22:26:00.003-05:00

You can find many creative appetizer recipes with instructional videos on www.youtube.com. If you have an idea of what you are searching for, you can simply use the search feature on the youtube home page to find it. If not, try this link. It has some inspirational ideas to get you started.

The southern food channel topic at about.com has some great written recipes for those who prefer a paper copy. Their holiday appetizer recipe ideas are located here.

If you are like me and prefer both video and written recipes, you are in luck. Pepperidge Farm has several complimentary video and printable recipes at www.puffpastry.com.

Unique party appetizer ideas can be found at the myrecipes website. Click here to view some classic cheese dips and spreads recipes with creative twists on the old favorites.

Fast Food Alternative - Home Cooked Meals To Go

2009-12-07T17:42:00.004-05:00

My husband and I have been very busy this week between last minute preparations for our church's Christmas play this weekend and my college finals fast approaching not to mention our home based business. In spite of all the craziness, however, we still have to eat. It is also important for us to keep our blood sugar steady and not compromise healthy eating habits any more than absolutely necessary. You can only eat so many Subway sandwiches, so I decided to go back to my old friend Google and do some searching for meals that can be eaten in the car when my husband and I are on the run.

Here are a few things I found...

Big Red Kitchen's website has a very interesting series that responds to a busy mom with kids in sports that has to eat on the run. You can read it here.

Planning Fun Road Trips has great ideas for vacation road trip recipes you can use everyday here.

A blog at Low Carb Friends has several ideas for healthy portable meals to eat on the run here.

Eating consciously lists easy, portable and fast healthy vegan meal options to go on their website located here.

You can even find delicious brown bag recipe ideas at the busy cooks section of about.com here.

Who says you can't make your own fast food? Fast food can be more in your control, healthier, and less expensive with some good meal planning and simple preparation techniques.

Tilapia - The good and bad fish

2009-11-30T17:26:00.042-05:00

I don't always consider fish to be my protein of choice, but since the American Heart Association states that fish contains vital nutrients for heart health I decided to start feeding my family fish once a week.

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week (click here for American Heart Association article), but I'm starting small, particularly because tilapia, the fish I can afford on my budget, may have as many health risks as it does benefits. Click here for an article from US News and World report.

Prior to cooking and consuming any type of fish, including tilapia, you should be aware that fish can contain mercury and some low fat fish might contain potentially unhealthy fatty acids.

Although some mercury is not considered to be dangerous, too much mercury can be harmful to your body. (Read more and see mercury levels in various types of fish on the American Heart Association's website here).

There is controversy over the types of fat in low fat fish such as tilapia may contain dangerous types of fats. You can read both sides of the issue here and here.

As with many any food, following government and American Heart Association guidelines for portion sizes and serving frequency is key to maximizing the nutritional value of fish.

Kitchen Decor Stickers - A great gift for the holidays.

2009-11-30T12:45:00.001-05:00

Expressive Signs offers holiday decor gifts for the hard to buy for people on your Christmas list. Many of these unique home accent gifts are even priced under $20. Custom vinyl wall words and graphics are also available in a variety of colors and sizes. Click here for additional information.

Easy recipes and Dinner Meal Plans

2009-11-30T11:23:00.008-05:00

I am always looking for budget-friendly and easy recipes. Today I found a website that offers inexpensive mom-tested recipes and weekly meal plans as well. The moms who think website is definitely going into my internet bookmarks.

You can check out the recipes and free meal plans available on their website by clicking here.

The website also offers many other helpful resources for moms such as parenting advice and activities for children, health, nutrition and diet resources for women,baby names for boys and girls and more.

Chocolate - The Perfect Gift For a Woman

2009-11-23T22:09:00.010-05:00

With the holidays approaching we all have that one woman on our list who seems to have everything. Why not give her the gift that speaks volumes to almost any woman - chocolate. I am not sure of the precise scientific reasoning behind why chocolate can alter a woman from a depressed state of mind back to what passes for sanity, but I do know that chocolate works wonders for my mood and that of many other women as well.

Gourmet chocolates can be an affordable luxury with many gift packages available at www.chocolate.com for under $25. This holiday season, why not give the gift of chocolate?

Food Stamps, Women Infants and Children, and Government Food and Nutrition Grants

2009-11-23T20:57:00.005-05:00

With the rising cost of food, many families are turning to government assistance for help. If you have never used this financial assistance before,however, it may be difficult to know where to go for eligibility information.

The United States Department of Agriculture website offers information on food stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP for short) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance. You can find S.N.A.P. food stamp information here; and WIC assistance information here.

For charities in need of government assistance for feeding programs information on government grants for food and nutrition is located here.

Vary the Routine

2009-11-23T13:29:00.006-05:00

Has cooking become just another part of your daily routine? Why not try some variation to spruce it up a bit, either in the cooking itself or in your style of presentation for the food.

As I write this post I am envisioning a fond memory of a family tradition my parents, sister and I had when I was younger. We had indoor family picnics on our living room floor. That may sound like a cheesy idea to you, but for me it was one of the highlights of my week. Why? Because I was spending time with my family and breaking free from the day-to-day routine once a week.

Today, why not try a creative method of presentation with your family? Maybe you could try eating with chopsticks or having party food for supper. Maybe you have a different creative idea such as having family members come up with meal suggestions, eating dessert first, or letting the kids do the cooking. Whatever your idea, be sure it is something the whole family can enjoy and that family members participate together as much as possible.

Mood Food

2009-11-23T11:43:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel like being lazy all day and not doing anything or where the pressures of life seem so overwhelming that you just need a break to eat? Well, before you reach for your favorite comfort food, why not reach for a healthier alternative.

In her article listed here, About.com Guide Cathy Wong recommends "Five Foods for a Better Mood."

1) Oatmeal
2) Walnuts
3) Tea
4) Salmon
5) Lentils

Rest and other factors also play important roles in reducing stress, but food is fuel for our bodies. Without the right kind of fuel, our bodies do not run as efficiently as they should.

Handle with Caution

2009-11-20T10:15:00.002-05:00

During the busy holiday season it is extremely important to exercise caution when handling raw food products, especially meats. Proper sanitary cooking may help you avoid a holiday season filled with illness instead of festivities.

Today I happened across a portion of Kroger's website which deals with this extremely important topic. It never hurts to have a reminder of the proper things to do when handling food products. Click here to find out more about safe food preparation courtesy of Kroger supermarket.

Reading Labels

2009-11-16T18:20:00.005-05:00

Have you ever examined a label and found that many convenience foods, even those you think are healthy, can contain large amounts of harmful ingredients such as sodium? Too much sodium can be bad for your health as my husband rediscovered on a recent doctor's visit which inspired him to desire healthier eating and exercise habits.

Cooking from scratch whenever possible is a good way to ensure that your family is eating healthier foods. Cooking your own meals allows you to have more control over the amounts of sodium and other ingredients your family consumes. It also allows you to use your creativity to create meals tailored to your family's tastes.

Websites such as www.allrecipies.com and www.recipezaar.com offer a wide variety user-tested recipes for all types of foods.

Fortunately, many retailers are also considering consumer's health concerns. One retailer I just discovered today even specializes in low sodium foods. Heart Healthy Market offers a wide selection of low sodium products on their website. Click here for more information. I found this website through a blog specializing in low sodium cooking which you can see here.