Modern Gal

Do You Feel Downwardly Mobile?

Elizabeth — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:49:27 +0000

There’s been a flurry of census data released yesterday that appears fairly grim regarding a large swath of the American population. With the job market very, very slowly improving and many people, especially new graduates and those over 50 years old, spending extended periods unemployed or underemployed, it appears many people are having to adjust [...]

Menu Plan for Week of Feb 5, 2012

Elizabeth — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:45:34 +0000

Brrr! It’s been super cold here this past week, making me think soups and stews. From last week, our favorite dish was the lamb meatza, always lots of fun! Today, I have a pot roast chili brewing, after trying this some time last year, I no longer make regular pot roast, preferring this spiced and [...]

Saving Money While Grocery Shopping

Elizabeth — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:58:36 +0000

If your grocery bill seems to be expanding while your cart seems to be shrinking, you are not alone. The cost of inflation and a devalued dollar readily show themselves on the grocery store shelves. Here are ten tips to help you save money while grocery shopping. Plan Ahead Planning ahead is one of the [...]

Tuna and White Bean Salad

Elizabeth — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:34:05 +0000

I have been struggling with ideas to pack for lunches. Since I don’t eat wheat, I tend to look for alternatives to sandwiches, but have been bored with the repetition with some of my lunches recently. I decided to make a salad with canned tuna and white beans, some pantry staples that I tend to [...]

Coping with Rising Food and Energy Prices

Elizabeth — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:24:15 +0000

One of my acquaintances, Katherine, was asking how I plan and budget for rising prices. She’s noticed (as have a lot of other people) that a lot of prices keep creeping up at the grocery store and the gas pump. While some of the price rise might be seasonal, being prepared for inflation in these [...]

Menu Plan for Week of Jan 29. 2012

Elizabeth — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:53:41 +0000

I hope everyone had a great week. From last week, our favorite dish was the Indonesian-style ginger chicken, I loved the honey, soy, combination with the assertive taste of a lot of fresh grated ginger! In addition, I think my new favorite treats are the spicy chocolate bark, which are so much better than plain [...]

Spicy Chocolate Bark

Elizabeth — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:23:21 +0000

One of the indulgences that I allow myself fairly often (perhaps too often) is good quality dark chocolate. In addition to a healthy dose of polyphenols and other things, I find that the smooth, rich quality of the chocolate makes small servings quite satisfying. I’ve tried several ways to add even more interesting flavors to [...]

Saving and Dieting: the Winter Edition

Elizabeth — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:31:07 +0000

I’ve commented before that saving and dieting (losing weight or if you prefer, losing fat), have a number of things in common. For example, both tend to benefit from having a structured plan, sticking with it, and catching yourself before a major downfall. Interestingly, I have several friends who were both in debt and a [...]

Menu Plan for the Week of Jan 22, 2012

Elizabeth — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:14:59 +0000

I hope everyone is having a good week. From the previous menu, our favorite was the chipotle meatloaf. The chipotle spice makes plain ground meat extra tasty, both smoky and hot. For this week, I’m trying out a simple boiled pork ribs and cabbage dish (I’ll post the recipe later) and we have roast chicken [...]

Thai Style Hamburger Curry

Elizabeth — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:01 +0000

One of my favorite dishes to both cook and order is a Thai style red curry. Fragrant with spices, coconut milk, and chilis, it’s a great combination of flavors. Traditional Thai curries might use pork, shrimp or duck as a protein and vegetables like long beans (green beans) and eggplant. I have been experimenting with [...]