Thursday, February 26, 2009

Sharing Recipes--Tuna Casserole


It's one of those simple, warm stand-bys that everyone turns to at the last minute. This old family favourite can be accompanied by a large green salad and crusty garlic bread.

Bon appetit!

Ingredients

2 large cans of tuna
4 eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 large onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
1 tsp parsley
4 small tomatoes
1 tbsp oil
dash of pepper

Procedure
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Grease a 9" x 9" square pan.
  • Drain and flake the tuna.
  • Dice the onion and crush the garlic.
  • Add eggs, bread crumbs, onion, garlic, salt, and spices.
  • Pour the mixture into the pan.
  • Cut the tomatoes into small pieces.
  • Top the mixture with tomatoes and a bit of oil.
  • Pierce the tuna mixture so tomatoes can penetrate.
  • Cover dish with aluminum foil.
  • Bake for 30 minutes.
4 servings

Monday, February 23, 2009

Going Vintage

Lately, I have been visiting a number of second-hand and vintage stores, as well as looking online for bargains. Vintage shopping is like mining for gold; sometimes, you have to dig through a lot of less-than-desirable clothing items. I have been advised to look carefully at the fabric for discoloration and holes, and to examine the stress points in seams and the underarm area. Zippers can be easily replaced, but shattered fabric is nearly irreparable.

It also helps to learn the lingo of vintage:

Mint This means the item is perfect like when it was originally made and shows no sign of wear. This is extremely rare for vintage clothing.

Near mint An item shows only the slightest signs of wear.

Excellent An item shows typical signs of wear due to occasional use

Very good An item is considered wearable but has some surface flaws such as staining or soiling.

Good An item is wearable but cannot be returned to excellent condition even if repairs are made.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sharing Recipes--Italian Meatballs

This is one of my mother's foolproof recipes. I prefer to use lean ground beef, but any combination of veal, pork, and regular beef will work. I usually eat the meatballs with pasta, but they can be thrown into a soup, or eaten on their own with an accompanying side dish or salad.

Ingredients

1 kilogram lean ground beef
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp parsley
1/2 cup romano cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
2 slices of bread
1/2 cup milk
1 garlic clove, minced
1 onion, chopped

Procedure
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Grease a large baking sheet (or two) with olive oil.
  • Tear bread into pieces and soak in milk.
  • Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Add the milk-soaked bread.
  • If the mixture is soft, add more bread crumbs.
  • If the mixture is hard, add an extra egg.
  • Form into balls.
  • Place 1" apart on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10 minutes on each side.
Makes 35 to 40 meatballs.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cut Clutter


When you are organized and good at managing your schedule, you make the most of your time, energy, and money. And, all your resources can be invested in the pursuit of your goals.

Organizing and time management do not come naturally to many people, but they can be learned. In her book, When Organizing Isn't Enough, Julie Morgenstern provides the following tips:
  • Organizational systems can be as unique to an individual as his own fingerprint. Custom-design your own system around your daily habits and routines. Do not invest in expensive leather planners or closet organizers if you don't think you will use them.
  • According to Morgenstern, a kindergarten classroom is the perfect model for organizing any space or schedule. There are clearly defined zones for each activity: reading, napping, arts and crafts.
  • Jump-start your sense of control by organizing your wallet, handbag, or briefcase. And, then tackle the underwear and sock drawers at home. These are the most frequented areas, and organizing them will take the least amount of time. In most cases, less than 30 minutes of time is required.
  • Track your energy cycles, noting the times of day when you have the most/least energy and what activities energize you. Then, determine how long you will focus on reading, writing, paperwork, and other daily activities.
  • You may have an easier time getting organized if you hire a professional or ask a friend to help you create an appropriate system.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sharing Recipes--Banana Muffins

Baking doesn't get much easier than muffins.

These banana muffins make a delicious and simple change of pace for breakfast and afternoon snacks. They can be made in large batches and stored in air-tight containers or frozen for future use. And, it's cheaper and healthier than making a trip to Tim Horton's or the mall.

This recipe is an old-family favourite which can be easily whipped up in less than an hour.

Ingredients

3 large bananas
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup melted butter

Procedure
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Grease muffin tins.
  • Mash bananas.
  • Add sugar and slightly beaten egg.
  • Add the sifted dry ingredients.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Makes 12 muffins

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Rattling the Coffee Cup

Ideally, all coffee should be "triple certified"--shade grown, fair-trade, and organic.

The natural habitat of coffee plants is in the shade, under the canopy of the rain forest. But, a few decades ago, coffee farmers found that they could grow coffee a lot faster if they cleared away the lovely canopy and grew coffee in the sun. Removed from its natural condition, the coffee plant needed chemical help, and, as a result, was doused with pesticides. Studies have found up to 97% fewer bird species on sun coffee farms than on shady ones.

Coffee that is fair-trade certified has been grown by adults, not children. Many large companies use child slaves in the harvesting of coffee beans. These children work twelve to fourteen-hour days with no pay, little food and sleep, and frequent beatings. Each time you purchase a fair-trade item, you are telling the suppliers that you want to buy these items because you are a conscious shopper.

If you don't have time to do anything but pick up a bag of coffee and throw it into your shopping cart, just look for the organic seal and carry on. If it's organic, it was probably grown in the shade, free of harmful pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides, which means it's bird-friendly and people-safe too. Most food stores carry at least one, if not several brands. My favourite bargain brand is President's Choice Organics, available at No Frills and Loblaws.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Thrifty Tips--Electronics

When it comes to electronics, I am the extreme frugalista. My television set will be celebrating its silver anniversary this fall, my printer is thirteen years old, and my computer system is five years old. I do own a state-of-the-art cell phone and a GPS system, only because I received them as retirement gifts.

I make a point of buying the most energy-efficient electronics, and I am never the first one on my block to own a new gadget or toy.

The following guidelines come in very handy when purchasing electronics:
  • Buy a laptop rather than a PC, which consumes five times as much energy.
  • Switch to an LCD monitor. The old-style 20-inch CRT monitor consumes about 150 watts of power, while a new 20-inch flat-panel LCD uses about 30 watts.
  • Repair computers as long as you can. Regular maintenance will extend their life. Adding memory and other upgrades will keep your computer current as technology advances.
  • Think twice before buying a plasma-screen high definition TV. They can use nearly twice as much energy as their LCD-screen counterparts, and more than three times as much as the standard models.
Consider the following energy-saving tips for all your electronics:
  • Turn off the monitor if you are taking a break of twenty minutes or more.
  • Skip the screen saver. Using a screen saver may consume more kilowatts than not.
  • Turn off the computer and all peripherals at the power strip so that transformers do not continue drawing power when off.
  • As soon as your cell phone, iPod, laptop, or digital camera is charged, unplug the charger. When plugged in, a charger draws energy even if it is not attached to the item it is meant to charge.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

BYOB

Paper or Plastic--No Thank You!

I used to think that paper was better, since you could recycle it, but I have learned that both are horrible for the environment and should be avoided at all costs.

Between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. These bags are made from petroleum derivatives, and they do not biodegrade. They are a menace to marine life: they end up in our rives and oceans, choking and killing many sea creatures.

Believe it or not, paper bags may be worse. Even though paper is biodegradable, it takes more energy to make and creates more waste than two plastic bags. Only 20% of paper bags are recycled and they take up nine times as much space in landfills as plastic bags do.

The solution is a simple one: bring your own sturdy, reusable bags. Depending on how much grocery shopping you do, you will probably need around six bags. I purchased mine at Canadian Tire for less than $1 apiece.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Sharing Recipes--Tiramisu

This dessert provides the perfect ending to any Valentine's Day meal.

Stories have been told about how Tiramisu was the favorite of Venice's courtesans, who needed a "pick me up" to fortify themselves between their amorous encounters.

It is very difficult to describe this dessert to anyone who has never tasted it. Imagine a light-mocha-flavored-whipped-cream concoction on lady finger pastry soaked in strong espresso coffee with a tantalizing hint of amaretto liqueur.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 package lady fingers
250 ml Nutriwhip Lite
250 g Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese
2 cups of cold, sweetened espresso coffee
1/2 cup amaretto liqueur
1 semi-sweet chocolate, grated

Procedure
  • Beat cream cheese using the electric mixer.
  • In a separate bowl, whip the Nutriwhip Lite.
  • In another bowl, combine the coffee and the amaretto.
  • Combine cheese and Nutriwhip together.
  • Cut the lady fingers in half, lengthwise.
  • Place one layer at the bottom of a 9" x 13" rectangular pan.
  • Sprinkle enough of the coffee/amaretto mixture to cover the lady fingers.
  • Spread the cheese/nutriwhip mixture on the lady fingers.
  • Continue layering. The top layer must be the cheese mixture.
  • Cover with grated chocolate.
  • Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Cut Clutter


Many of us cannot resist pursuing a vision of a perfectly organized world: a place for everything, and everything in its place. I have a natural affinity to being well-organized, and, at times I can be almost compulsive in my actions.

But, when I retired from teaching, it took me almost three months to organize my den. It was a period of transition and I lacked direction. It didn't seem to matter if there were extra boxes, or if there were stacks of papers and files on my desk. But, that clutter prevented me from moving forward with my life.

I finally got it together, and, more importantly I have kept it up. I found the following strategies very useful:
  • I decided to set aside two entire days for decluttering. If that is not possible, one hour a day for a week or two would also work.
  • I focused on one drawer or shelf at a time. I would take everything out of the shelf or drawer, sort through it, and just keep the essential stuff. I got rid of the rest.
  • I designated a home for the essential stuff, and for the first month or so, I was a bit fanatic about putting things back where they belonged.
  • Since that time, I have scheduled regular decluttering sessions once a week.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Thrifty Tips--Saving Energy

From the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed, we depend on energy to maintain our busy lifestyles. It's so easy, we probably aren't even aware that we are using energy whenever we flick a switch or push a button. The following tips can help us make the shift to power-saving strategies at home.
  • Use daylight as much as possible. Remember, it's free and it doesn't pollute.
  • Flick off all lights even if you leave a room for a few minutes.
  • Switch all light bulbs to CFLs--the curly-looking ones. They use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They are more expensive--around $4 a bulb versus roughly $1--but the investment will pay for itself over the life of the bulb.
  • Turn your heat down 1 degree in the winter and set your air conditioner 1 degree higher in the summer. You probably won't notice and you can easily go for a 2 degree difference.
  • Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. This device will allow you to turn your temperature way down or up when you are at work or sleeping.
  • When it comes time to buy a new appliance, make sure it has the Energy Star label. These appliances use 10 to 50% less energy and water than standard models. Over time, the money you save will offset the higher initial cost.
  • Once you buy an energy-saving appliance, make sure you take advantage of the savings it has to offer. Read the manual, visit product websites, or call the customer service hot line to answer any additional questions you have about conserving power.
  • Use the refrigerator wisely: decide what you want before you open the door, clean the coils periodically with a vacuum cleaner, don't set the temperature colder than necessary, and keep it full.
  • Eliminate vampire power. When stereos, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, microwave ovens and appliances are technically turned off, they continue to suck energy out of the wall and out of your wallet. So, make it easy for yourself and use smart power strips with on/off switches that can be turned off when you are not using your appliances or are away for an extended period.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Sharing Recipes--Pancakes

As a budding frugalista, I try to avoid packaged and processed foods. I must admit it is easier to simply add water to a mix that promises and often delivers extra-fluffy pancakes.

I still have fond memories of my mother's homemade pancakes; so, I decided to resurrect the recipe and try my hand at making them from scratch. In keeping with my new health regimen, I also add two tablespoons of organic ground flaxseed.

Since the recipe produces 12 pancakes, I freeze most of them and reheat them later in the toaster at the lowest setting. They thaw and reheat easily this way; plus, the toaster method helps them keep their shape. Microwaving does not work as well: they become soggy, limp, and not particularly appetizing.

Ingredients

1 egg
2 cups milk
3 tbsp white sugar
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp softened margarine
1/4 tsp vanilla

Procedure
  • Preheat oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Preheat electric griddle.
  • Beat egg very well.
  • Add milk and sugar and continue beating.
  • Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
  • Combine both mixtures.
  • Stir in margarine and vanilla.
  • Pour pancake batter onto the hot griddle. Pools of batter should be 2 inches away from each other.
  • Cook until golden brown brown on each side.
  • Place finished pancakes on a heat-proof plate in the oven.
  • Repeat with the remaining batter.
Makes 12 pancakes

Friday, February 6, 2009

Can The Pop!


Nutritionist George Rapitis does not mince words.

"We encourage illness and disease little-by-little every day by not preventing their cause. We know better, we try to fool ourselves, but our bodies' cells can't be fooled about what we put in our mouths. I hope the next time you look at a can of pop, you take note of the ingredients and smarten up for the good of your own healthy lifespan and that of your children and grandchildren."

Apart from a quick energy boost, most soft drinks offer little or no nutritional value. Yet, according to recent statistics, Canadians gulp down an average of 85 litres each per year.

If we take the time to read the labels carefully, we will discover the following ingredients:

Phosphoric Acid This may interfere with the body's ability to use calcium, which can led to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones.

Aspartame This chemical is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. According to Rapitis, there are over 92 different health side-effects associated with aspartame consumption. These include brain tumours, birth defects, diabetes, and emotional disorders.

Caffeine Caffeinated drinks can cause a number of symptoms including jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, and breast lumps.

Sugar It is a proven fact that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and weight gain.

Definitely food (and drink) for thought!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Thrifty Tips--Grocery Shopping


I have always considered myself to be a frugal shopper, but I am willing to step up to the plate and rethink how and where I shop. In the wake of the economic slowdown, it is very important to go food shopping with a new and improved plan in hand. I have found the following tips very helpful:

Go Generic In most cases, generic and store-label food and household items are just as good as name-brand products. This is especially true for cereals, crackers, chips, napkins, and paper towels.

Bring a calculator Lately, I have noticed a number of shoppers with a calculator in hand. I watched a few of them calculate the per-unit price of different items. This comes in very handy when doing any bulk buying. And, it is also a good idea to keep a running total of purchases. If they exceed a certain amount, items can be returned to their shelves before reaching the checkout counter.

Buy in Bulk This does not mean purchasing large cases of individually wrapped goods; nor, does it mean buying things you don't really need. Buying in bulk does mean buying the largest size of a product that I was going to buy anyway. This is better for my shopping bill because the larger size usually has a lower per-unit price. And, it is also better for the planet because it uses the smallest amount of packaging per unit.

Curtail aimless wandering I try to plan my shopping list around the items on the perimeter of the store. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, dairy products, and other healthy items can be found against the store walls. I then make a few quick trips down the rest of the aisles.

Beware of loss leaders After checking all the fliers, I decide whether or not I want to buy any of these items. Loss leaders are items that stores sell at (or below) the wholesale price paid for the merchandise. Then, they hope the customer will browse and give in to a couple of impulse purchases. I try to do my loss leader shopping first and then finish the remainder of my shopping at whichever store has the best prices in general.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sharing Recipes--BCR Casserole

Quick and easy...quick and easy. That's one of my favorite mantras. Add tasty, and you have the makings of this broccoli/cheese/rice casserole.

This recipe has been in my family for over 25 years. Accompanied by garlic bread and a tantalizing dessert, it makes for a hearty lunch or light supper.

Ingredients

1 cup of arborio rice
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp romano cheese
1 cup milk
Cream of mushroom soup (10 ounces)
1 head of broccoli

Procedure
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Parboil broccoli for 5 minutes and drain. Set aside.
  • Cook rice for 10 minutes and drain. Set aside.
  • Combine milk, soup, cheese and butter. Cook for a few minutes in a small pot.
  • Combine broccoli, rice, salt, and soup mixture.
  • Pour in a 9" x 13" greased rectangular dish.
  • Sprinkle with romano cheese.
  • Cover dish with aluminum foil.
  • Bake for 45 minutes.
Makes 4-6 servings.