Update: [Economical] Wedding Plans

I just realized I owe you guys a wedding update! We did get engaged almost exactly 5 months ago, so I guess it’s only fair to let you guys know what we’ve planned so far.

Basically, we have the place, the date, I have my dress (it was the second one I tried on!), we got our engagement photos done, we nailed down a DJ, and we bought our invitations/Save the Dates. Phew! Oh, and the only things we paid full price for were the venue and the DJ. Boom. Here are the specifics:

Place: Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield, N.H.

Source.

Date: August 2013 (sorry – have to keep some details private!)

Dress: I can’t tell you the exact dress I got – Z does read this blog, afterall – but I can tell you that I got my dress at Modern Bride in Bedford, N.H. and had a great experience. They even told me my alterations would be free – don’t ask me why, but I’ll take it! My experience was so good with Modern Bride that I’m  taking my bridesmaids there in January to find our bridesmaid dresses.

Engagement photos: Our friend, Joey, took them for us at deCordova in Lincoln, Mass. Joey was kind enough to take our photos as his wedding present to us, but he is one awesome photographer. I'd be happy to put anyone in touch with him who might be looking for a professional photographer - just shoot me an email if you're interested! We haven’t chosen a photo for our Save the Dates yet, so I unfortunately can’t share one of the photos on the blog yet - but I will as soon as they're sharable!

DJ: Peak Entertainment. They’ve worked at Mountain View many times before, and really seem to know their stuff. I’ll be sure to give a full review after our wedding!

Invitations: Um, we bought a Groupon deal that saved us hundreds – yes, hundreds – of dollars on invitations. The deal even included reply cards and Save the Dates!

That's about it for updates so far. We’re taking our parents to see Mountain View this weekend, and I am beyond excited. It’s such a beautiful place - we know they’ll love it!

I’ll be sure to update you guys in another couple of months when we have more planned. We do plan to go to San Francisco and Napa Valley for our honeymoon, so any recommendations for where to go would be greatly appreciated!

It's Back: Half Price Frappuccinos at Starbucks

They're doing it again.

Source: www.grubgrade.com.

Starbucks is offering their Half Price Happy Hour again, through May 13th. That's right: half price frappuccinos between 3 and 5 p.m. Cold, creamy, filled-with-so-worth-it-fat frappuccinos.

I know where I'll be this afternoon....

Drink This: Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale (From Your Own Kegerator)

A few months ago, Z and I invested in a kegerator.

If you're a craft beer fan like us, I highly suggest purchasing a kegerator. Although it's a hefty cost upfront, it's definitely an investment...that should pay off big time in the end. We're currently keeping track of how many beers we get out of each keg, and dividing that by the cost of the keg itself - so as we get some more data, I will be sure to share that with you guys. Plus, you can come home from a long day at work and fill a pint glass with ice cold beer, straight from the tap. Have I sold you on this yet?

The latest keg we bought was Ithaca Apricot Wheat Ale. This crisp, refreshing brew is perfect for sipping in the warmer weather. With a 4.90% abv. and subtle hints of fresh apricot flavor, this has become one of my favorite spring/summer-time beers.

If you're not a big fan of fruity beer, I still recommend trying this - the apricot flavor is obvious, yet not overpowering.

Cheers! Have a great weekend!

Homemade Bread Crumbs

When life gives you stale bread...make homemade bread crumbs.

Last week, Z and I had half of a leftover baguette that was hard as a rock - but I refused to let it go to waste. Being my economical self, I whipped out my food processor and some seasonings, and turned that stale bread into something useful. 

Homemade Bread Crumbs

Yields: About 1 cup

-1/2 stale baguette, roughly chopped

-Dried oregano

-Dried parsley

-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread chopped bread out evenly on a lightly greased baking sheet; bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool for 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven.

2.) Put bread in a food processor with oregano, parsley, salt and pepper; pulse until finely processed and well mixed.

3.) Once bread crumbs are completely cool, place in an airtight container (I also put mine in the freezer since I wouldn't be using them right away).

Easy and economical - just the way I like it. :)

How have you saved money in the kitchen recently?

Moving Made Cheap (and Easy)

Moving is fun. For no one.

On Sunday, I was fortunate enough to have five friends plus Z help me move into Z’s current house for my two-week temporary stay there. Their help made the move smooth, quick and much less stressful, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their time and assistance. My Dad and brother also came down on Saturday to carry away a few of my bigger pieces of furniture that we won't need in the new house. To them, I am also grateful.

Although friends and family helped to make my move less stressful, I took the liberty of making my move less expensive. Since it is a very popular time of the year for moving, I thought you all might like these three tips that made my move as cheap as possible:

1.) Sell your stuff – The initial thought of trying to sell my unwanted things online seemed overwhelming to me. The thought of a stranger coming to my home to pick up a large piece of furniture just didn’t sit right with me, and it just seemed easier to put all my junk out on the curb and hope other people take it. But after I gained some motivation, I am so glad I put a few of my items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace – specifically, my queen-sized mattress and box spring. I got a few hits within the first day, and ended up selling the two pieces to a really nice girl from Somerville (and her boyfriend Zach – weird!) for just under $500 in cash. That money can now go towards things for the new house!

2.) Feed your movers – I almost always thank people in food. But when you have eight lovely people who helped you move, feeding them all can get pricey. To make it cheaper, for instance, I bought lunch from the grocery store for my omnivorous father and brother on Saturday. I purchased some sliced ham, cheese, rolls, and pickles, and we all ate together on paper plates in my kitchen (I had a grilled cheese). I also had some potato chips and plenty of condiments, so they were happy and left satisfied. On Sunday, my friends and I decided to get dinner at Red Bones, so instead of buying them food, I bought everybody some beers and sodas to not only celebrate Z and I’s new “chapter,” but to also thank them for their hard work.

3.) Don’t hire movers – This might seem obvious, and I know hiring movers can make every penny worth the stress-free move, but having so many helpers (each with cars) made my move just as easy and stress-free – and, besides feeding them food and beer, it was basically free.

How have you made moving less stressful and/or less expensive? I'd love to hear your tips, since I'll be moving again in a few weeks!

At-home Beer Dinner for Half the Price

Last week, Z and I couldn't make it to the Cambridge Common Berkshire Brewing Co. beer dinner - I was selling my mattress, and we would have ended up being much too late to fully enjoy the experience. However, we didn't want to totally miss out on the fun, so we decided to have our own beer dinner - which ended up being more economical, and just as delicious.

Cambridge Common's beer dinners include a pre-dinner beer and three or four courses paired with delicious brews. We created our menu and beer choices around the menu Cambridge Common had put together for their guests (except for our pre-dinner beer, a Shipyard Pumpkin - 'tis the season!). 

We sipped our Shipyard Pumpkins while we prepared our appetizer - homemade, fresh gazpacho.

We used Ina Garten's recipe, but tweaked it a bit. For instance, I added some jarred jalapenos to give the soup a little kick, and I also halved the recipe. We also served our gazpacho with avocado slices, to help cut some of the spiciness. 

We paired our gazpacho with Berkshire Brewing Co.'s Traditional Pale Ale. Like the avocado, the Pale Ale helped to cut some of the heat from the jalapenos, and, as a whole, really complemented the fresh flavors of the gazpacho well.

For our salad course, we made an arugula and strawberry salad. We used this recipe, and I also added some crumbled goat cheese.

We paired the salad with BBC's Hefeweizen Ale.

This would have been a great pairing if it weren't for the overpowering goat cheese. Lesson learned. 

For our entree, we made a Thai curry tofu stir fry. While we enjoyed our first few courses, we let the tofu marinate in Trader Joe's Thai curry sauce, and then pan fried the tofu.

In a separate pan, we sauteed some chopped veggies: mushrooms, red peppers, baby corn, and onions. After both the tofu and veggies were cooked through, we added the veggies to the tofu pan, stirred, and let simmer for a few minutes before serving. We also flavored the stir fry with some cayenne, cumin and salt and pepper.

This spicy, flavorful stir fry was served with BBC's Private Stock "Shabadoo" - an amazingly delicious brew.

Despite it's dark, heavy appearance, this black and tan brew was fairly light on the tongue, with a mix of unique and tantalizing flavors. With the tofu, it wasn't a particularly exceptional pairing, but both were so delicious on their own that it really didn't offend my tastebuds too much. 

For dessert, CC had tiramisu on the menu, paired with Coffeehouse Porter (a favorite in our house). Z and I aren't big dessert people, and since we always have Coffeehouse Porter, we changed the dessert to liquid form only. We both enjoyed a glass of BBC's Russian Imperial Stout.

BBC doesn't mess around with their stouts (or porters, for that matter). With hints of chocolate, coffee, fruit and licorice, this creamy, well-balanced stout was the perfect way to end our homemade beer dinner.

CC's Berkshire Brewing Co. beer dinner cost $49 per person, not including gratuity. Z and I spent about that much total, without having to tip anyone. Although we love CC and their beer dinners, it was nice to cook together and enjoy the dinner on our own, while cutting the price tag in half. 

How have you saved some money in the kitchen lately?

Saving Money With Serving Sizes

Z discovered a secret about me the other day that I have decided to share with the world (or...all 12 of my readers, at least). I'm addicted to serving sizes.

Source: www.withamymac.com

I measure my cereal every morning in a measuring cup, based off what the nutritional label tells me is a serving size. I count out 13 Spicy Thai Kettle Chips to have with my lunch, and I have just about the recommended 2 tablespoons of crunchy, natural peanut butter on my toast each morning. I am that girl. And it has nothing to do with watching my weight.

I was lucky enough to get my Mom's genes - in other words, I am a rather tall, scrawny bean pole who can eat like a freak and not gain anything - although I do always try to eat healthy and not overdo it. The serving sizes, however, came into fruition in college when I was even more broke than I am now - and I realized I was going through a box of cereal in three days because I was eating four servings' worth during a single breakfast. That's when I realized, if I just paid attention to the serving sizes on the labels, I'd be spending less on groceries...and my health would benefit from it in the long run.

I'll admit, the first few times I had a serving size (i.e. a few bites) of pasta, ice cream and peanuts, I thought I was going to die of starvation. But it only took a few weeks for me to get used to the portions, and to realize how much food I was wasting before I simply started paying closer attention.

Now, it takes me at least two weeks to eat a bag of Kettle Chips or a box of cereal, and although I could live off peanut butter alone, one jar still lasts me about four to five weeks. My wallet (and future waistline) thanks me for it.

Do you pay attention to serving sizes?

Half Price Frappuccinos at Starbucks

This is kind of a random post, but I have to share this deal with you all - whether you're a coffee drinker or not.

Until May 15th, Starbucks is offering their frappuccinos (any size) for half off between 3 and 5 p.m. Half off. I remember guzzling these delicious concoctions as a teenager, but I haven't really wanted to splurge (including on the calories) much since. But since going to Starbucks' "Happy Hour" Friday and Monday with co-workers, I might again be hooked.

Me and some other Eversave girls with our frappuccinos!

Starbucks now offers their frappuccinos in a variety of different flavors (including decaf and non-coffee varieties) - I highly recommend the Mocha Coconut - and you can even ask for light syrup and nonfat (or even soy!) milk. And since, for a limited time, the price is discounted, I don't feel like I'm splurging on anything anymore. I'm just enjoying an afternoon iced coffee that tastes (and looks) more like a milkshake.

Life is good.

I Love Free Yoga

If you asked me a year ago today if I'd ever do yoga, I probably would have laughed in your face. How can you get a good workout by "barely moving" and bending in ways that should be impossible?

Then, I discovered free exercise videos OnDemand. RCN is my cable provider, where any workout is available on "Exercise TV" - anyday, anytime - free of charge. Now, I've always been skeptical of exercise videos - how intense of a workout can you really get in your own living room? - but some of the yoga videos I discovered and decided to try blew my mind (and muscles). This was a few months ago, and, at the time, I was in dire need of a new, challenging workout...and yoga became it.

For new, skeptical, soon-to-be-yogis like I was, I found Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown to be the perfect transition into yoga. Michaels' Yoga Meltdown combines some cardio with traditional yoga moves to accelerate your heart rate while providing the strength training and balance yoga is meant to create. Plus, Michaels scares me, which made me much more motivated to follow the challenging workout to a T - right in the comfort of my own apartment.

From there, I started to do more traditional yoga workouts - two I highly recommend that can be found OnDemand (at least, on RCN) are Bethenny Frankel's "Body by Bethenny" and "Yoga Fitness Plus" with Elise Gulan. Both are very intense, about an hour long, and have a great flow to them.

I have to admit, yoga yields results - and it is anything but easy. I've added regular yoga workouts to my weekly workout routine (I do yoga now about two to three times per week), and after trying just a few of the videos accessible to me, I don't have any desire to sign up for a pricey group class at a local gym. Free workouts are a beautiful thing!

Do you practice yoga, or at-home workouts in general? What's your opinion on either/both of them?

A New Daily Deal Site That's a 'HomeRun'

Eversave, Groupon, Living Social…there are so many daily deal sites out there right now, it’s sometimes hard to keep track – of the good ones, at least. There are plenty of sites with “daily deals” that just seem to be rehashing what their forefathers have already done. However, there’s a new kid on the block, with discounts at local businesses and restaurants that are more unique and of a smaller scale: HomeRun.com.

HomeRun is a group buying site based out of San Francisco. They recently launched local deals in Boston, and are even planning on throwing a launch party in Boston in the next month or two. I have received their Boston emails (it’s free to sign up!) for a few weeks now, and have been pretty impressed with the merchants they’ve feature to date. For instance, today’s deal is at Basha in Cambridge – a Mediterranean restaurant that I’ve failed to check out, but I’d definitely be inclined to dine there with a $50 gift card that only cost me $25!

HomeRun still has some growth to do – it’s sales definitely don’t hit the numbers the aforementioned daily deal sites do – but they feature some great, smaller merchants, and they definitely deliver when it comes to providing a cheaper way to enjoy the things we love to do around this city.

The generous folks at HomeRun are also giving a $5 credit to the first 5 EE readers that click this link. Happy shopping!

What is your opinion of daily deal sites? 

$10 Dinner Party

Saturday night, I hosted a wine and appetizer night at my house. The gathering was small - about eight of some of my closest family members were in attendance - and the cost of hosting the party was also tiny. I offered to provide all the food, and had each of my guests bring their favorite bottle of wine.

On the menu: Roasted Chickpeas, Black Bean Hummus, crackers with two kinds of cheese (Monterey Jack and jalapeno), olive penguins (courtesy of my mother), and Newman's Own Spinach & Feta pizza, sliced up into "appetizer-sized" slices.

How cute are those penguins?! Later this week, I'll provide recipes for both the Black Bean Hummus and Roasted Chickpeas. But I had to share this first: The total cost of this wine/appetizer party? $10.28. I already had most of the ingredients in my kitchen, and only had to buy some crackers, the two cheeses, and the pita chips for the hummus. Plus, it was nice to keep the menu simple to spend less time in the kitchen and more time catching up with my family. 

Stay tuned: Later this week/next week, I'll be reviewing one of CSN Store's wonderful, economical products! CSN Stores sells everything from kitchenware to modern dining room furniture, and I'm excited to share one of their EE-friendly products with you!

The Best Way to Save Stock

I've been having issues buying chicken and vegetable stock. Most of the time, I only need a little stock in a recipe, like for baked chicken or pork. But stock is always packaged in boxes or cans in larger quantities that I need for one particular recipe, and the rest of the package goes bad too quickly for me to use it. I've tried freezing the leftover stock, but then never use all the leftovers after the initial de-thaw. What's a girl to do?

Courtesy of www.plasticbubbles.co.za/store.

My mother shared with me this brilliant idea: Pour the stock into ice cube trays and take out the amount you need every time. That way, no mass amount of leftover stock goes wasted, and it can last me as long as possible. Um....genius, right?! My mom said she's seen this trick on several cooking shows, but I have never even heard (or thought) of it. Now I can have a constant supply of stock in my kitchen, without wasting my money or leftover stock on a regular basis. 

Obviously, I'll just need to buy "stock-only" ice cube trays, so my homemade iced coffee doesn't start tasting like homemade soup. 

Have you ever heard of this trick before? Have I been living under a rock?

A Simple & Affordable Surprise Birthday Party

Last week, my sister, Theresa, had a surprise birthday party for my brother-in-law, Jason - who's daughter, Cassidy, also happened to be celebrating a birthday. To make things simple and affordable for everybody, Theresa had a small gathering right at their home with simple appetizers, wine and soda, and she also ordered a couple of pizzas for dinner. 

Originally, we were all going to go out to dinner to celebrate, but with a big crowd (including two infants) it would have been an expensive and possibly chaotic ordeal. I loved this idea of keeping things simple and inexpensive, yet still special for the birthday boy and girl. 

My sister served two kinds of cheddar cheese with crackers...

...as well as homemade spinach and chive dip, served with tortilla chips.

Theresa also had a bottle of white and a bottle of red on hand, plus some soda and water - something for everyone, but nothing extravagant. I didn't snap a photo of the pizza or cake, because I inhaled them so quickly - but she just ordered a cheese and pepperoni to please everyone's palate, and made a vanilla cake with chocolate chips. The cake alone was cheap and easy to make, but the chocolate chips added a special touch throughout.

Let's just say my brother and niece, with the hardest palates to please, were satiated. 

How do you keep things simple and affordable when throwing a party/small gathering?

7 Days of Chicken for $7

On Sunday, my friend Zack (not to be confused with Z) came over to show me his recipe and method for roasting a whole chicken. Zack also showed me all of the meals one can get from a single roasted chicken - enough meals to last one or two people an entire week.

Meet Zack.

This is how small my kitchen is.

Before we get started on the chicken, let's make one thing clear: The price tag for the chicken alone was a mere $7.33 at Stop and Shop. We also picked up some celery, baby carrots, an onion and a store brand bag of potatoes, so the end total was about $15. For just me, I got about 10 to 12 meals out of this chicken. That's roughly $1.25 per meal.

We started by roasting the chicken. To start, we rinsed out the entire thing, removed the wish bone, and tucked the legs underneath the body of the chicken (I didn't have any twine, but it would have been ideal to also tie the drumsticks together with it).

While Zack patted the bird down with some paper towels (to ensure the skin was dry and could get crispy in the oven), I got down to roughly chopping the onion, celery, and potatoes. I threw them all in a saute pan with some olive oil, and added the baby carrots as well (if you have a rotisserie pan, throw the veggies in the pan and skip this step altogether). I sauteed all of the veggies together for just a few minutes to soften them slightly.

Zack liberally salted the inside and outside of the chicken with salt and pepper, and then we placed the entire bird on top of the slightly sauteed veggies. 

We cooked the chicken and veggies in a 450 degree oven for 1 hour. 

We let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before Zack carved it, and within no time we each enjoyed our roasted chicken dinner.

The end result was seriously the juiciest chicken I have ever eaten. I could easily cut this chicken with a fork alone, and the skin was perfectly crispy and seasoned, without being chewy and overly fatty. Despite such a crowded pan, the vegetables came out full of chicken flavor, while still possessing their own characteristics and tastes. (Side note: With such a crowded pan, some of the potatoes needed some extra time under the broiler).

After we ate, Zack showed me all of the meat still left on the chicken - an impressive amount, mind you - and walked me through the process of making homemade chicken soup and homemade chicken salad. We removed all of the leftover meat from the chicken itself, and I shredded that with a fork to make the chicken salad. I simply added some mayonnaise, curry powder, leftover chopped celery and dill - a perfect flavorful combination for chicken salad sandwiches. I ended up having enough chicken salad for four sandwiches, plus plenty of leftover vegetables!

Afraid I'd be a little "chickened out" as the week went on, I only used the carcass of the chicken in my chicken soup. To make the broth, I started by finely dicing the leftover onion, carrots, and celery, and sauteed them until soft in a large pot with some olive oil.

For the broth, I simply cooked the leftover chicken carcass with the diced veggies and several quarts of water. I let the broth boil, reduced the heat, then made sure to skim the white, fatty foam as it appeared at the top of the pot. Once the foam stopped coming to the surface, I simmered the broth, covered it and let it sit for about 2 to 3 hours. I then strained the broth, stuck it in the refrigerator, and cooked it with some of the leftover, larger vegetables I still had leftover from Sunday night.

I also added freshly cracked black pepper, some salt and dried thyme to the soup. I let it cook until the potatoes and other veggies were soft.

Although this soup didn't have any chicken chunks in it, the broth was intensely chicken-flavored, and the black pepper added a nice, constant spice to the soup. I usually like my soups a little thicker than this, but the large chunks of potatoes, carrots and celery really helped to add some texture and "weight" to this surprisingly hearty chicken soup.

Overall, I have to say I was amazed at just how much food Zack and I got out of this one chicken. For under $8, I have eaten really well this week. And you don't have to stick with chicken salad and soup - there is so much meat left over after the first meal, that you could make any chicken dish your tastebuds desire.

What's your favorite chicken recipe?

P.S. You only have until midnight tonight to enter my giveaway! I'll be picking a winner tomorrow morning!

Save Money at Starbucks; Blog Update

Courtesy of www.shelbystidham.com

Before I jump into the "work stuff," I wanted to share a quick money-saving tip with you guys - for the next time you're at Starbucks. I actually discovered this trick a while ago, and realized this past weekend that I haven't shared it on the blog yet. So, here goes!

Personally, I love the different flavors of coffee Starbucks has. For instance, one of their featured flavors right now is Toffee Mocha - sounds delicious, right? Well, whenever I order their specialty flavored coffees, the end result is syrupy sweet, high in fat and calories, and costs anywhere from $3 to $4 and up (I usually get iced drinks). So, one day I discovered their iced coffee - which is just straight up coffee - that can have flavors, like Toffee Mocha, added to it - without the extra syrups, calories, sugar, etc. And, for a venti iced creation, the price is under $3. 

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Now, the work stuff. I started a new job two weeks ago, and absolutely love it. However, this new job is more demanding of my time. In addition to this blog, I do a variety of other "side jobs," like recruiting for my alma mater and other freelance writing gigs. As a result, I've done nothing but work over the last few weeks, and I'm burnt out. I've realized that I want to devote the free time that I have to this blog only, in addition to my full-time job - as well as a few freelance writing gigs that aren't incredibly demanding of my "free time." So, expect to see many more posts in the future - and it won't just be restaurant reviews and recipes anymore. Everything will be food/budget related, just taken up a notch. I hope you enjoy the improvements!

How do you manage to make time for you during the busy work week?

One Weekend Meal; Five Weekday Lunches

A Boston-based Marketing-Communications professional, Meghan is the writer of the blog Travel, Wine, and Dine, a site that encompasses “Food, wine, travel, and the everyday adventures of a 30-something Boston girl.” A love for food and travel have been prevalent since Meghan’s childhood and were only amplified when, during college, she lived in Ireland and traveled extensively throughout Europe. Multiple recent trips to Napa and Sonoma Valleys have spurred an increasing interest in all things wine, leading her to Boston University’s Wine Studies program. 

If you are like me and you love to eat, you don’t want to settle for a boring, expensive, or unhealthy lunch option during the week, whether at the office or at home. Early in my career, I really did not look forward to lunch time. Cafes and restaurants near most offices can be overpriced and often don’t offer the best choices. I ended up with soggy sandwiches or canned soups which were loaded with sodium and that “just out of a can” flavor.

Bringing my own lunch saves me about $50 a week, possibly more considering the lunch options near where I work. When I factor that out over the course of a year, taking a few weeks out for vacation; that makes over $2,000 in savings!

An easy one pot meal that I can use for a variety of lunches is three bean vegetarian chili. I start with a basic recipe like the one I posted on Plummelo, and then add in whatever I have. The more veggies, the better! Incorporating frozen veggies is a great way to get nutrient-rich, flash-frozen produce year round on the cheap, and they are a great addition to chili. Packed with nutritious, filling, and inexpensive ingredients, chili keeps well for days, can be made to the individual’s taste, and provides endless opportunities to create “new” meals with one base meal.

Monday:
Rice and Beans. Mix ½ cup brown rice with ½ cup chili. Add hot sauce, chopped raw onion, and chopped jalapenos if you are adventurous!

Tuesday:
Hot and cold salad - serve warmed chili atop a bed of shredded romaine lettuce, spinach, and shredded cheese. Make two servings, and save one for Wednesday.

Wednesday:
Mix a serving of Tuesday’s salad with 1 tsp. plain yogurt, and ¼ chopped avocado. Roll into a whole wheat wrap/burrito shell.

Thursday:
Chili empanadas! Split a cup of chili into two ½ cup servings. I would suggest using a slotted spoon to move the chili so that the liquid is as drained out as possible. Roll out store bought pie dough or puff pastry dough into large squares. Scoop chili into the middle of each square, fold dough, and seal around the edges using a fork to press down and create a decorative edge. Bake according to dough package directions or until golden.

Friday:
You made it! Hopefully the variations using your Sunday chili have kept you satisfied and happy with your lunch. For Friday, mix a cup of chili with 2 cups of vegetable or chicken broth. Adding liquid will thin out the chili into a lovely soup. You may want to add additional spices or hot sauce at this point, as the flavors may be diluted by the broth. You could also add leftover rice from Monday or small, cooked pasta to the dish. Soups are a great way to use up any random bits of pasta, bread, meat or beans you might have from other meals during the week!

It only takes a couple of hours and, most importantly, a little bit of creativity to stretch your dollar and on-hand ingredients to make five delicious meals for the week!

Local, Fancy Dinner Party for $15

Kim Bingham comes to the Economical Eater from her blog, Lighter and Local. She focuses on searching out and using local produce, meats, and products with a goal of simpe, better, eating.

It’s a catch-22. You want to share a meal with friends. You want it to be elegant, and you want to do it at home. You want to use the best of fresh, local ingredients you can come by. Let’s be honest here, you want to impress the guests as well.

This fall, you can throw a fancy, local, small dinner for four that surely looks difficult, but really isn’t too hard at all. The best part? It will only cost you about $15 to make.

Now, I’m assuming you have some staples in your kitchen - olive oil, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, butter, flour, eggs, sugar and a couple of common spices. Those staples, they’re not included in the overall price. If you had to buy everything, I’d estimate this at about $25 for the entire meal. This meal was priced out, in season, in September at the local farmers’ market. If you do it out of season, things will cost more.

You’re serving a “Fall Harvest” dinner tonight. You menu includes the following:

-Pear and Carrot Salad with Maple-Cinnamon Vinaigrette
-Pumpkin Risotto
-Pear Calfouti

Here’s the rundown of what I paid for the ingredients I’m pricing into the meal:

At the farmers’ market:
Pears (5) - $2.75 for all five, from Farmer Dave’s in Dracut
Pumpkin (1 sugar) - $2.50, from Farmer Dave’s in Dracut
Carrots (1 bunch) - $3, from Heron Pond Farm in N.H.
White Onion (1) - $0.50, from Heron Pond Farm in N.H.
Garlic (1 head) - $0.75, from Middle Earth Farm in Amesbury

At the grocery store:
Arborio Rice - $2.50 for a box, we’re only using a cup, so $1.25

Chicken Broth (low sodium) - $0.75
Parmesan Cheese, fresh - $1.50 (we’re only using a ¼ cup)

Maple Syrup - $3 for a small bottle (we’re only using a ¼ cup)

Your prices could differ from mine once you get it together. All of it will range between $15 and $30. The recipes require a little work, but are elegant without being complicated. You’ll get plenty of “ooh’s and ahh’s” for a lot less than if you went out for the evening!

First Course: Pear and Carrot Salad with Maple-Cinnamon Vinaigrette 
(A combo of Giada’s Shaved Carrot and Pear Salad with Curry Vinaigrette and Choosing Raw’s Maple-Cinnamon Vinaigrette) 

Pear and Carrot Salad with Maple-Cinnamon Vinaigrette 
Yields: 4 servings

Salad:
-1 bunch carrots (about 6), peeled
-2 large pears, peeled, seeded, quartered

Directions: Using a vegetable peeler, cut carrots into ribbons for salad. Take pears, slice into thin slices, put both into a bowl and set aside.

Maple-Cinnamon Vinaigrette:
-½ cup olive oil
-2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
-¼ cup maple syrup
-1 teaspoon cinnamon
-2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
-3 tablespoons mustard
-¼ teaspoon salt
-Pepper to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor (or you can mix by hand), and pulse until dressing is emulsified. Toss carrots and salad with dressing.

Main Course: Pumpkin Risotto 

Pumpkin Risotto
Yields: 4 servings

-2 1/2 tablespoons butter
-3/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
-1 cup Arborio Rice
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-2 cups chicken broth, plus 1 cup water
-1/2 pumpkin, roasted
-1/8 teaspoon of sea or kosher salt
-1/8 teaspoon of pepper
-Dash ground nutmeg
-Dash ground cloves
-Dash ground ginger
-1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
-Fresh sage leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions: In a large dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chopped onion, and cook until tender. While the onion is cooking, heat chicken broth and water in a separate saucepan. You want it warm to hot, but not simmering. When onion is tender, add rice and cook until translucent. At this point, add the garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

Now, start adding the warm broth to the rice, 1/2 a cup at a time, stirring constantly until the liquid is absorbed. Keep adding broth mixture, 1/2 a cup at a time until rice is al dente. That's very important; you don't want it to get mushy. Once the desired consistency is reached, add pumpkin, add salt, pepper and other spices. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Spoon into bowls, garnish with a tad more Parmesan cheese and fresh sage leaves. (While the sage is optional, it does add a great level of flavor to the dish).

Dessert: Pear Calfouti 

Pear Calfouti 
Yields: 4 servings
From: Heather Zorzini of Suite 101 

-3 eggs
-1 cup milk
-2 teaspoon vanilla
-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
-½ cup granulated sugar
-¼ teaspoon nutmeg
-¼ teaspoon cinnamon
-Pinch of salt
-Butter, to grease baking dish
-3 ripe, but firm, pears
-1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions: Wash pears; peel, seed and chop them. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crack eggs into a bowl; beat until foamy with a hand-mixer. Add milk, vanilla, flour, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, pinch of salt, and beat until smooth. Pour batter into buttered 9-inch pie pan. Scatter pear pieces over batter. Bake 45-50 minutes until golden on top. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

Financial Friday: Accommodating House Guests

Last weekend, I had eight friends coming from Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut to my tiny apartment. Z was gracious enough to accommodate the sleeping arrangements at his place (my apartment is almost too small to sleep two people, let alone eight), but it was up to me to feed them. My first thought: How on earth am I going to feed over eight people over the course of two days and not go bankrupt?

With a little list writing and planning ahead, I managed to spend under $30. Here's how:

-Buy in bulk: Since my out of town friends were all people I went to college with, I knew the evening would include drinking in some capacity - and drinking normally leads to snacking. To make sure I was ready for any late-night snacking, I went to Stop and Shop and bought family sized bags of pretzels and Doritos. To be safe, I also picked up two frozen, store brand cheese pizzas at $2 a pop. My total grocery bill was under $10, easily.

-Share dinner: I wanted to show my friends around town, but didn't want to spend a fortune on going out to dinner. Everyone pays for themselves, but I was looking for something fun yet less expensive for all of us to do. After giving them a walking tour of my neighborhood, we all stopped at Not Your Average Joe's for some appetizers and cocktails. We split about five appetizers amongst the group, and spent only about $10 each.

-B.Y.O.B.: I've been to plenty of house gatherings where the host provides the drinks, but I just can't afford to do that, at least not for eight people - and not a few weeks before we leave for Italy. So, since I was providing food anyway, I asked everyone to bring whatever they wanted to drink for the evening. This also ensured everyone was drinking what they wanted to drink, versus having to consume what the host bought for them.

-Celebrate inexpensively: Over the weekend, we were celebrating two of my friends' birthdays, and I had a Betty Crocker Devil's Food cake mix and whipped vanilla frosting in the cabinet. Before everyone came over, I made a batch of cupcakes - which ended up being about 30. A cake mix costs around $3 - that's about 10 cents per cupcake. That's my kind of dessert!

Overall, my friends and I had a wonderful weekend, and I am forever grateful to Z and his roommate for letting everyone stay at their house. It was also great to know that everybody left well fed - but I wasn't left broke.

How do you prepare for a house full of people, without blowing your budget?

Financial Friday: Write it Down

Courtesy of a-debt-free-life.com

When I was in college, I couldn’t remember a thing I learned in class if I didn’t write it down. The same goes for my expenses – if I don’t write how much I spent down, I won’t remember what I spent my money on…until it’s too late.

When I first got a checkbook back in junior high, I used the balance sheet for every single thing I purchased and every single bill I paid. However, as time went on, my expenses became larger and more consistent, and I stopped writing all of my expenses down due to the weighty “chore” it became. But it wasn’t long before I realized that because I couldn’t see, everyday, how much money was left in my account, I was spending more than I actually had – which resulted in overdraft fees, which resulted in (obviously) more unexpected expenses for me.

The point of today’s Financial Friday tip is to encourage you to write everything down. Being able to actually see, on a daily basis, how much you’re spending, what you’re buying, and how much money is in your bank account makes a world of difference – and makes it almost impossible to make any “overspending mistakes.” Keeping track of everything I buy with the checkbook balance sheet just stopped being conducive to my computer-driven lifestyle, although the balance sheet may work better for you – just do what works best for you. Below are some other ways I keep track of my expenses:

               

-Excel spreadsheet: Using Excel is just like using a balance sheet, but electronically. I sit in front of a computer for most of the day, so Excel is a much easier way for me to write my expenses down – and basically has a built-in calculator that shows my account balance after every new expense without me having to do anything.

-Mint.com: I have to admit, I was skeptical of Mint.com at first. A website wants my bank account number? Really? But I’ve discovered it’s a safe and secure site that helps me manage my financial goals, my bank accounts, and will even tell me if one of my accounts is getting low on funds via email.

How do you keep track of your finances? Do you write everything down?

                

Financial Friday: Skip the Meat

As many of you know, my "other half" is a vegetarian, although I'm an omnivore. Z is a lacto-ovo, meaning he doesn't eat meat or fish, but still consumes dairy products and eggs. I've never been a huge meat eater, so I've allowed Z to introduce me to many tasty, meat-free products over time - and I've saved some money doing it.

Before I dive into this post, however, let's get one thing straight: Not all vegetarian-friendly products are cheaper. Not by a long shot. And not all of us want to cut a lot of meat out of our diets. But by going meatless even a small amount of the time, you can end up with more dough in your pocket. Here's how I've done it.

First off: Tofu is cheap. I bought a package of firm tofu at Trader Joe's last week for $1.79, and I got about 6 servings out of it. Most packages of chicken are $3-4+ for four breasts, and ground turkey can be anywhere from $4-5. Tofu was $1.79. I ended up making tofu and black bean quesadillas with it. I just drained the tofu, cut it into chunks, sauteed it in a pan with some olive oil, and Z seasoned the tofu with salt, black pepper, curry, garlic powder, chili powder, and cilantro. I threw in some canned black beans, gave it a stir, and scooped the tofu and black bean mixture into whole wheat tortillas with melted cheese.

I love how tofu also retains the flavors that you add to it - it's like a flavor sponge. 

In addition to tofu, vegetarian lunch "meat" is also a few dollars cheaper than regular pre-packaged cold cuts, or even meat from the deli. I usually go for the Tofurky brand since it's available at just about any grocery store, and the flavors normally range from "bologna" to hickory smoked "turkey" to "ham." To be honest, these deli slices aren't incredible by themselves, but I normally add Dijon and avocado to my sandwiches, or hummus and pickles, and the outcome is delicious. I forget I'm not eating meat! And, the best part: The ingredient lists for these deli slices are short and legible. 

There are so many other ways you can save money by not purchasing meat every once and a while, and it's also a lot healthier for you. Many vegetarian-friendly options on restaurant menus end up being cheaper, too - like portobello or veggie burgers, or some meat-free pasta dishes. If the restaurant doesn't have to pay a few extra bucks to put meat in the dish, neither do you.

Are you a vegetarian? If not, would you consider consuming less meat to save money (or for other reasons)?