Thursday, September 3, 2009
Grocery Shopping
Let's start with a little background info about my grocery shopping habits:
In order to save money and be more efficient, Joe and I make a weekly shopping trip. Before we go, I plan all the dinners we will be cooking throughout the week. Then we try to head to Walmart early enough on Sunday morning that most of the Springfield residence are still in church. If we sleep in to late, Walmart is crowded, crazy, and an all around crappy place to be. Then, if a trip to somewhere fancier is needed, like the natural food store or Sam's Club, we do that as well.
This method has saved us money and lends itself to eating healthier because we eat out less. The one drawn back is on Sunday, I am never busy and often feeling very ambitious when it comes to culinary adventures and sometimes weekday Casie gets very angry at Sunday Casie for signing her up to cook all manner of craziness. As a sidenote, weekday Casie always appreciates Sunday Casie's baking.
All of that info to ask, what are your grocery shopping philosophies/habits? Any grocery shopping insights to share?
In order to save money and be more efficient, Joe and I make a weekly shopping trip. Before we go, I plan all the dinners we will be cooking throughout the week. Then we try to head to Walmart early enough on Sunday morning that most of the Springfield residence are still in church. If we sleep in to late, Walmart is crowded, crazy, and an all around crappy place to be. Then, if a trip to somewhere fancier is needed, like the natural food store or Sam's Club, we do that as well.
This method has saved us money and lends itself to eating healthier because we eat out less. The one drawn back is on Sunday, I am never busy and often feeling very ambitious when it comes to culinary adventures and sometimes weekday Casie gets very angry at Sunday Casie for signing her up to cook all manner of craziness. As a sidenote, weekday Casie always appreciates Sunday Casie's baking.
All of that info to ask, what are your grocery shopping philosophies/habits? Any grocery shopping insights to share?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Never Buy Dressing Again
Our fridge is full of condiments. In general, we have more condiments than actual food. Even after my recent great refrigerator purging, the door of the fridge is stuffed with various food accessories. May of the aforementioned condiments are salad dressings. Or were I should say, as I have vowed never to purchase dressing again.
This vow took place after a recent foray into making ranch dressing. I had previously made a variety of vinaigrettes, but never thought that the creamy dressings were easily within my grasp. With ranch being my staple salad dressing and go to veggie dip, I never thought I could break free of the condiment chains that shackled me (food is very dramatic you see). But I did, and you should too! The ranch I made was far superior to the normal variety I buy at the store. Make some, try it! Here is the recipe that I used:
Ingredients:
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. mayo
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dill
1/2 tsp. dried chives
1/4 tsp garlic powder*
1/4 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
So, my general policy is to not attempt the super low fat version of a dish if I am serving it for the first time to strangers. Therefore, my first run through of the recipe I made a full fat version, because it was for a party and I didn't want it to suck. Today, for myself, I made it with fat free mayo, fat free sour cream, and 1% buttermilk. I actually liked the lower fat version better. Also, if you don't want to buy buttermilk (though I recommend it) you can replace the buttermilk with more mayo.
Try some yourself and free yourself from the tyranny of bottled dressing.
*if you like garlic add more, I did although I wouldn't recommed more than double that amount.
This vow took place after a recent foray into making ranch dressing. I had previously made a variety of vinaigrettes, but never thought that the creamy dressings were easily within my grasp. With ranch being my staple salad dressing and go to veggie dip, I never thought I could break free of the condiment chains that shackled me (food is very dramatic you see). But I did, and you should too! The ranch I made was far superior to the normal variety I buy at the store. Make some, try it! Here is the recipe that I used:
Ingredients:
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. mayo
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dill
1/2 tsp. dried chives
1/4 tsp garlic powder*
1/4 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
So, my general policy is to not attempt the super low fat version of a dish if I am serving it for the first time to strangers. Therefore, my first run through of the recipe I made a full fat version, because it was for a party and I didn't want it to suck. Today, for myself, I made it with fat free mayo, fat free sour cream, and 1% buttermilk. I actually liked the lower fat version better. Also, if you don't want to buy buttermilk (though I recommend it) you can replace the buttermilk with more mayo.
Try some yourself and free yourself from the tyranny of bottled dressing.
*if you like garlic add more, I did although I wouldn't recommed more than double that amount.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Lack of Posts
Wow, Joe and I suck at blogging. I guess we will never be able to quite our jobs and live off of the advertisement money. There goes my plan for retirement.
As many of you know I am working only part time, emphasis on the part and not time lately, and so I have a lot of free time on my hands. To fill up my day I have been consuming a great deal of media; movies, tv, books, and the like. I also have been baking/cooking for fun. So that brings me to the question: Would you be more interested in posts that review movies/books or posts about my cooking adventures? Let me know what you guys think.
As many of you know I am working only part time, emphasis on the part and not time lately, and so I have a lot of free time on my hands. To fill up my day I have been consuming a great deal of media; movies, tv, books, and the like. I also have been baking/cooking for fun. So that brings me to the question: Would you be more interested in posts that review movies/books or posts about my cooking adventures? Let me know what you guys think.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Random thoughts for the evening
I just got my cousin's wedding invitation in the mail. The wedding is quickly approaching and it looks like I am the only one that will be able to attend. It struck me that this will be the first time that I will have been in a Catholic church in probably 15 years. I am looking forward to this re-entry into a territory that seems strangely alien to me, despite my early years attending mass fairly regularly.
As a side note, connected by no other path than the chronology of the evening, everyone who reads this blog should check out Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is a Nickelodean cartoon that is strikingly good. The plot is interesting, the characters are deeper than you would expect and well developed, and there is a 10-ton, six-legged, flying bison. Enough said.
As a side note, connected by no other path than the chronology of the evening, everyone who reads this blog should check out Avatar: The Last Airbender. This is a Nickelodean cartoon that is strikingly good. The plot is interesting, the characters are deeper than you would expect and well developed, and there is a 10-ton, six-legged, flying bison. Enough said.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Mental Image
I just got a mental picture of the Fox executives sitting around a table talking about Dollhouse when one of them says, "you know, last time we cancelled one of Whedon's shows it didn't work out so well..."
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Extra Cash
My job is unreliable in the hours department, and I am sick of being perpetually stressed about whether or not I am going to make enough money this week. Unfortunately now is not the best time to be looking for work. So I ask the internet: Any suggestions on how I can make a little cash on the side? Remember that I am unwilling to do anything illegal, naked, or that involves sales.
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