tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77068348546533827642024-03-21T16:48:52.098-07:00Heidi's HungryDiary of a Foodie in North Central New JerseyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-80778355311352528572014-03-02T21:18:00.000-08:002014-03-02T21:23:15.304-08:00Jambalaya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For this year's Mardi Gras, I decided to try my hand on making Jambalaya. This recipe is based loosely on recipes by <span dir="auto">Emeril Lagasse (</span>a celebrity chef from Massachusetts) and my Aunt Mary (born and raised in Louisiana).<br />
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Most of the ingredients I used were organic. The chicken and sausage are from <a href="http://applegate.com/" target="_blank">Applegate</a>; the vegetables are from <a href="http://www.greenyums.com/" target="_blank">Green Yums</a>. Both are NJ-based companies... hence the title "Jersey Jambalaya."<br />
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This is a great recipe to use up leftover meats and veggies (I threw in some cooked carrots I have left over... although I will acknowledge using veggies that are not in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_trinity_%28cuisine%29" target="_blank">Holy Trinity </a>makes it more Jersey than New Orleans). And although I have brown rice listed, most recipes call for white. <i>What I'm trying to say is that it's hard to miss this one up.</i><br />
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<b>Laissez les bons temps rouler!
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Ingredients </h3>
<ul>
<li>2 cups of brown rice </li>
<li>4 cups of chicken stock </li>
<li>2 cups of water </li>
<li>1 package of andouille sausage (12oz)</li>
<li>1 package of chicken strips (8oz)</li>
<li>1/2 lb sea scallops or deveined shrimp</li>
<li>1 large white onion, diced </li>
<li>1 large bell pepper, diced </li>
<li>1 bunch of scallions or two celery stems, chopped </li>
<li>2 Tablespoons of butter </li>
<li>1 can of diced tomatoes (14-16oz)</li>
</ul>
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Seasoning mix<br />
<ul>
<li>1 Tablespoon <span class="st">Worcestershire sauce</span></li>
<li>1 teaspoon of chopped bay leaves </li>
<li>1 teaspoon salt </li>
<li>1 teaspoon pepper </li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon hot paprika </li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper </li>
</ul>
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<b>Directions</b></h3>
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<li>Melt butter in a dutch oven. </li>
<li>Add onion, scallions, and peppers to pot. </li>
<li>Saute until onions are golden and translucent. </li>
<li>Add tomatoes, seasonings, chicken, sausage, water, broth, and rice. </li>
<li>Stir until well mixed. </li>
<li><i>As you can see, it will look very soupy.</i><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI23ViDToz3aRwDgNxP16Vyl3MsQpbeQycmYoAyZSerEs8tGmaiZfjNT46xfuPvGalkpde_UECUvjdqT-AVfkqZtnAR1S6rUk6u2joXO9qnOYJavLdQyMRttj8DyP75xp8j_MkmD97jYpC/s1600/1-soup-jambalaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI23ViDToz3aRwDgNxP16Vyl3MsQpbeQycmYoAyZSerEs8tGmaiZfjNT46xfuPvGalkpde_UECUvjdqT-AVfkqZtnAR1S6rUk6u2joXO9qnOYJavLdQyMRttj8DyP75xp8j_MkmD97jYpC/s1600/1-soup-jambalaya.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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</li>
<li>Put the lid on the dutch oven. </li>
<li>Bake at 375º for 25 minutes. </li>
<li>Stir. </li>
<li>Bake for 25 more minutes. </li>
<li>Stir and add scallops. </li>
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<li>Bake for 10 additional minutes. </li>
<li>Serves 6 hungry revelers.</li>
</ul>
<i>NOTE: This may be a bit too much for Northern palates. If that is the case, have some extra plain rice or greek yogurt on the side to temper the spice.</i><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-86068426101349267252013-04-23T16:55:00.000-07:002013-04-23T16:55:13.080-07:00The Dirty Dozen: Fruits and Vegetables High in Pesticides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtCMI-5NZMsyR_r2vNpJeHZ3Pp-HakxFlxu3nX8o8HzMeND6sHd-FYh_IHv4s1EPYpyANbYz23J_32ESpajH9-ZF5yJnjiFccCNFLeAZSYrd8NH_q7GUd5h8e_TZAnaarEXpAnnK4fHf5/s1600/dirtydozen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtCMI-5NZMsyR_r2vNpJeHZ3Pp-HakxFlxu3nX8o8HzMeND6sHd-FYh_IHv4s1EPYpyANbYz23J_32ESpajH9-ZF5yJnjiFccCNFLeAZSYrd8NH_q7GUd5h8e_TZAnaarEXpAnnK4fHf5/s400/dirtydozen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3>
The Environmental Working Group has determined what produce items have the highest amount of pesticides this year. If you are not able to buy all organic, consider only purchasing organic versions of the following: </h3>
<ul>
<li>Apples</li>
<li>Strawberries </li>
<li>Grapes </li>
<li>Sweet bell peppers </li>
<li>Nectarine (imported) </li>
<li>Spinach </li>
<li>Celery </li>
<li>Peaches </li>
<li>Cucumbers </li>
<li>Potatoes </li>
<li>Cherry tomatoes </li>
<li>Hot peppers</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews2013/list.php" target="_blank">http://www.ewg.org/foodnews2013/list.php</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-65958750923199452072013-03-13T20:11:00.000-07:002013-03-13T20:18:58.291-07:00DOLLAR DINNER SERIES The "What Came First" Soup (Chicken/Egg)<b>I will start posting some of my budget meals in this blog. </b><br />
<b>And I thought I would start with this... Because I love soup. </b><br />
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Not as much as I love my family and friends. But pretty darn close. Some days I would eat soup at every meal, and not because I was sick.<br />
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Leftovers are the perfect excuse to make soup. See what's in the fridge, throw it in a pot with some broth and rice or noodles and voila: <i>Soup!</i> Today I made what I call "What Came First" Soup: chicken noodle - egg drop soup. It was very filling and easy to make.<br />
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<h3>
Ingredients (Feeds 4-6)</h3>
<ul>
<li>2 large pieces of cooked or fried chicken (leftover Acme "Cheep Chicken" Special $5.99/8)</li>
<li>Quart of water</li>
<li>2 large chicken bouillon cubes ($.99/8) 1.50 .25 .10 .42 .25 .50 .26</li>
<li>1 diced onion (Acme Produce Sale $1/10)</li>
<li>8 oz egg noodles (the 2nd 1/2 of a bag $1/2)</li>
<li>1 cup diced carrots (Acme Produce Sale $1/4)</li>
<li>1/2 avocado (Aldi $2.49/3)</li>
<li>2 eggs Aldi ($1.65/12)</li>
<li><i>Optional: Hot sauce such as yellow pepper sauce (<span class="st">Aji Amarillo)</span></i></li>
</ul>
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Instructions </h3>
Fill pot with water. Place on medium heat. Add bouillon cubes, carrots, onions, avocado, and diced chicken (skin removed). Heat until boiling. Add noodles and boil for about 10 minutes. Crack eggs into broth and quickly stir. Add hot sauce to taste.<br />
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$3.28 total (per serving $.55 - $.82)</h3>
<i>Don't forget to add vegetable scraps and the rinsed eggshells to your compost pile. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-75303495328448050572013-02-13T16:20:00.000-08:002013-03-11T20:23:07.046-07:00Happy Valentine's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
Part of what I love about Valentine's Day is that it's so simple to make an everyday meal into something special just by making it heartshaped. In Middlesex, just about a mile away, there is a great little Italian deli (<a href="http://saporeravioli.com/">Sapore's</a>) that makes fresh ravioli and cheeses. Being a local store owner myself, I try to give my business to other local small businesses. But this is definitely NOT A SACRIFICE in flavor or service. Everything there is made with love. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU9aChU6jaWmNRBhNu9xWnP8YjL8efQdB4LxiC-_fmA_zH16OIc-3K6Pty41F6fK2gK6W1nHqtsMgNnnoXoV7BS7y8Nyd5_h0p3hd3knEZv4T9SqL5o9G3hCOJ_jpDKKozf7t4YTYtz2X/s1600/heartravioli-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Sapore's, Middlesex, NJ heartshaped ravioli and tomato sauce" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU9aChU6jaWmNRBhNu9xWnP8YjL8efQdB4LxiC-_fmA_zH16OIc-3K6Pty41F6fK2gK6W1nHqtsMgNnnoXoV7BS7y8Nyd5_h0p3hd3knEZv4T9SqL5o9G3hCOJ_jpDKKozf7t4YTYtz2X/s320/heartravioli-300x225.jpg" title="Sapore's, Middlesex, NJ heart shaped ravioli and tomato sauce" /></a> </div>
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For Valentine's Day, they offer heart-shaped ravioli (either plain cheese or lobster). Both are delicious... Especially with their homemade marinara sauce and a refreshing glass of Manhattan Special. At least that's how we do it every year :)</div>
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Want to do something special for breakfast instead? How about this egg sandwich...</div>
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<img alt="egg inside the basket heartshaped valentine's day breakfast" border="0" height="274" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/550x/8f/d6/9e/8fd69e7882fc63c041e63c728d7148f2.jpg" title="egg inside the basket heartshaped valentine's day breakfast" width="400" />
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Source: <a href="http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-day-egg-in-sandwich-basket.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/heidiscottage/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Heidi's</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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However you celebrate Valentine's Day... may it be a happy day!
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-61688201287967011932013-02-01T12:49:00.000-08:002013-03-11T20:24:15.131-07:00A New Year, A New Way<div class="entry-title">
As I did winter cleaning in the kitchen, I came across some canned food that had passed their expiration dates. Unfortunately they had to be tossed which of course upset me (Yes, they were reallllly over. How I had missed them last year, I don't know!). <i>Community FoodBank of NJ volunteer seventeen years and counting.</i></div>
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So I'm thinking this year, I am going to concentrate more on avoiding food waste. I already started last summer when I created a <a href="http://heidiscottage.blogspot.com/2012/07/pinterest-challenge-composting.html" target="_blank">compost bin</a>. But I know we need to do more. Came across this article: <a href="http://greatist.com/health/how-to-ways-reduce-food-waste/?goback=.gde_1941866_member_214746628#" target="_blank">29 Smart and Easy Tips to Reduce Food Waste. </a>And it had several good tips. Like how to use up fruit before it goes totally bad. Wish us luck.<br />
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For some stats: Check out this <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2012/04/06/food-waste-visualized-infographic-1-of-2/" target="_blank">infograph</a> from <a href="https://tristate.doortodoororganics.com/" target="_blank"> Door-to-Door Organics</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrimdCHw80Yuxnu0UVmuvcl4HWNUgw2yCJZ04qrY5VneQVvKBS6hyphenhyphenWscpPSnnG2KGkl6QdK6axnjduIfA-BPe6M-QqaLIdlRRun5kPHJWVePqzkDQw1NAxgvjVpPmIOzKI5a8NooavHQB/s1600/foodwaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="food waste graphic infograph" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrimdCHw80Yuxnu0UVmuvcl4HWNUgw2yCJZ04qrY5VneQVvKBS6hyphenhyphenWscpPSnnG2KGkl6QdK6axnjduIfA-BPe6M-QqaLIdlRRun5kPHJWVePqzkDQw1NAxgvjVpPmIOzKI5a8NooavHQB/s1600/foodwaste.jpg" title="food waste graphic infograph" /></a></div>
PS: Kudos for Cory Booker eating his burnt sweet potatoes instead of tossing them during his food stamp challenge. But I wish he had done better with planning. His mom should come up and teach him how to cook. :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-59728167923515889212012-11-21T01:17:00.000-08:002013-03-11T20:40:11.180-07:00Newark Mayor to go on Food StampsAs you may know, last year my husband and I took the <a href="http://heidishungry.blogspot.com/search/label/food%20stamp%20challenge" target="_blank">seven day foodstamp challenge.</a><br />
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This year, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/newark-mayor-cory-bookers-food-stamp-challenge/" target="_blank">Cory Booker</a> decided to follow our example and do it as well, right after he gets his fill of his mamma's cornbread stuffing.<br />
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It wasn't easy staying on a $60 budget (for the 2 of us), but aside from the difficulty getting enough fruits and vegetables, it wasn't<i> that</i> painful. HOWEVER... I do have some nutritional knowledge (my dad wrote a nutritional diet book back in the '90s); it would be a lot harder for someone who didn't know to get the pasta that contains a serving of vegetables, etc. AND since I had transportation to a discount supermarket I was able to get more for my money.<br />
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Three things I'm looking forward to seeing with Mr. Booker's challenge:<br />
<ul>
<li>How he stays vegetarian (I see lots of rice and beans) on the imaginary SNAP funds.</li>
<li>If he will have a nutritionist to show that his diet is on line with the government's current dietary recommendations</li>
<li>How he will obtain the food from his residence's neighborhood (since many on SNAP do not have transportation and have to rely on local bodegas).</li>
</ul>
To wish him luck, I share with you this vegan foodstamp challenge <a href="http://sacramentovegan.blogspot.com/2012/11/vegan-on-food-stamp-budget.html" target="_blank">menu. </a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-90271167053697578982012-09-11T21:34:00.000-07:002013-03-11T20:41:44.853-07:00Hunger Action Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fugvPBalO9CmRDoauUuq_omzpcN664zdeu31QbkzBAiuOociseIS6cfy-VEijw3OIMPpCfa2K5MR41ot73eEdiRscc7v29sL8rsWn6BqFpUUn2VA3w6OmWdhyv8FG-iQzI9GHcEnrpX9/s1600/160px-Bruce_Springsteen_-_Roskilde_Festival_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bruce Springsteen performing at Roskilde Festival 2012. Photo credit: Bill Ebbesen." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fugvPBalO9CmRDoauUuq_omzpcN664zdeu31QbkzBAiuOociseIS6cfy-VEijw3OIMPpCfa2K5MR41ot73eEdiRscc7v29sL8rsWn6BqFpUUn2VA3w6OmWdhyv8FG-iQzI9GHcEnrpX9/s1600/160px-Bruce_Springsteen_-_Roskilde_Festival_2012.jpg" title="Bruce Springsteen performing at Roskilde Festival 2012. Photo credit: Bill Ebbesen." /></a></div>
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<b> September is <a href="http://hungeractionmonth.org/ham2012/about-HAM.aspx">Hunger Action Month</a>. Did you know 1 in 6 people in America face hunger?</b></div>
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Consider volunteering at your local food bank. Start a collection drive. Or you could donate at the Springsteen concerts coming to the Meadowlands later this month. I will be at the Friday show (just look for the gal with custom dillyboppers) with my white <a href="http://njfoodbank.org/" target="_blank">Community FoodBank of New Jersey</a> plastic bucket. Can't believe I've been "working" Bruce's shows for over a decade!</div>
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And if you are still looking for a ticket, check Living Social for a <a href="https://www.livingsocial.com/events/460848" target="_blank">deal.</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="description">*Bruce Springsteen performing at Roskilde Festival 2012. Photo credit: Bill Ebbesen.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-16071552321031242532012-08-29T18:09:00.000-07:002013-03-11T20:52:58.837-07:00Start Hunger Action Month A Bit Early...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCFpYQJFNjpj3Z2IxHBDgdQphymllvx-wyjV6X8oa4xa8C_Pix7EzO9O9SPKfPFqEEaWDdKVNakXGibbwMLDa3gpDbe3XQRkqRfUbfVThx1WiA-VOxy-eBCeJeJx3OseQkAuXccG5f_VF/s1600/327717_483809758303988_1912639623_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tgif coupon cfbnj" border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCFpYQJFNjpj3Z2IxHBDgdQphymllvx-wyjV6X8oa4xa8C_Pix7EzO9O9SPKfPFqEEaWDdKVNakXGibbwMLDa3gpDbe3XQRkqRfUbfVThx1WiA-VOxy-eBCeJeJx3OseQkAuXccG5f_VF/s400/327717_483809758303988_1912639623_o.jpg" title="tgif coupon cfbnj" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hunger Action Month is officially September, but that shouldn't stop you from doing some good. On Thursday, August 30, 2012 the Springfield TGI Friday's will be donating 20% of food and nonalcoholic beverages purchases to the <a href="http://njfoodbank.org/" target="_blank">Community FoodBank of New Jersey.</a> <i>Don't forget to bring the flier (Just click on the image above). </i>Get dinner and then stay for the Bartending Flair competition at 9pm. Just know that I am not promising any Tom Cruise sightings!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-72775209082153002522012-07-12T21:34:00.001-07:002013-03-11T21:00:32.779-07:00Happy Birthday 7-Eleven!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Vintage Bicycles with baskets at 7-11" border="3" bordercolor="#006699" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVClcmKRwNL29493AD5D_WaShy68dgARw3ZMEJkVlO_XOnxibSJzpLxhyphenhyphenUx2sEzmt_s9XcMzeLDhisuDuiM7G3v_h1pFS4SlEtvk77Iijcb0gIM9c-TJmNvqudjdjsSDxqojWVN2V7xjt/s400/711bikes.jpg" title="Bicycles at 7-11" width="400" /></div>
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Yesterday was 7-Eleven's 85th birthday. Well, maybe not the actual day the first location opened back in 1927, but the marketer in me sure appreciates the choice of July 11 (7-11) as the day to celebrate.<br />
<br />
How does an octogenarian celebrate? By giving away free Slurpees of course!<br />
<br />
I headed out to the closest 7-Eleven to me to pick up my specially sized 7.11-ounce Slurpee. It was around 3pm and all the press releases mentioned that once they were out of those special cups, the offer was over. So of course, I was a little worried when I saw all the bikes parked outside and the long line in front of the slurpee machines (there were three machines!)<br />
<br />
Are there enough cups? Hmmm... It didn't look like many were left, and these cute kids kept cutting in to get doubles. And how do you NOT look like a jerk telling some little ponytailed girl to get back in line so that you can get your own free papercup filled with sugarslushed goodness?<br />
<br />
Phew... made it. (Layered pina colada, lemon creme, grape). The two guys behind me though, not so lucky, as a couple of little devils dashed and grabbed the last cups. However, all was not lost as there were more cups in the back room. <b>And they lived happily ever after.</b><br />
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<img alt="slurpee" border="3" bordercolor="#006699" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lHYs55KOAs367xk7TJX1lrOEr0OOdQFyU5Tz6cNNiBbFKHrugURaGD7zSO9isyM2wb2vmBchycUQPpSOAV-K2BJRwNALexz6ZGmzGajCfZhu6aAR7Y3oV-8-VRZ4RIlONbDUZRRuzsyD/s400/711slurpee.jpg" title="slurpee" width="266" /></div>
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I would like to thank 7-Eleven also for the free ham & cheese sub and chocolate cake. Along with the Slurpee, I actually got a "free lunch"!</div>
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<i>(Although my heart still belongs to Quick Chek... the first QC location is in my hometown of Dunellen and I AM a Jersey Girl through and through). </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-32558820697602947972012-05-10T22:29:00.000-07:002013-03-11T21:07:58.936-07:00A Very Krispy Birthday<h3>
Krispy Kreme is celebrating its 75th birthday this year. </h3>
<h3>
Sign the giant birthday card <a href="http://locations.krispykreme.com/75th/birthday-card#.T6x8K_PDicI.facebook" target="_blank">here</a>.</h3>
<br />
I have a fondness for the KK donut. Don't get me wrong, Dunkin' Donuts is what I think of when you mention the word "donuts." I am oldschool; in fact, I miss the actual dunkin' donut with the little dough handle. But Krispy Keme always has a special place in my heart.<br />
<br />
We didn't always have Krispy Kreme in NJ... The first time I had one was when I was taking my brother to his out-of-state school in the '90s. My husband and I went to the grand opening (5am!) of the first NJ Krispy Kreme location, which just happened to be in his hometown. I still have the t-shirt to prove it.<br />
<br />
It was because of that fun memory that we opted for a nontraditional wedding dessert. Unfortunately, when we did get married, Krispy Kreme was going through some growing pains and closed all NJ locations. But luckily, a nearby supermarket was able to get them for us and voila...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4T-alTragR0d-MKAfeJCuzTZfZR3KuBVrJ2UeSKncfNO0r_6wkmXHOUsWv8xOj3S6jFMDMVVBVmrdmLZw6aLS-a8KLk4rpwEh-IxJQL0AMlv_C5ht8srgVWlKTF9rNymacMqH6NJP7uI/s1600/donutcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="krispy kreme wedding cake diy" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4T-alTragR0d-MKAfeJCuzTZfZR3KuBVrJ2UeSKncfNO0r_6wkmXHOUsWv8xOj3S6jFMDMVVBVmrdmLZw6aLS-a8KLk4rpwEh-IxJQL0AMlv_C5ht8srgVWlKTF9rNymacMqH6NJP7uI/s640/donutcake.jpg" title="krispy kreme wedding cake" width="377" /></a></div>
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<h1 class="photo-title" id="title_div199082579" style="text-align: center;">
Our Krispy Kreme Wedding Cake</h1>
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<br />
Based on an idea done on television...<br />
<ul>
<li>Take three different sized cake boards with ruffled edges. Separate
them with three different sized terra cotta pots painted pearl white
(bottoms up). </li>
<li>Place a wooden dowel through the holes of the pots and boards, leaving
about 2 inches on the top. Balance a fourth terracotta pot filled with
flowers on the top pot, letting the dowel secure in the floral foam.
Make sure there is no leaking. </li>
<li>Place enough donuts to make the "cake" look full. Stick
wired ribbons in the floral display and let them stream down. </li>
<li>Up to you whether or not you serve right off the display or have them
plated straight from the boxes in the kitchen. (Our reception site
served them with some raspberry sauce swirled on a plate).</li>
<li>A lot cheaper than a real wedding cake. If a cake is already included
in your reception cost like ours was, see if you can negotiate the fee
or ask for something extra... we got a fruit course.</li>
</ul>
Photography: <a href="http://www.888wedphoto.com/" target="_blank">Dennis Becker</a>; Florist <a href="http://www.hoskiflowerpower.com/" target="_blank">Hoski's </a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thejerseytomato/199082579/" title="Our Krispy Kreme Wedding Cake by Heidi Heleniak, on Flickr"></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-84125697011120775502012-03-24T20:53:00.000-07:002012-03-24T20:53:49.893-07:00Foodie Events for Spring, 2012Deborah Smith from Jersey Bites came up with a great <a href="http://www.jerseybites.com/2012/03/foodie-things-to-do-this-weekend-and-beyond-32/" target="_blank">list</a> of foodie events coming up. Hopefully, I'll be able to make it to at least one!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-50610419474037601982012-03-24T20:09:00.001-07:002012-03-24T20:10:51.822-07:00Mom's Ultimate Grilled CheeseMy mom made these quite often when I was a kid... it's a great quick lunch for those rainy Spring days.<br />
<br />
But before you FLOOD me with comments... this is not exactly the ultimate <i>"grilled"</i> cheese. That's because it's actually toasted and baked or broiled. So put that skillet away, we won't be needing it. In fact, this dish is perfect for a dorm room, since you only need a toaster oven.<br />
<br />
<b>What you do need: </b><br />
<ul><li>Slices of rye or Italian bread</li>
<li>Butter</li>
<li>Slices of American cheese (or whatever melting cheese you have on hand; my mom likes Swiss, my husband, cheddar)</li>
<li>Slices of ham (Other deli meats like turkey work well too)</li>
</ul><br />
Lightly toast bread.<br />
Butter the bread on one side.<br />
Place a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on top of the buttered bread.<br />
Set in broiler (or oven at 400º) until cheese starts to bubble and turn golden (We're talkin' about 2-5 minutes).<br />
You're done! <br />
<i>To make it fancier, add a few slices of pear on top of the cheese when finished.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-38065906489450614102012-03-02T22:05:00.009-08:002013-03-11T21:22:53.043-07:00Foodbank's Blue Jean Ball on April 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EX_m4s1SfcIUabD0GklktkFf2EZWB79XhF4ALdKwX5DySDZPccQFVAcOU98v5UFe5aJCRmIoSBSj676GmwAedrwlxFpWvRYkTKWD_ZhW5ucPFRKZYINaBroLyYl0LPYsFccW3x_7QgYR/s1600/bjb_full_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2012 Blue Jean Ball, Community Food Bank of New Jersey" border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EX_m4s1SfcIUabD0GklktkFf2EZWB79XhF4ALdKwX5DySDZPccQFVAcOU98v5UFe5aJCRmIoSBSj676GmwAedrwlxFpWvRYkTKWD_ZhW5ucPFRKZYINaBroLyYl0LPYsFccW3x_7QgYR/s320/bjb_full_2012.jpg" title="2012 Blue Jean Ball, Community Food Bank of New Jersey" width="320" /></a></div>
It's the gala of the year. (At least for ME).<br />
<br />
A fundraising dinner in the warehouse of the Community FoodBank of NJ, the Blue Jean Ball gives supporters an opportunity to see where everything happens. Because it's not held in a sterile hotel ballroom, this event isn't stuffy. And as you can tell by the title: you can wear BLUE JEANS.<br />
<br />
This year's ball has a <a href="http://www.njfoodbank.org/blue-jean-ball">"Home on the Range"</a> theme and will feature country music by <a href="http://afterthereign.net/home.php">"After the Reign"</a> (yes, they've played with the FoodBank's #1 fan, Springsteen) and a mechanical bull.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-33977730059675194262012-02-26T18:12:00.000-08:002013-03-12T14:47:50.582-07:00Schinkolat: Chocolate-Covered Bacon<h3>
I know what you're thinking, chocolate covered bacon is so 2009. </h3>
You're right... That's around the time I started making this little treat to bring to parties. Everyone who's tried it loves it. I tried making a vegetarian version of it using "fakin' bacon" but it didn't work. It's the fat content of the bacon that helps makes this so delicious. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ErwJxGGdHNA" width="560"></iframe> Can't watch the video because you're at work?<br />
<br />
Well, honestly, you don't even have to... it's so simple to make chocolate bacon. Or like I call it "Schinkolat" (Schinken = German for ham, Chocolat = French for chocolate).<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON</h2>
<h3>
INGREDIENTS</h3>
<ul>
<li>Two large bars of chocolate or one giant one. Dark chocolate works best (I prefer German chocolate but often just get what's on sale)</li>
<li>Pound of bacon (Again, whatever's on sale)</li>
</ul>
<h3>
RECIPE </h3>
<ul>
<li>Place bacon on a baking sheet (No grease necessary. You will probably need to do this is two batches. using aluminum foil makes cleanup easier) and set in preheated oven at 350° for 20-30 minutes. Bacon should be fully cooked but still a little chewy.</li>
<li>Remove sheet from oven. Place bacon on paper towel covered plate and pat dry with more paper towels. Let bacon fat solidify on aluminum foil and throw away (unless you want to save it for cooking).</li>
<li>Put cooled bacon on cake rack.</li>
<li>Break chocolate into small pieces and put in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes and stir until chocolate is all melted.</li>
<li>Spoon chocolate over one side of the bacon.</li>
<li>Put the chocolate bacon on a plasticwrapped plate or wax paper and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.</li>
<li>Break into smaller pieces.</li>
<li>Serve over ice cream. Also works well with whiskys.</li>
<li>Be prepared to be asked for the recipe.<br />
<br />
</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-91875968039751027942012-02-06T15:49:00.000-08:002013-03-12T14:49:17.442-07:00I "donut" U<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN002qq-eURjTpwc3wIUMC-Byy0UpdWl1eD9rUMcRJFVvTo-ObHSJHROD3aqTpe7VCdPkdqkM_TGrTvS5-ng55a4Bkt53R7AOliyDbeeKHTN6qDQP2pQhKl68T4BakbM2Ix2Y5x6HRyTOE/s1600/idonutyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="i love you written out in chocolate and heart shaped donut" border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN002qq-eURjTpwc3wIUMC-Byy0UpdWl1eD9rUMcRJFVvTo-ObHSJHROD3aqTpe7VCdPkdqkM_TGrTvS5-ng55a4Bkt53R7AOliyDbeeKHTN6qDQP2pQhKl68T4BakbM2Ix2Y5x6HRyTOE/s320/idonutyou.jpg" title="i love you written out in chocolate and heart shaped donut" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The message my hubby left me the other morning. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-67808217870140831902012-01-14T08:28:00.000-08:002012-01-14T08:28:50.460-08:00Want Bobby Flay to give your restaurant dream some help?<b>From an email I received from New Jersey Small Business Development Center at TCNJ:<i></i></b><br />
<br />
A new Food Network series is looking for Food Entrepreneurs, specifically, people who have left their previous career to start a new restaurant (or similar business).<br />
<br />
Must have little-to-no prior professional culinary experience. Must be planning to open a brick-and-mortar space where there will be walk-in customers (restaurant, bakery, sandwich shop, etc.). Must be aiming to open between now and autumn 2012<br />
<br />
Those chosen will receive culinary & business coaching from Bobby Flay (a chef, restaurateur, and fixture on the Food Network) as well as invaluable national publicity.<br />
<br />
Those interested that fit the guidelines, please email the following to foodtvshow@gmail.com: Outline your timeline, budget, menu, team, and especially what’s at stake for you in this endeavor (why you are doing it and what risks, financial as well as personal, you are taking). The Food Network is highly interested in the “human interest” angle of your story.<br />
<br />
There is also a Twitter account and a Facebook page for more information. The Food Network will be accepting stories through February and is casting nationally.<br />
<br />
Please also email us at the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at TCNJ to director@sbdcnj.com, and let us know you are submitting your entry.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-58672650207976279912011-12-12T21:22:00.000-08:002013-03-12T15:10:18.397-07:00THE FOOD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My ALDI purchase </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGaxJzLwGrcz1JGVAgeYuRox4ta2tlFLvE1tXHgY8d54cpN5xGG1EHI78XP3RzNRNu6k6fsvOfIvUl-Ok2YiCNwVc_Hed7TTfzziSILEXCERL-mKvo-ltpGwTlCrPFPPZlS4plOHdebZk/s1600/foodchallenge120611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="$30 foodstamp challenge NJ" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGaxJzLwGrcz1JGVAgeYuRox4ta2tlFLvE1tXHgY8d54cpN5xGG1EHI78XP3RzNRNu6k6fsvOfIvUl-Ok2YiCNwVc_Hed7TTfzziSILEXCERL-mKvo-ltpGwTlCrPFPPZlS4plOHdebZk/s320/foodchallenge120611.jpg" title="$30 foodstamp challenge NJ" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED<br />
Acme Toasted Oats Cereal (On sale for $1.88 - $1 instore coupon): $.88<br />
Eggs/dz (Free but if purchased at ALDI...): $1.65<br />
Clementines (1/3 box left of $5.99): $2<br />
Baby Carrots (Leftover from Thanksgiving. If purchased at ALDI...)$1.19<br />
Oatmeal (5 packets): $1<br />
Wholewheat pasta: $1<br />
Veggie pasta: $1<br />
Tomato can: $1<br />
Tomato sauce: $1.50<br />
Frozen green beans:$1<br />
Dried noodle soup: $1.19<br />
Parmalat: $2.19<br />
Dark chocolate with raisins & nuts: $1.99 <br />
Total: $16.40<br />
<br />
ALDI<br />
Coffee (90 cups worth): $2.79 <br />
Butter (Salted/4 sticks): $1.99<br />
Crunchy Peanut Butter: $1.69<br />
1lb Ground Turkey: $1.49<br />
1lb Sliced Lunchmeat (honey turkeybreast): $3.29<br />
Peanuts: $2.69<br />
Pork Tenderloin: $4.55<br />
Chicken Breast: 3.39<br />
Snack Bags Combo(20): 3.99<br />
12 Grain Bread: $1.89<br />
String Cheese: $3.29<br />
Sliced Cheddar: $2.19<br />
Granola Bars: $1.89<br />
Orange Juice: $1.99<br />
<br />
$37.12 (ALDI)<br />
<u>+$16.40(OTHER)</u><br />
$53.52<br />
______________________<br />
$60 (BUDGET)- $53.52=$6.48<br />
(-$4 eating out credit used= 2 meals missed)<br />
$2.48 extra which goes toward that darn Dunkin' Donuts coffee and donut.<br />
______________________<br />
adjusted for usage<br />
$.50= 1 stick of butter (Used 3 tablespoons for whole week)<br />
$.03= 1 cup of coffee (times 14 cups= $.42. Lucky has two cups a day. Me= Zip).<br />
No eggs were used.(savings of $1.65)<br />
<br />
(First day, hubby had leftover turkey and grapes for lunch since we hadn't gone shopping yet.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-88259721063582104312011-12-11T15:37:00.000-08:002012-11-29T18:10:13.649-08:00DAY SEVEN: What I've learned<b>Breakfast</b> <br />
Oatmeal. Hubby had a granola bar.<br />
<br />
<b>Lunch</b> <br />
Nothing (We had a big sale at the store and I was too busy to eat. Plus I had a superbad cold). Hubby had a peanut butter sandwich with the one last piece of bread.<br />
<br />
<b>Dinner</b> <br />
The second packet of dry noodle soup with leftover ground turkey (Makes a bad cold go away. OK, maybe not really, but it did make me feel better). Hubby had more leftover pork with pasta. Viva la leftovers! And finished up with a piece of chocolate.<br />
<br />
So what did we learn? Well, that living on a budget of $60 <i>is</i> doable. And that in general, you won't go hungry. However, it does restrict you. Because of money issues, I didn't really have enough fruits and veggies. We relied on our multivitamins to make sure we got the minimum RDA. If the monies were given as a monthly stipend, it would have been a lot easier: buying apples and clementines twice a month, stock up on frozen veggies when they are on sale. Also it did help that there were two of us participating so there was more money to use (since you can't get just a few spoons of peanut butter or half a loaf of bread).<br />
<br />
For the items I purchased for the challenge, we didn't touch the dozen eggs and have 3.75 bars of butter and 75% of the peanut butter left over. <br />
<br />
Emotionally, it was a bit draining; we gave up a couple of opportunities to go out with friends this week because we "didn't have the money." There was also the potential for embarrassment that first day at ALDI when I had to put some food back because I didn't have enough money. <br />
<br />
JUST ONE LAST QUICK STEP ONTO THE SOAPBOX<br />
Some of the local chainstores around here have signs posted re: foods that are accepted by SNAP and WIC. Often they are for overly processed, sugary, sodium-laden foodstuffs that are not filling and don't have much nutritional value (I wish I had taken a photo of the sign over those small plastic "barrels" of artificially fruit flavored sugar water). RARELY have I seen those signs in the produce, meat or dairy aisles. I hope that SNAP recipients are not just handed a pamphlet of suggestions but actually told what foods are suggested to purchase first.<br />
<br />
I am lucky to live in an area that has a lot of places that accept foodstamps. But I know that is not often the case in the innercity. Also, I do have two ALDIs nearby which has very low prices on basics (And a vehicle or mass transportation to get to those places).<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/healthy-eating-on-budget.html" target="_blank">Eating Healthy on a Budget</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://lessisenough.wordpress.com/about/">Dollar a day</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=1243&level3_id=6213&level4_id=10046">SNAP-Ed Connection</a></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-38439366695371846552011-12-10T15:08:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:54:09.526-08:00DAY SIX: I'm feeling like Mother HubbardFinished the rest of the cereal for breakfast. And brought a sandwich to work (the last of the bread). My husband combined leftovers: the orange pork and red beans & rice). We joined friends for dinner. It's been a tradition for NINETEEN YEARS. They make the turkeys and everyone else brings side dishes. With the addition of spouses and children, it's now a party of over 40 people! I usually bring a green bean casserole but because of the challenge, was not able to spend the money. I did bring a bottle of sangria soda that was unopened at Thanksgiving ($1.69). <br />
<br />
It did feel a bit strange not being able to truly contribute to the meal this year. But I also did appreciate being surrounded by friends who love me. I know that not everyone in NJ has a strong support system of friends and family to help them survive.<br />
<br />
I factored the meal into the budget and deducted $4 from the $60.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-59545020376046503472011-12-09T21:28:00.000-08:002011-12-20T14:16:27.840-08:00DAY FIVE: Running Low<b>BREAKFAST:</b><br />
We were running low on cereal and milk, so I had oatmeal instead. That way the hubby had milk for his coffee. The clementines were gone. So I had orange juice; not a fan of concentrate but needed the Vitamin C. (Hubby: the usual)<br />
<br />
<b>LUNCH:</b> <br />
Sandwich, chips, carrots, cheesestick. (Hubby: the usual)<br />
<br />
<b>DINNER:</b><br />
I gave Lucky a couple of choices; he opted for another Italian night. So the chicken baked a few nights before was reheated with another 1/3 of the tomato sauce and two cheesesticks with the rest of the veggie pasta. Voila: Chicken Marinara.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-31156186807415226202011-12-08T20:01:00.000-08:002012-11-29T18:30:00.838-08:00DAY FOUR: Who Wants Leftovers?<b>BREAKFAST</b> <br />
Same.<br />
<br />
<b>LUNCH</b> <br />
Same.<br />
<br />
<b>DINNER</b> <br />
I finished the leftover Thai curry pork from Monday. Lucky had his company's holiday reception in the city. I WAS going to subtract a few bucks from our budget because of that but considering that he had an allergic reaction to the first bite he took and didn't eat anything else... (PS He's ok now).<br />
<br />
When I started this, I didn't go with a plan. I knew I was going to use some stuff we already had on hand but on the whole, I didn't know what I was going to have until I got to the supermarket. But if I were really on SNAP, I certainly would have to plan better.<br />
<br />
Here is some links I found today...<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/njsnap/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/njsnap/index.html</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004index.htm</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.7dvt.com/2007/stayin-alive" target="_blank">http://www.7dvt.com/2007/stayin-alive</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2008/03/26/547630/one-week-four-people-and-a-tight.html" target="_blank">http://www.kansascity.com/2008/03/26/547630/one-week-four-people-and-a-tight.html</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://mdhungersolutionsblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-food-stamp-challenge-journey.html">http://mdhungersolutionsblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-food-stamp-challenge-journey.html</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2010/07/27/health/experts-want-junk-taken-off-food-stamp-menu/" target="_blank">http://bangordailynews.com/2010/07/27/health/experts-want-junk-taken-off-food-stamp-menu/</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rebeccablood.net/thriftyo/2007/04/the_organic_thrifty_food_plan_1.html" target="_blank">http://www.rebeccablood.net/thriftyo/2007/04/the_organic_thrifty_food_plan_1.html</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/gfcfsf-diet-on-food-stamps/" target="_blank">http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/gfcfsf-diet-on-food-stamps/</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://foreverinhell.com/wordpress/?p=678" target="_blank">http://foreverinhell.com/wordpress/?p=678</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/foodchallenge.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/foodchallenge.htm</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://thirtyaweek.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://thirtyaweek.wordpress.com/</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=256&topic_id=1342" target="_blank">http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=256&topic_id=1342</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.choosemyplate.gov/http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/09/26/most-food-stamp-recipients-have-no-earned-income/">http://www.choosemyplate.gov/</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/09/26/most-food-stamp-recipients-have-no-earned-income/" target="_blank">http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2011/09/26/most-food-stamp-recipients-have-no-earned-income/</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/governmentaid/hunger/foodstamps/njfoodstamps/" target="_blank">http://www.lsnjlaw.org/english/governmentaid/hunger/foodstamps/njfoodstamps/</a><br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/programs/foodstamps/" target="_blank">http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dfd/programs/foodstamps/</a><br />
</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-31821378083452250192011-12-07T17:14:00.000-08:002012-01-02T17:30:53.869-08:00DAY THREE: Who's on Third?I think I finally got the swing of things today.<br />
<br />
<b>BREAKFAST</b><br />
The usual (See I have a usual now.)<br />
<br />
<b>LUNCH</b><br />
I had a sandwich! Actually it tasted good. It's a 12 grain bread with honey (and of course other stuff. But it's more substantial than white bread); although the turkey tastes like that chicken roll stuff I ate as a kid. Two clementines, cheesestick, handful of carrots, and bag of chips. (Lucky had his usual but added another clementine).<br />
<br />
<b>DINNER</b><br />
Was edible. But not our finest effort. Baked the two chicken breasts (slicing them in half to make four pieces. Half the chicken, half of $1 Green Giant green beans almondine, and half of a $1 Zateran's red beans & rice equals a "New Orleans" meal half good (Our oven did too good a job on baking the chicken and I didn't stir the rice enough. Oh well, we ate it.)<br />
<br />
Would I have tossed the meal and started from scratch? Probably not. But I normally would have considered the thought a bit more than I did. Those chicken breasts may have been tough but I was TOUGHER.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-58687644095491931242011-12-06T09:13:00.000-08:002012-01-02T17:31:53.782-08:00DAY TWO: What's Missing?Started the day off right...<br />
<b>BREAKFAST</b><br />
Cereal with milk. <i>(The hubby had cereal with milk, orange juice, and coffee)</i><br />
Took along some snacks for the day: chips, cheese stick, two clementines. Was going to make a sandwich, no time, will do it when get back home. (You DO see where this is going, right?)<br />
<br />
<b>LUNCH</b> <br />
Needed to finish something before I left my morning job. Then the boss threw in some extra work that needed to be done ASAP, and then had a 75 minute meeting. I worked through my lunch break (the hour I have between jobs) to try and finish, I didn't. Went to my second job (at the lovely <a href="http://heidiscottage.com">Heidi's Cottage</a>) without eating anything. Ok, I did grab one of the Werther's Originals we have scattered around the store. (But honestly, this is not an isolated circumstance. I often miss meals: either I'm running late at breakfast time and rely on my snacks, or I'm running late at lunchtime and rely on a quick prepared food somewhere on my route OR go the martyr route and not get anything.<i>This is fast becoming less of a foodstamp challenge and more of an admission that I really need to change some bad dietary habits!</i>)<br />
<i>(The hubby had a granola bar- actually there are two in the package but who really just eats just one, a clementine, a bag of chips and a sandwich).</i><br />
<br />
<b>DINNER</b><br />
Tonight's "Italian Night". I grab the pound of frozen turkey that's been thawing in the fridge and cook it up in a tablespoon of butter. I've never bought turkey in a plastic tube before but it doesn't look bad. I save half for "Mexican Night", and start making the sauce: 1 can of $1 diced tomatoes, 1/3 bottle of $1.50 Prego <a href="http://www.prego.com/products/healthy-and-delicious/veggie-smart-chunky-savory">VeggieSmart</a> pasta sauce, a cheese stick (lowfat, it takes time to melt into the sauce), garlic, paprika (don't judge me, this is based on my German mother's recipe). Cook it down and serve with half a box of $1 Ragu <a href="http://ronzonigardendelight.newworldpasta.com/">Garden Delight</a> pasta. A delightful nonsparkling water with lemon juice is the perfect compliment to the meal. Lucky (the hubby's nickname) thinks it's good, but not as good as yesterday's meal which he wants added to my repertoire.<br />
<br />
Before he goes upstairs to work on our annual Christmas card, he sits down beside me and says with a sad, solemn look on his face. "Heidi, I need to tell you something." "Yes?" "I, um, I cheated... This afternoon, I went out and had a coffee and donut... I was hungry. If it makes it any better, it was a SMALL coffee..." Yes, we will be subtracting that $2.48 from the budget :) <br />
<br />
Not certain how healthy we actually are eating (when we are eating)... thinking that even with the veggie-infused dinner, we probably aren't getting enough of something. Even with taking our daily vitamins. Need to check on that. <br />
<br />
*******************************************<br />
So, question: have you voted for <a href="http://moveforhunger.org/">MoveForHunger</a> yet? This national nonprofit based in NJ is one of five organizations who could win a $1million grant from Chase Community Giving. Just go to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving?v=app_123284047772276&app_data=action%3Dcontest_view_entry%26id%3D780871">Facebook Page</a> and vote TODAY and TOMORROW. It is the only hunger-related nonprofit up for this grant AND it donates to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.<br />
<br />
*******************************************<br />
<br />
<i>Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with moving companies across America to pick up the unopened, non-perishable food items from people during the moving process and deliver it to their local food banks. When people move, they throw away a whole bunch of "stuff." Unfortunately, a lot of this "stuff" is food that could go to a family in need rather than thrown away. That's where Move For Hunger comes in. In just two years, Move For Hunger has teamed up with over 160 moving companies in 37 states. Together, we have delivered over 330,000 lbs of food to food banks across the nation - this is enough to provide over 250,000 life-saving meals to those in need. With 1 in 6 Americans struggling to find their next meal and 1 in 7 Americans moving each year, Move For Hunger provides an out-of-the-box solution to our nation's growing hunger problem. </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-33563856034342273602011-12-05T18:04:00.000-08:002011-12-05T18:04:36.737-08:00DAY ONE: What are we doing?My husband and I normally spend around $200-300 on groceries per month. Considering that our "foodstamps" provision would be $240 if we were to do this for a whole month, you would think that this would be easy. But it won't. (Or maybe it will?).<br />
<br />
You see, we are partakers of the prepared food. Our area in NJ is resplendent when it comes to eating establishments: Vietnamese, Mexican, Peruvian, Brazilian, Cantonese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Japanese, El Salvadoran, Ecuadorian, Korean, German, Italian, Portuguese, Jamaican, Sri Lankan, Cuban, French, Thai, Ghanaian. About twice a week, sometimes more, we go out to eat. And then we survive on the leftovers. <i>(Yes, I do cook... but usually it's based on something previously bought, like last week when I used the leftover mulligatawny soup as a sauce for the leftover thanksgiving turkey).</i><br />
<br />
Every other Monday is Cheap Chicken night: my husband and I run to the Acme to buy food for the next few weeks and grab the fried chicken special (8 pieces for $5.99). Adding a $1 frozen veggie and a $1 Knorr Side Pasta and call it dinner. During the rest of the week, we may have the chicken for dinner another night and then the rest, my hubby takes to work for lunch. It may be cheap (less than 75 cents a piece) but it's not covered by SNAP.<br />
<br />
My husband is a bit better when it comes to lunch ("brownbagged" sandwich and snacks) but I'm more of a flybytheseatofmypants gal... grabbing a chicken and rice soup from the Chinese takeout joint, Quick Check sub, or even chicken chile relleno from <a href="http://www.njmisamigos.com/">Mis Amigos</a>. Let's not forget that once-a-month sushi delivery.<br />
<br />
<b>SO HERE GOES DAY ONE...</b><br />
<br />
<b>BREAKFAST:</b> Opened the 88 cent Acme Toasted Oats (on sale for $1.88 then the manager gave us $1 coupon) and Parmalat milk (from Stop and Shop for $2.19). How do I remember these prices? I'm pretty competitive when I'm looking for a bargain. It makes me feel better when we are gorging ourselves at Mister Pi in Warren.<br />
<i>(Hubby: Cereal, milk, orange juice and coffee).</i><br />
<br />
<b>LUNCH:</b> Didn't really happen. I brought some snacks to my morning job, two clementines and a bag of cornchips. The boss had brought in a <a href="http://shop.thecheesecakefactory.com/order/cheesecakes/pumpkin-cheesecake.html">Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake</a> in that someone had gave him and instructed his secretary to throw whatever remained at the end of the day in the garbage (Luckily, someone took it home). No, I was a good girl and didn't have any of it... any of the $46.95 (plus at least $20 S&H) cheesecake. At 2:30, my stomach was grumbly so I opened a box of oatmeal I had bought in bulk since it had been only a buck for 5 servings and had me a portion. Flax seed CAN taste good :)<br />
<i>(Hubby: leftover turkey wing, leftover grapes, a clementine, and chips)</i><br />
<br />
I worked later than I planned, stopped off at home to pick up some cash and headed to ALDI. Thought I managed the shopping part pretty well but I only had $37 and the total was $46... needed to subtract some of the fun stuff. Got home, grabbed a couple of handfuls of peanuts and two cheesesticks. Now to dinner.<br />
<br />
<b>DINNER</b><br />
Thai Curried Peanut Pork with Noodles: Sliced up a pork tenderloin, salt and peppered, and seared in pan using one Tablespoon of the four sticks of butter I had to purchase (rest is in freezer). Simmered in orange juice for a few minutes. Removed half to use later in week. Add curry, dried lemongrass, two heaping tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter, low-sodium soy sauce; add more orange juice to create sauce. Serve over whole wheat egg noodles. Handful of baby carrots to much on (forgot to cook them with the pork) Drink du jour: water with lemon juice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7706834854653382764.post-48409938526169474062011-12-04T23:30:00.000-08:002011-12-04T23:30:17.810-08:00SNAP into a ChallengeAs you may already know, I have been a volunteer for the <a href="http://njfoodbank.org">Community FoodBank of New Jersey</a> since 1994. I won't bore you with how and why the CFBNJ is so wonderful, let's just say that there are many reasons why I have been with the organization for so long when other nonprofits no longer have me as a member (my choice!).<br />
<br />
I had just finished hosting a turkey drive drop off (our seventh!) when I received an invitation to take part of the Food Stamp Challenge and figured "why not?"<br />
<br />
After signing up, this is the email I received...<br />
<br />
"You've taken the first step in the Food Stamp Challenge! By signing up, you've shown a true commitment to understanding the very real hardships that are faced by the over 1 million food insecure individuals in New Jersey each day.<br />
Below are guidelines you can follow during your week:<br />
<UL><li>Each person should spend a set amount for food and beverages during the Challenge week. That amount is $30 for all food and beverage.<br />
<li>All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge week, must be included in the total spending. Fast food and dining out should be avoided (as this cannot be purchased with food stamps). Should they be used, make sure to include them in the total spending.<br />
<li>During the Challenge, only eat food that you purchase for the project. Do not eat food that you already own (this does not include spices and condiments).<br />
<li>Avoid accepting free food from friends, family, or at work, including at receptions or briefings.<br />
<li>Keep track of receipts on food spending and take note of your experiences throughout the week using our website, face book page or blog.<br />
<li>Invite others to join you, including co-workers, reporters, chefs, or other elected officials.<br />
<li>Please share the Food Stamp Challenge with your friends on Facebook and Twitter, and help us spread the word!"</ul><br />
And so it starts. Tomorrow my husband (who decided to join me) and I start on the Challenge. There are a couple things I will be doing differently.<br />
1. We will be eating some food that was already purchased. However, I will subtract the cost as per purchasing it anew. This may include: cans of diced tomatoes, dried pasta, cereal, frozen veggies and fresh eggs.<br />
2. We will be attending a friend's holiday party on Saturday night. Again, we will adjust the budget to account for this meal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0