Trying Out Martha Stewart's 5 Meals For 50.00

We are constantly trying to get our grocery bill down which is tough when, as Steve quipped last night, "food is a huge part of our relationship".  Indeed.  We found this article in the April issue Martha Stewart's Everyday Food and tucked it away mostly because we found it hard to believe.  Surprisingly, our grocery bill came to 54.00 even though we purchased some expensive organic products.  I would recommend getting the chicken at Costco because they have organic chicken for more reasonable prices than the grocery store.  Another plus with these meals is that they are made for four so we can eat the 2 extra portions for lunch the next day.  I have included the shopping list and all the recipes below.  Steve made the pasta with zucchini last night (out of order but I was craving pasta).  It was very good.  We decided when we make it again we will slice the zucchini a little thicker as some pieces got a little too crispy.  Also, we like more acid in our food so we would recommend adding the juice of the lemon not just zest.

I will give a recap at the end of the week but even if every dish doesn't make me do a dance the process is certainly an excellent reminder that a little planning can save you money and reduce waste.

How to make your floors shine like the top of the Chrysler building.

So, I briefly mentioned my Shark steam mop last week here and apparently I am not the only person who hates to mop.  While I feel like a bit of a poser giving cleaning advice I am going to channel my Norwegian grandma and share my new system.  I really have Steve to blame for this because he swore that he had seen a friend of ours use a Swiffer that was also a vacuum.  Once we had validated its existence I began to think, hey, is he trying to get me to do some cleaning (he usually does all the vacuuming and dusting) this thing is so light and easy to use.  So instead of waiting until the weekend when he lugs out our mammoth vacuum I can easily clean the kitchen floor daily. This means I no longer walk around my house with bits of basil, granola and chopped onion stuck to the bottom of my feet, hurray!  You can find the Swiffer Vacuum starter kit online for $30-$40 or at places like Fred Myer.  It comes with 2 dry sweeping refills so recommend buying a big box of refills from Costco (much cheaper).  

Now with a debris free floor the issue of mopping must be addressed.  Maybe I was scarred from watching "Annie" one too many times, "You'll stay up till this dump shines like the top of the Chrysler building."  Anyone?  There are two versions of the Shark steam mop.  I have the cheaper version which essentially means that the cord is shorter, has smaller water capacity, and the pad doesn't flip over.  If you want to see all the details go here.  We got ours on sale for around $60 at Fred Myer.  I know that they carry the higher end model for around $100 at Costco.  

Why do I love it so?  

No cleaning solution = no chemicals

Pads are washable = no waste

 It is light

Look at her smile and hold it with one hand.

But most of all...it works, the steam filled pad picks up all the fine dust and dried up spills.  

If I had a time machine I would go back and help little orphan Annie off her knees and hand her a steam mop.

I am sure I am forgetting important info in my over enthused state so, comment, email or Facebook me any questions.

**I should mention that this "method" works for all surfaces but carpet.

Healthy Eating: Color and Presentation Matter.

Does the way our food look matter?  It certainly must, in that many foods contain harmful dyes used to add a pop of eye catching color. Cereal, jam, noodles, soup you would be shocked to know what goes into these foods to make them more visually appealing. We truly tend to "eat with our eyes first" but this doesn't have to be a bad thing.  I got to thinking about this today around lunch time...shocking I know.  Growing up my mom always made sure that the dinner plate had a variety of colors on it, which I found quite odd.  Turns out it wasn't some bizarre Norwegian maxim.  In fact, some guy (the director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, no less) even wrote a book called, "What Color Is Your Diet?".  Go mom.  So, we can eat healthier by making sure that our meals are diverse in natural color and we can take a little time on the presentation (even if it is just for ourselves), so that the feast isn't just for our stomach but for eyes as well.

I love to eat this for breakfast or lunch.  Whole wheat toast, Laughing Cow garlic herb cheese, a slice of prosciutto, topped with an egg, sunny side up.

To add some color; avocado, tomato, and basil.

I find that I eat my food slower when it is pretty to look at.  Not surprising in that beauty often causes one to linger.

Plant a Vegetable Garden and Create Your Own "Food Revolution"

I haven't been a faithful watcher of Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution but I happened to tune into one episode where he asked a bunch of elementary school kids to name a bunch of vegetable in their raw form and they simply couldn't do it.  Tomatoes were apples and eggplant got a blank stare.  It was pretty shocking.  Our food has become so severely over processed that there is a disconnect from the garden to the plate.  One way to remedy this is to invite your children into the kitchen, involving them in cooking "real food".  Another way is to plant a vegetable garden and let them help in the responsibilities of planting, tending and harvesting.  I had two of my favorite friends over to help me plant some of our vegetables last week. 

They really took control, I didn't put one plant in the ground!  A week later they are asking if the plants have grown and if they can come over to plant some more.  Imagine how exciting harvesting and cooking with these vegetables is going to be for them.

I made a trellis for my snap peas out of a U shaped bamboo stake and some twine.  You can also use this method with tomatoes, which I'll be sure to show when I plant them.

Until the weather gets a little warmer we stuck with heartier plants like: beets, brussel sprouts, snap peas, leeks and various herbs.

I was warned by several seasoned gardeners that I might have a slug invasion if I planted lettuce in my raised beds.  There are methods to combat this like; planting geraniums next to them (which the slugs tend to favor and fill up on) or creating a copper border (which they apparently have an aversion to).  I opted for planting my lettuce and spinach in a pot (39.00 Costco).

If you live in a more urban environment you can grow all your vegetables in containers as long as you have adequate sunlight.  Even if it is a small pot of herbs it is worthwhile.  The point is that, every time you go out and pick off a sprig and put it in your food you are reminding yourself and your kids, if you have them, that our food comes from somewhere.  And that somewhere isn't from a package!

Tips For Last Minute Entertaining

My poor Aunt got the flu and my parents are remodeling their bathroom so, at the last minute Easter was moved to our house.  I am always worried that the house is too small but yesterday I was reminded that sometimes the layout is more important than the size.  Even with 20 people it didn't feel cramped.  Here are some tips, musings and recipes that can help to get you through any last minute soiree.

Create spaces that are comfortable not just beautiful.  I pull the chairs out from my dining room table and scatter them about my house to create conversation areas.  For more sitting room I put floor pillows on my fireplace hearth and a tray on the ottoman for drinks.  Thrift stores are an excellent place to find folding chairs and tables.  We keep ours under the house and are always surprised at how often we end up getting them out. After I have defined the space, I fill in the room with flower arrangements, candles, and decorations.

 

In our family Easter brunch is a potluck.  If you are having people over last minute you should never be afraid to ask them to bring something.  This has been a hard thing for me to learn in that I come from a family of master entertainers who can easily pull of the whole show solo.  Create separate spaces for food and drinks.  I like to use a metal tub for beverages and put all my glasses, desserts, coffee and tea on a table next to it.  For the buffet table I stack plates, put silverware in a vase, and clear the runway for all the yummy food.

 

I can't tell you how many beautiful bouquets of flowers that were brought as hostess gifts. My mother-in-law gave me the cutest small potted daffodils.  I took a cloth napkin and secured it around the pot with a rubber band, then I tied a bow around the whole thing with twine.  The best part is that I can plant them in my yard and enjoy them again next year.

Make ahead desserts.  Because I has a days notice I was able to make these two fabulous desserts; Bacardi Rum Cake and Lemon Shortbread Cheesecake.  I love going to bed knowing that I won't have to bake in the morning.  After we came home from church, all I had to do was slice the strawberries for the garnish on my cheesecake.

**A tip for the rum cake.  Before you take the cake out of the pan and glaze it, I like to poke it with a chopstick on the underside and pour about half of the glaze on.  I let it soak for about 1/2 hour before I turn it back over and brush on the glaze.  So good for breakfast the next morning.

The best part about entertaining is that I get to enjoy all the beautiful flowers long after the guests have left!

I love a wedding reception that serves street food.

Last year we went to a wedding for the two gorgeous people pictured below.  There were many elements that made it unique but I can't seem to stop thinking about the taco truck that pulled up around 11pm.  Why am I still thinking about it?  I missed it. Momma was shaking her groove thang on the dance floor and must have been too self consumed to smell the carnitas. 

I must expose this most genius idea.  Brilliant, Reagan and Julie.

My brother and his fiance are contemplating a twist on this same concept.  Veraci Pizza will set up their pizza oven at your wedding.  Perfect for dinner for a smaller crowd or as a late night snack for those that have been burning calories on the dance floor.

How about the having the Paella King come and serve food whose preparation alone is entertainment.

I found this picture on wedding planner, Jean Marks' blog I love that this bride and groom got an ice cream truck and better still passed out the ice cream themselves!

As usual, my mantra is, "think outside of the box".

Raised Garden Beds With Reclaimed Materials

Last week I confessed my desire for a green thumb and low and behold the clouds broke and my will was tested.  I found a great raised bed tutorial online but for a price tag of 170.00 per bed I knew that it was simply not in the budget.  The budget is $0 by the way.  So, I took to Craig's List to see what was shaking in the free department.  A lot was going on people.  Have you been there?  We found free wood, gravel, river rock, even a pair of iron Japanese lanterns.  My husband borrowed my brothers truck and in a few short hours he was piecing together the boxes.

This wood was reclaimed from an old antique shop in Seattle and we pulled the cement brick pavers from an unused patio in our front yard.

We put down a weed barrier cloth and then topped it with sand (reclaimed from the front yard patio we got the bricks from).  Steve dragged a 2x4 across the sand to level it and began placing the bricks in a random pattern.

 

We didn't get all our bricks down before the rains came back.  The next step is to cover the path with sand, sweeping it into the cracks and then wetting it down with a hose so it becomes compact.  Tutorials suggest that you may have to repeat this process to create a truly stable surface.  

Yes, our wood is mismatched and our pathway might not be quite level but I have to say that nothing looks quite as good as free feels!

More pictures and updates to come.

Using up what's left in the fridge: Vitamin and Protein packed Mediterranean Steak Pita Pocket

I just read a truly fascinating article about the world of coupon clipping.  I knew this world existed but I had no idea how much money people save.  I hate to admit it but I don't think that I could commit to it like this couple does.  It often requires buying in bulk when the price is right, which not only leads to huge savings but a lot of food sitting around waiting to be consumed.  Speaking of food sitting around waiting to be consumed...this is an area that I feel passionate about.  When it comes to fresh produce and non-processed food it is easy to let things go bad in the fridge.  Maybe they are leftover ingredients from a recipe or you simply forgot about them.  In our house we (my husband and I share the cooking responsibilities) try to loosely plan meals so that everything gets used.  Sometime we fail, but we are getting better and it has encouraged us to eat healthier and be more creative in kitchen.

Mediterranean Steak Pita Pockets:

White Bean dip left over from this post

chopped red peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, herbed feta, lemon juice which I often eat for lunch like this or like this.

Steak from the freezer. I sliced a few pieces and cooked them with a bit olive oil, herbed sea-salt and black pepper.  The next day I finished the meat on a yummy steak sandwich.

A few basil leaves from my Mise en place.

Stuff it all into a toasted pita.  So delicious and it makes me feel good to know that nothing is going to waste in my fridge this week!

Saving money on wedding decorations is all about, location, location, location.

It is truly amazing how inconsequential decorations can become when you choose to have your wedding reception in a place that is already beautiful.  Yes, I am giving a great big shout out to mother nature.  Our golden ticket was going through Seattle Parks and Recreation to rent The Golden Gardens Bathhouse.  For 150.00 an hour this is quite the deal, especially when you consider the view.

                                                                              photo via pfly

So, before you make a deal with the Diablo (promising them you will use their caterer and cheesy DJ) check out your cities Parks and Rec to see if any of their venues tickle your fancy. 

And to further prove my point, here are some shots by Aubrey Joy Photography from my friend Carrie's beautiful outdoor wedding.

Lavender and hay bales?  Yes please. 

Another way to save on decor is by picking a venue with good bones. 

I loved the wood and steel beams, exposed brick and cement floor of our reception site.  Some lanterns, cheesecloth, and white lights added brightness without taking away from the beauty that was already there. And as you know from this post I am still using all my decorations.

Remember, things can get expensive when you are trying to distract from ugly carpet and outdated wallpaper.

Mise en place: A tip from the French on staying organized in the kitchen.

 Normally I don't cook using a recipe.  Maybe that is why it has taken me so long to learn how to bake, eyeballing the amount of baking soda in a recipe is not a good idea, FYI.  But I love the French phrase Mise en place which means "everything in place".  Before you start cooking, your ingredients are prepped, the kitchen is clean, and all necessary tools have been assembled.  I try to subscribe to this philosophy because I do believe it makes cooking all the more enjoyable.  One thing I have added in my kitchen to make this mantra a little more attainable is a tray next to my stove that I keep my most used nonperishable ingredients on.

What do you think about Mise en place?  Helpful tip? Or stress inducing?

The Spring I discovered my green thumb. Don't Laugh.

I have always wanted to grow a vegetable garden.  But I hate to weed and have killed all my house plants.  I dream of a cornucopia filled with the fruits of my labor...realistically, I dream of fresh tomatoes for my salad.  This is the year people.  But where do you start when you know virtually nothing?  My soon to be sister-in-law turned me on to Tilth an organization that supports the home gardener through classes and various publications. 

A mission statement that is music to my ears. 

Right now we are reading The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide to figure what vegetables we want to grow and how to plant them.  I hope you will join me on this journey and offer any expertise you might have.  I plan to document it all; the construction of raised beds, prepping the soil, planting, tending and of course the glorious harvest (trying to be optimistic).  

If you are in the Seattle area Tilth is having an Early Spring Edible Plant Sale

this Saturday from 9am-2pm at Magnuson Park, Hanger 30.  I plan on following around anyone with dirt under their fingernails and buying what they do.

Oh, America; the land of wedding gowns that cost as much as a car.

Don't get me wrong I think that a bride should feel gorgeous on her wedding day and I realize that there is often a high level of craftsmanship that goes into a wedding gown BUT you're only going to wear it once.  However, I believe that there is a remedy for this.  Find a dress that flatters your shape and is free of embellishments (where most of cost is) and then add your own unique stamp.

My dress was from the memories collection by Maggie Sottero and cost around 600.00 (still enough to buy an old rust bucket ) and I loved the way the gathers made my summer of eating in Europe a little less noticeable.  To make the dress more uniquely me we added a chocolate ribbon and fastened it with a brooch that was a family heirloom.

Just five years later there are so many amazing options for embellishing your gown.  These belts and sashes from Kirsten Kuehn Designs are beautifully designed and can definitely make the simplest gown stand out.  

It doesn't have to stop with the wedding gown.  Tux rentals are often quite expensive and the results can error on the tacky side.  I recommend that the groom invest in a suit.  Steve's seersucker suit came from J Crew and set him back around 100.00 but he has worn it to so many weddings it has more then payed for itself. 

And my final thought: bridesmaid dresses don't have to match.  Give your friends a break and let them buy a dress that they will wear again.  I told them to find a knee length green dress and silver, strappy shoes.  The result was beautiful and it ended up being the most complemented element of the wedding.

When getting everyone dressed up for your wedding remember to think outside of the box; going mainstream might be the easiest but it isn't always the cheapest.

Wedding Wednesdays!

So, here is our wedding featured in the Northwest Album section of Seattle Bride (to read the article you will have to click on the pictures so the text is large enough to read, sorry!).  Just wanted you all to know where I am coming from.  Also, this will be the starting point for all subsequent wedding conversation topics.  Happy reading!

 

 

Stress free brunch with Cinnamon Apple Cake and friends that do the dishes!

We all enjoy being surrounded by people we love but sometimes it feels like too much energy to have everyone over, plan the food, and clean up the house.  Hey, June Cleaver, snap out of it!  My college housemates like to get together every couple months for brunch, sometimes we go out and sometimes we have it at someone's house.  Everyone brings something, we talk while we are cooking, while we are eating, while we are cleaning up and usually in front of the door for awhile while "leaving".  As the host I made this incredible Cinnamon Apple Cake from Cooking Light,  broke up an arrangement of flowers into small vases, threw on my usual thrift store table clothes, and asked my husband to vacuum (I am the allergy queen).  That is it.  Maybe we have found the key to stress free entertaining!

 

 

I never turn down even the littlest of helpers.

 

Fresh flowers and simple food.

Because it is all about relationships.  Missed you girls that couldn't be here.