Let Him Eat Cake

Last week was Eliot's first birthday and we had a huge celebration. Everything went off without a hitch, but I think the best part was watching Eliot enjoy his cake.

A chocolate eclair cake is about the best thing in the world for someone who is new to solid foods. It's made with vanilla pudding, cool whip, graham crackers and chocolate frosting. All the chocolate eclair goodness while still being easy to eat. Eliot certainly seemed to approve.

Total Cost: $10 for all the ingredients. Happy birthday Mister Mister!

Irish Beef Stew

At school, I am fortunate enough to share space with the computer people. Fortunate in many ways. First, they're funny people. Second, there is always someone to help me when I have a computer question. Third, the computer guy (Jeff) is a great cook and often shares his culinary creations. Last week, for St. Patrick's Day, Irish beef stew was on the menu.

Have you ever had something that was so delicious it made you pause? Well, that's what happened to me. I had quickly taken a plate and run back to my desk to eat it -- eager to multitask my lunch away. Then I took a bite and it was so good that I had to close my eyes, take a breath and savor the "clean toasted taste."

Later, upon reading the recipe, I found out what made it so delicious -- Guinness Draught and bittersweet CHOCOLATE! Brilliant!

Total Cost: I don't know what he spent, but it was well worth the money. Kind of like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. (Recipe found here.)

To Eat or Not To Eat

Has this ever happened to you?

You're eating something really delicious and have only one bite left. As you raise that last delectable piece to your salivating mouth your arm suddenly spasms and you watch helplessly as that most delicious piece of food plummets to the floor. So ... do you eat it or not? In the moment that you are deciding, this flow chart might help (found here).

Total Cost: $0 ... waste not want not!

Preview: The Food Stamp Dinner Party

I'm on my way home to make dinner for friends -- all on my food stamp budget. Hope they like cabbage!

Preview: The Food Stamp Project

Could you eat healthy, delicious, beautiful food on a "food stamp budget"? I think it is possible. Details to come.

I Was Too Busy Eating

No blogging last night because I was too busy eating. Beth hosted dinner and made the most amazing pork tenderloin. I would give you the recipe, but I can't ... she made it up using culinary creativity and whatever she had in her fridge. Amazing.

If you want to try something similar, click on the picture above for a Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Orange Marmalade Glaze recipe. I'm sure it's just as good.

Silver Spoons

I found it! I found the perfect gift form my three year old niece. Even at such an early age, she has developed a strong interest in cooking. She loves to chop vegetables with a butter knife, stir muffin batter until it's tough as rubber, and knead bread dough (although she calls it "squeezing" bread dough). So, when I saw that there is a new children's version of the best selling Italian cookbook The Silver Spoon, I grabbed it.

Now when she helps her mommy with lunch she can make Tuscan Minestrone Soup, Rigatoni with Meatballs or Chicken Stuffed with Marscapone. Well ... maybe she'll can start with the Banana Cream. There's time. In a couple years she'll be ready for the 1,264 page original.

Total Cost: $20 ... but right now it's 20% off at Barnes and Noble with another 10% off for members. Buon appetito!

Give Us This Day

I have been searching for a good gift to give my neighbors. The trick is, it has to be something I can make and something that can be enjoyed by all -- the retired couple in #1, the handyman in #4 and the crazy guy in #7. I finally decided on quick bread when I saw these great gift tags from Persimmon & Pink.

Now all I have to do I bake up seven loaves of Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread, and I'm done!

Total Cost: About $5 for the ingredients, and $0 for the gift tags. (I'm going to make my own.)

A Wish Fulfilled

I don't know if you've noticed, but I put a wish list on this blog. It's a reminder of things that I want, but don't want to pay for quite yet. Anyway, one thing on the list was a Stanley Cooler Combo (thermos and lunch box set). I know it might sound weird for a fashionista like myself, but I love the Stanley line. There is something so American about carrying your soup in a stainless steel-double walled-vacuum insulated-rust proof bottle with a lid that doubles as a cup. And then ... if you throw in a large lunch box for all the extras like bread, cheese and cookies to share you have the right equipment to turn lunch into a feast.

So, I put it on my wish list, and guess what! My mom already had one! She picked it up at a rummage sale sometime in July -- for about $5. She saw on this blog that I wanted one, and now it's mine! Hooray!

The wish list worked! I'll have to keep it updated.

Total Cost: $6 to my mother. $5 for the set. $1 finder’s fee.

The Snack Drawer -- Before

Among my friends at school, I have a reputation for having beautiful, healthy and appetizing lunches. It's all true. I like delicious food, and I try to make it look as good as it tastes. The only problem is, this has not extended to afternoon snacks.

It’s worse than it sounds. I don’t like the tasteless, prepackaged, preservative laden snack foods found at the grocery store. So, my snack drawer lies empty. But that doesn’t stop me from getting hungry and heading down to the break room to scavenge for tasteless, prepackaged, preservative laden doughnuts. I am ashamed.

To remedy this, I’ve decided to do a snack drawer overhaul. I am now on the hunt for beautiful, healthy and appetizing snacks that are also shelf stable. Do you have any ideas?

Total Cost: $5 a pound for dried apricots … it’s a start!

There's no such thing as a free lunch ...

... but aparently there is such thing as a free breakfast.

Last night I got a text from Suzie -- "tomorrow there are free hotcakes and sausage @ mcdonald's from 6 - 9."

Free? Yep!! Is there a catch? Nope!!

Well, this I had to see. I pulled into the parking lot around 8:00 while on my way to parent teacher conferences, and could tell by the length of the line that I was in the right spot. When I finally got to the counter I meekly asked for the free hotcakes and sausage meal. The girl handed me a bag full of food and I was on my way. A free breakfast! sweet.

Now, I have to say that eating at McDonald's doesn't exactly meet my criteria for "living large," but it was warm and yummy and free. It could be worse.

Total Cost: $0 for a truly free breakfast.

Major/Minor

When I started college my parents told me not to “major in minors.” I think that was good advice for choosing a career, but not for choosing food. In fact, when it comes to food, I think it’s a good idea to do the reverse. That is, go big on vegetables, grains, etc. and go light on steak, chicken, lamb, etc. Not only is it cheaper to eat this way, but I’m pretty sure it’s better for you.

This past weekend I found some brussel sprouts at the farmers market, and roasted them for dinner. Pretty good if I do say so myself.

Total Cost: About $1 per serving when you make the "side dish" the "main dish."

A Carafe By Any Other Name

I really do like beautiful things. I like things that add a touch of elegance to my life of protractors and staple removers. That’s the reason that I drink water out of the carafe that sits on my desk.

I wanted a water carafe ever since I saw Katherine Hepburn using one in the movie Adam’s Rib (that woman could make anything look good). I think it gives an air of sophistication and refinement – whether it’s sitting on a work desk, a restaurant table or a bedside stand. (A definite improvement on a Dasani bottle with the label ripped off.) So anyway, last year I finally bought one (on sale) and it has been a fixture on my desk ever since.

I was pretty proud of my tasteful beverage service … until today. A student finally got up the nerve and asked “um … why do you drink your water out of a vase?” ouch. It’s a carafe! A CARAFE! Oh well, Katherine would like it.

Total Cost: $17.50 for a touch of class … no matter what my students think.

The Supper Club

"What should I make for dinner tonight?" It’s the age old dilemma. Well, last night I didn’t have to answer that question … because of the supper club. Several weeks ago, I was having dinner with some friends and it was so yummy and so fun and so friendly that we decided to do dinner together every week. There was some trouble getting started, but I think we're getting better.

Last night was Beth’s turn and she did great! On the menu was chicken parmesan with mashed potatoes and a glass of kiwi-strawberry-cranberry juice. It was all very delicious and filling. After eating, we played the “draw-a-pig-personality-test” game -- apparently, I am a detail oriented optimist. It was a lot of and I can’t wait ‘til next week. Thanks Beth!

Total Cost: $15 when it’s my turn. $0 when it’s someone else’s turn.

A Pick Me Up

The other day on Regis and Kelly, Anderson Cooper commented that he does not drink coffee. He said that he finds the best beverage to get him going in the morning is a tall glass of ice water.

I must agree. Every morning, first thing I do is have a tall glass of cold water to get my blood flowing. Yum! Not only do I drink water in the morning, but water has always been my beverage of choice. It is nature’s perfect cocktail, and it goes with everything. Clean. Clear. Crisp. Cool. Free. Water.

Total Cost: $0 for my morning java. (It sure beats the $4.50 for Starbucks’ Venti Mocha Frappuccino.)

A Bowl of Popcorn

So. It’s Friday and I am worn out. Absolutely worn out. All I want to do is sit on my bed with a bowl of popcorn and relax. Maybe I’ll watch a movie, or read a book, or do a crossword puzzle, or flip through a magazine, or listen to music, or call a friend. Whatever I do though, it will have to be done while I sit on my bed with a bowl of popcorn.

I feel more relaxed already.

Total Cost: Not even $1 for the popcorn.
(munch, munch, munch)

Zucchini Season

It's late summer, and there is zucchini everywhere. Everywhere! People are giving the stuff away there's so much of it. So, what better to eat when you're on a tight budget? Thank you summer!

My favorite zucchini dishes are grilled zucchini, stuffed zucchini and zucchini bread. In fact, tonight I'm going to make and freeze a bunch of zucchini muffins to snack on at school. Do you have any favorite zucchini recipes? I would love to try them.

recipe found here

Total Cost: $0 for the zucchini ... if you know the right people.

Bastille Days

This past weekend was Bastille Days here in Milwaukee. It’s a street festival that is celebrates all things French. My mom and I went down to hear the dueling pianos, and then got taken in with all the yummy food, hot shopping and the fantastic people watching – there were beignets, fortune tellers, roving revolutionaries and a giant model of the Eiffel Tower. Very fun.

Total Cost: $0 to get in, $15 to eat. Vive le Milwaukee!

Eating Out

Now that summer is here, eating out has taken on a whole new meaning. It involves packing a lunch, bringing a good book, finding the right park, choosing a good bench and relaxing.

Yesterday I went to Big Bay Park. The park itself is relatively small, but the view made up for that.

Total Cost: $4 for lunch from Beans and Barley. $0 for the table from the Milwaukee Parks.

Kicking the Habit

English Toffee. One of my favorite candies. I have always liked it, but lately it's been getting out of control. It started in Maine when Janet and I would go shopping together and pick up some candy at the check out line. I would always get an English Toffee candy bar (which will remain nameless). Since then, I would get one every few days after work. Then it was up to every day. THEN, last week, Kopps was serving English-Toffee-candy-bar custard (I got two scoops). This was starting to get out of hand. Where would it end?!

On Friday it came to a head. I stopped by the drug store for my English toffee candy bar fix and decided to pick up an extra three or four to keep in my desk. By the time I went to bed, they were ALL gone.

bleh.

Since then I haven't been able to look at another English toffee candy bar.

Total Cost: $2.50 worth of candy bars. Small price to pay to get my life back!