Beans, beans they're good for your heart.

I'm childish and think that title is hilarious.

Beans are really good for you though.  And if they are done right, they can be a super cheap source of protein.

Frugal cooking is something I enjoy.  I try to save money where I can, and still have a healthy and delicious meal that Eric & I can enjoy.  This can be tough.  Food is an area where we splurge because we both enjoy eating well. 

Tonight I'm serving good old fashioned beans and rice (yes, sometimes I cook. And usually it doesn't turn out well, as you'll see)

I hate buying canned beans.  They are overpriced compared to the dried variety you can find.  I used to justify it because I was out of the house so much (long commute.)  Now that I'm a short drive away, I have time to do things cheaper, which I LOVE. 

So anyway. 

I bought a bag of black beans at Market Basket for $1.49.  It made about 3 cans worth when cooked, so I saved myself about $1.50.  Here's how:

The Crockpot!  Magical beast & indentured servant. 

Step 1: Rinse beans in colander.  Remove any yucky-looking ones.
Step 2: Dump the beans in the crockpot and leave the colander in the sink. (You'll need it in about 4 hours.)
Step 3: Add water.  Enough to cover the beans + 2 inches.
Step 4: Add salt & any flavorings. (I added whole chiles, cumin, and salt)
Step 5: Place CP on high.
Step 6: Relax for 4 hours.
Step 7: Check to see if they are done!  They should be tender & taste like beans. 
Step 8: Dump into the colander (CAREFUL! They are hot.)
Step 9: Rinse the beans (yes. again.  I don't know if this is necessary but my cookbook told me to.)
Step 10: Freeze the beans for future use. 

In my next post, "DISASTER!" I'll share how I ruined two cups of rice & a whole bunch of chicken stock. :(  Will I make it in time for dinner? Will the meal be satisfying?  Only time will tell. 

Steal My Sunshine

Sun tea lightly sweetened has been my drink of choice this summer (hence the blog name...)
I'm trying to drink less soda & wine (a constant battle.  Not in an alcoholic way, more in a "My pants don't fit!" way.)
I also have a weird fascination with learning to do things the old fashioned way.  And with saving glass jars.  Like every glass jar.  It feels so wasteful to throw them away. I might be a hoarder.  Only time will tell.  


So I got this:
It's a pickle jar.  I could have bought a sun tea jar at the store but I don't like the idea of heating up plastic over & over and then drinking the liquid inside.  
Plus I feel so Little House on the Prairie this way.  Not that buying tea bags in bulk and giant pickle jars at Market Basket is very "frontier" but whatever.  
So if you've never heard of sun tea, like my favorite blogger, Katie       (http://oscartini.com/) then prepare to have your. mind. blown. 


Ingredients
- One giant pickle jar (or sun tea jar but I really would get glass.  not plastic)
- 6 tea bags (our jar is about 1.5 gallons)
- Water
- Sunshine


Combine as shown above, outside until the color looks tea-like (if you use cold water it will take a few hours.)


Discard the tea bags & serve over ice.  


I dissolve sugar in warm water & mix it in to taste.  Sometimes I'll leave it unsweetened and sweeten each glass with honey.  
If I'm feeling super fancy, I'll add some mint leaves and/or lemon wedges.  If you put in a sprig of mint, the presentation is awesome.  But make sure you crush some mint leaves or you won't get the full flavor.
And the best part (other than the awesome taste?)  100 tea bags are only $1.49 at Market Basket.  So that means my whole jar of tea was about $0.08 + sweetener.  
We also use herbs to flavor water.  Basil and mint are fantastic with lemon and a pitcher full of ice cold water.  
I like having these around as a healthy option for me and for guests. 
Fun side story:
One time, I was at the 99 Restaurant.  And I ordered iced tea but I asked if it was brewed first (I'm not a fan of the other kind.)   And the waitress gives me this look and says "Um....No.  This is the 99."  (BTW 99 CEO, who obviously reads my blog; you might want to revisit your training process.) 


P.S. You can also use herbal tea- iced peppermint tea is to die for, as well as iced chamomile. 
P.P.S Some people don't like the idea of leaving the sun tea out for fear of bacteria growing.  I don't have an issue with it, but if you do, just put the jar in the fridge.  It will take about twice as long, but you will get the same flavorful tea that way.  

Summer time...

So I leave my food blog, to embark onto the many other topics I want to write about, to embrace all the things my life is about, to shed the shackles of a topic.  

And what do I write about for my inaugural post?  Well.  Some things don't change.

 

So I love food.  I'm pretty equal opportunity about it, but I do have my favorites.  

One of those favorites?  Tomatoes.  Especially fresh, from my garden, super juicy tomatoes.  

This summer we have had a really good tomato "crop."  I also discovered a Thursday farmers market near where I work, and I can't resist their from-the-farm tomatoes either. 

So we have been eating a LOT of tomatoes.  My favorite way to enjoy a fresh tomato is a very simple tomato sandwich.  I'm not going to bore you with a recipe.  It's toast, light mayo, and sliced tomato with a little bit of salt.  I found out recently that some people haven't tried this.  If you're one of them, you are going to need to get on that about 5 minutes ago. 

Look, it's not just me.  Here's a great link about this deliciousness: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Relish/Perfect-Tomato-Sandwich.aspx

I had one for lunch.  Then, greedy girl, I had another for dinner.  Perfection.  So perfect that I forgot to take a pictures!   But believe me, it was Ah-mazing. If late summer sunshine had a taste, I think this sandwich would be it.  It makes me want to say words like ripened, and laden.  

Here's a picture of more bounty:  

Those aren't rotten tomatoes there on the top.  They are habeneros that I also bought at the farmers market.  I'm hoping this little tray will become salsa soon.  Minus the sweet potatoes.  That'd be weird.  

You always remember your first...

Hi there!  

We may have met before, over at delectable life.  I left that blog for multiple personal reasons, but mostly because I felt like I didn't have time to do a great job.  

Life has changed, and brought with it many sweet surprises and moments that I want to capture.  I loved being a part of the blogging community, but I mostly am writing this for me.  

I'll be blogging about the many things I love.  My home, my family & friends, and all the things that make my life amazing.  

Hope you enjoy the ride!

On the wagon (no not that wagon.)

I don't know if you know this, but I like to eat.  Preferably things that have the following words in their title:  battered, fried, breaded, cheesy...you get the idea.

So this weekend, inspired by two great friends, I decided to re-re-re-re-re join the Weight Watchers party.

I successfully lost over 20 lbs. the last time I successfully worked the WW program.  I didn't like that I was eating a lot of processed food in order to do it, though.  This was also about 5 years ago, so things have changed with me, and the WW program.

This time, I am aiming to lose the weight, but in a way that appeals to me- fresh, local ingredients.  Unfortunately, that means lots of salads (I really have a disdain for lettuce.)

Tonight, Eric made a great salad that even I liked!  Here's the recipe:

1/4 c chopped kalamata olives
1/2 c chopped scallions
1/2 c chopped parsley
1 can petite diced tomatoes (much better with fresh...but it's April.)
1 seedless cucumber, chopped (holy cow, $2.50 for a cuke.  Not pleased.  Any suggestions for this frugal blogger?)
Squeeze of lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste, we also added garlic salt (Isn't it cute how I say 'we?'  I didn't do any of this)
EDIT:  Also, white wine vinegar, oregano, and olive oil to taste.

So basically you chop everything up, mix it, let it marinate, squeeze on some lemon.  We let it sit for about 20 minutes

Then we added grilled tofu.  Hear me out- tofu is low fat, and full of protein. AKA low points.

Eric marinates his tofu slices (extra firm) in lemon juice and olive oil, salt & pepper.  Throw it on the grill and flip after 5 or so minutes.  Zest a little lemon on it, and serve.

Here's some crappy phone photos! Right after this I shattered my phone screen. Maybe it was mad at me for mocking it's 3.2 mp camera.

Yum, yum, yum.

Total points?  About 4 for the tofu, and 3 or so for the salad.  Not too shabby- hello leftover lunch!

Other fun facts include: my Stonyfield Farms smoothie is now 4 points.  I may need to try my hand at homemade smoothies in my Magic Bullet.  Any recipes out there?  I'm really not a yogurt fan so concocting this may be tough!

Chicken Soup for the...body

Hi all,

I have been so. sick.  lately.  It sucks!  I can't even enjoy being out of work, I'm going stir crazy!

Anyway,  I thought I'd take this opportunity to write about a theory many share.  Food can heal.  I started off taking lots of OTC medicines to mask my varying symptoms.  But nothing really worked.

Finally, I took some time off to rest (the best medicine) and had some of nature's own medicine: Chicken soup.  Made with love from my hubby (as I laid on the couch and watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, again.)  

I find the power of food to heal and comfort compelling.  After all, herbs and spices were the first medicines we used, and many are still used today.  Here are some of the food remedies I've employed this week (or were recommended to me:)

1. Chicken Noodle soup

2. Ginger Ale

3. Gatorade (OK so not exactly new-agey, but my doctor DID recommend it)

4. Hot tea

5.  Peppermint tea or peppermint oil rubbed on the gums

6. A mixture of hot water, tea, and vinegar (I couldn't bring myself to try this but I'm told it's a miracle cure)

Clearly we all have comforting remedies that make us feel better in times of need.  

What are some of yours?

I promise, my posts will involve some actual recipes soon...once I'm feeling better and I can find my camera!

<3

Punjab Paddy

Anyone know that song by Gaelic Storm?  Google it, it's hilarious.

Saturday Eric and I had some dear friends over for an adventuresome little meal.  We decided to make Indian food.  I have a real love of Indian food (my few months as a vegetarian introduced me to this amazing cuisine) but I know it's not for everyone, so we were a little nervous.

El and Mark jumped in with both feet, supplying a great chickpea salad (Recipe, El?)

Eric did not disappoint, making an amazing fried fish with curried red lentils.  YUM.  I declared it my favorite dish he has ever made (and that is saying something.)

We served it with basmati rice and Naan.  I wanted to make the naan but didn't have time.  The store bought was delicious anyway.

If you want to get all crazy and make your own Naan, here's a great recipe: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/naan/Detail.aspx

The curried lentils were another AllRecipes recipe, found here: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/red-lentil-curry/Detail.aspx

Next time we'll make the lentils in the Crock Pot to save on time.

Since I don't know where the camera is, here's a stock image of our dish:

Ours looked just that good, I promise.

Now for a fun extra, the lyrics to Punjab Paddy.  The story of an Irishman who makes his way to India.  Seriously google this song, it's so cute!
I said farewell to Erin, only seven years ago,
When asked where I was headed, I said: “Jaysus, I dunno!?”
I stepped ashore near Bangalore, not a tosser in me hand,
By the time I hit Darjeeling, I was feeling mighty grand!

Refrão:
You can keep your forty shades of green, they only make me blue,
You can stick your eggs and bacon, boys, I’ll have a Vindaloo,
I found a place in India, so far across the foam,
You can call me Punjab Paddy, boys, I’m never comin’ home.
I dreamed I got a letter from me darling Josephine,
She asked me would I marry her, back home in Skibbereen,
But the girls out here have almond eyes and jasmine-scented hair,
And there’s things in the Kama Sutra that they never do in Clare!
So I’ll spend me days relaxing in me Punjab paradise,
No more I’ll dig the praties, I’ll stick to tea and rice.
I’ll be sippin’ mango lassi with the lassies in the shade,
While yer man called Ravi Shankar plays “The Boys of the Oul’ Brigade!”

Refrão:
You can keep your Miltown Malbay, you can chuck yer Galway Bay,
You’ll never see the sun go down on Delhi or Bombay,
I found a place in India, so far across the foam,
You can call me Punjab Paddy, boys, I’m never comin’ home.
From Bohola to Benares, Inchigeela to Lahore
Kamakura, Siliguri, Peshawar, Sahrunapore
Amritsar to Sanawar, Simla, and Pinjore
I got trolleyed on Dewali, and I'm going back for more!
Someday I’ll be a holy man with saffron on me nose,
I’ll shave my head like Gandhi and I’ll never wear no clothes,
To see the Irish Guru, they’ll come from near and far,
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Whiskey in the Jar!

Refrão:
You can keep your Michael Flatley with his tattoos on his chest,
Fare thee well, Sweet Anna Liffey, it’s the Ganges I love best, 
I found a place in India so far across the foam,
You can call me Punjab Paddy, boys, I’m never comin’ home, 
I’m never comin’ home!
I’m never comin’ home!