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End of the Week Soup
Have leftovers, hate to toss them in the garbage but have no idea how to put them to good use? I used to frequent a restaurant that always had vegetable soup on the menu. It always tasted different from the time before. Sometimes it would have beans in it, sometimes rice, but it without fail, it was delicious. One day, I got up the nerve to ask why the ingredients were different each time I ordered it. They let me into a little secret…it was their leftovers. No, not food scraped off of plates that were returned to the kitchen but food they had a surplus of that week or…
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Best Buys for July
Another month, and can you believe that half of 2021 is now history? Time for another post about what to buy this month. Here’s the list I came up with and hold off until after the Fourth of July holiday because you always see major discounts on all the spring and summer items that haven’t sold. Summer items, think clothes, swimwear, sandals, grills, plants, especially annuals and especially if you live in an area with a short growing season. And don’t forget to check out sales on outdoor furniture too. Thinking about a home makeover…paint is often on sale in July. Computers and laptops also see some discounts At the…
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Don’t Throw Them Away
I love getting as much use out of stuff I buy as I can. My motto is nothing’s a waste of money if you use it wisely. You wouldn’t think vegetables fit into that category but they do. Each time I prepare a vegetable I keep the trimmings and pieces I don’t use in the recipe or meal. I use a freezer bag to put things like carrot peelings, onion roots, ‘ribs’ of kale, and anything that’s a little bruised into it. At the end of the week, I put them into a large pan, add water, a couple of bay leaves, some peppercorns and bring it to boil, then…
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Growing Your Own Food-Post One
If you’ve followed Budget Smart Girl for the last few years you’ll know I’ve made some feeble attempts at growing vegetables in the backyard…well apart from the rhubarb which I’m happy to say is looking great right now. However, this year as you’ve seen in previous posts I’m determined to get it right, and I’m off to a pretty good start. I started lots of seeds indoors in March (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumber, broccoli and Brussels sprouts). Some seeds I’ve direct sown into the raised beds. Veggies like carrots, beets, parsnips, bush beans and yes, even melon. The rest I’ve purchased as plants, zucchini, edamame, peas, and all the herbs I’m growing along with the…
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It’s Meatless Monday-Roasted Veggie Shepherd’s Pie
One of my favorite comfort foods is Shepherd’s pie. Sometimes I make it with tofu but the other day I thought about trying a roasted veggie version. Best thing about this is it’s the ideal way to use up leftover vegetables and other items that might be sitting in the fridge and pantry. You don’t have to roast the vegetables for this but I think it makes the flavor more intense and worth it. 3 carrots, peeled and chopped About one cup of chopped celery 2 medium sized onions, chopped 8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced. I used baby bellas because they were on sale Place the vegetables in a roasting…
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Save Money and Save your Health
One way to save money on food and boost your health at the same time is to cut out down on the amount of meat and animal products you eat. Just Another Meatless Monday There’s a site called Meatless Monday and while its goal is to help prevent Americans from getting heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, it’s a great resource for anyone who wants to cut down on meat to save money. Check it out at www.meatlessmonday.com. If you’ve never tried vegetarian recipes before, this site has a bunch of good ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s Not Just About Veggies I know lots of people think that…
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Oh No, Not Carrots Again!
One day I was in the middle of making dinner when I realized I was preparing carrots and broccoli. That shouldn’t sound too alarming. After all, they’re good for us. However, the scary thing was I’d served those same two vegetables almost every night that week. I only hoped that no one else had noticed how repetitious dinner had become. It’s all too easy to fall into a routine of cooking the same foods and making familiar dishes that we could throw together while wearing a blindfold. And nothing shouts budget food more than serving the same old, same old, over and over again. My epiphany that day made me…
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Why Should Budget Smart Cooks Love Their Veggies?
Well, actually everyone should love eating vegetables, but for those of us who watch the pennies, veggies offer great value. They pack lots of nutrition and can even help you stretch your food dollar. Here are some other reasons to love veggies. You Can Always Find Them at the Store Okay, some vegetables aren’t available year round, but stop by any produce department and you’ll always find items to make a low cost meal. Things like broccoli, mushrooms, peapods, peppers…all the basics for a stir-fry. And if you’re using beef, chicken or shrimp in that stir- fry, use less of these items and simply double up on the vegetables. I’m…
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