Tasty Thursday: Lazy Bread

A few of my food allergies are often induced by an unsuspected piece of bread.  Lately most store bought (even bakery) breads contain my two deadly ingredients: soy (flour) and corn syrup.

So to avoid the choking that comes with my throat swelling up or the red and swollen skin, I make my own bread.

This is a recipe a friend shared with me while we were bored in church (shhhhh).  It has been the best bread ever and takes out the step I hate in bread making: kneading.

Lazy Bread

3 cups all pourpose flour

1/4 tsp yeast

1-1/2 tsp salt

1-1/2 cups cold water

Mix ingredients together (yup, no blooming the yeast!) and let the dough rest in an oiled bowl 12-18 hours

covered with Saran wrap.

Then fold it over twice in both directions, and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Place in a well floured tea towel for 2 hours (I put mine in a bread basket to get the lines)

Heat a large pizza stone in the oven for an hour at 500 degrees.

Reduce the temp to 450 degrees.  Place bread in the middle of the stone - be sure not to adjust the after it touches the stone or you'll have a mess.  Cover it lightly with a piece of foil and bake for 30 min.  Remove the foil and bake another 15-30 uncovered.

Let it cool on a rack for about an hour.  The crust is crusty and the crumb is silky and chewy.  It's amazing!!!

TASTY THURSDAY: Veggie Soup = Summer Ready

I know that I've been MIA the last few days, but I've had a horrible flu, turned pneumonia...in MAY!! Thank you to the gentleman coughing on my last flight and the extra three hour layover in the Vegas airport. But enough of the shout outs... :)

So as I'm lying on my couch, watching some Bridget Jones Diary and thinking about the beautiful weather outside and my plans to soon be in a bathing suit, my sister sent me this delicious recipe. Not only did it help "heal" me (just like mama's chicken noodle soup did when I was little), it also helped with my bikini readiness goals. This is going to be my summer go-to recipe (cook up a big pot on Sunday and enjoy the rest of the week). Feel free to add in any other veggies that you enjoy or swap out some of these for your faves. ENJOY and feel guilt-free and summer-ready!

Anytime Vegetable Soup
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
• Olive oil cooking spray
• ½ cup onions, chopped
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 cup spinach or cabbage, sliced thin
• ½ cup broccoli
• 1 32-oz box fat-free, reduced sodium chicken stock
• 1 15-oz can diced or crushed tomatoes
• Pepper and parsley to garnish

Instructions:
1. Spray a saucepan with cooking spray and heat on medium.
2. Add onion, garlic, celery, carrots, spinach and broccoli, and sauté for a few minutes until they soften.
3. Add broth, tomatoes, pepper and parsley, and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked. 

Dry Shampoo

Hi all!!!  It's been ages since I officially posted (there are some in draft and hoping to find time to finish them soon!). Good news is that replacing my own iphone screen worked!   And I have a whole lot to tell about how to (or not to) drive across the country on a budget!  

I'm on the train but I HAD TO SHARE!!!!  We've all seen the make-your-own dry shampoo pin on Pinterest.   I thought, but then you have to glop it all over your hair, probably doesn't work as well, etc. etc. So I clung tightly to my can of Batiste dry shampoo --- a product Tara and I both use A LOT (shhhhh don't tell).  She, of course, uses the untinted for her lovely blonde hair and I use the dark tinted for my long brunette hair.

Well, I'm in the process of moving/unpacking and I couldn't find my Batiste ANYWHERE!!! And ladies, I was desperate.   So I grabbed some random shower powder (couldn't find cornstarch in the house --- probs 'cause I'm allergic!) and my cocoa powder and put approximately 50/50 of each into a tiny bathroom Dixie cup. 

I took the powder brush that I hate using out of my cosmetic bag, swirled them together, and started dabbing at my "roots" (I have natural hair y'all - though Joey is on standby for when those greys show up) and while I ran to find a brush amidst half-unpacked -- really just ravished - boxes it had soaked up all the nasty bedhead oils.   It brushed out well with my hair flipped over the sink, nothing on my clothes, and I LOVE the reddish brown highlights it left from the cocoa powder.  And ladies!  I get a wiff of chocolate every so often --- instant mood lift!  

My hair is soft and fluffy again!

So guys for less than a can, you could make a quart of this stuff to have on standby.  Or just tuck it away for when you're in a pinch.  But I have to say, I liked the direct control of the powder brush application than the random shots from the spray can.   I might be converted --- I'll let you know how it holds up through the day!  A win! Transferring $8 (cost of a new can) to my rainy day fund to celebrate!!! 

UPDATE:  I'm on the train home, my makeup and hair are still in full force!!!  I think it may be my fave!!!

Tasty Thursday: Parmesan Tomato Bites

So on my recent trip to Texas, I had an amazing meal at this restaurant and since that time all I can think about is this fresh tomato appetizer. It's a fresh tomato with parmesan cheese topping - how can you go wrong?! It's delicious! I found this recipe on Pinterest, which is very similar. ENJOY TASTY THURSDAY!! :)

Parmesan Tomato Bites:

2 Tomatoes, sliced
1 1/2 oz Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp oregano, dried
1 dash Salt
1 dash Black Pepper
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 F.
Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into approximately 1/3-inch slices.
Place them on a baking sheet. Top with shredded Parmesan, fresh oregano, salt and fresh ground pepper (season according to your taste).
Drizzle with some olive oil and bake until tomatoes are tender and the cheese is melted, for about 10-15 minutes.

Simple Travel Tip...

So today my post will be just a simple traveling tip (because I'm traveling right now and am kicking myself for not following my own tip).

                                                                     Beach Bag Savings

This is pretty simple, but sometimes it's the most simple things that escape us. Here's my tip: pack an empty beach bag in your suitcase. That's it...simple and clear. Every time I'm on a trip, there is inevitably a time where I just need a small bag to carry an extra change of shoes or clothes or actual beachwear or books, etc. And inevitably I forget to pack one so I end up buying one from the airport or somewhere equally expensive. This trip, I've had numerous "wardrobe" changes, as I've gone from work functions to the pool to the mall and back to work. I actually haven't had a chance to stop anywhere so I've been carrying my "extra clothes" in a plastic laundry bag from the hotel...Klassy.

Save yourself the cost and the headache and take this as a reminder. In fact, go put one in your suitcase RIGHT now - that's exactly what I'm going to do when I get home...with my 20th bag.

Saving: 10 Tips From Mom

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, we decided to focus our posts today on the wonderful ways our mothers were able to save and still take care of all of us!

1) TUNA:  There is always a fresh container of tuna salad in the fridge.  Mom buys tuna in bulk when it's on sale.  Always solid, never chunk "because you get more".  Last week she called to tell me she was able to get 8 cans for $6 at Wegman's.   For cents per sandwich she keeps lunch on the budget low.

2) FARM & FLEA MARKETS: From the time I was little, Saturdays meant farm markets.  We would drive into

Trenton, go to Halo Farm to get milk (like 20 cartons that she would freeze and pull out as needed) and then head over to the farm market and pick up fruits and veggies by the bushel.  We were so well behaved because we wanted the ultimate treat - fresh German bologna with fresh rolls that we would tear into and make sandwiches in the car on the way home.  Early Saturday morning we would bundle up and head to Columbus Market or Englishtown.  Here we would buy more produce, spices, our slap and charm bracelets, pogs, and trolls.  

3) REPAIR:  repair repair repair.  Shoes are taken to a cobbler, clothes are mended or altered, furniture reupholstered, crazy glue is well used, and some items are taken apart for parts.  Anything with any use left will be brought back to life or repurposed.

4) FRESH BREAD:  If mom could live off of bread and butter she would.  Sundays meant a fresh loaf of white bread that we devoured with our meal.  When we were old enough to ask for a recipe, we found out the secret -- frozen dough from the grocery store.  We still go crazy for it.

5) WOOD BURNING STOVE:  Mom's rundown of the day always includes gathering, splitting, or bringing in wood.  The house has two wood burning stoves that she keeps going in the winter to reduce their heating costs. Living in a wooded area means that the wood is free for those willing to put in the work, which she does every day.  

6) KNOW PRICES:  Mom knows the regular price of items she buys often at 4 different stores.  When there's a sale, she stocks up.  The cellar is a mini grocery store holding every sale she came upon.  There's always backup "downstairs".

7) GAS: She applies the same method to petrol.  She knows which station has the best prices on what days and will plan her trips to be in those areas when she's running low.

8) DOLLAR STORE: Mom makes good use of the Dollar Store by our house.  She tells them which products she's excited they have, and she makes sure she can't get it less anywhere else.  

9) CARDS:  Mom is very good at making sure cards are sent out for birthdays and other occasions.  She plans ahead and gets the cards when the pharmacy is having a sale or even the dollar store.  With 22+ grandchildren every holiday and birthday adds up quickly.

10) GRATITUDE:  My mother's biggest saving tip is gratitude.  Everything she has she treasures.  Every flower in the garden is cared for, every fresh tomato from the garden savored, every gift is treasured, and every penny shined.  Her enthusiasm for the small beauties of the world are contagious.  She gives wherever she can.  We joke that she talks about the weather so much, but every ray of sunshine is like gold to her, and every rain is a gift to do something other than watering.  

Tasty Thursday: Zucchini Noodles

I know, you know.  But pasta is a great quick meal, inexpensive, can help clean out whatever veggies are about to turn, and most important, you can cook however much you need.  You don't have to cook an entire pound at once.

My newest favorite, and mostly because the season is opening up, are zucchini noodles.  That is, zucchini or even gray squash that are cut into shoe string noodles.  I realize that not everyone is a gadget nut (good on you!) and creating noodles with a spiral cutter would require a purchase, which is anti savings, but guess what?  You can do it with just a knife or a vegetable peeler depending on which shape you want your noodles.

I used about one zucchini per me.  

Whether you are using the spiral cutter for angel hair:

or ribbons:

Or if you are using a peeler for fetteccini

Or a knife for 'macaroni' 

Zucchini noodles will hold your sauce, add fiber to your diet, and for the gluten free eaters out there, make one less thing that leaves you out of the fun!

One small zucchini is enough for me.  It makes just over a cup of "pasta".  I bought three this week at my local natural foods store at $0.88 per lb.  The three cost me $0.75, which works out to $0.25 per serving.

Using the fettuccini style, made from the peeled ribbons made with a potato peeler:

There are some who discard the skin peelings, but I love the color they add.  Of course, make sure they are well washed before peeling:

Set a pot of water to boil.  Since there's no gluten it's not necessary to fire up the pasta pot.  A sauce pan works well when cooking enough for one!  

Once the water comes to a rolling boil, salt the water and add the noodles.

After about 2 minutes the noodles will brighten and will be ready to drain.  

Drain the noodles and place the cooked noodles in a bowl.

If I was able to find Pomi crushed tomatoes on sale, or fresh tomatoes, I would make my simple tomato sauce with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, and lemon zest.  But summer is still a bit away.  

I LOVE Costco's pesto sauce.  I use it on so many things, but best of all, it makes a quick sauce coming out of winter months when homemade pesto is gone.  A bottle costs about $8 but this bottle has lasted me 4 months.  A little goes a long way.

I stir in a tablespoon and add a handful of cashews on top.  

Enjoy!

TIP:  Buy fruits and veggies in their season.  They will cost less and taste better!  

Tasty Thursday: No Bake Cookies = Cookie in a Cup = Heaven

Happy Tasty Thursday!! So today my post will be a delicious recipe (because it's Tasty Thursday) and a tip on how to make a smaller version for individual portions.

NO BAKE COOKIES (or as my family calls them...Buffalo Chip Cookies):

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

2/3 cup cocoa

2 cups oats

Heat butter in a saucepan while adding sugar. Stir in milk and bring to a boil. Add in cocoa and stir until cocoa has dissolved. Take off heat and add in oats. You can also add a few chocolate chips for extra chocolatey flavor. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool.

COOKIE-IN-A-CUP:

Same recipe as above! This is the perfect variation if you just want a small treat, rather than the temptation of a tray of cookies.

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup cocoa

1 cup oats

Mix the same way as above - spoon into a mug and add a few chocolate chips to  the top. Makes two mugs full. 

Cracked iPhone Screen

In February, just returning from an amazing trip to Hawaii that I shouldn't have taken while living as a full-time student (that is the last vacation I will book nearly a year in advance - life happens y'all), I dropped my iPhone 5 in my brother's driveway and 4 long cracks ran the length of the screen.  Fortunately the incident did not affect the functionality of the phone.  I looked into the costs of having it fixed or the phone replaced or adding another line to my plan to get another phone, but found the best option was just to wait until the new ones come out when my contract is up in September.

Well, three days ago when getting off the couch to go to bed after watching another stellar Jimmy Fallon Tonight Show, the phone dropped --- all of about 18 inches to the ground, creating more cracks, some shards, and actual lift of the screen from the top (and as you will see, the top of the screen is not supposed to lift like that).

While I could see most of the screen, every effort to type was followed by never ending D's and x's, apps I didn't want to open opened, and people I didn't want called were called.

I decided to research how to replace the glass myself.  After several YouTube videos, I had a better understanding of how my phone worked and figured out that the lift on my screen was due to shards that were trapped behind the glass.  I carefully fished those out with a toothpick and was able to get the glass back into the parameters of the casing.

Remember the tape from the last post?  It's currently holding the glass in place and is surprisingly effective as a screen cover.

Amazon sells several options for replacement screens.  Don't buy the glass only versions unless you have magic powers!  Buy the glass & digitizer component. These run in the $30-$40 range.  The kits with tools and such run around $80.  If you decide to buy components separately, you can buy the tools  for about $1 including shipping.  As a side: The only tool that would not readily be replaced by regular household items is the proprietary screwdriver for the star shaped screws on the bottom of the iphone (kinda important).

While the tape is securing the screen, I do need to replace it as functionality is finicky and I've accidentally dialed too many people. The tape, however, has made it possible to exist for a week or so while the parts are shipped.   Having never done this before, and since I believe that when a company really helps you out (like when the local camera shop answers all of your questions and spends their time with you) you should buy from them. I am purchasing the discounted kit from iCracked.  iCracked offers a 99 year warranty on the screen's functionality.

The greatest benefit to repairing my phone?  In my research I found that I'm not excited about the new plans my longtime provider has laid out.  I love my current plan.  If the screen replacement is successful, I will be holding onto this phone for as long as possible - savings:  $299 - $79= $220.

Here are links to the videos I found most helpful:

iCracked

http://youtu.be/aurnPPsDVUE

JerryRigEverything

http://youtu.be/qvsLjaW2Qbo

I will make a video of my own attempt to repair the glass on my phone, mostly so you can laugh at me as I struggle! (Especially because I'll be using a broken screen!)  Stay tuned!!!

TIP:  When something breaks, take the time to research your options, even if they are only temporary or less than ideal.  Let a few days go by so that the reality of going without the item can be assessed fully.   Generally we are okay without things as long as we get food and water regularly. 

Extreme Saving - Gift Cards

My sister in Chicago called me, excited about our new blog.  She started telling me different stories she watched on Extreme Cheapskates.  As she talked about reusable toilet paper, dumpster divers, and ovenless apartments, I begged her to stop me if I ever get "that far."  After discussing the notable environmental impacts and the thrill of "the game" it was  a little less scary.

And then I needed tape.

In a 2011 Wall Street Journal Blog Post, they estimated that from 2005-2011 $41 Billion in gift cards went unspent because they were lost or never used.  In my wallet alone (and there are more in a drawer) I have the following low balance cards:

$3.07 on a visa card
$10.00 on two $5 Starbucks gift cards
$15.00 to World Market
$16.04 to Best Buy from a return I made late

I decided to play a little game and see if I could get my tape and knock out the visa gift card.  I knew there was a dollar store in the strip mall down the street, I thought the dollar store would have the modest amount of tape I was looking for.

Unfortunately they did not.

I walked next door to the bargain grocery store to see if they had a roll to spare.  They had plenty in stock at $8.50 a roll.  I passed (I could have gotten a 6 pack at Costco pack for that) I decided to walk in the other direction and hit up the Big Lots on the end.  

They had the same large roll from the grocery store listed for $3.50.  A big "savings" but really not a great deal as $3.50 is an average price for a roll of packing tape.  On the lower shelves, far below eye level there were smaller rolls of the same Scotch brand packing tape for $1.25.  One was not going to be enough, but with two, (which totalled more yardage than the larger roll) I got more tape for $1.00 less. 

Normally when I walk into a store I "feel silly" JUST getting one item, so I'll spend on average 15-20 minutes roaming the isles for stuff I MIGHT use.  But, with new resolve I took my two lonely rolls of tape straight to the counter and checked out for $2.67 which will tape 40 moving boxes!

What's even better, I accomplished my goal and was able to get more of a balance off of that gift card!  And since I had only to park once, there was no petrol lost by shopping around.  And best part?  I put the $1 I saved by shopping around directly into my savings account.

I was so excited.  I quickly realized why people get so deep in the game of saving.  I hope, however, that someone will pull me back if I start to use reusable toilet paper!  We all have our limits!

Got a gift card that you will not use ever ever ever?  Try selling it on sites like eBay or giftcardgranny.com.  These sites are where buyers go to find discounted gift cards.  So plan on selling them for 2-5% less than the face value.  Also, did you know that if you have a store gift card with a balance under $10, you can ask for the balance in cash and they have to give it to you?  Even more incentive to spend under that card limit!

TIP:  Don't let money on gift cards get lost or go unused! In the process, do not accept a bad offer!  Know the average market price and aim to find a better deal.  Finally, when you save on something actually move that savings into your savings account so that those savings can grow, no matter how small.

The Freedom to...TRAVEL

Recently, I went on a weekend getaway for my birthday - we headed to a new area in Las Vegas, called Lake Las Vegas (I HIGHLY recommend it) - it is AMAZING!! Anyways, the price for a 4-star hotel was around $200/night - we were trying to stay under $600 for the 4-day trip. So here is one of my favorite saving tips (which I have been an advocate of for years). PRICELINE...

Westin Lake Las Vegas

4-Star for $65/night

Priceline is a site that I refuse to travel without. In fact, I should be paid for the kind of advertising I give to them - from telling co-workers during lunch, people standing in front of me in long grocery lines, random runners on the treadmill next to me at the gym...the WORD has to be spread!! You can get a 4-star hotel room in NYC or Las Vegas or even Cheyenne, WY (do they have 4-stars? Haha!) for a fraction of the cost that you would spend on a lower-star, much less impressive hotel. Priceline gives you the freedom to travel!! I'm constantly skipping town (and work...just kidding...well maybe not) to take a random road trip or to fly to the beach and the only way that I can do that...while still being on a monthly budget is to forgo the extra shopping trip that month...AND...use Priceline to book my hotels!

TIP: Make sure you know where you would like to stay (approximate vicinity) and ALWAYS use the "Name Your Own Price" tab. This gives you the option to bid for a hotel room, based on star rating and location - you can get up to 60% off any hotel. The one trick is that you won't know which hotel you're getting, but let's be honest a 4-star is going to nice regardless if it's a Marriott or a Westin. Also, it doesn't matter if you bid a month out or the day of - I've gotten great deals doing either one. 

Bottom line, is that even though you're traveling and spending extra money, you can always be smart about it and save money for other things while on your trip. Let Freedom Ring!!

The Goal: Rainy Day Fund

It occurred to me that while we have embarked on the adventure of saving every day, we have not set forth our goals.  Tara's are slightly different but here are mine:

1) 6 months of expenses in a liquid account

2) Debt free in 32 months

3) Happy investments growing at 14%+

4) A downpayment on a house (around 50%)

5) Work on a cash only basis.

6) Find meaningful ways to give

7) De-clutter all aspects of my life

8) Gain mastery in the few areas I choose to focus

9) Establish significant drip income from royalties

10) Live Happily Ever After

Over the course of the next few weeks I will outline how I intend to tackle each.

Last summer I suddenly became very ill.  After weeks of various doctor consults to try and find the source of the problem, the one who did could not get me into the OR for another month.  I had used up all of my PTO flying back and forth for my father's surgeries earlier in the year, and had to go on family leave, which ended up being a joke with the company I worked with at the time.  Out of 5 weeks of full time and 2 weeks of part time work that I was out, they only paid 1 week of medical leave.

In addition, I was on narcotic pain killers for that whole time, which made my access to Amazon very dangerous.  Housebound and uninhibited by my normal sense of self, I racked up a few thousand dollars on my Amex for things like the perfect recovery outfits and Groupon purchases for all the golf I was going to play once it was all over.

I had a couple thousand in my savings, but not the $5-10K I needed to get through those 2.5 months.

The first key to figuring out how much to put away in an effort to be prepared for the unexpected, is to figure out what are my monthly expenses.  Crazy, I know.  But I have no idea what I spend in a month or on what.  When I'm most at peace about my finances, I am actively using Mint.com and the app for my iPhone.  Mint gathers all of your spending from your bank accounts, credit cards, etc, and based on where you make your purchases will pre-categorize them, and then you have the ability to go back and edit those categories.  They then populate charts and graphs so you can see what percentage of your spending goes to what.

I know what my big bills are, but I really don't pay attention to what I'm using my discretionary funds for.  The management of my discretionary funds, and the cease and desist of credit use, are where I'm going to find opportunities to put away for a rainy day.

I realize that looking at everything can be scary. But it's only scary because it's the mess of the past!!! Your future is bright!  So figure out just how bright it is going to be!!!

My objective is to put away at least $20,000 in my rainy day fund.  

Let me first define what a "rainy day" means to me, a single lady on my own.  1) the inability to sustain employment or steady income through illness or family emergency  2) a natural disaster where you are put into survival mode  3) when you find yourself eating the canned soup with a questionable date from your food storage.

A rainy day is not the Coach Bag that I love and HAVE TO HAVE.  It is not the vacation that would be so needed FOR MY HEALTH.  And it most definitely is not for the new golf clubs that would make my game SO MUCH BETTER.  --- I am guilty, by the way, of every single one of these breaches of the rainy day fund.

The rainy day fund needs to be somewhere that I can quickly get to it in an emergency.  It should be in an account that earns some interest, doesn't have withdrawal restrictions, and can be gotten to same day.  I will also state, that I believe in having cold hard cash stashed in the house for those truly life and death situations.

While searching the internet for institutions that offer these types of accounts can work, there are products that banks do not advertise.  Have a conversation.  Make your goals known.  I don't know of a bank that isn't happy to hear that you are planning to stash and add to a significant chunk of cash in their bank for the long term.

The number I listed above will have to be revisited and revised every 6 months to make sure that it truly will cover not only my normal expenses, but be sufficient to cover any insurance deductibles, medical costs beyond insurance, and even interviewing/wardrobe expenses in the event it's loss of employment.

Through the upcoming weeks and months, I will share ways that I have found to put cash in my rainy day fund, but I want to hear what you have discovered!  It helps to feel like we're all in this together, so please share your ideas in comments below!

TIP:  Use Quickbooks or Mint.com or a similar program (even pencil and paper and that handy arithmetic) to itemize your monthly expenses.  (and IGNORE the credit card offers on MINT!!!!!!).   Identify areas that you can go without or reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Start stashing away the amounts that you would have spent on these things in a liquid, interest bearing account.   

Stuffed Bread

I was one of the last to get on the Pinterest bandwagon.  I knew it would consume me so I put it off as long as possible (as in I just joined just a few weeks ago).  While I have copious boards detailing every corner of the house I plan to DIY from scratch, I have found an amazing wealth of new recipes that fit my diet needs.

I am not a professed vegetarian or vegan, but I mostly eat vegetarian or vegan dishes.  Meat and I get along on an as needed basis.  I have several severe food allergies and a handful of intolerances so I'm hoping I can show you how to still eat fabulously on a budget!!!

This recipe was a brilliant Pinterest find.  The original recipe can be found here:

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Acharuli-Khachapuri-Cheese-and-Egg-Bread

I have to be careful with the amount of dairy and eggs I consume so this is my take (based on what I had in my pantry).  If you want it cheesier, add more ooey gooey cheese!!!  I've been even more in love with this the day after when it's cold.  The key is that the dough recipe is spot on.

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 tsp rapid rise yeast

2/3 cup water (115 degrees)

1/4 tsp sugar

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil (and more for  coating the bowl)

1 1/4 cups bread flour (I had it on hand so I used it.  They used AP)

1 tsp sea salt (they used kosher, but sea salt has natural iodine which I severely lack)

Filling:

1/4 cup Feta cheese

1/2 cup frozen spinach (thawed and drained)

1 handful marcona almonds chopped 

1/4 cup fresh Parmesan 

2 Tbsp chopped white onion (or 1TBSP of dried)

1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic 

1/2 tsp rosemary chopped

1 TBSP olive oil

Sea salt & ground pepper to taste

Start by heating the oven to 500 degrees with a pizza stone (I used two small stones) in from the beginning.  Turn the oven on before you mix the dough.  It will be heated perfectly by the time the dough rises and is ready to go.  (About an hour)

Add yeast, sugar, and water to a bowl or stand mixer bowl.  Let it bloom for 10-15 minutes.  Add the flour, salt, and olive oil,  mixing with a wooden spoon or the dough hook of your mixer (on 4) until incorporated.  Lower the speed, you don't want to over work the dough.  Add flour if needed, or water if needed, depending on your climate, until the dough is a little wetter than satiny (sticky but not oatmeal).

Take the dough out, oil your bowl (don't fret about dough pieces left) and put the dough back in.  Lightly oil the dough and set a piece of siran wrap over it.  Let it rise in a warm place (I just set mine on top of the pre-heating oven) for 45 min.

In a small/medium bowl toss in all the filling ingredients and mix until everything is evenly distributed.  (Side note: use what you have on hand, change up the cheeses, veggies, or the nuts!)  Let them marry together while you watch an episode of Suits! 

When the 45 min is up, divide the dough into two halves.  Press each into a circle on a lightly sprayed surface or a bit of parchment.  Put 1/4 of the filling in the center of each.  Roll up the two sides of the circle like a scroll until you get to the majority of the filling (sides should be about 2-3 inches apart).  Pinch the ends together and tuck them into the "bowl" a bit so you have a boat shape.  Once both loaves are formed, top them off with the rest of the filling and a splash of olive oil.

Quickly and carefully place them on the pizza stone in the oven, making sure not to adjust them once they touch.

Bake for 18 minutes at 500 degrees.

Let them cool, and enjoy!  I can usually eat about half of one in a sitting.  But the best part is, they are fabulous leftover!  Be the girl bringing the artisan stuffed bread for lunch at work!  

PS for those gluten free readers - stay tuned!  With several gluten intolerant family members, I have some fan favorite recipes that I love myself.  

Potato Soup...

So from here on out, Maggie and I are going to post various recipes every Thursday and ways to save money through cooking at home - forever known as TASTY THURSDAY. Going forward, we will share our ideas on cooking with minimal ingredients and using recipes for more than one meal - perfect way for a single gal to save money. Like Maggie said in the beginning, we have different perspectives, but both have a love of cooking and have found ways to save in the process.



Let the first TASTY THURSDAY begin...

The other day, we had a random cold, rainy day, one of those days where you feel like it's instantly Fall and you should be getting ready for Halloween - but it's actually April. The kind of day that you have to make soup - it's an unwritten rule. So I wanted to share my new found and slightly altered recipe because it's AMAZING!! AND...it makes enough to last a week of meals. I know it sounds simple and possibly boring, but this isn't your normal potato soup...this is dinner every night for a week and an occasional lunch. This is the kind of soup that you make meals around - this is another Sunday afternoon experiment that turned out wildly successful. I have paired it with a yummy cobb salad, packed it for lunch, added chicken to it for a meal in-and-of itself and had it as an appetizer to a BBQ chicken and salad dinner. Plus, let's be honest,  you can always cook up a yummy grilled cheese to pair with it for any meal.

TIP: Prepare one to two dishes every week (I like to cook on Sundays - we'll talk more about that later) to eat throughout the week. If you're like me and are thinking, "But I hate leftovers" - choose things to cook that you don't mind eating again. I used to hate reheating meat or rice or eating a leftover salad with dressing on it so I've found that I just make a sauce (spaghetti, alfredo, etc.) that can be added to fresh noodles or salad the night you eat it. Soups are another good choice (like this AMAZING one) or dishes that can be paired with many different options throughout the week so that you don't get tired of eating the same thing. Here are a few suggestions (I'll post my recipes for these items throughout the month of May): chicken enchiladas, potato soup, chicken tortilla soup, spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce and tuna salad to just name a few. In addition, I always keep items on hand to make a yummy Cobb or Greek salad to add some freshness to any meal. As my mama always says, "You gotta get your greens!"

RECIPE: LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP (adapted from this recipe)

http://damndelicious.net/2013/10/14/loaded-baked-potato-soup/ 

5T butter (salted)

1/4 cup flour

4 cups whole milk (you can also use heavy cream, but I prefer Whole Milk)

2 cups shredded cheese (I used Swiss and Sharp Cheddar - feel free to experiment)

15 oz. chicken broth

Basil and Celery Salt and Salt and Pepper to taste

4 Large red potatoes (I keep the skins on - cut into chunks) - feel free to add more for a thicker soup

1 white onion

1 container mushrooms

Garnish: 

Bacon

Chives

Sour Cream

• Melt butter in a large stockpot or saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and chicken broth, and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. 
• While butter mixture is cooking, sautee mushrooms and onions in a skillet over medium heat - you can use butter or olive oil. 
• Stir in potatoes and sauteed mushrooms and onion to butter/broth mixture. 
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Stir in cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper, to taste. If the soup is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.
• Serve immediately, garnished with green onion, cheese and bacon, if desired. 
• ENJOY!!!