tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63357182323832475322023-11-16T04:47:36.725-06:00Thirty and ThriftyThrifty: 1. practicing or showing thrift; economical; provident 2. thriving; flourishing; prospering.
Thrifty implies industry and clever management of one's money or resources, usually so as to result in some savings.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-16982832531184812072012-03-05T18:39:00.000-06:002012-03-05T18:39:06.927-06:00Thrifty Recipe- Meatiest Vegetarian ChiliMy husband and I are not "tofu people." We love a good steak, pulled pork, chicken, you name it. Until the past two weeks or so, I had only purchased tofu once, and that was to cube and put in a crock pot soup recipe. However, several factors have led me to begin to integrate it into our diet:<br />
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My dear friend Kimberly's blog, <a href="http://www.learntocookbadgergirl.com/">Badger Girl Learns to Cook</a>, often mentions the virtues of tofu and other meat-free, clean eating meal alternatives. She wore me down! :)<br />
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We are adventurous eaters, and I always like to try cooking new things, so tofu seemed like a fun new challenge. It is also very quick to prepare.<br />
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Tofu is a very reasonably-priced protein. I've been getting two packages of extra firm organic tofu for $5 at my new favorite store, <a href="http://www.sunflowermarkets.com/Default.aspx">Sunflower Market</a>. Have I mentioned how I am slightly obsessed with this grocery store? Ever since I started shopping there, I have found myself eating so many more fresh fruits and vegetables because their produce selection is amazing and very reasonably-priced. I see the store as a combination of the best parts of Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Aldi.<br />
<img height="77px" src="http://sunflowermarkets.gsngrocers.com/production/Images/logos/sunflower_logo_cigar_740.jpg" width="320px" /><br />
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Anyway, here is the recipe. The version on allrecipes.com was for eight servings. I edited to make a half-recipe and made a few other tweaks as well. It turned out great. A good level of spice, and the tofu pieces stayed together and worked well with the bell peppers, onion, and beans. Even better, our two year old devoured two bowls.<br />
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<strong>Meatiest Vegetarian Chili</strong><br />
From <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/meatiest-vegetarian-chili-from-your-slow-cooker/">allrecipes.com</a><br />
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<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
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1/3 cup olive oil<br />
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1 large white onion, chopped<br />
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1 each green, yellow, and red bell peppers, seeded and chopped<br />
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2 cloves garlic, minced<br />
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1 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cubed<br />
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2 (15.5 ounce) cans black beans, drained<br />
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1 (15 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes<br />
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1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
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1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br />
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1 teaspoon ground cumin<br />
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3 tablespoons chili powder<br />
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1 tablespoon dried oregano<br />
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1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar<br />
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1 tablespoon liquid hot pepper sauce, such as Green Tobasco<br />
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<strong>Directions</strong><br />
1. Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until they start to become soft. Add the bell peppers; cook and stir until vegetables are lightly browned and tender, the whole process should take about 10 minutes. Lower heat and stir in garlic for about 30 seconds, then remove pan from heat.<br />
2. Meanwhile in a seperate pan, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat and add cubed tofu, turn and flip tofu until golden brown on each side.<br />
3. Pour the black beans into the slow cooker and set to Low. Stir in the vegetables, tofu, and tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, oregano, vinegar and hot pepper sauce. Stir gently and cover. Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-39219824067859643352012-02-09T16:03:00.000-06:002012-02-09T16:03:57.013-06:00A Fun and Thrifty 2nd BirthdayLast week was our daughter Autumn's second birthday. Wow, how time flies- she is getting to be such a big girl already. We had some family in town so I planned a lunch-time birthday celebration. After a few years of going Dollar Tree for party supplies, their offerings just didn't do it for me. I took Autumn to the Target party supply aisle and gave her some choices. She picked a fun plate with zoo animals on it- once she saw the hippo she was hooked. This played into my plan since one of her gifts from us was a stuffed hippo. I couldn't bring myself to spend $3.50 for a plain plastic tablecloth so it was back to the dollar store for a purple one- her current favorite color. I also grabbed a Happy Birthday banner to use to decorate the table.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoyPtf9i_oz7xEy_d_dJ-BVE7RzLnjXl8xVZfEIue_ChwvZJSOeinG-DvrZdqOqbmGKTxUnxWU3wJwOeR0UmmaqxfUbvd72WZM4yhkB_wrmyqwnl05DPMZenuxLFvZa-pKBW-_H2wcpg/s1600/DSC_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoyPtf9i_oz7xEy_d_dJ-BVE7RzLnjXl8xVZfEIue_ChwvZJSOeinG-DvrZdqOqbmGKTxUnxWU3wJwOeR0UmmaqxfUbvd72WZM4yhkB_wrmyqwnl05DPMZenuxLFvZa-pKBW-_H2wcpg/s320/DSC_0471.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
You may notice stickers on the tablecloth. I let her pick out three types of stickers- she went with animals, party hats/cakes, and Elmo. Throughout the week we would sit at the table and she would get to decide where the stickers went, decorating her own tablecloth! It was a cool way to involve her in the birthday preparations.<br />
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Next I had to figure out the cake. I held up a box of yellow cake mix and a box of chocolate cake mix and thank goodness she went with chocolate- that's my girl! Autumn got to help bake her cake, too. Cream cheese frosting is great on anything in my opinion, so I whipped up a batch from scratch to top the cake. She had also picked out some colored star candles so I added them to the number 2 candle I had already found. (Side note- we now live at 6000 feet and yes, baking at altitude is different. Even though we followed the high altitude directions the cake ballooned up in the middle and then collapsed! I tried to cover it as best I could with the frosting.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWZ9kbx5TwHUKsTvpDGC8RqIeB_-G63FdOua7ktkqfd8MhzEREL1Hw2iJLkz4uL2KnTBNdgeWoJ54g7QblLA6mmRPiNHTHzZamfhXOs84kkY-uyu0ph4oT1udBygtPqod4Ru4drXScXA/s1600/DSC_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWZ9kbx5TwHUKsTvpDGC8RqIeB_-G63FdOua7ktkqfd8MhzEREL1Hw2iJLkz4uL2KnTBNdgeWoJ54g7QblLA6mmRPiNHTHzZamfhXOs84kkY-uyu0ph4oT1udBygtPqod4Ru4drXScXA/s320/DSC_0539.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
It was a fun and festive celebration, Autumn really seemed to enjoy herself, and we even got a dusting of snow on her birthday morning for her to play in- maybe it reminded her of Minnesota.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa_XmInY5MObnSrnar8KjDRv43nABXT_Med5pO4Y_tKdV6mcq-lZtXf5Ruo14okkEEWTUPk-ecohNmPTsvNNds8vwonOrdKnRFjjCuHi_6AwdFe1N0QYg-mmtQRdkYrUBPw29d5zBc2o/s1600/DSC_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa_XmInY5MObnSrnar8KjDRv43nABXT_Med5pO4Y_tKdV6mcq-lZtXf5Ruo14okkEEWTUPk-ecohNmPTsvNNds8vwonOrdKnRFjjCuHi_6AwdFe1N0QYg-mmtQRdkYrUBPw29d5zBc2o/s320/DSC_0496.JPG" width="214px" /></a></div><br />
As a reminder, I recently started a new blog to document our process of moving from Minnesota to New Mexico and getting settled in. You can find it at <a href="http://www.mn2nm.blogspot.com/">http://www.mn2nm.blogspot.com/</a>.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-91745815681606922842012-01-30T15:50:00.000-06:002012-01-30T15:50:59.696-06:00Double blogger?I did it! As I mentioned <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2012/01/mn-to-nm.html">here</a>, I was thinking about starting new blog to document our move from Minnesota to New Mexico. Here's a link: <a href="http://mn2nm.blogspot.com/">MN2NM</a>. I guess I'm a double blogger now! Hoping to still do periodic posts here, but you will probably see more from me over there.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-63646181843823825232012-01-28T23:22:00.000-06:002012-01-28T23:22:26.359-06:00MN to NM?Wow, it's been awhile. We have been deep in the process of unpacking, organizing, and getting connected in our new home- Albuquerque. Things have been going great so far. People here are really friendly and we've been able to make a lot of connections. Having a toddler really helps with meeting people- you just go to a park and start talking to the parents of the other kids! The fact that the high has been at least 50 almost every day helps with the whole park thing. Back in Minnesota, we didn't really make it to the park from November through most of April because of the weather. Which brings me to the topic of my post:<br />
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I'm thinking of changing the focus of my blogging, and maybe just starting over at a new blog. This process of relocating/moving across the country and getting settled has taught me a bunch of lessons. And I continue to learn new things about our new hometown, the process of getting to know a new place, and the nitty gritty logistics of moving and making new friends. While being thrifty is still a big part of our daily life, this process of going from MN to NM and making it our home is a bigger focus right now.<br />
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So don't be surprised to see a new focus on this blog or maybe even a completely new blog taking its place! More to come.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-81806950726904277952012-01-10T11:00:00.000-06:002012-01-10T11:00:40.243-06:00Thrifty Recipe: Butternut squash stewI'm back to blogging! Now that we're kind of settled into our new (rental) home I made a great new recipe last night. It was super easy and my daughter was a fan because of the raisins and garbanzo beans. More posts on road trip/moving/etc soon. However, we don't have internet at our new home yet so it might be awhile.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Stew" class="photo" height="200px" src="http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/images/Wi/Butternut-Squash-Stew-thumb2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Women's Day website</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <strong>Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Stew</strong><br />
From <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/slow-cooker-butternut-squash-stew-recipe">Woman's Day Magazine</a><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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•1 can(s) (28-oz) whole tomatoes<br />
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• 1/2 cup(s) raisins<br />
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•2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin<br />
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•1 1/2 teaspoon(s) ground ginger<br />
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• 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon<br />
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• Kosher salt and pepper<br />
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•1 red onion, cut into ½-in. wedges<br />
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• 1/2 medium butternut squash, (about 1 lb), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-in. pieces (I used a bag of Archer Farms frozen squash from Target. Worked great)<br />
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•1 cup(s) couscous<br />
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• 1/4 cup(s) fresh cilantro, chopped<br />
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•1 can(s) (15-oz) chickpeas, rinsed<br />
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<strong>Directions</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
1.Place the tomatoes (and their juices) in a 5- to 6-qt slow cooker and break them up slightly. Add the raisins, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper and mix to combine.<br />
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2.Add the onion and squash and cook, covered, until squash is tender, 5 to 7 hours on low or 3 to 5 hours on high.<br />
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3.Ten minutes before serving, cook the couscous according to package directions; fold in the cilantro. Gently fold the chickpeas into the stew and cook, covered, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Serve over the couscous.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-52407071434319489492011-12-08T13:31:00.000-06:002011-12-08T13:31:09.570-06:00Almost ready to moveWe are still here in the Twin Cities. The moving van takes our stuff to Albuquerque (otherwise known as ABQ) on December 21. Hard to believe that by New Year's we will be in our new city and on January fifth we will move into our house there. For those who don't know, ABQ is known for a yearly hot air balloon festival. Here's a picture:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400px" id="il_fi" src="http://www.blog-city.info/en/img1/12536_972005Hot_air_balloons_Albuquerque-sm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="299px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blog-city.info/en/img1/12536_972005Hot_air_balloons_Albuquerque-sm.jpg">http://www.blog-city.info/en/img1/12536_972005Hot_air_balloons_Albuquerque-sm.jpg</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Meanwhile, the Christmas season is in full swing. Because of the timeline for our move and everything that has to be done, I got most Christmas-related stuff finished in November. It feels great to have the cards sent, presents bought and wrapped, etc.<br />
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A few of my past blog posts that are useful this time of year and some strategies that we've been using because of our upcoming move.<br />
- Take a look at <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/12/just-three-days-left-in-2010.html">this post</a> from last year. Now that the year is nearing the end, make sure you take care of any financial or tax-related to-do's before 2012 hits.<br />
- Love me some <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/11/shutterfly-thrifty-lifesaver.html">Shutterfly</a>. I've taken care of our cards and a gift or two, and saved some major money with their coupons.<br />
- Craigslist is our friend! (<a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/search/label/Craigslist">See all posts I've done about Craigslist here</a>) sold a few pieces of furniture and a chandelier in the past couple weeks. We've also bought three area rugs for our new home. The home in ABQ is all tile with no carpet, so we're basically collecting area rugs at this point.<br />
- We have hit the <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/06/finding-great-deals-on-furniture.html">Room and Board Outlet</a> recently to look for rugs and a couple other things for the place in ABQ. No purchases but it's fun to look.<br />
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In other news, we're almost at 4000 disposable diapers avoided by using cloth. Awesome.<br />
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Merry Christmas, next time I post it might be from ABQ!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-26629816034790192912011-10-27T08:42:00.002-05:002011-10-27T08:42:53.964-05:00Taking a blogging breakWe got some big news this week. My husband is being promoted/transferred for work. We have just over a month to move to Albuquerque New Mexico! In light of this, I am going to take a blogging sabbatical. If I come up with some thrifty moving tips, maybe I will share. However, my number one tip would be to get your employer to move you (as we are) so you don't have to deal with the cost/hassle of moving yourself!<br />
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Have a great month or two.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-62856791124550419242011-10-16T17:24:00.000-05:002011-10-16T17:24:04.522-05:00Thrifty Recipe: Cheesy cornbread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VKzddpF9IV-YwxFB09GGvzvyejkf7Lr6dtcIoPpe4W71i3K6GSnpXZ3f62RppyWe6G8EG6CBNZ1o3k5mw-69GNNPdIFG7JXB3qDp7l3QL0l5kkYunIB2-l2v5X5vSh6gtugpFTRnHkI/s1600/DSC_0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VKzddpF9IV-YwxFB09GGvzvyejkf7Lr6dtcIoPpe4W71i3K6GSnpXZ3f62RppyWe6G8EG6CBNZ1o3k5mw-69GNNPdIFG7JXB3qDp7l3QL0l5kkYunIB2-l2v5X5vSh6gtugpFTRnHkI/s320/DSC_0411.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Last week, I hosted about twelve people at my house for a chili dinner. I wanted to make cornbread to go with the chili, but wanted to make it a step-up from my usual square pan of Jiffy cornbread bars. After looking around online, I found several different ways to doctor up Jiffy cornbread. Here's the recipe I went with. It turned out great, nice and moist with bits of corn in it. My toddler daughter loved it. The recipe is super thrifty too- each package of cornbread is about 70 cents at Target, and the rest of the ingredients probably add up to a couple dollars. It filled a 9x13 pan. Several other recipes included chopped jalapenos or canned diced green chiles, I think I will try that next time.<br />
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<strong>Cheesy Cornbread</strong><br />
From <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/the-best-jiffy-cornbread-247394#ixzz1acmvgjIR">Food.com</a><br />
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Ingredients<br />
2 (8oz) boxes Jiffy cornbread mix<br />
2 eggs<br />
2/3 cup milk<br />
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (add more if you like your bread super cheesy)<br />
1 small can (8oz) creamed corn<br />
<br />
1. Combine cornbread mix with the eggs and milk. (these are the same amounts as are listed on the box directions)<br />
2. Stir in cheese and corn<br />
3. Pour into 9x13 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes (I ended up going for 30 minutes until it was a nice golden brown)Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-18554219822135701092011-10-14T14:52:00.000-05:002011-10-14T14:52:27.887-05:00You must see this play: The Burial at ThebesLast week, I was lucky enough to receive two free "blogger" tickets to the play <em><a href="http://www.guthrietheater.org/whats_happening/shows/2011/burial_thebes">The Burial at Thebes</a></em> at the <a href="http://www.guthrietheater.org/">Guthrie Theater</a>. As I wrote about <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/09/guthrie-theaters-much-ado-about-nothing.html">here</a>, I joined a blogger group run by the Guthrie and this was the second set of tickets they have given me. <br />
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Before we went to the show, I was able to take some time to explore the Guthrie website and read the background information on the play itself and on the details of how the Guthrie was performing it. The play is based on the ancient Greek tragedy <em>Antigone</em> by Sophocles. It tells the story of Antigone, one of the daughters of Oedipus, and how she went against the government (in this case, Creon, the father of her fiance) to give her brother Polyneices an honorable burial. She is punished for her transgression, setting off a series of devestating consequences for Creon. The playwright, Seamus Heaney, (who later won the Nobel Prize for Literature) wrote the play in the 1990's, and the modern language makes it very easy to follow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img id="lightboxImage" src="http://www.guthrietheater.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/popup/sites/default/files/_MSB5839.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 483px; z-index: 10500; zoom: 1;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephen Yoakam (Creon) and Ernest Bentley (Haemon) with Joseph Turner (Soldier) and T. Mychael Rambo (Chorus) in the Guthrie Theater's production of THE BURIAL AT THEBES, by Seamus Heaney, based upon Sophocles' <em>Antigone</em>. Directed by Marcela Lorca, composer J.D. Steele, set design by Monica Frawley, costume design by Elizabeth Caitlin Ward and lighting design by Christopher Akerlind. September 24 - November 6, 2011 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis. Photo by Michael Brosilow</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There are several factors that make this production can't miss: the first being the music that is interspersed throughout the show. Many Greek tragedies have a "chorus," and this show is no different. What is different is the quality of the music, an original score by composer J.D. Steele, and of the performers. The music and the chorus members are woven into the stories and add to the mood of each scene. Their five-part harmonies and movement add much to the dialogue. The second factor is the strong performance of the acting company, especially Stephen Yoakam as Creon. The pivitol scene near the end of the play, pictured above, was one of the most heart-wrenching moments in theatre that I have seen. I was literally holding back sobs as he unleashed a gluttural scream at the climax of the play. Fittingly, I felt <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis">catharsis</a> as the lights went up.<br />
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How can you tell that this thrifty blogger enjoyed the play? I'm going to see it again, and will pay for my ticket this time!<br />
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** Disclaimer- I was given two free tickets to the show by the Guthrie Theater's communications department. I was welcome to blog about my experience but did not have to.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-43460038942272282242011-10-10T19:56:00.000-05:002011-10-10T19:56:27.617-05:00It's coming.... <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="225px" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSY1wOEAtMsMsKCQkns9Q-UyGDyez7VEP8rY_gofYzjsNgcCEVN" style="height: 225px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 225px;" width="225px" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/">http://www.polyvore.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The holiday season is upon us. Halloween leads into Thanksgiving which leads to Christmas and then New Year's. Is your budget ready for it? Now is the time to start planning the next few months from a budgetary perspective. Some things to think about: <br />
<strong>Halloween candy</strong>- What are you going to give to the trick-or-treaters? Can you start picking up some candy every week depending on what's on sale and what coupons are out there?<br />
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<strong>Halloween costumes</strong>- What are you and your kids going to be? Do you already have some costumes stored away that can be re-used or reconfigured to make something else? See my <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/10/thrifty-halloween.html">thrifty Halloween ideas post</a> from last year for some low-cost costume ideas as well as other tips.<br />
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<strong>Holiday food</strong>- Are there certain packaged foods that you always buy during the holidays or are there certain ingredients you always need for baking or other holiday entertaining? Start buying them now, as you see them on sale or have a coupon. Of course, make sure they won't expire before you need them!<br />
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<strong>Holiday cleaning and organizing</strong>- This might not be a specifically thrifty tip, but can help save you some stress. Take stock of the current status of your house. Are there any cleaning, repair, or organizing projects you want to get done before you start hosting people over the holidays? Make a list and start now.<br />
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<strong>Gifts</strong>- If you will need to purchase gifts for friends and family, begin developing your list and budget. Start purchasing now to spread the cost over a couple months and so that you don't feel stressed and rushed come December. If you see some great hostess gifts, buy them and keep until you need them. Just make sure to keep track of what you've bought so you don't forget you have it.<br />
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<strong>Travel</strong>- Airfare is usually pretty high during the holidays, but you can find some deals by traveling on off days, on the holiday itself, or moving your trip to before or after the holiday. Spend some time experimenting on <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/01/thrifty-strategy-travel-websites.html">travel sites</a> such as <a href="http://www.orbitz.com/">Orbitz</a> and <a href="http://www.kayak.com/">Kayak</a> to see what you can find. And make sure you get your tickets far enough ahead of time to avoid paying more.<br />
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And if you bought <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/11/thrifty-strategy-post-holiday-shopping.html">holiday decorations on sale</a> after last year's holidays, don't forget to get them out!<br />
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Anything else you've already done to prepare for the holidays?Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-9875057563397839602011-10-06T12:36:00.000-05:002011-10-06T12:36:07.117-05:00Free fun, go outside!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJFwh43K4N7KILxJLq6dq3uuEXKFRzvrF7e7u_Tm5GkQGiqKY9TnHlmM3oNbOpeJMB9pNJ73AGE81_OR7A-gN-QDx6MtuT7Exxn68heQZ7zeU2NDKbdw-XEsZuXtUetRg7ODpDvQA5aI/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJFwh43K4N7KILxJLq6dq3uuEXKFRzvrF7e7u_Tm5GkQGiqKY9TnHlmM3oNbOpeJMB9pNJ73AGE81_OR7A-gN-QDx6MtuT7Exxn68heQZ7zeU2NDKbdw-XEsZuXtUetRg7ODpDvQA5aI/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Here in the Midwest, we have been blessed with some amazing weather this week. Sunny with temperatures in the 70's and 80's in early October? Almost unheard of! I hope those of you who live around here have been enjoying it. That said, wherever you live, from NYC to rural Georgia, free family fun is always right outside. Head to your backyard or local park. Run around in the grass, jump in fallen leaves, and eat a picnic lunch or dinner. Spending time together as a family outside is great for many reasons including improving fitness, building better relationships, and tiring everyone out before bedtime.<br />
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Twin Cities residents, if you're looking for a fun, free Autumn activity during the week, try <a href="http://www.minnetonkaorchards.com/">Minnetonka Orchards</a>. Admission is free on weekdays ($5 per person on weekends), and they have lots for kids to do, including a petting zoo, haystack climb, tractor rides, and several other activities.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-27566827964380885722011-09-30T13:25:00.000-05:002011-09-30T13:25:39.484-05:00Extreme couponing backlashAs I wrote about <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/06/extreme-couponing.html">here</a> and <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/07/extreme-couponing-my-edition.html">here</a>, extreme couponing has become really popular in the past few years thanks to a reality show and also thanks to the poor economic conditions. However, not everyone is happy about the trend, including other shoppers, cashiers, store managers, and manufacturers. The article below from msn.com covers the backlash that extreme couponers are facing. Will the actions of some "crazy couponers" make it harder for the rest of us to use a reasonable amount of coupons on our next shopping trip? It remains to be seen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44493132/ns/business-retail/t/extreme-couponing-sparks-backlash/#.ToOH6srYk2p.blogger">Extreme couponing sparks backlash</a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-56741247036105995992011-09-25T14:19:00.015-05:002011-09-25T14:19:00.145-05:00My Three Favorite RecipesMy dear friend <a href="http://learntocookbadgergirl.com/">Badger Girl Learns to Cook</a> tagged me in a blog game (kind of a modern version of a chain letter) where you post the three favorite recipes you've ever shared on your blog. Can you believe I've posted <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/search/label/recipes">37 recipes</a> in my 226 blog posts? Here are the three that stand out to me on this crisp fall day.<br />
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<a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/10/thrifty-recipe-slow-cooker-chipotle.html">Slow Cooker Chipotle-Lime Chicken Thighs</a><br />
A zesty crockpot meal. Now that the weather is getting colder, this recipe is on my "to-make SOON" list.<br />
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<a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/09/thrifty-recipe-eggplant-pizzas.html">Eggplant Pizzas</a><br />
I have fond memories of my mom making this when I was a kid, and the eggplant rounds topped with sauce and cheese are just as tasty now.<br />
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<a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/08/thrifty-recipe-terris-bbq-green-beans.html">Terri's BBQ Green Beans</a><br />
Best. sidedish. ever. case closed.<br />
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The other part of the blog game was to tag other food blogs so they can also list their top three recipes. However, Badger Girl's is the only food blog I read. So go check hers out!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-28495202958659948802011-09-22T13:00:00.000-05:002011-09-22T13:00:41.969-05:00The Guthrie Theater's Much Ado about Nothing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="250" src="http://www.guthrietheater.org/sites/default/files/_MSB1814_0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Manis (Don Pedro), Daniel Gerroll (Benedick) and Bill McCallum (Claudio) in the Guthrie Theater's production of William Shakespeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, directed by Joe Dowling with set design by Riccardo Hernández, costume design by Fabio Toblini and lighting design by Christopher Akerlind. September 10 - November 5, 2011 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis. Photo by Michael Brosilow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As I mentioned <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/09/two-firsts-in-my-blogger-life.html">here</a>, my husband and I had the opportunity to attend the opening night of The <a href="http://www.guthrietheater.org/">Guthrie Theater's</a> new production of <em>Much Ado about Nothing</em> last Friday night. They had an offer of free tickets for bloggers and I jumped at the chance. We are former season ticket holders, but after having a baby and going down to one income, some of our entertainment expenses had to go. Fortunately, we have been able to see a few shows since then thanks to free tickets through my husband's work, and once through Facebook as I mentioned <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-finally-won-something.html">here</a>.<br />
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We were excited to attend the show on opening night. The building was abuzz with energy and packed with people. It was fun to be a part of that. When we got our tickets and headed into the Wurtele Thrust theater, we realized they were great seats. Joe Dowling (the artistic director of the Guthrie and director of Much Ado) was only three rows in front of us and we had perfect sight lines to the whole stage. <br />
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Unfortunately since I had little time to prepare before seeing the show, I hadn't visited the Guthrie website and read the play guide like I usually do. My husband and I quickly scanned the program notes before the lights went down. A thrifty theatre tip: many theater websites offer background information about the plays being performed, and the Guthrie website specifically has a lot of great resources. They are free and can really improve your experience, as you are aware of the background of the show, historical facts, playwright biography, etc beforehand. <br />
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The play is one of Shakespeare's best-loved romantic comedies. The Guthrie has decided to set it in the 1920's, and the music, sets, and costumes reflect that age well. The story centers around two couples, one young, and one middle-aged. The middle-aged couple, Beatrice and Benedick, provide much comedy throughout the show as they are both very sharp-tongued in their critique of the opposite sex as well as of each other. The actors playing those roles had great chemistry, and their scenes together moved briskly and kept us laughing. A memorable scene involved Benedick hiding in an orange grove to overhear a conversation, with hilarious results. Some scenes without those leading characters seemed to drag a bit, but interjections by Don John, the evil illigitimate brother, and Dogberry, the bumbling police officer, helped to keep us engaged in this long (almost 3-hour) production.<br />
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At intermission, we completed our usual tradition of sharing a glass of wine and walking out on the Endless Bridge, an amazing archetectural feature of the Guthrie building. We go out there every time we see a show, even in winter when it's below freezing outside. There is a wonderful view of the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi River. The building is open to the public and free self-guided audio tours as well as paid <a href="http://www.guthrietheater.org/visit/guthrie_tours">tours</a> are available, a fun and thrifty thing to do any time of year.<br />
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As it was opening night, after the show the audience was invited to a reception in the lobby complete with wine, a nice touch to end the (late) evening. Much Ado about Nothing was an enjoyable show, and the atmosphere of the Guthrie Theater added to the evening as usual.<br />
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** Disclaimer- I was given two free tickets to the show by the Guthrie Theater's communications department. I was welcome to blog about my experience but did not have to.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-79273523566639857952011-09-19T16:52:00.000-05:002011-09-19T16:52:40.987-05:00More to come...My weekend got away from me, check back for my promised "Three favorite recipe" and Much Ado about Nothing posts. Until then, here's a post by one of my favorite bloggers about how to make money blogging. Maybe I should start following more of her tips...<br />
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<a href="http://thecynicalgirl.com/how-to-make-money-as-a-blogger/">The Cynical Girl: How to Make Money as a Blogger</a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-18207970112818208192011-09-16T13:45:00.000-05:002011-09-16T13:45:51.868-05:00Two firsts in my "blogger life"It's been an exciting week in the life of this blogger. First, my real-world as well as blog-world friend <a href="http://learntocookbadgergirl.com/?p=1319">Badger Girl</a> invited me to participate in a Pick Three Recipes blog game. See an upcoming post this weekend for the three favorite recipes I have shared on this blog thus far.<br />
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And secondly, my husband and I are going to opening night of Much Ado About Nothing tonight for FREE just because I'm a blogger. Talk about thrifty! The <a href="http://www.guthrietheater.org/">Guthrie Theater</a> posted a request for local bloggers to contact them with our email addresses and blog url's. Next thing I knew, I got an email from them offering me tickets for tonight. They said I'm welcome to blog, good or bad, about my experience at the show, as long as I share a link to the blog post with them. So, be on the lookout for that post as well.<br />
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TGIF.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-46263414497991359422011-09-11T23:01:00.000-05:002011-09-11T23:01:25.631-05:00Qwik Trip milk in a bag?Last week, we got a flier in our newspaper from Qwik Trip. They had a great price for milk- $2.18 a gallon. I realized that the small print said that the milk came in a bag?! What was that all about? I looked at the <a href="http://www.kwiktrip.com/EatsAndDrinks/kwiknlows/naturestouch.aspx">Kwik Trip</a> website and realized that the bags of milk came with a pitcher to store the milk in. I had to try this for myself. When I went to Kwik Trip I found the milk in half gallon bags for $1.09 each. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fNRzh3f8J9iWXOwUMq1nIFAu8wb4ivOI1ewaGBvYZj7JBsaH4ZTEEStOecZiSiyF4ZmD3nVyLxwqPtCoVyJqUVxEQNVXPzJNZiQLKRUeaKdi0d6S0PqdCQMK6dRyhjZxShJLSP5Ohsk/s1600/milk1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fNRzh3f8J9iWXOwUMq1nIFAu8wb4ivOI1ewaGBvYZj7JBsaH4ZTEEStOecZiSiyF4ZmD3nVyLxwqPtCoVyJqUVxEQNVXPzJNZiQLKRUeaKdi0d6S0PqdCQMK6dRyhjZxShJLSP5Ohsk/s320/milk1.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were also free plastic pitchers available. To use the milk, you put the bag in the pitcher and cut off a corner. It pours really easily. You then twist the corner down and put it in the fridge. It fits perfectly in the door.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8sdAS44qRwdUY9TJ2KeOcdEN5gxAdxgBOylo6vS8MfRgNznwMdvhrieVup_UYP2iFpeOYEIKPF1US4kbfCY_8nLGP5byatn7z6xLZ7AMf8fCy4tGwJuz5WWh4cta1fAkskuyupdlxKI/s1600/milk2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8sdAS44qRwdUY9TJ2KeOcdEN5gxAdxgBOylo6vS8MfRgNznwMdvhrieVup_UYP2iFpeOYEIKPF1US4kbfCY_8nLGP5byatn7z6xLZ7AMf8fCy4tGwJuz5WWh4cta1fAkskuyupdlxKI/s320/milk2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, if you have Kwik Trip in your area, give their milk in a bag a try. You'll save about 50 cents per gallon and have the novelty of pouring milk on your cereal from a pitcher. While you're at Kwik Trip, you might find some good deals on things like bananas and bread as well. </div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-68199016095963328312011-09-06T16:42:00.000-05:002011-09-06T16:42:59.629-05:00Thrifty Recipe- Eggplant PizzasI was reminded of the value of gardening this weekend at my parents' house. They have a bountiful garden, and it seemed that every meal contained at least a couple items they had grown. Some examples:<br />
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- Pickled beets (my favorite)<br />
- Caprese salad with homegrown tomatoes and Thai basil<br />
- Shaved refrigerator pickles made of homegrown cucumbers<br />
- Sliced tomatoes with red wine vinegar and oil and dill<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7PeUum3E9KdJg7m5zLbCN-QwAw0mLhxZRLddKhSD4sm3aQYV9LYjR6hJP0C79AhRMH4M1WaB7GnKJ8l2ah-0LQDtva_xu-b3blSJAJpGRXDMRLmjnfWil9GMXN6WSo5a7wwtjbIkLxo/s1600/gardenpicblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7PeUum3E9KdJg7m5zLbCN-QwAw0mLhxZRLddKhSD4sm3aQYV9LYjR6hJP0C79AhRMH4M1WaB7GnKJ8l2ah-0LQDtva_xu-b3blSJAJpGRXDMRLmjnfWil9GMXN6WSo5a7wwtjbIkLxo/s320/gardenpicblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents' garden at the beginning of August</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
They sent us home with an eggplant they had grown and last night I made eggplant pizzas. Here's the recipe:<br />
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<strong>Eggplant Pizzas</strong><br />
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Ingredients<br />
- One medium eggplant<br />
- One stick unsalted butter<br />
- 1-2 cups breadcrumbs<br />
- 1 cup pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce (homemade or jarred)<br />
- 1 cup shredded mozarella<br />
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1. Cut off the ends of the eggplant, peel, and slice into half inch thick rounds<br />
2. Melt butter in a shallow dish and put breadcrumbs in another shallow dish. Dip each round in the butter and then in the breadcrumbs, coating all sides with crumbs.<br />
3. Place on a greased cookie sheet or jellyroll pan<br />
4. Spoon sauce onto each round, and spread evenly over top surface, then top with shredded cheese<br />
5. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes<br />
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They will be really hot, so be sure to allow to cool a bit before eating. I served with buttered angelhair pasta. Our 19 month old daughter at a whole pizza herself.<br />
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CSA's (Community supported agriculture) are another way to get fresh produce without the labor of growing it yourself. Of course, it's not so thrifty to get the produce but then let it go to waste! My BFF <a href="http://learntocookbadgergirl.com/">Badger Girl</a> has a series on her blog outlining recipes and strategies for <a href="http://learntocookbadgergirl.com/?page_id=177">getting the most out of your CSA</a>. Be sure to check that out if you need more information about CSA's or are looking for recipes.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-52805112524869410122011-08-29T13:48:00.001-05:002011-08-29T20:30:48.166-05:00Thrifty Strategy- Ikea for breakfast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="breakfast" class="adImg" src="http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/IKEA_Food/images/99cent_breakfast_130x115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/twin_cities/restaurant">Ikea.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One of my best friends was in town last week and wanted to check out <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">Ikea</a> for some kitchen and bathroom ideas and just to see what the hype was about. I had heard that they have some good breakfast prices and I knew it was a child-friendly store, so my friend, me, and my toddler headed over on Thursday morning. We got there at 9:30, as I had heard that the cafe opened before the store opened at 10:00 am.<br />
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We were not the only ones there for breakfast, the place was busy! There were elderly folks, families with kids, hipsters, all kinds of people. Coffee was free until 10:00 and my friend got a full breakfast with potatoes, eggs, and bacon, for 99 cents. Our location offers free breakfast on Mondays. I had three Swedish pancakes with lingonberry and butter for $1.99, also a good deal. My daughter had a bit off of each of our plates. There was even a kids' play area in the cafe and a lot of high chairs and booster seats available.<br />
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So, if you're near an Ikea and in need of a tasty, reasonably priced breakfast, head on over. Their lunch and dinner food looks good, too. I also saw frozen yogurt for $1 and hot dogs for 50 cents. Have you ever eaten there? what do you recommend?Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-37550067590463715912011-08-23T13:54:00.003-05:002011-08-23T18:43:51.879-05:00Thrifty Strategies for the Great Minnesota Get-TogetherIt's the end of the summer, and that means it's time for the <a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org/">Minnesota State Fair</a>. Being a transplant to Minnesota, it took me a couple years to become a big Fair fan, but now I certainly am. Last year, I posted my insight on thrifty ways to travel to the Fair<a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/08/thrifty-strategy-take-bus-to-state-fair.html"> here</a>. (hint: think park and ride, not driving and parking there yourself) We are planning to head there this Friday and so I'm getting my Fair strategy together. Some other tips:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="2010 Blue Ribbon Bargain Book cover" src="http://www.mnstatefair.org/_assets/img/images/brbb_cover.jpg" style="height: 200px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 5px; width: 143px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From www.mnstatefair.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org/tickets_discounts/blue_ribbon_bb.html">The Blue Ribbon Bargain Book</a>: This book sells for $5 both at the Fair and at Cub Foods and includes 125 different coupons. You can look on the website to see the vendors who are included. Some example deals include $2 off a corndog at Corndogs and Lemonade, $3 off BBQ Wings at Famous Dave's, and $2 off a steak or porkchop on a stick at Rajun Cajun. This could be a good deal for you if it includes vendors that you were planning to eat/shop at anyway. Sometimes you can find people giving theirs away as they leave the Fair, usually in the evenings and near the closing weekend.<br />
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There's an app for that. Yes, there is a new <a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org/general_info/mobile.html">Minnesota State Fair app</a>. It has a map and a cool feature where you can search for food vendors by categories such as type of food, prices, Blue Ribbon Bargain Book coupons, etc. You can also search for activities and merchandise.<br />
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Discount Tickets: Tickets are available for $9 (a $3 savings) at Cub Foods and several other locations in the Twin Cities through August 24. There are also several Discount Days during the Fair: <br />
Thrifty Thursday, Seniors and Kids Day, Military Appreciation Day, Read and Ride Day, Seniors Day, and Kids Day. See the <a href="http://www.mnstatefair.org/tickets_discounts/admission.html">State Fair Website</a> for more details.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlbvOO0WQUE?fs=1" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Food and drinks can be a major expense at the Fair. There are so many fun foods to try, and you need to keep hydrated on a hot day. My recommendation is to bring some snacks and drinks with you. Coolers are allowed but might be searched, and you're not allowed to bring in alcoholic beverages. Other than that, you are free to bring food and drinks. Of course it's no fun to go to the Fair and not eat something on a stick, but even bringing your own water, soda, and some granola bars can save you a lot of cash when bottled water is selling for $3 to $5 each. <br />
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Have fun at the Fair! Post any of your Fair thrifty tips in the comments.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-46330890630078207942011-08-17T13:41:00.000-05:002011-08-17T13:41:12.777-05:00Sesame Street Financial Education<img alt="" height="73" src="http://www.sesamestreet.org/cms_services/services?action=download&uid=66f33fdb-dd2f-4539-b625-f1af7cb584b5" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" width="400" /><br />
Have you heard about Sesame Street's financial literacy program? It's called <strong><a href="http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/save">For me, for you, for later</a></strong>, and teaches kids to save, as well as to give away, the idea of delaying gratification, and several other important financial topics. While we don't let our daughter watch TV at this point, I would probably utilize these videos and learning tools when she was older, along with our own family's discussion and education on finances. Several <a href="http://www.credit.com/blog/2011/04/many-consumers-admit-a-lack-of-financial-literacy/">studies</a> have shown that Americans are lacking in financial literacy. Maybe programs like this will help create a new generation of thrifty adults.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-54477799862736975512011-08-15T14:15:00.000-05:002011-08-15T14:15:18.236-05:00Sunday Paper still Key for Coupons<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" alt="Coupons-" border="0" height="125" hspace="6" src="http://m.mediapost.com/publications/16/Coupons-A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Coupons-" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=155627">MediaPost</a></td></tr>
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Do you use Groupon, Twitter, or online coupons to save a little money? You're not alone. However, a recent study shows that 49% of coupon users still use the good ol' Sunday paper. Are you one of them?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=155627">People Still Turn to Sunday Papers for Coupons</a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-41325659069362102342011-08-13T19:00:00.000-05:002011-08-13T19:00:54.095-05:00Free food at Famous Dave'sIs your name Dave or David? If so, you can get a discount tomorrow, August 14th, at <a href="http://www.famousdaves.com/">Famous Dave's</a> Restaurants. If your first name is Dave or David, you get a free entree, and if it's your middle name you get half off. The deal is called Dave's Day. <br />
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So, if your name is Dave and you're in the mood for some barbeque tomorrow, go to Famous Dave's!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-27960055422742784062011-08-10T14:05:00.000-05:002011-08-10T14:05:31.171-05:00What to do with leftover tahini?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Tahinijar_453g.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="File:Tahinijar 453g.jpg" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Tahinijar_453g.jpg/234px-Tahinijar_453g.jpg" width="124" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from <a href="http://www.your-dreams-coming-true.com/2011/07/tahinian-oriental-dip.html">Your Dreams Coming True Cooking Blog</a></td></tr>
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We have all been there. We buy an ingredient that's required for a recipe, and then have to figure out what to do with the leftovers. In my case, I'm stuck with a large jar of tahini. For those who haven't used it before, it's a sesame seed paste. The thrifty person in me needs to figure out how to use it up. Help!<br />
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In a cooking frenzy earlier this week inspired by a beautiful homegrown eggplant my parents brought me, I made a batch of <a href="http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/appetizer-starter-recipes/baba-ghanoush-2">baba ghanoush</a>. One of the ingredients was tahini, which I was able to find at the store, but only in a large jar. After making the recipe, I still had at least a few cups left. I sent my mom home with some, but the huge jar is still there every time I open the fridge. <br />
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So far, my plans are to make some homemade <a href="http://thirtyandthrifty.blogspot.com/2010/09/thrifty-recipe-hummus.html">hummus</a> (though I didn't list it in my recipe, tahini is often added to hummus). I also found an interesting-looking <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/tahini-cookies/detail.aspx">tahini cookie</a> recipe. There is also an interesting recipe <a href="http://www.your-dreams-coming-true.com/2011/07/tahinian-oriental-dip.html">here</a>. Do you have any other great ideas? Have you had a similar problem with another ingredient? Do share.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335718232383247532.post-18482528233660593562011-08-04T16:25:00.000-05:002011-08-04T16:25:19.615-05:00Craigslist Find<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH1ay0wYbGz255ouDa8L4-50Tcd0ggPIqmuAo_nXQYSZgBQcfqhqQstCevneOsYPQVaN4QKIUT03Brwy2rYEkevTMvqY7K78OSaQZ3RJONVKoJ1cLjI244QaTySMCl44nElm884W0q6E/s1600/New+climber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH1ay0wYbGz255ouDa8L4-50Tcd0ggPIqmuAo_nXQYSZgBQcfqhqQstCevneOsYPQVaN4QKIUT03Brwy2rYEkevTMvqY7K78OSaQZ3RJONVKoJ1cLjI244QaTySMCl44nElm884W0q6E/s1600/New+climber.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><br />
It took a couple months, but yesterday I finally took the plunge on a climber for our daughter. For $35. Similar ones brand new can run between $100 and $200. Thank you Craigslist (and the nearby family who is in the process of selling all of their "big plastic" so they can buy a bigger swingset for their school-aged kids)!<br />
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Are you on the hunt for anything on Craigslist right now? Share you stories in the comments.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874960567646755257noreply@blogger.com0