Mariannes Motifs

Thrifting Finds

I just came back from Goodwill where I picked up 2 sweaters. The black one’s tag says Brooks Bros 346 100% Merino Wool, and the red says Scottish Spun 2 ply cashmere. They were 4.59 each. I have never frogged sweaters before so I am about to learn how.  Frogging sweaters is to rip out the knitting to recycle the wool.  Basically you can get balls and balls of wool out of a sweater for much cheaper than to buy skeins of 100% cashmere.  I would love to be able to knit a cashmere scarf.

I also picked up the 1989 version of “Vouge Knitting” (hardcover.) That was 2.50.

Also picked up 2 t-shirts for the boys, as well as a nice windbreaker.  They keep losing jackets so a 2.50 Goodwill one is just what I needed.  All in all 21 bucks or so.  And I used my Paypal debit card and money from my blogging and Freelance writing.

I also am adding a picture of a gorgeous crochet afghan I bought a week or two ago for 4.50. It is wool, and had a tag on it that said handmade by Inez Moll. I liberated it from a dusty thrift store and have adopted Inez as a granny in spirit.

In the mail on Saturday I got the Target gift card that was my reward from MyPoints.  I love gift cards.  It's nice to know that they actually do send out their rewards as promised - it was pretty fast too.  I am going to use the Target card at Super Target to get some groceries.  That will help round out the budget a bit.  My mom sent me a bit of money to help out this month and boy do I appreciate it.  Somebody offer me a job - mkay?  Pretty please with sugar on top?  I iz a good email administrator, I promise.

Save Money with the International Student Identity Card

Did you know that for only $22 you can get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) that allows you to receive discounts at retailers and travel partners all over the world?   Today I learned that at www.myisic.com they offer a discount program for students (and teachers) that provides discounts to more that 33,000 locations in 103 countries, and also includes some insurance and an emergency help line for travelers.

The International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) is a non-profit organization founded way back in 1949 to "promote international understanding through international travel and educational exchange opportunities." 

Here are some highlights of the discounts currently available with the cards:

* 11 % off at Macy's aand 10% off at Target.com
* Discount airfare such as 11% off Jetblue
*50%t discount for Park 'n Fly
* 15%  off Amtrak train tickets

These cards are actually not just for students, they have three versions of the card.  There is one for currently enrolled students, one for any youth 26 and younger, and one for teachers and professors.

This card is a must for any student traveler and a good buy for others as well.  With the 10% Target.com discount alone you could make up the price of the card pretty quickly.   It's one of those things where you have to remember to show the card and ask if they offer a student discount.

Secrets to Successful Leftovers

This is #17 in my series of Life Advice in a Nutshell.

Leftovers are a tricky business.  Done correctly they are a delicious home made lunch, tasty dinner, or even an additional ingredient to a whole new meal.  But if you don't manage your leftover situation well you are likely to end up with a science experiment to throw away and a pile of plastic dishes to wash.

Throughout my career as a cook and kitchen owner I have probably made every mistake in the book when it comes to leftovers.  I have saved things I really didn't intend to eat again, let interesting molds flourish in my fridge, and wasted a lot of good food.

In this journey I have also learned some secrets to successful leftovers that I now want to share with you.  If you keep these rules of thumb in mind as you are doing your menu planning, you will get some use out of your leftovers, keep your fridge nice and clean, and have some lots of yummy fresh food to eat.

1.  When in doubt, throw it out.  Let's face it, some meals are good the first time, and really don't want to be leftovers at all.  If you can't picture yourself or your family eating it again, dump it.  This also goes for tiny amounts of things, unless you have a particular use in mind like an additional ingredient for a soup or casserole the next day.

2.  Package your leftovers attractively.  I like to use a divided lunch plate container, and put a serving of each part of the meal in each compartment.  Then its all set for tomorrow's lunch.  Sometimes I can set up each part in a different side of one bowl as well.  If it looks attractive and fresh, it's going to be eaten.

3.  The perfect time to eat a leftover dish for dinner again is 2 days later.  The next day you might be a bit bored from having had it the night before.  Any more time than 3 days later and it might suffer from being not so fresh.  The 2nd day is your golden opportunity. 

4.  On that 3rd day warm up your leftovers and add it to your previously scheduled dinner.  Use it as a side dish.  If it gets eaten, great.  If not, chuck it out.

5.  Keep a clean fridge.  If you had better intentions than stomach for leftovers, throw them out.  You did your best to save the food, and now its time to let it go.  If you keep sketchy stuff out of your fridge you will have enough room for more fresh groceries and new leftovers.  I like to clean my fridge out the night before the garbage pickup.   It's also a great idea to clear old leftovers out of the fridge before you go to the grocery store.  That's the perfect time to make space and also do a quick visual survey for things you may be out of.

Deals Deals Deals

I am so glad I bought those buy one get one free Lil Webkins from Walgreens on Black Friday.  Today Ben is going to a birthday party and viola, a gift is all ready.  Next week Adam's class is having a secret Santa at their holiday party - viola, a webkins.  I kind of wish I had bought a buch more!  Oh well, that will be the end of them.  My neice got one, Asela got one, the boys each got one... there they went. 

And then there are all the 90% off Christmassy goodies I got at Target last year.  Pulling them out was funny - I had forgotten what they were.  But there were enough ornaments and garland to decorate the tree, and I remember that by the time you took off 90% they were pretty much negligable in price.  Now where did I put that electric Menorah?  I need to get some Hanukkah going.  Ben made a dreidle at school out of a milk carton - very cute.  We put that on the tree.

I am so sore from being in the car so much last night.  I think I am developing Plantar Fasciitis.  When I wake up in the morning my ankles do get very stiff.

Renuzit TriScents Starter Kit Review & Coupon

Ever since I started "pro-blogging" last April, all sorts of little good things have been happening to me.  A few months ago I received a free book in the mail from the manufacturers of frozen vegetables, and a few days a go I received a wonderful freebie of a Renuzit TriScents home fragrance kit.

I love having a nice smelling house and this air freshener is neat because it changes the fragrance between three complementary scents every 45 minutes.  Therefore you don't get totally used to it and you notice it.  In my opinion the problem with most air fresheners is that its the same thing all the time and you either get sick of it or so used to it you don't even smell it anymore.

The kit they sent me is the Seaside Breezes scents and its quite nice.  I like two of the scents better than the third though!  I have placed it in the kitchen for now.  The unit was easy to figure out how to operate also, which is nice.  I have used some where they get a bit complicated and that can be annoying. I really don't want to have to read a whole page of instructions to be able to plug in an air freshener, you know?

If you got to the http://www.triscents.com and look on the left side of the screen they have a place to print a $3.00 Coupon for a TriScents starter Kit.

 

Charter Cable laptop a day givaway & new customer deal

If you are in the market for high speed internet, Charter Communications is having a good back to school deal and is running a laptop a day giveaway contest.   For complete contest rules, includng how to mail in a no purchase required entry form, go to the Official Rules link here. 

New customers of any Charter service are automatically entered in the  Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway.

Here are the specs of the system they are awarding the winner:

Computer Details:
New HP Compaq Presario C770US Notebook
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor
15.4" WXGA Screen
2GB RAM -160GB hard drive
DVD Burner
Built in Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Plus a NEOtec Laptop Backpack

I don't have Charter, but I do have cable modem Internet and phone service through a different provider here at the house.  I really like the fast Internet, and I will tell you that getting rid of traditional phone service has definitely saved me cold hard cash.  Now I have unlimited long distance and never have to worry about talking to my mom on the phone as long as I want to.  And I can do all the blogging, downloading, uploading, game playing, and web surfing I want and never have any issues.

The only complaint I have with the Cable company has to do with the cable cards in my HD Tivo... but that is another matter for another day.

$5 Coupon on $10 purchase at half.com

Half.com is offering me a $5 coupon if I refer the email address of anyone who signs up for a new account with them.  You will get at $5 off coupon off any $10 purchase on half.com.  They sell books, video games, game systems, CDs, and DVDs at greatly reduced prices.

Each e-mail that is sent under this Program will contain a code good for $5.00 dollars off of a $10.00 dollar purchase 

Anyone who wants a coupon send me an email at marianne DOT case AT comcast DOT net and the first 4 people will get the coupon emailed to them from half.com.

Here is my store on the site, if you are interested in seeing how it works.

Quick and Easy Vegetable Biryani

I spent a bit of time at my local Indian grocery this afternoon.  It seems like every time I go in there I come out with a recipe.  Here is what I got scribbled down on the back of a flier for a show featuring actor Siddharth Randeria at a local high school auditorium.  I editorialized this a bit - its untested so far, but I will give it a try ASAP and let you'all know how this version comes out.

Quick and Easy Vegetable Biryani

2 Tbsp Vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter)

½ medium onion diced

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

1 small can diced tomatoes or 1 fresh tomato diced

¼ teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garam masala

Pinch red chili powder (optional)

2 cups Basmati long grain rice.  (Can substitute long grain rice)

4 ½ cups water

1. In a large pan heat oil or ghee over medium heat and sauté onions, garlic and spices until translucent.  Add frozen vegetables and cook for a few minutes to coat.  Add the rice to the pan with the onions and stir to coat as well.  Then add the tomatoes and water.
2. Cover the pan and bring to boil. Cook covered on low about 20 minutes or until all of the water has evaporated and the rice is tender.

Since I am trying to save money, eat healthy food, and make quick and easy weekday dinners, I think this recipe can help with all three.  Its a good  quick and easy vegetarian meal.  You can add a lot of things to this - really whatever you want.  You could add raisins, cashews,  potatoes, chicken, lamb, the sky is the limit.

Hopefully if I can cook a healthy dinner at home most nights I will soon be able to afford some new laptop ram.

Super Foods - Super Fast - Super Cheap

Here is a Quick and Easy dinner recipe that contains 3 out of 10 of Oprah / Dr Perricone's touted "Superfoods"  These are 10 of a larger number of healthy foods that they recommend due to such things as  high levels of antioxidants and other healthy properties.  Instead of trying to buy your Superfoods in a pill like lipovox let's try cooking them up the old fashioned way.

This Red Lentil and Vegetable Stew recipe contains lentils, onion & garlic, and red pepper sauce, three of the 10 super foods.  It also has the additional benefits of being quick to cook, and cheap to make.  Red lentils, unlike their green cousins, cook in about 30 minutes.  They get very soft which is also great for me because I can't eat too much high fiber (due to the IBD.)  It also happens to taste really good.

This recipe is also very flexible - you can add or leave out various veggies to your liking.  The carrots, celery garlic and onions are the base and you can go from there.  If you don't have Vegetable or Chicken stock just use water, that's fine.  You can also add white wine, sherry, or even a little apple juice or cider vintager to the liquid. Definitely double the recipe and make a big pot.  This freezes well.

Serve this with a green salad and some fresh baked bread and butter and its a feast.

Red Lentil and Vegetable Stew from RecipeZaar
Recipe #82568 | 40 min | 10 min prep
By: Jim Cortina

Wonderful stew, can be a vegetarian meal on its own. Or you can add some diced or shredded smoked duck, if you like meat. The red lentils break down, and cause this to be like a really rich soup. If you need to stretch this out, you can serve it over white rice, to do a sort of "beans and rice" thing.

SERVES 2 -3 (change servings and units)
Change to: Servings US Metric Close

Ingredients

    * 1 cup red lentil
    * 1 carrot, finely diced
    * 1 stalk celery, finely diced
    * 1/2 medium onion, finely diced
    * 2 garlic cloves, minced
    * 2 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
    * 4 teaspoons ground cumin
    * 3-4 dashes Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce (optional)
    * 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    * 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes (do not drain liquid)

Directions

   1. Sauté the carrots, onion, and celery in the olive oil until they start to caramelize a bit.

   2. Add the garlic about a minute before the vegetables are finished sautéing.

   3. Add the red lentils, and stir until mixed with the vegetables.  

   4. Add the stock, tomatoes and juice, cumin, and Tabasco, if using.

   5. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and reduce heat to medium low.

   6. Simmer until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes.

   7. If the liquid all evaporates and the lentils are not done, add a little water to keep the simmer going.

shopgoodwill.com

Oh my god!  Goodwill has started its own version of an online auction site a la ebay.  Its' http://www.shopgoodwill.com/.  You know I lurve me some Goodwill so I have to check this out.  I am glad they are getting smart about the value of their goods.  Goodwill provides more than just money with the items people donate, they provide jobs.  And that is worth more than anything so someone who needs help.  I frequent my local Goodwill quite a bit and the people that work there all are great and super helpful.