Tasty Tomato Salsa

I've invited the lovely, talented and creative Audrey to join us a guest blogger today (really more of a recipe submitter, but calling her a blogger is way cooler). My mom indicated that my little sis has been putting her red, ripe ones to use in a tasty salsa. What followed was no small amount of harassing and pestering on my part to get her to give up the info. Finally, she acquiesced.

Lotsa fresh ripe Michigan tomatoes, diced
1 whole Vidalia onion, diced
2 jalapeños, diced
2 lemons' juices
2 limes' juices
a couple o’ tablespoons of fresh pressed garlic
a handful of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
a couple teaspoons of sugar
salt
pepper
touch of cumin
dash of cayenne pepper
bit of red pepper flake

Let set for a few hours, drain a bit of the liquid, devour!
A point of clarification: the difference between a touch, a dash and a bit is up to your buds. 

In the absence of any salsa pictures, I’ve opted to include a few of little Auddie instead.

What a little more than $11 (and a fistfull of coupons) gets you at Meijer

I SAVED $28.85!

8 boxes of Barilla Piccolini pasta
8 boxes of Barilla whole grain pasta
a pound of mini-bellas
a pound of baby carrots
3 boxes of frozen rice/mushrooms
6 pounds of Jonamac apples

Now, it may seem that we are into all things small but that's just what was on sale that matched up.  When I put together my shopping list, I consulted Bargains to Bounty.  In addition to matching up Meijer, she does several other metro Detroit area grocers.  I'll be hitting Kroger for the $3.99 rotisserie chicken (great for sandwiches, quesadillas and feeding the babies) and $0.39/lb bananas later this week, too.  Oak Ridge market has Yoplait deals for $0.20 each, so I'll be stocking up on those, too. 

More 'maters!

In a world where we measure how good something is by the amount of effort it takes to get it, this pasta dish should be disgusting.  It is so easy!  In fact, I encourage you to include your kids in the process of making dinner.  This dish is not only yummy the first day, it makes an amazing cold salad that is sure to impress at office pot lucks. 

Pasta with Salsa Cruda

Tomatoes, 1 1/2 lbs, cored and coarsely chopped (if you have a plethora of cherry tomatoes, just cut them in 1/2-super easy)
Garlic, 2 cloves, minced (my toddler loves to help squeeze the garlic press)
Fresh basil, 1/2 cup, slivered
Olive Oil, 1/2 cup (I use closer to 1/4 cup)
Red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp
Mozzarella cheese, smoked of fresh, 1/2 lb, cubed
Pine nuts, 1/4 cup
salt and pepper
Pasta, I like Farfalle for this one, but use anything medium sized
Prosciutto, 2 oz thinly sliced, chopped

Serves 4

1  Prepare the sauce
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, basil, oil, and red pepper flakes.  Stir well and let stand at room temp for about 15 minutes.  Stir in the cheese and let stand for about 10 minutes longer.

2 Toast the pine nuts
Meanwhile, in a small frying pan over medium-high heat, toast the pine nuts, stirring often, until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes).  Transfer to a plate and set aside.

3 Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (I start the water after I've washed my tomatoes). Add the pasta and cook until al dente.  Drain and add to the sauce along with the prosciutto and pine nuts.  Toss to combine and soften the cheese.  Add salt and pepper (if you want).  Enjoy!

Holy Tomatoes!

My friends and family have been more than generous with their tomatoes this season.  On top of my 1/2 share from the Royal Oak Community Farm, I've had to get more creative than just salad toppings with my red fruit.  Tonight, I put a bunch to good use in a Tomato-Basil soup.  The recipie is from Williams-Sonoma's Weeknight Cook cookbook. 

Plum tomatoes, 10, halved
Garlic, 2 cloves minced
Fresh Basil, 4 TBS chopped
Olive Oil, 5 TBS
Shallots, 4, halved (I used a small white onion from the farm)
Dry white wine, 1 1/2 cups
salt and pepper
YIELD:  4

1  Roast the tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 400F.  Arrange the tomatoes cut side up in a roasting pan or heavy duty cookie sheet.    Sprinkle with the garlic and 1 tablespoon of the basil and drizzle with 4 tablespoons of the oil. 

Roast until the tomatoes are soft when pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes.  Remove and discard the skins (I used two sets of tongs to do this). 

 2  Simmer the Soup

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the remaining oil.  Add the onion and saute for about 2 minutes.  Add the roasted tomatoes, wine and 1/2 cup of water and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has thickened, about 20 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  (The seasoning is key-if you skip it, the soup will be really yucky!)

I like to think of step 2 as the "Enjoy the remaining wine" step.

3 Puree the Soup

Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup to the desired consistency.  Return to pan and reheat to serving temperature.  Garnish with remaining basil and enjoy. 

Enjoy!

Frugal is the new "cool"

Everyone loves a good deal and I'm no exception.  Since I've started working for myself, and work is harder to come by than I initially thought, I've been putting more effort into being thoughtful about my spending (or saving).

• I haven't given up all luxury.  A girl still needs a latte, right?  Instead, I've registered my Starbucks gift card so that I can earn bonus drinks (every 15th one is free!) and get exclusive offers.  I also put my allocated weekly coffee funds on there and when it's gone it's gone. 
• Couponing is not just a passive activity.  It requires a guru, a partner, and some stamina.  If you can make it through the first month, you can make it!  I don't pay for personal items (pads, tampons, diapers, wipes, body soap, deodorant, razors, etc.) any more.  Our snack stash is awesome.  I get fruit juice for 25c.  And I love showing off my savings after I make a killing at the grocery store.  If you are interested in this, my friend (and guru) Stephanie is going to teach a class at my house.  The date is TBD, it will cost $10 and will be so much fun.  Leave a comment if you want to come.  If you think you can navigate this world on your own, proceed with caution, but these bloggers are great resources:
• Bargains to Bounty - She matches up deals at Detroit area grocery stores.  She also has a discussion board on her FB page where fans can trade coupons
• Coupon Crazy Chrys - Weekly drugstore deals
• This Side of Eternity - I don't really check her blog, but she posts great deals on Facebook
• Saving Cents with Sense - Good deals on Facebook
• Groupon - I wake up and I check the daily Groupon.  Not only for Detroit but also for Chicago and other cities that I plan to visit.  The deal has to be at least 50% off the organizations best deal.  Entertainment, spa, food, recreation...I've purchased them for me, for my family and for my friends.  I listed this last because I'm not sure I'm saving money with Groupons, but I'm definitely getting great deals with them.  Think holiday, birthday and wedding gifts! 
• Go "shopping" at the library - Fill a bag with new books, videos, CDs - enjoy for 3 weeks - repeat.  Our public library also offers fun family programming.  For example, on Wednesday mornings the ROPL offers story time for 2 and 3 year olds.  They have several other programs including musical story time.  All of these activities are free, but they do require registration. 
• Check out a Museum Adventure Pass - free admission to 20 or so local attractions.  Available at the library.   
• Shop the clearance racks - If you can guesstimate what size your kids will be in a year, stock up on clothes for the following year at the end of the season when stores are clearing room for the new lines.  I scored some adoreable Carter's gear at the end of summer.  Shorts for $2 and t-shirts for $1. 
• VRBO - Vacation Rental by Owner is a wonderful resource for out of town home rentals. Our most recent vacation was on the west side of Michigan and we landed a great deal on a two bedroom, in-town condo.  We paid about what we would have paid for a Holiday Inn, but had a full kitchen and a separate room for the babies. You can read reviews, check out pictures and book directly with the owners. 
• Mom to Mom sales - the new and improved rummage sale!  Tables and tables of nicely priced kids stuff.  Clothes, toys, books, and more.  The M2M season is upon us.  Plan to pay a small entrance fee (usually a buck or two that supports the school or church that is hosting the sale).  Check the list on Friday and make your Saturday game plan, grab a girlfriend, borrow a truck and hunt those deals. 

I'd love to hear your tips and tricks for saving cash and having fun.