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How Much Are Parents Spending on Their Children's Fast Food?
As astounding as that sounds, you'll want to take it in perspective. In my family, my kids maybe eat fast food once a week. (Hey - you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes, esp. when the thought of cooking and cleaning, or even bringing them into a store is overwhelming.)
They're toddlers, age 3 and 4. Most of their games/books/toys come from birthdays and Christmas. The others come from hand-me-downs and thrift stores. They have too much stuff already! But two Happy Meals will cost me about $10 - so if I do that once each week that's $520/year (ouch). Yes, far more than I'd consider spending on toys we don't need or have room for!
Oatmeal That Might Give You a Buzz
It's almost like the beginning of a sourdough starter..... something I've never had a desire to eat. It's original at least - I have never heard of doing this before!
Essentials: Hummus
I wonder why it's better to just puree the beans in the food proc, vs. doing all the ingredients. I do mine completely in the food proc (add the oil and lemon juice while its running) and it turns out good. But maybe it could be GREAT if I do it this way? Hmmm
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
The 14 M.P.H. Beer Cooler
DWI was the first thing I thought about. That story about the guy that got the DWI is too much. Gosh it almost sounded like a GREAT idea!!!!
How Much Are Parents Spending on Their Children's Fast Food?
As astounding as that sounds, you'll want to take it in perspective. In my family, my kids maybe eat fast food once a week. (Hey - you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes, esp. when the thought of cooking and cleaning, or even bringing them into a store is overwhelming.)
They're toddlers, age 3 and 4. Most of their games/books/toys come from birthdays and Christmas. The others come from hand-me-downs and thrift stores. They have too much stuff already! But two Happy Meals will cost me about $10 - so if I do that once each week that's $520/year (ouch). Yes, far more than I'd consider spending on toys we don't need or have room for!
Oatmeal That Might Give You a Buzz
It's almost like the beginning of a sourdough starter..... something I've never had a desire to eat. It's original at least - I have never heard of doing this before!
Essentials: Hummus
I wonder why it's better to just puree the beans in the food proc, vs. doing all the ingredients. I do mine completely in the food proc (add the oil and lemon juice while its running) and it turns out good. But maybe it could be GREAT if I do it this way? Hmmm
How to Reduce Your Food Costs in 60 Minutes a Week
Coupons are usually for the really unhealthy foods. Unless I see an extraordinary deal on milk or cheese, I don't bother with them. I have two stores that I read the ads for - I don't waste my time with the others, because even if they have a few great sale items, I know I'll spend less overall by sticking with my top two. I write a 2 week menu and shopping list in Excel and plan around ingredients I already have on hand. I shop for produce at the market my husband works at.
It's a habit, and a fun routine, too. I have come to enjoy planning my menus.
I Want a Varsity Letter in Cheese Racing
DUDE that is so cool. I am so going to try this some time. Sounds like a great group activity for a BBQ.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
My mom doesn't do vegetarian. In an effort to please my then-vegetarian husband, she did a knock-off potato taco recipe from a restaurant she went to. Fried tortillas filled with a potato mixture (I can't remember what flavor it had) with cilantro and creme fraiche on top. She claimed it was the only vegetarian recipe she knew! I appreciated both the taste AND the effort.
Speaking of Food-Related Neologisms ...
I've never found the humor in the lolcat stuff, but this is so, so great.
Upscale Ketchup From Heinz
Yeah, I must admit, I won't really buy anything else. I still think I'm a ketchup snob, since I won't buy generic or alternative brand ketchup, period. LOL it has to be the mighty Heinz.
Fillippelli - that was a great article that sucked several minutes out of my day. Thanks for sharing. :)
Sack Lunch: Sardine-and-Egg Salad Sandwich
I think I'm with your dad on the sardines, but I might eat them if I didn't actually know I was eating them.
I had to comment because I was scrolling through your post in my feed reader, saw the picture, saw the word "eyeball" in your description, and had to do a double take to make sure the word eyeball was not proceeded by "scoop out the..." :)
Essentials: Rice
I second the pressure cooker comment. Fast and perfect every time.
Cook the Book: The Cornbread Gospels
My own cornbread recipe is still being perfected. As a kid I remember eating at Pioneer Pies (now non-existent) and I loved the cornbread! There's a recipe I have that's full of cheese and jalapenos... usually a show stopper but expensive and way fattening!
Cook the Book: The Sweet Melissa Baking Book
There's not many desserts I don't like, but a fresh banana cream pie is one of my all time favorites.
Cook the Book: Nigella Express
Slow-cooking is nice, but pressure cooking is FASTER!!!! We just got one of these, and I didn't think I'd ever use it. Now I use it almost every night.
Are Rising Food Prices Affecting What You Eat?
With ritual menu planning and shopping lists, it's still fairly easy to stay on budget. At this point I'm paying maybe $1 more each for milk and eggs. Total added to my groceries for these two items is about $4 if I buy 2 of each. Organic milk is so ridiculously expensive it has never been feasible for my budget. Does it suck? Yes. But I'm not at the breaking point yet. Still manage to keep the grocery budget for 2 weeks to about $100.
Husband works at a local fruit market. Produce is cheaper than meat, even with price increases, and we definately eat more produce-centered meals these days.
Essentials: Hummus
I find that a garnish of some (or a lot) of sweet paprika also boosts the flavor of the hummus.
I Want a Varsity Letter in Cheese Racing
Eating the cheese??? Oh I don't think so. Not even before the race. We've done this a few times at PyroBlazers.
Essentials: Hummus
I don't have a food processor, so I've been using my potato masher instead. While it isn't buttery smooth, it still beats store-bought any day. I haven't been adding cumin yet, but I will now! Also, I must be weird in that two cloves of raw garlic (for hummus and baba ghannouj) is just too much for me. I've found a nice balance using one small raw clove of garlic (pulverized to a nice consistency with a zester/fine grater) and 4 cloves-1 bulb of roasted garlic (I
I too grew up without hummus (and many other delicious foods, bless my meat&potatoes mother's heart), but thankfully, I've overcome my much-deprived childhood :P
The 14 M.P.H. Beer Cooler
the hubby is going to get a kick out this!
The 14 M.P.H. Beer Cooler
@j: THANK YOU. That's the best link I've seen all day. Could have been straight from The Onion.
Essentials: Hummus
I make a very basic humus for my one year old - chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. He loves it.
Essentials: Hummus
@akk328: try peanut butter. I've never done it that way, and it'll certainly taste a bit different. But I've seen it mentioned as a substitute for tahini.
Essentials: Hummus
@akk328, I have not tried it without tahini, but I have read recipes that use only olive oil, no tahini. I think it's worth a shot.
Essentials: Hummus
ya cumin really is a must. If you're travelling in the M.East you'll never taste a hummus without some cumin, and sprinkled on top too. Then depending on the occasions and who you're making your hummus for, you can create fancier variations by topping off finished hummus with chickpeas or almonds, pinenuts, etc.
Also, our family has a very long lived tradition of adding yoghurt too. I can guarantee that it produces the creamiest texture ever and IMO really does something wonderful to the overall taste of hummus. If ever, I posted a recipe to it here: http://swirlandscramble.blogspot.com/2008/02/little-bit-of-this-and-little-bit-of.html
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
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Winners have been notified by email.
Essentials: Hummus
This may be sacrilege...but can you use something besides tahini, or leave it out? I have a can of chickpeas and I keep thinking I should make bean salad but I don't like bean salad, so I can't bring myself to do it. Would rather make hummus but can't get tahini...
Essentials: Hummus
If i find chickpeas here, I'll have to try this...I miss hummus so much. Especially Sabra! mmmmm
Essentials: Hummus
I use a blender, and though you need to do intervals of stirring with a rubber spatula and it's a pain to get it all out of there, it's pretty smooth any creamy. I've actually never tried using a food processor.
Essentials: Hummus
Cooks Illustrated magazine has an article / recipe this month addressing the texture issue. I haven't tried it yet but you might want to check it out.
Essentials: Hummus
I hear the blender is the way to go if you want super smooth, creamy hummus. It's a little trickier than the food processor, though.
Essentials: Hummus
A question for all you fellow hummus lovers - does a food mill give a creamier consistency? I always make mine in my food processor and while tasty, the texture is a little grainier than I would like. Suggestions?
Essentials: Hummus
Not sure how wide their distribution is, but i live in the Detroit area (kind of a mecca for hummus in the US) and a local company called Garden Fresh has recently started making Hummus and it's awesome. I've only tried the regular flavor so far, but it tastes fresh, clean, just the right amount of acid and smooth as silk. Costco carries it around here, as well as some of the popular supermarkets. Full disclosure-they're a local company, but the only connection I have to them is that I eat their stuff.
Essentials: Hummus
I agree with the chef in that article. I've had way too much mediocre hummus, both packaged and at restaurants. The only good packaged stuff that I've found besides Sabra is the Tribe forty spices flavor. All their other ones are meh but that one has a nice kick to it.
Essentials: Hummus
This is pretty much the same recipe I always use. Cumin is essential. It brings out so much flavor. You'll never buy packaged hummus again!
@darbyalycen206: I throw everything in together too. Pureeing the chickpeas first probably ensures an even consistency. But I don't mind finiding a whole chickpea in my hummus once in a while.
I Want a Varsity Letter in Cheese Racing
My friends told me I needed a hobby. I can't wait to tell them I've taken up cheese racing.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
My Korean wedding banquet. OK, she had help, but I know her food and her organizational skills and so I can confidently say, she prepared this meal. And it was amazing and I will always remember it.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
Mom rarely puts her heart into cooking. About twenty years ago, though, she prepared meat fondue -- that was great fun! And most memorable. Loved cooking my beef and chicken in the hot oil at the table. She also allowed all of us to make our own assortment of dipping sauces. My brother mixed grape jelly with godknowswhat. We all laughed. It's a shame we never had it again.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
Her cooking and baking was so phenomenal, it's impossible to choose. She was always trying new recipes, especially from Julia and Jacques. I loved her pies and gratins.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
My mother makes homemade ravioli and Italian spaghetti suace and meatballs to die for. She's Sicilian
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
Stuffed artichokes smothered in tomato sauce.. YUM.
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About darbyalycen206
Website: http://www.freshpickednews.com/
Location: Bothell, WA
About: Mother of two, wife of a Fruit Market husband, sweet tooth, baker, house cleaner, seamstress, geek and rock star.
Favorite foods:
Last bite on earth:
DWI was the first thing I thought about. That story about the guy that got the DWI is too much. Gosh it almost sounded like a GREAT idea!!!!