Deal Diva 8~17~13

Howdy folks, it's that time of the week again or should I say week-end - LOL  That's right, lets see what the Deal Diva has found to brag about : )

 

Scored some organic chix tenders at the 'ghetto' Kroger.  The marked down price is still more than the store brand, but if I have a chance to eat clean at a half way decent price I jump on it.  I now know what 'ignorance is bliss' means, especially concerning where our food comes from!

 

 

 

Grabbed six of those organic tenders, enough for 3 meals.  I like to grill these on the table top for a quick lunch for the children.

 

 

 

Same is true about eggs and what the chickens are feed.  Kroger had reg. eggs on special for .88 cents, but I chose these reduced antibiotic free eggs.  The taste difference is amazing!

 

 

 

Children talked me into more Greek yogurt in a tube (not the best choice, but hey they have had worse - LOL) and this reduced rump roast will become beef stew.  See, found away around that whole stew meat Ponzi scheme! 

 

 

 

These were purchased at Wal-Mart.  I usually make my own ranch but sometimes I run out of time.  I chose this brand based on a web site I found listing over 400 GMO free foods.  The cheese I like to grate myself for best flavor, although I recently found out that all pre=shredded cheese has anti=caking chemicals in them.  YUCK!  So will be shredding ALL my cheese from now on.  Thank goodness I got a great micro planner for Christmas, but I mostly just use the good 'ole box grater like grand dad had : )  Could use the food processer but it cakes easy, even with really cold cheese.

 

 

So, now ya know.  Blessings, Beth Ann

Army Son Bagels

I made bread machine bagels today, for a quick grab and go breakfast tomorrow (I will be deal diva then).  I use to make these with my now army son, they were his favorite.  He called for the first time from S. Korea last night.  I would like to say that is what inspired me, but it is more like a God thing as I plan my menu a week or more in advance.  Yes that is me.  I already have a rough draft for the first week of Sept.  I keep a day planner in my purse and as I add to it I also add to my menu notebook.  Hey!  I think I smell a new blog idea!  LOL

 

Anyway, had a request for this recipe so here it goes:

 

Bread Machine Bagels

 

1 cup warn water

1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBS. sweetener

3 cup flour

2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

3 qt. boiling water

3 TBS. sugar/sweeter

3 TBS. molasses*

1 TBS. cornmeal

1 egg white

poppy seeds, parmesan, sesame seed or sea salt - optional

 

1)Add water, salt, sweetener, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in that order.  Select dough setting.

 

2)When cycle is complete, let dough rest on a lightly floured surface.  meanwhile in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to boil.  Stir in sugar and molasses

 

3)  Cut dough into 8 equal parts, and roll each piece into a small ball.  Flatten balls.  Poke a hole I the middle of each with your thumb.  Twirl the dough on your finger to enlarge the hole..

 

 

Cover bagels with clean cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.

 

4)  Spray a baking sheet with oil, or some cornmeal.  Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water.

 

Boil for 3 minutes, turning half way through.  Drain briefly on clean towel.  Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet.  Glaze tops with egg white, and sprinkle on your choice of toppings.

 

5)  Bake in a preheated oven of 375 degree for 25 minutes, until well browned.

 

Voila'

 

These will be denser/chewier than store bought, but oh so much better!  You will never want to go back : )

 

Note*  I use molasses to obtain the typical bagel color that is usually produced from malt, as it is healthier.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Tea Time

I am happy to report I am 3 1/2 months coffee free : )  Do I still crave it? Yes! : (  What does that mean?  I have nooooo idea, but it does play havoc with my self esteem! - LOL  Anyway . . . I found this new tea on special at the "ghetto" Kroger last Fri.  (could have been at all) ~

 

 

 

It is a black tea, but decalf.  Thought this might be a good coffee sub.  It just tasted odd, not use to black tea any more.  The tea it self is fine, I even tried it a second time with almond milk and stevia (same combo I use in my coffee) but it was still just . . . fine.  Probably won't go out of my way to purchase again (like I do with my cranberry tea).

 

 

 

I also purchased these tea's.  Just so you know, they are 75 cents cheaper at Wal-Mart VS. Kroger.  There are several blends in this brand and we enjoy them all.  They are made with real pieces of fruit in them.  I like them hot or I will add to my giant jar that I make sun tea in.  I use 6 bags reg. size green tea and 1 fruit pyramid bag.  You can actually see the fruit juice bleed out of the bag and into the water! 

 

 

I prefer green tea, but some of these are white, and I was told red or robieoo tea is best for me.  The only red tea I enjoy is Tazo Apple Cinnamon.  Although I did see reg. robieoo bagged tea at United Grocery Outlet, for a good price and packaged out of Shri Lanka.  Seeing as how it is not my favorite, I passed.  Just wanted to point out that UGO is also a good place to get tea/coffee.  I have even seen Neman's Own organic coffee there.  So, now ya know - LOL

 

Blessings, Beth  

Oil or no oil

I am trying so hard to eat better, for me and my family, despite the finance hardship.  So I will budget it a bag a chips for lunch and make sure we each have an equal serving, and that is the end of it.  No mindless grazing if you will.  So Fri. when doing my deal diva thing, I ran into Kroger for my oil.  That is the only place to find it, except on-line (well I haven't checked Publix either).  I saw these 'healthy chips' on special and decided to give them a go.  Honestly, not sure I could eat anymore greasy  bag chips.

 

 

So this is what we chose.

 

 

Here is what they look like.  We liked them.  Pretty tasty.

 

 

Here is the label.  Not bad.  The only thing that concerned me was the canola oil.  I thought I had read somewhere that canola oil was the worst and would kill you.  Never mind whatever 'expeller pressed' did for it.  So I Googled, or in my case Swag bucked and here is what I found: 

Canola oil is extracted from rapeseed, a plant in the cabbage family. Rapeseed oil is the traditional cooking oil of India and southern China, but the kind we use was bred in Canada to contain less erucic acid, a toxic fatty acid, than other varieties. This Canadian oil became known as canola oil. I use canola oil in moderation, when I want a neutral-tasting oil, but I always look for organic, expeller-pressed brands. The lower-cost products sold in supermarkets have often been extracted with chemical solvents or high-speed presses that generate heat. Both methods alter the oil's fatty acid chemistry in undesirable ways. Furthermore, canola oil producers use a lot of pesticides on their crops, and I suspect that residues find their way into the finished product, so be sure to check labels. Andrew Weil, M.D.

 

These are the only oils I use, besides real butter.

 

 

 

So, now ya know.  Blessings, Beth Ann

Deal Diva 8/10/13

Good Sat. morning all.  Finished up my weekly shopping this morning and found a few deals to make me feel less overwhelmed about the state of our food industry.  I know, must be the dreary weather we seem to keep having.  I also just finished reading a blog story on the top 10 US foods banned in other countries.  Yea, might need to find something more uplifting to perk up my day : )

 

 

 

Most of the good deals came from United Grocery Outlet, where I have been getting this whole grain bread for sandwiches.

 

 

I also visited the 'ghetto' Kroger again, they seem to have the best reduced dairy.   I picked up these Greek yogurt tubes and some chocolate milk as a lunch treat for the kids.

 

Visited Dollar General Market (our version of Aldie's) and found some mark down buns - great for this time of year : )

 

 

 

I also picked up this sausage at UGO.  I make it a rule that if I find some for under $2, get it.  I use it in my pasta sauce, meatloaf and other places that ground beef could be used.  At under two a pound, it is much cheaper and adds wonderful flavor.

 

 

 

I try not to make to many processed meals for lunches around here, so grabbed this small roast to make pulled beef sandwiches (will used some of the mark down buns here).  This was found at our local Save A-Lot, the meat there seems to be the best in town.

 

Going back to the Aldie's reference; I also read a blog story on how that store is the best for keeping grocery cost down, selection, etc. in the cheap store category (not a giant like Publix, Kroger, etc.).  Save A-lot came in second.  Am I missing something?  I never find what I want or need at Aldie's.  I really don't think they are any different than our Dollar General Market.  I guess if I had one or the other, that is where I would go, but Save A-lot has at least fresher meat and not the hassle of the non-food items clogging the aisles. But if I am missing something I hope someone will clue me in.  Most likely it is just a personal location and how they are managed, i.e. cleanliness and all that jazz.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

mini post ~ me

Army son and middle dd at the drive-in movies.
 

 Just a short note to say things are well at the old homestead.  Been a crazy couple weeks with army son home.  He is now off to S. Korea for the next year.  Everything went smooth and many memories were made.  The twins were over the moon, he is their hero (maybe mine too).  I have gotten a few text from him and mostly all he had to say is that it is hot, humid and rains most the time!  Hmmmmm, sounds a bit like middle TN. in the summer - LOL  Guess he won't get too home sick : )

Some of the goodies I am making for oldest niece.  Shhh, don't tell her, it's a surprise!


 

 What's on the sticks you ask?  Been mostly working on gifts for the up coming holiday season.  Just finishing up a care package for my oldest niece, but might put that on the back burner for a few weeks.  A good friend asked me to set up my table at an up coming church sponsored event, so now in a rush to finish some more stock.  I am thrilled and nervous at this inclusion with my Sisters in Christ : )

Lastly I wanted to issue an invite to all my local friends, to book club.  It meets the first Monday of every month at the local library.  And if your not local, find one in your neck of the woods!  You won't be sorry.  It's a great escape for adults, with like minded people and we all need that ~ at least once a month!  Last month my group read The memory keepers daughter, by Kim Edwards.  It was rich, deep and insightful in an area of the past few talk about.  I enjoyed it and think I will give her second book, The lake of dreams, a go next.  Love my library and the folks you work there!  Hope you all get to know yours too! 








Blessings, Beth Ann

Deal Diva 8/2/13

Here it is Friday again, so I went out shopping, trying to get back on track.  What a BAD idea!  I had no idea it was tax free week-end.  I really don't keep track of those things.  On top of that, public schools open next week.  Can we all say CRAZY.  So glad I only need a couple things.  I had all 4 kiddo's with me, that's right, even army son.  Funny how quickly they all revert to acting like 'little' kids when they are together.  All I can say is thank goodness it is over!  While I didn't get any screaming deals on grocery items today, I did want to share that even my hobby relies

 on mark down items.

 

 

 

I have been shopping for a new comforter for my bed, for about a year. 

Then I found a great knit afghan pattern and thought, voila'.  I will just do it myself.  Then I found this yarn;

 

but it is $7.99 a skein and I need 10 for my bed.  I was dying.  This was the PERFECT yarn.  I LOVED the beachy colors.  But how was I going to work this into my budget?

 

Enter this yarn: (made pic x-big so you can compare)

 

When I was at Wal Mart I ran down the craft aisle (who doesn't) and saw this yarn in a mark down section, only $2 a skein!  PTL  It isn't exactly like the other yarn, but close.  Life is about compromise and I can not justify $80 on yarn when a $20 solution presents it's self.  I am happy about this and will not feel one bit guilty why I am knitting a little someth'n - someth'n for myself.

 

Bottom line; there are deals to be had everywhere, if you have the patience to look for them and the  common sense to accept them.

 

Blessings, Beth