Easy and Fast Tomato Bisque

We've got about 2 feet of snow where I live since last night and it's freezing outside, definitely making for a perfect soup day! There has always been something about tomato soup and snow days that really makes me happy. These days I like to take your standard condensed tomato soup and turn it up a notch. By adding a few additional ingredients you can have a soup that is a little more sophisticated and grownup but still satisfies the way it did when you were a kid! For around $4.00 you will get about 4 servings. Note: Prices are based on my local supermarket's offerings.

2 cans condensed tomato soup - $1.78

1 1/2 cans milk – appox. $.50

1/2 can water

1 can diced tomatoes $1.29

1 teaspoon dried basil to taste

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese – approx. $.50

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir well. Bring to boil on medium- high. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. I told you it was fast!

I serve my tomato bisque with toasted ciabatta croutons. To make croutons slice 1 ciabatta roll into slices about 1" thick and top with fresh grated parmesan. Toast in toaster oven until golden brown and parmesan begins to bubble. Cool and cut into cubes. Add croutons to soup before serving. Top soup with additional grated parmesan cheese. Note: My local grocery stores sells 6 ciabatta rolls for $2.79 or about $.47 each.

Frugalista Confession #1

I don't always stick to my guns and buy frugally. Sometimes I buy items that are considered a splurge. In doing so I try to ensure that such items are well worth the money! Items that you use daily like shoes, purses, and coats should be well made and versatile. This allows you to have more wiggle room in the the other areas of your wardrobe. By mixing items that are well made with thrifty finds you save money but don't look like you did!

My daily commute includes several walks to and from my office. I splurge on good shoes that don't pinch. I also like to buy well made coats that can withstand the elements and allow me to still look professional. Most people would never know that my pants were purchased at Target if I have a nice pair of (discounted) nice Nine West shoes (purchased at an outlet store).

I work in a very competitive environment/industry and a professional wardrobe is a necessity. A lot of worthy finds have come from thrift stores and clearance racks. Again, I purchase quality items that will last a long time rather than trendy cheap items that will be out by next season. Black shoes, black pants, and white dress shirts can be worn at anytime with a few accessories if you know how to buy those items to last.

Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

My sister lives in Northern Colorado in the center of the agricultural region. She went to a working farm and collected red potatoes (for an incredible bargain!) and was sweet enough to share with us. It started to snow today and I always seem to want to use the Crockpot when the weather begins to cool! This wonderful recipe yields 12 hearty servings at approximately $12.00. You can enjoy on a cold day and have leftovers for a few lunches, it also freezes really well!

5 medium red potatoes, cubed

5 medium carrots, peeled and sliced – approx. $1.20

1 medium onion, sliced – approx. $1.00

2 pounds stew meat - $5.99

3 beef bullion cubes

6 cups of water

1 12oz canned diced tomatoes - $1.49

1 small head of cabbage, chopped $1.00

1 12oz bag frozen corn - $1.00 , on sale

Brown meat in skillet, remove and place in Crockpot. Add 2 cups of water and bullion cubes to the pan drippings and bring to a boil Reduce heat and stir. Simmer until bullion cubes are dissolved. Layer onions, potatoes, and carrots on top of meat. I use the layering technique when I use my Crockpot to ensure the vegetables that take longer cook (like potatoes and carrots) cook thoroughly. It also ensures that you don’t end up with soggy cabbage. Add can of tomatoes, bullion mixture, and additional 4 cups of water. Finish with cabbage and cook undisturbed for 5 hours on high. Stir and add corn in final 1 hour of cooking. I love to serve with toasted slices of fresh French bread and butter.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

I’m famous in my circle of friends for my spinach artichoke dip. I am always asked to take it to gatherings and I am always happy to oblige. Why? Mainly because we buy the artichoke hearts in a 65 oz jar at Costco and it’s a cinch to make! The artichoke hearts are fantastic in a variety of recipes and last for a very long time; the entire jar costs about $12.00!

I took this to pumpkin carving party today and it only cost me about $5.00. I also picked up the bag of baguettes for about $2.00, but I still managed to stay around $7.00 for a fantastic dip that is always a hit!

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach -$1.00

1 cup canned artichoke hearts, roughly chopped - approx $1.50

½ medium yellow onion, chopped – approx. $.50

1/2 cup mayonnaise - approx. $.50

1/2 cup sour cream – approx. $.50

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan – approx. $1.00

1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Sauté onions and chopped garlic in olive oil until onions begin to soften. Add balsamic vinegar and continue cooking until onions begin to caramelize. Heat the spinach in a microwave oven on high for 5 minutes and squeeze dry. Drain the artichoke hearts and coarsely chop in a food processor.

Add artichokes, spinach, and red pepper flakes to onions and garlic and stir until fully incorporated. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Combine all the ingredients. Stir well. Scrape into the prepared casserole dish and add additional grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes.  Serve with toasted baguettes or corn chips.

Take the Time At the Register... and Get the Club Card!!

I'm pretty sure I have signed up for just about every store club card there is, (well at least at the stores that I shop at)!  Of course, as a result I'm on just about on every junk mail list there is! Why am I happy about this you ask? Coupons! I get coupons for almost every business that I frequent. What do I do with the rest of the junk? I recycle them of course! Ulta sends me coupons every few weeks or so, usually for $3.50 off a purchase of $10.00. I regularly get emails from Borders with a 30% off 1 item offer. Do I carry cards? No way! I have way too many things to carry around with me. I just give my phone number at the cashier.

I know there are people out there who do not want companies to be privy to their shopping habits and private information. Yet, the more companies that know about their customers (especially their buying habits) the better they can tailor their business to the consumer.

I know that some buyer cards accumulate points and expire after a certain time period.. completely lame! Even if I am not sure if I will frequent a store I usually sign up for the card just in case they send out one of those "members only" offers. So next time you are asked at the register to sign up do take the couple of minutes and sign up, it could save you more than you think!

Fantastic Frugal Find! - e.l.f. products

I was just at Target (my favorite late night haunt) and I came across the e.l.f. products! hooray! Most of these wonderful cosmetic products sell on the e.l.f. website http://www.eyeslipsface.com/  for around $1.00 each. They are also selling for the same price at Target stores! I'm always a stickler about shipping and handling charges so it is wonderful to have these products close to home! Trust me when I say that even though the prices are low for the e.l.f. line, the quality is not! 

How to be a Frugalista - Lesson # 5

Shop where the crowds don't. I shop in two areas of town that seem to get less shoppers than in other areas. Alas, if you are a fellow Coloradan I'm not giving up my spots!
However, pay close attention! Do you every drive by a mall or a store and notice the parking lot is empty? That is a good sign that their clearance racks are stocked full of items! (Yes, a true Frugalista LOVES a good clearance sale!) These are also the best places to go after a holiday to pick up decorations for next year!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Mexican cuisine is by far my favorite. The combination of corn tortillas, cheese, and chicken has always been comforting to me! I'm always looking for new variations to experiment with and since my parents had a large crop of poblano peppers this season I came up with this great recipe. Beyond tasting amazing this wonderful recipe is also economical, costing about $9.70 for 8 generous servings! ole!

1 dozen corn tortillas, crumbled - $.89

1, 28oz can enchilada sauce (green or red) -$2.49

4 chicken breasts, shredded -$3.99 on sale

1 half onion chopped - Approx. $.50

8-12 roasted peppers, chopped (or 2 small cans chopped chilies)

8 oz Mexican style cheese, shredded - $1.79 on sale

Chopped green onions for garnish

Boil chicken breasts until cooked, about 15 minutes. When cool, shred into small pieces.

Sauté onion and chopped peppers until onions are translucent. Add shredded chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and allow to cook for 2 minutes.

Spread a ladle full of the green chili sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas, a layer of the chicken, and end with a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat until you have used all the ingredients and you end up with mixture a final layer of cheese on the top.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes oven or until sides are bubbly. Serve with sour cream, chopped tomato, and shredded lettuce.

Save Money With an Indoor Herb Garden

I'm the kind of cook that likes a lot of color. Of course I use dry herbs when fresh herbs are not available but obviously fresh herbs are so much more flavorful and appealing. My wonderful mother put together an herb garden for us and we have saved so much money as a result. Our little planter resided outdoors for the summer and it has since been moved inside.

As long as you are taking good care of your herb garden you will have it around indefinitely. Usually a few sprigs will suffice in a recipe and you can combine several types in one container. In ours we have chives, parsley, basil, and oregano.

There is an initial investment to begin a herb garden, but it will indeed save you money over time. As long as you have a sunny spot in your home (8 + hours of light is best), and if you can take care of a houseplant you can have an indoor herb garden too.


You can usually but together a similar herb garden for around $10.00 in supplies. Seeds are the most frugal way to start of course and will result in a longer wait to reap the benefits. If you do decide to get starter plants you will have a larger initial investment, but still well worth it! How many times have you paid a ridiculous chunk of change for fresh herbs at the grocery store and didn't use the full amount you paid for?


Waste no more my frugal friends!

How to be a Frugalista - Lesson # 4

Don't rule out Craigslist. We all probably know more than one person that has been skunked on craigslist. I myself have been victim to more than one shady deal or sketchy person. However, don't rule out buying (or selling) on this great free site. I purchased my nursery furniture on there which included the crib, mattress, dresser, and glider for $350.00! Talk about savings! I figure once princess peanut is older she will get nicer furniture. As of right now for a room that she only gets changed in, the furniture is great! I also purchased a travel swing in near new condition for less than half of what they were going for in the store. Sometimes you will have to drive across town  so you should always factor in the value of your time and fuel. If you are searching for a particular item, search early and often! Most sellers adhere to a first to respond first dibs policy!

Fabulous Frugal Breakfast Strata

I often find that I will buy a loaf of French bread and will only use half or less with dinner. Because the shelf life of a fresh French loaf is so short the bread often can go to waste.

If we have a stale loaf around on the weekend we often make a strata with whatever we have in the house. It varies from vegetables one week to sausage the next. Stratta is almost always better if prepared the night before and baked the next morning. It's a great option when you don't want to spend your morning cooking. Stratta is also a pretty food and makes for a great presentation for Sunday brunch. Not to mention this fabulous stratta only costs about $7.00! You will get about 8 generous portions, for about $.87 per serving. Not too shabby!

To enjoy this wonderful strata you will need:

1 half loaf of French bread. (preferably a few days old). - approx $.50

8 eggs - approx. $.66

1 1/2 cup milk- approx. $.50

8 ounces shredded cheese - $2.79

10 oz ground sausage - $2.50 with coupon

1 half yellow onion, chopped

Louisiana style hot sauce to taste

chopped green onion to taste

Begin by browning sausage in skillet. Add onion once sausage is beginning to cook through. Cook until sauage is fully cooked and the onions are translucent. In a mixing bowl beat together the eggs and milk and hot sauce. Spray casserole dish or glass baking pan with cooking spray. Tear up French bread into bite sized pieces arranging half in the bottom of the dish. Layer half of the sausage mixture, half the egg mixture, and half the shredded cheese. Repeat this process for your final layer. Refrigerate for a least 1 hour, but preferably longer. Bake for 45 - 55 minutes at 375. Test with toothpick to ensure middle is cooked. Garnish with chopped onion during the last 10 minutes of baking. I like to serve my strata with a side of fresh fruit.

Yummy!

How to be a Frugalista - Lesson #3

Learn to love leftovers. I know, I know... no one really LOVES eating the same thing twice. Well... It's time to get over that. I love eating out as much as the next gal. I also realize that I was spending a hearty chunk of my money on my love of good food. It was extremely hard for me to change my habits because I used to be a "never eat anything twice" person. My hubs is a stay-at-home Daddy, and we have half the income that we used to. That is when I had a talking to with my taste buds. I convinced them and myself an important lesson. Who cares if you had meatloaf for dinner, it was good then.. and will be good at lunch too.

Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta

We celebrated the end of the growing season in Colorado tonight. We had our first frost and my parents picked the last of the vegetables from their garden. I LOVE pasta sauce with fresh veggies and decided to make one of my favorite dishes. Because of the generosity of my parents this wonderfully delicious and beautiful dinner only cost us about $6.00! If you have friends or family that have a garden it’s always in your favor if you drop a hint about your love of homegrown produce! If you are not so lucky check out farmers markets in your area! (Note: Food prices are based on my local supermarket's offerings)


If you want to try this fantastic and fast dinner you will need the following:

1 pound ground meat (We prefer to use Turkey) - $4.99

1 small Yellow Squash

1 small Zucchini

1 half medium Yellow Onion

8-10 Roma Tomatoes

Fresh Parsley to taste

1 16oz Jar bottled Marinara – On Sale $1.00

1 box of pasta - On Sale $1.00

Brown ground meat and drain, (I use a few sprays of cooking spray to prevent sticking). Chop onion add to browning meat. Slice yellow squash and zucchini, add to meat and cover. Cook until veggies begin to lose their firmness. Add sliced roma tomatoes and cook for additional 5 minutes. Once tomatoes are beginning to reduce add marinara and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Of course while all of this is occurring you have been boiling your pasta! We garnished our pasta with some fresh chopped Italian parsley and parmesan cheese. Serve sauce over any pasta of your choice we just happened to use fettucini this time. This recipe is also great topped with shredded mozzarella and baked! Yummy!

Frugalista Mommy - Lesson # 2

Lesson # 2. Two is better than one. Email addresses that is. I'm a firm believer in having more than one email address. I personally maintain 3. One email address I strictly use for website registrations. This allows for me to register at websites for the places I eat, shop, and play. I'm registered everywhere, Betty Crocker, Old Navy, Ulta, anywhere I shop. You can weed out the coupons and offers that you will use and delete the others. Last fall Old Navy offered their subscribers 40% for mentioning an email offer in store! Don't miss out on opportunities like that because you don't want the junk mail. You could be missing out on some serious savings.

Frugalista Mommy - Lesson # 1

How to be a Frugalista:

(First you must remove that chip from your shoulder. Dusted off? Now we can begin.)

Lesson # 1 - Veer off of the beaten path. I often find amazing deals and worthy finds in unexpected places. Gift shops, thrift stores, ethnic markets, dollar stores, the list goes on and on. A hotel chain was changing hands across the street from my office a few months back. During the renovation the gift shop was liquidating their inventory quietly. I picked up a Burt's Bees lip balm set for $1.99, that made me smile.