Preparing Frozen Vegetable Puree from Deceptively Delicious

Using the methods that Jessica Seinfeld outlines in her book Deceptively Delicious I prepared the following :

1.                    A total of 5 1/2 cup servings and 1 1/4 cup serving of zucchini
2.                    A total of 2 1/2 cup servings of spinach

3.                    A total of 2 1/2 cup servings and 1 1/4 serving of of yellow squash

It was definitely a long project and lucky for me M took a 3 hour nap. I also still have a sink full of dishes. I hate having pots that you have to wash by hand!

I also plan to purchase sweet potatoes and my Mom is bringing over beets from her garden. I plan to roast and bake all at the same time in the next couple of days. I bet my house will really smell like fall!

Here a few tips based on what I learned from the process. Small zucchini work much better for pureeing. Larger squash will have larger firmer seeds.

The slices are about 1" thick.

I measured the puree into a measuring cup and then poured in the freezer bag.

I stretched the freezer bag over a clean coffee cup to avoid spills.

You know how they shake the blenders around a bit at smoothie shops? I discovered that it really helps when you are pureeing too.

My most important tip for you is not to overcrowd the vegetables. Ensure that each piece has ample space to be steamed evenly.

How to Deal with a Picky Eater : How I USED to Deal

How did I deal with my picky eater? Well has of right now I still allow her to be a picky eater. I give into her requests and demands. As a result she eats mostly fruit. In her entire "schedule" of food is usually: strawberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, blueberry waffles, eggs, strawberry cream cheese, gold fish crackers, honey nut Cheerios, yogurt, milk, macaroni and cheese, Spaghetti O's, and cheese. Cheese! Oh my does she love cheese. Which brought me to Deceptively Delicious, my pediatrician mentioned that one of the recipes called for white bean puree in the macaroni and cheese. That alone sold me on the book. I thought about buying it several times but as usual the book fell into my hands.

I am convinced that I can sneak the foods that we love and want to share into what our daughter will actually eat. I can remember really not liking the texture of some foods that I LOVE today, so I think if she can get used to the flavor of some of the vegetables we can eventually bring her around! Oh and meat too, M will not eat meat either. Unless you consider meat to be lunch meat. Because she will take a few nibbles of ham here and there. So I intend to sneak some meat into her diet too!

Lucky for me most of my vegetables that I steamed and pureed were grown in my parent's organic garden, however, the vegetables that used are readily available right now!

My first attempt at sneaking beans into M's food was a complete fail. I used an entire can of garbanzo bean puree in a box of Annie's Organic Macaroni and Cheese. M knew immediately that there was something up with her favorite dinner time dish. She refused to even scoop one spoonful. My husband said she even called it "caca" Spanish for poop! After I actually READ the recipe I found that it only called for 1/2 cup. Voila! That probably would have gotten her to eat her beans. Next time!

However, my variation on the recipe in Mrs. Seinfeld's book will be based on what I have on hand at home. So most of my takes on her recipes will vary!

Confessions of a Couponholic : When "Saving" Becomes Spending

I desperately need to confess. I'm addicted to saving money. I scour the Sunday paper for deals. I can't wait to save 40% on my grocery bill, or my daughters clothes. We have a good supply on pretty much everything and anything in the house and my cabinets are stocked full of food. Yet, something compels me to continue to buy, buy, buy. Am I stocking up for the Apocalypse here? Hopefully not, yet I buy even when I already have something on hand at home. I'm not really sure why. It's not as if I am not going to be able to run to one of the many stores within short driving distance if I run out of Italian dressing!

I'm on a mission to cut the waste out. I vow for the next 30 days that I will not buy a single thing unless we truly are in need of the item. This goes for ALL shopping including quick items such as drinks at the grocery store and the gas station.

I had to go on medical leave  recently and as a result I REALLY need to watch my spending since short term disability does not give you complete pay. So I VOW not to spend for the next 30 days! I have done a rough inventory of the items of our pantry, 2 refrigerators (It's true), and 2 freezers (Yes, really we have that much food in this small suburban abode.)

I estimate that I will be able to complete several meals with the items I have on hand. However, while I am doing the best to empty the contents of my kitchen I will ALSO be doing my best to maintain a healthy menu and one that my daughter will actually eat. Thus, I picked up a copy of Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld and steamed and pureed a large amount of vegetables today. I'm going to give her strategies a whirl since I have concluded that I can not allow Madeline to be a picky eater when there is so much good food in this world to be eaten!

Fab Grocery Deals!

It's a deal gone by.. and one I should have shared. I came across a coupon for $5.00 off 5 Healthy Choice meals at denverpost.com. I don't usually eat frozen meals since they are pricey and I prefer to take leftovers to work but I printed it.


I was shopping at my local King Soopers store yesterday and came across the Healthy Choice French bread pepperoni pizzas on close-out for $1.75 each. Of course I bought 5! With my coupon it was $3.75 for all of them! Hooray!! Perfect for those days when I'm running around like crazy!

There is a coupon for $1.00 off of two at their website now!

http://www.healthychoice.com/news-special-offers/

I'm Back!!!!

Life has been incredibly busy for us over past few months. I do wish I would have shared our holiday money saving ideas. There is always this year!

Plans for this year: (I'm not going to call them resolutions as they are almost 1 month late!)

Organize closets
Clean out Garage
Spend more time outside
Give more
Expect less
Eat 1 piece of fruit per day
Save $$ for our BIG trip

I also hope to live each day inspired, and to give Thanks to our Lord.

Here is to blogging in 2010!

Frugal Money Saving Gift - Monkey Diaper Cake

I love diaper cakes. I received 3 when I was expecting Princess Peanut and each one was amazing in their own unique way. I've always been a master of a glue gun and have been crafting since I was a wee child. I like to put those skills to use as often as I can. I've made wonderful fleece blankets for Christmas, designed and crafted centerpieces for our wedding, and many other things to save a buck or two. Two of our dearest friends are expecting and I recently put together an amazing gift to serve as the centerpiece for their shower I am hosting. I bought a majority of the items I used at Ross Dress for Less.  I also used coupons that I had laying around for the diapers. The ribbon was purchase from the craft section at Walmart, I usually purchase all of my crafting items there.

This particular diaper cake used about 150 diapers in both size 1 and 2. I used storebrand diapers for the center of the cake and premium diapers for the outside ring. All the items combined cost about $70.00 and you may not consider that frugal. If you were to purchase a diaper cake of this caliber from online or at a boutique you would be paying well over $100.00.

I used the following items in the cake seen here:

2 packs of Gerber burp cloths- $1.99

1 12 pack baby wash cloths- $3.99

1 3 pack bibs $4.99

1 3 pack socks - $2.99

1 pack of travel size baby lotions, shampoo, etc. - $2.77

1 pack size 2 store brand (generic) - 50 pack, $5.77

1 pack size 1 premium diapers - 42 pack, $11.00 with coupon

1 pack size 2 premium diapers - 38 pack $11.00 with coupon

1 spool brown satin ribbon - $1.99

1 4 pack receiving blankets - $14.99 (only item purchased from registry)

1 onsie - $1.99

1 stuffed monkey - 4.99

1 pack of two pacifiers - $1.00

The cardboard "cake" plate I cut out of a cardboard box so that was free, the ribbons I used to tie the diapers and secure the ribbon was curling ribbon, and was purchased from Dollar Tree (Obviously for 1 dollar).  I had the basic ideas for the cake and watched a few instuctional videos on youtube. I found the cake to be prettier when you put the items on the inside of the cake rather than hanging from the outside.

I also made this pink and green diaper cake for friends of ours that are having twin girls! It wasn't quite as big and I didn't use premium diapers on this one, but I think it is just as beautiful!

My Fantastic Thrift Store Finds

Ahhhh.... how I love the times that I go into one of my favorite thrift stores and walk out with a bag full of wonderful items for a incredible bargain!

I ventured over to such a place today. It is on the opposite side of town so I rarely get to go, so I am always hoping that the thrift store gods are with me when I do. Let me tell you they were in full force today! Princess Peanut and I scored! Of course everything we got was in near new condition, and in current style! Of course I would never accept anything less!

For a mere $80.00 I got a Winter sweater wardrobe and Princess Peanut got several sleepers and outfits!

Mommy got these 8 Items:

1 black cardigan sweater - Banana Republic

1 white cardigan sweater - Banana Republic

1 black & white striped cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft

1 grey and white striped sweater - Banana Republic

1 white casual sweater coat - Simply Vera Wang

1 black boat neck sweater - Ann Taylor

1 cream cable sweater - Old Navy

1 blue long sleeved hoodie - Old Navy

Princess Peanut got 9 items:

1 red corduroy jumper - Gymboree

1 pink polka dot sleeper - Old Navy

1 purple striped sleeper - Carters

1 pink corduroy dress - Mini Boden

1 white sweater shrug - Cherokee

1 black and white star shirt - Circo

1 pink animal sleeper - Baby Gap

1 green bee sleeper - Gymboree

1 pink flower sleeper - R.E.I.

All in all we got 17 items for $80.00, that is $4.70 a item! Wow! You couldn't even buy a t-shirt at Walmart for that. I know some people are "ooky" about used items. I ask those folks to state a legitimate reason why. Ever heard of soap? How do you think hospital and hotel linens are cleaned? If they still steer away from thrifty finds then I say "More for Me"!