How to Cook the Best Hamburger Steak

Hamburger is one of the most versatile meats around. It can be formed into hamburger patties, meatloaf or made into a tasty sloppy joe or added to spaghetti sauce for a heartier Italian meal. Once considered a staple among American households, the hamburger steak has lost some of its popularity over the years. Too bad, since it offers a lot of versatility and can be a good choice for a quick, but tasty meal that everyone around the table will love. Easy to prepare, and relatively inexpensive to make, learning how to cook the best hamburger steak you've ever tasted only requires a few simple steps:

Mix the following ingredients together: 2 pounds ground beef; 1/2 cup finely chopped onion; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 2 egg yolks; 2 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs.
Mold the mixture into ½ inch patties
Heat a skillet with 3 tablespoons butter over a medium heat
Place the patties in the hot skillet, flipping several times during the cooking process to keep them from getting too brown or crunchy.
Fry until the meat is longer pink inside
Remove the steak patties from the skillet
Add 3 more tablespoons of butter to the fry pan, along with 3 tablespoons of your favorite wine or brandy. Heat over a low-medium heat
Once hot, pour the mixture over the patty steaks
Serves 6

As you can see learning how to make the best hamburger steaks you have ever tasted is not hard, or time consuming. As a matter of fact, it is a matter of fact it is probably one of the easiest recipes you will ever make that offers such a delicious meal.

Not Your Grandmother's Chicken!

Doesn't just about everybody like chicken? And doesn't it bring up memories of the family around the table, enjoying a wholesome meal and good family time? Chicken's the inexpensive choice, with thousands upon thousands of recipes singing its praises.

Well, those were the good old days. I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but they've gone and messed with good old chicken.

Tyson shoots antibiotics into chicken eggs before they hatch, then, when the chicken hatches, grows and is ready to go to market, they call it natural, saying no antibiotics were used in raising the chicken. How about that? A truthful statement that means a lie!

But I'm not here to talk about antibiotics in chickens, health-damaging though they may be.

And I'm not here to talk about the hormones they use to pump up chickens in farm factories. Even though chickens with thunder thighs just aren't natural.

No, I'm here to talk about 'broth,' the tainted liquid they add to processed chicken before it hits the grocery store shelves. Don't see any broth? They shoot it into the meat with a gazillion little needles so it's not visible, but it sure is there.

Sometimes the broth is simply salted water, where processed-to-death salt gets added with a heavy hand.

But usually it's a heavily salted broth laced with soy, which, they say, enhances the flavor. Soy, of course, is basically a poison.

Soy is chock-a-block full of bogus estrogen that's ready, willing and able to throw our endocrine system into a serious tizzy. Enough of the stuff, and men end up with breasts, women with PMS, boys with a lifetime of low testosterone and girls who enter the land of PMS at an unnaturally early age.

And while soy is cruising down that nefarious path, it also depresses thyroid function as it goes.

Now that's a barrel of laughs right there! Sheesh!

But, hark! Soy also comes heavily laden with brain-damaging glutamate. Brain damaging? Oh, indeed.

Glutamate damages the part of the brain called the hypothalamus, the ruler of both our nervous system and endocrine system.

You may end up with peripheral neuropathy, a fancy name for pins, needles, pain and numbness in your arms and/or legs. Or you may end up with an auto-immune disease.

And since the hypothalamus controls the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals and sex glands, they may all go on a downhill slide into malfunction, too. And for this you're paying money.

Ho, boy, are you paying! The chicken factories charge for that odious liquid. If a package of chicken is 15% broth, then 15% of the price you pay is for tainted liquid that does a number on your health! If the chicken costs $9.00, you're paying $1.35 to buy a problem you don't want.

And the salt they use isn't far behind in all the trouble causing. Sea salt it ain't! It's the nutrition-free salt that "pours when it rains," and our bodies don't like it so much.

Natural chicken has about 300mg of salt per pound. Add the broth, though, and that number jumps ANOTHER 2000mg per pound. Our bodies know what to do with natural salt, but the stuff they add to the broth? Not really.

So what to do?

Get free range, 100% organic chicken. Labels can monkey around with the word 'organic,' but 100% takes away the wiggle room. 100% organic avoids the antibiotics, the hormones and the broth.

But why did they have to go and make it so hard?

Benefits of Drinking Water

The weight loss and diet industry makes billions of dollars annually worldwide. From pills to expensive equipment, it can seem frustrating to find a solution that is inexpensive and can boost your metabolism as well. Well look no further. By taking a few steps to the nearest faucet or by drinking the contents of a simple bottle of water, you are putting your body on the right track to becoming healthy and ready to take on anything.

Most Americans forget that drinks such as juices, colas, coffees, and teas are not the proper substitute to giving your body the water it needs. And considering your body needs at least 7 (8 ounce) glasses of water daily just to keep its liver and kidneys functioning properly, it is no wonder that over 75% of the US population is currently suffering from mild cases of chronic dehydration.

The benefits of drinking water are countless. With every glass of water you drink, your body is metabolizing extra fat, receiving aid in the digestion of food, obtaining important lubrication and cushioning of the internal organs, and flushing toxins out of your system.

Water is the only calorie-free, 100% natural health supplement that can easily be described as an amazing fat burning device. Simply by exchanging your coffee and teas with water, you will notice you will feel more energized and even see an increase in your body's resting metabolic rate. Saving you the money you would have spent on expensive diet foods and weight loss pills that may or may not work.

Considering our body is made up of 70% water, you simply cannot deny its importance. By drinking fresh clean water every day, you will not only look great, but feel great as well.

Fun Healthy Snacks for Kids

Kids love snacks. After school, in the late evening, or just about anytime, kids want snacks. You may be struggling with snack ideas for your kids that are healthy and inexpensive.

Here is a list of healthy snacks to give your kids.

Some of the healthy choices for kid's snacks are unsweetened
applesauce, bottled water, fruit cups or snacks, raisins and other dried fruits, granola bars, low fat or fat free milk, and pure fruit juice.

Meat and Cheese: Low fat lunchmeats such as chicken, turkey, and ham make fun snacks when rolled around a small slice of cheese or on whole wheat bread, cut into finger size sandwiches. Cheese and low fat or fat free crackers served with low-sodium pickles are favorites as well as turkey hot dogs with mustard.

Fresh fruit: Kids love fresh fruit peeled and sliced into bits size pieces with some low-fat yogurt on the side for dipping. Peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread with a little sugar free jelly are great ideas for a healthy snack that your kids will enjoy.

Fresh veggies: Fresh vegetables cut into bite size chunks with some low fat salad dressing are fun snacks that your kids will love and not even notice that they are healthy.

Finding healthy snacks that your kids will actually eat is not
impossible. Give your kids healthy choices and arrange the various food items in a fun, colorful way on their plates as extra incentive to enjoy the healthy foods.

Childhood obesity is a major problem in our society. Make sure your kids eat healthy, fun snacks that give them some nutritional benefits and set an example of healthy eating from a young age.

The Changing World of Coffee Brewing Methods

We all know only too well time and history change most things - even the way we brew coffee in our own homes.

Do you remember back to when the only piece of equipment we had to brew espresso was a percolator? My Mum had one that she used to put on the top of the stove. As a child I found it fascinating to watch the water heat until the pressure forced it up a small tube and over a metal basket full of freshly ground beans.

Here in Australia, the Bushells brand of coffee was popular then and came in a glass vacuum sealed jar with the brand name inscribed onto the glass. The quality of the cup of coffee it made was fairly ordinary by today's standards. I can tell you from past experience that boiling water and then running the liquid over grounds more than once produces a brew that is far from perfect.

But fortunately for us....home coffee brewing methods and appliances have certainly improved over the years.

By the 1970s the drip method turned up on the market and changed our coffee drinking habits forever. This was brewing simplicity at its best and soon took the domestic market by storm. Its main features were that it was inexpensive, quick to use and provided a marked improvement in flavour against anything the stove top percolator could produce.

Basically this model comprised a plastic container that was lined with coffee filter paper which was then filled with ground beans. This was then set on top of a glass container in which water, that was almost boiling, was poured over the beans and left to drip through to the glass pot on the bottom. Still today I have a china single cup version of this model and find it very quick and handy to use with very little mess to clean up afterwards.

A bit later on coffee bags turned up on the shelves of supermarkets here in Australia under brands like 'The House of Robert Timms' variety. Basically they are coffee bags and are made and used in exactly the same manner as tea bags.

In the US and other countries they have coffee pods. A similar idea to the coffee bag and come in different shapes and sizes - you can have the choice of either single or double cup sizes of your favourite blend of ground beans.

The Coffee Pod was also designed to be used in coffee making machines where water temperature is always near 200F (93C). With varying sorts of controls the brew and internal spouts can be adjusted to spread the water evenly over the grounds. Coffee pods are either cone or flat in design and made of porous type paper which holds a measure of ground beans. They certainly are convenient and save a lot of mess and fuss in making a quick cup of coffee that tastes ok.

So why not step outside your usual routine and be a little adventurous. In this day and age there are literally dozens of different methods of brewing coffee just waiting for you to try.

Romantic Meals on a Budget

Food and romance go hand in hand. But, if you're on a budget, you don't need to spend a lot of money to show your sweetie that you love him. You can have a romantic meal at home - for the cost of a regular meal. The food you choose is not nearly as important as the atmosphere you create. You could easily make a very romantic meal from pizza or sandwiches if you take the time to create the perfect ambiance in the room.

Choose your main dish according to your partner's favorite dishes. There's no point in feeding him something he dislikes. Plus, an upset stomach is not very romantic, so take his food preferences into account when planning.

Appetizers are a great way to dress up any meal. Some favorite romantic additions include asparagus, artichokes, oysters, black beans, strawberries, and chocolate.

The presentation of your meal is more important than the foods you serve. Keep things simple and mix flavors and textures, giving the meal contrast and different shapes. Plan ahead and prepare everything you can in advance so that your final meal preparation goes quickly. Romantic foods can include almost anything if you serve the meal with soft candlelight and music.

Here are some additional tips to plan that perfect romantic meal:

Decorate your table with tall candles and inexpensive flowers placed in a glass vase.

Add a pretty tablecloth and cloth napkins to add elegance to your romantic meal.

Fold your napkins into decorative shapes and use napkin holders made from colorful paper with romantic massages or poetry written on the paper.

Use your best dishes or simply purchase 2 plates in a discount or thrift store. Strawberries dipped in chocolate are not only yummy, but they are very romantic. Purchase inexpensive fortune cookies with romantic fortunes inside for a little excitement if you desire.

Use your imagination instead of your credit cards to create a romantic meal that neither of you will soon forget. You'll be able to relax and enjoy your romantic meal, knowing that you aren't going into debt enjoying it.

List of Healthy Foods to Eat From Your Local Supermarket

The list of healthy foods to eat is extensive and includes easily obtained foods from your local supermarket.

The categories of good health foods include raw vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, and good lean protein such as meat or eggs. However, the majority of your daily food consumption should consist of raw vegetables and fresh fruits.

Daily Nutritional Needs

A major component of your your daily diet should include a healthy portion of whole grains.

Whole grains have been found to help lower blood sugar while aiding in avoiding some of the causes of child obesity.

The list of whole grains is long. But of more importance to you is the list of healthy foods available in your supermarket that contain them.

Healthy Diet Menu

Many inexpensive healthy recipes can be used to make delicious meals from the list of healthy foods in the whole grain category.

The list of ready-to-eat whole grain products includes:
* Whole grain breads containing whole wheat, oats, or spelt, among others.
* Whole grain cereals such as oats, corn, or whole wheat products.
* Whole grain pasta made from whole wheat or spelt.
* Corn meal that has not been degerminated. If it is degerminated it is no longer a whole grain.
* Corn chips made from the entire kernel of corn.
* Brown or wild rice (or mixes of both).

It is not difficult to begin consuming larger quantities of raw vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains if you begin to slowly integrate them into your daily meals. It's easy.

Once you look beyond fast foods and begin making healthful food choices the list of healthy foods to eat begins to seem almost endless.

Facial Mask Recipes

Making a facial mask at home is quite easy and inexpensive. Home made facial masks containing natural ingredients are quick and simple to create at home. The best facial mask is honey. Place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores. Smear on honey, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Baking soda removes conditioner build-up from your hair. Rub in and rinse thoroughly, then shampoo with your regular shampoo. Use warm cloth to open pores, smear on honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer. Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture. Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pips and rub the flesh over face and neck.

Egyptian facial mask-

A little egg, a little milk, a little olive oil and you have the makings of an ancient mask. Grape cleanser-split 2-3 grapes and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse with cool water. Massage into the face and neck . Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off. Dry Skin Mask-mix 1 tsp. of butter in 1 teaspoon of water. Apply it thoroughly into all the dry areas and leave for 15 - 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Another facial mask is oatmeal facial mask-take 2 tsp oatmeal and 1 tsp baking soda and add water to make paste. Apply to face and all over the skin and rub gently. Do not apply any type of facial mask just before a special occasion, the reason for this is the drawing power of the mask can flush the skin.

Facial mask for sensitive skin-

warm some hone to melt it, then apply. Leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes. A little oil, mashed artichoke and lemon juice is all you need for this mask. All the amounts needed are included in this recipe. Papaya facial mask-peel and remove seeds. Chop into pieces and drop into food processor. Puree until papaya is the consistancy of baby food. Use 1/2 a tablespoon for each facial. Keep leftovers in a baggie in the frig. Face mask for sunburned skin mix 1 cup plain yogurt and ½ cup oatmeal and apply to the skin for 15 minutes. Mash banana and avacado, combine with other ingredients, and mix well. Apply liberally to face and neck. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Banana-

Avacado Mask ingredients 1/2 over-ripe banana ,1/2 over-ripe avacado ,2 Tbsp unflavored full-fat yogurt and 1 tsp olive oil ,Mash banana and avacado, combine with other ingredients, and mix well. Apply liberally to face and neck. Leave on for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Lighten circles under eyes Recipe-to lighten dark circles under your eyes, wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream. Ingredients 4-5 very ripe med-size strawberries ,2 tsp. heavy cream and 1 tsp. honey. Puree strawberries, cream and honey together in a blender. Apply to your face evenly. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water or soft wash cloth.

Pasta Salad As A Healthy Alternative

Pasta has always been associated with weight and a heavy feeling. True, pasta is rich in carbohydrate, a food group most often than not, shunned by weight watchers. However, there are still people who find it hard to avoid this altogether. And they are right in thinking so.

Although it tends to add weight if taken in excess, carbohydrate is very important because it gives the body the energy it needs to enable it to do its work properly. So for those who cannot give up pasta, there is an alternative.

Instead of having it th traditional way ( with meat and bacon, and cream and all the fatty substances), why not have it as a salad? Below are three fantastic recipes gathered from all over:

TURKEY PASTRAMI AND PASTA SALAD

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. TURKEY PASTRAMI, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

8-ozs. rotini, cooked and drained

1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and cut into quarters

1 cup carrrots, chopped (2 medium)

1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)

1/2 cup chopped celery (1 stalk)

1 4-oz can black olives, drained and sliced

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

1 /2 tsp garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

6 lettuce leaves

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, combine pastrami, rotini, artichoke, carrots, onion, celery and olives.

2. In small bowl, combine oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss together with pastrami mixture and refrigerate for 1 hour.

3. Serve on lettuce leaves.

APPLE PASTA SALAD

Ingredients:

1 container (8 oz.) plain nonfat yogurt

1 can (8 oz.) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained

1/2 tsp salt, optional

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp finely chopped crystallized ginger

1 Tbsp honey

2 cups uncooked rotini pasta

1/2 cup shedded carrot

1 cup sliced celery

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/4 cup raisins

3 cups diced, unpeeled apples (suggested: Empire, Gala, Ida Red, Jonagold, Jonathan, McIntosh, Red Delicious, or Rome)

Instructions:

Thoroughly combine yogurt, pineapple, salt, spices, ginger, and honey; refrigerate. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly. Cool completely. In large bowl, combine all ingredients including yogurt dressing. Chill thoroughly before serving.

GARDEN PASTA SALAD

Ingredients:

1 can (16-ozs) mixed fruit in juice or extra light syrup

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 pkg. (8-oz) spinach spiral pasta

2 tsp cornstarch

1 Tbsp basil

2 cloves garlic, mincedv
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup celery, sliced

1/2 cup green onion, thinly sliced

- Romaine lettuce leaves

Instructions:

Drain mixed fruit, reserving liquid. Drizzle fruit with vinegar and set aside. Cook pasta in boiling water until tender; drain and cool slightly. Meanwhile, in small saucepan, whisk together reserved liquid, cornstarch, basil, and garlic.

Stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils. Remove from heat; stir in mixed fruit and vinegar. Toss pasta with tomatoes, celery, and green onion. Fold in fruit and sauce; chill. Spoon onto Romaine lettuce to serve.

A Healthy Quick Dinner Recipe For Busy Families - Orange Chicken

It seems that our days are getting busier, and it's often hard to get a healthy and quick dinner recipe on the table at a reasonable time. Family dinners are an important part of the day and worth planning ahead to make sure there is a healthy quick dinner recipe available. Finding healthy recipes that are quick and easy can be a challenge, but with a little planning ahead cooking dinner can be a snap.

Plan a weeks worth of menus in advance and shop using a list. This will save you money on impulse items, and you will have a quick menu planned for every night of the week. When planning, be sure to take into account any regular weekly activities such as little league or dance lessons. Sometimes a crock pot meal or a cook ahead entrée is best for these nights.

Here is a healthy quick dinner recipe that is simple to prepare, then cooks quickly in only 15 minutes in the oven while you prepare a box of rice pilaf and green vegetable. This healthy quick dinner recipe will help solve tonight's dinner crisis and provide you with a winning entrée fit for a company meal. As a bonus, it can be halved or expanded to fit the number of servings needed and uses only one bowl and one baking dish, so cleanup is easy.

If you're a dark meat fan, you could also use chicken thighs and legs for this recipe, but you would need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Healthy Quick and Easy Orange Chicken Dinner 4 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled

pinch black pepper

1 cup orange juice

grated rind of 1 orange

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Arrange the chicken breasts in a 13x9x2" baking dish
Drizzle the chicken with the melted butter and sprinkle with paprika.
Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, until fork tender, basting occasionally with the pan juices.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a wild rice pilaf and green beans or a salad.

15 Minute Dinner - A Healthy Quick Recipe For Stir Fry Chicken With Zucchini

This dinner- a healthy quick recipe for Stir Fry Chicken with Zucchini and Noodles is a busy mom's dream come true. It is an extra quick and easy chicken recipe that is inexpensive to boot. The noodles cook in 1 minute once the water boils and the chicken only needs a few minutes of stir frying. The dish is low in fat and healthy, and sure to be a hit for dinner on those busy nights. Why not bring out the chopsticks and practice up on your skills.

To thinly slice the chicken, place the breasts in the freezer for a few minutes to partially freeze the meat. The breasts will then be firm but not hard and easy to slice thin. Be careful not to freeze solid however, frozen chicken is nearly impossible to slice. Instead of the ramen noodles, you could also serve this recipe over stir fried rice or alone with additional vegetables.

Stir Fry Chicken with Zucchini and Noodles

1whole or 2 halves chicken breast, diced or sliced thin

1 Tablespoon oil

1 clove garlic crushed, or 1 teaspoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

1/2 cup bamboo shoots, sliced into matchsticks

14 cup canned mushroom slices

1 1/2 cups diced zucchini

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup water or chicken broth

3-4 packages chicken flavored ramen noodles depending on your guests

Put on the water for the noodles. Ramen noodles cook fast, follow the package directions, but you will drain them for serving. There is no need to cook them separately, just do them all in the same pot. When the cooking time is up, take them off the heat; keep them warm until the chicken is done, then drain.
Stir fry the chicken over high heat with the garlic in a small amount of oil. When it turns white, add the soy sauce and continue stirring for a 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the zucchini, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms. Continue cooking for a few more minutes
Mix the cornstarch with the water or broth. Stir into the mixture and cook, stirring until thickened.
Serve the Chicken with Zucchini over a bed of drained ramen noodles. Serves 4.

A Glorious Pasta Recipe

Crab meat is what comes to my mind when I think of a dish which is luxurious in all terms. You may end up spending a fortune (close to $40 a pound) gulping down a few crab cakes. And once done, you will be left wanting for more.

Cooks on the East and West Coast now have access to great fresh crab meat, and if you can resist eating it straight from the container or tossing it with a little mayonnaise, it can make a full meal. Fresh crab meat makes the pasta sauce so luxurious that no other dish can provide this with so little work.

Recently, I found fresh crab meat for less than $20 a pound from Maine. It costs more or less the same if you are looking for crab meat from Maryland. "Jumbo meat" is the more expensive than "claw meat" and "lump lump". Just shop around you'll get some fresh crab meat at some really attractive prices.

If you intend making a pasta dish, you will get the claw meat for $15 a pound. Jumbo lump is a bit more costlier at $25 a pound. If you wish to buy freshly picked Dungeness crab, you can look at the West Coast fish markets where it sells for $25 a pound.

You can also use crab meat packed in tins or containers if you can't get fresh ones. They are often pasteurized and packed in containers and then refrigerated. It costs almost the as fresh meat but it is picking up in terms of popularity with crab meat eaters.

It's a second choice but no a terrible one. The fresh crab meat has some intense flavor which may not found in crabs in containers or pasteurized crab.

It's very easy to cook the crab meat. Here is how you do it:

1) Use crab meat, garlic, olive oil and a chili or two.

2) Turn off the heat when the garlic turns "gold" not brown.

3) As soon as the garlic starts coloring, you can add a cup of cherry tomatoes.

4) Continue cooking till the tomatoes collapse.

5) Just heat the crab meat. Ensure that you are not cooking the crab meat as it is already cooked before picking.

There are lot of pasta shapes which you can use with the crab meat. I have not found the right pasta shape, but it doesn't really matter. Just make sure that you shop for the right crab meat instead.

--Pasta With Crab--

~ 1 pound pasta

~ 1/2 pound crab meat, or more

~ 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

~ 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

~ 2 dried red chilies, or to taste

~ 2 tablespoons slivered or minced garlic

~ Salt to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and salt it. Put oil, garlic, chilies and a pinch of salt in a saucepan large enough to hold cooked pasta and turn heat to medium-low. Cook, shaking pan, until garlic just begins to color; turn off heat.

When water boils, cook pasta. When it is just about done, turn heat under oil back to low and add crab; stir once or twice. Drain pasta (reserve a bit of cooking water), and toss it in crab sauce to coat. If mixture seems a bit dry, add reserved cooking water or more olive oil. Stir in parsley, adjust seasoning, and serve.

Yield: 3 or 4 servings.

25 Ways to Save Money

Think that "cut back on lattes" and "bring your lunch to work" are the only ways to save money? Here are 25 tips that can help you find more money for that coffee and meal you crave.

Food

Create a win-win-win situation at the grocery store by trying their store brands. Win 1 - most stores will refund your money if you try the store brand but don't like it. Why not try something that has a satisfaction guarantee? Win 2 - if you do like the store brand, you can save money each time you shop. Win 3 - most store brands are so inexpensive that they are cheaper than name brands purchased with coupons. Save time and money by not clipping coupons.

Buy meat when it is on sale, then prep it before storing in the freezer. I cut chicken into bite-size pieces before freezing - this makes it easier to defrost on those nights when you need a quick meal. Brown hamburger meat so you always have frozen crumbles ready for use in tacos, spaghetti sauce, and chili.

Check out the dollar menu at fast food restaurants. With "value" meals costing $6 and up, try the $1 sandwich, fries, and drink - a complete meal for $3!

"Shop" your pantry. Go to allrecipes.com and click on "ingredients" at the top of the home page. Enter the food you have on hand to create a list of recipes that use those items.

Beauty and Fashion

Check out user reviews at viewpoints.com/beauty before you try a new product. See what other people have to say before you buy.

Ask your local consignment shop if their computer program can track merchandise requests. If so, create a list of "wants" for the store to enter into their system. The computer will flag your name and phone number if the item is received. Personal shopping at its best - what you want at a price you will love!

After you go clothes shopping, keep the tags on and tuck the clothes away. One week later, try the clothes on again to see if you still like them. Because the tags are still on, you can easily return anything that you decide not to keep.

Home Maintenance

Run, don't walk, to your nearest home improvement store and buy a programmable thermostat (I like the ones that allow you to program for different days of the week). The $40 you spend on the thermostat can save you hundreds in heating and cooling bills.

What are the odds that you and a neighbor will be doing the same home repair or maintenance at the same time? Timeshare your lawnmower, leaf blower, power washer, ladder, etc. with friends and neighbors. Decide on some ground rules regarding usage, storage, maintenance, and ending the timeshare. Doing this can save you money on the purchase price and ongoing maintenance - another win/win opportunity.

Paint is one of the least expensive ways to update your décor. Ask a friend to help paint a room in your house, then return the favor. One person can do the large spaces with a roller while the other does trim work with a brush. Enjoy the time together while you create a new look for the room.

Find two or three friends who can commit one day a month to home improvements. Create a calendar that specifies where and when you will work during the year, rotating among the houses. For example, with a group of three people, four days per year would be dedicated to a project at each house. The "host" for the day (i.e. the owner of the house) chooses the project, does any necessary preparation, and provides the supplies. The "helpers" arrive at 8 am ready for a day of work and leave at 5 pm. Some home improvements done by a group I know include insulating the attic, painting the kitchen cabinets, and landscaping the yard.

Travel

Use the "name your own price" feature on priceline.com to book your next rental car. Begin bidding 2 - 3 weeks before your trip. This is when car rental companies are more willing to discount their price and it gives you time to place multiple bids if necessary (you can only bid once every 48 hours). I usually begin bidding at $13 per day for an economy car and increase my price by $1 each time I bid. This usually saves me about 50% on car rental fees.

Before you book your hotel, check to see if they offer a complimentary continental breakfast. All things being equal, choosing a place that has a free on-site breakfast can save you time and money.

If you're traveling by car, pack some breakfast foods that don't need refrigeration. Peanut butter on a bagel, along with a juice box or fruit, can be a good start to the day. Buy an electric teakettle for less than $20 and you can enjoy oatmeal, hot chocolate, or hot tea.

Don't want to spend a lot for lunch? Stop by your local breakfast place before you leave home and ask to buy some jelly packets (usually 5 or 10 cents each). Use these to make PB&J sandwiches for lunch. Bring along some drinks, granola bars and fruit to round out the meal.

Stop by the area visitor center for a travel planner, which usually contains coupons and special deals. Ask the attendants to recommend places where the locals go for inexpensive fun.

Automobiles

An oil change can be your vehicles best friend. Change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles to keep your engine humming smoothly. A small investment in oil changes can prolong the life of your car and reduce future maintenance costs.

Have the urge for a new car even if yours is running fine? Overcome this desire by giving your car a good cleaning inside and out. Climb into the drivers seat, enjoy the feeling of a nice clean car, and let the new car craving subside.

Take a friend with you when you go car shopping. Let them know the total amount you can spend on a car - use the total cost (including taxes) instead of the monthly loan amount, which can vary based on interest rates and length of loan. Have them reel you in when you start looking at more car than you planned on buying.

Keep your car for one year longer than your car loan. If you have a 5-year loan, plan on keeping your car for 6 years. Bank the last year of payments to use as the down payment on your next car.

Avoiding Fees and other charges

Have kids in high school? Check to see if they can take classes at the local community college for free. Another win-win-win...your kids get an idea of what college is like college, the credits they earn could be transferred to a four-year college, and you don't have to pay for it!

Avoid late fees on your credit card by making an online payment each time you get paid. Not only does this help avoid fees, it also breaks your payment into smaller amounts. Sometimes two small payments are easier to make than one large one.

Shop your insurance. We recently reviewed our insurance needs with a few agents and ended up staying with the same company. However, we adjusted our plans to get better coverage at a lower price. Yes, it is a pain to do this, but the $50 we save each month was well worth the time spent on phone calls and agent visits.

Decide if you really watch the premium channels on your television enough to warrant the cost. Find out which channels you are paying extra for and track the number of times you watch these in a month (a simple check mark on a notepad will do the trick). This will give you an indication of whether the premium channels are really worth the extra expense each month. If they are, enjoy them! If not, lower your subscription and enjoy the extra money!

Appliances use electricity even when they are not turned on. Invest in a power strip for your entertainment and computer areas. Plug the electronics into the power strip and place it where you can easily reach the on/off switch. This is easier than unplugging everything when it is not in use, but you still get the benefit of reduced electric costs.

Pasta Alla Carbonara Recipe

Some carbonara facts:

There are so many varieties of carbonara that it is hard to sort them out. Typically carbonara is made with pancetta or guanciale, egg yolk, and parmesan cheese mixed in spaghetti. Pancetta is a bacon that has been salt cured and spiced with nutmeg, pepper, fennel, dried ground hot peppers and garlic usually and dried for about three months. It is typically not smoked (I will show you how to make it in a later article). On the other hand, guanciale is a smoked bacon with pigs jowls mixed in. I lean toward pancetta and rarely use guanciale (can't get used to the taste). In the US, sometimes cream is used in the recipe, but this is not typical in Italy. I give some variations on carbonara, but the recipe below is my favorite. Oh, by the way, carbonara is Italian for charcoal and has led to the idea that it was a coal miners spaghetti (nonsense - no one probably knows the origins of carbonara).

A delicacy

I would like to think that my carbonara is more of a delicacy than a staple. It is a less traditional recipe than one would find in homes in Italy. But it is so creamy and delicious that my mouth waters just thinking about it. Try my recipe below and then move on to some of the variations I suggest to see what you prefer. It is a great dish for social gatherings.

Ingredients (4 to 5 servings):
8 slices pancetta (you can substitute applewood smoked bacon if you want a more typical American dish)

1 large onion chopped (you can use leeks but make sure you only use the white tender parts)

2 large eggs at room temperature

½ cup parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 pound linguine (you can use spaghetti but I don't like it because it is hard to mix with the other ingredients)

Pancetta

Cook the pancetta in a large skillet over medium high heat until done - about 8 minutes (I don't like it crisp but you may wish to reduce the fat by cooking until crisp). Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon to a plate covered with a paper towel to drain (dice or chop into fine pieces). Add the onions and sauté over medium high heat until tender (about 6 minutes).

Pasta

At the same time, cook the pasta in salted water al dente style (it literally means cook the pasta enough to still have a slight resistance to the pasta when chewed - but this is a matter of taste and I recommend what you are comfortable with). Drain the pasta but reserve at least ½ cup of the liquid that you cooked the pasta in.

Mixing

Whisk the eggs and parmesan cheese in a bowl and then whisk in ¼ cup of the reserved pasta liquid. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the onions and stir while heating. Remove the pasta and onions and then pour the egg mixture over the pasta. Stir until the sauce is a wonderful creamy consistency and the eggs are no longer raw (less than 2 minutes). Return the mixture to a very low heat (do not overcook because the eggs will curdle). Add some of the pasta liquid if the pasta seems dry. Stir in the pancetta and parsley and serve adding salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese to taste.

Voila

I love the opportunities for variation with this dish. The most common carbonara calls for egg yolks instead of eggs. So you can substitute 4 egg yolks for the 2 eggs in the above recipe (I hate to waste the whites). If you have a trim waste line you can add ½ cup heavy cream to the egg mixture and 2 garlic cloves (diced).

Jack Botticelli

Umami Chicken Cacciatore Recipe, Will Tantalize the Taste Buds

Umami- is a Japanese word meaning savory a "deliciousness" factor deriving specifically from detection of the natural amino acid, glutamic acid , or glutamates common in meats, cheese, broth, stock, and other protein-heavy foods.

This is the new catch phrase or hot word around for chefs in the industry. It has been around for a hundred years or so but people are just now starting to really talk about it in food circles and starting to use it more in every day cooking to really pack a punch in everyday meals. This is a dish that will do just that with the flavor of a cooked or rendored pancetta.

Ingredients you will need: Chicken 4 breast- 4 ounces of Pancetta, 1 large red bell diced 1 small onion diced, 3 garlic cloves minced, 1 - 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, 3 ounces of olive or canola oil, 3/4 cup of white wine-one that you would drink, 3 cans of chicken broth, 3 Tablespoons of capers, 2 Teaspoons of dried oregano, 1/4 Cup of fresh minced basil leaves, 1/2 Cup of flour, salt and pepper to taste.

First you will slice you pancetta and brown off in the pan. You will remove and set aside. You will then salt and pepper your chicken and then dredge your chicken in the flour, and sauté your chicken in the pan with your oil. You will then remove the chicken and set aside and add your garlic to the pan over a low heat and let it bloom. Add the rest of your flour if there is any left over, and the wine and let it cook off or brown ever so lightly and then add your tomatoes. The acid from the tomatoes will remove any fond or flavor from the bottom of the pan. You will then add your pancetta and all other ingredients except the chicken to the pan and let it simmer down until the sauce has reduced by a quarter if you want a more runny sauce, or by half if you prefer a thicker sauce. Then you will add back in your chicken to the dish and let it heat back up to a good serving temperature to make sure that the chicken is warm through, and then serve with any pasta or bread you like. I hope that you enjoy this dish it is really good!

Resource for for tag line from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami

Budget Meal Planning Made Easier Than Ever

Cooking healthy and delectable meals without sacrificing your budget could become a very troubling dilemma. However, budget meal planning is not an impossible task. With the right techniques and strategies, you could actually create delicious dishes without spending too much money.

If you want to know how to come up with cheap meal planning ideas, you should know some tips about planning meals ahead of time. With these wonderful tips, you would definitely feel invincible and more confident every time you step inside your kitchen, put your apron on, and create special dishes for your family.

Capitalize on hot grocery discounts

Before creating a grocery list, you should look around some grocery advertisements. Keep your eyes open for products that are on sale. You could save a whole lot of money once you buy groceries from items that are on sale. Do not forget to use your grocery coupons before they even expire. Budget meal planning is much easier if you could effectively reduce your grocery expenses.

After noting down some great bargains, you should start checking your cupboards and your refrigerator. Make sure that you have enough cooking staples like salt, sugar, flour, bread, eggs, and other important ingredients. You could even buy things on bulk because this is less expensive than buying single grocery items on a regular basis. However, make sure that you could consume all of them before they expire in order to avoid wasting your money on spoiled goods.

Read your old and dusty cookbooks

Actually, the best source for meal planning menus could be hiding inside your dusty bookshelves and cabinets. Put your cookbooks to use and watch out for different recipes that you could cook. Check the different ingredients needed in different recipes and cross out those dishes that need expensive ingredients and goodies.

After browsing through your cookbooks, you could already continue your frugal family meal planning by creating a comprehensive weekly menu.

Do not forget to consider the preferences of your family members while drafting your plans. Budget meal planning does not mean that you have to torture their taste buds in order to come up with inexpensive dishes. Come up with inexpensive dishes that would satisfy everyone gathered around your dining table.

List down each dish

While creating your meal plans, do not forget to list down each dish from Sunday to Saturday. Write the name of dishes under the corresponding day that you plan to cook them. Include side meals, desserts, or special beverages that you would like to prepare for each day.

Put those plans to action

Your budget meal planning would not be complete until you have put your plans to action. Start by doing your groceries and buying all the necessary ingredients that you would need for the week. Bring a grocery list with you and never buy something that is not included on your list.

These are the most important tips you should know about budget meal planning. Always remember that this task would also seem easier once you solicit suggestions from the entire family. You could also make things easier for you by looking for a free meal planning software or a competent meal planning service on the market.

Advantages of Simple Pasta Recipes

Easy pasta recipes are extremely well liked by a lot of people and this article talks about the reasons for this, such as its versatility and cheapness. A cheap and tasty tuna salad recipe is also shown.

Almost everyone loves easy pasta recipes because they have many advantages to eating it. It isn't expensive at all and makes feeding a family very easy and inexpensive. Quick pasta recipes can also be in many different forms ranging from popular dishes like macroni to the much less used like pasta soups. Basic ingredients can also be used with these simple pasta recipes. Those involved in sports also make good use of this popular ingredient because of its ability to release energy slowly, which can help with endurance sports.

It is useful to sports people because it helps with the creation of energy due to the carbonhydrates it contains. This makes it an important nutrient for athletes and aiding them in getting the best results. It is stored as glycogen in the muscle where they perform as a willingly accessible energy souce during lengthly and strenuous competitions.

Water, eggs and flour are used to make it and you can use these ingredients to make your own also. They are sometimes coloured and the flavour changed, by adding dye and herbs and spices. A bit of extra taste can also be added to the food by filling the pasta with tomatoes or different meat types.

There are also many different types of this food for many different uses. These include spaghetti used in meals such as bolognaise; noodles that can be used in chicken noodle soup; sheets for use in lasagne dishes; and different shapes used in, for example, macaroni cheese; and dried and fresh pasta also. They all help to provide a wide range of tasty, easy recipes that anyone can easily make. A tuna salad recipe is shown below.

Ingredients: - Pasta for 2 - 1 can of tuna - Rocket leaves, watercress, spinach - Cucumber, sliced - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved - 1 pepper, chopped - Few tablespoons of salad cream

What to do: 1. Follow the packet's instructions for cooking the pasta properly 2. Once cooked, mix with everything else and stir well

That's it. Very easy and quick!

The reasons stated above in this article are why Italian food is liked so much by people from many different countries, other than just Italians. Anybody, anywhere can make great meals from easy pasta recipes, with all the simple ingredients that are used.