Is it fair to say when you go to the fair it not holds barred with what we’ll eat. The fair is know for it’s cutting edge fried foods, “A number of current corn dog vendors lay claim that credit for the invention and/or popularization of the corn dog goes towards Carl and Neil Fletcher for when they introduced their “Corny Dogs” at the Texas State Fair sometime between 1938 and 1942.” Wikipedia

Although, there’s some debat of this fact, there’s no debate that the Worlds best tasting corn dogs are gotten from the fair. 

Now you can buy many other new fried foods t the fair including “fried butter”  and “fried snickers” ?

I think I’ll draw the line at corn dogs, but then next time you’re at the fair you may want to give these new fried foods a try.

No matter what the state of the economy, it’s no match for savvy and creative Mommas. I love finding economical ways to resuse products and ”reinvent the wheel” so to speak on uses/resues of products. One of my cousins sent this to me in an email and I wanted to share it, who knew there were so many uses for filters that I’ve purchased that was the wrong sizes.

  And you can buy 1,000 at  the  Dollar Tree / Store for almost  nothing. 

 
 1. Cover  bowls or dishes when cooking in the  microwave.
Coffee filters make excellent covers.  
 
2. Clean windows and  mirrors.  Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows  sparkling.


3.  Protect China
  Separate your good dishes by putting a  coffee  filter between each dish.


4.  Filter broken cork from wine.  If you break the cork when  opening a wine  bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.  


5.  Protect a cast-iron skillet.  Place a coffee filter in the  skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.


6.  Apply shoe polish.  Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.  


7.  Recycle frying oil.  After frying, strain oil through a sieve  lined with a coffee filter.


8.  Weigh chopped foods.  Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a  kitchen scale.


9.  Hold tacos.  Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy  foods.


10.  Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot.  Line a plant  pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through  the drainage holes.


11.  Prevent a Popsicle from dripping.  Poke one or two holes as  needed in a coffee filter.


12.  Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows?  Use  strips of coffee filters.


13.  Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken  fingers, etc on them.  Soaks out most all the grease.  

 
14.  Keep in the bathroom.  They make great “razor nick  fixers.”  

OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS

I know there’s many other uses, please impart your savvy uses with us by leaving a comment!

Grocery Shopping Suggestions:

Eat before you go grocery shopping so you won’t be tempted to make impulse purchases.

Don’t forget to buy the generic or store brand for those items where a brand name is not necessary: sugar, flour, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, etc.

Stock up on food staples when they are on sale.

Buy store-brand cereal instead of national brands. If your household goes through a box or more per week, you can save over $100 per year by purchasing store brands.

When buying pre-packaged fruits and vegetables for a flat cost, i.e. 5 pounds of potatoes for $1.88, actually weigh the bags and find the bag that weighs more than 5 pounds.

Check out the price per ounce/pound/piece. Just because it is a big box, doesn’t mean it’s cheaper! Sometimes two smaller packages are cheaper than the big box. Compare prices ounce per ounce.

Stretch the food that exists in your cupboards. I bet you have enough odds and ends to last you at least a week in meals if you’re creative. I have learned to make wonderful meals out of rice and beans, noodles, and herbs.

When you cook a meal, cook twice as much and freeze the leftovers. This works great with cookie dough too.

The weeks when the sales are not so good could be light buying weeks. If you have some food in reserve, on these light weeks the extra food is like money in the bank. If you ever hit a rough patch, you might have enough to carry you through that time.

GroceryCouponsUSA

As I attempt to save on utilites, cut down on the grocery bill, eat light and healthy, I came across this video on Twitter. I love tacos and grilled fish so when I came accross this YouTube video for grilled fish tacos, I knew it was one I had to try and needed to share. ENJOY!

I get a lot of pleasure out of baking; I know it’s therapeutic and allows me to reconnect to my nurturing spirit. I know I have a passion for baking and for chocolate and when I combine the two; things are alright in the world again. I’ve decided to add a post today in connection with the economy and the negative effects that it’s having in my life.

I went for, what I thought was my first day of training,” with a bank here in Atlanta through a staffing agency (we won’t divulge their name at this point), I arrived at least 20 minutes early and when I went to get checked in I was advised that the training had been cancelled.

I was in complete shock of this news and at first didn’t quite know how to process it emotionally. Normally, I’m able to shake off negativity after spiritual guidance and speaking with a friend, for some reason this time it just wasn’t quite helping with me processing the events of the negativity I’d experienced at the mercy of the staffing agency.

So, since the first two strategies didn’t help I decided on a third and that is to combine my chocolate passion with my baking passion and mix up some brownies.

I had a box of brownie mix in the cupboard (kept at all times, just for this type of emergency). Having them in the pantry just in case the need comes to sooth the savage beast…lol!!!

I’ve prepared my brownies and just the smell is lifting my spirit.

However, here’s another reason to have brownies on hand:
Why Your Heart Loves Hershey’s

Something about eating chocolate . . . it has such an instant feel-good effect. And it turns out there’s a reason to feel good.

Research suggests that special antioxidants in cocoa may play a role in keeping blood pressure low.

Sweet Truths About Chocolate
Cocoa flavonoids help to widen and relax blood vessels and may activate an enzyme that helps lower blood pressure, too. But remember to be calorie wise: A little bit of chocolate goes a long way. And dark chocolate is best. Just in case you need a few more reasons to eat chocolate, here’s more good stuff:
Chocolate can smooth your skin. Find out how a daily dose of cocoa can make skin better hydrated and less sun sensitive.
Chocolate makes you happy. It’s not just your imagination. Find out what makes chocolate a good-mood food.

Mmmmm…the brownies are calling my name…I’ll see ya!

Mise en place

My goal is for you to have an enriching experience when you visit us at In the Kitchen, Soulfood for Comfort. We like to mix it up to provide a fun, an informed, divers and enriched experience.

As of today, I’m introducing French cuisine on the blog to enhance your cooking experience. While watching the PBS channel, I enjoyed a delicious recipe prepared by Executive Chef: Hilary White. While cooking she a  delicious looking meal she also referred to “ mise en place” , now my French is a bit rusty to say the lease so I went in seach of the meaning which is “to put in place”.

To put in place is to have all ingredients ready before beginning (gathered, clean and chop any vegetables that need it, apportion out your spices, trim and slice any meat, etc.) Have everything measured and ready to be used in separate bowls or cups (or combined if the ingredients are being cooked at the same time).  As she sautéed the chicken she advised not to wait but have preprations finished in advance.

When cooking I find myself feeling overwhelmed and rushed, sometimes even over cooking my meat while I preparing the other ingredients for the meal, this technique of “mise en place” opens up will help to enhance my cooking to be a better cook.

You’ll benefit by “mise en place” when:
Children are helping
Trying a new recipe
Assuring you have all the ingredients
Won’t overcook food
Modifications
Learning for children
When cooking, make sure you give yourself enough time to have meals ready.

This post in honor of President Obama and the First Lady’s visit to France.

I ran across this delicious recipe and decided to add it to my cookbook collection and share it.

Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese
serving 8-10

1 1b. Macaroni Noodles

1/2 stick of butter
5 med. eggs
1 small carton of heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. sugar
pinch salt
1-16 oz bag, Mesican style cheese (reserve some)

Mix well, layer with cheese

Bake: 350 for 25 min.

I’m back and excited to be blogging again and have a wonderful recipe to share.

Veggie-Muffins
1 store bought cake mix, prepared according to package directions – but not baked
1 cup pureed vegetables – using one or more of the following:
carrots, squash, peas, green beans
1/2 cup applesauce to batter
option – stir in all ingredients

Mix purees (I use baby food-they have a high content of vitamins) in with the batter.
Transfer the mixture to a muffin pan, filling each cup about two-thirds of the way.

Bake at 375 F for 20 min’s or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Do not overcook, as this will result in dry muffins. Once cooled, these muffins can be frozen to be eaten later.