food

Vacations of the Cheap, Part 3: Saving Money at the Park

Abby H.

Today we’re going to talk about saving money inside the park.  Specifically FOOD, but also souvenirs and other goodies.

I like most of the food choices at Disneyland (OMGoodness Gibson Girl Ice Cream), but it can get a little expensive. So here is what we do: Rent a locker and bring a picnic.

I pack a soft side cooler (like this one from Thirty-One) with a few frozen water bottles, lunch meat, fruit, frozen yogurts, and a small re-usable grocery bag with bread, individual packets of condiments (you can buy them at Smart and Final), and Ziploc bags with snacks, and we put all this stuff, plus our jackets and a few other misc. things into a locker.

We like the lockers on Main Street, but if you have a larger group going with you, there are bigger lockers immediately outside of the park.  More info about Lockers, including prices, and locations can be found here. Reviews of the lockers can be found here (I love Yelp!)

Screen Shot 2015-07-22 at 10.23.18 PMThere are various picnic areas inside the park (there is one up by Big Thunder Mountain, and various tables and benches scattered throughout the park), as well as one right outside the main gate by the large lockers.

For snacking during the day, I pack snacks that fit in our pockets (we both usually wear cargo shorts) like bags of pretzels, hard candy in Ziploc bags, and a 16oz. or so size bottle of water that we refill at the various water fountains throughout the park.  We’ll stop back at the lockers for fruit or a larger nosh if we’re nearby and hungry.

That doesn’t mean I’ll go without my beloved Ice Cream. We usually pick one treat a day and share it. Ice cream, frozen banana on a stick, Dole Whip…. Whatever we both can agree on.

We also save money by buying our Disneyland shirts before we go on vacation. The Disney Store usually has an end of summer sale, and I can stock up of D-land shirts for 50-75% off retail prices. The mall closest to our house has a Disney Store, so we cruise in frequently (Lil’ Man is obsessed with Mickey Mouse).  Other Disney Souvenirs like sippy cups I’ll buy in advance and sneak in our bags so he doesn’t see them until we arrive. In the past, I have scored a sweet new Disney shirt for $2.00!

99 Cents Only has a great selection of Disney Branded and Licensed items like crayons, coloring books, sippy cups, sandwich boxes, and other lunch/food storage containers. I’ve been sneaking 1 or 2 items into the cart each week when Lil’ Man isn’t looking!

We also set a budget when we go on a trip and stick to it. Bring cash with us each day of the trip, and when it’s gone we’re done spending. It’s just that simple.

 

 

Enter to win a $200 Grocery Gift Card!

Abby H.

Kroger (That’s the family of stores that owns Ralphs and Food4Less here in So Cal) and Hebrew National, wants to hook you up with a $200 Grocery Gift Card!

All you have to do is answer some trivia and build your own hot dog for a chance to win a Kroger gift card! This is seriously The Most Important Hot Dog Quiz You’ll Ever Take.

To get started and enter, click here.

Fine Print: You gotta live in one of these states to enter: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY

Family Recipe: Yummy Banana Nutty Bread

Abby H.1 Comment

IMG_0405We love bananas, but sometimes they get over ripe before we can eat them all. That usually only happens when the weather is so hot and muggy- or if I buy too many. In that case, I peel, slice and bag them in snack sized zip top bags and toss them in the freezer. They are now perfectly portioned for smoothies or baking recipes!  This week, I’m posting my favorite Banana bread recipe. It’s quick, easy, and it uses no white sugar, so it’s ideal for those watching their sugar intake.

I’ve included variations for various diets below.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Stevia or brown sugar splenda (or 1/4 c honey)
1/3 cup applesauce
4 egg whites
1/2 cup of ripe banana (about 3-4 ripe bananas)
3/4 cup almond meal or flax meal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

  1. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a large mixing bowl with electric mixer until fluffy and creamy.
  2. Add in the remaining ingredients until smooth.
  3. Pour batter into 1 greased loaf pan.
  4. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.
  5. Slice and serve hot or allow to cool, wrap in aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.

Variations:

  • Gluten Free variation: Substitute coconut flour or GF baking flour blend.
  • Nut Free Variation: Use Flax meal in place of Almond Meal.
  • Vegan Variation: Substitute egg whites for flax egg.

Cow Appreciation Day- Free lunch at Chick-Fil-A tomorrow!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2015-07-13 at 7.17.53 PM

 

It’s baaack! Once a year, Chick-Fil-A celebrates Cow Appreciation Day. You can celebrate too and score free food when you dress like a cow.

Need some inspiration or more info? Check out their Tumblr Page.

July 11th means….

Abby H.

FREE SLURPIES!!!

Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at 2.08.05 PMNext to his birthday and Christmas, this is Lil’ Man’s favorite day of the year!
7-Eleven Day is this Saturday, July 11. Come in to your local 7-Eleven® store and celebrate with a FREE Slurpee drink from 11 AM–7 PM. Be sure to scan the 7-Eleven app to get a punch for your FREE Slurpee and get even closer to your free 7th cup.

Want to keep the party going? Come back for 7Rewards Week, July 12–18 and receive a FREE 7-Select™ food or drink under $2 with the purchase of any cup of7-Eleven Coffee, Iced Coffee, Big Gulp® or Slurpee drink!

 

Summer Fun with Kids at Oggi’s Liberty Station!

Abby H.

OggisGot littles? Trying a fun way to keep them entertained this summer without breaking the banks? Check out these awesome deals from Oggi’s in Liberty Station.

1: Kids eat free all day Wednesday with the purchase of any adult entree.

2: Kids can make their own personal pizza starting at 11:00am. That’s what we did today, and Lil’ Man had a blast. I wish I had gotten photos of the pizza once it was baked, however, he inhaled it.

step11kidszza

The pizza dough is rolled out in the kitchen and brought out with sauce and cheese for the kids to add as much as they want.  Then there is a table of toppings for the kids to choose from (By the time I got over there to take photos, most of the little bowls were empty because all of the kids were having a blast topping their pizzas!). Lil’ Man is a strictly cheese only pizza guy, so we just asked for a little extra cheese.

I sampled some really tasty grown up noms today too. Here were my top three favorites:Marathon-flatbread-2

Marathon Flatbread
Brushed with garlic olive oil, topped with Mozzarella, zucchini, tomato, red onion, artichoke hearts, roasted garlic and drizzled with sweet balsamic glaze.

Mediterranean-SaladMediterranean Delight Salad

Spring mix blend topped with herb marinated all-natural chicken breast, garbanzo beans, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, feta cheese and roasted red peppers, tossed in our homemade lemon and herb Greek dressing finished with oregano.

Oggis-CinnatwistsOggi’s Cinnatwists

Twisted sticks of  pizza dough baked to perfection and dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, topped with icing and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The Icing isn’t overly sweet either- it reminded me of marscapone cheese! Lil’ Man devoured these too.

For more details on the awesome, kid firendly offers going on at Oggi’s in Liberty Station, visit their website.

The balloon animal guy that comes from 5-8pm on Wednesdays is the best! His name is Tyler and he runs Pretend Inc. Check out his site for just a few photos of his amazing work. He made dinosaurs, puppies, silly snakes, and even a dodo bird for Lil’ Man!

A big thanks to Oggi’s at Liberty Station for hosting us for lunch today!

Crockpot Recipe: Moosie’s Pot Roast!

Abby H.1 Comment

This is a family recipe that’s been around for years. Moosie was a friend of my great-grandmother who lived up in Chicago.

This pot roast recipe is what Moosie served when they had company from out of town.  It’s easy enough to make for your family any night of the week.  The leftovers (if you have any) make a great open faced sandwich.

Moosie’s Pot Roast

Ingredients

  • 1 2-3 lb. pot roast, your favorite cut (I like Chuck Roast)
  • 1 can reduced sodium cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 envelope powdered onion soup mix (I like Lipton’s)

Directions:

  1. Brown the pot roast, place it in the crock pot.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the soups, and pour over the roast.
  3. Place cover on crock pot and cock on low for 6-8 hours.
  4. Before serving, shred the roast with a fork.
  5. If you would like creamier gravy, add 4-6 tablespoons of low fat sour cream 20-30 minutes before serving.

Serves about 6-8. Serve with mashed potatoes  or broccoli.

You can also place 1 whole onion, sliced in the bottom of the crock pot, then the roast, and then poured the gravy sauce overall of it.

Delectable Tuesday: Easy Peasy Black Bean Soup!

Abby H.2 Comments

Hubs loves Black Bean soup.  So based on what we had in the cupboard and fridge, I whipped up a batch. I didn’t have a specific recipe in mind, I just played it by ear and it turned out GREAT!!

Black Bean Soup (makes 6 1-cup servings)

Ingredients:

  • 2 15 oz. cans of organic black beans (do not drain)
  • 2 c. salsa of your choice
  • 1 can chicken broth (if you are a vegetarian, use vegetable broth)
  • 1 bunch cilantro (top, leafy part only) chopped
  • 1/4 c. chopped onion (white or purple, whatever you have)
  • 1/4 c. chopped  Fresh Jalapeño Peppers (about 2)
  • dash of hot sauce (your choice, optional)
  • 6 T. plain Greek Yogurt or low fat Sour Cream

Directions:

  1. Combine everything in a large stockpot.
  2. Cook the soup on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Really simmer it gently and allow the flavors to meld.
  3. Ladle into bowls and top each bowl with 1 T. of plain Greek Yogurt or low fat Sour Cream.
  4. Serve with quesadillas and Mexican Cesar Salad.

Mexican Cesar Salad

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 cups of your favorite lettuce/lettuce blend (romaine and bibb is great!)
  • 2 tomatoes cubed/sliced
  • ½ cup purple onion, cut into rings
  • ¼ c ranch dressing
  • ½ c your favorite salsa

Directions:

  1. Combine the salsa and ranch together, chill in fridge 6-8 hours before servings. This allows the flavors to blend.
  2. Toss the veggies in a chilled salad bowl with the dressing.
  3. Top with ¼ c crushed corn chips/tortilla chips for some added crunch!

Serve topped with grilled chicken breasts for an entree or without meat as a side dish.  Serves 3 as an entree, serves 6 as a side dish.

Mixing up hydration with Soda Stream!

Abby H.

Recently, a friend asked me for some non-soda uses for her Soda Stream machine. Since I use ours at least 2 times a week to whip up liter bottles of fizzy water, I figured I’d share some of my concoctions!

Screen Shot 2015-05-31 at 6.58.19 AMThis is the Soda Stream Machine we have.

Here are a few ways to use your Soda Stream besides adding the Soda Stream syrups.

  1. Fill a fancy pitcher with 2-3 cups of chilled, sliced fruit. I like Apples, oranges, lemons, Kiwi, and berries (not necessarily all together). Pour 1 liter of chilled carbonated water from the Soda Stream. It makes the best fruity fizzy water!
  2. Try Torani Syrups in place of Soda Stream syrup.  It comes in tons of flavors, in both regular and sugar free, including fun fruit flavors!
  3. Instead of adding syrup, why not try ice cubes made of fruit juice?  Fill an ice cube tray with orange juice, pomegranate juice, or whatever you have on hand.  Add ice cubes to your carbonated Soda Stream water and enjoy!
  4. If you are looking for a different taste, try the powdered beverage mixes in your carbonated Soda Stream water.  Mix slowly, and carefully, since some of the powders may cause the water to get a little extra fizzy.  I like Crystal Light sticks, Snapple Sticks, and a few store brands that come in cranberry and cran-pear.
  5. Mio or other concentrated liquid beverage mixes are also great in your your carbonated Soda Stream water, and since you control how little or how much you add, your drink can be different each time!
  6. If you are looking to jazz up your beverages, try an Italian Cream Soda.  It’s a pretty easy recipe:

Italian Cream Soda

Ingredients:

  • Ice,
  • 1 ounce syrup,
  • carbonated Soda Stream water (8-12 oz, depending on your glass size),
  • 1 ounce cream,
  • whipped cream (optional, but everyone loves whipped cream).

Directions:

  1.  Scoop ice into glass
  2. Pour your carbonated Soda Stream water over the ice cubes
  3. Pour 1 ounce syrup over the ice and water.  Stir with a stir stick.
  4. Pour 1 ounce of cream over the top- Do not stir.
  5. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

How do you use your Soda Stream Machine?

Greek Yogurt- A great frugal ingredient!

Abby H.1 Comment

IMG_7966I bet a lot of you see the coupons for Greek yogurt and pass it by.  Maybe you’ve sampled it at Costco or the grocery store and were turned off by it’s thick texture or tart taste.

Greek yogurt (or strained yogurt as it is referred to in other parts of the world) has a lot more going for it than the sugary yogurt in the little cup with a french name.

1- It’s got double the protein than regular yogurt.  That means you’ll stay fuller longer.

2- It’s lower in Carbs. That’s because most Greek yogurts don’t contains all kinds of funky sweeteners.

3- It works well in all kinds of recipes in place of sour cream, mayo, and oil. I use it in baked goods instead of the liquid oil or butter.  It adds a richness without adding fat.

4- It makes a killer chip or veggie dip, baked potato topping, or chili topping plain or dressed up with herbs and spices.

Greek Yogurt is a frugal ingredient because it’s so versatile!  You can eat it as is, dress it up with herbs, fruit, granola, or use it in recipes. We buy the large carton of Fage at Costco every few weeks.  It’s the cheapest place in town for us to get Greek Yogurt. If you aren’t a Costco shopper, keep your eyes open for coupons and sales! Here are just a few:

Here is my favorite dip recipe with Greek Yogurt- perfect for sharing at any potluck!  It’s got  thicker texture, and it’s not for a wimpy chip- I dip pita chips and veggies.

Herbed Yogurt cheese dip

Ingredients

  • 2 cups greek yogurt
  • 2 T. chopped shallots
  • 2 T. minced onions
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • spray release (like Pam)
  • 3 T. herbs of your choice- I like Mural of Flavor from Penzey’s. (You may want more or less)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (I don’t add either)
  • cheese cloth (It’s on the baking aisle at the grocery store)

Directions

  1. Wet the cheesecloth, wring out and stretch over the mouth of a bowl.  Secure with string or a large rubber band.
  2. Gently pour the yogurt over the stretched cheesecloth, and spread evenly over the cheese cloth.  What you are doing is straining out any extra whey (liquid) from the yogurt.  This is cause it to thicken up and make one helluva dip!  You can leave it on the counter for 1-2 hours to drain, as long as the temperature in your house is at or under 75 degrees. (We never turn on the heater at our house, so that’s never a problem).  If you house is warm, you can place the bowl in the fridge.
  3. In the mean time, spray a saucepan with spray release (or you can use a little EVOO if you prefer), and saute the shallots, onions, and garlic over low for 45-50 minutes until they start to caramelize.  Remove from heat, and pour int oa large bowl.  Place in fridge to cool.
  4. After yogurt has drained, scrape the yogurt solids from the cheesecloth into the bowl with the sautéed shallots, onions, and garlic.
  5. Mix well and add herbs.  Place in fridge for a minimum of 1-2 hours before serving.  I make this dip the day before I want to serve it.
  6. Discard the liquid that drained off the yogurt and the used cheesecloth.
  7. Serve the dip with veggies, pita chips, or use it as a topping on your baked potato or chili.

Serves 10-20.

If you like your dips sweet instead of herbs and veggies, you can add a few tablespoons of jelly or jam to strained yogurt and a smidge of cinnamon to make a fruit dip.

 

How do you like to serve Greek Yogurt?