Easy Recipe: Homemade Pico De Gallo (Fresh Salsa)

Time to Salsa!!

With the massive amount of super tasty local veggies and fruit we’ve been getting, I decided to make Pico de Gallo (fresh salsa) since we had all the ingredients in this week’s box.

This recipe is super simple and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.

Pico de Gallo (Fresh Salsa)

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups chopped and deseeded tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeno, seeds and white membrane removed, diced
  • 1/2 red/purple onion diced
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro, chiffonade (that means cut up into small ribbons)
  • Salt and Pepper

Directions:

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Toss all ingredients until the lime juice coats all of the veggies.
  3. Transfer into a container with an airtight lid.
  4. Store in the fridge for at least 4 hours. This gives the flavors to meld, and the salsa to chill.
  5. This salsa stays good in the fridge for 4-6 days, but it won’t last that long.

I love this salsa with zucchini chips or tortilla chips. Or in an omlet.

 

 

Pinecone Research is Looking for New Members!

Pinecone Research has opened up its ranks again! They are on the hunt for new members.

If you are new, here is a post all about Pinecone Research.

Pinecone Research members receive points for each completed survey! Points can be redeemed for cash or prizes. They have a new app, so you can do surveys on your phone or other enabled device!

They send you an email notification when you have a survey available. Complete the survey and earn points to be redeemed for either cash or prizes. Occasionally, they will send you a product to test, too.

NEW on Dosh: Starbucks!

Woo Hoo! I received this offer in my inbox yesterday and I couldn’t wait to share it with you all!

Right now, Starbucks is on Dosh! Get 5% cash back every time you get your fave hot or cold drinks, food, coffee beans, merch, and more.

Pro Tip: You can also earn cash back when you use your Dosh-connected card in the Starbucks app. Thats a double dip: Earn Starbucks stars/points on purchases and earn Dosh Cash-back when you load your Starbucks app! Woo Hoo!

Offers on Dosh can vary by user, so you may have a slightly different offer or other offers.

New To Dosh? You can learn all about it here. You can earn cashback shopping in-store or online. I primarily earn cash back on Dosh these days from Office Depot, and Round table Pizza. We used our Dosh linked card to buy Big Kid a new bed last year and scored 2% cash back, in addition to other sales/deals. Dosh is a great app to double dip!

(The Dosh Link is my personal link, if you sign up and complete an offer, I may earn a small comission. This money helps me run the site and offer contests and giveaways. You can see my Disclosure  info here.)

New Recipe: Banana Bread in a Cake Pan!

These bananas are perfect for making banana bread!

I’ll admit: I don’t have a loaf pan. I did, but it died. It was metal, and after 10+ weeks of weekly use… ::Sad Trombone:: I know I should buy a glass one (I have my eye on this one), but until then, I’m making do with what I’ve got.

And what I’ve got is a glass cake pan. Specifically a 9×9 glass cake pan, like this one. I looked online for some ideas about baking times and temps and reworked my usual recipe. The best part of this recipe is that the bread is moist, fluffy/airy with a good crumb.  It is not dense or heavy at all.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray 9×9 glass baking dish with spray release.
  2. In a small dish, mash up bananas, set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter/coconut oil for about 30 seconds-1 minute until light and fluffy.
  4. Add sugar, beat until combined and fluffy.
  5. Beat in eggs one at a time.
  6. Add bananas and vanilla, and blend until the wet ingredients are all incorporated.
  7. Add baking soda and Kodiak Mix. Stir to combine.
  8. Pour into the prepared 9×9 glass baking dish.
  9. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Test with toothpick in the center of the bread for doneness.

This recipe makes 1 9×9 cake pan, which is approximately 9-12 servings, depending on how big you like the pieces.

My kids like this bread toasted with either butter or cream cheese. It never lasts long.

Q-insights Survey Grocery Shopping Survey Pays $75

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Q-insights is another company that I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County, and less often San Diego County. These days they are doing most of their studies online via chat or online surveys.

Right now Q-Insights is recruiting for an upcoming online study:

Males and females ages 18-70 in California for an upcoming survey regarding grocery shopping.

The survey would involve making a grocery shopping trip to a particular store that they will ask you to go to and to record your trip using an app that they will provide for you on your smartphone. The total trip should take less than 1 hour.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out your information here.

If you qualify and complete the survey, you will receive $75 payment in the form of a digital VISA card, physical VISA card, Amazon Gift Card, or a choice of 91 other gift cards for national retailers. Payment will be emailed to you within about 1 week of survey completion.

March 2021: New Month, New Coupons!

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

Check out the following sites:

One of my favorite websites is the Sunday Coupon Review.  It helps me plot out scenarios in advance and I can email friends to ask for coupons in advance. Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

March is here and that means Easter candy will be on sale, as well as all the fixins for Easter Dinner. Also, March is National Crafting month, so keep your eyes open for sales at local craft stores and on Craftsy.  For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.

Ready to Eat Meals from Meal Prep Sunday San Diego!

Friends- This review is for those of you who have told me that you like the IDEA of meal planning/meal prep, but you lack the time, kitchen space, or energy to do it.

I’ve reviewed other Meal Prep companies before, but they aren’t local, so the food is frozen and delivered, and it’s… meh. Full of salt/sodium, bland, squishy textures, or just not satisfying. Hold onto your pants, because…

Meal Prep Sunday San Diego is 1000% different. They are located here in San Diego. The food is prepared here in town, delivered fresh in a custom insulated bag with an ice pack with reheating directions. And if you aren’t in San Diego? No Problem!
Delivery is available in all San Diego, Orange, LA, Riverside, and Imperial counties.

How is Meal Prep Sunday different (aka why is it so cool??):

1. Personalized Meal Prep: By Inputting your physical information, and fitness goal, we portion, and select the right source of ingredients.
2. They Shop for You: Never Frozen, fully organic produce, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef all provided by our local suppliers
3. They Cook for You: Their team of culinary professionals develops fresh seasonal recipes for you to enjoy
4. Advanced Packing Technology: Their modified atmosphere packaging system naturally keeps your meals fresh for up to 7 days
5. Free Delivery Every Sunday: Every Sunday 3-6 pm you will receive your meals in their custom insulated bag with an ice pack
6. Weekly Rotating Menu: They change your menu every week so you can have a variety of new meals week by week
7. 90 Days Workout Plan: They provide weight and cardiovascular training plans synced with your menu and fitness goals, included with your package
8. Save Time, Money: Save up to 10 hours, and $60+ per week, by removing shopping, cooking, cleaning, thus increasing your productivity

Meal Prep Sunday delivered 6 meals to me last week. You’ve probably seen pictures on Instagram.

Steak, Salmon, and Chicken. Yum. Not shown, but gobbled up quickly: An amazing omelet with andouille sausage, veggies, cheese, turkey bolognese with pasta, and a southwestern chicken dish with pulled chicken and southwestern veggies and black beans.

Everything was flavorful, tasty, and easy to re-heat.

One of the things I like about Meal Prep San Diego is that when you sign up, they ask for your age, weight, height, gender, fitness level (how much you are active per week), and what plan you want (build lean muscle, burn fat, balanced, or senior). Meal Prep Sunday San Diego uses these answers to generate a plan that is as unique as you.

They have three plans available.

For restaurant-quality, organic food that is ready to eat in 5 minutes or less and delivered straight to your door, that’s a great price.

The meals change weekly. For those of you who live alone, or if you are finding that you are eating out/getting delivery frequently, a meal delivery service once a week is a great way to save money and eat better.

A steak, mashed yukon potatoes, and green beans is a lot healthier than a burger and fries! not to mention more filling, and cheaper than a trip through the drive-thru.

Meal Prep Sunday San Diego delivered 6 meals to me to facilitate my review. I received no financial compensation. For more information, please see my disclosure page.

Advanced Opinions is Recruiting for Three Upcoming Studies

Advanced Opinions (A market research firm located in New York) is recruiting for THREE upcoming Online Projects.

The first study is about Supplements.

To be considered, complete the intake survey here.

  • Open to: 25-55 year olds
  • Compensation: $125 (if chosen)

Study Dates/Times:

Thursday March 11 – 12pm–2pm PT / 1pm-3pm MT / 2pm-4pm CT / 3pm-5pm ET

Friday March 12 – 10–12am PT / 11am-1pm MT / 12pm-2pm CT / 1pm-3pm ET OR 1–3pm PT / 2pm-4pm MT / 3pm-5pm CT / 4pm-6pm

Wednesday, March 17 – 9am-11am PT / 10am-12pm MT / 11am-1pm CT / 12pm-2pm ET OR 1–3pm PT / 2pm-4pm MT / 3pm-5pm CT / 4pm-6pm ET

Friday, March 19 – 9am-11am PT / 10am-12pm MT / 11am-1pm CT / 12pm-2pm ET OR 1–3pm PT / 2pm-4pm MT / 3pm-5pm CT / 4pm-6pm ET

The Second Study is regarding Shopping Habits:

To be considered, complete the intake survey here.

  • Open to: 18-65 year olds
  • Compensation: $150 (if chosen)
  • Monday March 8th – Friday March 12th – (5-days approx. 30 minutes per day)

The Third Study is regarding Household Products:

To be considered, complete the intake survey here.

  • Open to: 25-54 year olds
  • Compensation: $200 (if chosen)
  • Tuesday March 9th thru Friday March 12th 2021 (4-day Project) You can expect to spend about 1 HOUR PER DAY.

 

2/26/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals

bright boxes

This week was chill compared to the last three weeks. I’m looking forward to a slow, quiet weekend full of play time and naps (at least for me).

My birthday was earlier this month and I rocked a bunch of freebies. Wanna check out my list of goodies? Check it out here.

Most of these freebies and deals are online. I am not encouraging anyone to go into stores or go out into public. Mask up, wash your paws, stay socially distanced!

Freebies:

Free Cool Beans Frozen Wrap
Free Philips Products
Free Subscription to Men’s Health Magazine
Old Orchard Fan Club – Earn Free Juice, Gifts & More
Free Bitsy’s Good Cookies
Free Best Face and ClarityRX Day Creams
Free Sample of Alia Superfood Energy Powder
Free SOS Hydration Electrolyte Drink Mix
Free Ananda Hemp CBD Full Spectrum Softgels Samples
Free Goodnites Underwear Sample
Free Parks & Nash Bone Broth Soup
8 Free Jade Bloom Essential Oils
Free Autographed Holly Clark Hero Card
Free Coffee Wednesdays at Dunkin
Free Danodan Hemp Flower CBD Shot Samples
Free Innisfree My Real Squeeze Masks
Free PetSafe Pet Products
Free Morning Brew Rise & Grind Swag
Free Febreze Plug-In at Kroger & Affiliates

Deals:

3 Layer Freshwater Pearl Necklace ONLY $1.40 Shipped
Ecovacs Robot Vacuum ONLY $169 Shipped (Reg $550)
Toddler 3-Piece Pajama Sets ONLY $6.49 at Walmart (Reg $13)
Adventure Academy 62% Off – ONLY $3.75 per Month
Sargent Art 400-Count ONLY $17.34 (Reg $37)
Gibson Home Bakeware Set 5-Piece ONLY $22.49 (Reg $30)
Ultrean 4.2-Quart Air Fryer ONLY $59.49 Shipped (Reg $96)
Aukey Wireless Earbuds ONLY $23.79 (Reg $34)
Two Months of ABCmouse ONLY $5.00 (Reg. $20)
Nuby Floating Purple Octopus ONLY $6.89 on Amazon
My First Library Board Book Block 12-Book Set $9.59 (Reg. $16)
Disney Electronic Reader Hardcover ONLY $19.00 (Reg. $33)
3-Piece Husky 144-Tooth Ratchet Set ONLY $49.97 (Reg $70)
Atomic Marvel Crisis Protocol Game ONLY $68 (Reg $100)
Nature’s Miracle Litter Box Odor Destroyer ONLY $3.99 (Reg. $12)
Melissa & Doug Mega Race-Car Carrier $16.60 (Reg. $30)
Disney Princess Sing & Shimmer Ariel Doll $19.10 (Reg. $30)

Love Crafting? Dollar Tree’s Crafter’s Square is Bigger & Better than Ever!

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

All Dollar Tree locations now sport an expanded craft section!

Some of my favorite items include acrylic paint, staple-backed canvases, paintbrushes, pallets, watercolors, art paper, yarn, wood crafts, scrapbooking stickers, and more!

And if you need some inspiration, check out some of these great ideas:

Get Inspiration from Dollar Tree’s Crafts & Décor Blog!
Shop Holiday Craft Supplies!
Get Creative with Wood Crafts!
Reveal a World of Color with Dollar Tree’s affordable Paint Supplies!
Get Ready for Spring with Floral Crafts!

Just an example of the crafts we’ve made from Dollar Tree

When you shop online, you can take advantage of FREE shipping when you choose to have your order shipped to your local Dollar Tree store for pickup! It’s easy, convenient, and saves you money on shipping costs. You can learn more about In-Store Pickup here!

We shop weekly at Dollar Tree, and a trip is never complete without cruising the craft section and picking up a few goodies!