easy

Recipe: Hearty Veggie Soup

Abby H.
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This soup is vegan and high in protein!

I made this last month while it was cold and rainy. I keep forgetting to post this recipe. It’s so tasty. And easy. The leftovers (if there are any) freezes well.

 

It’s vegan and gluten-free as is, but you can make changes and use bone broth if you want, or even add meat of your choices I think kielbasa pieces would be really great in this soup!

I used Right Rice in this recipe in place of regular white rice. What I like about Right Rice is that it’s made from Lentil Flour, Chickpea Flour, and Rice Flour.  Those ingredients mean that this “rice” is high on protein! The “rice” thickens up the soup for sure.

 

AAVS2954.JPGI found Right Rice at Grocery Outlet, but you can also order it on Amazon.  You can substitute canned chopped tomatoes for fresh tomatoes- Use what you have on hand.

Hearty Veggie Soup

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced (I used green)
  • 2 T. cooking oil (your choice)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 green or yellow zucchini (whatever is in season or you have on hand)
  • 2 quarts veggie stock
  • 2 cups chopped tomatoes (you can also use a large can of diced tomatoes)
  • 1 14oz.-ish can of tomato sauce
  • 1 small can of tomato paste
  • 2 cups Right Rice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 T. Penzeys Forward Spice Blend
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. In a large, heavy-bottom stockpot, heat oil.
  2. Saute carrots, celery, bell pepper, and onions until onions are soft and clear, about 5-10 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is fragrant.
  4. Add remaining ingredients and spices. Cook on low for 20-30 minutes, or until right rice is done and soup has thickened up.
  5. Soup can simmer on low as long as you like. I let it simmer on low for about 45 minutes.
  6. Serve with bread and butter and salad.

IMG_9957.JPGForward Seasoning blend contains extra bold black pepper, onion, paprika, garlic, turmeric, spice extractives (including oleoresin of celery, rosemary, black pepper, thyme, basil and paprika).

Turn Your Junk Mail into Rewards!

Abby H.

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I love sharing all the ways I earn extra money, especially when they are quick and easy. The Small Business Knowledge Center (SBKC) is my ace in the hole! I’ve been participating in their program for over 10 years, and I earn on average $120/year.

It’s simple. As a panelist, you will earn rewards by sending SBKC direct mail and email communications that you might otherwise disregard. SBKC mails you postage-paid envelopes, you stuff your junk mail into it and drop it into the mail. I send one envelope each week. The more you mail in, the more you earn!

The Small Business Knowledge Center (SBKC) studies marketing techniques and practices.  They securely dispose of your junk mail after they are done with it- no need to worry!

pngYou will receive points for your junk mail, and once you receive 2000 points, you will receive a $20 pre-paid Visa GiftCard!

You can also forward emails to SBKC as well.

They email you once a month to update you on the number of points you have and with any special projects they have going on. A few times a year they look for special types of mail, open enrollment solicitations, IRA, or other investment/retirement info. When they want those materials, they’ll email you and let you know- usually, there is a bounty of extra points available too!

Unlike many other programs, you can sign everyone in your home who is over the age of 18!

If you are interested in signing up, visit the SBKC page here and click on the JOIN NOW button. In the box next to: How did you hear about the SBKC Consumer Panel? Please type my name: Abby Hewes. I get points for referrals, and once you sign up and refer your friends, you will too!

 

BIG NEWS from Fetch Rewards: Earn points at ALL stores and restaurants

Abby H.

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Every store. Every restaurant. Every time.

It just got way more rewarding to snap your receipts. That’s because now you can earn at least 5 points no matter where you shop or dine. Pretty exciting, right?

  • Enjoying a burger at McDonald’s?
  • Updating your wardrobe at Marshalls?
  • Grabbing some toys from Target?
  • Loading up on groceries for the week?
  • Getting your favorite pizza delivered?

These are just a few of the unlimited number of places you can earn points. So be sure to save and snap your receipts every time you shop or dine. You’ll be picking out your next Reward in no time.

 

If you haven’t signed up for Fetch Rewards yet, or want to learn more, check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points.

In 2020, I’ve earned $35 in Amazon Gift cards! Sometimes there are extra point offers for buying specific brands or items, which is how I’ve earned extra points- but it was stuff I was buying anyway!

**Fine Print for this deal: The receipt processing function for the expanded set of retailer types and restaurants is currently only available on iOS devices on version 2.32.1.1, and only valid on receipts dated 4/27/2020 or later. At this time, we only accept paper receipts for these new retailers and restaurants.

Fetch Rewards: Earn 4,000 points per referral

Abby H.10 Comments

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Fetch Rewards is at it again! Woo Hoo!

Earn 4,000 points for every friend you refer to Fetch – now through 4/29/2020. There’s no limit to the bonus points you can earn, and your friends each earn 2,000, too. So, tell everyone!

3 referrals = 12,000 points = $12 in gift cards*

With hundreds of gift cards to choose from, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart, you’ll always find one that’s just right for you.

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If you haven’t signed up for Fetch Rewards yet, or want to learn more, check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points.

In 2020, I’ve earned $35 in Amazon Gift cards! Sometimes there are extra point offers for buying specific brands or items, which is how I’ve earned extra points- but it was stuff I was buying anyway!

Fetch Rewards: 5 Million MORE Points are up for Grabs!

Abby H.

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Have you heard about Fetch Rewards Spring on the Points Giveaway?

They gave away 5 million points last week- and they are doing it again this week!

Through Wednesday, any store receipt or eReceipt could be a winner, from 500 to 25,000 points*, so be sure to continue submitting them like you always have. Fetch Rewards will randomly select 5,000 winners and award points on 4/16.

If you haven’t signed up for Fetch Rewards yet, or want to learn more, check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points.

So far in 2020, I’ve earned $24 in Amazon Gift Cards simply by scanning my grocery store and mass merchandiser receipts into the Fetch Rewards App.

Funovation Panel is Looking for New Members!

Abby H.

The Funovation Panel is a community of families that provide their feedback about new toys, videos, images, and much more.

They are looking for new members to help them understand what families want from toys today.

Members are invited to participate in projects such as in-home toy tests, early screening of TV shows, trend identification, and providing input on toys and ideas in the early stages of development. Help shape what will appear in stores and on screens across the world to better suit your family!

Also, to show our appreciation, for every Funovation survey you complete, you will be entered into a draw for one of three $50 Amazon gift cards. That starts with this one, so click here!

 

 

New PinchMe Samples Drop 4/7/2020!

Abby H.

Set your iCals to remind you that the new PinchMe samples drop on 4/7/2020 at 9am Pacific Time!

Sneak Peek of April’s samples:

  • Caliper CBD Dissolvable Powder
  • Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer
  • Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel
  • InTune CBD Peanut Butter Dog Treats
  • Nexcare™ Tegaderm and Tegaderm™ + Pad Waterproof Transparent Dressings
  • Nexcare™ Max Hold Waterproof Bandages
  • SlimFast Diabetic Weight Loss Nutty Caramel & Chocolate Cluster Snack
  • Lumify® Redness Reliever Eye Drops
  • Acne Wipeout™
  • Skylar – Salt Air Eau de Toilette Rollerball

New To PinchMe? Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

Coffee House Copycat Recipes & Enter to French Roast K-Cup® Pods!

Abby H.

I love Cross Country Cafe! They always have great deals, contests, and recipes!

Barista Prima French Roast K-Cup® Pods box of 24Right now, they are running a contest for FOUR full-size boxes of French Roast K-Cup® coffee pods! Enter to win before March 30th, 2020.

One of the ways that we stay on budget is to limit how many coffee shop beverages we have each week.  I load $25 every two weeks onto my Starbucks card. Honestly, it’s usually used on treats for the kiddos.

I make a big pot of French Roast Coffee each morning and make our coffee shop style beverages with it as the base. Here are a few of our favorites:

Quick & Easy Misto (aka a Cafe au Lait)

Ingredients:

  • 20 ounces Hot Coffee (prepared however you like)
  • 1 cup milk (whatever kind you like, I prefer whole or 2%).
  • Sweetener, if desired
  • Ground Nutmeg or Cinnamon, if desired

Directions:

  1. In a heatproof cup, heat milk for approx. 30 seconds in the microwave.
  2. Froth milk in a Magic bullet, blender, or using a Milk Frother. This takes about 30 seconds. The more fat the milk contains, the foamer the milk gets. Fat-free milk (either dairy or non-dairy) does not get too frothy.
  3. Pour Hot Coffee into your serving cup. Add your sweetener and stir. This is a great time to try a new sweetened syrup!
  4. Using a spoon, Push frothed milk to the side and pour milk over the coffee.
  5. Top with Foam if desired.
  6. Get extra fancy and sprinkle the top of the foam with nutmeg or cinnamon!
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Hot, frothy milk!
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The finished product, time for breakfast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick & Easy Mocha: If you love a Cafe Mocha to start your day, simply add 2 T. of your favorite Chocolate milk mix or instant hot chocolate (I like this dark chocolate hot chocolate) to the milk before your heat and froth it. Follow the same directions as above.

Caramel Macchiato: Pour 1 cup, hot frothed milk into your mug, followed by 6 ounces of very strong hot coffee. Top with a little more foam, and drizzle caramel syrup over the top of the foam.

Cinnamon Dulce Latte: Pour Coffee into mug, add steamed milk and two pumps/Tablespoons of Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Cooled/leftover coffee makes GREAT iced coffee. Simply pour over ice, add any milk and sweetener/syrup you’d like and serve. YUM!

For an Iced Mocha, mix 2 T. of your favorite Chocolate milk mix to the milk before adding it to your ice and coffee.

I love the Torani Sugar Free syrups, they come in over 40 flavors and most of them are great in coffee. We like the following flavors:

  • Irish Coffee (it’s non-alcoholic)
  • Caramel
  • Hazelnut
  • French Vanilla
  • Brown Sugar Cinnamon
  • Almond
  • Pumpkin Spice
  • Coconut (it’s good in a mocha)

unnamed.pngAnd Cross Country Cafe has a new recipe on their blog: Almond Milk Honey Flat White. Yum!

If you start your morning with a protein shake, here are a couple recipes for coffee drinks that use protein powder in place of milk.

March 2020: New Month, New Coupons!

Abby H.

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!

Here are a few of my favorite new coupons:

Save $1.50 off ONE (1) Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chunks

Save $2.00 on the purchase of two (2) BIC® Stationery Products (Redeemable at Walmart)

Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) LISTERINE® Mouthwash (400mL or higher)

Earn Money Doing Surveys Online

Abby H.

I’ve written about doing surveys online before, and it’s definitely one of the ways that I make money. For my full list of side hustles, check out this post.

Here are a couple survey companies that are looking for new members!

Create a profile and take surveys to earn cash or gift card rewards with Branded Surveys. They pay you with cash or gift card rewards to complete market research studies. Refer your friends to maximize your rewards (woo hoo).

Pro Tip: Cashouts are possible upon receiving 1,000 points ($10). You’ll also receive these notifications after each survey you take along with helpful tips and hints to improve performance.

  My absolute favorite survey company! Pinecone Research pays $3 per survey. Redeem via paypal or save your points to cash out for other gift cards or shop their catalog.

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.

Oh, and Vindale Research is a fun one too! Get paid to review products with Vindale Research in addition to surveys!

When you sign up to do surveys online, I recommend that you do the following:

  1. Have an email address solely for doing surveys. Check it a few times a week to make sure that you aren’t missing any opportunities.
  2. If you don’t have a Paypal Account, sign up for one. They are free and most companies that pay “cash” use Paypal.
  3. Keep track of your earnings- I have a Google Sheet that I update any time I receive a pay out.
  4. Have Fun!