As evidenced from my infrequent posts, I have been a bit uninspired for the last year or so. Therefore, I feel like I need to reintroduce myself and my blog. I am hoping to share ideas, knowledge and just some camaraderie. I do like to cook and bake — baking is really more of my thing. I will try recipes, especially some of the older (mom/grandma, favorite) recipes and share my results. Also, I am still experimenting to find a “healthy” cake recipe! I like to try new restaurants so

a review or two may appear. I also have a dog, a 20 lb Sichon* (Bichon Frise mixed with Shih Tzu). I may share some tips to save time/money and just to make life a bit easier. If you can share some good food with your family and friends, life is always better and that is a very comfortable place to be.

*I don’t receive any monetary compensation from sharing this link.

https://wagwalking.com/breed/shichon#:~:text=Shichon%20Breed%20Appearance,over%20the%20little%20one’s%20eyes.

Summer is vacation time for many people, especially, folks with kids! While out walking my dog, I ran into one of my younger neighbors walking her pup. We somehow started talking about vacations and my neighbor asked me these questions: How do you plan for a vacation? How do you start?  How do you budget for that?   While I didn’t have a ready answer then, these questions have been on my mind. Maybe, planning a vacation is an easy task for some, however, others may have a harder time. How do you know where to go or how much you can afford?  

If you are lucky and have friends who live at the beach with a free guest room, this might be an easier task.  Or… if you like to camp and have all the stuff, there is probably a campground not that far.  But, what if you have that wandering feeling and want to go to some far and exotic place … Las Vegas, Paris, Istanbul, or Greece!

I remember when I was much younger and a coworker invited us girls over for a cook-out – bring your own ‘raw’ meat and she would grill and provide everything else.  She had a nice house all by herself and I was amazed! I knew she was an accountant/CPA meaning good with money.  But still… it made an impression on me. She mentioned savings and said we each needed an emergency fund. I wanted to have a nice house and so the next day I started saving $30 per pay period and let me tell you, this was not easy in the 80’s with a 17% interest rate on my car loan!

“So how will this help me with my vacation planning?” Knowing that you have a savings account with a good balance for emergencies will help you feel more comfortable taking a vacation. Perhaps, start a specific vacation savings account to put aside for vacations and have funds from each pay check automatically sent to the account.  Yay!  You are saving for your vacation. And, if you were already saving – how much more should you save specifically for this vacation?

How much will be enough? If you would like to take a European vacation to Paris, first look to see the best time of year to visit Paris.  Paris in the Spring… sounds very lovely to me!  And, one day I will visit Paris!  The most popular time to visit vacation spots will also be the most expensive, due to the economic concept of “Supply and Demand.”  However, that doesn’t mean don’t do it!  Just need to do some research on hotel prices and airfare.  And here is a big secret … sometimes international airfare can fluctuate a LOT, so check the prices. Perhaps, you can get the best deals if you can vacation “some other time!” A few years ago, three of my friends and I went to Greece in mid-September and found way better airfare prices than in the summer. I have also found the best airfare mid-November around Veteran’s Day. If you can be flexible, you can afford to go on an exotic trip!

Planning the trip took some research and asking my friends to each pick one island they wished to see. Then we knew we wanted to go that year and we were planning during early summer. That said, the airfare and hotels were more available in September. We checked the weather and squeezed in 9 days (11 with the 2 travel days and time changes) before the “bad” weather was going to hit. In Greece this makes a big difference in being able to move between islands. Due to time constraints, we narrowed it down to Athens, Rodos (Island of Rhodes), and Santorini (very popular).

We traveled Turkish Airlines via Istanbul with a quick plane change on the way to Athens. We had a few days in Athens (Acropolis!) and then we took a small hop to Rodos for a few days. In Rodos – such a fun place with a UNESCO Walled City (sprawling and beautiful old castle) and then to Santorini — the history and the views!! I will say this was a wonderful trip and I loved being in Greece. I would definitely go back. And to cap off our trip, we (I) made a small oversight booking on our return flight and had a 22 hr. layover in Istanbul! Our planning party had a bit of wine flowing before dinner ….. Anyway, I found this when I plugged our itinerary into a spreadsheet and made sure all of dates/times for flights, hotels, tours and excursions, and taxis/cars to/from the hotels and the airports were in sync. Well, it was going to cost a LOT to change the flights. Thankfully, we found a nice hotel in Istanbul with a rooftop restaurant and a VIEW that was amazing and the food was safe and delicious. Crisis averted! We all made it home safe and sound with a quite a few mementos.

While I ordered the transportation on the smaller islands, I thought Athens would have ‘larger and more available transportation’. Well, I learned that you have to order the transportation for 4 women and luggage to ensure you have a large enough vehicle to get to the hotels. It was fine, but took 2 cars!

Also, pack a bathing suit! We thought we only had “harbor” views in Athens and we did but also, across the street was beach access and we were able to swim. So have a suit and the water will come!

By selecting our hotel just a bit away from downtown Athens, we saved quite a bit of money. We also selected hotels with breakfast bars. This way, we could always get coffee and food without leaving the hotel and no need for a lot of translations early in the morning. That said, most employees spoke English. We did have to do an excursion to the bank to get money converted but we managed. We also managed the train/trams to get to downtown for a walking food tour. Once downtown, after walking up/down the Main Street, we finally found the starting point for the tour. It was worth it.

So … all of this was said, because you have to do some research and see what you would like to do. Having our breakfast covered every day as part of the hotel costs, was delicious and budget friendly. The breakfast bars had a mix of both the usual items and some of their specialties. It also allowed the earlier risers to go downstairs and grab a table and have their coffee while the rest made it downstairs.

Pre-booking excursions that picked us up at the hotel also made it easier to get around without getting lost and included the transportation costs. Therefore, when planning a vacation: decide on the goal of the vacation, e.g. touring new places or just relaxing. Even if it is a touring vacation, plan some downtime or a down day to relax and enjoy the location.

Decide what excursions you would like to do — do you want to visit the place where Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand (like me!) or see the Grand Canyon or just find a new beach to get a tan and some good food?

How many days will it take you to see what you would like? Or how many days can you get off work? That was part of our constraints. We basically had a week with two weekends plus I needed a day to finish laundry, pack (I hate it!), and get the dog to the kennel. Speaking of the kennel — that is another cost to factor in. I found out my kennel now charges higher rates in the summer!

We did all the planning and then split some of the charges on two of our credit cards and the others paid us. The spreadsheet helped with tracking the costs. If you do your research you can have a draft budget to help you decide what you would like to do. You can automate your savings so you know you have $XX amount of money every year for your trip and that can help guide you. There are a lot of different strategies. For me, it often depends on when I can take off work — and have I injured an important body part like an ankle (the dog tripped me) or a knee… which can limit which type of vacation. Beach is more restorative for a knee injury that is almost healed. That’s another story.

How long has it been since you went away? Now, you want …wait… you NEED a vacation! Some people just wing it and that is a strategy too, but just a bit of research and planning might save you a lot of money and bring you a much more comfortable vacation!

With school graduations happening everywhere, it’s not hard to reminisce about my own graduation. While some kids knew what they wanted to be when they grew up, many of us were still trying to sort things out. I remember thinking, how am I supposed to decide what I want to be when I grow up and select a college major and career trajectory for the rest of my life?  I had barely been anywhere that didn’t involve visiting family or the place with the Big Mouse and his friends.

Unfortunately, just getting a college degree doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after, especially if that degree comes at a very high price in the form of student loans. So many people talk about living paycheck to paycheck and usually this is good in the sense that it means they have a job. However, it is not good as this also means the cash flowing in is usually already going out to pay bills, if there is even enough to cover the bills.

Cash flow is very important as it can be the difference in families keeping the lights on, feeding their children, and even keeping a roof over their heads.

Literally, a positive cash flow can mean someone does not end up moving in with family, sofa surfing, or worse, homeless. Ironically, this term – Cash Flow – is usually only discussed in the business realm even though it applies to personal finance as well. Lately, you may hear the term “income streams.” This refers to the various forms of cash flow. It’s trendy to discuss part-time jobs as ‘gigs’ and you can have several “side hustles” for income streams. This is another way to say having several jobs part-time, or otherwise, to keep the cash flowing in.  

That all said, even having several income streams may not be enough to keep a positive cash flow. There are people who make six figures and still may be living paycheck to paycheck. If making a high salary or having several jobs is not enough to keep a positive cash flow, what else is needed?

Good Habits! Plenty of articles provide tons of financial advice so sorting out what is best or where do you start can be overwhelming. I have had friends tell me “I am not good with money!” Not being good with money is not a life sentence. It does require a change to live differently which is easier said than done. However, it CAN be done – baby steps! One of the first steps is to look at all of your bills and your income. Do you have any cash left after paying the bills? This is the hardest part: identifying where the problem lies, be it too many bills/not enough cash, shopping too much, or just not saving money!

Usually, it is a combination of multiple factors. And it can be ‘all or nothing’ thinking – meaning, if you can’t save a lot of money, it’s not worth trying. Step one is setting up an emergency/savings account – even if means saving only $5 per paycheck. Even $5 per paycheck is starting a good habit!  Yes, even if you don’t think you can do this – you can!! 

Next is to identify: are you spending too much on things that you could cut back on or change? Yes, most will say, cut out that “fancy” coffee and you know, if you have a daily Café Mocha habit – making coffee at home could help give you the $5 to start your automatic savings for your emergency fund. If things are not that easy for you, it may be time to look at what larger bills can be cut and/or do you need to find another income stream. Shoot, even if you are covering your bills – did you know (if you have Verizon), you can go to their website and it will review your usage and recommend the best (cheapest) plan!  I have done this several times.

When I was in my early 20’s and first working, sharing an apartment with roommates and still trying to finish a degree, I was super busy. Buying lunch out every day was expensive, yet I also didn’t have a lot of time either.  I admit for a few months, I made and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yes, on the days that I had evening classes, I made 3 peanut butter sandwiches (PB&Js) – one for each meal! I only had to purchase a drink. Before you feel too sorry for me, I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I only had to do this for a few months until I got a raise at work! 

I bring this up to say that while it may sound painful, you need a short-term and a long-term plan to improve your finances. As much as I like PB&Js, even I couldn’t keep up that habit more than a semester or two. When my old car “left” me, I bought my new car and then, one of the roommates moved out! Instead of only paying 1/3 of the rent and utilities, I was paying half. Eek! I realized I had only enough money to cover some bills and none left for the car insurance, gas, and food money! Not even the PB&Js! Thank God for waitressing jobs – I was able to work a few nights per week. One of the great things about waitressing is – TIPS! I usually made enough to put gas in my car for the week, provide cash for lunch and some groceries, and while the paychecks were small, I was able to start a savings account and use that money to cover the car insurance. Also, guess what I love more than a PB&J – pizza! Working at a pizza place also provided a free meal on the nights I worked. Again, I only had to work the extra job until the next raise at my day job.   

Depending on where you are in your financial situation, it may be harder than a few PB&Js along with an ‘extra gig’ here or there. However, a problem once identified is a problem that can be solved! Looking at your finances, you may need to put multiple strategies into action like the Debt Snowball method. It may take changing jobs to get that ‘raise’ at work to get the income stream positive. That said, starting – even with only saving $5 – can be the first step! And while it may feel impossible, dream about your future and where you would like to be financially. Keeping that vision can help you start and keep those good habits and that will lead you to a more comfortable life.

*Kaela’s Cookies – Falls Church, VA (@Kaelas.Cookies)

What does that mean? When you borrow money there is always a cost – even if funds are borrowed from family, where the cost may be emotional capital. The primary cost is the interest charged on the loan. It can also be the cost of your time in earning the money, e.g. how many hours did you have to work to pay for the item. Let’s look at interest rate costs and how you may use borrowing money to your best advantage.

While you may think this is “too financial,” as in “I am not good with money,” it is a very important concept to understand. You may already understand the concept but think “it doesn’t apply to me.” When thinking about money and looking at budgets and finances, the “cost” of money now becomes very important. Especially, when you are looking at big purchases or have started accumulating credit card debt.

The “cost” of money is the interest rate and the total amount you will have paid at the end of a loan. How do you know what that cost is? How much more per month do you need to pay off the 30 year mortgage early? Why does it feel like you can’t make progress paying off your credit cards?! How many years will you have to work to pay off these student loans? Using an amortization chart or table can help you calculate the total costs for your loans. There are many calculators out there (yay!) to walk you through the process.

The answers to these questions depends on your credit rating and your needs. If you are trying to decide if you should buy a new car or a used car or if you have a older car should you trade it in to lower the payments. Usually the interest rate on a new car is lower than the rate on a used car. And, a new car usually comes with a good warranty so the maintenance should be less costly.

The real advantage if you owe money on your credit cards and you have an older car to replace, then borrowing the funds for the new car and selling your old car outright could be a better financial decision. If you can pay off your credit card with proceeds from selling the older car, it may be a better financial decision. A new car loan may be at 4% and the credit cards could be at 16%. It may make sense to pay off the credit card and purchase the new car. Or, use the older car proceeds to start an emergency savings account to ensure you don’t have to borrow more money on your credit cards. Or use the funds to help pay for college for your son or daughter.

The main goal is to have your money work for you. Perhaps, you want that new designer purse and the sale price is only $300! So, you think $300 is not too much so you charge it. However, if you are only making minimum payments (like $50), now that $300 gets added to a continually growing balance. In the long run, that purse will cost a lot more than $300 and that is not a bargain.

What if you have more than one credit card with a balance — eek! The Debt Snowball Method is needed! I have used this method when I was younger and it does work. Looking at your options can save you money in the long run. It can be tricky getting out of debt and trying to save for an emergency fund. The emergency fund is going to be critical to eliminate debt. So start saving even $10 per pay period into a savings account — usually credit unions are more favorable for not charging fees on small balances. Once you get a raise, you can up the amount even if it’s only $5. Use direct deposit to automate the savings, even if you think you can’t afford it. You can’t afford not too. You can withdraw the funds if you need to but surprisingly you will get used to it and not miss that $10.

If you are working and have the option to have a 401(k) or similar plan, please take advantage of it. I know it may sound like, how can I save for retirement when I owe on my credit cards? Two reasons! 1) your company match is “free” money and it is actually part of your salary compensation package. 2) Tax benefit! You don’t pay taxes on the contributions to the fund. If you can, contribute the minimum to get the match. If you can’t at first, do the minimum to participate and increase your contributions at the next raise (or once you pay off your credit cards).

Once you have your credit cards paid off, have an emergency fund, and are contributing to your retirement fund at work, you may want to buy a home. Most realtors and mortgage companies will try to sell you a house saying you can afford the payments for the 30-year loan.

However, looking at the amortization tables, BankRate.com, has a nice one, you may find that a 20-year loan at the same interest rate is not that much more and will save you 10 years of payments!! Most lenders are not suggesting the 15-year mortgages and try to steer you to a 30-year loan. And, if you ask about the 15-year loan they will often say, “you can still make double payments and still pay off your loan in half the time.” The issue is that most people won’t make the extra payments. And, some banks will only credit you the real savings if you pay the double payments on the exact due date.

You may ask why does this matter so much? For example, a house with a mortgage of $330,000 for 30 years at an interest rate of 5.27% may not look that bad at a base payment of $1,826 (before taxes and insurance) but over 30 years, that loan/house will cost $657,490. That is literally, almost the same as if you bought “two” houses!! Or the cost of the house and putting a child through a private college. A loan of 15 years will cost $2,656 (before taxes and insurance) is only about $800 more per month and the total cost is $478,128. Yes, this loan will cost about $150,000 more but it’s less than half of the extra $330,000 with a 30-loan. So, when calculating if you can afford a new home, consider a 15- or 20- year loan over a 30-year loan. Of course, there are other factors to consider when buying a home than just the cost of the loan. Making educated money decisions can make for a more comfortable life.

References: https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/amortization-calculator/

It has been a while since I sat down to write an article and I didn’t realize it had been so long!  It feels like some days there is so much to do.  I went to visit my family and saw my niece graduate from high school.  She has done so well and it was nice to see the family.  Interestingly, even though it has been years since I graduated, in many ways, they are the same:  exuberant graduates, relieved and happy parents, supportive and happy friends.  Speeches and pomp and circumstance but now with big screen TVs  — this grad ceremony was held in the Toyota Center! 

So … after the speeches and celebrations, it’s up the graduate to decide the next steps:  college, trade school, working, or maybe a gap-year full of travel?  Big decisions that can be literally life changing! 

College costs have risen so high, it can exclude many students.  However, there can be ways to make college more attainable besides just expensive loans. 

The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) can help students achieve college credits for a fraction of the costs.  This can be a good option if someone is good at reading and taking exams.   Many students are very smart and a regular classroom moves too slow.  CLEP exams allow you flexibility to study and take the exams at your pace.

Tuition Reimbursement Programs at private companies can help as well.  Usually, you have to get the class (and/or degree program) approved.  Pay for the first class up front and if you don’t have the funds, this is a good use for your credit card.  Pay the minimum payment until you pass the class with a B or better and then file for reimbursement and use that payment to pay off the first class.

Both of these options together can help a student pursue a degree.  Maybe not as fast as the full-time path but it can be a jump start and you can earn valuable work experience with health insurance!

While it is great to pursue a vocation in an area you love, it may not make a lot of sense to pursue a degree that may leave you with a lifetime of debt.   This is not an endorsement to suffer through college to get a job that is boring and/or you are otherwise unsuited for.   Rather, most colleges have as part of their orientation classes, tests for aptitude, interests and personality to aid in career planning.  Often there may be several occupations or career paths for which you are well-suited.  Therefore, how do you choose?!

Well, one way is to look at the free Government resource:  The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook. They even provide a helpful video to help you in your career search.  I am so surprised that most high schools never mention this free resource.  Well, that said, many adults have no idea that it exists.  Why is this important.  College is one of the most important investments you can make besides buying a house and saving for retirement.   Well, there may be a few more things, but college may be the foundation of your earnings for the rest of your life!

So…when deciding to invest time, money and hard work towards a future occupation, there are things to consider such as:

• Job Opportunities and Locations
• Salaries
• Future growth and/or decline in Occupations and Areas

These are important factors since most students take an average of 4-5 years to complete a Bachelor’s Degree.  If you desire to be a Lawyer or a Chiropractor where are the new job openings?  What is the cost of living in the area?  The job may pay more in NY City but the cost of living may mean your actual money after your bills may be less than if you took a lower paying job in Alabama.  Often cities have higher rent costs than small towns.

When you first go the BLS site, it may be overwhelming.  Another awesome and free resource is your neighborhood Librarian at the Public Library or the College Counselors. All of this information can also be useful for someone going to college, looking to make a career change or to move to a new location. The key takeaway is that investing wisely in you and your future can help you build a very comfortable and rewarding life! Best Wishes to all of the new graduates!

References:

https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-benefits-for-everyone

https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator

https://myscholly.com/50-companies-with-amazing-tuition-reimbursement-programs/

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

As we kick off the New Year, the common theme is that hopefully, 2022 will be a much better year!  I know I am looking at 2022 as a New Year and a New Me.  Ok, it’s the same thing as in years past:  lose weight, get in shape and re-organize my house!  So, as a first step on the first day, I decided to bake muffins albeit the healthier yet tasty muffins.  These are not your giant super sweet (300+ calories) muffins.   These Oatmeal Muffins are only

140 calories and they have the good fiber so sneaky you don’t know it’s there. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/22458/easy-oatmeal-muffins/

I pretty much followed this recipe with the following tweaks:   cut the salt to a heaping ¼ teaspoon (I have to watch my sodium) and added a few cracks of pink sea salt to the oatmeal soaking.  I also, like to use an extra egg when baking as I think they bake up better and it adds protein.  As I used the organic granulated cane sugar which is not as fine as white sugar, I used a heaping ¼ cup sugar (closer to 1/3 cup).  More importantly, I added a few sprinkles of cinnamon (probably ¼ teaspoon) and a few splashes of vanilla flavoring (1/2 teaspoon).  I did this as I have made these before and, as we all know, oatmeal can be a bit bland.  I don’t think I bake anything without adding vanilla flavoring.

Extra Optional Ingredients:

• Cinnamon
• Extra Egg
• Organic Granulated Cane Sugar
• Sea Salt
• Vanilla Flavoring

These muffins baked up nicely, that said, they are more like a bread than the usual “cake” muffins.  Think about how a savory, cornmeal muffin tastes – which is very good but not necessarily like dessert.  This a basic muffin that you can serve for breakfast or snacks.  This is especially great for folks who do not like an overly sweet bread – it is more satisfying when you are hungry.  Guess what – you don’t know there is oatmeal inside!!  And by basic, the real beauty of this recipe is that you can customize to your tastes!  Add in some blueberries or cranberries. Hint: toss fruit with a bit of flour to keep it from sinking and if they are tart, I would add a bit of sugar to that flour mix!  I have made these with chocolate chips and my son and I loved them.  So… think of this as a blank canvas for your favorite flavors.  Just not lemon!  I tried adding lemon juice and zest and I didn’t think the lemon worked with the oatmeal.  A great serving idea is that you can bake these and serve hot with some delicious butter and jam! They would also be tasty with some type of spread like cream cheese slathered in the middle.

I like this basic recipe because I have been reading the Zero Sugar Diet by David Zinczenko and he says your body knows and will process food with sugar AND fiber different from just sugary foods and even a low-calorie, no real sugar food or drink.  Yep, read that again!  Actually, better yet, read his book especially if you like to eat, dislike fake sugars or have other dietary issues.  He also points out that folks should understand and steer away from items with ADDED sugars like certain spaghetti sauces and salad dressings.  Specifically stay away from foods where the sugar is hidden or disguised with words like fructose and sucrose.  Fruit has fructose and that is ok in moderation.

Just like Dr. Oz says if you only make one change in your diet, add in a cup of green tea, Zinczenko says even if you only make one dietary change, add in more fiber!  We should clarify, that fiber comes in both soluble and insoluble.  The solubility of fiber refers to its ability to dissolve in water.  Based on this, fiber has often been categorized as either soluble or insoluble:

• Soluble fiber blends with water in the gut, forming a gel-like substance. It can reduce blood sugar spikes, and has various metabolic health benefits (4Trusted Source).
• Insoluble fiber does not blend with the water and passes through the digestive system mostly intact. It functions mostly as a “bulking” agent, and may help speed the passage of food and waste through your gut.  (HEALTHLINE  see link below)

Oats are high in soluble fiber, making oat cereals a better choice than bran for this particular dietary component.  So these oatmeal muffins are also good for the person who is tired of eating a bowl of oatmeal or just dislikes it.

References:

Zero Sugar Diet: The 14-Day Plan to Flatten Your Belly, Crush Cravings, and Help Keep You Lean for Life. By David Zinczenko

Fiber Information: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/different-types-of-fiber#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

Leaves are turning to golden yellows and rusty red and squirrels seem to be everywhere.  The crisp mornings and cooler days mean that Fall is definitely here.  While Halloween has passed, we can still benefit from tricks to enjoy our treats more.  Especially those tricks that help us save money and/or calories. 

I know many people love diet sodas and I love regular soda.   I have tried over the years to love diet and I just can’t get into it.  Here we are heading into the indulgent season and cutting back so we can splurge on the specialty items is prudent.  That said, I am never going to love diet sodas and guess what!  They are not actually better for you.  So …. what is a ‘bubbly’ loving girl to do?!

Join the sparkling water club!  Store brand Club Soda to the rescue!  Purchase the one with no sodium, especially on sale, it is very reasonable.   It is refreshing over ice with a splash of lime!  Lemon works better in plain or flat water.  Lime seems to taste better in the bubbles.  Add a splash of cherry juice too and it is very tasty.  A healthier soda for children as a few splashes of real fruit juice is lower in calories with the added albeit small amount of vitamin C.

I have had several married friends complain their husbands drink way too much regular (not even diet) soda.  I asked, did they serve them the drink in the can/bottle or pour it into the glass with ice? They said the latter.  (Even if you are a modern woman, it is ok to be nice and make a drink for your spouse.)   Anyway, I suggested they think about adding a bit of plain Club Soda to their husband’s soda of choice and over time slowly add more.   Eventually work up to about half Club Soda and half of their preferred.   This means, even if they don’t reduce the amount of soda they are drinking, they will get 50% of the calories from their “Soda Spritzer.”   I especially like to do this with Coke or Dr. Pepper.  I now prefer it with more bubbles and a bit less sweet.

I also like to add Club Soda to Orange Juice to “lighten” it up!  Sort of like a virgin Mimosa!  Orange Juice along with other juices can be high in calories.  I find adding ¼ or more club soda is more refreshing and it is healthier than drinking an actual soda for breakfast.

And, for the parents who have complained the kids waste the sodas by opening them and drinking half and it gets flat.   Here is a helpful trick, just add the flat soda to Club Soda.  It will perk it back up and reduce the calories.  So, while soda may not be the healthiest, you can at least reduce the calories and still enjoy the bubbles.  Bonus, Club Soda is usually cheaper so you can extend your budget and reduce the wasted sodas!

Be inventive and let your kids come up with tasty ways to enjoy the soda treat.  Remember the old-fashioned punches?  Sherbet and soda and fruit juice?  Why not bring back an old favorite for the holidays!  Lighten it up with the Club Soda and add in real fruit slices along with the floating island of fun colored frozen treat.  I haven’t tried it yet as a substitute for Root Beer in Root Beer floats.  Mmmm… maybe an excuse to have a Club Soda Float.  I am thinking it might work best with Chocolate ice cream?  What can be better than an old favorite treat and a money and calorie saving trick!

I remember when my Mom first learned about and made a Tuna Casserole…. My mom was so proud that she had made this ubiquitous 70’s meal!  While we were eager to have something new for dinner and the noodles looked promising…. we were not happy.  We ate it, but that tuna smell.  I actually don’t think my little sister ate it – to this day, she does not like the smell of fish.  Fast forward, my mom realized canned chicken is a great substitute for tuna and Voilà!  That change was the trick to getting us kids to happily eat this dinner!  

Want something warm, comforting, inexpensive and easy? If you have more than 20 minutes – like maybe 30, then you can even do it in one pot (and a colander).  This is also a great dish when you need something easy on the tummy and possibly have leftovers.  Ok, I always have leftovers because I always make a large pot.  I love the leftovers, especially for lunch.  So, what is this lifesaver dish? 

One Pot Chicken Dinner.  And it can be made with all pantry (and freezer) ingredients for the win! 

In my quest for dinner in less than 30 minutes, I have shortened the ‘casserole’ to a one-pot meal and, hence, the name change.  Don’t get me wrong, if you have a lot of time, it is definitely tastier to cheese this up and pop it into the oven for 15 minutes or until bubbly.  The last time I made this dinner, I was quite hungry and it was summer time, so I just stirred in the shredded parmesan cheese until blended.

The basic recipe is really more of a formula:

1 Can of Chicken (if it’s the small can and you want more meat – use two cans)

½-1 Bag/Box of Pasta (penne or elbow) but choose your noodle of preference

Veggies of Choice – I think more mushrooms count

Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken soup – I prefer the chicken flavor

1 Can of milk – you can use the shelf-stable milk if you don’t have the fresh (good, right?!)

Cheese of choice (optional) Seasonings –this is also your choice and I like to season to match the cheese used 

If you are doing the truly one pot dish, use the Dutch oven size pot.   Boil water and cook the pasta al dente minus another minute.  There will be carryover cooking.  Drain in colander and save a bit of pasta water.  Heat the un-drained chicken in the same pot on medium heat and add in the soup and the milk.  I like to add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce.  Stir and ensure the chicken/soup mixture doesn’t get too hot and scorch on the bottom.  If the mixture gets to boiling too much/too fast, you may need to turn down the heat.

Add in the veggies of choice and I won’t tell your mom if you don’t.  Season with some black pepper and other seasoning of choice, like oregano.  Add in the pasta and stir until well coated.  If need be, add a bit more milk or if you saved any pasta water, add a little.  Add in the cheese of choice and stir until melty and then serve! 

If you want to go the casserole route, pour into a baking dish prepped with cooking spray, oil or butter.  Top with cheese and breadcrumbs (optional).  Bake in a 350-degree oven until bubbly.  Let it rest for a few minutes before serving so the impatient diners won’t burn their mouths.  To be fancy, serve with some fresh veggies on the side and/or fresh herbs.  A nice salad and some biscuits can round it out to satisfy all of the hungry folks! 

Tips:  Mise en place (MEEZ ahn plahs) is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, etc. before you start cooking. Pans are prepared. Mixing bowls, tools and equipment set out.  Open all cans while the water is heating to cook the pasta.  Preheat the oven too.  I actually prefer using pasta over egg noodles as the pasta maintains a bit more texture.   If you only have like 20 minutes, boil the water/cook the pasta in different pot.  Use the Dutch oven to start the chicken mixture and drain pasta and add directly to the big pot.  It doesn’t take a lot of corn to add a bit of sweetness and crunch to the dish so I add a few tablespoons.   I like to add some frozen peas but I am putting this last to hide them like I did when I was a kid.

Dinner time!  Planning a meal, healthy or just filling, every night takes time and energy.  Especially, when you want to be frugal and healthy or even if you just want an easy meal that is tasty without breaking the bank.  With so many folks cooped up at home many of us either had to learn to cook or at least break out of our normal routine.  Well that was me, I was getting very tired of my normal routine and yet, it was hard to look at recipes, shop for all these items and then spend an hour learning to make it.   Sooooo…. I decided to try Hello Fresh!  This post is about sharing my experience with this food service.  (full disclaimer – this is truly all based upon my experiences.)

Let me preface this review with one of my life philosophies:  Cook once and eat twice!  If you are going to cook and have to do the dishes, try to make enough to have another meal or two (or at least lunch the next day).  During COVID, shopping was also a bit trying so I was already looking at some of the various services to try.   Christmas came around and I was ordering some flowers as a gift and they provided me a coupon for Hello Fresh which made it very affordable to try. 

I signed up for the 3 meals for two people per week.  It’s a very easy service to use – their website will show you the pictures of the meals and tell you the descriptions.  Based upon your choices, of regular type meals (meat/potatoes or pastas) or vegetarian or gluten-free, you will be given a selection for the week.  It’s easy to change and save for that week as long as you do it before cut-off date/time.  The boxes arrive on the day you select in a box with ice packs.  Meats under the veggies/other items.   It doesn’t take much time to unpack – it’s good to put the instruction sheets in a specific place for reference.   

Here is what I learned:

• Unpack and prioritize the meals based upon the veggies to be used (so you use the most perishable first).
• Review the instructions to also look at how long it takes and if you need to pre-heat the oven – many of the meals call for roasting the veggies in the oven.  This makes them tasty but means you will need to allow a bit more time.
• It saves time in cooking if you read all of the instructions and prep the food per the instructions.
• If you are a (slightly) picky eater, this meal prep allows you to add as little or as much spices per your taste.
• It is really nice that the plan comes with tiny little bottles of the vinegars or comes with little sour creams, or stock or jelly.  Especially, as a single person, this not only helps you have the ingredients, it saves money and waste.
• Also, if you have concerns with salt, this is good as you can control the salt or fat in your diet.

Tips:

• When roasting potatoes, if you have other veggies in the house, e.g. like carrots, prep them and toss them on the pan.  It will add additional health benefits and help reduce your veggie waste and I like more veggies.
• Try to reuse some of the pans – often, the recipe will call for browning and then moving the meat to a baking sheet.  If you can brown in an oven safe pan, you get to keep the pan juices which adds more flavor and reduces cleaning.
• I found that for most of the meals, I portioned out two dinners and often had enough left over for a small lunch to take to work.
• Look at your work/social schedule and energy level, skip the week or reduce the number of meals if you are getting behind in cooking.
• Also, if you are getting the three, or more, meal plan, freeze the meat for the meals that will be cooked later in the week.  This way if you get busy or end up eating out, the meat will keep in the freezer.

So, how hard it is to cook these meals?  I consider myself to be a decent cook who can make some delicious things but I have never had any formal training.  Also, as I was a single mother for quite a while, often my main cooking goal was getting a hot meal, that a picky kid would eat, on the table in 30 minutes!!  With that said, I found that this helped me expand my repertoire and I learned that I can make “pan” sauces and they are pretty easy.  Also, on the website, the meals will identify if they are easy, quick or more advanced.  One of the great things, is you can do the “add-on” for chopped salad kits and pre-cooked individually wrapped chicken breasts.  These are a huge win for saving time for dinner or lunch!

An unexpected benefit is while, it may appear to be expensive for the service, in reality it can be frugal.  Spending an estimated $65-$70 dollars per week sounded expensive, however, it helped me stay on budget.  I also found shopping was easier as I knew for me, I had 5-6 dinners and lunch several times a week accounted for.  Especially, if I had an “MJ” salad too. When I took the leftovers, I saved ‘lunch money’ too as I was not buying lunch in the work cafeteria.  Granted if I cook other meals on my own, I often bring leftovers to work for lunch too.

This service has its perks and makes it easier to cook meals at home since they provide all the ingredients and you just have to have the basics.  The basics are oil, salt, pepper, and butter.  It does still require prepping some of the veggies and washing dishes and after 6 months or so I did get a little bored with some of the meals.  Now, that we can get out more, I am taking a break from the service and planning to cut back to two meals for two for the summer.  

One of the downsides, is the extra boxes and the ice packs to be disposed.  All in all, if you are interested in improving your cooking and your diet, Hello Fresh, or one of the other services, may just push you out of your comfort zone. And this can be a more comforting and delicious place in the long run.