April - The Best Month to Buy...

I headed up to my local garden center this morning for strawberry plants.  I had already cleaned up my strawberry pot and set it atop the strawberry palace (I have no idea why I think it should be there) and planted the three vagrant plants that I found growing in my garden.  Since I have never planted strawberries in my garden, I'm assuming that the plants came in via the birds, or God.  They looked healthy so I planted 'em, because strawberry plants are $2.99 each.

I chose a mixture of Eversweet, Tristar, and Quinault - all everbearing berries.  Lindy, the garden center lady, my new BFF, says that the plants usually bear for about five years.  If there are runners, I intend on using them to keep the patch up and running.  She also gave me two plants for free because we are best buds now.  You'll notice that I have artfully arranged the doggy denying hardware.

So, if you have any money left after tax time, and I sure don't, you can be on the lookout for some good deals this month, if you are in the market.  Here is my list:

• Car Accessories & Parts
• Tires
• Laptops
• Office Furniture
• Televisions
• Vacuum Cleaners
• Slow Cookers
• Cruises (if you dare)
• Sneakers
• Heartworm check for your dog at the vet

You should also be seeing sales on seasonal produce:

• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Grapefruit
• Hass Avocados
• Onions
• Peas
• Rhubarb

I bought some asparagus that was on sale last week at QFC.  Last night when the chicken was almost done roasting, I put the asparagus in a saute pan with butter, lemon, salt and pepper.  I gave it a few shakes and put the lid on and went off to answer emails.  By the time I remembered it, it was very close to being burned, I mean blackened.  In the spirit of the Expendable Edibles ladies, instead of throwing it out, I just renamed it.  Guess what??  It was really good that way.  Another minute would have been too much, though.

QFC Grocery Basket 4/3

Check out this pretty boy.  Usually I've seen him and his buddies at the edge of Anderson Lake and down by the creek in more wildy settings, but lately he has been visiting my feeders.  I guess the word is out about all that black sunflower seed to be had at the MoneyPenny digs.

So - as I'm looking at the QFC ad this week I notice that there are several things that I can buy for the food bank.  I understand that attendance at our local food bank is way up these days.  There are folks in our community who are having a hard time and it is up to us, their neighbors, to help out.  I've listed some quick and easy things to pick up this week and put in the food bin by the check-out at QFC.

• General Mills Cereal - $2.50/ea
• Rosarita Refried Beans - $1/16oz
• Simple Truth Organic Beans - $1/15oz
• Valley Fresh Chicken Breast - $1/5oz can
• Hunt's Pasta Sauce - $1/24oz
• Smart Taste Pasta - $1/12oz
• Colgate Toothpaste - $1/4.6oz
• Plus Toothbrush - $1/ea
• Angel Soft Bath Tissue - $1/4pack  

Here are the rest of my suggestions:

• Chobani Greek Yogurt - $1/6oz
• Nancy's Organic Yogurt - $3.99/qt
• QFC Cottage Cheese - $1/16oz
• USDA Choice Ribeye Steak - $5.99/lb
• Fresh Wild Rockfish - $5.99/lb
• Broccoli Crowns - $1.49/lb
• Cauliflower - $1.49/lb
• Large Navel Oranges - $ .99/lb
• Fuji Apples - $ .99/lb
• Medium Hass Avocados - $ .99/ea
• Tomatoes on the Vine - $ .99/lb
• Mayan Sweet Onions - $ .99/lb
• Daffodils - $2/10 stem bunch

Coffee Mate Update:

Readers of Miss MoneyPenny know that she has a real addiction to Coffee Mate.  If there is not CM I won't have coffee.  I have tried all kinds of substitutions, even going so far as to pour whipping cream and real sugar into my coffee.  No go.  My friends have begged, pleaded and shamed me but still I persist.  What do they put in that stuff, anyway?? and none of it is "food".  Could be heroin.

Last year I made it two weeks before I gave in and enjoyed my morning coffee.  This year - 3 days.  Disgusting, I know.

Monday MishMash

My little Easter Bunny had her first Easter yesterday.  She was the center of attention and gave us lots of smiles, although she isn't too sure about me taking her picture.

The kids always put on a great party, and yesterday was no exception.  It was a crazy, beautiful, warm day, and they fired up the barbie, and we ate out on the deck.  Normally we have the big Easter egg hunt in rain, and, or, gale force winds, and sometimes snow, so yesterday was a real treat.  I was able to find only two eggs, which is my personal worst.  The Bradster outdid me with his three eggs, but the kids found most of them.

This year there was some diabolical hiding going on.  I found one of my eggs (green) buried in some tall grass and the other one was hiding deep in a stump that I had to dig for.  The only reason I got that one was because my son pointedly looked at the stump, so I started digging and found it.  I also moved some branches and old machinery only to come up with an orange dog ball.  I complained that I deserved a complimentary egg for that one.  It fell on deaf ears.

On Saturday, before Easter, the world's cutest handyman came over and built my raspberry and strawberry beds.  We got a truckload of dirt from Short's farm for $23, which is a lot cheaper than buying a thousand bags of the stuff.  We used every bit of it.

As you can see, I've already got the hardware out, hoping to slow the dogs down.  They love to see what I've been planting and are good little diggers.  I planted 2 Killamey and 2 Heritage raspberry bushes to extend the season.  The supports will go up as soon as I get the wire.  I probably will not have raspberries this year but should have strawberries, especially if I get them planted.

This is my little 3 by 5 bed and this is lettuce that I started from seed.  I also picked up some starts from Red Dog Farm but they are still in the greenhouse.

This is the chard that over-wintered, with the new starts in front from Red Dog.

You can barely see them, but the little green things are onion starts, also from Red Dog, and they are my second planting, because somebody was curious (Suzy, the schnauzer).

This is the best rhubarb and it is from a start that Miss Jeannie gave me.  She rescued it from under her husband's skidder when he decided to park it on top of her patch.

Expendable Edible Update:

I'm really impressed with the Expendable Edible site.  I like the idea of taking leftovers and making them into something great.  I had a quart of beef stew in the freezer that was languishing because it was boring.  I also had some button mushrooms that were just barely making it.  Now this stew started out its life as roast beef leftovers, so it has already had two previous lives.

I sauteed up the shrooms, added the thawed stew, a tablespoon of green curry paste, several shakes of fish sauce, and a half can of lite coconut milk.  Very tasty!! but that is it.  If there is any leftover, it will live again as dog food.  My doggy girls will eat anything.

Gimmee Bread, Man

Yesterday was ladies' lunch at Silver City Brewery.  All my girls have their birthday in March and I take them all out for lunch and we have a great time.  This year I even got presents!!  In the picture, Miss MaggieMay on the left, Miss KnowItAll in the center, and my daughter-in-law, Miss PeggyRae, on the right.

I want to expound on my ideas about bread today.  Remember back in the late 80s when everybody went gaga over bread machines??  After about six months to a year, most machines went to live out their life on a shelf out in the garage.  Not mine.  I'm on my third one and I bought it in 2000, and it is still going strong.  It is a Breadman Pro and definitely worth the money, although it is getting scruffed up.  It always lives on the counter with the doggie bone cookie jar.

When did store bought bread get so expensive??  A loaf of good bread (like Killer Dave) will set you back about $5 at my store, and the rest of the bunch are pretty spendy, also.  And have you read the label recently??  I found this in the very back of my fridge and was freaked out when I read the label because I had eaten most of the loaf:

This is the list of ingredients to make this humble loaf of bread:

1. Wheat flour
2. Malted barley flour
3. Niacin
4. Reduced iron
5. Thiamin monointrate
6. Riboflavin
7. Folic acid
8. Water
9. Oats
10. Triticale
11. Barley
12. Rye
13. Wheat germ
14. Flax seeds
15. Sunflower seeds
16. Cornmeal
17. Yeast
18. Sugar
19. Vital wheat gluten
20. Brown sugar
21. Vegetable oil
22. Raisin paste
23. Cultured wheat flour
24. Distilled vinegar
25. Xanthan gum
26. Salt
27. Dough conditioner
28. Calcium sulfate
29. Enzymes
30. Nonfat dry milk
31. Soy flour

Pretty scary, isn't it??  No wonder bread has gotten so expensive.  This particular loaf expired in February and is still going strong with no mold.  I don't know about this.  I prefer to make my own.  It is easy, inexpensive, and I know exactly what is in it.

I buy my yeast at Costco and store it in the bottom drawer of the fridge.  It is a cinch to measure or weigh it out and the whole bag cost about the same as a three stripper from the market.  Miss CutiePie told me about King Arthur flour about a year ago.  It makes a better loaf than regular bread flour.  I have no idea why, it just does.

I tinkered with my recipe for quite some time before I got it just right.

• 2 1/4 t yeast, or one pack
• 11/8 c warm water
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 T molasses
• 11/2 c unbleached flour
• 3/4 c whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c whole oats
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 c sunflower seeds

Proof the yeast in the warm water.  When it blooms, pour it into the breadmaker pan.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except the sunflower seeds, which are added towards the end of the kneading.  Close the lid and turn on the machine.

As you can see, this makes a tall loaf.  If I want a perfectly shaped loaf, I put it in a loaf pan when the kneading is done and bake it.  This loaf will last me at least two weeks in the fridge and makes fabulous toast.

So dig out that old breadmaker and give it a go.  It just takes a few minutes to measure the ingredients.  You can load most breadmakers in the evening and set it to be done baking by the time you get up the next morning.  This wasn't a huge success at the MoneyPenny house because the wonderful smell of baking bread jerked us right out of a sound sleep before we were ready to get up.

Get The Most From Your Costco American Express Card

Yesterday my yard got mowed for the first time this year.  It really needed it, what with all the sun and rain we have gotten.  It was over a foot high over the drain field and in nice even rows.  I forget how awful it is after the mowing, especially if the grass is wet.  The above picture is of Pici's green feet.  I have grass all over the house, including in my bed.  Wherever the dogs go, it is green, but the yard looks good.  You have to take the good with the bad, my mama said.

Usually when we think of our American Express card we are only thinking about the annual rebate check and no annual fee, but there is a lot more than just 4% back for gas, 2% for travel and restaurants, and 1% for everything else.  I checked the Amex site out and here is what it said:

1. Extended warranty -   For instance: you bought a new lawn mover last year, using your card and it had a one year warranty.  This spring, a year later, you go out to start your mower.  The engine has seized over the winter and your warranty is up.  Give Amex a call because they will warranty your mower for an additional year so you can buy a new one.
2. Return protection - Example: you buy yourself a new iPod, using your card, then your son gives you one for Mother's Day.  You take the first one back to BestBuy, but they have a 30 day return policy (I just made that up.  I have no idea what it is).  What to do??  Call Amex because their return policy is 90 days and they will refund your purchase price, if the merchant won't, but this does not include shipping or taxes.  I don't know whether they come and get your iPod, or not.
3. Purchase protection - Amex will refund the purchase price of your item, bought using your card, if it gets stolen or accidentally damaged within 90 days.

Living out in the sticks, as I do, small merchants rarely take my Amex card, but big chain stores like QFC and Safeway do.  For big purchases, I usually head out to Silverdale where everyone takes it.  I also use it for purchases online.  But if you want to cover all your bases, you could also try the Visa Signature card.  I don't personally have one of these but I'm thinking about it, because they supposedly have a lot of the same benefits and everybody takes Visa.  

I'm happy to have my way with the credit cards, because, for years, they had their way with me.  Once I got smart and quit carrying a balance, my card started to work for me, and it doesn't cost me a thing.

Hummer Time in the City

I was surprised this morning when I got up at 6:30 and fogged my way out to the coffee pot, to see that the hummers were busy at the feeder.  It was still dark!!  Do those guys work 24/7??  That would certainly explain why they are going through so much sugar water.

I brought my new feeder in to change the nectar and snap a picture, so that you can see how cool it is.  I got this up at my local hardware store for about $20.  There is nothing plastic on it and it completely comes apart for really good cleaning.  Even the little flower dealies are metal.  My old feeder was plastic with places you could never get to to clean.  And I love the red old fashioned jar with the funky little flowers.

I don't waste money on those mixes that you can buy, preferring to make my own without red dye.  I'm always looking for deals on sugar because the hummers are going through a feeder a day and that adds up.

The recipe is really easy; just use sugar; not honey, or anything like that:

1 cup sugar
4 cups water

When the water has come to a boil, add the sugar and stir until the water is clear again, and all the sugar is dissolved.  When it has cooled, fill your feeder and store the rest in the fridge.  Easy peasy.

Change out the water every couple of days, or, sooner, if it gets cloudy, because we don't want the little guys to get sick.  They need to be good and strong to dive bomb us every time we get in "their" space.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Bill Update:

I've been nervously waiting for the bill from the surgery, imaging all kinds of horrible scenarios.  Well, that was wasted energy for sure because the bill came to $228.24, after the insurance company paid.  The cost was $1850.00 per hand, coming in at $3700.00 for the whole works.  Not having to be put under and having both hands done at the same time really was a money saver.  And my insurance company really came through on this.

Trader Joe's Update:

Miss Teri left a nice comment on my post about Trader Joe's and my not being a fan.  I so wanted to love TJs.  I remember the morning I was putting away the newspapers at the library when I noticed a headline that said that TJs was coming to Silverdale.  I read it out loud and everybody in the library cheered.

As I mentioned, there are things that I only buy at TJs, but to get good value for my bucks, I need to do most of my shopping elsewhere.  I think that the clerks are great - always cheerful and willing to help.  I did buy a Romaine lettuce 3 pack the other day when I was buying my coffee filters.  It was $1.99 and very fresh.  Next time I'm there (Miss MaggieMay loves TJs) I'll pick up some more.

QFC Grocery Basket 3/27

Miss MoneyPenny is not a big fan of Trader Joe's.  There, I said it.  I know this is unAmerican, but I've had bad luck with their produce, such as, dry and juiceless lemons, bad avocados, and mushy apples, and moldy bread.  And what is with all their "organic" processed foods??  Seems strange to see those words in the same sentence.

Having said all that, I always buy my coffee filters there.  When did these things get so expensive??  At TJ's they are only $1.99 for 100 brown #4s, which is a screaming deal.  And after I've brewed my morning coffee, I toss the whole thing, filter and all, into the compost for the wormies.  They also carry a high quality sea salt for a good price and canned coconut milk (for curries) at $ .99 a can.

I'm not down on TJ's like I am with Walmart, but since I pretty much cook from scratch. there isn't much there for me.  I do better budget-wise shopping the weekly QFC ad, Costco, and Chimacum Corners, our local farm stand for my food.

Now that I've blown off some steam, let's look at the QFC ad for this week.  Sunday is Easter and a lot of people cook up a big feed.  I used to do this before the kids took it over and added the adult Easter egg hunt.  I modeled my menu on what Mom cooked which was always a big ham.  The kids rarely cook a ham, since none of us like it, preferring to serve ribs or Mexican food before the big hunt.

If you are having ham, it is on sale for $ .99 a pound this week.  The best part of the ham, as far as I'm concerned, is making bean soup with the bone.  QFC is still running the Buy 5, Save $5 promo and the cereal promo, which is Buy 4/Get a free gallon of milk, with cereal at $10 for 4 boxes.

Here are my suggestions this week:

Spice Island Spices - 33% off
Mountain High Yogurt - $1.49 (Buy 5, Save $5 promo)
QFC Butter - $1.79
QFC Whipping Cream - $2/16oz
Simple Truth Natural Eggs - $2.50/doz
Tillamook Cheese - $4.99/2lb
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream - $2.69/16oz (promo)
Boneless Pork Loin - $2.99/lb
Gusto Shank Half Ham - $ .99/lb
Fresh Dover Sole - $5.99/lb
Asparagus - $1.98/lb
Driscoll's Strawberries - $2/lb
Grape Tomatoes - $3/10oz
Green Onions - $ .69/bunch
Radishes - $ .69/bunch
Fresh Cut Tulips - $3.33/5 stems (3 for $10)

I noticed that there is a lot of alcohol on sale this week.  It takes up a lot of ad space which they could be using for real food specials, but I have a feeling that there is real money to be made on booze, as opposed to milk and bread.  Nothing like getting blasted on Easter.  I have actually done this back in the old days, but now I wouldn't survive the hangover.

Cruise Fund Update:

Old Balance              =    $741.81

                                 +       14.39 (Amazon sale)

New Balance            =    $756.20