Thanksgiving is MY holiday. Meaning, it is the only holiday that I get to call the shots on-we travel for pretty much everything else but on this glorious day I get to do what I love best, plan a menu and execute it. If you don't believe that this is my holiday, come check out my dining room. It is painted a shade of harvest pumpkin and I have golden curtains...No joke...it is always decorated for this day.
Last year Zoe and I started a tradition of making a little crafty gift for everyone to take home. Last year we used leaves as stamps to print onto beautiful oatmeal paper in gold and green paint and we framed them. This year we made, well...that's a secret until Thursday...but we are pretty pleased and what we made will double as a placecard. Even if nobody keeps these little gifts except me it is a wonderful keepsake and a great tradition we have started.
We always start the day watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Michael runs and gets me the ultra-thick newspaper full of ads along with any other last minute things I might need and I cook, and pop my head in to watch the parade with the family.
Well, what do I cook? It varies slightly from year to year but some things really don't change.
I'm one of the ever-growing crowd that thinks a brined turkey is the best turkey around, so we have been brining for about 10 years now and that will never change. We also always have a soup-we have had escarole, pumpkin, french onion...and I'm always open to change there. We also always have the exact same sweet potato recipe that my friend Lorien gave me at least 15 years ago. Whipped sweet potatoes topped with a brown sugar and pecan topping..yum. This is the first time in at least 10 years that I am making a different recipe. Just thought it was time for a change...Anyways...Here is my menu:
French Onion Soup
Cheddar Dill Biscuits
Harvest Salad with sliced pear, sugared nuts and Gorgonzola cheese
Brined Turkey
Maple Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Bacon Topped Mashed Potato Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin/Carrot Bundt Cake
Chocolate Pudding Pie
**My friends will bring a sausage stuffing and a delish vegetable side.
I am looking forward to sharing this wonderful meal with my family and friends and am wondering what you will be eating on Thursday?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
The Coupon Thing
Last year coupon usage went up by 72% last year when the economy was at it's worst. Usage had been flat or down for many years prior. In 2010 usage is down from last year but still significantly higher than it was in previous years. I have personally been using them for at least 15 years on some level. The past few years I have used them on more items and in the past year I have really found myself in the "coupon zone".
I am going to devote my blogging here to grocery/drug store coupons as opposed to clothing or restaurant coupons which I could write a whole piece on as well. But we are supposed to talk about food here so we might as well talk about saving a few bucks on it, right?
I hear all the time from people that the time spent clipping and organizing them isn't worth the savings...That to me is a cop-out. If you don't want to be bothered, that is fine but don't say it isn't worth it because I save a minimum of 20% on each grocery purchase, and have been known to save between 30-40% when the stars align. For our family that conservatively adds up to about $100 per month. I clip while watching TV, and about once a month I purge any expired coupons also while watching the Tube.
I buy the Sunday paper every week, and in Albany you can get it on Saturday for $1. The saving of the whole entire dollar isn't why this is a great idea though. If you buy on Saturday you can look at the grocery and drug store circulars for the upcoming week and possibly use those new coupons on the current sale or save for the next week. If you have time you compare the current ad with the one starting the next day to maximize your savings.
I clip everything I think I will use. I also clip alot from the Internet coupon sites ( I will list the sites below...) and have signed up for coupon notifications from a number of specific brand sites (again I will list them below). I also subscribe to a couple of news feeds on Facebook-Saving Everyday which is a great resource for freebies and sales, Gimmee Freebies and Free Mania are sites that do a fantastic job telling me which stores are featuring sales on items there are currently coupons for. Case in point: I had 3 $1.00 off coupons for Reach Dental Floss last week and one of these sites told me that Target had it on sale for $.97/ea. I got them all for free and had $.09 applied to the remainder of my bill. If you use Facebook I highly recommend these 3 sites.
Aside from the floss I refuse to pay any more than $1 for a tube of toothpaste any more and stocked up on a years worth of of laundry soap with coupons and sales for about $20 recently.
My rules are: only buy what you will use or can store or donate. I can store a years worth of laundry soap but not a years worth of cheese! My friend Susan has been known to donate bags of groceries to the food pantry that were free after double coupons and sales. That to me is AMAZING! Cut coupons for things you only use occasionally....if you run into a sale you will kick yourself for not having clipped it. When you see a new product try to find a coupon if you are worried that it could be a waste of money. New products always have a coupon within the first month or two of launch....
Onto the list:
Coupon Sites in order of my preference:
Couponmom.com
Redplum.com
mambosprouts.com
couponcabin.com
coupons.com
*These sites above have all brands. There is also a coupon toolbar you can download if so inclined. Just Google that.
Brand Websites worth your time: Proctor & Gamble (P&G Brandsaver), Arm & Hammer, Nestle, Kellogs and if you have little ones all the diaper and formula ones too!
I am going to devote my blogging here to grocery/drug store coupons as opposed to clothing or restaurant coupons which I could write a whole piece on as well. But we are supposed to talk about food here so we might as well talk about saving a few bucks on it, right?
I hear all the time from people that the time spent clipping and organizing them isn't worth the savings...That to me is a cop-out. If you don't want to be bothered, that is fine but don't say it isn't worth it because I save a minimum of 20% on each grocery purchase, and have been known to save between 30-40% when the stars align. For our family that conservatively adds up to about $100 per month. I clip while watching TV, and about once a month I purge any expired coupons also while watching the Tube.
I buy the Sunday paper every week, and in Albany you can get it on Saturday for $1. The saving of the whole entire dollar isn't why this is a great idea though. If you buy on Saturday you can look at the grocery and drug store circulars for the upcoming week and possibly use those new coupons on the current sale or save for the next week. If you have time you compare the current ad with the one starting the next day to maximize your savings.
I clip everything I think I will use. I also clip alot from the Internet coupon sites ( I will list the sites below...) and have signed up for coupon notifications from a number of specific brand sites (again I will list them below). I also subscribe to a couple of news feeds on Facebook-Saving Everyday which is a great resource for freebies and sales, Gimmee Freebies and Free Mania are sites that do a fantastic job telling me which stores are featuring sales on items there are currently coupons for. Case in point: I had 3 $1.00 off coupons for Reach Dental Floss last week and one of these sites told me that Target had it on sale for $.97/ea. I got them all for free and had $.09 applied to the remainder of my bill. If you use Facebook I highly recommend these 3 sites.
Aside from the floss I refuse to pay any more than $1 for a tube of toothpaste any more and stocked up on a years worth of of laundry soap with coupons and sales for about $20 recently.
My rules are: only buy what you will use or can store or donate. I can store a years worth of laundry soap but not a years worth of cheese! My friend Susan has been known to donate bags of groceries to the food pantry that were free after double coupons and sales. That to me is AMAZING! Cut coupons for things you only use occasionally....if you run into a sale you will kick yourself for not having clipped it. When you see a new product try to find a coupon if you are worried that it could be a waste of money. New products always have a coupon within the first month or two of launch....
Onto the list:
Coupon Sites in order of my preference:
Couponmom.com
Redplum.com
mambosprouts.com
couponcabin.com
coupons.com
*These sites above have all brands. There is also a coupon toolbar you can download if so inclined. Just Google that.
Brand Websites worth your time: Proctor & Gamble (P&G Brandsaver), Arm & Hammer, Nestle, Kellogs and if you have little ones all the diaper and formula ones too!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Cupcake Wars
Cupcakes are all the rage. I think it may have started with cupcakes on Sex in The City at The Magnolia Bakery in NYC. (FYI-I had the driest least flirty little red velvet number there of my entire life, sold to me by the least happy person on earth). Being the mecca of trends and gourmet culture for the world New York has filled with many cupcakeries. My personal favorite would be Crumb which now has a location right near my mother-in-law on Long Island. Their cupcakes are big enough for two and they know how to make a red velvet! There are too many to list in NYC and there are now mobile cake stands there too in case you are a food truck kind of guy or gal.
Cupcake displays for wedding cakes have become quite popular as well. Our friends Nate and Kit did this a while back and each little cake was individually decorated with a beautiful wild flower. It was stunning and special and quite tasty.
And that is the thing about cupcakes, isn't it? They are your own personal cake. They are a treasure that you unwrap as you peel back the wrapper. Somehow they seem less of a guilty pleasure because they are petite. You can easily eat one on the go, you can decorate them all differently and personalize them. They make us feel like a kid, we smile, peel back that wrapper and pop it into our mouth.
I have personally made cupcakes that look like Easter eggs, lady bugs, butterflies and boston cream pies. Oh, and you can be way more creative on more levels with that little pat of goodness! How about s'mores for you and key lime for me? Yummy! Make up a base batter of white or chocolate and divide into little bowls and flavor to your hearts content. It really doesn't get any better than this does it?
Now we have tv shows devoted to the cupcake-cupcake wars. Michael was disappointed in this show. He wanted them to actually throw cupcakes at each other but alas, it is a baking competition with the lady from Sprinkles as a judge. The show is fine and I love to see the different creations, but who needs to turn on the telly when we have our very own bonafide cupcake war right here in little ol' Albany.
Yep, that's right. Albany. Who'd a thunk it really. While we have wonderful food we aren't world renowned but apparently love our cupcakes and are very loyal. Our cupcake bakers want us to love them and only them. We have at least 5 cupcakery/bakeries in our area and at least 3 of them offer mobile cupcake units. Albany is NOT NYC so 3 mobile units is a lot. (I ain't complainin' just saying....)
There are however 2 that rise to the top...Bettie's Cupcakes of Saratoga Springs and Coccadotts of Colonie. I think Coccadotts actually existed first but the fame and cupcake came very much around the same time for both shops, or within 6 months of each other.
I'm gonna be honest. I'm a Bettie's girl through and through. I'm going to give you the pros and cons of both and let you decide for yourself though.
I shall start with my personal favorite. Bettie's. Plain and simple, Bettie rocks. She makes cupcakes in 3 sizes and changes up flavors on a weekly basis. Her store is in Saratoga but she has the one and only double decker traveling cupcake bus that travels around to different locations in the area to sell her treats and allow you to sit on the top deck and enjoy. She also has a smaller vehicle that is more of a food truck for cupcakes. Bettie goes by a kitchsy pink 50's motif that I dig. She even dresses vintage and serves old fashion soda fountain soda in her Saratoga location.
So what is it about Bettie's that has won my heart? Ummm....did I mention she is dressed like some Mad Men hottie selling cupcakes from a DOUBLE DECKER BUS?!?!?! Ok, that only gets you so far though. The cupcakes are delicious. My beloved red velvet has the perfect tang and coccoa flavor topped with the perfect cream cheese icing. She makes a coconut cream pie cupcake that is moist, filled with coconut cream and topped with coconut icing. I haven't had a bad cupcake from her shoppe or mobile stand. She gives you just enough without going over the top and making you feel like a bad girl. Bettie also employs some of the nicest people I have ever met, providing fantastic customer service and she doesn't use transfats (preservatives) in her baking. It means the shelf life is shorter but the flavor is undeniably better. It also means she is magical because lack of transfat means you have to work a little harder to get that perfect flavor and consistency from your icing. Bettie was also the first in the area to really embrace social networking and contests as her marketing plan. My complaints about Bettie are: I can't get coconut cream pie cupcakes every day because they are rotated out, her shop isn't located directly next to my house or job and her prices are a bit steep. ($3 at the bus for one)
Coccadotts is the other major player in the area. Located in an adorable shop in Colonie they are a full service baker (a plus!) in addition to cupcakes. Coccadotts offers a wide variety of cupcakes daily and I think most flavors are usually available. Their red velvet is tasty but lacking a little of the depth of flavor that I love. They offer varieties such as mint chocolate and Sex in the City and Tiffany. I am not totally sure if those are flavors or just decorating themes. I had one of them and felt like it was just a regular cupcake with a colored frosting....As of the last I knew Coccadotts does use trans fats, and that is fine. It just isn't my thing if I can avoid it. I think scratch baked goods are made to be eaten same day and don't need a long shelf life. They don't taste good after a day or so. The shop is cute-pink and polka dots. Very girly look. I like that you can get a cookie or cake too. (personally, I think they have the best cookies going and should stick with those rather than cupcakes). The shop is loud and busy and I don't particularly love the style of customer service offered. It is more Long Island and less Albany. As someone who has lived on LI and is married to someone from LI I think I am allowed to say this without getting harangued for it. Coccadotts also is a bit of a copy cat on some things. Bettie got mobile, so Coccadotts got mobile. Bettie embraced Facebook, so Coccadotts did too. Bettie started contests...well, you get the picture. I think Coccadotts can bring a lot to the table so they really don't need to copy anyone.
Anyways, if you are in the area by all means check them both out and decide for yourself. There is no harm in trying your favorite flavor from each shop/truck and picking your fave. All I can say is that cupcakes are taken more seriously here in Albany than the state budget!
Happy Eating!
Cupcake displays for wedding cakes have become quite popular as well. Our friends Nate and Kit did this a while back and each little cake was individually decorated with a beautiful wild flower. It was stunning and special and quite tasty.
And that is the thing about cupcakes, isn't it? They are your own personal cake. They are a treasure that you unwrap as you peel back the wrapper. Somehow they seem less of a guilty pleasure because they are petite. You can easily eat one on the go, you can decorate them all differently and personalize them. They make us feel like a kid, we smile, peel back that wrapper and pop it into our mouth.
I have personally made cupcakes that look like Easter eggs, lady bugs, butterflies and boston cream pies. Oh, and you can be way more creative on more levels with that little pat of goodness! How about s'mores for you and key lime for me? Yummy! Make up a base batter of white or chocolate and divide into little bowls and flavor to your hearts content. It really doesn't get any better than this does it?
Now we have tv shows devoted to the cupcake-cupcake wars. Michael was disappointed in this show. He wanted them to actually throw cupcakes at each other but alas, it is a baking competition with the lady from Sprinkles as a judge. The show is fine and I love to see the different creations, but who needs to turn on the telly when we have our very own bonafide cupcake war right here in little ol' Albany.
Yep, that's right. Albany. Who'd a thunk it really. While we have wonderful food we aren't world renowned but apparently love our cupcakes and are very loyal. Our cupcake bakers want us to love them and only them. We have at least 5 cupcakery/bakeries in our area and at least 3 of them offer mobile cupcake units. Albany is NOT NYC so 3 mobile units is a lot. (I ain't complainin' just saying....)
There are however 2 that rise to the top...Bettie's Cupcakes of Saratoga Springs and Coccadotts of Colonie. I think Coccadotts actually existed first but the fame and cupcake came very much around the same time for both shops, or within 6 months of each other.
I'm gonna be honest. I'm a Bettie's girl through and through. I'm going to give you the pros and cons of both and let you decide for yourself though.
I shall start with my personal favorite. Bettie's. Plain and simple, Bettie rocks. She makes cupcakes in 3 sizes and changes up flavors on a weekly basis. Her store is in Saratoga but she has the one and only double decker traveling cupcake bus that travels around to different locations in the area to sell her treats and allow you to sit on the top deck and enjoy. She also has a smaller vehicle that is more of a food truck for cupcakes. Bettie goes by a kitchsy pink 50's motif that I dig. She even dresses vintage and serves old fashion soda fountain soda in her Saratoga location.
So what is it about Bettie's that has won my heart? Ummm....did I mention she is dressed like some Mad Men hottie selling cupcakes from a DOUBLE DECKER BUS?!?!?! Ok, that only gets you so far though. The cupcakes are delicious. My beloved red velvet has the perfect tang and coccoa flavor topped with the perfect cream cheese icing. She makes a coconut cream pie cupcake that is moist, filled with coconut cream and topped with coconut icing. I haven't had a bad cupcake from her shoppe or mobile stand. She gives you just enough without going over the top and making you feel like a bad girl. Bettie also employs some of the nicest people I have ever met, providing fantastic customer service and she doesn't use transfats (preservatives) in her baking. It means the shelf life is shorter but the flavor is undeniably better. It also means she is magical because lack of transfat means you have to work a little harder to get that perfect flavor and consistency from your icing. Bettie was also the first in the area to really embrace social networking and contests as her marketing plan. My complaints about Bettie are: I can't get coconut cream pie cupcakes every day because they are rotated out, her shop isn't located directly next to my house or job and her prices are a bit steep. ($3 at the bus for one)
Coccadotts is the other major player in the area. Located in an adorable shop in Colonie they are a full service baker (a plus!) in addition to cupcakes. Coccadotts offers a wide variety of cupcakes daily and I think most flavors are usually available. Their red velvet is tasty but lacking a little of the depth of flavor that I love. They offer varieties such as mint chocolate and Sex in the City and Tiffany. I am not totally sure if those are flavors or just decorating themes. I had one of them and felt like it was just a regular cupcake with a colored frosting....As of the last I knew Coccadotts does use trans fats, and that is fine. It just isn't my thing if I can avoid it. I think scratch baked goods are made to be eaten same day and don't need a long shelf life. They don't taste good after a day or so. The shop is cute-pink and polka dots. Very girly look. I like that you can get a cookie or cake too. (personally, I think they have the best cookies going and should stick with those rather than cupcakes). The shop is loud and busy and I don't particularly love the style of customer service offered. It is more Long Island and less Albany. As someone who has lived on LI and is married to someone from LI I think I am allowed to say this without getting harangued for it. Coccadotts also is a bit of a copy cat on some things. Bettie got mobile, so Coccadotts got mobile. Bettie embraced Facebook, so Coccadotts did too. Bettie started contests...well, you get the picture. I think Coccadotts can bring a lot to the table so they really don't need to copy anyone.
Anyways, if you are in the area by all means check them both out and decide for yourself. There is no harm in trying your favorite flavor from each shop/truck and picking your fave. All I can say is that cupcakes are taken more seriously here in Albany than the state budget!
Happy Eating!
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