Quote
"I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object." -- Thomas Jefferson
By keeping cooked beans in the frig, a variety of bean salads can be made for
various meals. Most recipe sites advise that cooked beans may last a
week in the frig.
To cook a batch of white beans, see Blog post: Hotplate Small White Beans:
https://riastoneblog.blogspot.com/2019/06/hotplate-small-white-beans.html
White Bean Salad Recipe
(This recipe was inspired by many recipes, see resources below.)
Single Serving
Ingredients:
4 Heaping TBspns cooked white beans
6-8 Dashes Onion powder
1 Tspn Lemon juice, concentrate (made from a powdered drink mix)
1 Tspn Olive oil
1 Tspn Vinegar
3 Tspns Celery, diced
2 Heaping Tspns Carrots, diced or shredded
1 Heaping Tspn Black olives, sliced and diced
Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan or Feta cheese
5-8 Grinds of black pepper
S/P to taste
Process:
In a medium bowl, add ingredients.
Mix well.
I found
the salad had a mild flavor. I liked it but some may want more flavor.
To suit your taste, increase or decrease the quantity of ingredients.
See resources below for variations on making a White Bean Salad.
Resources:
Quick and Easy White Bean Salad
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/quick_and_easy_white_bean_salad/
Pasta and Bean Picnic Salad
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pasta_and_bean_picnic_salad/
White bean and Tuna Salad
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/white_bean_and_tuna_salad/
How to Cook White Beans
https://emmycooks.com/2012/03/22/how-to-cook-white-beans/
#GERD-friendly
After many experiments cooking a variety of beans, I can now confidently cook: lentils and small white beans.
Hotplate: Cooking Small White Beans
(Adapted from: https://emmycooks.com/2012/03/22/how-to-cook-white-beans/)
I bypassed many of Emmy's instructions.
Ingredients:
1 Cup of small dry white beans
Water
Process:
Put beans into pan.
Cover beans with water, with an 1" of water above the beans.
Set hotplate on highest temperature.
Bring beans to a boil.
Cover pan.
Boil beans until the water is reduced to the level of the beans.
Add more water.
Bring beans to a boil again.
Lower temperature to simmer.
Simmer beans an hour or more until tender.
Drain beans and let them cool.
Put beans into a container with a cover.
Put beans in frig for future use.
Time to get back to my Tightwad Gazette roots.
I have drifted away from making choices to save money.
A core Tightwad Gazette (TWG) method for saving money when shopping for groceries is to buy items for less by choosing substitutes for expensive items, by buying items on sale including buying extras for the pantry, and by being creative. Saving pesos add up.
On a recent trip to a local grocery store, I picked up a few items but I tried to make TWG choices.
Vegetable Oil
I am going to try switching from olive oil to canola oil because olive oil is expensive.
Olive oil, 750ml $115.00
.153 ml
Canola oil, 450ml $15.11
.033 ml
Savings: $0.12ml
Dry milk
Besides having dry milk for back up, I also use it to make liters of milk for everyday use.
1 360g Dry Milk pkg (deslactosado light) sale price $39.86
makes 2880ml, 1 Liter = 1000mL, package makes about 3 liters
1 liter of milk (deslactosado) approx. $18.00
1 liter dry mix = $13.29
Savings: $4.71
Powdered drink mixes
I had been drifting towards drinking fruit juices straight rather than as fruit coolers.
While I think fruit juices are healthier, an occasional powdered beverage is ok for me.
Common powdered drink mix flavors are:
Té Helado, Limón, Manzana, Coco, Mango, Fresa, Durazno, Uva, Arandana, Tamarindo, Piña Colado, Horchata, Jamaica, Naranja, Sandia, Piña, Guayaba, Mandarina, Melón, Guanabana
Unusual flavor: Áloe
My method for using a packet of powdered drink mix is to make a concentrate. Then, I use the concentrate to make a glass at a time.
1 pkg prices range from $3.35 - 4.10, 1 pkg makes 2 Liters liquid
In general, 1 liter of fruit juices range from $10.00 - 20.00
1 liter powdered beverage = $3.72 / 2 = $1.86
1 liter of fruit juice = an average price of $15.00
Savings: $13.14
I also plan to use the concentrates as flavoring in various recipes.
Sponges
1 pkg of 2 $11.00
I cut the sponges in half = 4 sponges.
Savings: $11.00
While comparing 2 large sponges with 4 small sponges is not an equal comparison, the cut sponges last just as long as the large sponges.
It was the TWG that spurred me to learn how to make meals at home for work lunches and more to save money.
While my original RKFNC cookbook contained several of the recipes I developed trying to follow TWG ideas and advice, I continue to try and expand my recipe repertoire.
Some other methods to save money available to most people:
Buy used clothes, books, kitchen utensils, furniture and more at thrift stores and yard sales.
Most of my clothes and books were purchased from thrift stores but here in MX, I have a harder time finding thrift stores. There are weekly flea markets in various locations and there are used furniture stores.
But, because it has been difficult to find what I need at these venues, like clothes, I priced clothes at various outlets. I found one where almost every item of clothing was under $50 pesos. I got several shirts and pants, and mix and match outfits.
Also, I found the best place to get cancletas (flip flops), at a low price.
But, it is funny, no matter what I purchase an item for, someone always says, “I got one cheaper than that.”
See post: 25 Small Ways to Save Money in Mexico, for more TWG ideas.
This is one of my favorite dishes using leftover chicken.
This makes one serving.
Leftovers: Microwave Hot Chicken, Rice and Spinach
Ingredients:
Cooked Rice
Cooked chicken, diced
Frozen Spinach
Mayo
Process:
Take a bowl, add a few tablespoons of cooked rice.
Add a few tablespoons of cooked chicken.
Add a dessert bowel of frozen spinach.
Add 1 tablespoon of Mayo.
Stir ingredients thoroughly.
Place bowl in microwave. Cover.
Microwave on high for two minutes.
Stir prior to serving.
Hurray, It’s a Cookie!
This is my first baked cookie in my Toaster Oven.
I am in heaven. I have hard-boiled eggs, Peanut Butter Mousse, Lentils with Garlic and Cookies!
Toaster Oven: Single-Serving Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
(Adapted from: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/07/26/single-serving-peanut-butter-cookies/)
This recipe only make 2 cookies.
Preparations:
Set Toaster Oven on Bake.
Pre-heat Toaster Oven to 350 degrees.
Add a layer of waxed paper to Tin Tray.
Add a dab of olive oil and wipe over waxed paper.
Ingredients:
2 Level TBspns flour
1 Level TBspn Sugar
1/16 Tsp Baking Soda
a dash of salt
1 1/2 TBspns of Creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 capful of vanilla flavoring or extract
1 Tspn Applesauce
Process:
In a small bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix well.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Stir and mix well until mixture is smooth.
With a Tablespoon, divide the mixture into two portions.
Scoop up one portion and drop onto tray.
Drop the second portion onto tray.Use Tablespoon to reshape, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
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#GERD-friendly
In the past, I have struggled to make lentil recipes I liked.
Surprisingly, this simple recipe came out perfect.
Looking at the lentils I bought, I think they are a mix of green, red and yellow lentils.
Hotplate: Lentils with Garlic Powder Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Cup dry lentils
Water
Garlic Powder
Process:
Add water to a pot.
Add 1 cup of lentils.
Make sure the lentils are covered and there is at least an extra 1” of water covering the lentils.
Add 5-8 dashes of garlic powder.
Bring to a boil.
Lower temperature to medium-high and simmer lentils for 30 minutes or until soft.
Drain the lentils.
I forgot. One cup of lentils makes a lot of cooked lentils.
Now, I had originally planned to dress up the lentils in various ways. But, when Lucy came today, we had a "buffet" that included some of the dishes I had made, including the "plain" lentils.
The combination of foods worked well with the lentils as a side dish.
"Lucy liked all my dishes!"
That is high praise to me because Lucy is a great cook.
#GERD-friendly
This blog has grown quite a bit over the years. In the past, I tried cooking several recipes in one day. That worked for awhile.
But, now, I am doing a bit of reorgranization. I am pulling out some of the recipes made on those marathon days and making them individual posts. I am also revising some of the recipes, like making a recipe GERD-friendly and such.
Microwave: Peanut Butter Bread Pudding Recipe
(Adapted from: my Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe)
Makes about 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1/2 tbspn sugar
1 cup coconut cream or coconut milk
2 cups milk
2 tspns vanilla flavoring
2/3rds of a 16oz jar of peanut butter
6 slices of bread (multigrain), broken into chunks
Cinnamon
Process:
Mix eggs, sugar, cream, milk and vanilla.
Stir thoroughly and set aside.
Spread the peanut butter on the bottom of the casserole dish.
Spread bread chunks in a thick layer over the peanut butter.
Pour egg mixture over bread and peanut butter.
Sprinkle cinnamon over the top of the mixture.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 3 hours.
Microwave on high for 15 minutes.
Let casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Caution: pull edge of plastic wrap away from you to avoid steam burns.
