Toaster Oven: Toasted Bread Dipping Circles

I had collected several bread ends and they were stored in the freezer. Normally, I would have used the bread ends in a Bread Pudding but this time I craved a snack.

So, I cut out the middle of each bread end with a glass and made a batch of toasted bread circles. Then, I made a dipping sauce. Quite tasty. Necessity is indeed the Mother of Invention.


Toaster Oven: Toasted Bread Dipping Circles


Ingredients:

Bread ends
A round glass

Sauce:

Olive Oil
Oregano, crushed, dry
Ground black pepper, to taste (Optional)


Process:

Place bread ends on a cutting board.
Place glass in the middle of bread slice.
Push down and rotate the glass to cut a circle of bread out of the slice.

Place slices in toaster oven.
Toast until light brown and crisp.

Make sauce.

All I did was pour a bit of olive oil into a bowl and added some ground black pepper and oregano, then I stirred the mixture.

Dip the toasted bread circle into the sauce and enjoy.

I also toasted the edges of the leftover bread circles. I think I will use them to make bread crumbs.

#GERD-friendly

Toaster Oven: Chicken Meatballs

I adapted my own Chicken Meatball Recipe for use in a toaster Oven / Convection Oven.


Toaster Oven: Chicken Meatballs


Pre-preparation:

Pre-heat Toaster Oven to 350 degrees.
Line tin tray with waxed paper.


Ingredients:

1.5 - 2 Lbs ground chicken
1 egg
2 Tspns garlic powder
1 TBspn onion powder
1 TBspn dry parsley, crushed
1/2 Cup parmesan cheese
1 Tspn dry oregano
5 dashes hot pepper sauce (Optional)
1 TBspn imitation bacon bits
1/4 Cup Commercial bread crumbs or saltine crackers, crushed
Additional bread crumbs for cutting board or prep surface when making the balls
Ground black pepper to taste
Milk, if need to moisten


Process:

I realize there is a difference between 1.5 - 2 Lbs of ground chicken. So, adjust use of spices accordingly as you wish.

Add ground chicken to a large bowl.
Add egg and spices.
Add bread crumbs.
Stir, mix and mash ingredients together thoroughly.

Sprinkle some bread crumbs onto a cutting board or other prep surface.
Roll approximately a tablespoon or more between your palms to create a ball.
Roll ball lightly in the bread crumbs to help the ball stay together.
Place the balls onto the tray.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Remove balls, place on plate to cool.

These are regular sized meatballs.
I made 18 meatballs.
I freeze some of the meatballs and save the rest for use during the week.


Various Ways to Use Meatballs:
Microwave the meatball(s) for about 1 minute on high or serve cold.

Make a meatball sandwich.
Make a meatball slider (basically, a mini-sandwich).
Serve as an appetizer accompanied by a curry sauce.
Add them to spaghetti or pasta with a cream sauce.

Note: I have yet to use a meatball as a toast topping but that is an idea.

#GERD-Friendly

Ria's Chia Caviar - Updated

Ria's Chia Caviar Recipe - Updated

I enjoyed creating this recipe.

While it may not have the "bubble" bursts in your mouth like fish caviar, chia does creates a gel-like texture when soaked overnight.

Ingredients:

1 small jar with a lid

2 full TBspns Chia seeds

Water

Salmon liquid or sardine liquid drained from can of salmon or sardines
1 TBspn of Oyster Sauce

1/4 Tspn salt

Suggestion: Serve on toast with olive oil.

Process:

Add Chia seeds to jar.

Add enough water to just cover the seeds.

Add salmon or sardine liquid.
Add Oyster Sauce.

Add salt.

Close jar with lid.

Shake jar to mix ingredients.

Place in frig to cool overnight or longer.

To Serve:

Spread olive oil on toast.

Spread a thin layer of Chia Caviar on the toast.

Cut toast into quarters.

Note: for a more briny taste, add more salt.

#GERD-friendly
 

White Bean Salad

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

Hotplate: Cooking Small White Beans

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.

Getting Back to my Tightwad Roots

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.

Leftovers: Microwave Hot Chicken, Rice and Spinach

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.