Vegan a Go-Go / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I’m sharing the recipe to one of my favorite side dishes that can also double as a main vegetarian dish. Tabbouleh is delicious and can be thrown together in no time for an easy weeknight dinner.
It can easily be transported so it’s great for picnics or potlucks. It’s served cold so it’s refreshing on a hot day. Just like homemade ice cream. I found this recipe in the latest issue of Bon Appetit. They shared other grain recipes if you’re interested.
Yummy focaccia bread! Credit: jspatchwork/Flickr
James has a specific question about saving money on bread in the San Fernando Valley.
Hi: I don’t know if you already have covered this, but the Entenmann’s/Oroweat/Bimbo Bakeries outlet store on Strathern in Canoga Park has closed permanently. We used to go there all the time to find cheap Boboli pizza crusts and discounted bread. Do you know of any other bakery outlet stores in the West Valley now? Thanks.
James, have you checked out the almost-stale bread rack at your local grocer? I know most grocery stores have a bread rack with bagels, muffins, and other bread products that are about to expire. I’ve snapped up delicious loaves of focaccia bread for $.99 this way!
Anyone else got advice for James? Leave a comment so everyone can benefit.
Got a hot savings tip or question? Email us!
This post is brought to you by Coupons220.com, offering coupon codes for thousands of online stores.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Meat muffins - yum!
I have recently discovered many mini-foods I can make with my muffin pan. I’m not really a muffin person, so the pan has lingered unloved in the cabinet next to the oft-used cookie sheets. Until now!
My new uses for muffin tins include:
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
istolethetv/flickr
I remember my grandmother telling me how when she was a little girl she used every part of the chicken. She raised them and ate their eggs. When it was time for that chicken to pass onto the big chicken coop in the sky, the feathers went into pillows.
She cooked and ate the meat. Chicken fat (schmaltz) was rendered and kept for frying. The liver was made into pate. The bones helped make healthy chicken broth.
I thought that was the end of the chicken, but apparently I was wrong.
Kim.Wood / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In the past, I’ve written about sustainable methods of weeding. Though the techniques I’ve shared are affordable, they can be a pain. A story in Organic Gardening recently caught my eye because it suggests eating weeds as a way to control them. Chomping on free food sounds good to me!
Binnorie Artwork / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I love tangy yogurt for breakfast and recently tried my hand at making my own. The yogurt recipe I made is ridiculously easy to make. The best part is you only need two ingredients and it costs less than the store-bought stuff.
I like my yogurt with fresh fruit and a crumbled granola bar. Check out Julia’s granola bar recipe if you don’t have a favorite one, yet. This recipe is also tasty when accompanied with a healthy muffin. Give my healthy muffin recipe a go!
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
serenejournal/flickr
In my post on snagging free and deeply discounted food, I listed a meal swap (or meal sharing) as a way to save money on food. Here’s how to set one up.
The idea behind a meal swap is that each person makes a big batch of what they are cooking and then divides it into smaller servings, packing the food so it is freezer ready. Everyone in the meal swap meets once a week or once a month (whatever is decided upon) and swaps what they have made.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Craft service menu on a TV shoot. AverageJane/flickr
A friend of mine recently asked me, “So, where can I get free food?” Of course, this was just too good of a challenge for me to just let go.
The fact is that there are lots of ways to get free or deeply discounted food. I will start with deep discounts and work my way down to free.
- Grocery store clearance. Fresh & Easy grocery stores discount food on the day of expiration. They discount up to 75% off and place them in a clearance section of the store. More ways to save on groceries.
- Vendors at Farmer’s Markets offer deeply discounted fresh fruits and veggies in the last 15-30 minutes of the market.
I-5 Design & Manufacture / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I travel 4.39 miles to grocery shop every week at Trader Joe’s. Although there are several grocery stores in my neighborhood, I have major gripes with each one of them. I’m not alone. Consumer Reports surveyed more than 2,200 of its subscribers and found that one-third have said so long to shopping nearby stores.
DG Jones / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The sky-high food prices are not keeping the Easter bunny away this year. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are shelling out $4.29 more this year on their Easter meals as the average person is expected to spend $44.34! Below I share my Easter menu and how I’m trimming the cost.
For the main dish, I’m roasting a turkey breast. I know it’s not the traditional main course, but my family does not eat pork and the price of lamb was ridiculous. This is the most expensive part of our meal at $16.
heyitsjulia / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
It’s an ongoing debate in my household. Moldy cheese: to eat or not to eat? I eat it. I just shave off the mold. Hey, dairy products are expensive and they can take a bite out of your budget. My sister on the other hand thinks it’s gross and my father is reluctant. You don’t have to eat moldy cheese to save money, below I share tips.
Our friends at Savings.com whipped up a detailed infographic about how grocery prices have increased, decade by decade, since 1900. Grocery prices are expected to increase btween 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent this year. Our Coupon tab has tons of resources (coupons, etc) to keep your grocery tab as low as possible.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Stop wasting money and food! The folks over at All You shared a handy inforgraphic that compares the shelf life of food kept in the freezer and the pantry so you know how long items keep. Taking advantage of sales and stocking up is a good way to save money on groceries, but throwing food away is wasteful.
This weekend I’m taking inventory of everything that’s in our pantry. I want to cut down on my grocery bill even more and this is the first step to lowering my food budget. The fridge also needs a good scrub down. I’m using baking soda to leave it smelling fresh. Check out these other secret uses for baking soda.
najjie / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I was walking down the produce isle at Trader Joe’s when I spotted fresh asparagus for $1. I made a beeline for them and bought two bunches. Just a few weeks ago I had seen the pencil thin vegetable for almost $4. This time the asparagus where bright green, firm, and plump.
Love in season produce – you just can’t beat the taste and low price! Asparagus is best cooked the day it’s purchased, though you can keep it in the fridge for up to five days. If there’s room in the fridge, I’ll store the bundled stalks in a bowl with about an inch of water. If there’s no room, in they go into the crisper with a damp paper towel wrapped around the bottom of the stalks.
Tobyotter / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Ladies, if you’re sending your man to the grocery store you may be spending more on groceries. I recently saw a feature on the Today Show about men taking over shopping duties. And, guess what? The grocery stores are taking notice!
