Take a moment.

We have prepared some great things this week to help you lower your costs and make it easier to eat healthy. Now let's take a moment and reflect on what you are doing to make you happy.

I can honestly say for years (more than 20) I was working. I occasionally threw in a trip, or worked on a craft project, or worked out. My main focus was always the work. What I had to do the next day, what projects had to be completed, and meeting the deadlines requested of me. Sometimes that drove me to working seven days a week. I didn't complain. Actually I didn't even think about it. It was things that I had to get done in order for me to continue to be employed. That's how I saw it.

And now I am reflecting and advising those of you out there the very cliche, but oh so true truth of it all. Stop to smell the roses. Not just when the roses bloom, but everyday. What did you do for yourself today? Did you spend time working out? Did you sew up a new outfit? Did you enjoy that book you've been meaning to read for years?

Ask yourself the question. You are not being selfish by doing something for yourself everyday. That's the other guilt trip. I thought that if I "treated" myself on a rare occasion that I was mostly giving and only occasionally a little tiny bit selfish. Get rid of that word (unless you truly are selfish and don't share anything). Most of us share our time, our knowledge, our humor, our lives. Take time to be positive for yourself and your life.

Remember when you were a kid and tried everything to find your niche? Well, it's time to do that again to find that everyday. With youtube.com and the millions of other videos, let's plan to plant that first shot of tomatoes on your balcony next spring. What do you need? Will there be any cost? If you plan, you can minimize the impact of picking up a new hobby.

So take a moment and reflect on what you did for you today. Stay tuned for more inspirations and ideas. "Table for one, please."

Tackle the first meal of the day.

Breakfast o' breakfast. How do I attack thee?

This is one time of day that I hated and skipped. What to eat, how to eat it, how to make time while rushing around to eat it? These were all things that I struggled with daily. Here's one way that I was able to make it work.

Mini Muffins. These have made it easy for me to make sure that I'm starting off my day. They have great things like minimal sugars, most are from fruit substitutes. Flax seed and whole wheat flour are great full of fiber and filling. You can freeze these. What I do is set aside enough servings to get me through the week, and freeze the rest. When you want more, just set out the frozen muffins on a covered plate (you can use a clean dish towel or paper towel at night) they will be ready for you the next morning.

I am using the recipe creator from www.about.com/caloriecounter.

Mini Muffins: 1 serving is 3 muffins for 150 calories

Ingredients:
1 over ripe banana (don't be afraid of the brown spots. The more the better flavor)
1 apple diced
1/2 zucchini grated (about 1 1/2 c.)
1/4 cup of honey or brown sugar.
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. flax seed flour
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 bag of mini chocolate chips (semi sweet)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
cooking spray (olive oil)
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

Directions:
Dice apple and place in microwave safe dish. microwave with a splash of water until you can mash or you can use a potato ricer to mash it down.

In a mixing bowl. Put in banana and mix until almost smooth. Add egg, vanilla, zucchini and apple, and either the brown sugar or honey. Mix together. (I have left the brown sugar or honey out if I didn't have them in the past or had just a little bit in the house, so you can reduce if you are trying to cut back.)

In a separate bowl. mix together flax seed, whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir through.

Then slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. You are looking for a thick paste like mixture. If it is still a little runny, Slow add a bit more whole wheat flour until achieving that texture. Add the semi-sweet mini chips and mix in.

For this recipe, you will need a mini muffin pan. Generally they have 24 places on one pan. This recipe will make 24-32 muffins. Grease the pan and set oven to 350 degrees. Fill each place with the mixture about 1/2-3/4 full.

Place baking sheet in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until a  toothpick comes out clean. Take the muffins out of the tin and place on cooling rack or clean dish towel. Let them cool through. Pack up the ones that you want for the week, and place others in a freezer safe bag and in the freezer. you should use these over 4 -6 weeks.

This is a great way to get started on the right foot in the day. They are easily portable and good for you too. I hope you enjoy this recipe. Stay tuned for more great ideas to make a table for one easy and healthy.

Anyone want a pot pie?

If you look in your freezer section of the grocer's, you will be appalled at the total calories in a pot pie. The biggest problem is that they are sooo yummy. Here's a do it yourself version. You will need a muffin tin for regular sized muffins. You can get a small one with six muffin holes.

Again, the recipe counter can be found for FREE at about.com/caloriecount.

Individual pot pie: 240 Calories per pie can make 5 -7 servings.

Part 1:

1 Chicken Breast

1/2 med. onion diced

2 1/2 c. water

1 Knorr bouillon cube (chicken or pollo)

1/2 tsp salt (optional if you are cutting back - I would suggest using cumin as an option)

1/2 tsp. pepper

Part 2:

1 med. potato raw diced

1 1/2 c. frozen mixed vegetables

1/2 c. mushrooms

Part 3:

1 can crescent rolls (you will probably not need to use all of them)

1 T. corn starch

1 T. water

Take all of the ingredients in Part 1 in a 2 or 3 quart sauce pan. Bring to a boil, then lower temperature to simmer for 30 minutes until chicken breast is cooked through. Take the chicken breast out of the broth. Dice and set aside.

From part 2, add potato diced to the broth and cook for 8 -10 mins. Then add the mushrooms and frozen vegetables bring to simmer. Add the diced chicken back to mixture. Mix the corn starch and water from part 3. While stirring the vegetables slowly add the corn starch mixture and thicken. Once the mixture is thick. Take off the heat. Taste and add any additional salt/pepper to taste.

Use 5-7 crescent rolls from part 3. Tear them apart. form them in round balls and flatten to put in each muffin tin. Make sure not to break the dough when putting them in each muffin tin. Then place enough of the chicken filling to fill each tin at least 1/2 - 3/4 full. Remember that you have to leave room for the crescent to bake.

Place in pre-heated oven at 375 degrees until the crescent roll is golden brown. Take out and cool. Then place these in individual containers that can be frozen and then reheated in a microwave.

If you have leftover filling, freeze it to make these in the future. Then you have an easy and quick meal. I plan for the week that I'm cooking for but also something that I can throw together easily in the future like with the Red Beans and Rice from yesterday. You can throw the other frozen half of the mixture in with the second cup of rice and have more meals ready to go.

This is also the time of year to watch for great sales and coupons for crescent rolls. A great way to reduce your costs even more.

Stay tuned for more ways to save at a table for one.

Day three - Table for one

For years I have taken lunch to work with me. Don't get me wrong, occasionally there is a splurge or a working lunch. Most of the time  I am saving my pennies with each meal just by making a few simple things at home.

I cook these on the weekends and then freeze them. You can go from spending $5 dollars a meal to $3 or less and eating healthier as well. No need to guess what is in the "secret sauce" of pre-made meals.

Some quick and easy things to remember. Invest in frozen veggies. Whether you prefer a box of Brussels sprout to some frozen carrots. The choices are endless. Just be sure to read the serving sizes. With coupons or watching for sales, it makes the cost even lower.

I get the calorie information based on serving size from about.com/caloriecount. You can do this with any recipe to make life changes easier and for FREE! Many people have said they just don't know where to get started.

 

Red Beans and Rice: 200 Calories for 1/2 cup serving

1 - 14-16oz can Dark Red or Red Kidney Beans

16 oz. Fresh Ground Turkey - Lean

4 oz. Ground Pork Sausage (I prefer Jimmy Dean "Hot" sausage)

2 cups fresh cut tomatoes

1 - 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes

2 - red, green, orange or yellow peppers - diced

1 - medium onion, white

16 oz. Kraft original barbecue Sauce

2 cups Minute Rice Brown Rice

6 cloves or 3 tsp. Garlic minced

1/2 tsp. liquid smoke

1 T. Louisiana Hot Sauce

1/2 tsp. Cavendar's Greek Seasoning

1/2 tsp. Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning

1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:

Brown and stir garlic. ground turkey, pork sausage, onion, red pepper, Cavendar's seasoning, Old Bay,  and Montreal Steak Seasoning. When it is about 1/2 way cooked through, add the liquid smoke, Worchestershire, and hot sauce to the meat mixture. Once completely browned add the washed kidney beans, diced and fresh tomatoes, and the barbecue sauce. Cook so that it is simmering and then take off the heat.

Put 1/2 of the mixture in the freezer for later use. Use 1 cup of instant brown rice at the bottom of the microwave dish. Add the other 1/2 of the mixture to the microwave dish then stir. Microwave for about 10 mins with lid on dish. 

Make 1/2 cup servings in plastic ware or freezer safe containers. I pack in a insulated lunch box. By lunchtime, it only takes 3-4 minutes to warm up the mixture. Also only takes 3-4 mins to warm up the frozen veggies.

I like to eat this with frozen corn and broccoli. A salad is a great summer idea as well.

This is the first of many ideas to come. I hope that you find them helpful as I do.

 

Day one; welcome to the blogging jungle!

There are a couple of things that I hope to accomplish with this blog. First, sharing great and easy meal ideas to freeze and take to work for a household of one or two. Some are recycled recipes cut down for you by portion. Others are some happy accidents that I hope to share. Living in a household of one or two people gets difficult to eat homemade meals at work instead of eating out everyday. It can definitely be easy on the checkbook by cooking from home.

Occasionally there will be some pattern and craft ideas along the way as well.