Frugal Shopping: Sam's Club

I'm unattached.  I don't have a bevy of children and I live with my longtime partner.  And to be honest, because of traveling schedules, I mostly live alone with a cat.  So I never thought I would have the need to go to a wholesale store; in my mind they were for the growing families with probably a lot of boys with very large appetites and a family probably averaging 6 kids. The point being, it just seemed like I would be wasteful if I bought products from there.

Boy, was I wrong.

Sam's Club is probably the best thing to ever happen to me; yes, you have to shell out $40 for the base membership fee, and yes, there are massive amounts of products you have to, by the nature of the store, buy in bulk.  But if you have the storage room, it's well worth the price.  I recommend ONLY buying products you know you will use; I've bought things I use on a regular basis like paper towels, toilet paper, deodorant, frozen chicken breasts, rice, even office furniture at Sam's.  The first trip alone paid for my membership fee.  And boy, I do love saving money and that of course leaves my pocket book open to the other stores in this #frugalshopping series.

Now, the next argument could be:  Why Sam's Club and not Costco?  That is a very good question, dear reader.  And honestly, I did not know originally either.  So after some online research, I came to determine that Costco had better prices for baby items (diapers, and... and... ok, I really don't know what else you need for a baby.  Butt wipes maybe?  Johnson & Johnson shampoo?  Regardless, apparently Costco is the better option for this.)  And since I obviously don't have children and since Sam's Club is only a couple miles down the road from me, well, the answer was simple.

Project Update: Gardening 2012 - And Then There Was Fruit...

I've been toiling away in my garden the last month or so; ok, you caught me, not really toiling, just keeping up with the game of watering and weeding.  And I noticed that my heirloom tomato plant is fruiting!  I got way too excited that it actually happened even though they are babies, but sure 'nough, there are three little tiny tomatoes.  Let's see if they actually ripen now...

To the right: August 19, 2012

Easy Recipes: Frozen Fruit Desert!

I was recently reading an article about the United States experiencing the warmest 12 months in it's history - and with temperatures routinely hitting 100+ for the past month, I can believe it!  Amazingly and despite the temperatures, my little garden is still living!

Now, one day I was browsing Sam's Club (through my love of frugality) and saw this huge bag of Dole frozen fruit.  And since this summer has been very... well, summery with the temperatures, I thought to myself  "what's more perfect in the summer than using your fresh herbs and your sense of cheapness to create something easy and good?"  The answer, my friends?  Nothing!  So here it is, the:

Easy Frozen Fruit Desert



Combined ingredients.



Ingredients:

· Dole Frozen Fruit (large bag)

· 1/4 cup sugar

· 1/4 cup chopped mint

Instructions:

1.      Combine fruit, sugar, and mint into bowl.  Mix thoroughly. 

2.      Set aside to let fruit thaw, melding flavors.

3.      Enjoy alone or as topping! 

Finished product!

4.      (Alternate:  If you don't like the texture of the mint leaves in your desert, infuse the mint flavor into the sugar.  To make mint simple syrup:  Add water and mint to pot, bring water to a boil. Add in equal part sugar (example: 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar), stir together until sugar is dissolved.  Set aside until cool. Strain mint leaves.)

Total Time: Prep 5 minutes.  Set 4 hours.





Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese

In the last couple of months, I've been trying to stay on a wheat-free diet but I've been really missing flour based foods and especially mac-and-cheese (Wisconsin girl that I am). I never realized how prevelant wheat was in this culture until I decided to go cold turkey!  However, I've enjoyed the adventure of trying different foods (some taste like cardboard like Glutino Crackers, but others are a great substitute!)   But back to mac-and-cheese... this mix by Simply Shari is the best one I've come across.  Little additions to pump up the recipe here and there, and it's a great meal solution!

Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese



Easy Gluten Free Mac + Cheese as lunch as work



Ingredients: 

• 1 Bag Simply Shari's Mac + Cheese
• 2 Chicken Tenderloins
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese, your choice
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare Mac + Cheese mix as directed on package.
2. While pasta is cooking, cook chicken on stovetop (I use a castiron skillet and cook four minutes per side).  Set aside.  Cut into bite size peices.
3. Combine all ingredients and enjoy!

Total Time:  25 Minutes