Blackberry Thumbprints

The Washington Post, December 7, 2011

Holiday cookies

Fresh thyme and lemon zest complement the blackberry fruit.

To create the peekaboo hole that lets the jam show through, use a linzer cookie cutter or a 1-inch round cookie cutter (for half of the cookies).

MAKE AHEAD: The dough needs to be refrigerated (the first time) for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. It can be frozen for up to 1 month. The cookies can be stored in an airtight tin at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. You'll have leftover lemon-thyme sugar, which can be kept at room temperature for several weeks.

Makes twenty to twenty-four 2-inch cookie sandwiches

Ingredients:

For the cookies

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup seedless blackberry jam

For the lemon-thyme sugar

• Finely grated zest from 1 lemon (2 teaspoons)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Several leaves of fresh thyme, finely chopped

Directions:

For the cookies: Combine the butter, sugar, egg, cream and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on low speed, then on medium speed until well incorporated. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the salt, baking powder and flour; beat on low speed until just combined, forming a soft dough. Gather it into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
Unwrap the dough and place it between two large pieces of parchment paper. Roll out evenly to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Refrigerate (in the paper) for 10 to 15 minutes, until firm.
Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Remove the top piece of parchment paper from the dough; place the dough (with paper on the bottom) on the counter. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut out as many rounds as you can, placing them on a lined baking sheet and refrigerating them for 10 to 15 minutes. If the dough seems too soft as you are working, return it to the refrigerator until it has chilled again.
Rewrap scraps of dough and return them to the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat to cut out a total of 40 to 48 rounds of dough, making sure they are all chilled a second time. Use a linzer cookie cutter or a 1-inch round cookie cutter to create center holes in half of the rounds of cookie dough. Refrigerate the rounds with holes for 20 minutes; save scraps for another use, if desired.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Fill a small piping bag (or a quart-size resealable plastic food storage bag with the tip of one of its bottom corners snipped off) with the jam. Squeeze about 1/2 teaspoon of the jam onto the center of each bottom round of dough. Top with the second rounds that have a hole in them, pressing gently to create a sandwich. Rearrange on the baking sheets as needed, spacing the cookies 1 inch apart. Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are barely golden brown.
While the cookies are in the oven, make the lemon-thyme sugar: Whisk together the zest, sugar and thyme leaves (to taste) in a medium bowl.
When the cookies are done, transfer the baking sheet to the stove top (off the heat). Immediately sprinkle some of the lemon-thyme sugar on the tops of the cookies, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing. Repeat to use all of the dough.

Simply Sweets

I'm so excited to say that Simply Sweets is almost a reality! After years of working toward this goal; perfecting a menu, pricing, website design, advertising, finding suppliers, designing stationary, acquiring business materials, permits and finding a location, (not to mention waiting for kids to graduate) I am super happy to say that January 2012 will be a banner year for Simply Sweets! Everyone who has dreamed of, owned or managed a small business realizes just what an undertaking this endeavor has been.

I will primarily be mail order via my website:http://www.wix.com/simplysweetsbyjuliea/simply-sweets as well as Face book. I offer opportunities for retail placement as well as corporate catering. My menu is expansive and features fresh local produce to continue the farm to table movement. I use only the highest quality chocolate, butter and sugars to ensure a rich decadent dessert. Every item is made fresh to order so every bite is guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of connoisseur's. I will expand outside of the US market after the holidays, but for now I am happy to offer shipping within the US borders.

So come join me as I celebrate the opening of Simply Sweets! Discriminating Desserts for Discriminating People! Swing by Face book, the website or shoot me email/text and I would love to put together a tasting menu for your event. I want to thank everyone who stood by me all these years and taste tested my recipes, gave critiques on design and encouraged me; God bless you! ~ Julie Ann

Wishing you & yours a happy baking season!

17 signs that frugality has gone too far

There is such a thing as being too frugal. How to figure out if you've crossed the line.

By MSN Money partner on Thu, Mar 3, 2011 9:45 AM

This guest post comes from Kathryn Vercillo at Financial Highway.

Frugal living is a smart choice. However, like all things, frugality can be taken to the extreme. The following 17 signs may be a sign that you will want to reassess your reasons for being frugal.

1. You spend many, many hours a week on frugality. Whether it's clipping coupons or reworking your household budget, frugality takes time. If you're spending more time on being frugal than enjoying your family, you may want to re-evaluate the situation. Remember that your time is worth money. If you feel too busy and don't have time to do the things that you want to do in life, you may be spending too much time on living frugally.
2. You go without things that you need. Frugal living isn't meant to make your life uncomfortable. If you don't have what you need, you've gone beyond just being frugal.
3. You feel isolated. When frugal choices prevent you from living a social, active life, something has gone wrong. Learn more about frugality and isolation.
4. You hoard items just because you get a good deal on them. This isn't being frugal. It's not a good deal if you buy something that you don't need and won't use. Nobody needs 500 toothbrushes, even if they do cost only a penny each.
5. You can't let things go because you might need them someday. This is another example of how frugality can be related to hoarding. You think that you're being frugal by saving money on some future item that you may or may not need, but what you're really doing is cluttering up your life today.
6. You hate being frugal but feel like you have to. If you resent the activities that you're engaging in to be frugal, you're not living a high quality of life. Consider making other frugal choices that you do enjoy. There are many different ways to be frugal; it should be something that you enjoy doing.
7. You compromise your safety. Choosing to eat expired foods without knowing if they're safe because you don't want the money to be wasted is an example of dangerous frugality.
8. You are in competition with others about how frugal you can be. Although it's nice to compare notes and tips on frugality, you shouldn't feel like you have to one-up the people that you know by saving more than they do. Frugal living can be community-minded and based on sharing. (Check out the concept of collaborative consumption.)
9. You never treat yourself to something indulgent. It's important to spoil ourselves now and then. You shouldn't constantly go without because you want to be frugal. Of course, your indulgences should be few and far between and worked into a smart budget, but they should definitely still be a part of your life.
10. People frequently tell you that you're being stingy. Others sometimes have a better grasp than we do on when our good habits have gotten out of control and have become bad habits.
11. You compromise your values and ethics just to save a buck. Is that really how you want to live?
12. You ask people for more than you give them. For example, you host a potluck party but don't contribute a dish of your own, or you invite someone on a date and expect them to pay.
13. Your home lacks really basic items. For example, you don't have a bed because you sold it and sleep on the floor to save money. If your home doesn't have the basic things that most homes have, you've gone too far with being frugal. If you no longer have a home, things are really out of control.
14. It stresses you out to spend money. If even making normal payments causes you stress, you may have a problem.
15. You'd rather save money than earn money. An income is crucial if you're going to have financial stability. If you're spending valuable time saving money when you could be using that time to earn money, things may be out of control.
16. Money is all that you talk about. If you can't have conversations about other interests in life, it's possible that frugality has become an obsession instead of just a tool to improve your life.
17. You don't think there's such a thing as being "too frugal." Clearly, you no longer know where the line is and that means you've probably crossed it.

If you notice these signs in your own life, stop and ask yourself whether or not your frugal choices are allowing you to live the life that you truly want to lead. There are many different options for living frugally, and you should choose the ones that enhance your life rather than take away from it.

Autumn Harvest

Autumn is here, and so is our appetite for the season's ample variety of apples. From Idared to Golden Delicious to Northern Spy, these fresh-picked fall fruits are good to the core.
But, as they say, one bad apple spoils the bunch - so make sure you grapple the very best apples.

1. When is the best time to buy apples?
"Here in the Northeast, the time is right now! The apple harvest season starts in August and lasts through November. Granny Smith and McIntosh apples are especially seasonal for this time.
These days you can buy apples all year round from different suppliers around the world, but August through November, you’ll have incredibly crisp and juicy apples."
2. How do I pick a great apple?
"A ripe apple should be crunchy and sweet. The best way to test if an apple is ripe is to squeeze it. The flesh should feel firm, without any soft or brown spots.
Gala apples should be a sweet, snappy, aromatic apple that is usually red-and-yellow-striped when ripe. Granny Smiths should be firm, medium grain apples - with bold, sweet and sour bursts in every bite. Fujis should be aromatic and juicy with a spicy, crisp sweetness. Golden Delicious should be a crisp, clean apple with extremely mellow flavors, while Red Delicious should have a strong sweet presence and only a few notes of acidity.
McIntosh apples should be white and have a tender, crisp flesh that’s spicy, highly aromatic and full of juice. You should always consider why you are buying apples (cooking, baking or eating raw) because that makes a difference. Once you get home, you can keep your apples in the refrigerator for up to three days if you plan on eating them raw."
3. What’s the most popular kind of apple?
"During native apple season, there are two apples that stand out far and above any other varieties. First is the Honey Crisp because as the name says, it’s sweet like honey and crisp to the bite. Honey Crisps have a short season, only six to eight weeks.
The second most popular is the Macoun, which is a sweet, tart, and crispy apple from New England, but that also has a short window of availability. When Honey Crisp and Macoun are not available, people go for the super sweet and crunchy Gala apple followed by Granny Smith."
4. What’s the best apple to use for cooking?
"When making a pie, you can really use any apple you like, but a firmer apple, like Cortland, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith works really well. Those won’t break down like the softer varieties, such as McIntosh, which can get mushy.
You can even try a 50/50 blend of the Cortland and Granny Smith in your pie for added flavor. When making apple sauce, use Granny Smith or McIntosh. These apples feature bold flavors and lots of juice, making them perfect for sauce."
5.What are the best ways to use apples this harvest season?
"Apple cider donuts and apple pie are delicious but I’m always watching my waistline, so I was given a new recipe to try at home the other night. Chop up a few apples, put them in a roasting pan, then drizzle some Vermont maple syrup over them. Follow with a few shakes of ground cinnamon and put it in the oven for about an hour. My whole family loved it.
If you aren't watching your waistline, try this French-style apple tart."

Pastry cream:
2 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Tart:
1 large egg
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
2 medium Gala apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup apricot preserves
To prepare the pastry cream: In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg yolks and sugar to form ribbons. Mix in the flour and cornstarch. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil. Remove 1/2 cup of the milk and gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Gradually whisk the egg mixture back into the hot milk. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Return the mixture to the mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the vanilla. Pour into a large bowl. Cool slightly, then cover the surface completely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the custard for 1 hour or until cold. (Pastry cream may be prepared up to 1 day in advance.)
To prepare the tart: Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Cut a 1-inch strip off of each side of the pastry. Using the egg wash, brush a 1-inch border around the edges of the center piece of puff pastry. Place the strips onto the brushed border, folding the corners over to form another layer. Brush the border with the egg wash. Spoon or pipe the pastry cream onto the center of the puff pastry. Place the apples over the cream and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack for 15 minutes. In a small saucepan, heat the apricot preserves and 3 tablespoons water. Brush onto the apples. Serve warm or refrigerate to serve cold later.

Shopping Websites

For unique products or excellent customer service (or both!), these websites are favorites.

Best Home Goods Shopping Websites

allmodern.com
One-stop shopping for contemporary home goods in an easy-to-browse, simply designed site.

ballarddesigns.com
This sprawling site, with a vast inventory at reasonable prices, is a favorite resource of interior decorators.

brocadehome.com
From Restoration Hardware comes a site full of sexy, curvy, ultra-feminine furnishings.

circalighting.com
Indoor lights, outdoor lights, table lights, floor lights, ceiling lights―and shades―all with free shipping.

designerplumbing.com
A wide-ranging collection of tubs, sinks, vanities, and more to redecorate your bath. Fabulous prices―there's even a section of "blowout specials"―and top-notch customer service.

hableconstruction.com
This sister-owned textile company offers totes, pillows, and other high-quality goods in fun, colorful prints.

homeinfatuation.com
If you're lucky enough to have a patio and a yard, you'll find everything you need to furnish your outdoor space―furniture, umbrellas, grills―here.

laylagrayce.com
Home furnishings (plus clothing for women and children) from around the world, all with a romantic sensibility.

moderndose.com
Reasonably priced reproductions of modern furniture classics, with free shipping and a money-back guarantee.

2modern.com
As streamlined as the modern furniture it carries, this site features the work of eco-conscious designers.

thpcollections.com
Decorative accessories and furniture with a global viewpoint, from sources as equally far-flung.

ugallery.com
Original artwork at every price. A view-on-wall feature lets you try before you buy, so you have an idea of how a work of art will look in your home.

unicahome.com
An eclectic roundup of modern, vintage, and kitsch from big names like Knoll and Herman Miller.

velocityartanddesign.com
Simple, clean, and graphic designs―from artwork to wallpaper―at affordable prices.

wisteria.com
Bright and simply laid out, this site features new, antique, and artfully weathered imports from across the globe.

Glorious Fall

As I prepare for my favorite season, I find it brings me so much joy and contentment. I walk Bailey every morning and see the deer along the ravine and the foliage changing colors right before my eyes, see the once raging river turned into a babbling brook. I enjoy the sounds, smells and sights of fall. I find a spring in my step as I walk Bailey, (sometimes twice a day just to be close to the nature that makes me feel so happy)!
Today was a good example, after walking 3 miles, I stopped to let Bailey off her lead and let her play in the once raging river. She finds such peace and you can see her smile as she gallops off to run through the water, never showing signs of the water being too cold. She runs up and down the bank at a full speed and in this moment I can see she is trying to heal from the death of her buddy, Harley a few weeks ago. She is learning to be independent and rely on her senses and Mother Nature is assisting her. In this moment I watch her go from being such a nervous Nellie to a strong and sure lab as she was intended.
Death is never easy on anyone in a family. Least of all the pets. They have their own rhythm with life and seem to take things as they come.(?) I enjoy our "zoo",as we have dubbed them. They are a lot of work but am happy to know we rescued many of them out of some pretty bad situations. It is nice to see them growing healthy and happy as they progress in their individual recovery of the traumas and injustices they have endured in their short lives. It is a sence of accomplishment I feel each day as Remmington and Chipmunk climb up my step stool to beg for treats for the uptenth time that day, or when Bailey learns a concept with such ease. I am glad I have been blessed with these precious souls and have been able to give them such a better quality of life they never had.
As you consider your holiday list this year; I implore you to go to a shelter and donate some time, materials or even bring home a fuzzy lifetime friend. The joy they give to you and your family is irreplaceable in a store bought gift. IAMS Home For The Holidays is a wonderful gift to give to your family and a furry friend that might not be given a second chance if it was not for you.

It's been almost a month since I last wrote. I apologize for anyone who might be paying attention! Three deaths in 2 months has been a little tough to handle.
I've been busy canning and preserving the summers fruits and veggies and creating new recipes for my family to enjoy.  This year I made mixed berry syrup, maple syrup and red raspberry syrup along with: applesauce, apple butter, pear butter, salsa and various dried fruit and fruit leather. I love the fall and all the cooking that comes with it. I have many favorite recipes and hope you are willing to share yours with me too! Stay posted and I will include some holiday ideas and recipes!
Thanks for your support! And Happy Fall!

Stores Cracking Down On Extreme Couponers~Again!

For those of you who shelf clear, steal newspapers out of honor boxes, push whole product displays into your many shopping carts, and generally don't use any coupon ethics... this industry change that is currently underway is THANKS to you and your lack of basic decancy!
Ok, some of you may think that I am being too harsh but when the industry as a whole has to stop and AGAIN revist how couponers are shopping and how some are essentially cheating the "system" it begs the question: Are you too extreme? You have to look at how the TLC show is changing the face of couponing in such a hard economic times, when people are scrambling to save every cent they can. Some say that it is great: "allowing people to learn how to coupon and bringing coupon habits to the forefront as a means for people to learn to become savvy shoppers", and some are very upset at how a show has spun the industry into a full blown panic mode. I am among those who are very upset at some of the practices that people employ on this show and that the TLC show is exploiting bad couponers who are essentially ruining the industry for EVERYONE!
I teach, harp, praise on coupon ethics in my coupon classes. I know that by the time the classes are done everyone is well aware of what I believe with being ethical for couponing. (Honestly, it is just good basic human decancy if you really think about it.)The first thing I want all new couponers to be aware of is setting their goals, meaning what is it that you want to achieve by couponing, how many items does your family need/use, what is your shelf space, cooking habits and usage plan? I have always asked my classes to order their products from customer service if they are aware they will be using over 10 coupons for any one product, to only coupon for what you NEED and can USE. If you are couponing for charities as I do often, then have those in seperate transactions and of course talk to your store manager for clarity on their policy changes and don't rely on just the internet copy from your store's website.
There is little we all can do to stop the madding rush of the stores to tighten their coupon policies as they of course have to protect their bottom line. But if you can be ethical and work with your store and store manager they will be less likely to prohibt your use of coupons as they are now allowing managers to say "when" essentially.
Happy Savings!

Coupon Statistics

Coupon Statistics

General Facts about Coupons

Coupon clippers have taken over the checkout lines in record numbers...with record savings. But if you still think most coupon users have blue hair, you're way off. With mobile and internet coupons gaining even more popularity discounted prices are a hot hobby across all ages and incomes, especially folks in their 20s and 30s. If you've been hiding your frugal habits, it's time to let your lean lifestyle shine! Just how much of an influence do coupons have on the population at large? Check out the latest stats on coupon usage trends below.

1. 88.2 million consumers (47% of Internet users) plan on using online coupons in 2011
2. 92.5 million adult Internet users will use online coupons in 2012
3. 96.8 million adult Internet users will use online coupons in 2013
4. Every hour spent couponing in 2011 is worth an estimated $100
5. The average savings per coupon used was $1.44 in 2010
6. 74% of consumers search multiple coupon sources each week
7. 25% spend up to an hour shopping for the best online discount deals
8. 47% of respondents use more local deals and coupons than in 2010
9. Moms are roughly twice as likely to search for coupons online as other categories of women
10. 52% of coupon users spend more than 15 minutes per week searching for coupons
11. 25% of coupon users spend between 30 minutes and 60 minutes searching for coupons per week
12. $485 billion worth of coupons were distributed in 2010
13. 332 billion coupons were distributed in 2010, the most ever recorded in the U.S.
14. Consumers saved $3.7 billion using coupons in 2010
15. Distribution in 2010 exceeded 2009 by 6.8%, or 21 billion coupons
16. 87.7% of paper coupons were distributed in 2010 via newspaper inserts, for an increase of 19 billion coupons
17. Digital offers increased by 37% in 2010
18. The face value of coupons in 2010 increased 6.6%, to an average of $1.46 per coupon
19. 74% of coupons in 2010 required the purchase of one item and 26% the purchase of two or more items
20. The average coupon expired in 10.1 weeks in 2010, 10 days shorter than in 2009
21. Overall coupon redemption grew 3.1%, to 3.3 billion, in 2010
22. 78.3% of consumers reported using coupons regularly in 2010, up 14.7% from pre-recession levels
23. Consumer coupon use in 2010 added up to $3.7 billion in savings, an increase of $200 million over 2009

Redemption Growth for Different Coupon Types in 2009

• Internet - 263%
• Direct Mail - 69%
• Magazine Pop-up - 51%
• Instant Redeemable - 48%
• Electronic Checkout - 39%
• Free-standing Insert - 36%
• Digital Promotions - 31%
• Shelf Pad - 30%
• In Store Advertisement - 27%

Coupon Classes

For my fellow couponers who can't make it to the classes, I will be having them filmed and upload them online for you all to be able to also be a part of the saving nation! COMING SOON!

Recipes

Peach Shortcakes

      

Serves 6

This recipe works well with any peaches, regardless of quality. If your peaches are firm, you should be able to peel them with a sharp vegetable peeler. If they are too soft to withstand the pressure of a peeler, you’ll need to blanch them in a pot of simmering water for 15 seconds and then shock them in a bowl of ice water before peeling. If buttermilk is not available, substitute 1/2 cup of low-fat yogurt mixed with 3 tablespoons of milk. Orange juice or orange liqueur can be used in place of the peach schnapps. The biscuits may be made up to 24 hours in advance.

Ingredients

• Fruit
• 2pounds ripe but firm peaches (4 to 5 medium), peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges (see note)
• 6tablespoons sugar
• 2tablespoons peach schnapps (see note)
• Biscuits
• 2cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)
• 2teaspoons baking powder
• 2tablespoons sugar
• 3/4teaspoon table salt
• 2/3cup buttermilk , cold (see note)
• 1large egg
• 8tablespoons unsalted butter , melted and cooled slightly
• Whipped Cream
• 1/2cup heavy cream
• 1tablespoon sugar
• 1/2teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1. For The Fruit: Gently toss three-quarters of peaches with 4 tablespoons sugar in large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Toss remaining peaches with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and schnapps in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power until peaches are bubbling, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring twice during cooking. Using potato masher, crush peaches into coarse pulp. Let stand 30 minutes.
2. 2. For The Biscuits: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. While peaches macerate, whisk flour, baking powder, 1 tablespoon sugar, and salt in large bowl. Whisk together buttermilk and egg in medium bowl; add melted butter and stir until butter forms small clumps.
3. 3. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir with wooden spoon until dough comes together and no dry flour remains. Continue stirring vigorously for 30 seconds. Using greased 1/3 cup dry measure, scoop up mound of dough and drop onto parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (if dough sticks to cup, use small spoon to pull it free). Repeat with remaining dough, spacing biscuits about 1 1/2 inches apart, to create 6 biscuits. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar evenly over top of biscuits. Bake until tops are golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool 15 minutes before assembling.
4. 4. For The Whipped Cream: Using hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat cream, sugar, and vanilla on low speed until bubbles form, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium; continue beating until beaters leave trail, about 30 seconds longer. Increase speed to high; continue beating until nearly doubled in volume and whipped cream forms soft peaks, 30 to 45 seconds longer.
5. 5. To Assemble: Split each biscuit in half and place bottoms on individual serving plates. Spoon portion of crushed peach mixture over each bottom, followed by peach slices and any exuded juices. Top peaches with 2 tablespoons whipped cream, cap with biscuit top, and dollop each shortcake with some of remaining whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Storing Tomatoes

 How can I prolong the shelf life of a tomato?

We’ve heard that storing a tomato with its stem end facing down can prolong shelf life. To test this theory, we placed one batch of tomatoes stem-end up and another stem-end down and stored them at room temperature. A week later, nearly all the stem-down tomatoes remained in perfect condition, while the stem-up tomatoes had shriveled and started to mold. Why the difference? We surmised that the scar left on the tomato skin where the stem once grew provides both an escape for moisture and an entry point for mold and bacteria. Placing a tomato stem-end down blocks air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar. To confirm this theory, we ran another test, this time comparing tomatoes stored stem-end down with another batch stored stem-end up, but with a piece of tape sealing off their scars. The taped, stem-end-up tomatoes survived just as well as the stem-end-down batch.

STEM UPStoring a tomato stem-end up allows air to enter and consequently loses moisture, shortening shelf life.

STEM DOWNStoring a tomato stem-end down (room temperature is best) prevents air from entering and moisture from exiting its scar, prolonging shelf life.

Coupon Classes Are Back!

I am happy to say that the next series of coupon classes will be starting in September! If you are in the area and interested; contact the White Mountain Library for more details and to register (307-352-6660). White Mountain Library Foundation is bringing this to you all so the cost will be $5.00 total for four classes! Wow!!! What a steal! If you want more details; contact me via the Coupons N More FB page and I will get you everything you need.

I am currently working with the SW-Wrap Community Initiative to bring classes to their clients as well as RS Wic. If you think your community could use these classes, contact me for more details!

Happy Savings!

Military Care Packages for Camp Liberty in Baghdad~

I am so happy and proud to say that I was able to get enough things together from couponing the last 2 months for 42 men/women who needed care packages. I so appreciate my friends who helped in this effort; Marlene Bauman, Kristi Delski Mildon, and especially Power Services in Green River for paying for the postage for these packages. They are on their way today and hopefully I will have pictures to post for you all soon!
Last night I went to the Daryl Worlly concert and was brought to chills by his song: Have You Forgotten. How amazing it was to hear and see him sing this heartfelt song that captures the feelings of so many Americans after 9/11. Since this year is the ten year anniversary I am so happy to have seen this live and know that I am trying to bring happiness and comfort to those serving for us by sending these care packages. It is such a little thing to be able to do this for them; I wish I could do more after reading excerpts from a FB site named: You Know Iraq Sucks If... It is simply humbling to read the situations our military men/women have to endure as their "service" to our country, let alone the great sacrifices they make for our freedoms.
If you can coupon for charity, I strongly urge you to become active and gain the amazing feeling of helping others in need. I am blessed and honored to help several charities as well as doing these care packages. I have many women in my coupon exchange who have felt the "calling' and are actively couponing for causes they believe in. It warms my heart that a little bit of knowledge about couponing could spawn such a movement. I am humbled by these women and their grace at which they do this. When the news reports each night are of death, unspeakable crimes, the debt ceiling and Dow, it is nice to know that some good is coming from the people involved and the spirit in which they continue despite the horrible conditions of our nation.
Bless you all!~

As The End of Summer Draws Near

So what activities do you find yourself and family running to this weekend? Out of town for family reunions, state fairs, family vacations, and road trips.  Even with the cost of fuel today, there seems to be even more people on the road this summer! As I get ready for another road trip to Idaho, I have to rush about getting things ready for all the kiddos, the zoo, finish my canning and laundry. It is a super hectic time for everyone; finishing trips, getting kids back in school "time" and doing the dreaded back to school shopping.
When do you find the time to relax and take some time for yourself? How do you unwind and put things into perspective? For me, I tend to dive into baking, decorating and doing more charity work. I know I should say, exercising but hey, who wants to go outside when it is 95 degrees+? I sure don't!
Once, I return from the road trip I have more reciepes, cooking contests to enter and tips, tricks and ideas for the kitchen. I'd love to hear from you on any tips you would like to share in the kitchen or even couponing!
Happy Weekend!

Canning Know How~ Get Over The Fear & Just Do It!

I am busy right now going to farmers markets and hunting down the best produce and veggies to stock my pantry with. I will be making raspberry& blackberry syrup, applesauce, plum conserve, pear butter, apple butter as well as my various fruit leathers and dried fruits this season. What does your garden grow? What do you want to can? I grew up with 40 fruit trees growing down our driveway in the country so I watched my mom can and learned how to preserve the process when it came to my kids. Each Christmas I choose to give away some of my jams/jellies that I know my family members love. It is expensive to mail, but they are sure happy with the end results and nothing says "I am thinking of you" better than a can of homemade goodies! I usually make spiced blueberry jam, cranberry jelly, triple berry blend, and strawberry jam to pass out to the neighbors and my family at holiday time. What are your family's favorite time honored recipes and do you still can for your family today? I'd love to hear from you!

 

5@5 - Five myths about canning

5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.
You say you want a can-volution? Well, you need to know Sean Timberlake.
Timberlake is a professional writer and author of the blog Hedonia. He's also the founder of Punk Domestics, a Web site devoted to all things do-it-yourself food - from pickles and jams to goodies in cans.
When it comes to preservation, Timberlake admits even learned people and accomplished home cooks are oftentimes stymied by the fear of poisoning their loved ones with a tainted jar of fig jam (Mmm...botulism!).
While there are real risks, follow a few rules and Sean assures you'll be safely jamming in no time.
Five Myths About Canning: Sean Timberlake

1. My home-canned foods will poison me and my loved ones.
"You will absolutely, positively not bring disease and death into your home by canning - so long as you follow the rules. Modern food preservation techniques are designed to eradicate the pathogens that can cause illness, thereby rendering your foods shelf-stable.
In fact, properly canned foods are about the safest things you can eat. But a modicum of attention must be paid to a few fundamentals to ensure that all the bugaboos that can get you are tamed."
2. My grandmother canned in the oven/used paraffin wax/turned jars upside-down while canning, and no one died, so it’s safe.
"There are a myriad of tools and practices that have been employed throughout the last couple centuries to can food. However, the USDA has established a recommended practice using mason jars with two-part lids, canned upright in a water bath or pressure canner. This recommendation is unimpeachable, and should be adhered to to ensure safety."
3. The lids on my jars sealed, so the contents are safely canned.
"It’s so enormously satisfying to hear the high-pitched pings of lids sealing as they come out of the canner, but that doesn’t mean what’s inside is safe to eat. In order to kill off the bacteria that causes botulism, the contents must be sufficiently acidic, having a pH 4.6 or lower.
Most fruits are high in acid, which makes them excellent candidates for preserves that can be canned using the water bath method. But unpickled vegetables, meats and many soups and sauces are not, and require pressure canning to destroy the botulinum bacteria.
How can you tell the pH of your recipe? Unless you’re a chemist, you can’t, so make sure you’re using a tested recipe from a reliable source. If you don’t know your recipe is safe for water bath canning, store it in the refrigerator or freezer (or in your belly) instead."
4. Canning is for people in big houses in the country, not me in my tiny urban kitchen.
"We are blessed to live in an age when gorgeous, ripe fruits and vegetables can be harvested at local farms and transported to markets in the very heart of even the densest cities on the very same day. If you want to hang on to that bounty well after the season’s over, canning is probably your best bet.
Other than a pot large enough to submerge your jars in boiling water, the other equipment required will fit in a drawer. Working in small batches ensures you don’t end up with mountains of jars all over your house."
5. Canning is hard.
"Do you find cooking hard? If so, then maybe this is true for you. Like cooking, though, canning is a process, so take the time to set up your space and develop a workflow. Have everything ready in its place for each step of the process and you’ll find that it goes quickly, is easier than you imagined and even fun.
It’s also an excellent activity to do with friends and family; after all, many hands make light work. And when you hear those lids popping as they cool, your heart will swell with pride and you’ll already start planning your next trip to the farmers market for another round of canning."

Sweet Annie

Tonight I write this blog with such a heavy heart full of sadness and strangely some happiness too. After 18 years with my sweet Annie, she has passed on today.
I remember the first time I saw her and rescued her from the filth and horrible conditions she was in at birth. My daughter, Britney and I picked her scrawny muddy filthy body up and placed her in the back seat and drove the hour home, all the while promising her she would have a better life and we would be there to love her and she wouldn't have to worry about food, shelter or love ever again. We nursed her through the parvo and made sure she had her shots immediately. She was so grateful, is really the best way to say how she treated our family as she grew into her lab life. She was always nurturing others; cats, kids when they cried, me when I was sick... and she never once asked for anything more than her food, water, a few Oreos snuck in occasionally and a bed to sleep on. I have rarely found a another soul that would/could give so much of themselves as Annie did. She was easily the kindest dog I've ever known, thus earning the name "Sweet Baby Girl".  She had this amazing personality full of spunk and adventure but was always there the minute a kid cried, someone was sick or there was that knock on the door. There was no doubt with any of the other animals that she was in charge of our household. She loved the water, often jumping off the reservoir bridge early in the morning before the kids even got out of bed, I once snapped a picture of her standing on the river bank staring off into the sunrise, wet from her early morning swim, she seemed to be at peace as she stood there seemingly watching the sun rise before she realized I was there watching her. She was so sensitive and kind that when her buddy, Daisy was killed in a freak accident, she refused to eat for days until we had to take her to the vet for intervention. She was so fierce and protective when I needed someone to stand with me to protect the kids, she refused to let anyone bring harm to them often putting herself in the way so that the kids were shielded. During my illness after my accident, she would crawl into bed with me and curl up against my hip or lay her head on my shoulder and let out these big sighs, as if to tell me it would all be okay. She came to the bed each day I layed there unable to care for myself or anyone else and she would put her cold nose on me as if to let me know she was there to care for me now, she would see me through it. I am not sure how I would've made it through all those days without her kindness and constant companionship. She was steadfast in resolve and made sure her family was ok for 18 years. She watched other "friends" pass on during her tenor never once losing site of her kids and her "duties". As she rounded 18 this year we asked ourselves if she would go out in the river again or even on the boat. Each day brought a new set of circumstances for her from slowing down and losing her hearing, to not being able to walk or climb up the stairs. Growing old had become such a chore and with not much dignity involved. Each day I would tell her, "it's okay if you want to go now, you have done your job well and I love you". But yet she held on each day. Maybe it was the treats each day, the random bowl of ice cream she got to finish at night or even just laying there with me getting scratched. I don't know why she didn't let go, I won't ever know why but I knew I had to pay my friend back for all her kindness and unselfish love and do the honorable thing and let her go.  As I carried her to the truck she just looked up at me with those big soft brown eyes of hers and as I layed her down on the vet table to send her off, she refused to move her eyes from me. As my tears fell onto her face and nose, I watched my longtime friend and companion slip away. I pray that tonight she is is with our other dogs, running through the tall wildflowers like she did as a puppy, chasing away the day jumping in the river and going for swims with no more pain. Goodbye my friend. Thank you for all your love and the lessons you have taught me these past 18 years. I will carry you forever in my heart.

Pardon My "Dust"...

Please forgive the blog at the moment as I am working on adding a few new things to the blog! I'd love to hear what you want to see and learn about! Stop in and drop me a line!

Brand Loyalty or Not?

7 Secrets To Store Brands...

By Laura Heller, Forbes.com

10 Secrets About Store Brands

Store brands—those generic labels we often equate with bargain quality—are among the fastest growing and most popular items for sale today. They provide more choices, help us save money and have come a long way from the bottom-shelf, hokey-labeled products from decades past. But not all store brands are created equal. You may be surprised to learn that an in-house brand isn’t always what it seems.
A typical generic product (also called “private label”) yields a higher profit for the store, even when it sells for a lot less than the similar national brand. That’s because there are no marketing or advertising costs involved and why companies invest a good amount of money in creating private labels. Name-brand consumers pay for those Superbowl ads in the form of higher per item prices.


“Private label provides value and it’s higher margin,” says Natalie Berg, Global Research Director at Planet Retail, a retail intelligence agency in London. “In a down economy, it really ticks two boxes—boosts the bottom line and drives loyalty.”
It’s a common misconception that private label products are just the better known brand with a different coat of paint. Not true. There are dozens of small companies dedicated solely to developing store brands and they work directly with the retailer to develop the item, label and price points. Even when an item is made by a large well-known brand, it’s not exactly the same. If a big brand like Heinz or Hunts decided to sell private label, it will make soup or pasta sauce, not ketchup. Companies want to expand their business, not destroy the existing one.
Perhaps most surprising is the number of house brands in the market that we don’t even know are private label. Take White Cloud, for example. Once a widely available national brand of toilet paper, White Cloud is now sold exclusively at Walmart stores. Rock & Republic, a premium denim line available at luxury retailers like Neiman Marcus, will soon be a store brand (as of Spring 2012, it will be sold exclusively at Kohl’s).
The bottom line is that store brands will save you money. A recent study from the Private Label Manufacturers Association found that consumers save an average of 33 percent on the total grocery bill by buying store brands. While most of us don’t exclusively buy private label products, increasing the number of store brands in our shopping basket will have a noticeable impact at the cash register.

Not Just A Cheap Alternative

Store brands are not only the value option, they can be premium and specialty items. Private label organic options and ethnic foods are among the fastest growing product categories, representing value and high quality while offering something unique to the store.

Designer Private Labels

Those "exclusive partnerships" between a famous designer and retail chain are actually new store brands. Simply Vera by Vera Wang at Kohl's and Michael Graves kitchen accessories at Target are manufactured for, and sold exclusively at those stores.

Rising Above

Sometimes store brands transcend their limited availability and become national brands. Martha Stewart once had products only available at Kmart, but today sells a variety of lines at multiple retail outlets including her own web site. Sears Craftsman tools, Die Hard batteries and Kenmore appliances are store brands with arguably more cache and shopper loyalty than the store that started them. Store brands from Safeway like O Organics and the Eating Right labels are sold at other supermarkets, mostly in markets where Safeway doesn’t have stores.

Inspiring Loyalty

Many shoppers express devotion to store brands above all others. Costco, Trader Joe's and Aldi, carry a higher proportion of store brands than other chains. And this is exactly why shoppers keep coming back.

Store Brand Camouflage

Using fancy packaging and strategic titling, retailers sometimes make it difficult to spot the store brand. Look at the label to see who the item is distributed by or for. Often the item will have the store's name or headquarters location--like Target's in Minneapolis.

Size Doesn't Matter

It's not just the big retail chains that carry store brands. All retailers have access to private label options and make sure to stock items in popular categories to remain competitive. Even online retailers are getting into the act. Amazon has the AmazonBasics line of consumer electronics, Denali tools and Pike Street bath and home products.

Inferiority Complex

Store brands aren't always just junk imported from China. Experts note that most food products are likely sourced domestically while all non-food items come from the same places, regardless of brand. All are subject to federal guidelines and safety standards.


In Pictures: 10 Secrets About Store Brands

To Dumpster Dive or Not? That Is The Question....

Is Dumpster Diving for coupons a good idea? Legal? Smart?

*** This is a repost from a blogger I respect and I am glad she has asked this question too!

I’m hearing more couponers and bloggers suggest dumpster diving as a smart way to get coupons for free. What disturbs me is how casual this suggestion is starting to come off – or how shows like Extreme Couponing have even tried to make this practice normalized, or even savvy.

Yes, I’ll admit it. I approached this post with my own hangups about the idea of rifling through – essentially garbage – to find coupons. But for the sake of objectivity, I asked my pal Sarah to help me do some digging on this topic (all puns intended) to arm you with some helpful information, and not just a rant-y post. My goal today is to take a complicated topic in couponing and approach it from a number of angles.

What I wanted to learn was: is dumpster diving OK to do? Are there any laws that prohibit it? And if there aren’t any laws, what other considerations should couponers have before they climb into a dumpster bin?

Let’s start at the beginning: legality

I should first mention that I’m in the State of Washington, so most of what I have to share today will pertain to information I was able to uncover for my state. I should also probably give you some sort of general blanket disclosure here that I am not an attorney and my degree is in English/Creative Writing (not law). So basically, don’t hold me liable.
Disclosures aside, let me share that the Supreme Court has stated that trash is public domain. What this means is that dumpster divers cannot be charged with theft.
However, here’s where things get interesting. States and cities have some say in imposing their own rules on this topic. For instance, if you live in Missouri City, MO or Layton, OH, dumpster diving is a crime. And don’t forget, that recycling materials…go in receptacles. Which are generally located on private property. Here is an interesting response found on a legal forum:

Generally speaking dumpsters are on private property and you have the same rights to protect your property interests as you would with someone trespassing/ damaging any other portion of your property. If the dumpster is on property owned by the overall store/ complex owner they have a right to protect their property.

In her research, Sarah ended up contacting the City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Department to get what their take was on all of this. Apparently, they don’t want you doing this. At all. Not only would they consider it trespassing if you’re there after hours, it poses a liability to the City if someone winds up injured.
Bottom line, while rummaging through trash may not be illegal per se, you could be up against a property owner who wishes to enforce no trespassing. (I was able to find an instance where two Colorado dumpster divers were jailed for trespassing back in 2006.) While most would be unlikely to report, it is a risk you run when you do a belly flop into a recycling bin.

You might not be alone in that dumpster

And I’m not talking about rats, either. Did you know that identity thieves often target recycling bins to obtain personally identifying information?
If a private property owner catches you pawing around papers in their recycling bin, they may very well suppose you are up to no good. In this YouTube video, Mr. Frugal (AKA Nathan from WeUseCoupons.com) recommends diving when no one is around for this very reason. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer not to have to explain myself to an older gentleman who’s threatening to beat me up with his cane. I also would prefer to not to bump heads with criminals like identity thieves.

Additional considerations

Have you considered what the manufacturers might have to say about all this? Respected coupon guru Jill Cataldo recently shared her thoughts:

With dumpster diving being glorified on TLC’s Extreme Couponing as an acceptable method to get more coupons, look for the coupon distributors like Valassis, SmartSource, P&G and others to further clamp down on what happens to the coupon inserts from unsold newspapers. Many newspapers now have contracts in place that the extra inserts must be “destroyed,” not merely recycled.

While it can be easy to suppose no one cares about what happens to the papers after Sunday, the truth is – the manufacturers do care.
So do the newspapers.
Heather at Queen Bee Coupons wrote a most insightful post recently on the ethics involved of trying obtain free inserts – whether through your mail carrier, “connections,” or dumpster diving. Here’s what she had to say:

Maybe some of you have found a nice “connection” who is hooking you up with coupons for FREE. But it puts the paper at risk to be dropped from the coupon insert network. For example, your Cousin Vinny has a hook-up and he’s getting you 50 FREE Smart Source inserts from your local Daily News each week, you might think it’s no big deal – but if Smart Source found out they’d likely stop putting their inserts in the Daily News, because it’s a violation of their contract with the paper.

With more and more couponers trying to obtain papers by dumpster diving and other practices, we stand a fair chance of seeing limits and restrictions imposed. The more I learn about stuff like this, the more I feel it my job to share it with you. Because if there is something I can do here to make a positive difference for couponers, manufacturers, and stores alike I want to do it!

My Final Thoughts

After lots of research, I’ve come to realize that dumpster diving is a very complex issue. And, quite frankly, it’s one that not all coupon bloggers will see eye to eye on (do a quick search on “how to dumpster dive” and you’ll find no shortage of posts).
Whether or not your state/city/local recycling center/fill in the blank here would permit it, I feel there is case to argue this is not what the manufacturers or newspapers want us to be doing. Given there is a chance it could hurt couponing for everyone, I am not in favor of dumpster diving.

My thoughts....

As I run a coupon exchange across the country that benefits military families, I have found that I speak to my post office (we get our coupons mailed once a week where I live) to see if it is okay to pick them out of the cans at the office and talk to my postman on what is the rules for disposal. They have been very supportive and usually always have their own coupon for me to contribute to the group. I think that it is important that you speak to your city officials and don't just do it so that you are benefitted. Because if the city doesn't want it happening, they will crack down on all couponers. I try to teach coupon ethics in my classes and this is a subject that brings many different responses. But I believe it is always best to check first rather than run the risk of causing problems for everyone. I'd be happy to hear your responses!
Happy Savings!

Julie Ann

 

Major grocer getting rid of self-checkout lanes

Albertsons will replace computers, wants more human contact.     

One of the nation's major grocery store chains is eliminating self-checkout lanes in an effort to encourage more human contact with its customers.

Albertsons LLC, which operates 217 stores in seven Western and Southern states, will eliminate all self-checkout lanes in the 100 stores that have them and will replace them with standard or express lanes, a spokeswoman said.
"We just want the opportunity to talk to customers more," Albertsons spokeswoman Christine Wilcox said. "That's the driving motivation."
Wilcox said the replacement of automated checkout lanes with human-operated lanes likely would mean more hours available for employees to work.
The move marks a surprising step back from a trend that began about a decade ago, when supermarkets began installing self-checkout lanes, touting them as a solution to long lines. Now some grocery chains are questioning whether they are really good for business.
Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the U.S. (with some 2,500 outlets), is experimenting with removing all self-checkouts in at least one Texas store, reports StorefrontBacktalk, an industry publication. Publix, another major chain, is "on the fence" about self-checkout, according to a report quoted in the story.
Self-checkout industry leader NCR Corp., which counts Albertsons among its clients, does not see the grocery chain's move as a threat to its business, said company spokesman Cameron Smith.
He said more than 150 retailers in 22 countries use the company's self-checkout lanes, and not just for groceries. The market is projected to grow by about 15 percent annually, he said.
"Ultimately, customers appreciate the choice of self-checkout," he said.