Check out this video segment on cupcakes from the Associated Press: Cupcakes a Sweet Spot in Sour Economy.
Also, watch the informational video on peeling and dicing butternut squash and red onions, which features easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. Perfect for Thanksgiving!
Jenn’s Cook Book has received almost 15,000 hits since its inception in June 2007 (there are archives from August 2006-February 2007 from another site). As the holiday season begins, look for more recipes including some baking and other seasonal favorites as well as another one of my (in)famous Special Projects!
While I am tinkering with new recipes in the kitchen, please continue to enjoy Econofest Quickies: quick items to help save money while still eating and living well. Look for other updates coming soon…I cannot give all the details away, but we may have a different look and feel by the end of the year.
In the meantime, please enjoy Chocolate Cake in 5 Minutes from Dizzy Dee (disclosure: I haven’t tried it yet, so please let me know if it works!).
WebMD recently featured an article on 15 Nutritious Foods for About $2 (written by a Registered Dietition). For each food, the article lists the serving size, price per serving, nutrition info per serving, and offers serving suggestions.
To piggyback on Organic vs. Economic, also check out How to Be a Budget Organic, a guide to shopping for organic produce, dairy products, meat and poultry.
While I work on getting Soupified up and running, please enjoy this delicious recipe of a Fall favorite: Baked Apples. As a twist, I’ve added a variety of dried fruits along with pecans and maple syrup to make a tasty treat perfect for dessert.
Baked Apples with Dried Fruit
4 large, firm baking apples such as Braeburn
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 cup dried fruit, such as apricots, cherries, and golden raisins (chopped if large)
1/4 cup chopped pecans
olive oil
caramel sauce
Preheat oven to 450F
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, maple syrup, dried fruit and pecans. Using a melon baller or small spoon, remove stem and core from apples, creating a “tunnel” in the center, stopping about a half-inch from the bottom of the apple.
Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of a 9×9 inch baking pan. Place apples upright in the pan and spoon fruit mixture into the center of each apple, allowing mixture to overflow slightly. Drizzle again with olive oil (to keep apples and topping moist).
Bake apples for 30-35 minutes, until soft and apples begin to “burst.” In a small saucepan, combine any leftover fruit mixture with caramel syrup and place over low heat. To serve, cut apples in half and top with caramel mixture.
During Veganomics, I posted recipes that combine healthy eating with saving money and going green. This concept is not altogether original, as the campaign for green living often crosses paths with economic savings and healthy living.
Many of the current trends in food and lifestyle are a natural convergence of these topics, as I discovered there are many ways to adjust a recipe to be good for the wallet, the planet, and the body.
While preparing recipes and postings for Econofest, again I find a merger of ideas that include cost effectiveness with healthy eating and environmental benefits. Many of the resources overlap, providing a balance of lifestyle choices with greater impact. Rather than just saving money, these tips and tricks have a personal benefit as well as benefit to the world around us.
Most of the time, this overlap works in our favor. When it comes to produce, however, consumers often must choose between organic or economical. With tight grocery budgets, many cannot afford to purchase organic produce and rely instead on cheaper options, which are usually grown with a plethora of pesticides.
If you are going to splurge on organic produce, opt to purchase produce widely recognized as having the highest pesticide loads. Here is a list of the “Dirty Dozen” from Food News:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes
If you are looking to save, here is also the list of the “cleanest” 12 produce items available (requiring lowest pesticide loads):
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Kiwi
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Eggplant
For a complete list, please visit Food News and download the printable guide:
