The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

                                                                                       Week 8 ( Save $8 )

We seem to look for our favorite comfort foods when we come in from the cold.  Why not whip up the  Extraordinary ultimate grilled cheese sandwich!  What  makes these grilled cheese sandwiches the ultimate is the extra cheesy crispy crunch on the outside. 

Simple staple ingredients found in your refrigerator: 2 slices bread, process cheese and grated cheese and butter.

Start by buttering one sides of your white or whole wheat bread slices. 

Place the butter side down on a non stick pan.  Place a process slice cheese on one of the sandwich. 

Grill until lightly brown and place the other slice of bread on top of the melted process cheese.  


Here is the extra step to give it that extra crunch:

Cover the sandwich with the shredded cheese and flip it carefully and grill until the cheese fuses to the bread, about 3 minutes. Repeat for the other side of the sandwich until golden brown.


Now for the taste test, sink your teeth into the ultimate extra crunch grilled cheese sandwich.  It's so worth the wait!  Add your twist by using different cheeses. 

 

 

Enjoy!

 
 
 

Is Valentine's Day Overrated?

                                                                                                Week 7 (Save $7)

Which girl does not like a dozen of Roses, a box of Chocolates and a Perfect Date Night but not all on one day.  Personally, I find there is so much pressure on the relationship to live up to the commercialized expected standards with the idealized February the 14th , also known as Valentine's Day!

Love is not about giving material things to show your love, it’s more complex.  It is about commitment, trust, support, yes and passion. Love is a long term investment into a relationship and like any investments, the returns are greater as the years pass.

Why not show your partner / spouse, that loving compassion every day. Yes, there are another 364 days to the calendar.  I am sure it will have a significant impact on your relationship rather than that one designated day.  Make Valentine’s Day, Everyday!

I am not suggesting NOT to celebrate or boycott Valentine’s Day, just don’t get blinded by all the Red and Pink.  Do something simple and meaningful from the heart whether it be a special breakfast in bed or even a simple skate date. It does not have to be a monetary thing, remember the old saying, "Money can’t buy you Love".

Happy Valentine’s Wishes to you all!

 

 

 

Bubble Tea

                                                                   Week 6 (Save $6)

For many of my friends, their ultimate cold beverage of choice would either be a Tim Horton’s ice Cap or Starbucks frappuccino.  For me, give me a Honey Dew Bubble Tea any day! There is nothing like slurping up chewy bubble (boba) pearls through a colorful thick straw with your favorite fruit slushy tea blend.  What a great taste combination! It’s sweet, refreshing and the brain freeze is the bomb! 

Originated in the 1980’s in Taiwan and spread throughout South Asia before  finding its way to the North America.  What makes this drink so unique are the “boba” chewy tapioca pearls found in the bottom of the drink.  The drink can either be a fruit flavored, made from special powders  or just your favorite blend of tea with the boba.  Lightly sweeten with condensed milk, fruit juices, frozen fruits  or simple syrups .  Every  Bubble Tea Shops makes their version of Bubble Tea’s. Try the different variety of bubble tea’s from different shops to find your favorite Ultimate Bubble Tea Barista. Is there even such a thing?

You can actually make your own bubble tea in the comfort of your own home. The fruit flavor powders and boba are available at many Asian stores. 
   
How to cook Boba and make the Bubble Tea
 
Ingredients
1/4 cup dried boba tapioca pearls per serving (NOT quick-cooking boba)
1-2 tea bags per serving, any kind
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
Milk, almond milk, or sweetened condensed milk
Fruit juice or nectar (optional)

1. Cook the Boba:
Measure 2 cups of water for every 1/4 cup of boba being prepared into a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the boba and stir gently until they begin floating to the top of the water.

Turn the heat to medium and cook the boba for 12-15 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, cover, and let the pearls sit for another 12-15 minutes.

Yields: ¾ cups of prepared boba

2. Prepare Sugar Syrup for the Boba:
Make simple syrup with equal parts of sugar and water. 1/c cup sugar to ½ cup water.  Set aside to cool.  Syrup will be used to sweeten and to preserve the boba once cooked.   

or

What I do is pour corn syrup over the boba avoiding the simple syrup process.

3. Make  the Tea
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bag. Use one tea bag for regular-strength bubble tea or two for a stronger tea flavor. Remove the tea bag after 15 minutes and chill the tea.

4. Finish the Boba
Once the boba have finished cooking, drain them from the water and transfer them to a small bowl or container. Pour the sugar syrup over top until the boba are submerged. Let sit until the boba are room temperature, at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate until ready to use. Boba are best if used within a few hours of cooking, but will keep refrigerated for several days. The boba will gradually harden and become crunchy as they sit.

5. Make the Bubble Tea
Pour the prepared tea into a tall glass and add the boba. Add milk for a creamy bubble tea, juice for a fruity tea, or leave plain and add a little extra water. Sweeten to taste with the simple syrup from soaking the boba or add honey

Additional Notes:

• Very Chilled Bubble Tea: For an extra-chilly bubble tea, combine all the tea, milk, and/or juice, but not the boba in a cocktail shaker. Add a few ice cubes and shake for 20 seconds. Pour into a tall glass and add the boba.

• Saving Leftover Boba and Making Boba for Later: Boba are best if used within a few hours of cooking, but will keep refrigerated with simple syrup for several days. The boba will gradually harden and become crunchy as they sit.

Look at all the different flavors available!

Here is my quick version for a Slushy Refreshing Brain freeze Bubble Tea

3 Tbsp bubble tea flavor powder 

Handful of frozen or fresh fruit

5 to 6 crushed ice cubes

½ cup milk (almond, soya, etc)

1 tsp sugar or syrup from the boba

¼ cup cooked boba

In a blender, add the frozen/fresh fruit with the crushed ice cubes,  Blend for a minute.  Add the  bubble tea powder, milk and syrup.  Blend until smooth. 

Spoon the tapioca pearls in to tall glass and pour the mixture and serve.  ENJOY!

I know it sounds like a long process to make something that is around $5.  With the 2 main ingredients, you can have bubble tea anytime you like!

Look for future Summer Recipe featuring my favorite drink of all time... Bubble Tea Boba -sicle!

What is your favorite Bubble Tea Flavors?

 

Natural Organic Alternative to Dying your Hair

                                                                                                   Week 5 (Save $5)

There are so many chemicals in that box of hair dye that we use to color our hair.  Studies show that hair dyes may increase the risk of cancer.  Why not use an alternative which can be found in your cupboard or grocery store shelves. 

Did you know you can actually dye your hair with coffee or tea ?

 

 

Coffee to Go!

This week, I tried coffee as an alternative to coloring my hair.
I made an extra 2 cups of espresso coffee in the morning. One cup will be used for the dye and the other cup will be used for the rinse.  I let the coffee cool down and mixed 1 cup of coffee with a few large spoons of the coarse coffee grounds and applied the mixture onto my just shampooed hair for about an hour.  I put a shower cap over my hair to avoid any drippings.  I used apple cider vinegar to rinse out the coffee.  Rinsed it off with cool/ warm water.  The cider vinegar seals in the color and it gave my hair this shiny chocolate color.    Apparently, you can repeat this process every few days to allow the coffee to penetrate the strands of your hair until you get the darken shade you desire.

Who would of thought a cup of java would deliver such amazing results with no harsh fumes or chemicals!

Tea Time!

Here are some Tips for coloring with tea: Use 3 to 5 tea bags.  Brew the tea using  only 1 cup of hot water.  Allow the tea to cool down to avoid any burns. Shampoo your hair before tea dying.  Do not condition. Use a plastic applicator or a mustard type bottle to apply the tea.  Leave in your hair for an hour Note: the longer you leave in the better.  Rinse your hair out with cool /warm water

Brunettes: use 3 tea bag of black tea and brew 2 cups of tea.  Allow it to cool.  Leave in hair for an hour.  Rinse out with cool warm water.

Blondes: use 3 tea bags of camomile tea to 2 cups of water.  Boil the tea in a pot for 30 minutes.  Leave in your hair for an hour.  Rinse out with cool/warm water.

Red heads: use 3 teabags of rooibos or any red type teas.  3 tea bags and to 2 cups of water.  Boil for 10 minutes.  Cool, and leave in hair for an hour.  Rinse out with cool/warm water

To cover up greys, brew fresh sage or dried with your tea.  Sage opens up the hair follicles to allow the for retaining the color better.  So start growing some sage in your herb garden this summer!

Mix a stronger brew for a more intense results. Experiment with it every few days, it will not damage your hair, It’s only a cup of tea darling!

Product Review

                                                                                           Week 4 (Save $4)
Rug Gripper

Do you have a carpet or rug that keeps on slipping, bunches up or the corners just do not stay down?  A safe proof solution to the problem is Rug gripper. 

It’s super easy to use.  Just peel back the gripper, apply it to the underside of the carpet/rug corners, sides (if needed) and DONE!

The tiny suction cups stick to hardwood, tile and linoleum flooring. 

The grippers are reusable, just wash with soap and water to renew grip. 

The grips do not leave any sticky mess.




For $3, at the Dollarama, no one will be tripping over that carpet again. Each box contains 8 grippers. Highly recommended from my household and especially the cat!
 

 

 

 

 

Rosemary Chicken Crockpot Stew

                                                                                                    Week 3 (Save $3)

 

This quick and hearty easy comfort stew is full of big chunks of vegetables and chicken. There is nothing like the aroma of a stew simmering on a cold winter's day.  Serve it up with fresh biscuits or crusty bread.

 Serves 4 to 6   (Use a slow cooker size 5 to 6 qt.)          

                                                         

Ingredients: 

1 whole chicken 3lbs or 5 kg cut into pieces     

Olive oil

1/4 cup of all purpose flower

1/2 teaspoon  black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

 

2 stalks of celery, sliced ½ inch thick

1 onion, thinly slices

2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch thick

4 large carrots, peeled and slice to 1 inch thick

 

1 tsp rosemary

2-3 cups chicken stock (keep 1/2 cup aside)

1 cup frozen peas (optional)
 

In a bowl mix flour, black pepper, salt and paprika.  Coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture.

In large non stick skillet heat up olive oil. Over medium high heat, add coated chicken pieces and brown for 8 to 10 minutes and set aside.  Do not over crowd the chicken, cook in a few batches.

 

Pour 1/2 cup of broth into pan and scrap off all brown bits from bottom of pan.

In crockpot, mix the veggies with dried rosemary (rub the rosemary to bring out the flavor before mixing with the veggies).  Place the chicken pieces on top of the veggies. Add the remaining broth.  Cover and cook LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6 hours. Or until veggies are tender and stew is bubbling (skim off any of the fat floating). Optional: Gently toss peas into the stew . 

 

 

 

 

Serve wth fresh bread or biscuits.  Make it this weekend!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Winterizing your vehicle

                         Week 2 (Save $2)

When it comes to winter in North America, Mother Nature is so unkind.  She had blasted us a few times with a little taste of winter last November and we are in for more cold and frigid temperatures and snow. 

Were we prepared with our cars? Or did we just procrastinate with winterizing our vehicles? We take our cars for granted and without a little care and attention, the last thing you need is to have your car break down with unexpected costly expenses and emergency expenses.
 
Invest that few hours to have your vehicle checked and it will give you that peace of mind of avoiding of being stranded out in the cold.

Here are some recommendations for winterizing your vehicle:

 

Get a tune up before the winter sets in.

 

Have your battery and charging system checked, cold weather is hard on batteries.

 

Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system.  The rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.

 

Make sure heaters, wipers, defrosters are in working condition.  Winter blades are a better choice for the cold weather.  Wiper blades should be replaced every 6 months. Carry extra winter windshield fluids.

 

Have all your hoses and belts inspected.  Damage engine belts will not withstand extreme cold.

 

Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. Have the tires rotated.  Consider getting winter tires for your vehicle.  During winter, check the tire pressure weekly.

 

Have the brakes checked as the braking system is the most important safety item.

 

Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks. Which is dangerous during the cold winter months for drives especially when all the windows are closed.

 

Make sure the exterior and interior lights are in working order and headlights are aimed properly.

 

Having your oil and filter changed is recommended.  Consider changing to winter weight oil if you live in a cold climate.  DO check all fuels levels, air and transmission filters at the same time.

 

Highly recommend having your gas tanks half full or filled to avoid chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possible freezing. 

 

Check the spare tire to make sure there is pressure. 

 

Lastly prepare an Emergency kit in the event you find yourself stranded.  Have your cell phone, always have it charged up snowbrushes/ scrapers, small snow shovel, flash lights, flares, blankets, candles, matches, extra clothes, first aid kits, bottled water, dry food snacks (such as nuts, chocolate bars, crackers).

 

             Always be prepared and drive safely!