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Personal Finance News & Advice - StumbleUpon

Personal Finance News & Advice - StumbleUpon
Creating a romantic meal at home is a somewhat bigger challenge than your standard Monday-night fare. Especially if you haven’t yet cooked for this significant other — or, if you’re in a long-term relationship, haven’t cooked for them often. And especially when the occasion in question is Valentine’s Day. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to up to romance factor, either overtly (like aphrodisiac ingredients and candles on the table) or covertly (that valentine’s favorite dish). Frugal Foodie recommends sticking to what you know, and what you know your sweetheart will like. We talked to chefs, home cooks and other relationship experts about their go-to date meals. There are appetizers, main courses, desserts and even a next-day breakfast, all for under $10 to prepare. Oyster with Spicy Vinaigrette and Apples Cost: $8.37 for half a dozen oysters, or $1.40 apiece. Strawberry-Tangerine Salad Cost: $5.36, or $2.68 per serving. No need to load up on aphrodisiacs. Chicken Madeira Intimidating?

50 Healthy Recipes to Kick Off 2012 | Two Peas & Their Pod - StumbleUpon Happy New Year! Many of us are thinking about our New Year’s resolutions and healthy eating is often at the top of the list. If you are setting a goal to eat healthy in 2012, here are 50 healthy recipes to help you get started. Beverages Easy Strawberry Mango Smoothie Berry Banana Smoothie Blueberry Mango Smoothie Breakfast Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Whole Wheat Kefir Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce Pumpkin Granola Roasted Plums with Greek Yogurt, Honey, and Almonds Broiled Grapefruit Steel Cut Oats Maple Almond Granola Roasted Strawberries with Greek Yogurt Honey Yogurt Waffles Appetizers/Snacks Peanut Butter Granola Balls Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas Rosemary Roasted Almonds Tzatziki Sauce Cilantro Lime Hummus Strawberry Mango Salsa White Bean and Artichoke Dip Edamame Guacamole Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips Peach Salsa Roasted Red Pepper and White Bean Dip Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce Black Bean Corn Salsa Salads/Sides Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kale, & Dried Cranberries

Apple Nachos! I have no clue where I originally saw this idea years ago–but in today’s blogging world, apple nachos have become just about as ubiquitous as raw ballz… But, there may still be a few folks remaining who aren’t tuned into all the apple nacho hoopla. If you’ve never tried them, give ’em a whirl! Obviously this isn’t a recipe–use your imagination and your fave toppings to make THE perfect apple nachos! I used (to feed 1 1/2 kids and 2 adults): 3 crispy and slightly tart apples (we ♥ honeycrisp! For these, I sliced up some apples thin enough so it would be easy to eat the slice in one or two bites. Then I melted some peanut butter–until it was super runny–and drizzled it all over the apples. Couldn’t get much easier! Share with friends!

Ramen Hacks: 30+ Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Instant Noodles | Serious Eats - StumbleUpon SLIDESHOW: Ramen Hacks: 30+ Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Instant Noodles [Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] Ramen in the U.S. has come a long way. That said, my tastes have changed and expanded considerably over the years, and sometimes that little flavoring packet just isn't enough. As a card-carrying member of the Ramen Transmogrification Society of Greater New York,* it is my duty, my honor, and my privilege to share with you some of our methods and recipes. For full, step-by-step instructions on any of these dishes, please click through the slideshow above. * Our membership is pretty thin right now—care to join? Simple Add-ins Mix-ins. The easiest way to quickly upgrade a bowl of instant noodles is with ingredients that require no extra cooking. Miso pasteChili bean sauceThai curry pasteJapanese curry powderFish sauceHarrisaVinegarPonzu Here's the answer: Just crunch up the noodles in the bag, tear off a corner, add the seasoning packet, hold the torn corner and shake it up, then consume. Eggs

Twice Baked Potatoes, Two Ways Hiiii Abby!!! This blog post is dedicated to Abby. Abby emailed me a few weeks ago requesting a recipe that could be made in the microwave. You see…Abby is shacking it up in a dorm this year with only two kitchey-type tools at her disposal: a microwave and a mini-fridge. No biggie, Abby; I got you, gurrrrl! Meet the Twice Baked Potatoes. I made ‘em two ways: decadent and amazing (bacon, cheddar, jalapenos, sour cream) and healthy and good (yogurt, chives, zucchini). I’m not even gonna pretend the healthy way tastes better. You’re gonna start by forking the potatoes. Now, pretend you’re in a video game. If you’re going right (oven), then put them on a baking sheet, season them with salt, pepper and olive oil and bake. If you’re going left (microwave), you’re going to place them on a microwave safe plate, season them with salt, pepper and olive oil and nuke. (Directions for both are below!) This is what potatoes look like when they come out of the oven/microwave. Thrilling picture, isn’t it? P.S.

Red Velvet Crêpes | Duhlicious - StumbleUpon I rolled my eyes at the red velvet cake trend, but now I can’t get enough. I’ll make any excuse to have ‘cake’ for breakfast– here’s my take on a classic. Red Velvet Crepes (Makes about 24, 8″ crepes) Ingredients: – 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 3 tablespoons sugar - 2 cups butter milk - 1 1/4 cup whole or lowfat milk - 1 large egg - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted - 1 tablespoon red food color gel - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted + 2 tablespoons cooking oil (for pan) *Update: Because the buttermilk lends to the acidity of this batter, do not substitute the baking soda for extra baking powder. Mascarpone Cream Filling- 500 mL heavy cream - 300 gr mascarpone cheese - 1/2 cup icing sugar - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - zest of 1 orange (optional, but adds nice tang) + 1/2 cup raspberry jam (optional, for filling crepes) Directions: For the Mascarpone Filling:1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Healthy Turkey Meatballs It's time to change up your recipes with the changing leaves! Fitness expert David Kirsch replaces the beloved hearty meal of spaghetti and meatballs with this seasonal version of Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti Squash! This is the second most popular dish at the Madison Square Club, which David founded. Serve this entrée with cooked greens such as spinach or kale for a nutrient rich meal that you'll want to warm up with all season. 1 spaghetti squash (4-5 pounds) 1 Vidalia onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 6 plum tomatoes, chopped ½ cup chopped Pomi tomatoes 2 tablespoons low-sodium tomato paste ½ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped ¾ pound lean ground turkey 1 egg white 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2-3 dashes hot-pepper sauce -Preheat the oven to 400°F -Wrap the whole squash in foil.

One Bowl Vanilla Cupcakes For Two | How Sweet It Is - StumbleUpon Let’s face it: sometimes we all need a dessert that only makes two servings. Sometimes we just can’t handle 12 servings. Sometimes we eat them all by ourselves. Sometimes we eat them all by ourselves in two hours. Sometimes we eat them all by ourselves in a matter of minutes. Sometimes it’s the best thing ever. FYI: I have no idea what that is like. Haven’t you always wished you could make just enough dessert for yourself? Or… just yourself? Me too. But more often than not, I’ve found it to be a hassle to drag out the mixer, cream the sugar and butter, sift the dry ingredients and all that fun stuff for a measly two cupcakes. What can I say? Well, I was lazy. It is definitely your typical white cake; fluffy and soft, full of vanilla flavor, and the perfect vehicle for some fluffy white frosting. And it only takes one bowl! I think what I love most about these cupcakes is their customizability. [print_this] One Bowl Vanilla Cupcakes for Two serves 2 1 egg white 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup flour

Skeleton Gingerbread Men Cookies Who says gingerbread men are just for Christmas? (Really, who does say that? I’m assuming someone does) It’s time to rip off the lederhosen and get ready for a Halloween edition. First we’ll need our little cookie people. I’m calling these gingerbread men because that seems appropriate, but they are not gingerbread at at all. You certainly could use our Gingerbread Cookie recipe, but I’m going for Chocolate. With one little twist. Cinnamon and Orange give these chocolate cookies a warm, spiciness that seems fitting for spooky little Halloweeny people. I’m also using royal icing. You want to start with your icing at a nice piping consistency. I switched to a larger tip for my bones (a #5) so I just started using that one for my faces as well. I know that after looking at these cookies you will all be shocked to know that I am not an expert in human anatomy. Then add some little bone shaped bones (bone shaped bones? So adorable, that I started thinking they might need accessories.

Better Than Takeout Orange Chicken - StumbleUpon Yesterday as I stood in the kitchen trying to figure out what to make for dinner I wondered to myself, how do those people do it on those shows where they are given random ingredients and are suppose come up with something genius. I think I stood there for a solid 20 minutes looking in the cupboards and staring into the freezer hoping that I would be struck by some ingenious idea. Then I saw the oranges, and it hit me “O-raang Shh-ikun”….that is orange chicken if you can’t understand the accent. I love orange chicken, and I almost always order # 14 Orange Chicken when we order Chinese take out and I wondered to myself if I could make it better at home. The sauce is sweet, tangy, there is no lack in orange flavor, and the red pepper flakes give it just a touch of heat. Combine corn starch, salt, and pepper. As you finish each batch, drain cooked chicken in a paper towel lined plate. In a large saucepan combine 1 ½ cups water, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Ingredients Chicken

Pumpkin Monkey Bread September 23, 2011 | Print | E-mail | Filed under bread, pumpkin Monkey bread. It’s almost as much fun to say as it is to eat, and with the arrival of autumn, I couldn’t stop thinking about taking my usual recipe and kicking it up a notch with the addition of pumpkin – so, of course, I did. Making monkey bread has always brought with it feelings of nostalgia for me, which makes it one of my favorite sweets to share with family and friends. In fact, the day after I made it, I invited a good friend over so that I could share it with her, along with some apple cider – a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon, if you ask me! Even though it takes some time to make, most of it is hands-off time – like any yeasted bread, you can leave the dough to rise and go off and do other things while you wait. For the dough: For the coating: 1 cup sugar2 tsp cinnamon3/4 stick butter, melted For the glaze: 2/3 cup powdered sugar2 Tbsp pure maple syrup1-2 tsp milk Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Leave a Reply

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