Making do with less!

Let’s face it, food prices at most grocery stores are on the rise and they don’t look to be improving anytime soon. So, it’s not surprising when a person like me is on the lookout for any foods that are both nutritious and cost effective.

While I was recently shopping at a local grocery store, I spied a 10 pound bag of potatoes that was on sale for only $2.99! I thought that was a pretty good deal and purchased a bag to take home. It’s note worthy that I skipped the produce isle (lettuce at $2 a head – no way) and I didn’t even bother looking at any real meat items, substituting instead, a package of Oscar Meyer Cotto Salami for just $1.50 for one pound! The calories in the salami totaled about 1,120 while the bag of potatoes offered up approximately 3,400! Between those two, along with a half gallon of 2% milk ($2.29) and a loaf of cheap bread ($1), I figured I could get creative and came up with a couple of interesting meal ideas that wouldn't break my budget. (Note: I scrounged around in the fridge for my condiments and butter  while the lettuce came out of a small cold frame situated in front of my home). Here are a few of those meals:

A salami sandwich with a baked potato and milk!

Simple yet filling!

Cost: $0.56      Calories: 488

(Itemized cost: bread @ .10 + salami @ .09 +

russet potato @ .13 + 2% milk @ .29 = .56)

(Not included in the calculations were the pat of butter or the mayo)

A toasted salami & cheese sandwich with fried potatoes!

Cost: $0.71      Calories: 546

(Itemized cost: bread @ .10 + salami @ .09 + Cheese slice @ .10

russet potato @ .13 + 2% milk @ .29 = .56 cents)

(Not included in the calculations was the A1 sauce)

A simple salad with strips of salami and milk!

Tasty and nutritious!

 Cost: $0.43      Calories: 166

(Itemized cost: salami @ .09 +

onion @ .05 + 2% milk @ .29 = .xx cents)

(Not included in the calculations was the vinegar and oil or the A1 sauce, also the milk was not pictured)

About putting stuff off! And, the phrase IPTO!

I came up with this, my new motto for 2013, after I discovered a list of stuff I needed to get done that somehow had got itself lost. (I have a feeling this same list will be getting lost again soon)!

Also, from now on when someone asks me to do something, I'll respond with 'IPTO' which stands for 'I'm putting that off'. Here's a for instance:

'DanO, could you help me clear that brush pile out back on Saturday?'

'Sure', I'll answer back. 'IPTO man!'

(Note that IPTO can be announced by pronouncing the letters or with saying it phonetically – as in Ip toe). I plan to use this phrase a lot in the future.

Can spring be far off? I’m thinking of gardening already!

While the calendar says it’s still mid winter, my thoughts keep jumping ahead to the 21^st of March which is, as we all know, the first day of spring! So saying, I’m on the lookout for onion sets that usually appear about now in grocery stores across the area. These guys can go into the ground just as soon as you can get your hands on them and before you know it, you’ll have something to munch on in the form of scallions and such. I did a YouTube video, a while back, called ‘Onions are Easy to Grow’ which is sort of interesting to watch. I also have a gardening site called DanO’s Garden that contains some interesting tidbits especially on the topic of vegetables anyone can grow.

A video of many layers! Gosh! Just like makeup!

One day, way back in 2008, I happened across a video of a young girl doing her makeup on YouTube. What attracted me, initially, was only the audio cut. Good sounds! And, that was OK, but what soon got my attention was the shear levels of depth of this effort, of which I'm sure the creator had absolutely no concept. In this one video, I've perceived at least twenty or more mini-subplots in this video. Something that still intrigues me to this day. Watch closely and comment if  you want! Failing all else, please enjoy the song!

Asteroid DA14 to arrive Feb 15th

What’s bigger than half a foot ball field, travels at 8 miles a second and will skim over the earth’s surface on February the 15^th at a height that will be closer than our orbiting satellites? Why it’s an asteroid you silly goose and it goes by the cryptic name DA14.

This is the closest any body of this size has ever gotten to the earth in memory…without impacting it that is. 2012 DA14 was discovered less than a year ago by a Spanish team at the La Sagra Astronomical Observatory, and initially stirred up a wave of doomsday worries. NASA quickly stepped in and quieted those fears, stating that while it will pass ‘interestingly close’, it should miss us. (This assumes that there will be no last minute perturbations to the asteroid’s orbit, of course)! HA HA.

At the time of its passage, the rocky intruder will be passing over parts of Asia, so even were it to slam into earth, it would more than likely miss North America. Its closest approach will be at 2:24 p.m. ET Feb. 15 and scientists say that were it to hit land, it would only be similar to a small atomic bomb. (Small comfort if you happen to live in a city where it hits)!

Seventh grade student launches into space! Really!

This video is real and it is a testament to American ingenuity and know how - !! The original and better video can be seen here - http://youtu.be/5REsCTG4-Gg

And, not to be outdone, here is an HD version with a toy robot - http://youtu.be/ZCAnLxRvNNc

Critique: Healthy Choice Honey Roasted Turkey!

This complete meal from Healthy Choice features turkey breast meat covered with a sweet glaze, green beans, sweet potatoes and a caramel apple desert!

How, I wanted to ask, could you go wrong with a meal as good as this one looks? A 306 gram meal that boasts only 250 calories, a modest 350 mg of sodium and only 40 milligrams of cholesterol! From a nutritional standpoint, this meal is out of the ballpark!

The chunks of turkey are real bit-sized and yes, those are tasty bits of sweet potato that strangely work well with the glaze and the turkey! On the side is a combo of green beans and shredded carrots that perfectly compliment the main course. Finally, but not to be considered lastly, is the apple desert which I found to be just OK. The apple slices were a bit too al dente for my taste.

For a few dollars, this meal (as is the case for most of the Healthy Choice entrees) can be considered a good investment. I gave this meal a solid 8 on a scale of 10.