Nicole

Earn $420.00 Annually Taking Online Surveys!

Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks “Savings On The Go With A Cup Of Joe, I want to discuss a simple, easy way to increase your savings account in yur spare time, by taking online surveys!

One of my favorite survey companies is Pinecone Research, who is currently accepting new members to their online research panel. This research firm gives points away at the end of each survey, which have a cashout value of $3.00, which can be transferred to an existing PayPal account, to a pre-paid card, a mailed paper check, which you can set aside to be directed to your savings account! The average survey takes 20 minutes, so one could realistically complete 3 online surveys in an hour, and have generated $9.00, and though is not a great sum of money, the earned survey funds could potentially add up to a $36.00 a month, or $420.00 savings annually, if 3 surveys are taken weekly. based on qualification and availability.

How to start with Pinecone

1) Visit Pinecone Research.

2) Fill out a short questionnaire.

3) If you qualify, check your email, follow the link, and sign in.

4) Finish the registration process by answering a few more questions (should take less than five minutes, for most).

As well, Pinecone Research is rated #2 on surveypolice.com and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Here’s to saving!

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Tea Tenderizer & Marinade, For Only $0.05!

Good afternoon, savvy savers! Here’s another way I find to stretch a dollar in my home kitchen! I used tea to create an awesome-tasting meat tenderizer, which can be used on lesser expensive cuts of beef and pork, which make these cuts melt-in-your-mouth good! All of the ingredients can be purchased at your local Dollar Tree, and each usage will cost only $0.05! This recipe can be used as either a dry-rub tenderizer or as a marinade.

Here how I make the blend:

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of loose leaf black tea
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Instructions for dry rub tenderizing:

1) combine all ingredients, rub on meat, wrap in cling wrap, and refrigerate 4 hours.

Instructions for use as a marinade:

1) Boil a pot of water, then allow the water to cool until just warm.

2) Put in the above spices and tea, and steep for 5 minutes.

3) Strain the marinade.

4) Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.

5) Marinade beef 3-4 hours, pork for 3 hours, and seafood and poultry for 1 hour.

6) Enjoy!

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Budget-Basic Blueberry Overnight French Toast Casserole!

Hello again, savvy savers! for nightly desserts, and weekend brunches, at both home and with family and friends, one of my go-to recipes is for Budget-Basic Blueberry Overnight French Toast Casserole! This recipe can be made exclusively with ingredients from the Dollar Tree, and can be made for under $5.00, and will serve 6-8, depending on serving size! Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients:

1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
12 slices whole-grain bread
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
5 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups milk, or dairy-free substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Optional garnish: Maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh blueberries.

Instructions:

1) Grease your stoneware crockpot insert.

2) Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, in a bowl, and fold-in, and cream the spices into the butter.

3) Sprinkle one-third of the mixture evenly over the bottom of your prepared slow cooker.

4) Cover with 6 bread slices.

5) Then sprinkle with another third of the sugar mixture.

6) Add a layer of blueberries on top of the mixture.

7) Now, add your remaining bread slices to the slow cooker.

8) Sprinkle the second layer of bread with remaining sugar mixture.

9) Now beat the eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt in a separate bowl.

10) Pour the mixture evenly into the slow cooker.

11) Press down lightly on bread slices.

12) Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least six hours during the day, for dessert preparation.

13) To cook the casserole, set the slow cooker to low, 3 to 4 hours or until eggs are set browned.

14) Plate warm, and garnish with maple syrup, a dollop of whipped cream and blueberries, if desired.

15) Enjoy!

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$3.00 Modern Art!

Good evening, savvy savers! As it is Tuesday, its time for another Tutorial Tuesday, and this week I am sharing with you one of my in-home art projects! A few months ago, when I started redecorating my master bedroom, needed a series of canvases for a small built-in wall nook and so my $3.00 Modern Wall Art was born! I created this look by placing three $1.00 canvases, purchased from Joann’s with a coupon, in a 11×14 size, placing them side-by-side, placing both horizontal and vertical strips of masking tape firmly across the canvases, and then painting the canvases in a coordinating hue, which in my case was a Sherwin Williams paint sample, in caramel spice.

Once the canvases dried, I carefully removed the tape, used a white fabric pen to correct any flaws, and then hung the canvases by Velcros strips one and a half inches apart. The effect if rather neat, and in my opinion, offsets the cream-on-white colors pattern for my built-in shelving unit. I like that the look can be changed and that the canvases are modern enough to please my husband but neutral enough to match my more eclectic sensibilities!

Sure, this may seem simplistic for someone with one of her two degrees in Art History, but I like it just the same!

Here’s to art, for art’s sake!

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Tips From The Man Cave: Marinades!

Tips From The Man Cave, guest post by, Daniel.

Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Tips From The Man Cave post, we will be discussing marinating!

Cooking in any form can be a satisfying experience. From French to Italian to Chinese, food can be complex, layered, and even in the hands of master chefs, a work of art. Cooking from the man cave tends to focus on a basic approach to food. With that said let us focus for a time on the three basic elements of the cooking I usually do; main ingredient, seasoning, and heat. All three play a big role in the final outcome of any dish. No one element can be ignored. A $50.00 steak is worthless if it overcooked. A $5.00 pack of pork chops can become so much more with the proper prep and use.

In the following post, I would like to give you my take on how to put all three elements together to get the most out of your food for less of your food budget. Let us begin with the a few thoughts on initial prep or marinating.

Marinating is by www.dictionary.com is “a seasoned liquid,usually of vinegar or wine with oil, herbs, spices,etc., in which meat,fish, vegetables,etc.,are steeped before cooking”. I would add other elements to that list. Milk or buttermilk, fruit juices, and salad dressings can be used as cheap ways to make more out of the meats and vegetables you find on sale. The following short list will give you some examples of how I like to use the marinade process to add value to my main dish options.

Meat Marinade Use:

Chicken thighs: Use Orange juice to make stir fry.

Pork Chops: Use Italian dressing; Bake or fry them.

Pork roast: Apple juice; Baked or grilled.

Chicken breast: Italian dressing/Citrus juice; Baked/grilled/fried.

Use your imagination. Most white meats, including fish, would go well with any citrus juice (Orange, Lime, or lemon). Dry rubs can also be a great alternative to wet marinades. Combine salt, black or white pepper, cayenne, lemon pepper/salt, sage, thyme, and even cinnamon together in whatever form best suites your pallet to add depth to any cut of meat. Don’t forget the hot sauces. Tabasco or some of the newer Thai and Korean hot sauces along with Soy sauce can add a lot to your prep seasoning. Just add your prep seasoning, allow them to refrigerate for at least 12 and then freeze for cheap ready to go meals.

That’s all for this week. Next time we will hit on the subject of the cheap but tasty main ingredient.

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Why You Should Rotate Your Stockpile Monthly!

Good morning, again savvy savers! Continuing with this months Spring Cleaning theme, I wanted to remind you, as part of our weekly Couponing Stockpile Series, to make the most of your food and products stockpile by rotating your goods! Just a thought, I generally try to look through my stockpile monthly, but your time scale might be weekly, evenly quarterly; just as long as you do take time to do so.

With this in mind, here are a few tips:

1) Keeping your stockpile organized, orderly, and to date is very important when you stock up!

2) Be sure to make the tops of goods, using a sharpie, with expiration dates; this is especially helpful for cereal and the like!

3) Also, be sure to rotate your stash by expiration date; always arrange your products so that goods soonest are towards the front.

4) Shop with your stockpile in mind; always check to see what you have on hand, and then purchase goods with these numbers in mind!

5) Also rotate personal good items as well; all cosmetics, shampoo, conditioners, vitamins, and toothpaste also have best-by dates.

6) As well, items close to expiration, consider donating to family, friends, churches, and food banks!

Here’s to saving!

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Dollar Tree Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe

Good afternoon, savvy savers! Today I wanted to share with you my recipe for one of my favorite take-out items, Orange Chicken! In my recipe, I cook this in my crockpot, and am able to feed six, for under 5.00! I purchase my chicken through the Zaycon company, in bulk, which you can check outhere. As well, the vegetables, sauces, spices, and rice are purchased at the Dollar Tree.

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts, chunked
1/3 cup flour
a drizzle of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons ketchup
3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
4 tablespoons of brown sugar

Instructions:

1) In a bowl, mix the orange juice, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup.

2) Pour the flour into a plastic sandwich bag, then place the chicken into the bag, seal the bag, and shake the chicken until its been coated in the flour.

3) Drizzle a skillet with olive oil, and after shaking any excess flour off of your coated chicken, pan fry, turning once, until lightly golden brown; the chicken does not need to be cooked, just browned.

4) After the chicken is done cooking, pour the pieces into the crock pot.

5) Then cover the chicken with your sauce mixture and fold the sauce and chicken together.

6) Cook on low for 6 hours.

7) One hour before eating, steam white rice.

8) Right before serving, steam, in your microwave, frozen mixed vegetables.

9) Serve the chicken over rice and even add veggies.

10) Optionally you can garnish with scallions.

11) Enjoy!

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