I am addicted to StarBucks and here's how I make it a little more affordable

I am not much of a coffee drinker.  But I love me my lattes.  Recently I was listening to the Bro-rista Coffee Culture podcast from the Stuff Mom Never Told ladies and it was totally on the money, for me at least.  I don't like straight coffee or espresso or whatnot but I love my sugar syrup ladden drinks from starbucks.  I guess that makes me a girl?  My absolute favorite would be a Creme Brulee Latte that I've only ever seen on the menu in Starbucks Japan but the Caramel Brulee Latte that they have in North America during the holidays comes in a close second.  My regular go to drink is their Cinnamon Dolce Latte, tall with non-fat milk and no whip cream.

I have a starbucks lattee almost every work day (Mon-Fri) and how do I rationalize spending $4.15/day on coffee when I can spend half of that at Timmies?  I buy discounted gift cards online to pay for my purchases bringing the average cost of that latte down to ~$3.60.  I am a member of the my starbucks rewards program where every 12 drinks you buy gets you a free one.  Based on my buying habbits, that brings the cost of my latte down to ~$3.25.  I check my starbucks app to see if there are any promo codes out there I can take advantage of.  Finally I walk to work almost every single day which would be a little over $5 every day I would spend on transportation.  That last part is just me telling myself what I need to so I can sleep better at night but hey $3.25 isn't so bad.  There was a time when I was even ordering short drinks so it would work out to be slightly cheaper but now that I am working, I get the talls.  I am movin' on up as they say...

Easy peasy oven roasted sweet potatoes

I love sweet potato fries at restaurants and have tried making them at home without much success till now!  They always came out a little on the mushy side and not as crispy as I like.  Leaving me to buying them at restaurants and fast food joints to satisfy my craving. 

What did I do differently this time?  I cut them into smaller squares and made sure they were spread out in one layer on the baking tray even if it meant having to two batches in the oven.

First up, I bought some sweet potatoes at the local Asian grocery store only to cut in and be surprised that it wasn't an yellowy/orange color as I was used to.  Google to the rescue confirmed it was still a sweet potato...possibly a yam?  That's right, google wasn't quite conclusive on what it was.  With a little hesitation, I figured I already had bought it so I might as well cook it.  I cut it into little squares as seen below, tossed it in some olive oil, salt & pepper.

 

Then, I spread it in two trays with enough left over for another tray.  I made sure not to crowd the tray though it may look like it's crowded below.  Note that there is only one layer without more potatoes overlapping each other.

I forgot to take pictures of the end result.  Also, I munched through them pretty fast along with my family but it was crispy and delicious.  I ate most of them alone sauceless, that's how good it was.  I also enjoyed a glass of wine with it :D

Back from Niagara

Ate at the Fallsview buffet last night.  They raised the prices from $20 to $30 for New Years eve but promised an enhanced menu compared to their normal buffet.  For $30 I was not impressed.  There was nothing special about what they were serving in there and didn't seem that different from their normal menu.  You would think for new years eve, they would at least be on point with their dessert but nope.  We both had one bites of various cakes and pies we picked up from their dessert table but left it behind.

The weather however cooperated and we watched the fireworks over the falls for the countdown.  We couldn't be bothered to spend the whole night there so about 10mins before 12, we walked out the back of Fallsview Casino and watched the view from there.

Next year, I want to stay in or go somewhere out of the country!

Season of gluttony

It's amazing how much food people (myself included) eat over the holidays.  Every day I wake up with a slight stomach ache saying today I'll watch myself but then that same night when I am out with friends or family I just can't seem to say no.

Last minute shopping

I was at the gym last night which happens to be inside the mall & I could barely get a parking spot so I thought I would outsmart everybody by going there early the following morning so I could squeeze some last minute shopping in.  Well it seems like everybody else had the same great idea because I spent about 20mins waiting at the checkout line in Winners. 

I am participating in a secret santa gift exchange and bought my buddy a bunch of baking goodies since she loves to bake.  The neatest item I thought was this square cupcake tray for $15 at Winners.  I actually think it would be great for brownies since I love the edges and this way all the squares would have a crispy edge.

Food Challenge

The summer was great and filled with patios and drenching in the sun during lunches on the work week.  I told myself life's too short and I would enjoy the summer but now that it's done I find myself still going out simply because I fell out of the routine of making my lunch.  My wallet is still paying for it and so is my waistline.  Now that we've set our clocks back and daylight savings time is over, seems like a good time as any to try to get my routine back.  So yesterday I bought lots of things to make my lunch this week including some fancy cheese.  It was on sale for half price because they were delisting it or something from our grocery store.

I also want to really try making healthier choices.  I've got the exercise part down but my willpower is lacking and I still binge on chips, cake, chocolate...you name it.  I know for me, I can't completely cut them out because I love them too much but perhaps smaller portions or making healthier versions myself is the answer. 

No Frills Dollar Sale

If you haven't done your grocery shopping for the week yet, check out No Frills and their current dollar sale. I stocked up on grapes, spinach and mushrooms. I was tempted by their Bagel Bites and McCain cakes but I am trying my bestest to stay healthy and didn't grab any of those. I was really tempted by the Bagel Bites and even put one in my cart but after reading the nutrition label, I put them back. I'd rather eat something more sinful for those empty calories!

Because I have bags of spinach in my fridge waiting to be used, up for tonight are some Spinach Brownies. I wanted to make spanakopita but am too lazy to mess around with phyllo dough so I searched for a bit and found the spinach brownies which seem similar.

MIA

I've been out of action lately. There have been days where I come home and don't even turn my computer on! This is very unlike me but I feel like I've been productive.

I've also been spending lots of money mostly on eating out because sometimes I am still on the road and dinner time strikes. I've been trying my best to make wise choices both in the cash & nutrition side. The sucky thing is I haven't been keeping track of my finances this month in my little spread sheet so I have no idea how over or under budget I am. I imagine over but not totally sure.

I had poutine at New York fries the other day and I don't know if my tastes buds have changed but it honestly was not that great and it cost about $5! New York Fries always leaves me disappointed. You'd think they'd have fries nailed down considering it's their specialty but no.

Why I made the switch to stainless steel

I know that this whole BPA controversy with water bottles happened last year but I am only acting up on it now. Why? There are two reasons. 1) I've been drinking from these water bottles for years & I think I am still relatively healthy. You know the old saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it. Well I am trying to be more conscious of what I am putting into my body so that's why I am acting up now. 2) I always keep a water bottle in the car that I drink from and with the summer in tow, it can't be good that I am drinking water from a bottle that's been heated from sitting out in the sun and is probably in overdrive leaking BPA and other things into the water that I drink.

Bisphenol-A or BPA for short is like a female hormone (estrogen) and has been linked to reproductive and developmental damage. Even breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men! Research suggests that it could be linked to many other things as well but I think you could research anything to death and link just about anything together so make your own informed decision. My decision was that it was time for me to get a new water bottle.

So I did a little googling and here is what I found.

1. BPA free plastic:
   Manufacturers have now come out with plastic bottles that are BPA free. The big controversy that continues with these types of bottles are, are these bottles leaking something else into the water that tests just haven't discovered yet? I mean how long did it take to discover this whole BPA shebang? With that in mind, I am steering away from plastic bottles.



2. Aluminum:
   Sigg is the most popular bottle that's out there. It's almost the new Nalgene. However, I don't know if it's the best option. Siggs aluminum bottles and pretty much all other aluminum bottles made by other manufacturers are lined with plastic so it's safe to drink but people are questioning whether the lining is leaking harmful chemicals into the water. And we're back at square one. The other issue is that the aluminum could somehow leak into the water and cause another set of effects on the body. Hey it's been linked to Alzheimers! Very confusing! Sigg off course states that their bottles are very safe based on research studies but my personal decision is to stay away from aluminum.



3. Stainless steel:
   Based on my research this seemed like the best option for me. As long as it's a good composition of stainless steel it seems like it's OK to drink out of. My googling suggested making sure your stainless steel bottle is grade 304 (food grade) or else it might contain a high composition of nickel which isn't good for you and has again been linked to doing bad things for your body.
   



4. Glass:
   This actually seems like one of the best options if you're overly concerned about what you're drinking out of. It's also one of the cheaper options because all you have to do is buy a product that comes in a glass bottle (i.e. Snapple) and once you finish consuming, clean it and you're good to go. The big down side is convenience. i.e. it's fairly heavy and if you drop it, watch out! However, if you're a fairly un-clumsy person (definitely not me) or just keep your bottle in one area, this might be best for you. I am trying to remember the next time I use one, to save it & use in the car.
   

See, this water bottle stuff is serious business! I bought my stainless steel water bottle at Canadian Tire because they were on sale and because I had Canadian Tire money from pumping gas at their stations. At the end, I ended up paying about a $1 out of my pocket.

I did my own research and came to my own conclusions, I'd suggest everybody else do the same and do what they feel safe with.

Protein Packed

I did my grocery shopping at Oriental Mart over the weekend. It's like T&T, only cheaper. If I plan on cooking something soon after purchasing it, Oriental Mart is a safe bet. I find that veggies and fruits are sometimes half the price of a Food Basics/No Frills! The only thing is, I find that their produce spoils faster than your stuff bought at the grocerry stores. No biggie if you're planning on using up your produce soon.

I used a bunch of it tonight and tried something new. I modeled it after the Tofu and Veggies in Peanut Sauce recipe here. I first steamed some broccoli, beans, red peppers, carrots and mushrooms in my steamer. While that was cooking, I pan fried some tofu with garlic and ginger. My sauce was veggie broth, with a healthy dash of soy sauce, two generous spoonfuls of natural peanut butter and some hot sauce. I combined everything and that was it!

I know it sounds simple but it was delicious. If you have the time, try out the recipe. You will not be disappointed if you like stirfry type dishes. I am looking forward to lunch tomorrow.

BBQ Season

The weekend was great till the rain came in on Sunday and it seems like it is still with us a day later. But, the great weather was around long enough to fit in a few bbqs. It's also great because for once, I think I am actually going to come in under budget in the food category! Instead of eating out all the time with my friends, I am fitting a few BBQs with friends instead. Woo!

For those Canadians on the lookout for a veggie burger, check out Presidents Choice Vegetarian Portobello Swiss burgers. I used to be all about the Lick's burgers but this one is way better. I find the Lick's one is great if you want a burger that tastes like you're eating meat but if you're over trying to eat things that taste like meat all the time, then try this one out. My fridge is going to be stocked with these over the summer.

Spicing things up

This month, I've fallen a little behind in the cooking department. You can probably tell by my lack of grocery spending. I've been eating lots of frozen foods which I am generally not too crazy about.

So to spice things up, I have actually planned out lunches for this week including a new recipe. Coleslaw was on sale for $0.99 at Food Basics, so I am going to try out try out this ramen coleslaw recipe that I had bookmarked forever! I also bought some fresh veggies for pasta so I can use the herbs sitting in my window sill. I bought potted herbs earlier in the summer so I can use what I want as I please. The oregano has died but the basil & parsley are growing strong.

Nestlé NOIR Mousse Délicate Review

I received two full sized boxes of Nestle Noir Mousse Delicate chocolates last week thanks to Ginger and I have already chowed down through one box! I am trying my best to leave the other one untouched in it's shrink wrap so I won't be tempted to storm through it. I want to give the box away or bring it into work & let somebody else besides me & my stomach enjoy these bad boys.

First impressions. I really like the packaging. I feel like I am eating chocolates made for grown ups as opposed to how I feel when I eat a Butterfinger. Nowadays, I don't normally sit there & just eat a chocolate bar, rather, I incorporate chocolates & chocolate flavorings into my foods. i.e. Chocolate milk, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate chips in waffles...you get the idea.

Taste. Um, is there any way to screw up chocolate? I am sure there is but I think I'd really like anything that tasted remotely like chocolate. I tried out the Milk Chocolate version and in the box, there are 10 little chocolate squares. It was a pleasant surprise because the last thing I want to do is fight with myself to break off a piece of the chocolate bar. It is a little big to pop into your mouth but for those of you who are up for the challenge, I am sure you can make it happen. With the warm weather, the chocolate shell just melted in my mouth. The center part AKA the mousse was the best part. I loved the texture & the taste. It's hard to describe but it was nice and 'airy'. With all that being said, like I mentioned above, I like almost anything chocolate so for those people that are picky with their chocolates & prefer high end chocolates, I am not sure this is what you are looking for.

I'd imagine you can buy these at your local grocery or shoppers drug mart type store but I don't really go by the candy aisle often & can't say for certain.

Went out for drinks last night

And as a result I am over in my food budget for March. I made dinner at home and went out just for drinks thinking I'd be good. However the place that we went to was a little on the pricier side and I had such a great time talking to my friend that one drink turned into 2.

Sunday is a lazy day as are most Sundays. Planning on doing some grocery shopping today so I can make some food for the week. Since I am still a little under in my food budget, I want to try being adventurous and try a new recipe. Also planning on cleaning up my place a little and testing out some new things I got at shoppers drug mart yesterday!

off to google recipes....

Success!

I have successfully survived the cold. I decided that if I didn't start feeling better by Sunday morning, I would go ahead & purchase ColdFX. Those guys aren't cheap! So I took what I had on hand: some vitamin c, some fishermans friends & lots of soup. I am not sure if those actually helped & the cold just ran it's normal course or if it shortened the length of my wonkiness. Either way, I feel fine & dandy now.

As a result of being sick, I didn't get around to cooking too much for this week. I've been taking frozen dinners in for lunch. Not a big fan of those because 1) they don't fill me up and 2) it's hit or miss in the taste dept. After trying many brands, my current favorite is SmartChoice which I normally only buy on sale. Anything over $2.50 is too much for a frozen dinner IMO. You hear that Amys Kitchen?

heart day dinner

Going out for a nice dinner w/ the bf and planning on using a gift card I got from MyPoints. Great news since I feel a little bad about my sephora purchase yesterday.

This is also going to be our valenites day dinner. We're not big on valentines day so we just hang out & maybe go out somewhere semi nice for dinner either before or after the big day. We like to avoid couple city at all the restaurants.

I love flowers as much as the next girl but I'd rather use the money on something that I can use or eat. Don't get me wrong, the times the bf has gotten me flowers, I did not complain & walked around with a cheesy grin on my face for hours but thinking logically, I'd rather the money go elsewhere. Now if only feelings & relationships were logical.

Hummus

So I love me some hummus. Lots and lots of it. Also in lots of different ways. I've made it several times at home not completely happy with the outcome. Tasty? Yes! But not quite the same as my favorite hummus I've ever tasted. So like the trooper I am, I tried out a new recipe yesterday from Allrecipes.com. The outcome? Delicious. It's kicked my old recipe out of top spot.

The cost to make it on your own is cheap, cheap and did I mention cheap? The main ingredient is the garbonzo beans which cost about $1 and everything else are things people normally have lying around their kitchen. I did!

So now I have enough hummus to last me a week. I am getting ready for hummus wraps, hummus pasta and just eating spoonfuls of hummus throughout the week :D

Things I am looking forward to this weekend

I think me & the bf may try to check out one of the Oscar nominated movies this weekend. I've hardly seen anything that's been nominated. I definately want to see slumdog but the bf has already seen it so I need to find somebody else or play it solo.

Woot! I am going to check out Monsoon this weekend as part of the Winterlicious. Can't wait to eat!

Winterlicious 2009

So I am debating joining my friends for some winterlicious action next week. It's great to be able to eat a 3 course meal for $35 but at the same time, it's still $35. I have to remind myself that scrimping & saving sometimes leads to having no fun. It's hard finding that balance in between.

The months almost over & I didn't go over budget as much as I thought I would in the eating out dept. I am still definately going over but it could've been worse. I think I might up the budget for the next month. Maybe by $20 or $50.

Also I pumped another tank of gas & it came to around $26. The most a tank of gas has cost me this month is $32! I would love for the prices to continue at this rate. I remember easily paying over $50 just a few months ago.