Champagne taste, Keystone Light budget.

That being said, I do not condone the use of that particular beverage. I do, however, wholeheartedly approve getting things done for half of nothing. =) As I wait for payday, and subsequently grocery shopping day, here are a few cheap ways of making that dollar (or quarter) work as hard as it can.

Mmmm, cappucino. Delicious, but how can I have one every morning without paying monetary homage to Starcrack? Go pick up a canister of the offbrand instant cappucino mix. Then grab a bottle of water or fill up your thermos with tap. Dump the H2O into the coffeemaker, then put as much 'cino mix in your bottle as you like. When your water's done, proceed to fill, lid, shake, and out the door. Hey, I didn't say I was Martha with her innovations and whatnot. =P

Next, if you've made a pot of coffee but still have a little teensy bit left, I like to add it to a glass of milk. Makes a tasty coffee-ish drink, and it doesn't taste like reheated bleh. Or, if you have a blender, add the rest to some vanilla ice cream, or milk and ice. Leftover coffee also makes a nummy red-eye gravy. Just add your leftover coffee to any grease/drippings from frying up bacon or breakfast meat.

If you're wanting to start eating breakfast or want a quick fix, get a large container of vanilla yogurt, a frozen pack of mixed berries, and a bag/box of cheap granola.I like to use loose granola for this, but you could break up a bar and that'd work too. Make yourself a little parfait before you go to bed and stick it in the fridge. That way, it's ready for you in the mornin, all nice and pre-prepared. You can get quite a few breakfasts this way.

Now this won't be a complete post of frugality if I don't mention ramen at least once. Grab some of your favorite veggies, make your ramen as you normally would, then drain the noodles and fry them up with your added chopped veggables. Cheap (and marginally more healthy) faux-yakisoba.

 Now then. Back to my regularly scheduled evening of grinding rep for Old World factions. *sigh* After Loremaster, what's next? "The Insane".....

CONAN POR VIDA

Alright, so you want to know the official stance of this blog on the Conan/Leno/NBC fustercluck?

Well, there it is. Pic is from Mike Mitchell and I think it says exactly my take. Also, new blog coming within the next few days. Also, Mike-o failed at China-food-picture-taking, and I found out last week my own mother does not read my blog. That all being said, Nara out.

Bake, bake, bake, Senor(it)a

Ah, holiday time. I wish I could eat like it still was just one more time without having to wait another 11 1/2 months. Oh wait. I can. Mom and the G-ma got uber-sick over Christmas =( so we delayed our festivities until this weekend. Gamma's making her universe-famous dressing (stuffing, whatev) so I get one more sweet taste of celebration and *meltface awesomeness*. We chose this weekend cause I went up to Denver for New Year's to visit Mike-o-rama. And then he left my ass for some lady named China. Yeah, that's right, boarded a plane and said, "Peace, cracka." His sister works in Shanghai, so he got to go visit her for 2 weeks. I have been vaguely promised that he will *try* to get some pictures of food for me, seeing as how this is a blog of nom.

Anyway, everyone knows Christmas means more baked goods/candy items than can be held by a button or zipper, so on to them. I was invited over by Boris' familia for Christmas Day dinner, and hooo boy, can they cook. I ate HAM there, if that tells you anything ; ) I wanted to bring them something to enjoy, so I tried my hand at a Yool Logg. After I'd already started mixing up the gingerbread batter, I realized I only had small square baking dishes....so Baby Logg was born. Anyway, neat technique I read online, after the gingerbread comes out of the oven (line dish with wax paper for easy removal), place it on a towel and then just roll that sucker up. Let it cool, then when you unroll it, it's that spiral shape and can be easily frosted. I beat up some whipped cream and threw in some cinnamon, clove, and some chai spice I found somewhere, then used that to cover the Baby with. Sprinkled some dried mint on top, donezo. *Note to self: do not make more whipped cream than you need. I still have not heeded this lesson.*

Boris offered a suggestion on the gingerbread after sampling it: treat it like cookies and  take it out juuuust before it's done. Mine turned out just a hair overcooked. Starting to think this might just be a good general application for any bready/cake/baked thing.

My friend Srah caught the oven-bug as well and I was presented with a big plate of biscochitos and fudge she made. I was secretly hoping she'd make them again this year, so I was stoked when she made the 2009 Bisco-nnoucement. Biscochitos are the state cookie of New Mexico, so delicious and spiced, they're like pretty much the only cookie I like in both chewy and more hard form. Srah the Bisco Queen made hers in bell and tree shapes, they were adorable and just like they were last year: perfecta. I was *supposed* to try to save some for Monkey, but nope. Noooo frikkin way. These babies were my date and mine alone to the Biscotheque.

 

Well, I hope everyone's holiday season was enjoyable, filled with fun and food. I shall leave you with the cats and their stocking-presents on Christmas morning. Foop's is blurry cause he wouldn't stop playing with his. Well, hers....see, he sniffed his toy then picked up his sister's and carried it to the floor. So, she took his and that was that. Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!