Day 62 of my savings plan: Why cooking is my new best friend
Since I started my savings plan, I've been bringing my lunch to work every day.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
If you would have asked me 62 days ago what to do with a bunch of kale, I would have stared at you blankly.
All I knew about kale is that one of my neighbors on the Old West Side grows it in their front yard and that The Beet Box sells kale chips at Mark’s Carts.
But that was 62 days ago.
Since I started my savings plan on Oct. 17, I’ve acquired a minor obsession: cooking. I’ve browsed about 100 food blogs and websites, bookmarked dozens of recipes to try and had my own successes — and some big failures — in the kitchen.
I've been spending a lot of time cooking since I started my savings plan.
Here’s the thing: for me, cooking is immensely cheaper than dining out.
Online consumer-spending guide Bundle estimates people spend $232 each month dining at restaurants. Factor in the additional cost of groceries, and your monthly food bill can be steep. Because my 76-day savings plan eliminates things I consider “unneccessities,” that just wasn’t going to work with my budget.
Enter cooking.
I’ve fallen in love with farmers’ markets and realized how inexpensive produce can be when it’s in season. It’s also a great way to support local growers and your community.
I paid $8.50 to make a batch of Kale Mushroom Lasagna Rolls and ate the leftovers for days. I made kale chips. I put kale in my morning smoothie. (Check out local blogger’s 365 Days of Kale for some great recipes)
And guess how much I paid for my enormous bunch of kale? $1.
I also made lentil soup with carrots and green beans. I learned I actually love Brussels sprouts and recently took them off my “will never eat again” list. I made a chickpea stew using a four-cheese marinara sauce that was in my cupboard. (Let's just call that one of the failures.)
Puppy chow I made and packaged for my family.
To be sure, cooking is definitely a process for me. With every new recipe, my Google history is full of searches, like “How many tablespoons in a cup” and “Alternative to sifting.” But hey, I’m learning every day.
Sundays have become my “cooking days,” where I’ll make a big batch of soup or stir fry to eat during the week. Last Sunday I made chili and cornbread, homemade hummus, toasted pita chips and cookies for my coworker Ben Freed’s birthday.
Cooking has also become a way for me to entertain people, and I’m using it as an inexpensive — but thoughtful — gift for people this holiday season.
I made a batch of Puppy Chow and individually packaged it for my family. I found a great jarred cookie mix recipe on Bakerella that’s easy to package for gifts.
Next on my savings plan list: figuring out where in Ann Arbor you can rent board games. Ideas, anyone?
Readers: If you have any suggestions for my savings plan or recipes I should try (vegetarian!), feel free to weigh in on the comments section below or email me: lizzyalfs@annarbor.com.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Bill Wilson
Tue, Dec 18, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
Do you like your Keurig coffee maker? We love ours!
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Dec 18, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
Yes, it's the best!
Tesla
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:20 p.m.
Lizzy. Kale? Lentil soup? Comon. You're eating like an old lady. Lemme come over and take you to P.F.Changs or Blimpys! ;)
Tesla
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
I'm just teasin. She seems like a nice girl but she eats like a squirrel. lol I have shoes as old as she is. :(
mady
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
watch out Lizzy, sounds like Tesla's coming on to you.......Tesla, you smoothie you!
Tesla
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
Or Olgas Kitchen. An Olgas original with extra sauce sounds good right now. Yes. Of course you can have the curly fries. :)
J. Zarman
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
Let's relax a bit about carbohydrates -- they are not "pure poison" as an earlier poster implies. "Don't be misled by fad diets that make blanket pronouncements on the dangers of carbohydrates." -- Harvard School of Public Health, web article Choose Good Carbs, Not No Carbs. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/carbohydrates/index.html "Carbohydrates often get a bad rap ..... but carbohydrates aren't all bad." -- Mayo Clinic, web article How Carbs Fit Into a Healthy Diet. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/carbohydrates/my01458
Bill Wilson
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 11:36 p.m.
Those who doubt Dr. Berstein, ask yourself this question: What does the farmer feed his cattle when he wants to fatten them up for sale, meat, or grain? Answer: he feeds them grain... the carb.
Bill Wilson
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
Here's what the foremost expert on diabetes says: ---------------- "In criticizing the ADA's calling 130 grams of carbohydrates per day "low carbohydrate", Dr. Bernstein cited early human history as an argument against it. "Until the creation of flour and bread, humans could not get anywhere near 130 grams a day." The difficulty in securing such a large amount of carbohydrates made obesity and atherosclerosis rare in early humans. But in the 20th century, as immense quantities of carbohydrates became available to large populations, the incidences of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes increased significantly." http://www.diabetes-book.com/articles/ada.shtml --------------- The articles you cite do not jibe with her pictures: 100% of the foods are carbs in the pictures. Sixty-five percent of all people end up with some form of diabetes: blood sugars over 120 in the morning after a sleeping fast. When you're over 120, you begin to damage yourself. Limit the carbs to 40-60 per day, and you can avoid this.
Sarah Rigg
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.
I'm a big fan of EatingWell.com. They aren't 100 percent vegetarian but feature a lot of vegetarian recipes. I find subscribing to their e-newsletters sparks new cooking ideas as well.
Laura
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
Check out Willow Arlen's blog http://www.willcookforfriends.com/
ClaireRobinson
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.
I'm also a vegetarian and I found this recipe recently. Very quick, very easy, very affordable, and (best of all) delicious! My husband (not a vegetarian) gave it two thumbs up. Note: I omitted the raisins because I like them better in sweet dishes than I do in savory ones. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/quinoa_squash_casserole.html Also, Bob's Red Mill makes a vegi soup mix that has different colors of lentils, barley, and tiny pasta. Mixed with some sauteed onion, carrot, celery, garlic, it makes a hearty and great tasting lunch. There's enough mix to make 2 large batches of soup.
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.
With regard to grass-finished meat (or grass-fed meat), note that Arbor Farms carries meat from Lamb Farm (Manchester). It is for sale as freshly cut pieces. There are an increasing number of local producers of grass-fed and pastured meat animals, but most of them require joining a CSA, which is difficult for small households. Back Forty Acres http://www.backfortyacres.com/index.html is an example of a small local producer that sells individual cuts. Their selection is limited at this season.
Holly Richardson
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
For board games, check meetup.com! There are lots of board game groups that meet monthly, bi-weekly, etc. Also, Corner Brewery usually has games out for people to play. As far as renting...that could be a great business idea! Also, if you check out the web site for "Cheap A** Games they have free games that you can print. So it would cost you a little money for the printing, but just a tiny bit.
Diana Dyer
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
Lizzy, thanks for finding my kale blog at www.365DaysofKale.com, which features delicious recipes plus information about the healthy benefits of eating kale and all of its Brassica cousins. Please introduce yourself when my husband and I get back to the farmers' markets next year selling our amazing 40+ varieties of garlic! www.dyerfamilyorganicfarm.com
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:39 p.m.
I will, Diana! Thanks.
Technojunkie
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
I recommend reading a good Paleo or Primal cookbook like Practical Paleo and finding good sources for local grass finished meat. Some farmers who sell via lunasa.us sell grass finished meat. There are many former vegetarians in the Paleo community ;-). There's no comparison between local grass finished and industrial grain fed meat. Joel Salatin's book "Folks, this ain't normal", available at the library, is a must-read too.
JMA2Y
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
Board games: Check libraries for games? Coffee shops that have them sitting around? If you've not used a slow cooker you should. Frees up time standing over a stove. Great for almost anything you want to cook. Tabouli salad is vegetarian and easy to make if you've not made it yet. Sort of inexpensive and you can buy the cracked wheat at co-ops/bulk bins and buy just what you need.
DBH
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
Cooking at home, and bringing your lunch to work instead of eating out, is not only more economical but also almost always a healthier approach to eating, even for a vegetarian. As a vegetarian for 9 years, you may already be familiar with this group, Vegetarian Resource Group, at www.vrg.org . If not, it is an excellent website with numerous recipes (they have some vegetarian recipes, but they really are primarily a vegan group) and they usually also include the nutritional information for their recipes as well, a feature I think all recipes ought to include. I am happy for you, Lizzy, that this project has opened up a new world for you.
Kat
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
I'd highly recommend this cabbage soup. http://www.marthastewart.com/343492/cabbage-vegetable-soup It's made me really love cabbage. Just use vegetable broth instead. Pho - http://www.eatliverun.com/asian-chicken-noodle-soup/ Just omit the chicken and use vegetable broth. Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells - http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/pumpkin-ricotta-stuffed-shells-recipe-clv1011
mady
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
Good for you, Lizzie! Happy Holidays, however you observe them. warm regards, Madeleine, a.k.a. "mady"
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
Thanks, mady. :)
Bob Needham
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Lizzy, good read -- I've been getting into cooking myself. If you ever need a new kale recipe, let me know -- I've got a couple of good ones. Vivienne, I really like Mark Bittman but wasn't aware of the weekly newsletter -- thanks for passing that on.
Kellie Woodhouse
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Lizzy, I read 365 Days of Kale when the Kale crop in my garden totally took off this fall. It's a great blog. I loved the column and have enjoyed hearing about all your cooking experiments the past two months. And remember: I'm always good for a game night, I'll bring my nerdy board games!
Tesla
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
No I'm not, and no I won't, :( lol
Tesla
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.
Im in too. I'll bring Twister. ;)
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
Sounds great, Kellie!
jns131
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
After realizing the cost of school lunches and the unhealthyness of it, I pack our childs lunch all the time. September thru June. There is a lot of fun things you can do with a packed lunch.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
@jns131: That's my biggest challenge: packing lunches! It's fine when I am at home and cooking, but to make things that are portable and healthy for lunch (especially vegetarian, since you have to include protein) is more difficult. Any suggestions?
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
Sign up for the "How to Cook Everything" newsletter. They'll send recipes weekly. http://www.howtocookeverything.com/ Also, the New York Times has a great food series called "Recipes for Health", organized by (vegetable) ingredient. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/series/recipes_for_health/index.html?8qa Browse that. You have hit on a basic survival approach. Eating local produce saves you money and also supports our local agriculture, including many new young farmers who are working to bring us wholesome fresh food. I started a blog series on the food issue (not complete yet) with this post: http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/local-food-and-good-eating-in-a-season-of-plenty/
Kellie Woodhouse
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:30 p.m.
I am going to look through that NYT series. Thanks for posting!
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
Excellent, Vivienne. Thanks very much.
Ben Freed
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
I can personally attest to the deliciousness of the cookies Lizzy made for my birthday. What a rock star!
Dug Song
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
Check out http://maangchi.com ("the Hammer") for Korean recipes, and Manna on Broadway for ingredients. You just have to ignore her misclassified vegetarian bulgogi (BBQ beef!) recipe...
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
I should add, Dug: I was just with my cousin yesterday who lived in South Korea for a year, and he said he can make some pretty amazing Korean food. He's going to teach me!
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
Awesome, thanks Dug!
Bill Wilson
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
Lizzy, It's great that you're becoming a much improved cook, and consumer of food, and saving money, to boot. One 'but': every food in your pictures is a carbohydrate. Carbs are chains of sugars that are pure poison, and require the pancreas to create an antidote; insulin. Over time, we wear out our pancreas, and its ability to generate insulin, as humans generally eat more than 10 times the amount of carbs per day than they should. Worse, they combine their carbs with whole grain (slow-acting) carbs, and their blood sugars remain high for hours... exactly the WRONG thing to do. Your next step should be getting a book like "Dr Berstein's Diabetic Solution" and putting his label reading techniques into your game. You want yourself, and your family around for a long time, right? Keep at it!
mady
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Oh, pick pick pick.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
Thanks Bill! I'm actually a total health and exercise nut and have been for years. I have been a vegetarian for nine years now, and I make sure I get all the vitamins and nutrients I can from whole foods. In college, I wanted to be a nutritionist before a journalist :)
saroy
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
great read! I'm trying to get into cooking myself.
Diane
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
The Goodwill and Salvation Army Stores will have used board games for little cost. You can also become a garage sale hunter to find bargains on gently used items.
Brad
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
So are you following the actual "Spending Fast (R)" plan?
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
If you mean Anna's Spending Fast plan -- no, I'm not following that. But as for my own plan, I am sticking to it and continuously updating my budget.
kris
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
Look through the holiday sales flyers for great deals on board games...Meijer, Target etc. This is the best time of year to get board games on sale.
operabethie
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 11:53 a.m.
Hi Lizzy! How are the holiday's impacting your budget plans? smittenkitchen.com is my all time favorite food blog, if you haven't already been there. See you soon! xo
Jessica Webster
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
Smitten Kitchen rocks.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
My coworker introduced me to smitten kitchen - it's great! The nice thing about the holidays, I am spending some money on gifts, but I've had that money budgeted and had a chance to save for it. It's making for a stress-free December.
LAEL
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 11:48 a.m.
Ask your friends what board games they have and invite them to bring them over for a game night.
grimmk
Tue, Dec 18, 2012 : 5:52 a.m.
Apples to Apples. Hilarious and lots of fun!
jns131
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
My mother does that one every Friday. Or they do Secret Santa stuff as well. Very low cost and a lot of fun.
Carole
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 11:38 a.m.
Great ideas -- best wishes with your cooking projects and any other projects you decide to do.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 1:34 p.m.
Thanks Carole!