Free, or almost free stuff...

1. I made a coupon SCORE yesterday. I normally don't use coupons as a major strategy- it's usually just as cheap to opt for the store brand/generic. However, I was somewhere I could browse through the Sunday paper inserts and picked out a few offers, including a $2 off coupon for a new type of Ban deodorant that they're doing a marketing blitz on. I went to the supermarket for several other items, and discovered this deodorant was on sale, Buy 1 get one free. They were $2.77. So, after the "Buy one, get one free" AND the $2 coupon, I paid 77 cents for two deodorants, or about 38 cents each. Go me!

2. I have another offer of 4 weeks free trial of Netflix. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll pass it on to you.

3. The Washtenaw Community College Health & Fitness Center gave me two free guest passes. I'm happy to offer them up to any of my local friends. I'm not sure about the rules, if I have to accompany you or what, but I can look into it if you're interested. If you ever wanted to check it out and see about a membership, or if you just want to come use the hot tub or the pool for free some time, let me know.

What I've been cooking

Last night, I experimented with making veggie chili with fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones. I got 3 Romas from Coleman's Farm Market. I chopped them up fairly small, and then used the potato masher on the third to make it more like puree. I also added half a small can of tomato paste to thicken it up a bit.  The last of our home-grown banana peppers went into the chili, too, along with pintos, black beans, some corn, frozen bell peppers, veggie broth, 4 cloves of garlic, vegetarian soy burger crumbles and spices. It turned out really well. I definitely would like to make this with fresh tomatoes instead of canned another time to see if that was the secret to it being exceptionally good this time. I made a huge batch, so we had some for dinner last night, and the rest is in the freezer.

Other things I've cooked or baked lately have included:
-Apple/raspberry crisp (really tart and good!)
-Pasta ala Bosca (whole wheat pasta with mushrooms, soy sausage, olive oil, red pepper flakes and a sprinkle of parmesan)
-Pita pizzas with basil and peppers I grew myself
-Baked potatoes with cheese & broccoli
-Homemade breakfast "skillets"

On this last item, the skillets: You can get them at diners around here. Usually it's either hashbrowns or American fries mixed with sauteed veggies, topped by two eggs and a sprinkle of cheese. You can add meat, and you can get the eggs fried or scrambled. I usually get mine scrambled. I decided I could make these cheaper and more healthily at home, so I've made it several times. I pan fry the potato chunks until they're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and mix in a variety of veggies, depending on what I've got on hand. I've used Michigan-grown bell pepper, tomatoes I grew myself, organic mushrooms, onions, banana peppers I grew myself, and dill from my yard in different combinations. Then, I make a really thin 2-egg plain omelet, lay it over the potatoes and veggies, and top the whole thing with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. SO good. I've been craving eggs & potatoes in various combinations big time for the last month or so- not sure what's up with that...