Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Yummy recipes for a romantic night in!

I love to eat. Second to travel, it may be my most favorite thing to do. Moreover, I like to cook and bake. My ideal weekend night does not consist of getting dressed up and going out for a fancy dinner, it consists of me in my comfy clothes and wearing my 'Italia' apron slaving away over a hot stove. I love the process from beginning to end. I love searching for a recipe (which I undoubtedly will change completely before my cooking is done), making my shopping list, shopping for fresh ingredients (especially in the summer when I can go to the farm!), and making a complete meal for my husband and I to savor and enjoy paired with a yum bottle of wine. In this day and age with so many people working long hours and driving kids to soccer (baseball, basketball, karate etc...) practice, it seems that take out food is the way most people eat most meals. This is a bit more that a Frugal Life suggestion- while it is definitely cheaper to eat in than out most times- I highly suggest you try this just as a fun change in lifestyle! Spend the afternoon alone or with your partner and cook up a really special meal to enjoy. Have a fancy date night in.... get out your fine china that you are saving for when the queen comes to dinner, use those pretty cloth napkins and napkin rings you got at your wedding shower, light some candles and pop open a good bottle of your favorite wine. Below is the complete menu & recipes that I created for this past Sunday night's dinner. Looked fancy- but was so easy to make! We paired this dinner with a bottle of 2007 Louis Jadot Macon Villages Chardonnay (great wine and very affordable at about $11.99 a bottle). Enjoy!

Menu

Cheese platter of water crackers, grapes, honey & a "blue cheese" style cheese from Valley Shepherd http://www.valleyshepherd.com/

Cornish Game Hens with Cornbread Stuffing (adapted from Ina Garten's recipe)
Fresh Corn Salad (adapted from Ina Garten's recipe)
Garlic Bread (because we eat bread with everything)

Strawberry and Banana Fondue
(used my tealight lit fondue maker. You can purchase these at any Bed Bath and Beyond or Target...)


Cornish Game Hens with Cornbread Stuffing

Ingredients

1 large Spanish onion, sliced
2 Cornish hens
Cornbread Stuffing, recipe follows- I used a mix to make my cornbread- the kind in the bag that you add milk, egg and butter to)
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Place the sliced onion in the bottom of a roasting pan. Remove the giblets from the hens, and rinse them inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outsides dry. Place the hens on top of the sliced onion.

Pack the cavities of the hens with the cornbread stuffing.

Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the hens. Rub the hens with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast the hens for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh.


Cornbread Stuffing :

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups cornbread
1 celery stalk, diced
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Melt the butter in a large saute pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Break the cornbread into pieces and place the pieces in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture to the cornbread. Add the celery, chicken stock, parsley, salt and pepper, and mix together.

Yield: 2 servings

Fresh Corn Salad

Ingredients

5 ears of corn, shucked
1/2 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
Directions

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse it in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob.

Toss the kernels in a large bowl with the red onions, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature.


Garlic Bread

Ingredients

6 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good olive oil
1 loaf ciabatta bread
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until minced. Add the parsley, oregano, salt and pepper and pulse twice.

Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan and add the garlic mixture. Remove the pan from the heat.

Slice the ciabatta bread in half horizontally, and spread the butter on 1 half. Spread the garlic mixture on the other half of the bread, and put the halves together. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil.

Place the bread in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Open the foil, and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

Strawberry & Banana Fondue

Cut up some strawberries and bananas or whatever fruit you choose
Melt some chocolate in your fondue maker (you can melt it first in a double boiler if you'd like)
Dip away!


xo
E

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Free stuff on Tax Day!!!! YAY!

It's TAX DAY!!! Woohoo!.... ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit on the woohoo. I like many other Americans loathe tax day. It is the day that reminds me that I never get back the amount of money that I think I should. But as the old saying goes....There are 2 things you can count on in life: Death and Taxes... well we can add free stuff on to that list today! There are a whole bunch of companies that are giving away free stuff or offering some fun discounts in honor of Tax Day. So after you leave your H&R Block appointment in anger and frustration go get a free mini cupcake from Cinnabon. Or if you leave with a big smile on your face and visions of dollar signs dancing in your head....treat your self to a discounted dinner. God Bless America.


Places participating nationwide: (info courtesy of Eater)
Starbucks: Free Coffee For Customers with Reusable Travel Mugs [MW]
Taco Del Mar: Free Taco with Website Coupon [Official Site]
Maggie Moo's: Free Sample of Ice Cream Pizza Between 3-7pm [Official Site]
McCormick & Schmick’s: $10.40 Dinner w/ Drink At the Bar, Plus Coupon Worth $10.40 [NRN]
P.F. Chang's: 15% Discount On Everything, All Day [Official Site]
Cinnabon: 2 Free Mini Cupcakes, 6-8 pm [Food2Blog]
Jamba Juice: Buy One Drink Get one Free with Coupon (Till 4/25) [Official Site]
Chick Fil-A: Free Breakfast at Participating Locations [Food2Blog]
T.G.I. Friday's: $5 Discount Card For Purchases $10-$25, $10 Card for Purchases over $25. [Official Site]

SF, Chicago, LA, NYC, Miami, Texas, and more.
San Francisco:
BIN 38: Free Glass of Wine for First 75 Customers, $5 Glasses After That [FCSF]

Manheim, PA
Swashbuckler: Diners Can Spin Stimulus Wheel to Win 20%-50% off Meal [Official Site]

Columbus, OH:
The Refecetory: $ 29.10 Three-Course Dinner, Now Through 4/30 [Official Site]

Chicago:
Zocalo: $15 Dollar Three-Course Meal [Official Site]
Taiyo Sushi: Dinner for $10.99 Including Beer and Wine [Official Site, PDF]
Lucky Monk: 16" Pizzas for $10.40 [Official Site]
Va Pensiero: 15 Cent Martinis with Purchase [NRN]

New York:
BLT Restaurants: 50% Off Cocktails Beer and Wine By the Glass [Crain's]
Arby's: Samples of $1 Menu Items Will be Handed Out Outside Post Offices [GS]
Energy Kitchen: $2 Lunch Specials [Crain's]
Exchange: Free Glass of Beer or Wine with Purchase If You Say "Market Price" [89 And Broker via GS]
Schnipper's: Free Coffee with Any Breakfast Item (Till 4/30) [Eaterwire]

Miami:
BLT Steak at the Betsy: 50% Off Cocktails Beer and Wine By the Glass [Sun-Sentinel]

Baltimore:
Sotto Sopra: Make a Donation to the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Get $1 Pasta [BS]

Arizona:
NYPD Pizza: Get a 14" One-Topping Pizza for $10.40 [AZ Central]

Texas & Louisiana:
Mr. Jim's Pizza: Free Pizza if You "Friend" Mr. Jim's on Facebook [Mr. Jim's]

Los Angeles:
Townhouse Kitchen & Bar: Tax-Free Dining On its Entire Menu, All Day [NRN]

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Groupon.com- My new favorite site! Do cool stuff & save $$!

It has been a super busy few weeks for me! Easter and many Spring updates to the house (new fence, update deck, renovate pool, new wood floors in bedroom to name a few) have left me tired and B-ROKE! Gotta love owning a home!

In the midst of all this incessant money spending that makes me break out into hives, I have, of couse, found another way to do cool stuff and save some much need cash. This new little website is my new obsession- I should also add this disclaimer: Use this site responsibly, or you will wind up spending lotsof money! Which, obviously, is never my intention : )

So for those of you who know of this site- you probably understand my love for it...for those of you that do not...well- Welcome to www.Groupon.com. This is how it works (as quoted directly from their site):

1.Each day they feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
2.You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
3.Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

There is a daily deal that is sent directly to the email of your choice, after you sign up. It can be anything from discount spa treatments, restaurant certificates, theater or fun events (I bought a Groupon that was a ticket to a Beauty Bash Martini event at a rooftop bar in NYC that was originally $75 for $35.), or money toward a store or boutique. If you (and enough other people, hence the invite your friends part) purchase the deal within the 24 hour timeframe, they will let you know that you got it ( so fun, it's like winning a prize!)and then charge your credit card. If there are any restricitions on the Groupon, such as expiration dates, they will be listed. You can sign up for the Groupon deals in your city or the big city that's is near your hometown. You can also purchase the daily Groupon as a gift!
This is such a fun way to find out about exciting things in going on in your area, and save some money. And although saving money is a great part of this site, but I really love it because it exposes me to fun activities I would not have know about otherwise.Just remember, limit yourself to the number of Groupons you buy, or the purpose of this site (to SAVE money) will be moot! With Mother's Day coming up- this is a great website to utilize for a fun, and different gift for Mom. Even better, purchase a fun daily deal from Groupon (maybe wait for an event or spa deal), then head over to www.restaurant.com, and purchase a restaurant gift card to use for dinner and you'll have a wonderful day, at probably half the price!


Have fun with this one everyone!
xo E

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Go out to dinner and save some money!

I've mentioned it before...I don't typically go out to dinner. It's one of the ways my husband and I save money and I happen to love cooking at home. So- 6 to 7 nights a week (mornings and afternoons too on the weekends) dinner is provided by Chef Moî at Café Elisa. It is astounding how much money you can save if you cook at home (hmmm...I may need to do a blog experiment and figure out just how much...) Nevertheless, I am always looking for a great restaurant promotion in the rare event we do go decide to eat dinner out.
So for those of you that are like me, and go out only on a special occasion & love to save money or even better for those of you who DO go out often (naughty, naughty)...Here is a website I think you will love as much as I do... www.restaurant.com.
Restaurant.com offers restaurant coupons for less for the restaurants that participate on the site. Here's an example for all my local people... through Restaurant.com the yummy restaurant The Prickly Pear in Hackettstown NJ offers $10 gift certificates- though you only pay $4 for them, and $25 gift certificates- though you only pay $10 for them. What's the catch you ask?? Well, of course there are some restrictions. Every restaurant is different..the above restaurant sites "Minimum 2 entrees. 18% Gratuity added prior to discount. Valid for Dinner, Dine In ONLY. Excludes: Other Offers/Promotions". But, I think the exclusions/restrictions are very fair. There is sometimes a minimum amount that you must spend, but it seems to always be reasonable amount for the restaurant. You can pop in your zipcode on the home page and search for restaurants that participate near your home town annnnnd you can purchase the gift certificates as gifts!! You can purchase a gift certificate to the site or to the specific restaurants (there are over 13,000 restaurants that participate on the site!). So just to recap- you can buy a $50 gift certificate to a favorite restaurant and only pay $20... pretty cool, huh?!

So whether you use this as an excuse to go out and try somewhere new, or if you buy these certificates to save you loads and loads of money...go to www.restaurant.com and try it out!

xo
E

Monday, March 22, 2010

More free stuff from Starbucks! Free Pastry day tomorrow!

Another week, another fun promotion! Here’s a little something to put a smile on your face now that the amazing weather has left NJ.- Free pastry from Starbucks! Tomorrow 3/23 until 10:30 am, when you purchase a beverage from Starbucks, you can receive a free pastry with the coupon below. Pretty good deal…get your $1.50 Bold coffee (so you get your sticker of the week of course) and get a free pastry! $1.50 for a splurge of a breakfast- treat yourself tomorrow!!

To get your free pastry, go here: http://starbucks.com/FreePastryDay and print out the coupon and present it to your barista. Or simply show them the coupon on any mobile device. But Free Pastry Day ends at 10:30 a.m. – so don’t miss out!

Xo E

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Save some money & support a great cause! 30% off coupon inside...

This weather makes me want to shop! The spring dresses and wedge heels are making an appearance, and I soooo ready to rid myself of my sweaters and boots. This is a great week to start your Spring shopping for the entire family, save 30% and help a great cause.
Below is all the info you need to print out your 30% off coupon to use at The Gap, Old Navy & Banana Republic! Happy Shopping! xo E

Shop for a Cure! Download your LLS Give & Get coupon today and use it in any Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic store from Thursday, March 18th - Sunday, March 21st. Take advantage of a 30% discount while you support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's work to cure cancer and improve the lives of patients. 5% of what you spend will go to LLS when you use the LLS discount coupon.

PRINT YOUR COUPON HERE: http://www.gapinc.com/giveandget/lls/

Share the LLS Give & Get coupon with your friends, welcome spring with a new wardrobe and support life-saving cancer research by participating in the Give & Get campaign from March 18th-21st.

NOTE: This offer is good for in-store purchases only, including all Gap, Inc. Outlet stores.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Yes, you CAN afford to go on vacation! Here's a frugal alternative to that pricey resort..


Almost 6 months ago, my husband was relaxing outside reading his latest issue of Maxim magazine. Whenever he reads Maxim, he tends to read aloud many of the oh so interesting facts he finds there ("Honey, did you know it takes "blah" amount of tourque to crush a can on your head?!" "Babe, did you know that Star Wars was only originally released in 32 theaters?!") and on this particular day he found something in Maxim that would change our lives forever. Yes, I know that sounds very dramatic...but it is true! Matt found an article in Maxim about a website called VRBO.com, and it has changed the way we vacation. He read me this article about a site that offers "online space for homeowners to advertise their vacation properties and make it easy for travelers to search 130,000+ rentals in over 100 countries worldwide." At the end of the article, it stated that you could even go to Maui (known to be a super expensive destination) for about $150 a night. It took me about 8.4 seconds to get on my computer and start researching if this was true. After much research, I found a condo that was up for rent for about $100 a night. We decided that same week, that we would vacation in Maui, for 15 days. Thus, this started my love affair with http://www.vrbo.com/. This website makes searching for a rental very easy & fun!

Why do I love VRBO & vacation rentals in general?
-Compared to hotels, vacation rentals offer more value. If you have the patience to do the research, the value of vacationing this way is astounding! You can easily find a condo for a very low price (helloooo..Hawaii for $100 a night!!!!), or if you want to get your family and friends together...rent a huge house and split the cost! I assure you, you can find something in your price range. Another huge cost advantage is the food cost. If you can rent a condo or house with a kitchen, and you cook in for some meals (we cooked in our breakfast and lunches in Maui)- you will save a huge amount! Hit the Costco or the local supermarket, pick up some eggs, pancake mix, sandwich meats, bread, chips and stuff to grill (huge plus if you can find a place with a grill) and you can save yourself $100 a day. If you are vacationing with family or friends, let each person or couple take a day to do the cooking. And remember to stock up the fridge with some cold beverages too (in Maui, a water bottle at a resort could cost up to $5. We bought a case of water at Costco for that much and took a few bottles with us every time we went out)!

-Compared to hotels, vacation rentals offer more space. An average hotel room is pretty small. Renting a condo or house is much bigger (what a concept, huh?!). Our condo in Maui was about 1200 sq feet and had a bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen and patio. It also had other amenities of home, like a washer and dryer (I know...some of you may cringe at the thought of doing laundry on vacation, but it was sooo nice coming home with a suitcase packed with only clean clothes!). An amazing condo (pictured above) that we just rented in Charleston, SC was 1600 sq. feet (probably triple the size of an average hotel room), and it also had a 20x30 outdoor roof patio. All for $91 per couple a night (we stayed with one additional couple).

-Compared to hotels, vacation rentals offer more privacy. If you rent a private home, this is obvious. But even if you rent a condo or townhouse with neighbors, you most likely are going to have more privacy all around. Be it a gated entrance, private patio, or a building with a keycode entrance, you most likely will have a bit more privacy than a huge hotel with a large lobby.

VRBO also makes it very easy to find a vacation rental where you can bring your furry friend. It notes on every listing if the rental is pet friendly. And the pet friendly fees seem a bit more reasonable than many hotels.

The website even offers a Rental Guarantee, so you can rent with more confidence (believe me, it was a huge fear of mine that we would get to Maui, and the condo wouldn't exist). On that note, when searching and speaking to people about their rentals,use your common sense, gut instinct and "creeper detection". If someone seems shady or off, don't rent from them. It's better for your piece of mind!

This method of vacationing may be a little different if you are used to a 5 star resort with butler service, and going out to eat 3 meals a day. But if you think you can't afford to go on a vacation because you can't afford a 5 star hotel with butler service, this may be the method for you! Have you always wanted to go on a ski vacation to Colorado while staying in a swiss chalet-ish type place, or have you always wanted to stay at a real Tuscan Villa with your entire family? Check out VRBO, they may have what your dreaming of, for a much more affordable price. Take a look, take the family, and get away...you only live once, and you deserve a vacation. I give you permission...live a little...just do it frugally.

xo E

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cheap Coffee at Starbucks?!? True story.

I am usually a huge advocate for making coffee at home and bringing it with you to work. If you buy an expensive cup of brew every day, it can cost you up to $1000 a year ( or more if you get a Grande Mocha Latte skinny with an extra shot of espresso blah blah blah. yeah, thanks...but I'd rather make coffee at home, and go on an extra vacation).

But for the next 8 weeks I may just splurge once a week. Check out this new promotion from Starbucks! They have a different Bold coffee flavor every week for 8 straight weeks. And the particular coffee of the week is only $1.50 + tax for a tall! Ask a barista for a passport book and they will give you one sticker for each flavor (so one sticker a week). Collect all 8 stickers over the course of 8 weeks, and Starbucks will give you a free pound of coffee (the bold flavor that you like best).

The Bold coffee schedule is as follows:

Week 1: Yukon Blend (this started this past Tuesday, 3/9)
Week 2: Italian Roast
Week 3: From Africa to Africa Starbucks Red
Week 4: Komodo Dragon Blend
Week 5: Caffe Verona
Week 6: Cafe Estima Blend
Week 7: Gold Coast Blend
Week 8: Sumatra

So, if you participate in this entire promotion...one coffee per week at $1.50 = $12.00 (plus whatever your state government takes) PLUS you get an full pound of coffee (thus starting the make your coffee at home cycle all over again). So this is a fantastic deal, and a fun chance to try out some new coffee!
But, remember people...I am only condoning this on this one occasion!!

xo
E

Friday, March 5, 2010

Throw an impromptu, inexpensive party this weekend (hint hint...it involves alcohol!!)


Anyone who knows me will tell you I love planning parties (actually anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am obsessed with planning parties…). Getting married? I know the perfect flowers to go with your chartreuse color theme. Having a baby? I have 2 cake pans shaped like baby bottle, and baby carriage. It’s the second Thursday in June? Pool party in15 minutes….daquiris are already blended. But during this gray, blah time of year, I tend to lose my party momentum. First because it’s gray & blah out (I swear I have that seasonal affective disorder sometimes) and second because we are typically a little broke from the recent holidays. If you are having the same feelings as I…may I make a suggestion?? Drink wine. Drink wine with friends. And ask your friends to bring the wine. Noooo, I am not suggesting you mooch of your friends for alcohol because you are broke, what I am suggesting is…Throw a “Blind Wine Tasting” party!
Here’s how it works:
Invite everyone over for a fun night in and Have everyone bring a bottle of wine. Limit the amount to spend (say wines $15 and under) and if you really want to get fancy…choose a region (maybe Napa Valley or Italy) of where the wine comes from. Encourage people to either bring their favorite wine or one they have never tasted before but looks interesting to them! Ask everyone to bring their wine in a bag, so everyone does not see their wine when they arrive.
Have some numbered brown paper bags ready for when your friends arrive.
Since everyone will at least know the one wine that they brought, make sure you use the same bags! Regular brown paper lunch bags work really well because they also cover the shape of the bottles (for example-certain wines like gewurtztraminers come in very different type bottles). Another really fun idea, is to use black wine glasses so you can't see if the wine is white or red...but alas, this costs extra cash...so I'd stick with the bags.

Since you do not want people trying a sweeter white before a full bodied red (any wine snob will tell you that that will totally mess up your palate…)let people label their wine bag. Use easy codes like SW (sweeter whites),DW for (dry whites), R for reds, P(ink) for the person brings the white zinfandel (you may want to find a new friend…ha! Just kidding!!!). If anyone brings a dessert wine…save that for later after the main tasting is done. Have a few ice buckets available for dumping!
Give everyone a score sheet. Have the numbers of the wines on the side of the page, with some lines for notes next to each number. As everyone goes along the line and tastes the wines- they should write down what type of wine they think it is (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Reisling etc…). Encourage your friends to discuss and debate their ideas!

After everyone is done will their educated guesses…. Proceed with the unveiling of the wines! Then collect the sheets and tally the votes! Have a fun prize (like a corkscrew) for the person who had the most wines right!

A few tips:
- Make sure you provide some little food bites to go along with the wines (popcorn, cheese & crackers, veggie platter). You can make it a pot luck and have everyone bring their favorite snack too!
-Make sure everyone takes their time and has fun…this is a party afterall!
- If anyone seems like they tasted one too many wines…call them a cab, or blow up that aerobed you got for Christmas.

This is a really fun alternative to another night at the local pub (which we all know can cost so much when your paying $6 a drink). So buy a bottle, call your friends and enjoy saving money while drinking a nice Cabernet.


xo E

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Vermont: the state of maple syrup, Ben & Jerry's and lots of frugal fun!


Ahhh, 5 years of marital bliss. It’s hard to believe that already 5 years ago (when I was only 22…I could barely drink!) I married my best friend in the whole wide world. We have grown up together, and we have had more fun than should be allowed of any two people in such a short period of time. So, this is reason to celebrate, right? And what is the best way to celebrate in my world?? A weekend away, of course!

On past anniversaries, we have visited the Mohonk Mountain House (another post…no worries..), which happens to be one of my favorite places on the planet- but this year I wanted to do something different. In trying to choose a place that would make both myself and my husband very happy, I decided on Vermont. I pictured roaring fires, falling snow, romantic dinners and crazy sick conditions on the mountain (this was the part that would make my husband especially happy)…. And that is exactly what we got during our visit to Dorset & Manchester VT. Of course, me being the frual chica that I am- did plenty of research before booking this trip. After searching for the perfect bed & breakfast, I found The Dorset Inn (www.thedorsetinn.com). Their rate on the site was a bit higher than I wanted to pay, so I called and asked for a cheaper one. Yes, just like that. I called and said I really love your property, and would really love to stay here on such and such a date- do you have any rate discounts or specials…and they said yes! I secured The Dorset Inn at $150 a night with breakfast included. Not too shabby.

We made the trek through the snow up to Dorset (VT got 50 inches of snow in a week!!), and upon arriving at The Dorset Inn, I knew we’d made a great decision. The building is from 1796, but was totally refurbished by the current owners. It is a 30 room Inn, but has the feel of a 3 bedroom B&B. It smelled of a burning fire, and fresh brewed coffee when we walked in (about 1.5 hours before checkin)…and a cd of classical arrangements of Beatles tunes was playing. I was in love. The friendly front desk staff showed us around the ground level which included the sitting room with roaring fire, couches, and chess set, the breakfast room, tavern and dining room. We were then shown to our room (room 7, Ernest Way). SO cute! It was not a huge room, but nice & cozy. The décor was beautiful; classic & quaint. The cheese platter that I ordered before our arrivalwas waiting for us.It was only $9 for 3 cheeses! I chose a local Vermont blue, goat and sheep cheese which they served with locally made crackers and bread, craisins, candied pecans, and a piece of honey comb that held some of the most succulent honey I have ever tasted!A fabulous deal, and treat upon our arrival! We then proceeded to unpack, each our delish cheese, pop a bottle of proscecco and toast the weekend (ALWAYS need to toast....), turn on our big flat screen tv…and watch Curling. How romantic, right?! Damn that silly sport, it is totally addictive to watch. After relaxing a bit, we went down to the sitting room for tea and cookies (also included in the room rate). The Dorset Inn serves Tazo tea (love their mint tea) and homemade sweets every afternoon from 3-5 pm. We enjoyed some delicious oatmeal raisin cookies and cranberry biscotti- yum!

Food: The food in the southern Vermont area is, shall we say, a bit boring. For me, at least. It’s all very “American” (I typically only go out for food I don’t cook at home.. i.e. Thai, Indian etc..), but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t tasty all the same! We went to Candeleros (www.candeleros.net) for dinner our first evening, and got the BBQ for 2 platter. It was a great deal at $33 for 2 people! Our plates were piled high with smoked BBQ ribs, half a roasted BBQ’d chicken, pulled pork on Texas Toast, cornbread and chile coleslaw. The sangria was yummy too. We walked out of there paying $50 for a huge dinner for 2, so we were pretty happy (and very full!). On our second night, we chose to have our anniversary dinner at the Dorset Inn. The Dorset Inn has a wonderful wine list that has received accolades from Wine Enthusiast magazine, and a fabulous menu to match. I got the shrimp & linguine dinner and the celery & truffle soup to start with (to die for!!). Matt opted for their angus burger topped with Vermont (of course..)cheddar on a brioche bun. It really was a lovely meal. Not exactly as frugal as we are used to at this place…but hey, it was our anniversary! As for breakfast, as I said before, The Dorest Inn includes breakfast in the rate...and not some shabby continental-ish danish and coffee...full breakfast menu. We both chose Eggs Benedict the first morning, and Vermont Eggs (poached and served with hollandaise) and Potato Bacon Pancakes (can you tell? we totally watch our weight). By far my favorite meals of the weekend!

Activities: Vermont is so beautiful when it snows, and the conditions for snowboarding (or skiing) are typically much better than the NJ conditions. But when southern VT gets 50” of snow in one week…the conditions are totally amazing. We chose to go to Stratton for a day of snowboarding. DISCLAIMER: not a frugal choice at all. Lift tickets here are super pricey. If you buy your tickets on line, or go in the afternoon- the price is a bit better (save about $5 or so), but nothing to get excited about. Besides that sole fact, I loved Stratton. I loved the mountain, I loved the little European style village, and I loved that enclosed Gondola lift.

The second mountain we went to was Bromley. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges. While we thought Bromley was nothing to brag about (it’s smaller, has older lifts, no fancy lodge), they do have some great midweek rates, especially for families. On Friday’s a family of four can ski for just $108. So consider this mountain if in the VT area for the great pricing…but I wouldn’t make the four hour trek from NY just to come here.

One of our favorite activities on this getaway was the horse drawn sleigh ride that we took at Taylor Farm in Londonderry, VT (www.taylorfarmvermont.com). We arrived at Taylor farm and tasted some of their delicious and award winning Gouda (gotta love complimentary tastings!), and then hopped on the sleigh that could carry a total of 10 people (there were 8 ppl in total on our ride). A few of the farms friendly dogs jumped on the sleigh with us (which I just loved), we bundled ourselves up in the blankets they provided and off we went! The 15 minute ride to the campfire in the woods was picture perfect as the snow fell down around us. Upon arriving at the campfire we toasted marshmellows on the fire and drank delicious cider. We refilled our cider cups for the beautiful 15 min. ride back. This super fun ride only cost $15 per person! It was a fun, different and romantic experience. Taylor Farm also does private sleigh rides (fun for if you want to pop the all important question…) for about $100.

Other than snowboarding, cheesetasting, and sleigh riding, there really wasn’t much else to do in the Dorset area (while watching our budget) besides relax. And that exact reason is why I love Vermont so much! Book a weekend getaway with your hunny and reconnect...or just hit the mountain.


Oh, and now to totally disprove the sole fact that we are frugal people (but, really we are…so keep reading please.. thanks:-) ), my amazing husband got me beautiful diamond hoops as an anniversary present. What does this have to do with our frugal trip to VT, you ask?? Nada. I am just bragging that I am one lucky woman.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

For all my New Yorkers- NY Food & Wine Specials


We all know that NYC is expensive. period. A street cart hotdog costs up to $4.50 (plus the $25 co-pay you will be paying when you are at the doctors with food poisoning the next day...).

Here's a little tip on how to do the NY food and wine scene on a budget: Tasting Table New York is a free daily email that delivers the best of food and drink culture in NY.... Tasting Table also has a wonderful email that they put out called Tasting Table NY Specials. It's a free weekly email that provides insider access to the city's best eating and drinking experiences, from dining deals and exclusive reservations to bargains at some favorite wine stores and cookshops.

One of the cool specials they are offering this week is a free wine tasting event at Pasanella and Son vintners, an awesome little wine shop at the Seaport. This shop is super fun, I was there in the Fall and I loved their selection! They have a fab selection of under $15 wines. And it's always fun to walk around at the seaport and visit the shops!

You can subscribe to Tasting Table NY Specials here http://tastingtable.com/lander/NYspecials

Take advantage of these specials on a date night or a night out with your best friends... and instead of seeing a Broadway show (SO expensive these days, right??) go to a museum. The MOMA & the American Museum of Natural History is only $12 for students, and $20 for adults... And a beautiful walk in Central Park is totally FREE!
A NYC night is totally doable and doesn't have to break the bank!

xo E

Monday, February 15, 2010

My first blog post! woohoo!

Ok, so I am totally new to this whole blogging thing. That being said, forgive me if it takes me a little while to get the hang of it.

The totally predictable, yet totally necessary, why I started my blog story:
So, a few days ago, I was showing my husband Matt the website of the Bed & Breakfast that we are staying at in a few weeks, and I was all but squealing with delight in the amazing price per night that I had just secured..when he said to me "You know, you should really write a blog about this or something". Me: "About what?" Him: "About how you are always planning something" Me (kinda defensive): "It's our anniversary & its suuuuch a good deal!" Him: "That's what I mean..you should write a blog about how you always find a good deal. And thats why we get to go away a lot".

Now, mind you...we do not think we go away a lot. Other people tell us we go away a lot...and upon thinking about it...mayyybe we go away a little more than the average couple. And mind you, we are not world travelers. We like to visit new places...though it doesn't matter to us that they are exotic, popular or tourist attractions necessarily.

So, after this brief, but life altering conversation (I am exaggerating..) with my wise Buddha like husband (exaggerating some more...), I decided to start this blog to write about our super fun, albeit frugal, life and some of the cool stuff we do. I'll review the places we go, the people we meet and the food we eat. I'll let ya know the websites I search (I do HOURS of research when planning most things), and the right people to talk to. We cut other corners to do the things we love (i.e. I cook dinner at home 6-7 nights a week), but life is about living...and most of all having fun...and I happen to think I am really good at both...

xo E