Fresh Collards from the Garden!

I love collard greens. I've cooked them several times but have always used the packaged greens that are already chopped and cleaned. But this morning, I cleaned and cooked my first batch of fresh collard greens. My cousin in Sacramento, CA brought several bags of collard greens and tomatoes from her garden to a recent family gathering in Vallejo. I smiled when I was asked if I wanted some because I knew they were collards, and the answer was "yes." Someone suggested washing them with baking soda and salt, while another person said "I use dish soap." I had all three items, but decided to use dish soap. I washed and rinsed the greens thoroughly three times, thinking about my mother who I watched clean greens on many occasions. I boiled a ham hock for a little over an hour, then added some seasonings: salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and onions. Then, I added the greens and let them simmer for about an hour. They were delicious! I enjoyed the collard greens with some homemade macaroni & cheese and leftover meat loaf from a pot luck. This dish called for a glass of wine, so I poured a glass of Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot. It's sweet and flavorful and a nice alternative to Merlot, Shiraz, or Cabernet Sauvignon. What a great meal!

Larry's Produce

After hearing so many good things about Larry's Produce, I finally got to see what all the fuss was about. I went last Wednesday afternoon with my sister to purchase some fruit, vegetables, and any other items that were a good buy. It's easy to get to, about one mile north of Solano Community College on Suisun Valley Road in Suisun. I can see why several people stocked up on their favorite fruits and vegetables. There were several items to chose from and most were priced lower than grocery stores. I purchased fresh okra and white nectarines for $.99 cent a pound, and a canteloupe and honeydew melon for $1.00 each! The nectarines were firm and sweet the way I like them, and the melons were the sweetest I've ever tasted. Thank you, Larry! Keep the fresh produce coming.

Discounts Galore at Grocery Outlet!

Looking for groceries for less? Food Maxx is known for low prices, but there's another store that offers discounts, too, Grocery Outlet! You may not find everything you're looking for at Grocery Outlet, but several items you do find will be at discount prices. The brands and items vary, so when you find something you like - stock up! You may not see it again for a while. On my last visit to Grocery Outlet, I purchased a gallon of Lady Lee low fat milk for $2.59, a 12 ounce package of ButterBall Turkey Bacon for $2.29, and two 10 ounce packages of Oscar Mayer chicken breast at $1.79 each. There were several more items at great prices, but this was all I purchased on this trip. I'll be back soon for sure!

Low Price for Pineapples!

Fresh pineapples are only $1.69 each at Luckys until tomorrow. I went to my neighborhood Luckys yesterday to buy one and wasn't surprised when I was told they were "out." An employee said they would have more in today. I hope so. Pineapples are one of my favorite fruits, and at $1.69 each, I'm getting two!

Good buys every day at Trader Joe's!

I went to Trader Joe's today to pick up a few items for my dinner tomorrow. I plan to make lasagna and serve it with a garden salad. I needed some Roma tomatoes (my favorite) and Romaine lettuce. It's nice to know you can get produce, dairy, and other grocery items at a reasonable price at Trader Joe's every day! I paid $1.99 for a package of three Romaine Hearts, and $1.99 for a package of six Roma tomatoes (1 pound, 2 ounces). Wine goes well with lasagna, and a glass of Charles Shaw (Two-buck-chuck) Shiraz, will do just fine. This wine has remained $1.99 a bottle for years. It's one of the best buys around, and delicious, too! With great everyday prices and a variety of inexpensive wines, you can't go wrong with shopping at Trader Joe's!

Too Hot to Cook!

If you're like me, you don't like to cook when it's hot or when you're really hungry. As I left work for the day, I wondered what I would eat for dinner. I decided to go to Jack in the Box and use one of the coupons I received in the mail. I rarely go to fast-food restaurants, but when my leftovers are gone, and I don't plan to cook, it's a great place to go for a quick meal. I used the coupon for "two free tacos with any purchase" and bought a small hamburger from the value menu. No, hamburgers and taco's don't go together, but they did for me that night. Jack in the Box's tacos are delicious, although they're probably not low-calorie. I rarely eat them, so it doesn't matter. I wanted a quick meal, and I got it!

Target for Groceries!

By now, most of you know Target carries a variety of grocery items. Until July 24th, there are some great buys to take advantage of. I found this out when I received the coupon booklet in the mail. I'm sure you'll find many of these items useful in your household. Be sure to use the coupon for a free loaf of bread!

CVS Extra Care Card

By now, most people have heard of the Extra Care Card CVS/pharmacy offers customers for free. Why get one? To save money on sale and non-sale items. At a time when many people are cutting back and trying to save money, it amazes me why some people say "no" when a clerk asks "do you have a CVS card?", and "no" when asked "would you like to sign up for one?" The money you save can really add up. For instance, I visited my local CVS/pharmacy this afternoon to purchase one item that was on sale for $1.99. I had a manufacturer's coupon for $0.50 cent off, plus a $1.00 Extra Care savings coupon I received with my last purchase. I only paid $0.67 cents for my purchase! You need to present your Extra Care Card to receive the sale price for items on sale. And read over your receipts carefully because they may contain savings you can use towards a future purchase. Once, I received a savings for $2.00 towards my next purchase. There are some restrictions that apply. Also, don't forget to scan your Extra Care Card at the machine when you enter the store because you can use these savings immediately! So, sign up for an Extra Care Card today! A little savings goes a long way.

What's Cooking?

It was another beautiful day in San Jose - hot with a slight breeze. But it was a little chilly in the morning, as I took my morning walk around 8:30am. As I returned home, I wondered not what I would have for breakfast but what I would have for dinner. I knew it would get warmer later in the afternoon, and I didn't want to be in the kitchen cooking. When it's hot, I like to have my meals prepared in the morning! I decided to cook spaghetti because it's quick and easy. I browned some ground turkey and added some sliced hot links and turkey sausage, too. And because I had a few jar sauces on hand, I used one and added it to the meat mixture. It was a good choice for dinner, especially since I had a loaf of French bread in the freezer. Instead of a salad, I cooked some sauteed cabbage. Yes, you heard me right! I had sauteed cabbage with spaghetti and French bread. I washed it down with a glass of Diet Dr Pepper. I grew up in a household where we didn't waste food, so I decided to cook the cabbage I had in the refrigerator before it went bad. It was delicious! I tossed it in some bacon fat and added salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cabbage is great in stir-fry dishes, too, and added with other vegetables to Top Ramen noodles. I decided to cook the cabbage after I returned home from running errands and did so while listening to my favorite radio station 102.9 KBLX. It's very relaxing and therapeutic to cook while listening to music. I sing-a-long to most of the songs, too. What a great meal and good music to keep me company.

P.S. I usually make my spaghetti sauce from scratch, but I was in a hurry to cook and clean up today.

Summer Festivals!

One of my favorite things about summer, besides enjoying activities outdoors with family and friends, are the festivals that are held near my city. I live in San Jose, CA and look forward to all the festivals throughout the summer. One of my favorite's is the Mountain Art & Wine Festival in Mountain View, CA. I enjoy the Almaden and Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival as well. Today, I attended the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival in Los Altos, CA. The weather was perfect - hot but not to warm that you couldn't enjoy walking around all the blocks of food booths and various vendors. As always, the Los Altos Fire Department had one of their fire trucks at the main entrance, along with the Los Altos Police Department who had a 1950's-type patrol car on display. I immediately began checking out the vendors to see who was giving away good freebies. I entered a few drawings, got a few lollipops and key chains/bottle openers, and enjoyed listening to the music as I strolled down the aisles. Although the festival's about wine (and beer), a trip to the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival wouldn't be complete for me without having one of the refreshing, colorful fruit smoothies! This is a must if you go, and the kids can have one, too. Five dollars gets you a decent-size smoothie any way you want. There's strawberry, banana, and peach. I usually get all three flavors, but strawberry and peach are my favorite. One person ahead of me had her cup filled with mostly strawberry, with a touch of peach. Parking is free at Los Altos High School where a shuttle takes you to the festival for free about a mile away. Tomorrow's the last day if you still want to attend. Dress comfortably and enjoy.

Makeup for the summer

By now, most people (depending on their economic situation) have their summer wardrobe in tact. For women, we have our sandals, shorts, Capri's, short-sleeve shirts, skirts, and for some, tank tops. But what about makeup? May I suggest Bobbi Brown. She has a variety of cool, soft colors in cream eye shadows, blushes, and my favorite new item - SPF 15 lip shines! I recently purchased a berry SPF 15 lip shine and love everything about it. It makes your lips feel soft, moist and gives them a pretty pop of color. My favorite Bobbi Brown cream eye shadow is Sandy Gold and can be worn everyday. It gives the perfect amount of color for eyes when you want a soft, natural look. As for blush, one of my favorites is Mauve in the mauve palette I purchased a few years ago, but I love Spice, too. With all the warm weather, you'll want to protect your lips with Bobbi's Lip Balms and SPF 15 Lip Shines. They're must-have items for the summer!

Back to The Avenue!

Hello shoppers! For those full-figure women out there looking for sales on summer clothes, you should stop by The Avenue. I purchased two short-sleeve tops in pretty solid colors at 50% off last Friday and went back for one more on Sunday. They're very comfortable and come in a variety of solid colors. At $6.45 each (50% off $12.90), you can't beat the price. Cool, comfortable clothing in the summer is a must! I'm glad The Avenue has plenty of clothes for a good summer wardrobe.

If you're in need of sandals, I suggest visiting Easy Spirit Outlet. I always find great buys at Easy Spirit Outlet at Gilroy Premium Outlets in Gilroy, CA. They carry a variety of shoes in various styles and most importantly, in several widths! At my last visit a few weeks ago, I purchased a pair of casual sandals for only $14.99 (reg. $59). And they are very comfortable! If you're looking for comfort and style at a great price, look no further than Easy Spirit Outlet.

Great sale at The Avenue!

Good news for any full-figured woman looking for summer clothes on sale. Go to The Avenue! They're having their summer clearance now with some merchandise 70% off the clearance price. I went yesterday and bought two short-sleeve tops at 50% off. The material is light and comfortable, and they come in a variety of solid colors. I bought a pretty light green and aqua blue.

Good buys at Bath/Body Works!

If you're a Bath & Body Works fan like me, I hope you've taken advantage of the Yellow Sale. If not, you have three more days to stock up on several items at a discount price! Since the sale began three weeks ago, I've purchased several of my favorite products for 50 and 75 percent off! I love the Aromatherapy collection and couldn't resist getting more of my favorite scent, Warm Milk & Honey. I already have a few bottles of the bubble bath, which I love, and decided to buy a few bottles of the shower/bath gel and body lotions as well. At 75% off, why not? I decided to buy a body mist spray, too, to complete my set. This is a great product a woman of any age will love. The anti-bacterial soaps are still 50% off and a few scents were 75% off. Of course, these went fast. I also purchased a few shower creams and a body butter in another favorite scent of mine, Cucumber Melon, at 75% off, too! If you have gifts to give people in the future, I suggest you go to Bath & Body Works by Monday, July 5th! There's still some good deals left.