New Year, New Plan, New Look!

My challenge to myself for 2015 is not as specific as last year.  The one disadvantage to 2014 was I limited my topic to what I cooked.  I had some amazing food experiences over the past year that I should have shared (like our days in Chicago-glorious food!).  Therefore this year my challenge is to stay true to myself with my home cooking trifecta of good food, good savings and easy clean up; however, I am going to share other things I experience.

1. Many of you have emailed me and asked how I manage to maintain a low grocery budget.  I am loyal to my local grocery store, Shop 'n Save.  I will provide you with some healthy, easy ways to shop the sale flyer and eat well while saving money.  For those of you outside my area, I hope you start to see a way to use your favorite store sale flyer to its best advantage.

2.  I love to try independent restaurants that have character; so, :) a selfish challenge will be to share some restaurants, new and favorites, with you. It is easy for many of us to go to our favorite place and order the same thing because we know we like it (my 'go to' is the Chicken Pesto sandwich at Oliver's Pourhouse).  I want to try new places, and try new items in the great places I already go to.

3. There are techniques I want to master.  For example, I have never successfully made pasta.  I have done ok with it, but never great.  I have never cooked an artichoke.  I would like to try more dishes and ingredients from around the world.  So, number 3 is all over the place!






I hope you share the coming year with me.  Feel free to leave your comments and suggestions (there is a comment button at the end of each post!).  I would love to know who is reading and what you find helpful and fun!  The debate last year regarding eggs with/without ketchup was  heartwarming for me to hear from family near and far!  I hope I can entertain, maybe teach you a few things, save you a few dollars and overall, share all things food!