Destination Dining

Prosciutto, Melon, and Walnuts

I love food! Food is good for the soul, body and spirit. Yeah, Yeah, I indulge just a little too much but for the most part, food is an important part of life. If you look at the most significant aspects of your life, I bet they are surrounded by food. Where would we be without birthday cake, chocolate or family dinners?

In my quest to find an inexpensive way to travel, I discovered destination dining. Destination dining is traveling with food. Instead of hopping on a plane and getting your passport stamped by customs, travel to the grocery store and create your own authentic meals from the countries you want to visit. Last week, Mr. Diva and I visited Italy. Of course I was inspired after watching Eat. Love. Pray. I have fallen in love with a simple dish of melon and prosciutto ham. Who know it would be so good? We included some delicious wine and olives. Yum! I am ready to go back already. In true diva fashion, I have included a few helpful tips to spice up your destination dining experience. Happy Eating!

• Most cities have international markets or sections of town where you can purchase authentic herbs, spices, meats, pastries and cheese.
• Just in case you don’t have an old family recipe, use the internet to find unique recipes and food combination.
• Be creative. Stamp a mock passport with all the locations you have traveled in your destination dining.
• Dress for the occasion. Wear an outfit from the country you’re visiting.

Cheap Gas Anonymous

I had another cheap episode last night. While returning home from a lovely dinner with Mr. Diva’s Aunt and Uncle in Orangeburg, SC, we decided we needed to stop and get some gas before we got back home. This would have been an easy task if the gas on the road was not 10 cents higher then back in Columbia. Keep in mind, O-burg to Columbia is only 45 min to 1hour drive, but I really don’t want the gas light to flash at me when I am between exits.


Mr. Diva decides to stop at the gas station and quickly informs me he is putting $25.00 of mid-grade gas in the car. This was his way of putting enough gas in the car to get home and hold off visiting the gas station for a couple of days.

SN: Yes I am spoiled! I hate pumping gas so Mr. Diva does it for me.

At any rate, I almost had a coronary! I quickly figured the amount of money I could save if we just put enough gas in the car to get us home then fill up the tank in Columbia. After a 5 minute price comparison argument and against my better judgment, Mr. Diva gets $20.00 of mid-grade petro. Needless to say I was hot! Didn’t he realize it was the principles of not letting the oil companies rule our life? It’s not the 10 cents that really matters. It’s the satisfaction of saying you got cheap gas! Finally at 10:30pm, we are on the road again with an additional 10 gallons of gas.

In the dark of the night, as the 18-wheelers rocked the car, I began to realize I needed help. I am addicted to cheap gas. My mind could not wrap around paying in total an extra…..$0.96. Yes, just 96 cents for the entire savings. It’s time for me to call the support group Cheap Gas Anonymous.

Here's to Recovery,

The Shoestring Diva

Friday Treat

It's Day 4 of the Summer Savings Challenge and I am not looking forward to Day 5.  I usually take my lunch 4 days and week then eat out on Friday. It's just a little end of the week treat.  I don't do it every Friday but this week has been long and I am in need my treat.  Well....Day 5 is Friday.  What am I going to do?  I need my little treat!  It's usually just me and no one else. My time to get whatever I want to eat without worrying about the Diva Kids or Mr. Diva.  *frown*

I know what I will do. I am going to consult the mother of pick me up food, Paula Deen.  Oh, Food Godmother Paula, what shall I take for lunch tomorrow?  After searching the www.pauladeen.com site, I figured out what I want for my treat.  I am going to make some fresh bruschetta. That will make me happy!  I still have the tomatoes from my visit to the farmers market and balsamic vinaigrette in the cabinet.  I think I will top it off with some lemonade.  OK I'm all better now. Thanks Food Godmother Paula, you saved my lunch again.

Shoestring Diva Bruschetta( Cheap. Easy. Delicious)

2 slices of toasted bread
1 chopped fresh tomato
Feta Cheese
Parsley Flakes, Salt, Pepper
Balsamic Vinaigrette

Toast  the bread in tear into bit sized pieces.  Chop up the tomato into small cubes and place in a small bowl.  Add desired amount of parsley flakes, salt and fresh ground pepper.  Pour tomato mixture over the toasted bread.  Top with feta cheese and sprinkle the desired amount f balsamic vinaigrette. 

Summer Saving Challenge Day 2

Yesterday was a great day to save. I took my leftover lasagna and it was just as delicious as night before. To top off the good day, Cupcake had a power hour and I was able to get a scrumptious Mocha cupcake for FREE! Can you say AWE-SOME! I did unfortunately break one rule and bought a cup of coffee from Starbucks. I got the regular brew and not a fancy caramel coffee like I usually get. On second thought, I didn't officially break the rule because it was technically breakfast (before 11:00am) when I got the coffee. 

Tip:  I suggest switching up your lunch for Day 3.  If you are like me, you have taken leftovers for the past couple of days.  Make something fresh like a good sandwich. I brought a cajun turkey sandwich with fresh tomatoes and lettuce.  Switching up your meals will help you combat lunch boredom. Great job on Day 2. Keep up the good work.

Smooches

Summer Savings Challenge

Welcome to the first day of summer and Summer Savings Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to promote budgeting and saving. Saving money can sometimes be a challenge. It’s hard to figure out where you are spending the most money. Eating out for lunch is a huge cost that can be modified into a savings. The Summer Savings Challenge is here to jump start your savings.


Here is how it works. Take your lunch to work for 10 days. For each day you take your lunch, place the money you would have spent on lunch out. Place it in a piggy jar, coin purse or just keep a tally. At the end of the 10 days, count up how much money you saved. It’s just that simple. Not only have you eaten all the leftovers in the fridge but you paid yourself in return.

Here is one trick I find very helpful. I plan out my lunches just like my dinners. I try to use the products from my grocery list more than one time. For instance I may have a sandwich one day and use the toasted bread as croutons the next day. Try it out. It works! Good Luck!


Lunch Grocery List

• Bacon (can be used for breakfast too)

• Green Leaf Lettuce

• Fresh tomatoes

• Wheat bread

• Peaches

• Healthy Choice Meal

• Yogurt x 5 (can be used from breakfast too)

• Lean Cuisine Meal x 2


Lunch Meals

Monday- BLT

Tuesday- Salad with bacon, toasted bread crumbs with dressing

Wednesday- Left over baked chicken and broccoli from Tuesday night dinner

Thursday- Homemade chicken salad (made from Tuesday night’s chicken) and fresh peaches

Friday- Lean Cuisine Meal