12.19.2010

Expensive stuff made cheap...

I love bean dip, yet the cost keeps me from buying it very often. Not that I can't afford it, its just that I never could see the value in paying for something that is so cheap in other forms. Last night I learned how to make my own and it was awesome! and cheap. Youtube is the place to go if you want to learn how to do something. Now I can have bean dip whenever I want it. Turns out it is made nearly the same way as hummus, something else that cost way more at the grocery store than it really should. And I owe most of my gratitude to my mom-in-law for buying me a food processor four years ago. It has been such a great thing in my food preparation. Thanks MIL!

12.03.2010

Hard-boiled eggs...

This morning I looked up how to cook hard-boiled eggs in the microwave. Found a couple of different ways, picked one and I cooked the best tasting hard-boiled egg I have ever eaten. Just another thing the microwave does better than a stove. I love me some sweet potatoes! Growing up I never wanted to eat them. Now I can't get enough of them. Not the holiday candied yams, those are way too sweet for me. I just peel, dice, and microwave in a zip lock bag. Then mash them up with some butter, salt, and pepper and dig in! Love, love, love them.

Cheap doesn't always mean cheap...

A couple of weeks ago I bought a "new" used camera for my collection. Even at 10 years old it is better than most cameras you can buy today. Then last week I came across a ball-head tripod at Amazon, lists for over $60 yet with all the discounts I got it for just over $20. I was skeptical that it would hold my "new" camera, which weighs 2.5lbs even though the tripod is rated to hold a maximum of 13lbs. Yet when I set it up and mounted the camera the small ball-head did hold it. Now maybe it will weaken within a few months and no longer hold it but for now it works quite well. Now I only need to find somewhere with some nice color to go shoot! The company that sells the tripod also has a small beginners lightroom (table top model) that includes a camera stand and 2 photo lights for a very reasonable price. Soon I will have this too as I have a birthday coming up in a few months!