Care Packages for Friends with Swine Flu

Swine flu appears to be making its way through our area, as it has throughout much of the U.S. Fortunately, we've managed to avoid it in our household so far, but some friends of ours were not so lucky. We delivered some meals to them, and I thought I would share this recipe with you in case you want to make someone else's day a little brighter too. It's quick, easy, frugal, and super good for you! Oh, and it freezes well too. What more could you want?

Recipe for Portuguese Chicken:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced

1 cup tomato sauce

2 cups chicken broth

1 large can diced tomatoes

3 carrots, diced

3 white potatoes, diced

3 stalks celery, diced

1/4 pound Spanish chorizo

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. dried basil

1 large dried bay leaf

salt & pepper to taste

To a large pot, add the olive oil, potatoes, celery, and carrots. Saute for just a few minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chicken, chicken broth. Stir well (Emily took the stirring job very seriously), and let simmer for 10 minutes, and then season with the thyme, oregano, basil, bay leaf, and chorizo. Stir well (Thank you, Emily) and let simmer for an additional 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and remove the bay leaf.

A couple of notes regarding this recipe:

• During flu season, I try to make this using all organic ingredients. I found organic tomatoes and sauce at Big Lots for just $0.99 for a large can of each. Carrots, potatoes and celery are very affordable, with the organic varieties not costing that much more.
• Did you know the herb thyme is particularly good for sore throat and chest congestion? For those suffering from either of those aliments, I increase the amount of thyme in the recipe.
• Top a bowl of this Portuguese chicken with crushed tortilla chips -- yummy!!
• For those friends who are extra special, serve with a loaf of freshly baked bread.
• I wish you could smell our house right now!!

Some other things you might want to include in your care package:

• Tissues -- We love Puff Plus with Lotion
• Tylenol
• Cough Drops
• Herbal Tea with Honey

In other exciting news, I had the honor and privilege of being interviewed by the lovely and talented Imene from A Journey to a Simple Happy Life! If you haven't seen her blog before, it is definitely worth the visit. Tell her I sent you! I particularly love her Gratitude Sunday posts. Very inspiring, and I look forward to them every week.

Fart Fest 2009

Yes, you read that right. Yesterday, I rushed Emily to the Emergency Room because she was showing symptoms of what we thought was Appendicitis. Her stomach had been slightly upset all afternoon. Turns out, it was just a locked-in fart on the lower right side of her abdomen. She was doubled over in pain, holding her side, screaming and crying.... That is, until she went to the bathroom and let out what I think could very well qualify for The World's Longest Loudest Smelliest FART!

While we were waiting in the lobby (this was pre-fart, so Emily was in a lot of pain then), one of the hospital's volunteers came to us with two Jared Boxes. This was a fabulous thing, and made the five hours of waiting bearable for both of the girls. I was blown away by the generosity and thoughtfulness of The Jared Box Project. I had never heard of it before yesterday.

The Jared Box Project started in 2001 by the children at Our Lady of Victory School in State College, PA to honor their classmate and friend, Jared. According to the paper left in the box, Jared was "a brave little boy who battled cancer with courage and faith that continues to inspire us all."

Once Miss Emily's stomach feels better, our next activity will be making Jared Boxes to take to our local hospital. For detailed directions on how to do this, click here. Most items for Jared Boxes are very inexpensive, and can be found at your local Dollar Store. Suggested items include crayons, coloring books, puzzles, small stuffed animals, silly-putty, or stickers. You could even get the kids involved by asking them to pick out the items for the Jared Box themselves!

In other news, I am absolutely loving the funny captions for our first Caption Contest! Contest ends Wednesday, July 1st at 6pm EST, so don't forget to get your entry in for a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card.

8 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget

You may be surprised to learn that eating healthy foods can be good for your waistline and your budget! Here are some of our favorite tips for eating healthy without spending a lot of money:

1. Drink Water -- Kick the soda habit. Not only is soda loaded with sugar and calories, it is also not friendly to your wallet. If you do not already have a Brita Filter at home, consider purchasing one and using it on a regular basis. If you must have something carbonated to drink, try flavored seltzer water with a slice of lemon or lime.  
   
2. Avoid Pre-packaged Foods -- Purchasing convenience foods means you are paying for all the packaging, and marketing that goes into those products. Fresh ingredients are often better for you, and are usually much cheaper.
3. Buy Meat in Bulk -- Sometimes super markets offer loss-leader specials on meats. If you have a large freezer, stock up. You will be purchasing meat at its lowest possible price, and avoid going to the store (so you will save money on gas too).
4. Farmers Market -- Your local farmers market may have great deals on fresh vegetables and fruit, particularly at the end of the day. If you get a good deal on tomatoes, for instance, you could make your own sauce or salsa.
5. Bake Your Own Bread -- Often, store bought bread can be expensive, and it usually contains high fructose corn syrup. If you do not already have a bread maker, search at thrift shops or yard sales. I frequently see nearly-new bread machines there for only a few dollars. Baking your own bread can save a lot of money, and you have the satisfaction of being able to pronounce all the ingredients.
6. Grow Your Own -- This spring we plan to start gardening with vegetables that are easy to grow such as: green beans, tomatoes, and green bell peppers. Not only will this save money, the food you grow yourself contains more nutrients since it does not have to travel to reach your dinner table.
7. Buy Only What You Need -- Before you visit the store, make a grocery list and stick to it. If you find yourself picking up impulse purchases, place those in the front basket of the cart. When you are ready to check out, keep just one of those items in the front basket and put the others back on the shelf.
8. Never Waste Food -- Find creative ways to use leftovers. Soups, casseroles, and even fajitas can be made using leftovers and taste great. Don't forget about re-heating last night's dinner for today's lunch.

Photo by Rick McCharles

Related Article: Printable Coupons for Organics

Do you have a great tip for healthy eating on a budget, or does your family plan to start a garden for the first time this year?  I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share you ideas with us!