Best of CHG: January 2010

It’s been a banner month here at Cheap Healthy Good, with record subscribers, more than 200,000 pageviews, and enough oatmeal to turn us all into Mr. Ed. Thank you, sweet readers. So much. You are, as always, the freakin’ best. JANUARY RECIPESDijon Roasted PotatoesLemon Pudding CakesPalak Paneer (Indian Cheese and Greens)Paneer (Fresh Indian Cheese)Roasted Delicata Squash with ThymeSweet Potato and Chickpea PureeTomato-Avocado SalsaVeggie BurgersJANUARY ARTICLESThis month, we learned How to Lose Weight and Keep it Off: 10 Rules to Live By.A good way to accomplish those goals: make Cheap, Healthy Master Recipes: Eight Versatile Dishes Entirely Adaptable to Your Tastes.A good way to not accomplish those goals: follow the recipes in Vintage Cookbook Hoedown: The Quick Cook Book (1961) by Lois...

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Posted in: Links

Top 10 Links of the Week: 1/22/10 – 1/28/10

This week, we question authority, stand up to The Man, and discuss some lovely options for midday snacks. Tally ho!1) Serious Eats: How Do You Eat for a Week for $50?I think this thread might be longer than the Constitution. And the ideas are just as excellent. What, me exaggerate?2) GMA: Grocery Bill Was 'Out of Control,' but Year-Long Meal Plan Saves Texas Woman Time and MoneyLeslie Chisholm, mother of four boys, started planning her family’s dinner a year in advance. It took some time, but she’s managed to reduce her grocery bill by half. Moms take note! (Note: it’s a video.)3) Slashfood: What Can I Get You Folks – Using Your Coupon“For whatever reason, coupon users tend to be among the most impolite diners,” says Slashfood columnist/waitressing...

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Posted in: Links

Veggie Might: Meal Planning - An Experiment and Conversion

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian.For years, I have been brown-bagging my lunch, cooking most meals at home, and living what I thought was a fairly frugal existence, especially when it comes to food. But I’ve been living a lie. Okay. Maybe “lie” is too strong a word. I’ve been living a fib, though. My big weaknesses are the inability to get a handle on weekly meal planning, reign in my impulsive food shopping, and stop eating cookies for dinner when I’m too tired to cook. I’ve read and reread Kris’s article on meal planning, but to no effect. I wander aimlessly through the grocery store trying to remember what’s in my kitchen and then buy what I already have. I waste food—particularly...

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Posted in: Buying Food,Frugality,Organization,Veggie Might

Cheap Healthy Master Recipes: Eight Versatile Dishes Entirely Adaptable to Your Tastes

Cooking at home is a stellar way to drop weight and save money at the same time. Consequently, there are a few basic recipes every frugal, healthy eater should have in her repertoire; recipes that are cheap, simple to make, and easily tailored to fit specific tastes. Recipes like (coincidentally): chili, salsa, frittatas, dip, soup, and all kinds of pasta, bean, and grain salads. What follows, then, are master recipes for those eight dishes. We give you the ratios and cooking instructions, you provide the ingredients. What you should know about them:I made all of 'em up, based on experience. If there are problems with the directions, it’s totally my fault (and please let me know). If there are issues with the ingredients, er, remember: experimenting...

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Posted in: Cooking,Frugality,Health

Ask the Internet: Light Super Bowl Snack Ideas?

You guys! Apparently, there’s some kind of sports game coming up? With men wearing helmets? And a ball that is also a foot? Hm. Perhaps I’ve been misinformed. But I’m also told that watching this game necessitates some inspired gorging. Subsequently, today’s question is a two-parter:Q1: What is your favorite light Super Bowl snack?Q2: Which traditional Super Bowl snack (pizza, wings, dip, etc.) would you most like to see lightened up?Q1: A few years ago, I made a Seven-Layer Taco Dip that I have not yet stopped eating. I would spread it on toast and take it on an island getaway.Q2: Artichoke dip, hands down. I’m trying the Cooking Light version for next week’s Serious Eats column. We’ll see what happens.Readers, how about you? The comment section...

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Posted in: Ask the Internet

Lemon Pudding Cakes and Ramblings

Today on Serious Eats: Winter Vegetable Chili. Sweet, smoky, substantial, and ridiculously low in Weight Watchers points.For about 100 years running, my favorite blogger has been ESPN’s Sports Guy. One of his running bits is The Ramblings, in which he just kinda barfs up whatever he’s thinking about at the time. It’s fun! So I thought I’d try it.-Did anyone catch Joe Buck repeating the phrase “muffed punt” during last night’s Vikings/Saints game? I used to think “tight end tackle” was the dirtiest football term I’d ever heard.-Last night, I dreamt the Husband-Elect and I found the perfect house, but we didn’t buy it because it was too big to clean. I hate when my subconscious make practical decisions. Shouldn’t it be climbing ancient ruins...

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Posted in: Desserts and Snacks,Vegetarian

Top 10 Links of the Week: 1/15/10 – 1/21/10

We had a wonderful week here at CHG thanks to oatmeal, Lois S. Kellogg, and y'all. In gratitude, Im sending a tray of Cholives to everyone who logged on. But before that...1) Fed Up: School Lunch ProjectMrs. Q is a teacher at an unidentified school in Chicago. This year, she’s eating lunch from the kids’ cafeteria and documenting the whole ordeal. It ain’t pretty, folks. Bagel dogs, ahoy! (Pic from the Mrs. Q.)2) Parent Hacks: Let little kids "help" with cooking by placing the mixing bowl on the open dishwasher doorSimple. Brilliant. Different. Better. Moms and dads (especially of brilliant little girls named Julia), read on! 3) The KitchnWarm and Restorative – 15 Favorite Soup RecipesFresh and Flavorful – 15 Lighter Recipes From the KitchnTwo...

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Posted in: Links

Veggie Might: Palak Paneer - World Curry Tour ‘10

Penned by the effervescent Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about the wide world of Vegetarianism.Last we left World Curry Tour ‘09, I was experimenting with asafetida and curry leaves alongside my imaginary mentor, Madhur Jaffrey. Well, it’s a brand new year and it’s time get the band back together.Last week, I showed you how to make easy-and-delicious paneer with just milk and a little lime juice. Now, let’s put the cheese of that labor into its proper place: palak paneer, courtesy of Mahanandi, shared by the delightful Anand. Palak paneer is the classic North Indian spinach and cheese dish ubiquitous in Indian restaurants across America. It’s (generally) mild, always delicious, and can be healthier than the cheese suggests....

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Posted in: Mains,Sides,Vegetarian,Veggie Might

Vintage Cookbook Hoedown: The Quick Cook Book (1961) by Lois S. Kellogg

A few months ago, I fell into possession of The Quick Cook Book by Lois S. Kellogg, a 1961 paperback filled with hundreds of convenient and occasionally jaw-dropping recipes. There are Mayonnaise Mounds. There are Corned Beef Cobblers. There's even Prune Whip. And I'm pretty sure we can trace America's obesity problems directly to the Canned Chicken section. To be fair to Lois, she seems to specialize in baking. The cake and cookie recipes look tasty and are mostly made from scratch. Some aren't, but ... we'll get to that later.First, let's pretend we're hosting a party on Mad Men. And what better way to kick off a soiree than Cholives? Of course, if you're not fond of olive and cheddar finger foods, deep-fried whole chicken sandwiches make...

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Posted in: Cooking

Ask the Internet: Favorite Oatmeal Recipe?

Hi, readers! Today’s question stems from a comment made yesterday. It's a short one.Q: What are your favorite things to add to plain oatmeal?A: Ahhh ... oatmeal. It's nutritionally sound, cheaper than water (er, in some areas), and a perfect canvas for delicious add-ons. Personally, I’m a peanut butter fan, but I’ll never back away from a good banana or a handful of dried cranberries.What about you guys? Any good oatmeal combos or recipes? Fire away in the comment section! Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide N...

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Posted in: Ask the Internet

Dijon-Roasted Potatoes PLUS Sweet Potato and Chickpea Puree: Two Recipes for the Price of One

Today on Serious Eats: Bulgur Wheat Salad with Avocado, Raisins, and Almonds. You will still feel full for three months after eating it. In a good way.When it comes to white starches like pasta, rice, bread, and potatoes, I’m a bit like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. I’ll hoard it, possibly kill for it, and occasionally beat up Elijah Wood just to be in its vicinity. Somewhere, I like to think there exists a 60-minute VHS tape of me scurrying away from the buffet table at a family event. I’m cradling plates of spaghetti to my bosom, angrily hissing “The pasta is THE PRECIOUS!” over and over until I’m disowned.But … what was I talking about? Oh yeah – starches. I like ‘em. Maybe too much. Subsequently, I’m attempting to A) cut back, and B) be...

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Posted in: Sides,Vegan,Vegetarian

Top 10 Links of the Week: 1/8/10 – 1/14/10

First, thank you guys so much for your responses to Tuesday’s Ask the Internet question. They helped a lot, and I feel much more confident hitting up Crate & Barrel with a scanner gun. I think the Oxo company will be very, very pleased by the time we’re finished.Second, Haiti’s been on a lot of people’s minds this week. If you’d like to pitch in, Epi-Log has a good rundown of donation sites for food relief, and Partners in Health is looking for any help they can get. Third, my fellow compatriots of Team Conan, it’s time for the links.1) Food Politics: Genetic Causes of Obesity – 1%The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just found that only 1% of us can blame obesity on genetics, thus obliterating my last excuse for not exercising. Of course, environment (where family plays a huge role)...

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Posted in: Links

Veggie Might: Make Your Own Paneer (Fresh Indian Cheese)

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian.Back in November, my company held its annual Multi-Cultural Feast. It’s a fun, food-centric celebration to which everyone brings a dish from their homeland—be it Indiana or India.One of my favorite dishes this year was Anand’s palek paneer (spinach with fresh cheese). It was spicier and tastier than any I’ve ever had in an Indian restaurant. I asked Anand if he would share the recipe, expecting to get one passed down from his grandmother or an auntie or something. “Sure,” he said, a little sheepishly. “I got it from the Internet. I’ll send you the link. I put in too many chilies, though; you’ll want to use less.”I had to laugh. That’s how so...

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Posted in: Sides,Vegetarian,Veggie Might