Monday, January 2, 2017

Happy New Year!

Hanging those new calendars, doing some planning and organizing for the year ahead, or maybe just kicking back to enjoy the last of the college football bowl games--all good ways to spend this last holiday vacation day before going back into the routine of work, school, and meetings.

This could also be a good opportunity to spend a little more time in the kitchen. As you look ahead to the new year, here is a look back on just four posts with recipes that could be just right for today's food ventures.

Snacks

First, some ideas for snacks while watching those football games. Try them out today and you'll be ready to add them to next month's Super Bowl menu.

This one has some spreads that are wonderful for any special occasion snacking. If you love olives, the tapenade will be something you'll want to make often, with lots of possible uses.



http://frugalfastfun.blogspot.com/2013/02/special-bruschetta-toppings-versatile.html

Perhaps pesto is more in your plans. Who says this has to have expensive pine nuts or even the sometimes hard to get at this season basil? This one includes spinach and cilantro along with almonds--totally not traditional perhaps, but still really good and a lot more "frugal" than the usual basil/pine nuts kind.

http://frugalfastfun.blogspot.com/2015/05/cilantro-and-spinach-pesto.html




Resolution: Healthy, thrifty eating

Maybe your time in the kitchen will be spent taking concrete steps toward those healthful and/or thrifty food resolutions. Homemade soup could be a good place to start.

Potato soup and a lot of variations are all included here. What could be more warming than a pot of this bubbling on the stove after a day of playing in the snow?

http://frugalfastfun.blogspot.com/2016/01/potato-soup-and-variations.html



Want to make something less creamy?  This soup can be made for vegetarians if you use vegetable bouillon cubes, and it focuses on vegetables easily available in the winter:

http://frugalfastfun.blogspot.com/2015/03/sweet-and-simple-vegetable-soup.html



Whatever you decide to cook today, be sure to spend time to savor it, and where possible, to share it with family and friends with good conversation as the best accompaniment. Here's to a New Year full of hospitality and love!