Shabby Cheap

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

Think Globally; Act Locally
2008-05-25 03:19:00
Today was the season kickoff of our city farmer's market. AKA: My favorite day of the year. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep. I know that it's really early in the season and we have had a late spring, but I just couldn't wait.Josh and I actually made out quite well.2 bags of spinach/lettuce mix: $5.001 bag of baby greens: $2.502 Bunches of Asparagus: $6.00A big thing of honey with a bear bottle thrown in for free: $5.00Stew meat: $4.70Hamburger: $4.10Total: $27.30The meat is locally grown from the Price Family Farm. The animals are given no antibiotics or steroids, and are free range grass fed. We are anticipating ordering a quarter cow for around $400 that will last l for almost a year. (I'm trying to talk Josh into it.)The greens are going to my parent's cabin on Monday where we will be partaking in a lakeside cookout.The asparagus was a bit pricey, but worth every cent. It is absolutely fresh and so tender.I have been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Ki...

A delicious dinner salad:
2008-05-17 06:00:00
I don't intend for this to be a rodent blog, not that there is anything wrong with that. My babies are a big part of my life and it seems that we all have settled into a great little routine.When I get home from work, I let the dogs out. For a few minutes before I fix dinner, I snuggle my Basil Bunny. Then I let him out in his pen to hop around for a bit. He has learned quite quickly how to jump out, but a sharp BASIL! will stop him in mid-air. After dinner I prepare a veggie salad for both Basil and Bean. They eat their fill and then take a snooze while Pikachu devours the salad remains.I get such a kick out of the fact that I am able to share delicious veggies with my animals. I couldn't ask for anything better.
More About: Dinner , Salad , Delicious

Meet Basil Bunny
2008-05-16 06:55:00
Josh is setting up an aquarium, so we have been frequenting a salt water fish store that occasionally has bunnies. Last week, I just couldn't put this little guy down, so we took him home.Meet Basil Bunny . He is so sweet. He licks your hand for approval and bounces around the cage with our Guinea Pig, Bean. He shy, but playful. He fast as a whip, bucking around our living room like a bronco. Josh gets such a kick out of him.(Look closely for Basil Bunny's bucking antics.)The best part is that he's already litter trained. It was rather easy. We just put a litter box in his cage and voila!I was hoping for a little girl bunny, but it turns out that Basil has two little marbles near his tail. Now our home is 5 Boys/ Girls 1. That's okay with me.On a side note, please put Pikachu in your thoughts. He has a severe seizure in the middle of the night. (We thought he was choking, and he even lost bowel control.) The vet hopes that this was an isolated instance, but we are being very pre...

Fresh Eggs; Fresh Approach.
2008-04-26 06:42:00
I haven't really been in the mood to blog. I've been addicted to lesbian sitcoms and knitting and re-knitting my other sock. I also didn't take my anxiety medication for four days, so you didn't really want to hear what I had to say anyway. Trust me.But I'm back. With fresh eggs and a fresh approach. I think it's about time for a goals post.This spring and summer,I plan on actually riding my bike a little.I am going to recycle. I've already started a compost bin and it's going really well.I want to go bird watching, and hiking with my Joshua.I really want to be healthy no matter how much I weigh.I would like to knit tons of socks.I really want to cook from my millions of cookbooks.and cook cook cook veggies from the fresh farmer's marketAnd blog more.I must practice Algebra for my next semester.I also want to take part in the Healing Environment projects at work.And write my niece, Londyn, tons of letters.Love my family.Play with Bean.Hug my monsters, Petey and Pikachu.I w...
More About: Eggs , Fresh

The Secret Has Been Revealed:
2008-04-10 06:20:00
I am pleased to introduce Baby LMNOP.Londyn Elizabeth RainI simply cannot describe how happy I am to be part of my niece's life.I cannot wait to learn more about her personality and watch her grow and learn.Welcome to the World, Londyn!
More About: The Secret , Secret

What dog breed are you?
2008-04-02 04:50:00
Yes, I'm afraid so.
More About: Breed

I am back to civilization!
2008-03-24 17:31:00
Josh and I are almost finished moving everything over. I can't wait to show pictures of the new apartment. We both love it and feel really comfortable despite the fact that we have piles of things all over the place right now.
More About: Civilization , Back

Everybody Loves an Irish Girl.
2008-03-17 15:15:00
Happy St. Patties Day!(Yes, I made that scarf.)Since I have to work today, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day last night with a corned beef and cabbage dinner. I know that corned beef isn't necessarily Irish , at least that what I have been told. I just like the tasted of an nice slab of corned beef. However, I've never really been able to do it quite right until last night. I used the braising method. I seared the roast on each side, and then let it simmer slowly in liquid on the stove for a few hours. Then I sliced the beef against the grain right before I put it on our plates.It was delicious. The corned beef was so succulent.I paired it with a delightful cabbage casserole from Bake Until Bubbly.Josh and I both agree that the cabbage casserole was over the top when you take a slice of corned beef and a slice of casserole in your mouth at the same time. Yum!I also made my standard potatoes au gratin. We had enough to feed an army.Finally, I made these delicious cutout cookies for ...
More About: Girl

Yesterday was PI day!
2008-03-16 03:00:00
To celebrate the glorious occasion of 3.14159265358979323846… I baked a pie.Now, I must admit. I am pretty darn good at baking pies. I use a super secret Martha Stewart Pate' Brisee for my crust. It works like a charm. Some people use crisco for their crust. I use plain B-U-T-T-E-R. I blend it with a pastry blender until you can see small chunks of butter intermingled with the flour. I'm pretty anxious to get the pie crust started, but it's important to let the dough linger in the refrigerator for about an hour. The hardened dough is easier to roll out.Yesterday , I made a pear and apple pie. It was my very own creation. I know that pears (and apple for that matter) are not in season, but I have to eat fruit. For the filling, I just cut two pears into chunks and one apple. I sprinkled lemon juice over the mixture, some brown sugar, cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg. I didn't measure, so I don't really have the exact recipe. Anyway, recipes come in many different forms. Part of ...

Food Memories
2008-03-15 03:57:00
I was listening to the Eating Ithaca food cast where they were reliving exceptional food moments in their lives. They had some exceptional food moments where you cannot think of anything else but what it on your plate and who you are sitting next to.One of these such moments happened to me when I bit into a 222 Artisan Bakery Pastry at Riley's Christmas Party. I glanced down at the pastry, thinking that it was a just a run-of-the-mill dessert. However, I was quite wrong. Instead, I stumbled upon a maple and walnut pinwheel that had the melt in the mouth factor. As I brought each bite to my mouth, the pastry rested on my tongue and then slowly melted away.Josh and I had a lovely food moment together when we were first married. We were dining at Brandt's on Delmar. Together we shared our meal on a tiny table overlooking the bustling sidewalk. Josh and I both ordered the crab stuffed trout with garlic mashed potatoes. They served us a plate sized slab of trout with the creamiest fi...
More About: Food , Memories

What's your celebrity chef?
2008-03-11 17:58:00
In control cookWith your organisation and level head, you could give Delia a run for her money. Like her, you're competent without being flash, you don't get into panic if things go wrong and meals appear to be conjured up effortlessly. But, it wouldn't do any harm to let rip in the kitchen once in a while. Make a mess, bang some pans together and get creative!Take the quiz. I would love to know who your celebrity chef is.
More About: Celebrity , Chef

We're moving!
2008-03-10 03:13:00
Josh and I swore we weren't going to move until he starts graduate school. We have moved almost ever other year since we have been married, and it's exhausting. However, the road to graduate school is taking a tad longer than we thought and our apartment is developing so many stacks of books that it will eventually swallow us up. So we are moving to a two bedroom unit. It's still your basic apartment, but I am excited nonetheless.I can't wait to paint the walls a lovely honey color.I really want to compost all year long on my patio. I simply cannot wait to have a kitchen herb garden where I can pick some basil or rosemary.I am so excited about the pantry! I'll have room for all of my Le Creusets!And a dishwasher. No more of this:I didn't even mention the central air and extra bedroom for our bikes and the like.We are moving in two weeks, so I'd better get packing.
More About: Moving

My Sis's Shower.
2008-03-06 04:33:00
Keri's shower went on without a snag. It was a lovely room near with a slight view of the lake. Keri and my mom had an ultimate grand plan. I could tell that paid attention to details, all the way up to balloons and goody bags full of pink and brown whoppers.I definitely had to get an awkward picture of Keri's bump. Of course, I snapped the picture just as soon as she closed one eye. Nonetheless, my niece is in that cute belly and that's what matters.I also had a chance to catch up with long lost family. They represent a comfortable part of my childhood. It's nice to relive that once in a while.We played silly shower games and ate deliciously homemade chicken salad sandwiches. I should have taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying myself.I made this card for Keri and Baby LMNOP. Included with my gift was a book called Princess Baby. It was the tale of a baby who wanted to be called by her real name. It is so fitting. Keri and Shawn are keeping their lips zipped about ...
More About: Shower

I have a bit of a dilemma
2008-03-03 16:34:00
I committed to the blog 365 thing, and so far I have posted ever single day. Sometimes I put time and effort into my post. Other times, I give you a youtube video. Lately, it's been more youtube videos. Perhaps, I'm burnt out. Do I forgo my commitment and only post when I have time to make it a "quality" post?I'm just afraid that if I don't keep up my habit my post will be farther and fewer.
More About: Dilemma

Yes, It's a good day Sunshine
2008-03-03 05:54:00
Today was my Sis's baby shower. I had a really good time. It went off without a hitch, but I am too tired to post any pictures.Until then, please enjoy Mr. Paul McCartney.
More About: Sunshine , Good

Chef Iron Jen.
2008-02-28 06:01:00
Last night Josh caught me in action with my sidekick. Yum!Dinner? Hashbrown Casserole, Ahi, and Spinach with pine nuts and feta.
More About: Chef , Iron

Our conversation about the last post:
2008-02-26 18:17:00
Josh: That's a nice post. Where are you going to get a lip ring?Jennifer: Oh, I decided to forgo the whole lip ring thing.Josh: You can get one, but I just don't find it sexy.Jennifer: That's why I decided to forgo it. How about a nose ring?Joshua: (with a sneaky smile): How about a nipple ring?Jennifer (in retaliation): How about a scrotum ring?Joshua (shrugs): Well?. . . if it benefits me. . .Jennifer rolls her eyes and walks out of the room.
More About: Post , Conversation

Another You Tube Production:
2008-02-24 06:30:00
This is Crash Test Kitchen. Our Addiction. Josh and I simply cannot wait for a new episode. The Crash Test Couple prepare a yummy dish each episode, but end up happily arguing until the finished product. They bring their British (Australian too) humor to each eposide. We love this.(I can't really link to them right now because their website is down. However, please subscribe in the infamous ITUNES.)
More About: You Tube , Tube , Production