Vons has Dollar Days!

Vons or Safeway, depending on where you live, is NOT a dollar store. They are in fact a slightly upscale (or at least midstream, waning toward upwardly mobile) supermarket, again depending on where you live. Where I live, Vons is feeling the pressure, and offering better and better bargains.

The sale flyer this week features some pretty good "Dollar Deals" -- Here is what they offer for 99 cents or less --

Wishbone salad dressing
Fresh Express Garden Salads
Artisan Cake Slices
Ice Cream cups
and Angel Soft Bath Tissue.

Not bad . . . I usually shop at Vons for Seltzer Water and Sourdough French Bread, but I will definitely be loading up my shopping basket with more goodies this week.

Elvis Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches

In honor of the anniversary of the King's passing today we make Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches, using the recipe printed on the potholder I bought at Graceland.

When Life Give You Berries, Make Berry Pie

This being summer, the 99 Cent Only Store has had an awesome selection of Strawberries, Blackberries, and Blueberries.

Since I had an extra frozen pie crust from when I made my South Western Quiche, I decided to make a berry pie.

Pies are really simple, especially when you use a frozen crust. It may not be considered Kosher to use this convenience food, but sometimes I prefer to take the easy way out.

I used a streusel topping which is basically sugar, brown sugar, flour, a little salt and butter mixed together until it is sort of crumbly.

As a binder, I cheated further and used a can of strawberries from the dollar store. The heavy syrup from this mushy stuff usually sets up well for the pie filling if you mix some corn starch in.

So thats it. Fresh berries mixed with the canned strawberries with some corn starch (a tablespoon is plenty). Streusel topping on top, and in the oven. You know the drill - 350 degrees, 40 minutes or so.

Berry pie for the Summer. Yum!

Cash is King Ranch Casserole

Nothing stretches your food budget like a casserole, and the King Ranch Casserole is a classic.

It is a simple combination of tortillas (corn, flour, or tortilla chips), chicken, cheese, onions, salsa or picante sauce, and cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup.

All you do is layer tortillas (grease pan first), mix the two soups with half a can of water and layer, add chicken, onions, cheese and salsa. You can layer high in a small pan, or low in a big pan.

I got everything at the dollar store, with the exception of the shredded chicken breast which was leftover in my freezer from a couple of weeks ago. Every now and again if chicken breasts are on sale I will cook them, eat one or two and freeze the rest for projects like this King Ranch Casserole.

You bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, depending on your layering technique. As with most casseroles this one tastes even better the second day, and freezes well.

For less than 10 bucks you have a hearty entree that feeds six. Add a tossed side salad and dinner is served.

That's it. Delicious.

Recessionista? Recession Pizza!

I make the best french bread pizzas with stuff from the dollar store.

I usually buy a loaf of Sourdough french bread for $1.49 from Von's (Safeway) because they bake it fresh every day.

I'll eat some of it while it is fresh, making sandwiches, or eating with soup or spaghetti, but after a day or two, the leftovers start to go stale and stiffen, which means pizza time!

I simply cut the leftover loaf in half, spread with spaghetti sauce that I mix some other stuff like balsamic vinegar and italian seasonings into, and load up on the toppings.

If you've been reading my other entries, you can probably guess what these toppings are - mushrooms, onions, olives, sausage, pepperoni, mozarella and cheddar cheese - the same stuff I use for quiche and pasta.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or so, and mangia!

Like most of my other recipes these refrigerate and freeze well. Everytime I bring one into work (refrigerated) and heat 1 minute in the microwave before noon, everyone says how good it smells and looks, and is soon running out for lunch.

You too can be the envy of your co-workers with your buck lunch.

Granny Goose Dip Chips

I grew up on Granny Goose and Laura Scudder potato chips. So I was thrilled to see a bag of Granny Goose Dip Chips in the 99 Cent Only Store.

These delectable ridged slices of spud really make your sandwich shine. I look forward to any lunch that includes potato chips, don't you?

As this photo attests, they are also a hit at the fanciest of feasts including Thanksgiving.

The Granny Goose brand was a regional company headquartered in Oakland, California (both my parents were born and raised in Oakland, and all my brothers and sisters were born there -- then the folks moved over the hill to suburbia in Castro Valley, where I, the youngest, was born.)The company began in 1946, and heavily marketed their potato chips through the 1960s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_Goose

Laura Scudder was one of the original potato chip mavens and was from Southern California http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Scudder

The brand was bought by Borden who then sold it to Granny Goose, but ultimately neither could compete with Frito-Lay and in 1995 Granny Goose was sold to a division of the Smucker company.

Along with Mother's Cookies, Granny Goose was one of those great local brands I grew up with.

Here's to Laura Scudder and Granny Goose!

Midor Gourmet Swiss Cookies

These Midor Swiss Cookies from the 99 Cent Only Store, are the real deal. High grade gourmet fare, imported all the way from Switzerland. I'm guessing they showed up on the shelves here because they expire Sept. 30, 2009 but trust me, these will get eaten immediately once you bring them home.

My favorite is the "Famosa" with hazelnut filling, but the Chocobisc Noir biscuits with dark chocolate are pretty awesome as well.

This is just the sort of thing to put in a gourmet gift basket, or impress the relatives and co-workers with.

Dollar Store Pasta Feast

This loaded pasta dish is simple to prepare and freezes well. It also uses many of the ingredients of the Southwestern quiche, so you don't have to see your dollar store bargains go to waste.

First I prepare the Rotini (al dente of course).

Then I mix Del Monte Garlic and Onion spaghetti sauce with some balsamic vinegar and Italian spices.

I add cooked crumbled turkey sausage (Brown & Serve), some sliced black olives, diced onions, and sliced mushrooms.

I cook the sauce covered in the microwave for about 8 minutes. I add the sauce to the cooked pasta, and sprinkle with mozarella cheese. That's it. Delicious, nutricious, and low fat.

I Love Bacon

I love bacon, I do. I don't love the mess of preparing it, or the fat content, so I was thrilled to find these real bacon bits made by Plumrose being sold at the Dollar Tree and the 99 Cent Only Store.

They are perfect for topping those baked potatoes or field greens, or just eating straight out of the bag like pork jerky chewin' tobaccy. Yum, yum.

There are about 11 servings in a 2.8 oz bag with 25 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 220 grams of sodium. Even if you ate half the bag in one sitting (which I have been known to do) you would be ingesting just 130 calories and 8 grams of fat.

There is even a recipe on the back of the bag for

"Zesty Green Bean & Bacon Salad"

3.5 cup cooked green beans
1/4 cup minced onions
1/2 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
1 package Plumrose Bacon Bits

In a bowl combine all ingredients except bacon. Toss and marinate in refrigerator for 25 minutes. Drain excess dressing. Sprinkle bacon on top. Toss. Serve.

When is 99 Cents Not 99 Cents?

When is 99 Cents Not 99 Cents? When it is a Dollar of course! So don't let the name "99 Cent Only Store" fool you. You are NOT paying 99 cents for that item, you are paying $1.00.

Confused? Well, you see the recession forced the 99 Cent Only Store to raise their prices to 99.99 cents per item. I guess it could be 99.99999999999999 cents per item, I mean it really doesn't matter, any way they spin it you are paying a buck.

I really took umbrage at the price increase, and the misrepresentation of my favorite store, and so I wrote the head honcho with my grievances.

Eric Shiffer wrote this response to my email below -

Thank you for your email and your business over the years. Our reasons for the "about a penny" increase are spelled out in our news release as you know. However, do you have a number either I or one of my partners could call you to discuss your feedback more?
Please allow me to assure you that continuing to keep improving product quality is an important priority for us. Thanks.

Eric Schiffer

Subject: For Eric Schiffer regarding 99.99 cents

Dear Mr. Schiffer,

I am a loyal 99 Cent Only customer, but I'm not an idiot. 99.99 cents is NOT 99 cents! I understand that Motel 6 has to charge more than 6 dollars a night, but it's slogan is not "No Night Over $6 EVER!"

If you want to help your company, perhaps you should make your stores smaller, easier to shop, and get rid of all the CRAP that you sell for 99 cents that isn't even worth the plastic bags (that's a whole other can of worms) they are crammed into.

On many occasions I have purchased items at your store that were dangerous, or unusable that I had to throw away. Included were bitter blueberries, Chinese pickled carrots that made me sick, wall hooks that didn't stick, undrinkable coffee, chipped glassware, unwearable undergarments . . . the list goes on and on.

I'm a value shopper and realize many of these products are of sub-par quality and otherwise wouldn't be offered at such a low price . . . but really . . . do you have to devote so much shelf space to them???!!!

With your new 99.99 cent price you are cruising for a massive class action lawsuit for misrepresentation.

You can save yourself a lot of grief by taking my advice, and establishing better quality control, and a more pleasant and productive shopping experience for your customers.

Honestly, I don't mind paying a penny more for a good product, but as I said, I'm no fool . . . I can just as easily take my dollar to Dollar Tree.

I responded by sending Eric Schiffer my phone number, but of course I never heard from him.

The thing is, I still shop at the 99 Cent Only Store a couple to a few times a week, but I am still annoyed to have to traverse so much questionable, and downright dangerous merchandise to get to the good stuff.

Feel free to email Eric Schiffer yourself - him address is erics@99only.com

Organic Field Mix, because Man does not live by bread alone

I told you I was really scoring at the 99 Cent Only Store. Where else could you get a big tub of Organic Spring Field Mix for this price?!

A 10 lb Sack of Spuds for a Buck!

Boy Howdy! I've really been lucking out at the 99 Cent Only Store lately. There are several around the Las Vegas Valley, but the best by far in located at Decatur and Charleston. The produce/freezer section is quite large and the bargains abound.

I bought this 10 pound bag of Grade A Russet potatoes from Idaho there, and that will keep me in spuds for quite some time.

Egg Beaters South Western Quiche!

Real men don't eat quiche, they eat egg pie.

This one I made with South Western flavored Egg Beaters from the 99 Cent Store is delicious.

The recipe is simple - a frozen pie shell (also from 99 Cent Store), pour in the carton of Egg Beaters, add a little crumbled Turkey Sausage (Brown & Serve from the 99 Cent Store microwaved a bit to start their cooking process), picante sauce, mushrooms, olives, onions, and shredded cheddar cheese (again, I got all this stuff at the 99 Cent Store) - bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees and that is all there is to it. Yummy, yummy egg pie, a complete meal in itself and low in fat.

Japanese Rice Crackers

I've always liked Japanese Rice Crackers and they are healthier than your average snack.

These Luv Yu Brand Crackers from the 99 Cent Only Stores are delicious and cheap. Luv Yu also makes the Garlic Rice Vinegar that I am so fond of, and it is encouraging to know that these Asian style products are actually made in Louisville, Kentucky! They have only 80 calories, 1.6 grams of fat, and 84 mg of sodium per servings.

Luv Yu describes these Rice Crackers thusly -

"You will enjoy these tasty and crunchy Japanese rice crackers, or Senbei, as they are called in the Japanese culture, are increasing in popularity in our health conscious society. These crackers are oven baked and low in fat, but are still delicious. They are made from rice flour, making them both wheat and gluten free. These Japanese rice crackers are the perfect snack for those on-the-go moments, and are also good for serving to nibble on. Rice crackers will satisfy those snacking urges, but wihout the fat and unhealthiness of potato chips and other fried snacks.

Traditionally these crackers come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, and are usually salty but sometimes sweet. In Japan, senbei are usually cooked by being baked or grilled, traditionally over charcoal. While being prepared they may be brushed with a flavoring sauce, often one made of soy sauce.

We are sure you will enjoy these crackers, as all ingredients used in our product are of the highest quality and from the freshest sources. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you have any questions, please visit our website at www.luvyu.com"

YOU WILL ENJOY!

Western Bagels make "Professsional" Meals

The other day I was eating ham and swiss on an onion bagel, with chips on the side. A co-worker walked by and said "where did you get that, did you make it?" I said that I made it with stuff from the dollar store. He said it "looked very professional," and I definitely took that as a compliment.

I was reminded of the Fred Armisen character "Fericito" on Saturday Night Live, the hammy drum playing Latin host who would instruct his guests on the fine art of comedy timing and trademarks, and exclaim "Eeees more pro - fessional!"

So get you some Western bagels, add ham, swiss, and mustard - serve with some potato chips and lunch is served!

Drunken Soup

Last week (while drinking) I threw together a soup with stuff mostly from the dollar store and 99 Cent only store. It was pretty good when I finished, but the next day it was even better. Unfortunately, I can't really remember what all is in it, or the exact quanities. But, because it is so delicious I will try to reconstruct the recipe, or at least list the ingredients --

Chicken
Chicken broth
red onions
mushrooms
potatoes
Brocci-flower
golden raisins
beer
garlic pepper salt
cumin
sour cream

I probably browned the red onions in butter, then added the mushrooms. I usually cut up my potatoes and give them a head start in the microwave, I might have cooked the Brocci-flower (looks like cauliflower but has a green tint as broccoli is mated with it) with the potatoes. The cumin is what really gave this soup a wonderful flavor, I might have added some paprika or chili powder as well. Everything came from the dollar store except the chicken, beer and sour cream. The sour cream gave it a more creamy texture as opposed to a broth base. This conconction produced quit a bit of soup, and days later I am still eating it. The golden raisins give this a touch of sweetness and a sort of middle eastern feel. This is especially good with garlic bagel chips (not from the dollar store) or you could make garlic bread or bagel chips with dollar store staples.

This soup is really different and delicious, and I wish I could give you exact measurements but the drinking obviously clouded my judgment to keep the exact recipe for posterity. I therefore dub thee DRUNKEN SOUP, and urge you to hoist a few and go at it.

Lunch for a Buck!

Here is one of my favorites, straight from the 99 Cent Only Store. Nissin Thai Peanut Chow Mein instant noodles http://www.nissinfoods.com/chowmein/ and a handful of Beer Nuts http://www.beernuts.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?PROCFUN+WORDPR01+WEBFUNC+M37-- yum yum!!!

But hey, you say -- that costs $1.98, not a buck! Well, if you are not a total hog, and can control yourself, you will only eat one of the two servings in your plastic tub. Refrigerate the other half for later, adding a tablespoon or two of Luv Yu brand (I don't make this stuff up) Rice Vinegar Garlic flavor from of course, the 99 Cent Only Store. Toss in some cucumbers (also available in 3 packs from the 99 Cent Only Store) and Voila! (or however you say "presto chango, check it out!" in Indonesia) you have a cold noodle salad to rival any of the fancy Thai/Japanese/Sushi joints in town.