Taco Salad

Have you ever gotten a taco salad from Taco Bell and thought: "There has to be healthier option."  Many people who are trying to eat healthier often times find themselves in a fast food restaurant thinking, "Hey, if I get myself a salad, it'll be a healthier option, right?"  WRONG.  In most cases, the salads are not a healthier option.  In fact, a Taco Bell Taco Salad is over 700 calories!  And you are thinking, "What?"  Yep.  Well my friends, I have a recipe that will make a yummy taco salad for under 500 calories per serving, and it's easy on the wallet too!

And, if I had my memory stick for my camera (which suddenly disappeared one day), I would add a pic, but I'm just gonna share the recipe here.  So, grab your cast iron skillet, your spouse, and get in the kitchen.

Here's what you'll need:

1 lb 93% ground sirloin
4 slices bacon
romaine lettuce (either 1 head, or 1 package romaine hearts)
roma tomatoes
1 english cucumber
1 can summer crisp corn, rinsed
1 can bush's black beens, rinsed
1/2 block monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 med red onion
3 garlic cloves
Santitas Chips (5-6 per serving)

Seasonings:
Taco Seasoning, or the following:
cumin
cilantro
oregano
chili powder
smoked paprika
salt and pepper 
(all seasonings are to taste)
red pepper flakes (optional)
Hot Sauce (optional)

Ranch Dressing (I used Wishbone brand, but you can use whatever brand you like.)
Salsa (Optional)

Ok, so before you do anything, you want to heat your cast iron skillet before adding any ingredients.  While heating pan, also heat the pan that you are gonna cook the bacon in.  You'll want to cook the bacon extra crispy, so that when it cools, you can crumble it easily.  So, cook and crumble bacon and set aside.

So, to make this go a lot quicker, grab your spouse and have him/her put together the vegetable salad.  You'll need the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, beans & corn.  The chunkier the vegetables, the better. 

Now, while the vegetable salad is getting prepped, you are gonna brown your onion, garlic and meat.  You can then add your taco seasoning and cook as per directions, or use a combination of the remaining spices to create a unique taco taste of your own.

Once meat is brown, and vegetable salad is put together, you are gonna layer the salad as follows:

5-6 Chips
Meat Mixture
A heaping serving of salad greens
A drizzle of ranch dressing
a small handful of cheese
a very small handful of bacon crumbles 

That's it!  I opted for the Ranch dressing instead of sour cream and salsa to cut on calories.  Trust me, you have plenty of taste without it, and I really didn't miss it at all.  With everything added, you have a very tasty Taco Salad for under 500 calories.  It was 476 calories to be exact, and that is WAY better than over 700 calories from Taco Bell.  This recipe serves 6-8 people depending if you are serving a household of kids like I do, or a mixture of kids and adults.

So, the next time you are at Taco Bell, and you are trying to watch what you eat, then opt for the chicken soft tacos.  No more than two.  If you eat more than that, then you might as well get the Taco Salad.

Do your body, and your wallet a favor, and cook something you love at home.  You'll be surprise how many calories you cut, and how fat your wallet gets to be.  Not to mention, it's fun cooking with your spouse.  You are spending quality time with your significant other, and creating a masterpiece that you'll both love to eat.

Next week at LW: Finishing the series of What Every Kitchen Should Have.  I apologize for not completing it earlier, but I'm back in full swing, and should be back here every week.

Prepare for your PCS Move

Good Evening Followers.  It's been awhile, but I've been really busy.  I'm back now, and that's all that matters.

So, summer is among us, which also means PCS season.  For all of you civilians out there, PCS is military for Permanent Change of Station.  More PCS moves happen during the summer, basically because school is out, and because it's already vacation season.  Whether you are moving inter-state (Benning-Stewart), across country (Lewis-Bragg) or trans-Atlantic (Riley to Korea), it's a very stressful time, and can be very costly.  There are some costs that you will have to undoubtedly pay on your own, while other costs will be reimbursed.  The first thing you need to understand is what's the difference, and how you can make the most of your money, your move, and your time.

Ok, so let's start with what the military will pay for.  They will pay for your direct transportation from post A to post B.  For example, if you are PCS'ing from Ft. Drum to Ft. Lewis (either with or without dependents) the military will pay either for mileage or the plane ticket from Drum to Lewis, whichever is cheaper.  For instance, mileage is about .55 cents a mile.  If it is cheaper to fly you and your family from Drum to Lewis, then that is what you are going to get reimbursed, even if you opt to drive your own car.  

They government will pay you a number of allowances.

DLA is Dislocation Allowance, and this is a flat allowance paid while your family has moved out of housing and are living in a hotel at your departing station.

TLA is Temporary Lodging Allowance, which is reimbursed at your incoming station for hotel expenses.

If you receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) or OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance), this will end on the day that you sign out of your old installation, and will start again upon arrival to your new duty station.

Per Diem is paid to cover the costs accrued during the travel time.  For example, if it takes you 2 days to get from your last duty station to your new duty station, you will receive Per Diem for each actual day you are in travel status.  If you are married, then you will get a lower amount for your spouse and/or children.

That pretty much sums up the pay, and if you still have questions, you should contact your installation finance office.  Now, let's talk about leave.

If you are moving within the continental United States, you are authorized 10 days of PCS leave.  This allows you time to travel from your old installation to your new.  If you plan on traveling to see your family during this time, you must plan your time wisely, and this is done at your own expense.  

If you are moving from the continental United States to Europe, Korea, Hawaii or Alaska, you are authorized to take up to 30 days of leave.  This allows you extra time to plan and prepare for your move, and if you are moving with your family and/or pets, you'll need the extra time to plan and prepare for your move.

And, that takes care of leave.  You may be wondering: How do I get my furniture moved?  Well, the military will come and pack it up and move it for you.  However, if you are staying within the continental U.S. you have the option of moving yourself, with the Army reimbursing you for the cost of what they would pay a contractor.  If you choose this option, you should know that if an item gets broken, it is up to you to replace it.  If the military contractors break your prized 50" TV, then they are obligated to pay to replace it.  If you are moving overseas, then you have no choice but to let the movers move you.

Now, if you are moving overseas, you are authorized to ship one car at government expense, IF you are not going to Korea or Kuwait.  If you are moving stateside, and you have more than one car, then you can ship one, and drive the other if you like, but that is at your expense.  If you have a motorcycle, then you can ship that in your household goods (except Kuwait and Korea.)  Before you decide to ship a vehicle, make sure you understand the laws and driving habits of the country you are moving too.  If you are moving to Europe, you should start studying for your license as soon as you know you are going.  The driver's test for Germany is 150 questions.  Be aware though, your USAREUR driver's license does not allow you to drive in countries other than the country you are stationed (i.e. Germany, Italy, Belgium).  

There is a lot to planning your PCS move, and it will be a lot less stressful if you prepare and plan.  Research as much as possible your new duty station and the surrounding communities before your move.  Know beforehand what you can expect to pay for rent, utilities, and other expenses.  Additionally, research the laws, schools, shopping, and everything else you can think of before you move.  The more your know, the better off you'll be.  The best resource: people who have been where you are going.  More than likely, they will have the best advice to give you.  They've been where you are going, and have experiences to share.

I hope this blog helps all you PCS'ers out there.  If you have any questions, or want to share your own experiences, feel free to do so.

And as always, continue to Live Well.

Take that Dream Vacation.......even on a Military Budget

So, I just don't want this to be another just about cooking blog, but also ways of Living Well. Here at LW, we've taken plenty of nice vacations, even on my income.  I've never had a vacation as a kid, but I try my best to take my kids to nice vacations at least for a few days a year.  And here's how:

Save Money:  Yes, it is important to save money.  For our very first family vacation to Walt Disney World, I saved money.  I knew what I wanted, how much it was going to cost (minus food) and saved as much as I could before hand for food and toys.  For $1500 (yes, our family was much smaller back then, who would have guessed), I stayed at a WDW Value Resort, and have 7 day park hopper passes for 3 of us!  We were able to eat for $500 more, even though my husband paid for it later because he ate a lot of hotdogs.  Because we were at the resort, we didn't have to pay for parking, or gas to get to the parks, and it was the very first year that WDW introduced the Fast Pass.  Also, by being resort guests, 3 days a week, there were Disney Character meet and greet breakfasts that we were able to attend.  A full 7 day vacation for about $2000!  Of course, that was 11+ years ago.

Travel During the Off Season:  Early Spring or late Fall are awesome times to travel, although not always a good time to travel because of school, but great for hotel rates.  However, there are those 3 day weekends that your kids get from school that you can use to travel on.  Mini-vacays are just as fun, and so much more affordable for school aged kids.

Research Vacation Homes:  This is the best yet!  Since I have been stationed in Germany, I've had the luxury of renting vacation apartments in both Paris and Berlin!  And, it was awesome.  We'd normally eat lunch out, and I'd cook a small breakfast and/or dinner if we weren't dining out.  It is absolutely the best way to vacation in the most wanted vacation spots for such a large family.  We did get a week in Paris for $1200 overlooking the city!

Use your Tax Refund:  Yes, every year Uncle Sam pays us back some of the money that we over pay in Taxes.  We've used it to pay our credit cards, and a few times, pay for our vacation.  With any money left over, you can invest, or start a savings account just for vacations.  

Plan, Plan, and Plan some more:  I can't stress this enough.  A dream vacation just doesn't happen, you have to plan it!  The best way to give your family the vacation of their dreams is to plan, way in advance.  Sometimes, you'll snag deals.  By planning in advance, you can create a dream itinerary that'll suit everyone in the family.  Also, by early planning, you'll know which days has the best prices for the attractions that you want to visit.  You'll also need to know when the attractions are closed.  For instance, the Louvre Museum (in Paris) is closed on Tuesdays, but most Museums in Paris allows visitors under 18 in free.  Some restaurants (like Applebees) give a military discount only on certain days.  And some restaurants are booked months in advance.  My husband has done a great job at planning our vacations for my R&R leave to Cocoa Beach, FL and Berlin.  But, he's done it months in advance.  

Beware of Discount Ticket Vendors!  Many discount ticket sites sell tickets that can't be used by any other person that who purchased them.  For example, WDW uses a thumbprint machine to verify that the person who is using the ticket is the same person who purchased it...so if you go to a street vendor, you may get a discount ticket, but it will be invalid.  However, you can always find deals online, special group rates, and military discounts.  Also, for WDW, Sea World, and many other theme parks; military members, retirees and their families get a free day at the park, or very discounted tickets.  For non-military, look around for discounts, but be careful where you purchase the tickets.

I'm including some links to vacation rentals so that you can plan your Dream Vacation for your family this summer, all on a Military Budget.  

Orlando Vacation Homes (w/pets)
Berlin Vacation Homes
Paris Vacation Homes
Vacation Homes in San Francisco
Asheville, NC Vacation Homes
New York Vacation Homes

These are just a few.  Have fun planning your dream vacation for your family!

In Honor of Saint Patrick

     Many people do not know the history of Saint Patrick, the story behind this great man, but to make a long story short, Saint Patrick is credited for spreading Christianity throughout Ireland.  When he was 16, he was captured and was forced to live as a Pagan and as a slave.  He escaped, returned to his family, became a Christian, and later returned to Ireland to preach Christianity.  Historians believe that he died on March 17th.

     Saint Patrick used the shamrock as a way to teach the Trinity.  People believed that the green shamrock stood for rebirth and eternal life.  So, while we are wearing green, and wishing each other to have the luck of the Irish, we are really celebrating how Christianity spread through Ireland....not much to do with luck.

     In honor, I made a cake, in the colors of the Irish flag: orange, green & white.  Here's how I did it.

(Yeah, I cheated a bit, but time was short.)

Instructions:

White box cake - mixed using egg whites instead of whole eggs.  Add 1 tsp of mint extract to the cake, and divide in half.  Color 1/2 the cake mix orange, and 1/2 green.

Layered cake batter.

 Using a tablespoon, (or 1/2 measuring cup) spoon each color on top of each other in the cake pan.  The spoonfuls of batter will spread out, covering the bottom of the pan.  

Tip:  Do not rush the layering.  Allow the cake time to spread to cover the pan, or you'll have once nice layer, and a very thin layer like I did.  It was my first time using this method, and, why not.  It was a perfect day to try the bi-color cake.

Bake cake according to instructions.

Finished cake.

 While the cake is cooling, mix up a butter cream icing but use a teaspoon of mint extract instead of vanilla.  You may want to try 1/2 teaspoon, and then add the flavor to your taste.  I didn't follow a recipe, and added too much milk, and created a glaze instead of an icing, but it was good anyway.

Layer, and ice the cake as normal.  When you cut into the cake, you get a really neat visual effect.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone!  Erin Go Brach!

What Every Kitchen Should Have: Spices

Here at Living Well, if you don't already know, I make a lot of dishes homemade.  I even go as far as inventing some, which turn out really, really well.  So, in order to do this, I have my favorite go to spices in my cabinet.  Now, I'm not going to go and tell you what you absolutely have to have, but what you should have according to the cuisine that you cook most often.

So, where to start?  Let's start with the basics, and go from there.

1) Salt - not only for flavor, but for baking as well.
2) Whole Peppercorns (and of course a pepper mill) - I enjoy the pepper mill so much more than ground pepper.  I use it on all my recipes, and never, ever, buy ground pepper again.
3) Different Salts: Onion Salt, Garlic Salt, other specialized salts.....that you may want to add to this list.
4) All in one seasoning - Season All and/or a Mrs. Dash seasoning.  
5) Paprika
6) Chicken & Beef Bouillon cubes or packets.
7) Rosemary
8) Poultry Seasoning
9) Pumpkin Pie Spice, and/or Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves & Allspice
10) Cream of Tartar 

And that about sums it up for the basics at least.  Since I tend to do A LOT of Italian cuisine as well as an occasional Spanish inspired dish, I also keep the following:

1) Red Pepper Flakes
2) Cumin
3) Chili Powder
4) Oregano
5) Basil
6) Bay Leaves
7) Mediterranean Blend

Now, your spice rack is yours to customize as you wish.  This, is however, just a brief list of what I maintain on my spice rack, and an idea of what you should have on yours.  

Now, get out there and continue to Live Well. 

Coming up Next Week:  Take that Dream Vacation!

Coming up in Two Weeks: What Every Kitchen Should Have: Baking Ingredients

Blog Update

Hello followers.  

I know that this was supposed to be a recipe for chicken and dumplins, but if you haven't already realized, I've changed my blog design.  That is because I wanted to have a separate page just for recipes, and the home page will be for most everything else.  Here's why:

1) I'm always cooking up something good, and I want to be able to post recipes any time.  I don't want you to have to wait for all my yummy goodness.  I want to be able to share them with you any time I invent something new and exciting.

2) With all the recipes on 1 page, you'll have a centralized location in order to find your favorites.  I hope to get better at this blog design, and eventually move toward a more professional look, with more professional results.

3)  I hope to be able to expand to more pages, as more and more ideas come to mind.  I can do this better and not clutter up my main page.

So, please continue to enjoy my blog, and my recipes.  I promise to continue to help you live well, on a Military Budget.

-MD

Next Week's Blog:  What Every Kitchen Should Have: Spices.

Why You Should or Should Not Purchase a Keurig.

When I returned from Afghanistan, I purchased a Keurig.  I did not go into the purchase lightly, but gave it much thought and consideration before my purchase.  I did a pro and con list, asked my friends which single serve coffee maker I should buy, and did days and days of research.  After all the careful consideration, and weighing all my options, I decided to purchase one.  Here's exactly how I came to my decision.

Why you should not buy a Keurig:

If you are a moderate to heavy coffee drinker (more than 2 or 3 cups a day) then you should not buy one.  The individual k-cups can get quite expensive over the course of a month.  Stick to a traditional coffee pot.  You'll get more for your money with a traditional coffee maker. 

Another reason why not:  if you have hard water, you'll have to use bottled water.  Since I live in Germany, the water is quite hard here, and we use bottled water anyway, so there is not a cost difference for us.  However, unless you are already not purchasing bottled water, or have a filtering system already installed, then it can get quite expensive.  There is a filtering system that you can purchase for the Keurig. 

Unless one or two of the above statements apply to you, then you should consider purchasing a Keurig, and here's why:

For my husband and I, we only drink 1 cup of coffee each, so there is no need to make an entire pot of coffee.  When we were making 1/2 a pot, about 1/2 of that was going to waste.  This was not economical for us.  It was actually costing us more money to make 1/2 a pot at a time, and having to discard what was left over.  With the Keurig, and a k-cup of Folgers Black Silk Coffee (a nice dark, rich brew) we pay about 50 cents a cup.  Add a little sugar and cream (which we both do) and it may cost as much as 63 cents a cup.  With a more expensive brew such as Starbucks, Caribou (which is my favorite) or Dunkin Doughnuts, you are looking at 60-65 cents a cup. That is if you are purchasing the k-cups from the store!  (Recently, I've scored coupons for Starbucks k-cups!)  Which, brings me to my next point.

Starbucks and Dunkin' Doughnuts drinkers: You can make your speciality brew at home, depending on the model of Keurig that you purchase.  Yes, that's right.  Instead of paying upwards of $3 for a regular cup of coffee (forgive me if that's not the price, I'm not a regular at those stores), you can get a nice cup for about 50 cents.  If you take the time to learn the ingredients of your favorite Starbucks drink, you can easily make those at home.  With the Keurig, you can brew a Starbucks k-cup on the espresso setting, throw that into the blender with some vanilla soy milk, caramel flavoring and ice to get a custom Frappuccino, for a fraction of the cost and without all the additional sugar.

For those of you who love having different flavors of coffee around, you can definitely do that with the Keurig system.  You can purchase (or order online) several different flavors, and store them all on a cute little carousel right on your kitchen counter.  So, if you drink regular caffeinated coffee, and your spouse drinks a half-caff or decaf, you can both have your own flavors readily available.  Why, you may ask?  Because there are over 200 different varieties of coffees, teas, and hot chocolates.  What you can't find in the stores, you can order online, and many times, email deals show up in your inbox.  

To save even more money, you can purchase a filter cup that uses regular coffee.  You can completely customize how strong you like your coffee.  We have one, and we use it with regular Starbucks, or Dunkin Doughnuts whenever we run out of the k-cups.  It tastes just as good.

If you are one of those persons who love a hot cup of tea, the Keurig brewer quickly warms a cup a water to a perfect 190 degrees for a quick cup of tea, or hot chocolate.

Keurig is a quick single cup brew.  After the initial warming of the water (about 1 minute), you'll have a cup of coffee in about 30 seconds.  Much, much quicker than a traditional coffee pot.  When I come home from PT (Physical Training), I can brew my cup of coffee, and have time to enjoy it before going back to work.

Not only does the Keurig deliver a quick brew, clean-up is quick too.  No pots to empty and wash, no filters to throw away, no monthly maintenance with a vinegar bath.  You do have to use vinegar to clean the system, but not as often.  It will tell you when you need to clean your system, and I've had my system for 7 months now, and haven't had to clean it yet.  To clean, open the k-cup holder, throw away the k-cup, and presto, you are ready for your next cup of coffee.  About once a week, I wipe down the outside, clean the drip tray, and use hot, soapy water to clean the water reservoir.

Here at Living Well, we enjoy our Keurig, and wouldn't trade it for any other coffee maker.  We DO save money using it, even after the initial purchase of the machine.  There are several models available, one for every budget.  Do your homework, ask around, and then decide if it's right for you.

Coming up next week:  Cooking Like the Cracker Barrel: Chicken and Dumplins.

Coming up later this month:  What Every Kitchen Should Have: Part II, Spices.