The combination of ingredients in this lasagna make it every bit as delicious as a traditional recipe using beef and ricotta, but with half the calories. The total cost of these ingredients at the Alameda Grocery Outlet was a whopping $12. It can be assembled in the morning and refrigerated; then the chill taken off while the stove heats. There’s no need to boil the noodles, saving time and a pot.
Hubby and I were invited to an evening of glass creation at a friend’s home art studio. He has all the tools, molds, a kiln, and oodles of gorgeous pieces of glass in all colors and sizes. (Plus an amazing collection of fabulous wine to stimulate the creative juices!)
I offered to bring dinner and decided on several small bite dishes. I was limited to about 45 minutes of prep at home, then assembled the plates in his kitchen. In the future, I’d make the poke about an hour earlier so the fish could sit in the marinade a bit longer and I’d make homemade meatballs. I shot for an array of flavors and a combination that would be substantial for a full meal, and all but one were served cold. It made for a casual meal with good conversation and friends, and I didn’t spend much time in the kitchen. Continue reading
I love Grocery Outlet. First and foremost because it reminds me of my Nana. The only thing she loved more than a bargain was her grandchildren. We didn’t shop there often as she lived in Alameda and the nearest stores were in San Leandro and Oakland. Leaving the island and traveling above 25 mph gave her anxiety; instead we opted for the various dollar stores around town so she could get her discount fix.
Grocery Outlet opened in Alameda a few months ago on Buena Vista at Lincoln (the site of the old Liquor Barn for you old timers, and more recently West Marine) and I made a trip to check out the deals. I take after my Nana in loving a bargain only slightly less than my own Grands and enjoy creating delicious and eye-pleasing meals so I challenged myself to come up with a week’s worth of dinners using only their products. The menus consisted of roasted game hens over root veggies (pictured at the top of the page), seared ahi tuna and arugula salad, a low-cal and low-carb lasagna (recipe next week), barbecued chicken and grilled asparagus, and steaks and artichokes.
This week we’re having tortellini with chicken meatballs and veggies in an Alfredo sauce (pictured above), orange peel chicken stir-fry over cauliflower rice, barbecued tri tip with coleslaw, and roasted butterflied leg of lamb over spinach with crispy polenta cakes. Each meal costs between $9 – $15 total for hubby and I, with leftovers for lunches.
I post many of my recipes on this blog and thought that it would be fun to post my bargain meals from Grocery Outlet. Then I took it a step farther and got up the confidence to meet the store owner, Elie Zgheib, also an Alamedan, and pitched my idea. He loved it and offered to feature the link to my blog on their Facebook sponsored post which has a huge reach. Win-win … we’ll promote each other! I’m pretty excited about this partnership and fun challenge.
Beginning next Tuesday I’ll be posting “GO To Tuesday” weekly recipes for meals made from Alameda Grocery Outlet products in my tiny kitchen. I don’t consider myself a gourmet chef in any way, shape or form, but I enjoy feeding my family and friends with simple but tasty and cost-effective meals. I hope you’ll check out your local Grocery Outlet and give my recipes a try!
Crabcakes Benedict is my hubby’s favorite breakfast and here in Northern California we have access to fresh crab year-round. If you are already doing a crab dinner, just buy a bit extra and save some meat for the next day. You could also do it with canned lump crab, as I did this time since we were traveling to a vacation spot and it transported easier than whole crab. (The kitchen in our vacay home wasn’t any bigger than the galley!)
This is a lovely, rich meal that is perfect for brunch on it’s own or paired with fresh fruit and/or potatoes. And mimosas … always mimosas!
Salmon is fresh and plentiful in California and it’s one of our favorite proteins to grill or poach. It also makes for a quick main course that is heartier than traditional clam chowder. It’s a great meal to serve for guests as it can be made hours beforehand and kept at room temperature until 10 minutes before sitting down to eat. Pop sourdough bread bowls into the oven to heat, add the final ingredients under the asterisk in the directions below, and serve with a small salad. Bonus: easy clean-up and few dishes!
After morning prayers and pages and a cuppa, I took the pup on a slow walk contemplating my New Year Intentions of daily practices of prayer and exercise. Praying is easy when you need something from God, but it takes a bit more work when all is good. That is the time to send prayers of thanksgiving. I like to think of it as “putting prayers in the bank.”
Mashed potatoes are comfort food in our family so I make a big batch and almost always have leftovers. This is a quick recipe for a savory breakfast dish which pairs nicely with fresh melon and sausage or bacon. Take the potatoes out of the fridge to bring to room temperature while you are having your morning cup of tea or coffee; this will make them easier to mix and cook evenly.
I’m a huge fan of tacos and fish … put them together and I am so satisfied! This dish was made for a group of writers at a Retreat in the Woods and it was quickly devoured (and if you click on this link you can find out future Retreats to the Waves and on the Rails). There is very little prep and your guests can make them their own way with plenty of fresh toppings. They are a meal unto themselves, or serve with a fresh salad, rice or black beans on the side. I had leftover quinoa and the nutty flavor complemented the cumin-lime seasoning perfectly.
“You live on a boat?! How is that? Does it move all the time? How does the weather affect you? Where do you keep your stuff? Do you have electricity? How about fresh water? Do you have a real kitchen? How do you deal with waste? Are you connected to cable and WiFi? Does your dog like living on a boat? What happens when you go sailing?”
Do you have a real kitchen? Yes, it’s real, but it’s tiny. (It’s called a galley on a boat.) I have about four feet by 6 feet, plus cabinet space, to work with. And in that small space I have a stove with three burners and an oven, refrigerator, double sink and counter space. The counter space also doubles as covers for my sink, fridge, storage and dish drainer, so clearing any clutter is always the first step to prepping/cooking. Heidi and Aaron have opted not to have a freezer any longer in order to save electricity, and the space will soon be used to store everyday pots and pans for easy access. It’s not uncommon for the steps from the galley to the cockpit and the navigation station to also be used in the prep process. 🙂
My stove, a Seaward Princess II, was built specially for a boat and operates on propane. It replaced my original stove (also a Seaward Princess) in 2014 and cared for properly will last over 20 years.
“You live on a boat?! How is that? Does it move all the time? How does the weather affect you? Where do you keep your stuff? Do you have electricity? How about fresh water? Do you have a real kitchen? How do you deal with waste? Are you connected to cable and WiFi? Does your dog like living on a boat? What happens when you go sailing?”
How about fresh water? Fresh water is essential to life. Living on a boat is considered “roughing it” by some, but I am not only equipped with the crucial elements taken for granted by land-lubbers, I am able to generate my own electricity (as shared last week) and water.
Having access to clean, drinkable water is something that most people in America (and other developed countries) take for granted. In a house, you turn on a faucet and clean water flows! It’s not that simple on a boat. When we are traveling in foreign waters, it is vital that we have the ability to obtain and stock clean water, either by purchasing on land or collecting and/or making onboard.
Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink – James Casey, Poet
