Copycat Recipe: Near East Parmesan Couscous

August 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

copycat recipe near east parmesan couscous

If you’re currently buying the boxes of Near East Parmesan Couscous…. why?  Parmesan couscous is easy to make, frugal, and only takes a few minutes.  Not only that, you can have fun experimenting with fun add-ins and tweaking the flavor.  After you get the basics down, you can create a copycat couscous of just about any of the flavored box mixes you typically buy.

Frugal Tip:  Couscous is usually located near the rice and grains in most supermarkets.  If you have a hard time finding couscous, you can purchase it on Amazon.com or Vitacost.  Plus, when you register for a new Vitacost account you’ll receive a code valid for $10 off a $10 order.

Source:  Inspired by the Mommysavers Parmesan Couscous recipe


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Copycat Recipe: Near East Parmesan Couscous
Recipe type: Side
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2-4
 
A yummy, quick-and-easy copycat version of Near East Parmesan Couscous
Ingredients
  • 1 C. dry couscous
  • 1 C. chicken stock
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ onion, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • ⅓ C. grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Add garlic and onions and saute until soft. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add couscous. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for five minutes, then fluff with a fork. Add remaining ingredients: pepper, balsamic vinegar, and grated Parmesan. Fluff again and serve while hot. DO NOT overcook. It will become a gloppy mess if you allow it to sit too long.
  2. Yummy add-ins include feta or goat cheese, basil, parsley, diced or sun-dried tomatoes.

 

Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Copycat Recipes, Salads and Sides Tagged With: , , ,

New York City Bites: Minetta Tavern, The Halal Guys and Casellula

August 6, 2012 by 1 Comment

When I go to New York City, I’m like a kid in a candy store.   There are so many mouth-watering restaurant choices right under my nose that I get excited and confused all at the same time, not sure where to head first.  Since I was in town for BlogHer 2012 last week, I seized the opportunity to leave the conference behind and cross a few items off my culinary bucket list.  This time around, my husband and I splurged a little and ate a lot.   I was happy with our picks, and wanted to give you all a recap of our foodie adventures:

black angus burger at minetta tavern

Black Angus Burger at Minetta Tavern

bone marrow at minetta tavern

Bone Marrow at Minetta Tavern

Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern
It goes without saying I believe you don’t have to spend a lot to get a good meal. Good, cheap food is pretty easy to find in the city; but there are also plenty of splurges worth the cost. It’s all about value and getting the biggest bang for your buck.   The Black Label Burger at Minetta Tavern is one of them.  At $26, it’s the priciest burger I’ve ever ordered.  With the quality of the meat comparable to a steak where I live, it also puts it in the range of great value.  It was definitely tasty, and as one of my friends described it, “The best burger in NYC.”   However, I think the best thing we ordered was the Bone Marrow.  Rich, salty goodness spread on top of a crispy baguette and shallot coulis (which, surprisingly, reminded me a little bit of cranberry preserves).  The entrees at Minetta Tavern are in the $17-$34 range, which is certainly affordable for a New York City landmark restaurant.

Frugal Tip:  We’ve been wanting to eat at Minetta Tavern for years, but are too short-sighted to place a reservation before we go and can never get in. This time around, we rolled the dice and headed down to the West Village to see if there was room for us at the bar.   With about a ten-minute wait, we sat down.  Often times, you’ll find the hard-to-get-into establishments offer the same menu options at the bar, with little-to-no waiting time. This is also how we got into The Girl and the Goat in Chicago.  Many times, the service you get at the bar is more attentive than the tables.  Not only that, their recommendations are often more honest.  Plus, watching good bartenders mix drinks is a fun performance.

Minetta Tavern
http://minettatavernny.com/
113 MacDougal St. (Betw. Bleecker & W. 3rd Street)
New York, NY 10012
212-475-3850

Chicken and Rice from The Halal Guys

Chicken and Rice from The Halal Guys

Chicken and Rice from The Halal Guys
You really can’t go to New York City without trying some street food. It’s easy, cheap, perfect for on-the-go eating and in most cases pretty tasty.  The Halal Guys food cart is the cream of the crop. They’re located in Midtown but move around during the day (see The Halal Guys locations and times), and often the line to get their middle-Eastern fare wraps around the block. Trust me, it’s worth the wait.   You can’t go wrong with the chicken and rice with white sauce:  Basmati rice topped with perfectly-seasoned tender chicken and a delicious white sauce (ask for extra sauce).  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  If anyone knows of a copycat recipe circulating in the blogosphere,  please let me know.  I know I’ll be craving this again sometime very soon.

The Halal Guys
http://53rdand6th.com/
6th Ave & W 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019

pig's ass sandwich at casellula nyc

Pig’s Ass Sandwich at Casellula

casellula wine and cheese bar

Cheese Sampler at Casellula

Pig’s Ass Sandwich at Casellula Wine and Cheese Bar
We chose to sit at the bar here as well, although there were tables available.  Since food preparation took place behind the bar, we didn’t want to miss out on the action.You can hardly go to a restaurant with a Pig’s Ass Sandwich on the menu without giving it a try.  Everything at Casellula Wine and Cheese bar was fabulous, and yes – it was a great piece of ass.  I’d recommend starting with the cheese sampler plate.  The choices were foreign to us, even though we’ve tried many “exotic” cheeses.  We told our server what types of cheese we like most, and she brought out five selections suited to our palate. All of them were delicious, and the presentation was gorgeous (isn’t the starfruit pretty?).  I had never tried pickled quail eggs, so with that I added another notch to my foodie belt.

Frugal Tip:  Hell’s Kitchen is one of our favorite foodie neighborhoods in New York City. Yelp has lead us to some of our favorite places there, including Kashkaval.  Sort by price to find great places to fit your budget.

Casellula Cheese and Wine Bar
http://www.casellula.com/
401 W. 52nd St.
New York, NY
212-247-8137

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The BlogHer 2012 Foodie Bucket List: Frugal Bites

July 31, 2012 by 1 Comment

This is the weekend when thousands of female bloggers will converge on the country’s mecca for foodies:  New York City.   The BlogHer 2012 Conference is a huge draw for web-savvy women (and a handful of brave men) from all over the country.  Unfortunately, many will miss out on the opportunity to sample the city’s finest fare because they’ll be too busy party-hopping and swag-grabbing at the Hilton.

I’ll be at BlogHer myself, but I am avoiding the food there as much as I possibly can (gasp!).  It may sound counterintuitive for a blogger from a site called Frugal Bites to turn down FREE food.  But when I’m in New York, I never miss an opportunity to cross a few items off my culinary bucket list.  Although I’m hardly a NYC food expert, I’ve been there enough to be able to give my fellow bloggers a few spot-on recommendations within walking distance if they dare to branch out.

Let me know what you enjoy eating in the Big Apple!

carnegie deli woody allen

The Woody Allen at Carnegie Deli

The Woody Allen at Carnegie Deli
Yes, it’s expensive.  $19.95 is a CRAZY amount for a sandwich, and I’m a bit put off that you have to pay an extra $3 to split it. However, the melt-in-your-mouth pastrami is foodgasmic, especially after a night out partying. You will NOT be disappointed, and just may find yourself daydreaming about it in the dead of winter (not that I’ve (ahem) done that myself).   Frugal Tip:  If you get it to go, you can avoid the split charge and share it with a friend.

Carnegie Deli
www.carnegiedeli.com
854 7th Ave. at 55th Street
New York, NY
212-757-2245

magnolia baker

Red Velvet Cupcakes at NYC’s Magnolia Bakery

The Red Velvet Cupcake at Magnolia Bakery
In your neck of the woods, $3.25 is probably a lot to spend on a cupcake.  When in New York City, it’s a steal considering that for under $5 you’ll get to taste one of the city’s most-talked about desserts.  If there’s a line, don’t shy away.  It moves pretty quickly and is worth the wait.
Frugal Tip:  Learn to make the Copycat Red Velvet Cupcakes at home when you get back!

Magnolia Bakery
www.magnoliabakery.com
1240 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
212-767-1123

 

Fondue at Kashkaval NYC

Fondue at Kashkaval NYC

Fondue at Kashkaval
Kashkaval is a cute little wine and cheese shop about a 15-minute walk from the Hilton in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.   From the front and outside it looks like a simple little cheese shop (they sell gourmet cheeses in front) but in the back you’ll find a dimly lit, intimate restaurant in which to enjoy fondue and small plate dishes.  Frugal Tip:  Go later on in the evening (after 9:00 p.m.), or expect to wait for a table.

Kashkaval
http://kashkavalfoods.com
856 9th Avenue between 55th and 56th
New York, NY
212-581-8282

 

soup man

Soup from Soup Man (A.K.A. The Seinfeld “Soup Nazi”)

Soup from Soupman
Although the soup at Soupman is not as memorable as the Seinfeld episode that made it famous, they come with a Lindt truffle and baguette as a consolation prize.  Soups are a little on the pricey side, but die-hard fans will thoroughly enjoy the “No Soup for You!” Soup Nazi experience .

The Original Soupman
http://originalsoupman.com
259A W. 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-956-0900

 

juniors cheesecake

Cheesecake and Drinks at Junior’s

 

Junior’s for Cheesecake or Drinks
To foodies, New York is as famous for their cheesecake as they are for the Statue of Liberty or Times Square.  Junior’s is a New York institution, and has been around since the 1950s.  Since you’re probably going to be in Times Square anyway, stop in at Junior’s for a little slice of the city.  If you prefer to drink your calories, their drinks are as delicious as their desserts.  The Brandy Alexander was my personal favorite.

Junior’s Cheesecake
www.juniorscheesecake.com/
1515 Broadway #1
New York, NY 10036
212-302-2000

papaya dog

Papaya Dog

Hotdog and Smoothie at Papaya Dog
Let’s face it.  Unlike the sign says, hot dogs are not gourmet fare.  But Papaya Dog dishes them out frugally and in New York fashion with a cold papaya smoothie (among Papaya King, Gray’s Papaya, Mike’s Papaya, etc.) Perfect for an on-the-go snack or a late-night nosh after drinking.

Papaya Dog
333 Ave of the Americas
New York, NY 10014
212-627-9748


Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Raspberry Baked French Strata

July 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

raspberry baked French strata

I’m a bit indecisive in real life, and this recipe proves it.  Yesterday I wasn’t sure quite sure whether to make Raspberry Bread Pudding or Raspberry Baked French Toast, I came up with a recipe that is a bit of both.  The basic recipe is based on my Baked French Toast, with a few minor tweaks.  I cut down on the egg content and added sugar because I wanted it lighter and sweeter.   I used bread from my leftover Hawaiian Sweet Bread, which gave it an even sweeter taste.  And of course – I added those luscious raspberries.  I wasn’t even sure what to call it, because it’s not a true bread pudding nor is it a French Toast.  So, with a bit of creative license I’m calling it Raspberry Baked French Strata.   It can be served as a dessert or as a breakfast bake. Whatever you call it or however you eat it, it’s delicious!

Frugal Tips:  Stale bread is great for recipes like this!  Never throw it away.  If you don’t want to use it up right away, throw it in the freezer for later.  Just thaw and use.

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Raspberry Baked French Strata
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
Ingredients
  • 1 loaf French bread, cubed (or any kind of stale or day-old bread)
  • 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 6 large eggs, beaten
  • 2½ C. milk
  • 1 C. sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 6 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted and cooled
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 6 oz. raspberries (or more, if you have them)
Instructions
  1. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish or cake pan. Put half of the bread crumbs in the pan, spreading out evenly. Top with cream cheese slices. Add the rest of the bread cubes. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, butter, sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the top of the bread cubes/cream cheese. Pat everything down into the pan to ensure it all gets moistened. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or at least on hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press raspberries gently into the bread mixture, reserving a few for garnish if desired. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Filed Under: Breads, Recipes Tagged With: , , , ,

California (Sushi Roll) Adventures

July 28, 2012 by 2 Comments

sushi california rolls

Living in Southern Minnesota, finding good sushi isn’t easy.  Luckily, finding the ingredients to make good sushi isn’t that hard.  Lately, I’ve recently been teaching myself to roll my own.  My first attempt was not bad, but not great.  Thanks to my friends at Mommysavers and their advice on how to make sushi rolls at home I quickly determined that my main mistake was layering on too much rice.  My second go-round (pictured here) was much more successful.  This time, I only added ONE cup of the sushi rice (instead of one and a half) to the Nori paper, which made all the difference.  You can make sushi at home too, with minimal practice.  All you need is a sushi kit (which are pretty  cheap on Amazon), good sushi rice, and a little patience.

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Easy Sushi Rice
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4-6
 
Sushi rice is easy, but it requires short-grain sushi rice (found in ethnic grocery aisles) in order for it to work.
Ingredients
  • 1½ C. sushi rice (don’t use long grain rice)
  • 1½ C. water
  • 1½ Tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 1½ Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. Rinse the rice thoroughy first, until the water runs clear. Heat a saucepan with 1½ C. water and rice over medium-high heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce heat and cover. Cook 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl combine the rice vinegar, sugar and salt. Pour over sushi rice and toss so that all the grains are coated. Refrigerate rice at least two hours before making sushi.

 

How to Make Sushi Rolls

After the sushi rice has cooled and is ready to go, tear off a piece of plastic wrap and place it on your sushi mat as shown below.  Next, place the sheet of Nori on the plastic wrap.  Spread one cup sushi rice on top of the Nori, using your sushi paddle or your wet fingers to press it down evenly.  You’ll want an even, thin layer of rice.  If it’s too thick, it will be hard to roll tightly without the ingredients squirting out all over the place.

At this point, you can either flip the nori over so that the rice side is down (and on the outside of the roll) or leave it the way it is.  I flipped it over so the rice would be on the outside of my California rolls.  If desired, shake a little sesame seed or poppy seed on the rice.

For Califormia rolls, place your avocado, cucumber, and imitation crab inside.  For a Philadelphia roll, substitute the crab for smoked salmon and include a strip of cream cheese.  Experimenting with ingredients is the fun part!   Let your own taste be your guide; there are no right or wrong ingredients.  Starting on one end, use your mat to roll your sushi, pressing down as you go to create a compact roll.  With a sharp knife (it helps to wet it slightly) cut in six pieces.  Enjoy!

Frugal Tips:  Supplies to make sushi rolls can often be found at ethnic grocery stores for much less than at specialty stores.  Also, check Amazon for the best prices on your sushi mat and paddle and other tools.

california rolls

 

Filed Under: Fish and Seafood, Salads and Sides Tagged With: , , , , ,
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