frankiesaucier, Author at According To Frankie

Take Your Fruit Straight to the Freezer

Posted on June 1, 2015 by frankiesaucier

Take Your Fruit Straight to the Freezer. image by strecosa. www.accordingtofrankie.com

Fruit is delicious, and so good for you too. Lately smoothies have become very popular, especially since industrial strength blenders with single-serve cup attachments have become available. But, even for the avid smoothie drinker it can be hard for a once-weekly shopper to use all the fruit before it starts to turn. So what’s a smoothie lover to do?

I’ve got the solution. Buy two sets of fruit, and as soon as you get home, put one set in the fridge, and one straight in the freezer. That’s right! Then, when you run out of the fresh supply, you can open the freezer door and pop that frozen fruit right in your smoothie. This even cuts down on the amount of ice you need to use, or, conversely, can turn your smoothie into a soft-serve style snack.

For the smaller berries, you can just pop them right into the blender. For bananas, I find that I can use a sharp knife and just slice the peel right off, then cut into sections. If you’re buying peaches or other fruit with pits, you’ll be wanting to cut that fruit up first. Or, you could try buying bags of frozen peaches (individually frozen with no sugar added, of course).

If you notice as you go through the week that your fresh fruit isn’t getting used as fast as you thought, but it’s still good, you can pop those containers right in the freezer too. This is a great way to keep the grocery bill down, waste less food and still have the ingredients you need for your favorite smoothie readily available. Happy Blending!

Never Forget Your Shopping List Again

Posted on April 8, 2015 by frankiesaucier

Never forget your shopping list again. image by Ex-Smith. www.accordingtofrankie.com

Sometimes I don’t know how I don’t think of these things sooner. If you’re like me, you’ve spent many hours taking inventory of your house before you run out for a shopping trip. Say it’s the grocery store. You look in the pantry, you grab the pen and paper, and start making that list. Because, you know… you don’t want to buy things you don’t need, and you don’t want to forget why you’re there. But then the dog is barking to be let out, the phone rings, the kids can’t find something, and you’re like “if we don’t leave now, we’ll never get to the store!” So you hurry to the store and guess what’s not there? The grocery list. Then, you close your eyes really tightly and start mumbling to yourself in your best attempt to summon a memory of the items on the list. When you get home, the item you needed most, the whole reason you were going to the store, escaped your memory, and is now there, mocking you from the grocery list on the counter. Sigh.

A couple weeks ago I was walking to the office to look for the grocery list and it hit me. You know what I never forget to take to the store with me (well, hardly ever forget)? My cell phone! You know what my cell phone comes with? A “notes” feature! And my cell phone is also connected to my tablet, and to the same notes feature! I could type my grocery list out on my notes app from my phone or my tablet and just take that to the store! Brilliant. Late, but brilliant.

I haven’t written a paper list since, and I haven’t forgotten an item at the store either. I’ll also be saving a little bit of money on those cute “to do list” pads. If you’ve already thought of this, kudos! If not, feel free to take this idea and run with it. Happy shopping!

Eat The Best Food While Traveling

Posted on September 10, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Eat the best food while traveling. Image by Didriks https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinnerseries/8071524413/. www.sociallysupportive.com

Ever wonder why you never seem to find great places to eat while you’re traveling? I did. Then, one day I realized I have a smart phone right in front of me, and I can look up “best place to eat in (whichever destination.)” I’ll admit, I’m probably a little late to catch on to this. But, if I just thought of it, someone else might benefit from it. Just on the last trip my family took we found 3 very tasty restaurants with the local fare we were craving. One restaurant was right on the main road, but because it on the opposite side, we probably wouldn’t have stopped if it weren’t for the great reviews. Also helpful is to check on the latest health department reviews before you walk in the door. You’d be surprised how easy they are to find, and you might save yourself an unwelcome tummy ache later!

So, whip out those smart phones and find the best restaurants near you!

Need a Hotel? Try a Vacation Rental Instead!

Posted on September 3, 2014 by frankiesaucier

So, at the last minute, I decided that our family needed a beach vacation. As you probably know, the last minute is a terrible time to decide you want an ocean-front room at a popular vacation destination, especially over a holiday weekend. But I wasn’t going to let that thought deter me from at least investigating the possibilities. And, what if changing just one or two details would get the vacation rolling?

Well, the hotels were either full or over budget, so I decided to try this website my best friend suggested, www.vrbo.com. For the price of a hotel room without a view, I found an ocean-front condo with one bedroom, bunk beds, a sleeper sofa in the full living room and a full kitchen. Did I mention it had on-site laundry? Perfect for taking care of wet towels and bathing suits after a trip to the ocean, or to the pool on the property. And I found this Thursday late afternoon before a holiday weekend.

So, before booking that same old hotel room, I recommend visiting www.vrbo.com. I was very happy with my experience and I will use them again in the future.

Recipe: Saucier Macaroni Tomato Cassarole

Posted on April 20, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Saucier Macaroni Tomato Cassarole. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Photo by Frankie Saucier

This is honestly one of my favorites. My mother-in-law, Granny Quack Quack, found this one. But like every recipe in the Saucier family, it goes through many iterations. This one is Randy’s from Easter

Saucier Macaroni Tomato Cassarole

1/2 lb elbow macaroni, cooked

2 shallots, sliced finely

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans diced tomatoes, drained

1 bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon butter, thinly sliced

2 cups sharp cheddar

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 package Panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 375. Saute shallots in butter. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add tomatoes and basil. Simmer 10 minutes. In a separate dish, mix the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. In 1.5 quart baking dish, spoon a thin layer of sauce. Add a layer of macaroni, then top with a generous layer of the cheese mixture. Repeat until the dish is full. Top with a layer of Panko bread crumbs. Slice the tablespoon of butter into 4-6 thin slices and place on top of the bread crumbs. Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown.

Cocktail Recipe: Blueberry Pomegranate Mimosas

Posted on April 20, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Blueberry Pomegranate Mimosas. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Photo by Frankie Saucier.

Blueberry Pomegranate Mimosas. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Photo by Frankie Saucier[/caption]Simple drink recipes are the best. Honestly, I usually don’t have to make my own drinks, but the simpler they are, the faster they are delivered. Here’s a good one.

Blueberry Pomegranate Mimosas

4 ounces of your favorite Champagne, chilled

2 ounces of V8 V-Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry Juice, chilled

In a fluted glass, pour the champagne. Add the V8 V-Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry juice. Then enjoy. This is a great drink because you can tell yourself it’s healthy, as it contains vegetable juice. Neat, right!

Leftover Eggs? Make PopPop’s Deviled Eggs!

Posted on April 20, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Deviled Eggs. www.accordingtofrankie.com. photo by Frankie Saucier.

Do you have leftover Easter Eggs? Wondering what to do with them? Try this simple deviled egg recipe.

PopPop’s Deviled Eggs

6 Easter eggs

3 tablespoons light mayo

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

pepper to taste

1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

paprika to taste

Peel the easter eggs carefully. Slice in half lengthwise and put yolks in a small mixing bowl. Add the mayo, mustard, and pepper. Using a fork, smash the mixture around until mostly creamy. Fold in the pickle relish. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag (if you don’t have a piping bag, use a sandwich bag and cut off the bottom corner. Voila, piping bag!). Pipe the mixture into the halved egg whites. Sprinkle paprika to taste. Plate them up and serve them, but don’t be surprised how fast they go. Might want to double the recipe. Happy Easter!

Look Fabulous in Your Clothes for Less Money

Posted on April 10, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Look Fabulous in your Clothes for Less Money. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Photo by gorgeoux.

I love shopping for new clothes. I also love saving money, but I want to wear good quality clothes that look great on me. So first, you need to go shopping. Read 8 Steps to Efficiently Updating Your Wardrobe for help with that. Pay special attention to the part where you shop at stores like TJ Maxx and Ross (oh and Stein Mart is one of my favorites too.) Look for good label items and pay particular attention to the fabric quality. You’ll also want to be sure you buy something that is a little too big rather than too small.

Next, find a tailor. That’s right! I know you just saved $30 on that jacket. So take that $30 and put it towards custom tailoring. One of the secrets to looking fabulous in your clothes is making sure they fit you really well. Off-the-rack clothing is a generalization that doesn’t work for the majority of the public. That’s ok for knock-about pieces and weekend wear like T-shirts and jeans; however at the office, it doesn’t work as well. That fabulous pants suit you just bought looks “almost” right, right? It’s “pretty close,” isn’t it? So, when you are buying staple pieces for your wardrobe like blazers, skirts and pants, having them tailored is a good investment.I promise that spending the time and energy to get quality pieces custom tailored will greatly improve your appearance in them.

6 Steps to Get More Cash Back from your Cash Back Cards

Posted on April 8, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Get more cash back from your card. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Photo by 401(K) 2012.

*Warning* I only recommend you try the suggestions in this article if you have excellent self-control with your credit cards.

I like free money. We know that nothing is really free, somebody somewhere is paying for it. So, what’s the deal with those cash back cards?

Credit card companies charge merchants a fee per transaction when you swipe your credit card at retailers in person or online. The cash back is, realistically, a cut of the money the merchant is paying the credit card company. A really small cut, but a cut nonetheless. The more times you swipe your card, the more money the credit card company makes, and the more you make.

So, how can you make more money? Here are some steps to follow:

Pick a credit card – To maximize your return, I suggest you pick one credit card to use. This ensures you get the maximum cash back as quickly as possible. Scattering spending over several cards will slow your earnings because each will likely have a minimum balance to reach before issuing your cash back.
Study up – Read all the information pertaining to the cash back program. Make sure you understand which purchases qualify, the minimum points required to receive cash back, method of cash back delivery, etc. Method is important because you want to make sure the process isn’t too complicated or time-consuming. For example, some rewards can come in the form of debit cards that are tricky to use.
Start spending – Pay all your regular expenses with your chosen credit card. Check on your monthly bills as well. Daycares, utility companies, and all sorts of places accept credit cards. This can help you get more cash back quickly.
Pay the card – Make sure to pay your credit card balance in full before the end of the balance period so that you aren’t paying interest to the credit card company. No sense in paying money for your cash back, right?
Pay attention – Each time you pay your balance, look to see if you have met the minimum requirement to request your cash back. Make sure you request to be paid out at every opportunity. Changes on the account such as closing the account or discontinuation of the program could adversely effect your ability to get your cash. So get it early and often.
Repeat – Do this over and over again.

I know that with many reward cards you can choose between gift cards and cash, and that the gift cards have a higher dollar amount than the cash back. I recommend you stick with the cash. Why? Well, even if they have a card for your favorite retailer, you may not really need items from that retailer at the time. Also, if you’re anything like me, you’ll have another $10 left on the card and wind up buying something that requires you to kick in some of your own cash. At this point you’re not just spending someone else’s money, you’re spending your own. And the point here is really to make a tiny bit of money. So, get out there and use those credit cards (but only on stuff you were going to buy anyway, and pay those things off every payday!)

Look For Coupon Codes Before Shopping Online

Posted on April 7, 2014 by frankiesaucier

Online Coupon Codes. www.accordingtofrankie.com. Image by Shirin Diamond Center.

Taking one extra minute before clicking the “Checkout” button on that online shopping cart can save you a worthwhile amount of money.

With twin three-year-old girls at home, I do a fair amount of my shopping online. Each time I fill up my cart, I stop before checking out. I open a new browser window, and I search for the name of the online retailer with the words “coupon code” at the end of the search string. This typically results in finding either a free shipping offer or some amount of savings between 5% and %20%. Most commonly the savings come from RetailMeNot. I’ve found savings on everything from floral delivery to department store deals. So, take a minute to search for a coupon code before you purchase online. You might just save enough to spend more at another store!

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