Crock Pot Chicken Stock

Submitted by erika on 12/08/12 10:32am
It's not just fun to say, it's also delicious - and thrifty!

 

Having gone gluten free this year, one of my new favorite convenience foods is the grocery store rotisserie chicken. You know the kind, they come in a plastic clamshell and sit under heat lamps, usually somewhere near the store entrance (where they entice the unwary). 
 
These rotisserie chickens are fast and easy (and fun to eat Barbarian Style). But they are not a very good value, pound for pound. If you read the label carefully, most of them are small - we're talking a three pound chicken at most. Subtract the weight of the carcass, and there is not a lot of meat on that little thing!
 
One great way to stretch your budget when you buy one of these is to make chicken stock the next day. I find the best strategy is to strip the meat as soon as you get home, when the chicken is still warm. If you pop it in the fridge and wait to do it until later, it's not only more difficult to get the meat off, it is also a much less pleasant task. All that cold congealed chicken goo.
 
The easiest way to make chicken stock is with a slow cooker. But you can make it on the stovetop too, as long as you can simmer it on low and keep checking it to make sure the pot hasn't run dry.
 
The basic ingredients are:
  • One chicken carcass
  • Some water
  • Salt to taste (no more than 1 teaspoon - you can always add more later)
 
How much water? Depends on how much stock you want to make. I would say 4 cups at a minimum. If you make too much, you can always freeze the extra for use later. I typically add 1-2 pints of water (as measured by a mason jar). 
 
If you want your stock to taste better, add any or all of the following:
  • Chopped carrots (about a cup)
  • Chopped celery (about a cup)
  • Chopped onion (about half a cup)
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 3-5 whole peppercorns
  • 1-5 garlic cloves
  • 1-2 T tomato paste (this gives it a wonderful rich color without affecting the taste)
 
Toss it all into the water and let it simmer for 6-10 hours on low. When it's done, the easiest way to strain it is to put a colander inside a larger bowl. Pour the whole thing into the colander, then lift the colander out, so that the broth remains inside the larger bowl. Delicious!

Dallas continues to make a run for the playoffs

Submitted by USAsNewFavPASTIME on 12/08/12 10:22am

Holiday Gift Baskets: $5 for $50

Submitted by sarajean on 12/08/12 8:58am
Give a generous basket of goodies for just $5.

For $5, buy $50 towards a holiday gift basket. This savings of $45 may be just what you need for that perfect holiday gift. Other offers are also availble.

Ranger Rick: $10 for an annual subscription

Submitted by sarajean on 12/08/12 8:50am
Save 50% on up to five one-year subscriptions.

Regularly priced at $19.99 a year, Ranger Rick is now available for $10 per subscription for up to five one-year subscription, a savings of 50%. Ranger Rick Jr. is also available.

Singapore's airport

Submitted by Mulv Jones on 12/08/12 8:44am
Hotels, restaurants and activities galore.

Though airplanes do touch down and take off from Changi International Airport in Singapore, the complex itself seems more like a city. With hotels, restaurants and a smorgasbord of other activities, Singapore visitors can enjoy themselves without even heading into the city center. For myself personally, I decided to show up for my flight eight hours early to save money on a hotel, and experience the majesty that is Changi International Airport.

I arrived at the airport around 10 p.m. After an easy frolic through security, I found myself in the 3rd terminal, starring at the largest slide in an airport in the world. The child in me couldn’t resist a ride, and as my feet touched the ground, I knew I made the right choice.

Slides turned into meals and with a plethora of great options, I decided to end my Asian adventure with some south Indian cuisine. The options are a plenty, but for budget travelers, Indian and Malaysian cuisines are the cheapest options.

After filling my stomach, I took a stroll through the two-story, indoor butterfly park. The park itself is climate controlled, and filled with tropical plants and beautiful butterflies.  Walking out the upstairs exit, I then headed into the free movie room to catch the tail end of a documentary about Paul McCartney. In the comfy seats I caught myself snoozing, and decided this was a good place to rest a bit before the flight.

The power nap energized me, and a trip to terminal 2 introduced me to the entertainment area with huge TVs and video games galore. This is where I spent a majority of my night. The Xbox station was pretty crowded, though, so I had to settle for a PS3.

After working up a sweat gaming, I decided to pay the $6 to take a shower. The towel and toiletries were included, and each individual stall had a seemingly limitless amount of hot water. At this point, though, I was hearing final call for my flight, ending my Changi airport adventure.

Though I wasn’t able to see all the activities offered, I definitely didn’t regret showing up eight hours early for my early international flight home. If you find yourself in Singapore with a flight, make sure to arrive early, and see one of the most exquisite and coolest airports in the world. 

Reading Pile: 12/8/12

Submitted by wrathamon on 12/08/12 8:44am
Hellboy, Avengers, Thunderbolts, & Colder

Hellboy In Hell #1- I’m glad they decided to keep this title down to $2.99 instead of bumping to $3.50 like a bunch of other Dark Horse titles. I love Mignola’s art but anything he actually draws tends to be a fairly quick read. It’s been a bit of a wait for this chapter in Hellboy’s life, and that’s pretty much the biggest problem as you might have to refresh yourself on some previous runs. But is it really a problem to have to reread a Hellboy comic? B+

Avengers #1- Hooooray for Hickman! One issue in and this is already five times as epic as any Bendis run.  Hickman gives us the usual teasers of something greater looming in the distance with the promise of probably a dozen back plots slowly developing over time. Jerome Opena’s art is the type that might not appeal to everyone but I thought it was a unique choice and a new direction for a flagship team book. I’m really looking forward to seeing this book grow and evolve. A-

Thunderbolts #1- A pretty quick read that’s mostly laying down the groundwork, and not that there is anything really wrong with that but I think you would want to start off with a bit more of a bang. Steve Dillon is a little more of an attraction for me, but it seems like an odd choice. This title is pretty much just a compilation of the most violent and bloody anti-heroes, so it’s not like I was looking for something with a Vertigo tone. This needed to be dynamic, action packed, and twisted considering the characters involved. I’m not saying that would have been a clever comic either, but when you are starring Deadpool, Venom, and Punisher you need to embrace that you aren’t going to be an intellectual powerhouse of a title. You pretty much need to be the Expendables and embrace all the corny tropes of an action film, because if you try to be anything else you’ll lose the audience that just wants an action comic. It may seem that I’m essentially saying I wanted this comic to be dumber, but I doubt it’s going to achieve anything else so why not go for the biggest, dumbest, bloodiest spectacle ever? Hopefully it will prove me wrong, but it needs to pick up a crap-ton of momentum to do so. B-

Colder #2- This issue picked up the tone and pace for me and I am really enjoying the Juan Ferreyra artwork. His creature designs are fairly creepy and the sub-mental world they are creating in the story is intriguing. I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop and explain the core plot. B

Five Below: Makeup deals for $5 and below

Submitted by sarajean on 12/08/12 8:42am
Stock up on stocking stuffers

Stock up and save on beauty products at 5 Below, or fill up a stocking with these goodies. Some of this week's deals at select locations include:

  • 3 for $5 nail polish, including Crackle and metallic styles
  • 12-pack flavored lip balms for $5
  • 10 shades of eye color for $3
  • Beauty palettes up to 24 shades for $2
  • Eos lip balm for $3.29
  • Fake nails for $3
  • Select fragrances for $3

 

Money saving activities to extend your travel

Submitted by Mulv Jones on 12/08/12 8:15am
Reading, people watching, playing cards and more

It seems as though some people can travel for years and not worry about money. Observers (or haters) often believe that these people are loaded, or maybe won the lottery. Though this can be the case, the fact is, some people know the tricks of the trade to travel on a shoestring, extending their travel beyond the two weeks that most people have off per year. Below you’ll find a few activities to occupy your time but not empty your wallet.

Reading: This is an essential activity if you want to travel for an extended period of time. Reading is a free activity, and with everyone doing it, book exchanges allow you to keep finding new material to digest. Sitting in parks, cafes or your hostel/hotel lobby with a good book is a travel must.

People watching: Sure it may seem creepy, but people watching in a public area is a great activity to save money, as well as learn about the local culture. Stationing yourself in a busy area with people in transit is free and  allows you to see how life unfolds in your current travel destination.

Playing cards: Fun when you are a kid, fun when you are a traveling adult. A deck of cards is dirt cheap, but can be used for endless fun on your trip. You can use them to meet people, learn new games and spend your time in a quality manner. If you are one of the lucky ones, you can even pick up a magic trick or two to impress your friends, family, or that special someone.

Meditating: This can mean a number of things to a number of people, but spending quality time digesting what you are seeing is a free and healthy. Whether it be spiritual or just alone time, meditating is an essential activity for an extended trip.

Watching the sunrise/sunset: Lots of time when people are comfortable in their own homes, they forget the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. While traveling, with no agenda, taking the time to actually watch the sun awake or fall to sleep is majestic. Find a good vantage point and enjoy a free natural wonder.

Conversation: It’s completely free and a great way to spend an afternoon. You can speak with just about anyone while traveling, so why not profit on one of the most fun activities you can do while traveling?

By no means is this list comprehensive, but it can help lead you on your way to budget travel. Enjoy spending your day on the cheap! 

Railay vs. Tonsai

Submitted by Mulv Jones on 12/08/12 7:59am
Pros and cons of both destinations.

Southern Thailand is beautiful. Immaculate beaches are pervasive, and with that being said, the options of places to go and stay are endless. Off of the coastal town of Krabi, the beautiful beaches of Railay and Tonsai are a traveler's dream. Though they are both connected, the two options couldn’t be more different. Below you will find a list of pros and cons for the two, which will help you decide where to stay while visiting the beautiful coast, lined with limestone peaks.

Tonsai Bay:

PROS

  • With this being the backpacker option, there are loads of (relatively) budget accommodations. This can include bungalows, rooms and even tents.
  • Tonsai has some great bars. The beers aren’t too expensive and most bars will have live bands playing a few times a week.
  • The climbing on Tonsai Bay is great. There is bouldering and sport, as well as a few places to indulge in trade climbing as well.
  • This could also fall under the cons side, depending on your take, but the people on Tonsai side are laid back hippies, making them pretty accommodating to all visitors.

CONS

  • Tonsai is only accessible by boat or long, long hikes from Railay. If you want to get anywhere, be ready to walk.
  • Mud. It doesn’t matter if it’s been sunny for days, there always seems to be massive puddles of mud all over Tonsai that obstruct your walkway. Be ready to be muddy your entire stay.
  • Though the food is good, there are only about two options of places to eat. During high season, expect to wait a long time to get your pre-climb meal.

Railay

PROS

  • Railay is absolutely stunning. Though the east side doesn’t’ have much of a beach, Pranang Cave and Railay West boast some of the most beautiful coastline in southern Thailand
  • Railay is a tourist destination, so any immunity you could want is available.
  • BBQs. For around $5 during low season and $8 during high season, you can get a large piece of BBQ fish with an all you can eat buffet of sides.

CONS

  • Railay, especially during high season, is incredibly expensive. You won’t be able to find any budget accommodation, and rooms fill up quite quickly.
  • The people on Railay side are vacationers, not backpackers, so they aren’t as friendly or accommodating as those on Tonsai side.
  • Railay is oversaturated with places to eat, stay, etc. With construction still occurring, it seems like the backing jungle is disappearing quickly. Railay’s beauty is definitely diminishing with each new contract started.

Good luck with your Thailand adventure, and make sure to enjoy the beauty of Railay or Tonsai!

Instyler Rotating Hot Iron: Save 30%

Submitted by sarajean on 12/08/12 7:52am
Plus get free shipping.

Get a limited edition color Instyler Rotating Hot Iron for $69, a savings of 30% off the regular price of $99.99. Free shipping included.

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