Peanut Flour and TJ’s Finds

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Hi Friends!  You know that old adage, you get what you pay for?  Well, it was totally true with my Cricket phone I posted about yesterday.

Cricket Phone in packaging

Apparently for the $69.99 I paid for the phone, they forgot to include both the Lithium Ion battery and the Charger in the sealed packaging.  Not sure how that happens exactly, but I took it back to Best Buy and decided to scrap Cricket in exchange for Virgin Mobil’s prepaid phones and plans.

This LG phone was $20 more through Virgin Mobile but is a much nicer phone.  

LG Virgin Mobile Phone
Hand holding new phone

Camera, slideout Qwerty keyboard, and just feels less junky. 

Back of phone showing cameraPhone with slide out keyboardHand holding whole phone

The service through Virgin Mobil is $29.99 a month for 300 Anytime Minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, and unlimited texts.  Which is $10 a month cheaper than Cricket was going to be.  Score!

I will give Cricket it’s props because they do have unlimited nationwide talk for $40 a month but honestly, this is a backup cell phone and a stand-in for a home land line, and my primary phone is going to be my Blackberry anyway.  After having a Blackberry for 5+ years, the Cricket was like taking a giant step back in time.  Extremely old school and I took the missing battery and charger as a sign to just forget about it.  The LG still isn’t a Blackberry but it’s better than the Cricket. 

From Yesterday…
Thanks for the feedback on your cell phonesWhat you have, what you love, what works and what doesn’t.  I mentioned that I would like to get an iphone but that I am concerned that the service is going to be crappy.  Many of you told me you love your iphones but hate the service, and that echoes what I’ve always heard and have experienced years ago when I tried to use AT&T in California.  Not good service at all and the mountains, valleys, ocean, and hills just exacerbates the dropped calls.  Sigh.

And when I really think about it, I am not really a touchscreen lover.  Neither is Lauren or Gabriela My ipod that’s almost like an iphone bugs me sometimes and not sure if I would love to touch and tap.  I do love the keys on my Blackberry so between the service and the keys, for now, I am staying with Verizon and Blackberry as my primary phone.   The Virgin Mobile and LG Phone are my backup and house phone.

And yes, I can also see myself totally loving the new GPS!

GPS in box

Sounds like those of you who have it, love yours too.  Katie and tons more of you!  I can’t wait til I have to go somewhere new to go and can use it!  Of course, I don’t have anywhere new or exciting to go in the next few days now that I have this badboy ready to go.

Gross Stories and my being phlegmed on by a stranger.   Yea, that was lovely.  Not!  A few of you wrote in with everything from observing someone urinating on a wall at a classy wedding to cat puke clean up duties.  And all of seem to spot public nose pickers all the time!  But the number one Gross Out that so many of you wrote in about (Heather and others) was nail clipping at work or on trains or in public places.  I am convinced some people just have no shame!  Moving right along now.  Sorry for the grossout-fest but I did enjoy the stories!  Well, mostly…haha!

Moving On…
I hit up TJ’s for a few items.  This was a 5 minute trip.  Basically throw into my cart what I could while Skylar chowed down on a Larabar.  When that Larabar was over, and those puppies are small these days, our shopping trip was over.  

Ready, Set, Fly through TJ’s in 5 Minutes:

Blueberries

Container of BlueberriesSideview of container of blueberries

Raisins.  Best raisin mix for the price, anywhere.  If you have other raisin suggestions, I’d love to hear them.  Kids + Raisins = a Perfect Match.  We go through a lot of raisins.

Package of Jumbo Raisin Medley

Coffee

Bay Blend and French Roast Coffees

I’ve posted my thoughts on this French Roast before. 

Close up of French Roast Coffee

And watched a guy grind two of the really large size cans of this Bay Blend so I figured if he was buying 2 huge cans of it, it has to be decent.  

Close up of bay blend coffee ultra dark roast
 He said he prefers it over Sumatra which he finds too ashy.  I like a nice, dark, full bodied coffee, so hopefully I will like this one.  And if I don’t, I will return it.  No shame baby.  Here were my thoughts on returning items.

Peach Salsa and Ginger Mango Chutney

Jars of Peach Salsa and Ginger Mango Chutney

The added sodium is quite low on the salsa, especially for store-bought salsas which usually are a salt-fest!  And no garlic added!  Double-bonus for me! 

Nutritional Facts on back of Salsa
I hope that it really is garlic-free.  I will be able to tell the minute I crack the seal on this jar.  I can smell garlic about 3 city blocks away.
Close up of Spicy, Smokey Peach Salsa label

 

 If I like it, I could dip a few of my Terra Chips into the salsa.  Yum!

 

Four bags of Terra Chips on countertop

With the Mango Ginger Chutney, I make either…

Jar of Mango Ginger Chutney

Mango Ginger Maple Tofu

Mango Ginger Maple Tofu stacked in clear container
Close up of slice of Mango Ginger Maple Tofu

Or I make Sweet & Sour Honey Lemon Tofu

Stacked Sweet & Sour Honey Lemon Tofu
Close up of one diced Sweet & Sour Honey Lemon Tofu

And then I picked up something that Deb seemed to know about before any of us.  But recently Katie, Julie, Eden and more of you are into:  Peanut Flour

Bag of Peanut Flour
Close up of Peanut Flour - High Protein and Gluten Free

Amazing stats:  16 g of Protein, 4 g of fiber, 110 calories, and Gluten Free.  Sweet!

Nutrition Facts on Peanut Flour
Hope you can read it despite the uber-vacuum seal on this packaging. Hey, it’s fresh and well-sealed.

I plan to make and adapt lots of my existing recipes with the peanut flour.  Being that I don’t cook/use regular flour and never pay$ for specialty Gluten-Free Baking flours, and instead simply use Oat Flour (I grind oats for a few seconds in the Vita) or Almond Flour, the Peanut Flour should stand in, just fine.

I can make my No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls (with a High Protein Option) with it.  

 No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough BallsClose up of stacked No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
 Swap out the coconut flour with peanut flour for extra peanutty flavor!
No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
 
 

And I wonder if I could make a Vegan Protein Cookie Dough out of Peanut Flour?  Probably could, and I probably will.

Vegan Protein Cookie Dough in white dish
Vegan Protein Cookie Dough with a nod to April for being such a genius!
 

I also plan to substitute the Peanut Flour (rather than Almond flour) into these Vegan Gluten Free Banana Nut Muffins 

One Vegan Gluten Free Banana Nut Muffins in liner
Hand holding portion of Vegan Gluten Free Banana Nut Muffins 

Green Food: Farmer’s Market locally grown cucumbers, tomatoes, mixed greens, and Stevia Leaves from my Stevia Plant

Mixed salad with stevia leaves

 

Mixed salad with stevia leaves and Raw Vegan Creamy Tahini Cesar-Inspired Dressing
I love tomatoes and eat one a day!

Dessert:  Vegan GF Peanut Butter Banana BreadAnd I know that I can swap out some of the almond flour for my new peanut flour.  And the peanut flour will compliment the Peanut Butter I use in the recipe for an added peanut oomph, I bet!

 Vegan GF Peanut Butter Banana Bread in loaf panHand holding slice of Vegan GF Peanut Butter Banana BreadClose up of Vegan GF Peanut Butter Banana Bread with sliced bananas on top

Gym & Weights Workout Today From This Tab: Triceps/Biceps/Back and Abs.   
Used my Home Gym/FreeWeights & Bowflex
Did Abs with my Exercise Balls from This Post

Yoga Today is Sirasana (Headstand)
(I talked in this post about weight distribution with your head vs. arm & shoulder muscles.  Check it out to stay injury-free in your neck!)

Recycled Photo
Woman doing Sirasana yoga pose

While I worked out, Skylar cheeseballed it up for the camera.

Child crossing arms and smiling
Child with hands on side of face
Child with hands on side of face smiling
This is her pretending to take a picture of her own head.  You have to be there I guess.  Or use your 3 year old imagination powers.

 

 
LAST CALL WINNER ANNOUNCED WED 8/11

Tip of the Day:  My Terra Chips $25 Prize Pack Give Away!

Terra Chips

Four bags of Terra Chips on countertop
Have fun everyone!  Thanks Terra Chips!

 

***The contest ends on Wednesday, August 11, 2010***

 

Click Here to Enter!

Questions 
1.  Have you ever tried Peanut Flour?  What do you think of it?

2.  What did you make with Peanut Flour if you’ve tried it?  What do you think I should make with it?

3.  Have you ever tried any of the TJ’s items I have from the raisins, salsas, condiments, coffees or anything else?  What are your fave TJ’s items that you feel for the money or taste, are just awesome and second to none?

4.  Do you ever have days where you can’t seem to get out of the house and get your life going? 
It’s 4pm here today and I have been busy working out, working in the kitchen (for 2+ hours), working on cleaning out my email inbox, and just now, at 4pm, I will be leaving my house for the first time today!   
Do you ever get sucked into your house and at-home projects?  But it does feel so good to know you got tons done at home, right!  What projects suck you right in?

5.  Do you think you get what you pay for in life?  
In general, I think you do.  There are always exceptionsLike my high car having a snapped front axle rod  for no rhyme or reason and it costing  $4 grand to fix itBut by and large, I do believe that buying quality items saves money in the long run.

Chanel Purse?  I’ve had it 5 years and will have it 50 more.  It will be Skylar’s one day.

Two woman holding purses standing smiling
 
But I am not a label snob by any means.  Here was my post about my Used Clothing finds from Buffalo Exchange.
Woman holding up har showing back of t-shirt
Tag on shirt from American Apparel

 

 Price was right!
Discount tag showing price of $7.50
 
I just find that in general, things like kitchen appliances, hair dryers, makeup, shoes, clothing, furniture, exercise and sporting goods items, you name it, just hold up better, and longer when you buy quality items upfront.  A Vita-Mix is going to hold up for life whereas a Black & Decker won’t and you’ll need to keep buying the Black & Decker’s and replacing them and over the course of time, you’d be money ahead to just buy 1 Vita for life and not 15 midrange or cheaper blenders.  I know it’s not always realistic though to pony-up for that big cash outlay all at once, though.
 
There are exceptions to every rule, of course.  For instance, Forever 21 clothing comes to mind.  Some of it is total crap but other items are silk and cashmere and they are dirt cheap and if you take care of them, they will last decades.  You just have to root through the junky stuff to find the gems.  Kissing a lot of toads for your prince in shining cashmere armor for 17.99.  LOL

What’s your buying strategy?   Do you get what you pay for in life?  What things do you skimp on vs. spend on?  How has that strategy worked for you long term?

Stay Tuned For The Give Away! Winner…

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