Budget Minded 4 Star Valentine’s Dinner
Today we bring you an easy to prepare and very inexpensive 4 Star dinner idea for a wonderful Valentine’s Dinner; Chicken Cordon Bleu with a touch of love. Here is what to buy at the supermarket:
2 skinless 1/4 lb chicken breasts ($1.50)
4 thin slices Black Forest ham ($2)
2 slices of your choice of preferred cheese ($1)
(Gouda, Havarti, Swiss, Provolone all good options)
1 Can Panko bread crumbs ($3)
1 Egg ($0.25)
1 Flavored pasta packet ($1)
Lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad (less than $4)
1 Bottle of wine ($9 or less)
4 Piece chocolate sampler in heart shaped box ($2)
1 Flower like red rose or carnation ($1)
Easy Cooking Instructions
Rinse the chicken thoroughly. Pound the chicken flat to about quarter-inch thickness, by using a mallet, rolling pin or the handle of a knife (protect your hand from the sharp end of the knife by wrapping it in a clean dishtowel). Layer one piece of ham then a slice of cheese, then the second piece of ham on each breast. Roll each breast lengthwise and secure with toothpick. Dip each rolled chicken into the egg and then coat in bread crumbs. Place the chicken in a shallow glass baking dish which you have sprayed with vegetable oil or spray butter to prevent any sticking. Bake the chicken at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. In a separate pot, prepare the pasta packet. Plate chicken and pasta side dish. The chopped salad is easy enough to round out a balanced meal.
Create A Four Star Atmosphere
Here’s how to set the mood for a romantic dinner. Burn a couple of candles at the dinner table. Place a single red rose or carnation in water on the dinner table. Turn on some relaxing music and pour the wine.
Create Your Own Valentine’s Card
Before you prepare dinner, take time to create a handmade card. For example, use a single piece of red or pink construction paper folded in half. Write a personal note (or if you are feeling extra creative, why not write a poem) and place the card at your Valentine’s dinner place setting.
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Keep the chocolate sampler close by as another surprise when it is time for dessert. Within 30 minutes of starting your preparations in the kitchen, you can serve a classy dinner, including dessert for about $25 or less. Mangia!
Nathan Randall, editor, DailyDollar Newsletter provides free daily advice on money matters plus coupons and discount codes. FYI…you can now access the DailyDollar Newsletter via iTunes podcast, YouTube video, and on Facebook and Twitter too.
For The Hunter Gatherer In Any Family
What is it about men and barbeques? Some innate, caveman instinct crawls out from the deepest core of man’s inner being at the slightest suggestion of outdoor cooking. The invention of fire put man in control, his hunter-gatherer urge finding a new direction. It dictated where he could camp, affording shelter and warmth against the elements; it could protect him and his family from the wild animals that once roamed freely, albeit in greater abundance, on this planet; and it provided a meeting place where comfort and safety were made available to his fellow men. This was the beginning of early society, where people would gather around the campfire to cook the hunter’s catch and listen to the horror stories that described what he encountered in securing that death defying catch.
Not much has changed though. In modern society and with the introduction of the butcher and the supermarket, the great and fearful challenge for man to hunt down his food has been replaced. Even the convenience of the modern oven does nothing to incite the blood of primal man to boil. But set the barbeque alight, watch the smoky burning charcoal waft towards his nose and observe the almost immediate, primitive chain reaction. While much of our behaviour is hard wired internally, deep within our psyche, the basic objectives of all human beings is to ensure survival and procreation while at the same time providing satisfaction and pleasure. The act of eating creates the platform or starting point from where all these instincts are launched.
The sad downside to all of this is modern reality. While the man is content in the belief that he is providing and feeding his family, it is generally the woman who does all the hard graft – the shopping, the carrying, the preparing and the cleaning. A friend of mine recently sent me a great quote: ‘A husband is someone who after taking the rubbish out gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house’. I love it!
There is a certain sense of glee in a man’s face when he is standing at the barbeque, tongs in one hand, bottle of beer in the other. The smug sense of pride and accomplishment in his performance, as if it was the only meal cooked that year and the only one that mattered, will bring a smile to even the most hard nosed, humourless of beings, his selective memory conveniently forgetting the other 20 meals in the week that have to be prepared. But give him a pound of sausages, a plateful of steaks, chicken drumsticks, and a skewer or two and he’s off to his own planet. It’s the only thing in the world that will drag him away from his beloved footie!
It’s also the only thing that will get him enthusiastic about shopping. The range of barbeques out there is pretty staggering but after much research the resounding reccommendations all point back to one make – Weber Barbeques. I found a great range to choose from online but don’t be overwhelmed at the variety, choice, or even size of these cookers. Be sure you know what your requirements are: gas or charcoal? How many do you intend to cook for, when and where? What is your budget? Answer these questions and you’ll find Weber Barbeques have just what you’re looking for.
Altons offer a comprehensive range of Weber barbecues and weber bbq accessories. Check them out their selections online today.
How I Paid Only $2 For A $25 Restaurant Gift Certificate
How would you like to hear about a useful deal that you can consider in preparation for making Valentine’s Day extra special?
This is no joke, but I acted fast to get the deal. You really can get a $25 restaurant gift certificate for only $2. First, I searched for a company with a web site called “restaurant”. Yes, it is true, I just bought one coupon myself at one of my favorite local Italian restaurants. I just looked for one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, Luna Rossa.
Yup, I found it and then I entered the promotional code which is the word DATE at the checkout screen and then I hit “Apply”.
This truly amazing offer is good through Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:59PM PST and I was lucky enough to find it.
Everyday Restaurant Gift Card Deals
After January 31, the deals don’t stop at this website though. I discovered while doing my research that on a daily basis you can find $25 restaurant gift certificates offered at a purchase price of only $10!
A national directory of more than 18,000 restaurants allows you to search by state, city, neighborhood, zip code and cuisine type to find the perfect restaurant and gift certificates for savings.
This deal will help make your Valentine’s Day a little more affordable.
How To Buy Discounted Restaurant Gift Cards
If you can’t find a suitable restaurant in your area that participates in the program I have researched and shared with you, you still have options by learning how to save money when dining out. You can decide, just as I did, to purchase discounted gift cards at Plastic Jungle and other discount card dealer sites like Gift Card Granny. There are hundreds of retailers who are represented and very interested in earning your business. Who knows, a one time dining experience can often turn into a dining destination on a regular basis. That is what the restaurants are hoping for; to give you a great dining experience at a great introductory price point and create a loyal new dining customer.
For example, I went to Plastic Jungle on my computer today and found a Bonefish Grill gift card for 11% discount off the face value. Also, there was a gift card for Flemings for 12% discount off the face value. That essentially amounts to paying $44 for a $50 gift card.
These are real savings that add up fast, especially when you are planning to take that someone special out to a nice Valentine’s Day dinner. So keep these personal finance tips in mind as you pull your plans together for that special occasion coming up quickly.
Nathan Randall, editor, DailyDollar Newsletter provides free daily advice on money matters plus coupons and discount codes. FYI…you can now access the DailyDollar Newsletter via iTunes podcast, YouTube video, and on Facebook and Twitter too.
How To Prevent Yourself From Being Exploited By A Office Cleaning Firm
There are numerous fly by night office carpet cleaning firms looking to make a quick buck. These so called professionals can cause a great deal of damage to any premises along with their carpeting. If they do not have access to the experience, equipment or knowledge necessary to tend to your carpets or flooring. Then there is a great chance you will simply be throwing your hard earned cash down the drain. To assist you in finding a very good office cleaning Essex firm below, are some useful ideas to ensure your investment pays dividends.
Because there are a great number of cowboys lying in wait, to take your money off you. These are the carpet cleaning firms who do not have the very best equipment and the cleaning solutions. They simply make use of, off the shelf products that are not really well suited for cleaning carpets and rugs. Good quality tested gear and products will clean your carpets thoroughly. Therefore will leaving a far superior finish. Compared to anything you can buy from the high street. These types of non professionals can also be seeking to access your property. Enabling them to grab your possessions, so always double check whenever possible that they are a specialist commercial office cleaning company.
4 tips you ought to consider before employing a office cleaning company
Visit their website. Do not just use the carpet cleaning firm who simply submit a quick and cheaply produced leaflets through your door, or even knock on your door offering their service. Use a professional firm who have a fully operating professional website. You can check their website to find their contact information and possibly request a free quote for you before you decide to hire them.
Ask about the services they provide. A expert commercial cleaning Essex firms would have numerous different services to offer you. This could range from full carpet cleans to upholstery cleaning, rug cleaning and spot cleaning for all nightmare stains that wont shift.
Enquire about their employees. Some carpet cleaning firms will send out employees with little to no training. This can put your premises and carpeting at risk. During a clean your carpets might be discoloured, ripped or snagged and in addition they could even shrink being damaged permanently. Check to see that everyone that will be working at your premises is given full training avoiding any accidents.
Check to see whether the office cleaning in Essex firm is insured. Liability insurance will assist with protect you if there are any accidents caused because of their employees negligence or incompetence. This will save you from coughing up money out to repair the damage yourself and give you peace of mind when letting the professionals into your own premises.
Spalls Ltd are a office cleaning Essex company specialising in all aspects of carpet cleaning, for professional commercial cleaning Essex look no further.
4 Steps You Should Take Before Hiring A Office Cleaning Essex Firm
Dirty carpets will never be pleasant. They can cause a variety of difficulties within a premises. If you are experiencing uncomfortable smells whenever you stroll through the door there is a great chance that your carpets are to blame. It is also possible other people will notice this too and will suffer from the following sneezing fits, runny noses, itchy pores and skin, rashes and many other problems. Just simply because ones carpets or flooring needs cleaning.
To help you solve the problems listed here are four simple points which are useful when looking for a office cleaning Essex firm. If you follow these simply pointers, you may find that your own carpets are thoroughly clean immediately and that you have got a company to help you whenever your flooring needs cleaning in the future.
1. Search the web for a highly trained and competent commercial cleaning firm. You can do this by checking the companys website using a search engine. Many office carpet cleaning service companies should have one. If you choose to work with a experienced company they should have a insurance plan, this will come in handy just in case any damages were occur within your premises. So you wont end up being left with the expenses. They ought to also be using the very best cleaning solutions and machines.
2. Ask the company for a quotation. Any firm ought to be more than willing to give you a quotation which includes no obligation to buy. Check to see that you are treated respectfully on the phone too. An experienced firm must understand, how really essential it is to supply outstanding customer service on a consistent basis.
3. Choose a firm which has experienced and highly trained individuals employed there, who are capable of working within different environments. This will increase the likely hood that they really are an experienced firm that have dealt with many different unsightly stains or issues before in addition and have learnt a few methods along the way. The chances are that a business which is able to provide commercial carpet cleaning service in the Essex area in addition to domestic jobs will have the best products as well as are able to provide a first class support.
4. Make sure that the company or individual hired is capable of following instructions. It is important to know that your property or perhaps business carpets and rugs are in safe possession. Check to see that they are trained and they are covered by liability insurance policy before you decide to let the firm take care of your own floorings or upholstery.
By following these simple ideas outline above you will be certain to find a firm who is friendly, reliable as well as trustworthy. Carpets and rugs are costly purchases therefore it is crucial that you leave your own in adqeuate hands. Once you have found the right company you an rest assured that your investment is in safe hands.
Spalls Ltd are a office cleaning Essex company specialising in all aspects of carpet cleaning, for professional commercial cleaning Essex look no further.