Archive for October, 2010

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Last-minute Halloween costumes for the broke-ass


2010
10.30

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Posted in Holidays | No Comments »

It’s Halloween weekend already?!

Okay, think fast: you forgot to buy a costume and it’s time to hit the Trick-or-Treat trail. You may be judged at a costume contest, so you’ve got to be witty, sexy—oh, and low-budge. What’s a fabulous broke-ass to do?

Check these quick, last-minute costume ideas from ReadyMade and then raid your closet!

L to R: Freudian Slip, Cereal Killer, Bubble-Wrap Man (photo by Emily Nathan, via ReadyMade.com)

Or grab one of these super-cheap, totally redonk, pun-tastic ideas from Halloween.com:

  • “Carry a quarter and a hammer. What are you? A Quarter-pounder.”
  • “Dress in pink and carry a feather. What are you? Tickled pink.”
  • “Attach sugar-cubes or candy all over yourself. What are you? Sugar-Daddy or Sugar-Momma.”
  • “Paint a shoebox black and attach it to your back. What are you? A refrigerator magnet.”

Got a go-to costume trick or tip? Share some of your favorite last-minute Halloween costumes with us in the comments section, if you dare!

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Wine for penny-pinchers


2010
10.30

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Posted in Groceries | 4 Comments »

Celebrity Intern and I love wine. Of course, we are also very budget conscious, so we’re always on the lookout for good deals. When it comes to wine, you often get what you pay for, hence the huge price tags for the high-end stuff. It’s good, and if we had the money, we’d buy it.

But for those of you who—like us!—are pinching pennies, rest assured there are great-tasting budget wines that will charm both your palate and your wallet.

Here are two of our most recent discoveries:

Gato Negro

Gato Negro (that’s “Black Cat” in Spanish, for all you gringos) is a Malbec from Argentina, one of our preferred wine countries. The 2010 variety is quite good, and at only $3.99 (at Randalls) you might pass it up for being TOO cheap.

Don’t let the bargain-basement price fool you! This is a great choice for pairing with any spicy dishes like our homemade tacos or Beef Chili with Bacon and Black Beans, or anything with red meat (Bleu Cheese Bacon Burgers) or tomato sauce.

Sea Ridge

A California Chardonnay, Sea Ridge‘s 2009 variety is also an amazing $3.99 (again at Randalls). As the back of the bottle describes it, “This is a full, ripe Chardonnay with hints of tropical fruit, citrus, and butterscotch.” Celebrity Intern and I tried it with shrimp last night (see his “hot damn, shim does shrimp!” post at diet-of-insects for the recipe), and it was a great accompaniment.

I would also recommend pairing it with grilled chicken or a Caesar Salad.

More Cheap Thrills

Looking for something special for Thanksgiving, or a great gift for the holidays? Wine.com is currently offering some “spooky deals” over Halloween weekend. Check out their site for more cheap thrills, as you can save up to 50% on selections you won’t find anywhere else:

wine.com

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Last-minute freebie: Pei Wei free lunch, October 26


2010
10.25

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Posted in Events | No Comments »

Attention freebie lovers!

We just received word here at Shoestring Austin HQ that a cool free lunch event is happening TOMORROW (Tuesday, October 26) here in Austin, so check it out. As per the email we received:

On Tuesday, October 26, Pei Wei Asian Diner will host a free lunch for its local fans. Executive Chef Eric Justice will be on-site preparing a Thai-spiced aromatic chicken dish paired with lettuce cups and coconut rice, traditionally known in Thailand as Laarb. The off-menu, authentic street fare will be available free of charge for the first 250 Pei Wei lovers to arrive.

Where: Republic Square Park (422 Guadalupe)

When: Tuesday, October 26 from Noon to 1 PM

Pei Wei currently has 5 locations serving the Austin area, from Round Rock down to the Bee Caves. We haven’t had a chance to check them out, so this might be just the incentive we need to give them a whirl! (Seriously, who says no to free food?)

So there you have it! For more information, check out the Pei Wei Facebook Fan Page, or follow them on Twitter @PeiWei.

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Fish never looked so good: Mock Ceviche


2010
10.20

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Posted in Recipes | No Comments »

by Emily Ramsey

I have fallen under the cooking spell. The creation, the inventing—it’s like being a scientist without creating equations or filling beakers. However, it’s the “cooking” aspect, standing in front of the oven, that doesn’t much excite me. If I had my way, I would spend my time cutting and mixing and tweaking my dish, because the less I use heat means the fresher and more natural my ingredients. No simmering temperatures to extract the raw nutrients out of my food.

That’s one reason why I am so in love with this month’s dish, Mock Ceviche (pronounced say-vee-chay). The dish is considered “mock” because real ceviche dishes cook raw fish by marinating it in citric juice—something I plan to try soon—which chemically reacts with the fish protein. For this recipe, however, we’ll be boiling the fish, but using all other ingredients uncooked.

This dish is not only healthy but also very shoestring. The most costly ingredient is the tilapia, but if you can find salmon for cheaper, you can use it. It will taste great with either.

Mock Ceviche

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 1  lb. tilapia fillets, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1-2 jalapeño peppers (depending on your spice level), cut thinly
  • ½ c. lime juice
  • ½-1 c. chopped fresh cilantro, cut thinly (I tend to go for a full cup but if cilantro’s not attractive to your palate, feel free to pull it back)
  • 1 ½ tsp. oregano, fresh from the plant or from a jar (I really appreciate Whole Foods’ loose spice aisle; you can just spoon as much as you need into a bag with no waste!)
  • 1 tsp. cumin/coriander/cayenne—according to desired flavor
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 large green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 large tomato (This is not the best time of year for tomatoes, so feel free to substitute with a plump zucchini or squash and red pepper for its vibrant ruby color.)
  • ½ c. white or red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ c. green olives, quartered (save time by buying jarred, pre-cut olives which are also pre-pitted, as opposed to whole olives)
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • 4-5 corn tortillas

Directions:

  1. Place tilapia in a skillet, cover with water and bring to boil over high heat. Remove from heat; cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Mix jalapeños, lime juice, 2 T. cilantro, salt and spices in a bowl. Transfer the tilapia to a large dish and pour the lime juice mixture over it. Add bell pepper, tomato, onion and olives; gently mix. The tilapia will be tender so it may break apart. Cover and chill for 20 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle with avocado and the remaining cilantro before serving. Serve with warm tortillas and a sombrero to complete your Mexican evening.

All you need now is a margarita or a cold one. Enjoy!

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Freebie Friday: Freebies to feed your mind and body


2010
10.01

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Posted in Freebies | 1 Comment »

Welcome to Rocktober! Freebie Friday is back with plenty more fun, free things to do in Austin this week and throughout October. This week, we’re bringing you freebies that will help feed both your body AND your mind. Dig it!

Barton Creek Farmers Market

First and foremost (and free-most?), be sure to check out the Barton Creek Farmers Market this—and every!—Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM, rain or shine. It’s free to browse, but you’ll want to bring cash to buy, with plenty of fruits, veggies, meats and treats straight from the source. You can find the farmers market at the back of the Barton Square Creek Mall’s parking lot, at the intersection of the Mopac (S. Loop 1) and Loop 360 (S. Capital of Texas Hwy).

Ready, Set, Grow – October 9 at Austin HerbFest 2010

One of the Farmers Market’s events this year, “Ready, Set, Grow,” will teach you how to grow and use herbs in your food, as well as for health and wellness purposes. Mark your calendars for Austin HerbFest 2010 (no, not that kind of herb!), which brings a variety of educational presentations from herbalists, gardeners, vendors and foodies.

Zilker Herb Garden (photo via Austin Herb Society)

Sponsored by the Austin Herb Society, a local group dedicated to educating the community about herbs, from propagation and landscaping to history, folklore, and much more. Check out their monthly programs at the Zilker Garden Center online at www.austinherbsociety.org.

Free writing software – OmmWriter

Another great freebie for all the writers out there is OmmWriter, a program that helps remove the distractions of the desktop from your writing space. They’ve just introduced a bunch of new features with the new version, OmmWriter Dana, including new sounds and backgrounds and the ability to save files as .TXTs or PDFs, and it’s all available for free download from ommwriter.com.

Introducing OmmWriter Dāna from herraizsoto&co on Vimeo.

If you like what you see, you can also upgrade to the full version, Dana II, for only $4.11! (Their website suggests that “monetary gifts ending with a 1 are considered auspicious,” but you can actually contribute as much or as little as you like, in a “pay what you will” setup.)

I’ve been using the original OmmWriter for when I really want to get rid of the distractions and focus on writing, and it’s incredibly helpful. The meditative sounds are great for inspiring poetry as well! You can read more of my opinions on OmmWriter at my blog, The Buttontapper.

And speaking of poetry…

Texas Book Festival – October 16 & 17

The Texas Book Festival is fast approaching! Save the date for October 16 and 17, and browse the full list of 2010 authors in attendance here or the full schedule here. All events are free and open to the public, making this the biggest free literary event in North America. Just be sure to arrive early to the events you’re interested in, as space is limited and it’s first-come, first-served.

Got any FREEBIES to add to our list? Contact us and we’d be glad to include you in an upcoming Freebie Friday post!