One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 1481 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

How to Freeze Avocados

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By Mavis Butterfield on August 28, 2013 · 21 Comments

My local produce market recently had avocados on sale 3 for $1 so I stocked up! I plan on freezing them so that I can whip up some fresh guacamole whenever the mood strikes.

I don’t know about you, but homemade guacamole tastes soooo much better {and is way less expensive} than anything you can buy. Plus, since Costco sells frozen guacamole, I know that it doesn’t affect the flavor or texture to freeze it.

To freeze avocados:

Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the “meat” of the avocado.
Put avocados into a food processor {it’s best if you don’t do more than 3 at a time} and add 1 tbsp. of lime juice {the lime juice will prevent the mixture from turning brown}.
Pulse the avocado and lime juice to desired consistency, and then put the mixture in a freezer bag.

Easy right? Seriously, how did the pilgrims survive without freezers?

~Mavis

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Growing Vegetables in North Vancouver, Canada

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By Mavis Butterfield on August 28, 2013 · 2 Comments

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other peoples pictures and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all have a rock star garden this summer. Keep them coming!

Check out these photos Trixi from North Vancouver, Canada sent in.

Previously Trixi had only planted broccoli and Brussels sprouts in her garden over the winter months, but she wanted to try and grow more .

Well take a look at her garden photos from this year!

I think my favorite photo might be those potatoes she has growing in burlap sacks at the top of the page.

Trixi says it’s colder here in North Vancouver and since they she lives on the side of a mountain it been harder for her to grow a lot of different vegetables. But now that she has greenhouse, she plans on growing more.

Trixi, I think you have done an outstanding job with your garden this year. Keep up the good work.

~Mavis

Garden Apartment in Harlem, New York

If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:

Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
Cool Arts & Crafts – Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.

If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.

Go HERE for the official rules.

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Happy 19th Anniversary … Here Are 2 Boxes of Corn

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By Mavis Butterfield on August 27, 2013 · 58 Comments

19 years ago on this very day, the Handsome Husband and I were married.

Being the incredibly romantic guy that he is, he walked in the door tonight with 2 enormous boxes of fresh corn and said “Happy 19th Anniversary, here are 2 boxes of corn.”

Looks like someone is going to pull an all nighter {shucking corn}.

Happy anniversary dear.

~Mavis

P.S. What is the most interesting gift you have ever received from your loved one?

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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

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By Mavis Butterfield on August 27, 2013 · 7 Comments

You know those days when you are really dragging; too much to do & not enough time. Sometimes I need a little protein boost and so when I can make it for dinner, it kills two bird with one stone {although I really don’t condone killing birds with any number of stones}. It really is the best stuff on earth & I could eat it all day long!

1 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken broth
2 large cooked chicken breasts, chopped {I use Zaycon chicken}
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
2/3 cup lemon juice {I used bottled}
1/4 cup olive oil {Zoe Olive Oil is my favorite brand}
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cook your quinoa in the chicken broth, adding the minced garlic before cooking. I like to cook it in either a rice cooker or a slow cooker. It cooks just like white rice, so the most important thing to remember is to use the ratio of 1 part grains to 2 parts liquid {you can use vegetable stock instead of the chicken broth if you want}. If you’re using a rice cooker, your quinoa should be done in about 15 minutes!

If you do not have a rice cooker simply add the quinoa, garlic and broth in a saucepan, bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook covered, until the liquid has been absorbed and grains are tender {about 20 minutes}.

Discard the garlic clove and scrape the quinoa into a large bowl. Stir the chicken, onion, bell pepper, olives, feta cheese, parsley, chives, and salt. Coat with the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil, and stir. You can chill it & serve it cold, or serve it warm right when it’s done. It’s pretty delicious either way.

Looking for more tasty quinoa recipes? Check out this cookbook:

Quinoa Revolution: Over 150 Healthy, Great-Tasting Recipes Under 500 Calories

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.