Hormel Pepperoni Deal at Meijer 1/11/09-1/17/09

Detroit area Meijer stores have Hormel pepperoni on sale this week for $1. These are the 2 inch, maybe larger, circular slices of pepperoni found in the DELI area, clear packages without any cardboard surround. Before Christmas, there were coupons for 75 cents off ANY Hormel pepperoni. After coupons, the pepperoni is 25 cents. Original price was $4.99. Big difference in price.

And, here's another deal. Detroit area Meijer stores reduced the price of Kellogg's Special K Waffles to 69 cents. There is a coupon for 75 cents off Kellogg's Special K Waffles. Can you say FREE??!! There are no signs for the waffle clearance. To find out if your store reduced the waffles, use the in-store price scanner.

Enjoy!

Snippet Soup

It's raining today. And the rain is turning into ice or what meteorologists refer to as freezing rain. Ah, those technical terms.

It's a perfect day for making soup. Since the roads are slick and dangerous, I am using what I have in my kitchen for the soup. It's usually a snippet of this and a slice of leftovers that goes into the broth, thus the name, "Snippet Soup".

Throughout the year, I freeze ends of carrots, bits of cabbage, potatoes and other veggies in a plastic bag. I plop a pot of water on the stove and insert the vegetable fragments bringing the mixture to a boil, then simmer for about a half hour.

This batch includes sweet corn cobs, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, onions and beets. I had the last of the champagne last night. Before I recycle the bottle, I filled it halfway with water, and emptied the contents into the stock pot with the veggies. Should give the soup a wonderful flavor.

Once the veggies have infused the water, I'll remove them and add a bay leaf, brown rice, and mushrooms cooked with just a touch of minced garlic. I found an Asiago cheese rind so I'll toss that into the mix. (Rinds can be rinsed and reused over and over again once there flavor is released into the stock). Top the finished product with some fresh grated black pepper. Salt is optional.

Smells fabulous. It's the perfect dish to warm the soul on an overcast day.

Shelby's Necklace

This necklace is made of an oblong tiger-eye bead, silver twisted, a brushed and cut aluminum dangle with one purple and one green glass bead separating the tiger-eye and the aluminum piece. The Shelby necklace is held together with a waxed black cord. Very simple, yet bold.

Tiger-eye stones are believed to strengthen confidence and conviction for people. This stone is also thought to offer protection in travel.

Winter Classic at Wrigley Field

New Year's day and the NHL is playing an outdoor game today at Wrigley Field in Chicago. It's the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks. A fierce rivalry that goes back to at least the 1950's that's certain to provoke passion. How cool is that?!

What intrigues me is the fact they are playing this year's game outside. Growing up in Michigan, I am use to seeing boys playing hockey on lakes. My brother-in-law grew up on Lake St. Clair ice boating, skating and playing hockey.

My family taught me how to skate. No inside rink for me. They took me to a pond, laced up the skates and let me loose. I promptly fell on my caboose. Not to worry, my mother bundled me up in so many layers I didn't feel a thing. I was padded more than any NHL goalie.

Sometimes, as I drive to work, I pass by homemade rinks complete with lights so kids can play hockey at night. And the children leave their wii's and ipods to play outside. Feel the cool wind in their face and the glint of sunlight as it blinds them to the oncoming puck aimed straight for their nose.

Hockey is a brutal sport. But it builds stamina and character (no high sticking).

Horray for outdoor hockey. Horray for the Red Wings and Blackhawks organizations. I hope the tradition lives on for many years.