Jason and I are always trying to save money. He is a starving graduate student, and I am working two jobs (which include blog work because, let's be honest - blogging can be a full-time gig!) To pay off the high credit card debt and save for a home. Budgeting for groceries is crucial at this point. When I plan my meals for the week, it's important to me to choose recipes that I already have the majority of ingredients in, such as tonkatsu. I can usually buy a pound (about $3.99) of boneless pork for Trader Joe's with pantry staples such as flour,...

You can imagine how quickly I ate that cookie, blondie, and bacon caramel popcorn. I will definitely save the pancake mix for busy mornings during the week when I want a full breakfast before going to work. Oh, and that black-tufted pasta from Italy? Yes, I loved that pasta, especially when it was mixed with a Meyer lemon cream sauce, sauteed kale, and crumbled Italian Sausage, along with a cherry tomato mixture. This is my paradise. What about the truffle aftertaste, too? Amazing. Perfectly, you can make it in less than 20 minutes! Since we are on day three of the two-year blogoversary celebrations this week,...

You've probably noticed that I like sandwiches and avocado sandwiches. When Hidden Valley kindly sent me their new sandwich dips and spreads, I was immediately drawn to Chipotle. I knew that I would make a sandwich using avocado. After much consideration, I made a club-style sandwich and added fresh avocado slices, as well as a generous amount of spicy chipotle spread. The spicy spread and salty bacon went together beautifully, while the vegetable mix-ins rounded out the whole savory experience. Avocado is a great addition to any sandwich. Ingredients Eight slices of Applewood smoked bacon Toasted baguette cut into 3-4 equal portions to be served Hidden Valley...