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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Wednesday 16-year-old charged for alleged school-shooting threat Since You Asked: What gives with Medford's architecture? Get Up & Go: Nov. 26 Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Medford man gets 70 months for stabbing neighbor who told him to quiet down Gay rights groups object to sergeant's letter Emergency Services Death illustrates dangers along Redwood Avenue, residents say Politics and Elections Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Education Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Les AuCoin recommended for SOU board Good news for SOU: Enrollment's up Mom gives school lobby a makeover Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Environment Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill Mt. View Estates' fill, riprap work lacked county permit Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em Since You Asked: Biomass One makes steam-generated power State News Fishermen's wives sue Coast Guard to keep helicopter station open GMO label measure, losing by 809 votes, headed for recount Resent ballots, late results likely to trigger GMO recount Nike plans 1.3 million-square-foot headquarters expansion Federal report shows Coos Bay LNG terminal would be large carbon source Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries In Appreciation Doris Lucy Bell Fred L. Higginbotham Death Notices Diana Dyer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Thompson helps SOU slide by Simpson No. 14 VCU tops Oregon in Legends Classic Pistons can't hold Mayo in loss Sandoval, Ramirez happy to be in Boston Seahawks' Sherman, Baldwin throw dig at NFL Varsity 541 College Sports Thompson helps SOU slide by Simpson No. 14 VCU tops Oregon in Legends Classic Top four remain same in playoff rankings Dynamic Ducklings 'Jesus, girls and Marcus Mariota' Pro Sports Pistons can't hold Mayo in loss Sandoval, Ramirez happy to be in Boston Seahawks' Sherman, Baldwin throw dig at NFL Chiefs place Berry on non-football illness list Griffin, Paul propel Clippers Community Sports RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Asante expands cardiac center Jackson County sees workforce and job growth Regional hotels and motels outperformed statewide marks in October Incorrect labeling prompts Kroger ice cream recall Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Real Estate News Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Lithia reports $34.5 million third-quarter profit Agriculture Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Revenue rises for Harry & David's parent company Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Kathleen Parker: The Cosby show and the presumption of innocence Jim Brock: Preserving American values? Granlund cartoon: Ferguson verdict Kent Bush: Don’t regulate Thanksgiving shopping Editorials Another View: Logging still has a place in Oregon Our View: Lawsuit reopens the GMO debate Other Views: Legislators shbould avoid feel-good distractions Our View: Signs of controversy Our view: Richardson got the coverage, not the win Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 24 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 23 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 21 Letters to the editor Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: In soup or salad, savor pumpkin with leeks 9 ways to green your gift wrap Be a gravy-making star on Thanksgiving Mt. Bachelor plagued by rain, warm temps Kent Bush: Don’t regulate Thanksgiving shopping Food Community blog: In soup or salad, savor pumpkin with leeks Be a gravy-making star on Thanksgiving Food for Thought: Add new twists on Thanksgiving favorites Community blog: Feast on this blog's Thanksgiving recipes, tips Kitchen Call: Both sides of the kiddie table Home and Garden 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Home Help: Quick tips for getting your home ready for the holidays Mortgage insurance: Your questions answered Home Help: Spruce up your home with quick DIY painting projects Health Community blog: A Little Toilet Talk 'Tis the season to be jolly County resident no longer at risk for Ebola Health Watch: Holidays can trigger allergy attacks Dr. Jeff Hersh: Tackling Ebola and flu concerns Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Wedding: Rogers-Horn Century Club Wedding: Tomlinson-Nowak Local farmers need more products in grocery stores Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults The Bohemian Club A new guitar slinger in town Clayfolk Show set for this weekend at Medford Armory Caleb Klauder Band and The Steel Wheels play the Unitarian Fellowship Theater OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' Music A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Caleb Klauder Band and The Steel Wheels play the Unitarian Fellowship Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon to perform two shows Community Events New exhibits highlight Third Fridays Clayfolk Show set for this weekend at Medford Armory Review: Randall Theatre's 'Secret Garden' still enchanting Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Spookadelic Halloween Funktacular promises a lively dance party Dining The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Blue Toba is a cultural experience Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW 10 things to know for Wednesday ... Our View: Crater Lake fee increase not surprising ... Gay rights groups object to sergeant's letter ... 10 things to know for Wednesday ... Our View: Crater Lake fee increase not surprising ... Gay rights groups object to sergeant's letter ... Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Jessica Fisher creates frugal, fabulous recipes MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 13, 2014 @ 8:57 am Posted Nov. 13, 2014 @ 8:57 am » Social News By Joanna McQuillan Weeks More Content Now Jessica Fisher knows what it’s like to be mired in debt. After years of frugal living, she and her husband slowly dug themselves into a hole, taking on a mortgage, running up credit card balances, and drawing down their savings. Luckily they pulled back from the brink in 2007, about a year before the Great Recession struck. They righted their financial ship and returned to living within their means, eschewing credit buying and sticking to a budget. This new lifestyle motivated Fisher to cook creatively and thriftily, while also satisfying the “foodie taste buds” of her family of eight. The most recent outgrowth of her pennywise cookery is “Good Cheap Eats: Everyday Dinners and Fantastic Feasts for $10 or Less,” published by Harvard Common Press (320 pages, paperbound, with color photographs, $16.95). It contains 200 appealing recipes, arranged in menus, as well as 101 money-saving tips to help meet the $10 target for a meal serving four. Chatting by phone from her San Diego home, Fisher said that her food budget - even with four sons and two daughter between the ages of 6 and 17 - is $800 to $1,200 a month, though “We could make it work on much less if we had to.” She agrees that strategic shopping is key to serving up frugal, delicious fare, taking steps such as buying staples on sale, taking the time to plan menus, and making a list so that you can shop just once for the week. A couple of times a year, she holds what she calls a “pantry challenge”: using up ingredients that she has on hand and limiting purchases to dairy products and produce. “This helps you not just clear out what you have, but learn to shop better” by not buying items that have been languishing in the cupboard. Cooking from scratch rather than buying processed foods is another necessity. But Fisher makes that easy by sharing recipes for such menus as Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy accompanied by Roasted Green Beans, or Zesty Baked Shrimp with Panko teamed with Bryan’s Broccoli and Onions, and Colorful Herbed Couscous. Her youngsters, she said, have “a varying range of interest and ability” in cooking, but “are all really willing participants.” Fisher’s 17-year-old son, who is an athlete, has become particularly interested in nutrition. When vegetarian nights come along, for most of the kids it’s not an issue, but “he wants to make sure he gets enough protein.” One of Fisher’s favorite meatless recipes is pictured on the cover of “Good Cheap Eats.” “You will not miss the meat,” she promises, because her Poblano Chile Enchiladas are “so rich and so filling and so satisfying.” One chapter of recipes is devoted to “Stretching It.” Fisher has created recipes that use meat as a flavoring or an accent, not the center of the plate. For example, Mac (and Ham) and Cheese Casserole, which serves four, contains 2 cups of diced ham. Arroz con Pollo, calculated to serve four to six, includes 3 cups of chopped cooked chicken. Fisher also is the author of ”Not Your Mother’s Make Ahead and Freeze Cookbook” and “Best 100 Juices for Kids.” In addition, she authors two blogs: Life as Mom, which she began six years ago, with Good Cheap Eats following a year later. She said the cooking blog, with the great slogan “Eat well. Act your wage. Enjoy life,” evolved out of her mom blog when she realized that it was becoming too food-centric. At www.goodcheapeats.com/printables you’ll find some additional resources, such an inventory checklist and a meal-planning calendar. In the introduction to her cookbook, Fisher assures readers that if they use her recipes and follow her tips and shopping strategies, “they will enable you to stretch your dollar, eat well and really enjoy your life.” That’s hard to argue with. Meanwhile, here are some recipes to try. About this supper dish, Fisher writes: “I serve these eggs several times a week, adjusting the type of greens or other additions depending on what’s in the fridge. Sometimes I add mushrooms and bacon, sometimes onions and kale. Feel free to mix it up with whatever you have on hand.” SKILLET POACHED EGGS WITH SPINACH Serves four. From “Good Cheap Eats” by Jessica Fisher, used by permission of The Harvard Common Press. 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 leeks, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise into half-moons 5 ounces baby spinach 8 large eggs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper In a large skillet with a lid, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the leeks and sauté until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach. Stir gently and cook until slightly wilted. Spread out the spinach mixture to create eight small wells. Crack an egg into each well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the desired doneness is reached for the eggs, 5 to 8 minutes. VEGETABLE, BEEF, AND BARLEY SOUP Makes 8 to 10 cups. Serves four. From “Good Cheap Eats” by Jessica Fisher, used by permission of The Harvard Common Press. 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound chuck steak, cubed 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped peeled carrot 1⁄2 cup chopped celery 1⁄2 cup pearl barley 4 cups vegetable broth 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce 2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas (rinsed and drained if canned) 1⁄2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1⁄2 cup frozen petite peas, thawed 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper In a large stockpot over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Brown the steak cubes on all sides for 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and barley to the pot. Cook until the onions turn translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, chickpeas, bell pepper, peas, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper. Simmer until the barley and vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. MAKE IT AHEAD: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to one month. Here are ideas from Fisher on how to use the following recipe: “This meaty chili comes together quickly and easily on the stovetop. It’s great for chili dogs but is equally delicious atop baked potatoes, pasta, and nachos, or folded into burritos.” SPICY NO-BEAN CHILI Serves four. From “Good Cheap Eats” by Jessica Fisher, used by permission of The Harvard Common Press. 12 ounces ground beef, turkey, pork, or chicken 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons finely chopped seeded jalapeño 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 tablespoon Mexican Spice Blend In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the meat, onion, jalapeño, and garlic until the meat is browned and the onion is translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Spoon off any fat. Stir in the tomato sauce and spice blend. Simmer for 10 minutes. MAKE IT AHEAD: Store the chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to two months. “This all-purpose taco seasoning mix can be used in place of any commercial blend. I use it to season meat and rice dishes as well as chilis and casseroles. The cinnamon adds a unique flavor twist; omitting it will give you a more traditional ‘taco’ flavor.” MEXICAN RICE BLEND Makes about 1⁄2 cup. From “Good Cheap Eats” by Jessica Fisher, used by permission of The Harvard Common Press. 3 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon fine sea salt 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional) 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to an airtight plastic container or zip-top plastic bag and store in the cupboard. 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