Deals on Dairy!

I’ve always heard that dairy is one of the most important products to buy organic, but as we all know, it is usually one of the priciest!  Luckily, there are a bunch of coupons right now for Organic dairy products – to help your health and your wallet out.

Horizon Dairy is offering:

55 cents off a half gallon of Horizon Organic Milk (void in certain states – please check on their site)

Whole Foods is offering coupons for:

$1.00 off any ONE Organic Valley 8 oz. cheese

$1.00 off any TWO 32oz. Lifeway Organic Lowfat Kefirs

$1.00 of any ONE 16 oz. cup or any ONE 4oz. 4 pack of Stoneyfield Organic Oikos Greek Yogurt

Organic Valley is offering the following on their site:

50 cents off a 32 oz. organic yogurt

50 cents off any Organic Valley flavored half and half

If you find any other great Organic dairy coupons out there, be sure to let us know!

Champagne Alternatives that Won’t Disappoint

Looking for the ‘pop’ of Champagne without the price tag?  Jill Bernheimer of L.A. based DomaineLA and Brooklyn’s Smith & Vine have fantastic insider tips for frugal fizz that won’t sacrifice quality, taste or the experience of the classic expensive bubbly.  Shop online at both stores, or check your local wine shop and Whole Foods for these Fab & Fru suggestions!

Methode Champenoise

Whether Cava or Cremant, there are lots of wines from all over Europe that use the same rigorous method of production as Champagne, but can’t call themselves by the name since they fall outside the Champagne region. Cava is from Spain, and uses local Spanish grape varieties; Cremants come from France, and may or may not use the same grapes as in Champagne. You’re saving money just by virtue of the fact that “Champagne” is not allowed to be printed on the labels of these bottles.

Here are Smith & Vine’s Methode Champenoise Special Picks for 2012!

• Belle-Vue – Vin Mousseux Brut:  This sparkling Muscadet from the Loire Valley is light and minerally at about $18 a bottle.  Think oysters and crushed seashells, yum…

• Bruder Dr. Becker – Scheurebe Sekt Extra Trocker:  At around $22 a pop, this delightful German bubbly doesn’t just sparkle – it sizzles!

• La Taille aux Loups – Triple Zéro:  This 100% Chenin Blanc from the Vouray Loire Valley in France is delicious at $25 a bottle

• Crémant du Jura- – Domain de Montbourjeau:  100% Chardonnay from Jura and Savoie France, this “sparkle motion in a bottle” is $23 a bottl and the pick that tastes most like traditional Champagne.

A Bevvy Of Beverages!

Are you gearing up to host a whole bunch of out-of -towners for the holidays?  To help you out, we’ve found a bunch of natural and organic beverage coupons – to help you save up for those extra trips to the therapist you’ll need while your family is in town!

Beverage Coupons From Whole Foods:

$2.50 off any two 6-packs of Zevia Soda

75 cents off any ONE 2-liter 365 Brand Soda

$1.00 off ONE box of Celestial Seasonings Tea

$1.00 of any Dream Non-Dairy Beverage

50 cents of any ONE Lifeway BioKefir 4-Pack

$1.00 off 1 64 ounce Earth’s Balance Organic Soymilk

And from our friends and Savings.com…

$2.00 off any 2 quarts of GoodBelly

 And While You’re Beverage Shopping…

I just have to give a shout out to a delish – and very reasonably priced – red wine I recently discovered at Whole Foods.  WOLFTRAP RED – offers a lot of bang for your buck.   WOLFTRAP – is a Syrah that is only $11.99 and takes like wines I have bought for at least double the price.  I plan on buying a case and taking advantage of the Whole Foods 10%  case discount – cheers!

Having a dinner party?  Greet your guests with an old school cocktail that will knock their socks off (literally).  This recipe makes 8-10 mini Manhattans or 4-5 regular size drinks!

Manhattans with a Twist

• 8 oz of Bourbon or Rye
• 2 1/2 oz of Sweet Vermouth
• 5-8 dashes of Angstura Bitters (add to taste, but we like our Manhattans on the herby side)
• 8-10 Black Cherries in syrup or Maraschino Cherries
• 2 good size twists of lemon peel

Fill a pitcher with ice and add the bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters and lemon peel.  Stir vigorously until the outside of the pitcher is beaded with sweat and is ice cold to the touch.  Place a cherry (don’t shake off the juice.  A little extra syrup is good) at the bottom of each glass, strain the ice as you pour the cocktail.  Serve immediately!

*Tip: You can prep this cocktail an hour before serving by pouring the ingredients into the pitcher, but WAIT to add the ice.  Prepare your glasses on a tray and place a cherry at the bottom of each glass.  When you’re ready to serve, add the ice and follow the rest of the instructions above.

Enjoy!

By Brandi Savitt – October 27, 2011

Paying More than Your Fair Share

Last week, after finishing a major project at the office, our dear friend Jo went out with a few work buddies to celebrate.  Everyone ordered a cocktail and began chatting about how thrilled they all were with the outcome of the project.  Jo, who was enjoying her time unwinding, was nursing a cold and decided to sit the next round of drinks out.  As these things go, round two progressed to round three, and after a couple of bottles of wine and multiple tapas for the table, the gang finally called it quits for the night.

When the bill came the cards came out, and before Jo knew it, the waitress had split the bill equally on all of the cards.  Embarrassed to speak up that she only had one drink and no food, yet upset she had to pay 4x what she owed, Jo didn’t want to complicate the situation.  So, she did what so many of us do – she said nothing – and then called me the next day to complain….

Been There, Done That

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been in awkward money situation with friends at one point or another.  Whether it’s splitting the bill or getting reimbursed for fronting the money for something, it’s always tough to be the one asking to be paid back or having to announce you want to pay less than everyone else.  Let’s face it, who wants to seem cheap?  But on the other hand, the only person who can control your budget is you…  So, how should you handle it?

Tactfully Speaking

Communication and managing expectations (yours and your friends) are key.  In casual situations with friends, there is nothing wrong with letting your pals know that you would prefer to pay for your share only.   This is true if someone owes you money as well.  Whether we like it or not, people are not always as observant or mindful as we would hope.  We all can be forgetful, and most of us actually appreciate a gentle reminder.  In most cases, your friends are not looking to screw you, and if they are — they’re obviously not really your friends!

Own Your Silence

Sure, it sounds easy to just speak up, but we all know that there are those times when it’s not appropriate, or you’d still rather not say anything and just cough up the cash.  And that’s fine, but that’s also your choice.  You can’t expect other people to take the lead for you, and you can’t get upset in awkward money situations if they don’t.  That’s not fair, either.  The only person’s actions you can be responsible for are your own.  So, if you choose to let things slide, you also need to accept that choice.  Suck it up and don’t go talking about the situation to your other friends as if someone wronged you.  Your only enemy is you….

Take Control of Your Wallet

The truth is, you will likely have to face many more awkward money moments in the years to come, and good communication can only go so far.  You are the only one who really knows what’s in your bank account.  If you can’t afford to take the risk that you might have to pay more than you planned, avoid putting yourself in that position in the first place.  If you feel certain friends constantly take advantage of money situations, avoid big ticket nights with those friends.  Choose activities that you can afford and enjoy doing.  Finding that balance is not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it to your friendships – and your wallet – in the end!

Moving Beyond 2 Buck Chuck

When I was in my swinging single hey day – and entertaining up a storm – my go to wine was Trader Joe’s “2 Buck Chuck.” You know the one – that Charles Shaw wine that sold for $1.99 a bottle…  And while I love an extreme bargain as much as the next girl, I have to admit my palette has become slightly more refined over the years.  So, as we enter the entertaining and holiday season, I wanted to know what fabulous deals Trader Joe’s could offer me (and my snobby taste buds) now.  In other words, I’m ready for an upgrade!

TJ’s Wine & Cheese

I walked into my local Trader Joe’s and cornered the manager, who was very excited to share with me his insider picks for the best wine and cheese pairings TJ’s has to offer.  I told him my criteria was that his picks must taste like they cost a lot more than they do.  Very Fab & Fru, right?  And the Winners Are…

White Wine

The pick for top bang-for-your-buck white wine?  Black Mountain Vineyard 2009 Chardonnay.  At only $5.99 a bottle, he said this one was a staff winner when they do their behind-the-scenes wine tastings, and likened it more to what you might expect from a $9.00 bottle of wine.

Red Wine

This was where Mister Manager really got excited.  He told me without hesitation that his top pick for red was Trader Joe’s Reserve 2009 Medocino County Cabernet Sauvignon.  At $9.99 a bottle, he said it easily compares to wines that cost twice as much!  They had done a recent in-store wine tasting, and this was the huge winner among customers and staff alike.  When put head to head with the $18.99 per bottle Rodney Strong, the Trader Joe’s Reserve was the winner, hands down!

Cheese, Please

Ok, so now you’ve got your vino taken care of.  What about cheese pairings? No offense, but haven’t we all gotten past putting out the pre-sliced little squares in the Trader Joe’s Crowd “Cheeser” Tray?  Again, I told my new-found friend I wanted grown-up cheese that you had to slice yourself – and of course that tasted like a million bucks!

The Good Goat

It was at this point that several Trader Joe’s employees began clamoring around to find the one cheese they all went crazy for at a recent in-store tasting.  Their pick?  Trader Joe’s Cranberry Chevre – this delectable log of cranberry covered goat cheese makes for an elegant presentation and a sweet treat.  No one will know it only costs $3.99 for an 8 oz. log.  They also had a couple other sweet varieties of chevre log which looked yummy, including Wild Blueberry/Vanilla and Honey.

Better Cheddar

Next up? Navigating the sea of sharp cheddars.  I asked Mister Manager what was his top pick out of all of their sharp offerings, and I have to say his choice surprised me.  It wasn’t an import from England, but rather Vermont’s very own Cabot Extra Sharp White Cheddar.  At only $5.99 a pound, you can get a nice sized wedge sharp and tangy enough to rival the best that English cows have to offer!

Reinventing the (Brie) Wheel

My new favorite thing at TJs is also a great way to round out (no pun intended, you’ll see what I mean) your cheese platter.  I just love Brie, but those big wedges become a total mess and are hard to navigate on a tray.  Thankfully, Trader Joe’s offers a Brie Cheese Log!  Why didn’t someone think of this sooner? This brilliant brie easily slices into round cracker size toppers, and it is only $3.99 for a 6 oz log.

Salty and Sweet

Everyone knows that the only thing that can make a glorious wine and cheese party better is — well, a little chocolate, of course!  I always like to add a bowl of Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Mini Pretzels to the cheese platter.  The guests go crazy for it, and it is a perfect inexpensive accompaniment to the wine and cheese.  And it’s WAY cheaper than having to buy blocks of dark chocolate for all your guests!

Taste For Yourself

One of the best things about my experience at Trader Joe’s this morning?  I really wanted to taste one of the English Cheddars to see how it compared to the Cabot. So, the manager ripped open a package and let me break off a hunk right there – and, no, it did not measure up to the Cabot!

I have no idea if all managers are this helpful, but I loved that TJ’s let me do this.  In addition, my local Trader Joe’s usually offers a couple wine and cheese tastings per month, and yours probably does too…  So, if you’re looking to save BIG and entertain in style this fall and winter, check out what your local TJ’s has to offer!

So what’s YOUR favorite wine and cheese from TJs?

*This is NOT a paid advertisement.

UPDATE: Congrats to Lindsay Fultz! She has won our O.N.E. Active giveaway. Thank you to everyone who participated. Please check our Organic Coupon Corner for more fun giveaways.

I feel like I have been hearing about coconut water everywhere lately. Magazines tell me it’s more hydrating than water, health articles say it’s incredibly nutritious, and my friends swear by it as a hangover cure.

Now O.N.E. Coconut Water has come out with O.N.E. Active, a drink that adds all-natural herbs and minerals to their coconut water for a healthy sports-drink alternative. This formula was made to keep active bodies hydrated and balanced – and even if you’re less-than-active, it’s just plain yummy!

Check out this FAB giveaway:  One lucky reader will win a case (that’s right – a CASE) of O.N.E. Active, along with one of their yoga mats and pedometers – great to use if you are actually active, or if you’re not, at least you can walk down the street looking like you are! To be considered, leave a comment here telling us what your favorite O.N.E. product is.

One more thing we love about O.N.E.? They are giving back – big time.  For every “Like” they receive on their Facebook page they will donate $1 to Healthy Child Healthy World – it’s a great (and easy) way to help out and be kept in the loop on special offers and new products.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Here at Fab & Fru, we are beyond excited it is finally Labor Day. The storm in New York from last weekend had everyone in hibernation mode, so it will be nice to make up for it by spending some extra time with family and friends!

Throwing a party or having friends over today? Try one of these yummy cocktail recipes from Baileys Original Irish Cream and Moon Mountain Organic Vodka:

Labor Day Iced Latte

Ingredients

1 ounce Baileys Original Irish Cream
1/2 ounce Chilled Espresso
1 ounce Bulleit Bourbon
1/8 ounce Simple Syrup
3 Mint Sprigs

Instructions

1. Mix coffee and sugar syrup together and set aside
2. In a highball glass, layer 2 mint sprigs in the bottom of the glass, then top with crushed ice
3. Add Baileys Original Irish Cream, Bulleit Bourbon, and simple syrup
4. Swizzle together, leaving the mint at the bottom of the glass
5. Float coffee on top and garnish with last mint sprig

Summer’s End Sipper

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Moon Mountain Organic Vodka
1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
1 ounce Simple Syrup
3 Cucumbers
4 Mint Leaves

Instructions

1. Muddle fresh mint, cucumber and raw simple syrup in a mixing glass.
2. Add Moon Mountain Organic Vodka and lime juice and shake with ice.
3. Strain over fresh ice in a high ball glass.
4. Garnish with a slice of fresh cucumber.

What are you doing to celebrate Labor Day?

Recipe provided by Whole Foods

*Serves 8-10 people

This refreshing summer cooler is also tasty made with other sweet, ripe melons in season, such as cantaloupe or watermelon. For a more rustic version, skip the step of straining the tea.

And the cost? Even though it tastes like something you’d order at a high-end cafe, Whole Foods lists the price per serving at only $1.27 – try ordering a fancy iced tea anywhere for that low of a price!

Ingredients

4 cups (1-2 inch) chunks honeydew melon (about 1 1/4 pounds), plus more for garnish
1 (64-ounce) bottle unsweetened green tea, divided
1 3-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1/4 cup wildflower honey, plus more to taste
1 bunch mint, for garnish

Method

Put honeydew, 2 cups of the tea and ginger into a blender and purée until smooth and frothy. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, discard any remaining pulp and transfer honeydew-tea mixture to a large pitcher. Stir in remaining tea and honey, chill and serve over ice, garnished with honeydew and mint.

Let the Spirits Move You… to Save

As the days get shorter & shorter and the holidays lurk just around the corner, the season for entertaining at home has begun!  Inviting friends over on a brisk night for some drinks and a home cooked feast is always a fun Fab & Fru antidote to braving the elements — not to mention spending too much cash at an over priced restaurant.  However, even if you’re not eating out, buying all the wine, spirits and mixers to make any cocktail your guests may desire can add up to big bucks!.   So, what do you do when you want to throw a dinner party but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars to stock your bar?  Our answer… get creative and plan your  drink menu to inexpensively compliment your meal!

First Things First

Pairing your drink menu with each course that you serve is not as hard as you think -  and it will make your dinner party seem super sophisticated while saving you money! First, you need to decide how many courses you’ll be serving and what you are making to eat.  Then you need to do a little research.  Ask for wine and spirit pairing advice from your local wine shop or favorite skilled bartender.  There’s also a great book that I consulted to write this article called How to Drink by Victoria Moore which offers excellent recipes and tips for how to really enjoy both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.

Cheap But Glamorous

Presentation is the key to making anything look and feel glamorous!  Keep your menu simple, but make each drink look spectacular and special.  Know a little about what your serving and take care to serve it at the right temperature and with the right food.  Remember, if you make the whole evening a tasting experience, not only will your guests get to try something new, it will spark conversation!

What to Serve

With countless cocktail recipes out there and an endless lists of wine, we’ve narrowed down our recommendations to some Fab & Fru favorites that are super easy to prepare and serve while making you look like a rock star!

Non Alcoholic

Club Soda or Seltzer are key bar elements to have stocked your fridge.  Soda, ice and a few slices of citrus fruit or a splash of juice, will make any non drinker feel like part of the party!

Choose a Cocktail

Pomegranate Seed Vodka

• Chilled Vodka
• Club Soda (optional)
• Ice
  
• Pomegranate Seeds
  

Wow your guests with a beautiful holiday cocktail that is inexpensive and easy to make!  Inspired by Victoria Moore’s recipe in How to Drink, I’ve added a splash of fizz to mine. Remove the seeds from a couple of pomegranates (be careful- this can get messy).  Keep a bottle of vodka in the freezer (Smirnoff will do the trick).  Fill tumblers or clear water glasses with  lots of ice and a spritz of club soda or seltzer.  Pour the vodka over the ice and mix in a spoonful of pomegranate seeds.- Enjoy this show stopper with savory appetizers or just on it’s own!