Okay, you have decided that this is the last time you are going to watch your store bought herbs turn black and slimy in the refrigerator. You know that herbs really kick-up a dish from good to WOW. And when you went to the store you had good intentions of making that special savory dish, but the car broke down, and you had to work later than expected, plus when you came home you almost had to leap frog into your house because of all the toys, clothes, and other clutter that the kids left behind and did not pick up.

Well, how can you cook from scratch when you’re absolutely worn out? So, by the time you find yourself in the mood again, well-l-l, let’s say, the ingredients could not wait.

Now, one answer to this dilemma is to have a greenhouse window installed in your kitchen for $1500, or buy the Aero-Grow™ for $149, but what if you don’t have the room or the money for this? You can recoup the initial investment of a Prepara Power Plant from Napapstyle at $40, that’s less than 15 store bought herbs, and you don’t have to buy special pods to grow, simply plant the seeds of your choice, add water and watch them grow. Space-saving, the Prepara Power Plant has a small footprint of 8¾”x2¾x7″.

Remember when the best part of your mom’s baking was scraping the bowl and/or licking the spoon? This was a special treat when the batter or frosting was chocolate. Now, with food prices rising and for those of us Julia Child wannabes, you try to get every drop you can of that torte batter, butter cream frosting–not to mention the importance of fully integrating the ingredients during the mixing process.

Well, Markdown Mom first learn of a beater that scraped the bowl during the preparation for KitchenAid mixers last year and has been waiting with gadget-bated breath for this item. Now, Chefs™ has it for both the tilt-head Kitchenaid for $24.99 and for the 5qt. and 6 qt. bowl lift mixers for $29.99+sh. Curved blades continually scrape the bowl while you mix. But don’t worry, you will still have a spatula to lick and enjoy when you use it to take the mixture out of the bowl!

It’s wonderful to try new dishes, ethnic foods, but once-in-awhile, if you’re a meat and potatoes type person or married to one, or simply enjoy simple American fare then finding a place with home-cooking like Mom use to make is a welcomed change. With the global palate we have acquired, even good ole’ home cooking has become a specialty. Going the way of mom and pop neighborhood stores has been the corner café offering tried and true favorites like hot meat sandwiches with potatoes and gravy, daily specials, where breakfast is served all day long, at affordable prices. But, if you look hard enough and ask longtime residents, you are bound to find one of these gems.

Such is Julie’s Family Restaurant located on Belknap Street, in Superior, Wisconsin. “Right across the bridge,” as we refer to its’ location. Imagine a 3 egg omelet with 2 cheeses and 2 pancakes for $4.70! Daily dinner specialties after 4:00 P.M. include an “all you can eat” Fish Fry on Fridays for $6.50 includes french fries or baked potatoes, coleslaw and roll. Great down home cooking, friendly service, and affordable prices–what more can you ask for?

Ever wonder where all that lost luggage goes to? Well, a great number are never found until after the airlines have compensated their owners monetarily for their loss. Do you ever wish to find a specialty store where every member of your family can enjoy shopping? Enter the emergence of a new term to our technical age shopping vocabulary: Extreme Stores. Extreme Superstores are megastores/markets where you can find almost anything and everything from designer apparel, electronics, food, antiques, home decor, and more at great prices…plus be entertained. Their claim to fame is that they are the world’s largest in their field. Check out these sites for the bargains:

Jungle Jim’s International Market (Farfield, Ohio)

• 50,000 customers/day
• Guided tours available
• Rows upon rows of food from around the world
• Several unique food items, food company displays, and events
• Trams, giraffes, cooking school, and more–oh my!

Archie McPhee® (Seattle, WA)

• Collectibles, silly gag gifts
• Most popular items: devil duckie, largest pair of underwear (100 inch waist), bacon-themed items, pirates, and action figures.
• They have a bridal registry, games, contests and prizes
• 80,000 visitors/year

Rei®

• 1.5 million visitors/year
• Sports exporium, bike repair shop, and indoor and outdoor real-life trails in one
• Motto: “Try before you buy”-they have an indoor hike trail, 65 ft (7 story high) indoor climbing wall and outdoor bicycle course
• Find the right outdoor sport’s gear here
• Bonus: Check out Rei-Outlet.com for extra savings

Unclaimed Baggage Center™ (Scottsborough, Alabama)

• 800,000 visitors/year
• 80% markdowns
• Airlines have 90 days to give back lost luggage, then they refund individual’s money, so this store buys stuff from airline companies
• More than 7,000 stock items: jewelry, wallets, luggage, scuba gear, golf items, and more!

Bonanza Gift Shop-World’s Largest Gift Shop (Las Vegas, NV)

• Largest gift store in the world
• Vegas trinkets, nasty items and kitch
• T-shirts, magnets, postcards, key chains, clocks, casino gear, Elvis sunglasses and memorabilia, music, etc…
• Wedding area inside
• Best gag gift: Insulting Parrot Polly. $19.99
• 0.5 million customers/year

Daffin’s Candy (Sharon, Pennsylvania)

• Largest candy store (20,000 sq feet)
• 320 barrels of hard candy throughout the world
• 1,000 different items
• Chocolate factory nearby produces 1.2 million lbs chocolate/year
• Customers get to sample everything in the store
• Cocoa Display: large dioramas and animals, e.g. 400 lb solid chocolate turtle
• 10,000 people in one day (on busiest)

San Jose Flea Market (San Jose, California)

• 8-mile long, 120 acres
• Vendors, Farmer’s market, Auto dealership, Entertainment Showroom: arcade games, Mariachi band
• 4 million people/yr come

Salads seem easy, but they really aren’t. First you have to rinse all the ingredients and dry them; otherwise, the salad dressing runs off the leaves and makes a gooey mess with the remaining water at the bottom of the bowl. Then you have to get out all the ingredients and find a knife sharp enough to cut the lettuce, celery, onion, whatever, and slice the tomatoes, too! Okay, that shouldn’t be hard, but get a dull knife and it merely tears the herbs and dents the tomato skin and spews all its’ seeds and juice out onto the cutting board. So, after you assemble all the ingredients, including the sorry-looking tomatoes, you have a messy clean-up. Been there, done that, right?

Well, Silvermark, has a one tool fits all with their Toss and Chop™super-sharp scissors. Stainless steel, micro-serrated edged scissors that require no sharpening, plus since they are a scissors you are less likely to cut your fingers–what a deal! Comes in grey and Markdown Mom’s favorite color green, at $19.99 it will chop salad greens, vegetables, herbs, fruit and more in the salad bowl–no more cutting board to clean! Sold at their site and a number of stores. Want to keep your lettuce dry and preserve it longer? Take a look at their microfiber salad dryer bag, too.

Steal: Macy’s has 99¢ shipping on all clearance! This is good now through Sunday, July 20, 2008. Plus take an extra 25% off fashion apparel during a 3-Day Sale from July 21st-July 23, 2008.

Steal: Oh, so sorry 20% off today only at Chadwick’s on entire order. Enter promotion code: CHSORRY. Only good through midnight tonight.

Steal: Say Cheese! igourmet has 50% off its’ most important cheeses through Friday, July 18, 2008. If you are a cheese lover, just looking at their offerings will make your mouth water.

Steal: Office Depot® has some real sizzlin’ summer steals in time for back-to-school. HP Pavilion Desktop $399.99 after its’ in-store $30 rebate on purchases of $150, and mail-in rebate. Plus now through August 30, 2008, take an extra 10% off your office needs–no minimum purchase, excludes technology.

Steal: drugstore.com has Chi hair appliances up to 60% off, best prices anywhere for salon equipment to give you that professional style.

Steal: Saks Fifth Avenue. I know, but hey if you got the bucks, this is still an added deal. Free shipping on any order. Use promo code: SHIPFREE.

Steal: Coldwater Creek markdowns on clearance of up to 60% off. Save even more at their outlet sale where you can find tees reg.$39.50 for $6.99.

Steal: Ann Taylor has up to 70% off clearance sale. Petites be sure to check this sale out, MDM found that hot yellow (lemonade) jacket in XL Petite, reg.$88, steal $49.99

Steal: Lands’ End is having its’ summer sale with prices up to 65% off. Known for its’ quality cotton interlocks, now is the time to shop the bargains.

Steal: Estée Lauder has a semi-free giveaway. With any purchase, you can select 3 free samples. Purchases of $50 qualify for free shipping. A good time to try their humidity proof cosmetics, Double Wear.

It use to be that you would go to your local hardware and appliance stores or to the anchor stores in the Mall to find a new appliance. Now just like apparel outlets, appliance outlets are available to the consumer. Usually appliance outlets offer sales of up to 60% off the manufacturer suggested retail price. Some appliance factory outlets have a leader line, one they clearly have an agreement with to carry extensively. However, Markdown Mom finds that the real opportunities come in the high-end appliances and European designs that are usually carried by kitchen design retailers. Design appliances from Viking, Wolf and others are carried in limited supplies, but if you are in the market to upgrade your kitchen appliances, you may want to check-out the offerings at appliance factory outlets–if you can’t find what you’re looking for, just keep rechecking–sooner or later you’re bound to find what you’re looking for.

The downsize is that you won’t get promotional interest rates like 0% 28% that are offered from time-to-time at the regular stores. Usually interest rates at a factory outlet are close-end and can run you up to . Additionally, factory outlets do not deliver, or do not deliver free. Markdown Mom recommends factory outlet appliances on a cash & carry basis to avoid high interest rates and delivery charges. If you can swing a cash purchase of $1000 or more, you can find real savings. Remember, you can either sell your old appliance or save it for the “free” day at your local recycling center or landfill.

Click Here To See Prime Appliance Factory Outlet→Slideshow

Now you can bring THE WORLD to your home decor, kitchen and wardrobe from one store!

Cost Plus World Market© with store locations throughout the West, Midwest, and South carries imports from Japan, Southeast Asia, Africa, Italy, England and more! The quantity, quality, and selection of products is simply amazing.

For all those bargain hunters who love Pier One© and TJ Maxx©, World Market© offers the best of both stores.

You’ll find home products such as furniture, lamps, rugs, bedding, towels, pictures, window dressings, dishes, glasses and other home decor perfect for an ethnic theme room.

You’ll also find candles, soaps, lotions, toiletries and other international fragrances to fill your home or give as a gift.

Specialty foods like large penné pasta; Italian and Mexican sauces; English jams, preserves and tea biscuits; Chinese rice candy and Australian licorice; tea, wine, imported water and other beverages make up four to five aisles. Plus a variety of herbs and spices any gourmand would delight in such as black volcanic and pink sea salt; truffle and shitake mushroom flakes–all available for that unique fine dining experience.

And for those fashionable gals who enjoy international fashion, World Market© has handbags, clothes and jewelry with Chinese, Japanese, Cambodian, and East Indian designs. In fact, MDM found several necklaces similar to those worn by Emily Deschanel’s character, Temperance Brennan, on the hit Fox television series Bones.

World Market© prices are very affordable. Bamboo door dressings, for example, sell for $19 and necklaces sell between $9-$16. If that wasn’t exciting enough, World Market© is having a 50% OFF SALE in-store and online.

Shop online or find a World Market store near you!

With a popular quick fix rice dish that can be bought for $1.00 a package, you may want to ask why make your own from scratch?  Markdown Mom likes to have available meal items that don’t require a lot of time and effort, but can be healthy as well.  Plus you can control the amount of seasoning and ingredients, and you can vary the dish with additional ingredients. So, here’s MDM’s healthy lowfat version of a popular side dish in less than 30 minutes.

*MARKDOWN MOM’s RICELLI

Dry Ingredients

1½ Cups Rice (arborio or short grain)

½ Cup of Vermicelli

Wet Ingredients

1½ Cups Lowfat Chicken Broth

Water

 2 Tbspns. Lowfat Butter

Spices

Sea Salt

Ground Pepper

Fresh or Dry Italian Parsley

Garlic

Optional Ingredients

Frozen or Fresh Peas

METHOD; On a low heat, put the vermicelli and rice in a fry pan that has some depth because you will be adding liquid to it later.  Add lowfat butter and sauté until vermicelli is browned. Then add the lowfat chicken broth, bring to boil, turn down heat, cover and let simmer for approx. 25 minutes, stir occasionally.  Add spices to taste and optional ingredients until warm through.  Serves 4.

Click Here for Slideshow

*Rice & Vermicelli

What is a “dive?” Usually, they are small hole in the wall places that serve fast food without any aesthetic trappings or location. Why should you consider eating at a dive? Well, if you are lucky and discriminating you might get wind of some dives that serve a limited menu, but what they do offer is a great meal at a bargain price.

Such are three places the Markdownmom chicks found while exploring the Twin cities. The MDM chicks discovered Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri, Al’s Breakfast, and Big Daddy’s Saturday Barbecue.

The tiki shack design of Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge, located in North Minneapolis, welcomes young patrons and motorcycle enthusiasts. Known for its’ unique gourmet pizzas with names such as hemi cuda, Barbie Q, Suzi Quattro a large pizza will run you $19.35-$20.75.

Al’s Breakfast located in DinkyTown near the east campus of the University of Minnesota, is only open from 6a.m. to 1 p.m., you can fill up on blackberry pancakes, and other selections, a variety of omelettes. Tip: Bring cash, checks or charge/debit cards not accepted, and your own tupperware for leftovers.

Big Daddy’s Saturday Barbecue, located on University Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota is as it name states only open on Saturdays and specializes solely in BBQ pork ribs, beef ribs, and chicken. ½ rack is $16. Corner of Dale & University. Wonderful BBQ!

Don’t let a hole in the wall deter you from finding these great places to eat. Check with the locals to find the best deals for food leave your comfort zone and get into the mode of an explorer–you may just discover a great tasting even with a colorful atmosphere.

MDM has found that taking culinary classes is a great way to bring an international flare into your life while expanding your family’s palate, and eating gourmet at diy prices. One recent evening’s class at Lunds and Byerly’s supermarket provided food, fun, and a couple of surprises for $10. One of the many classes offered was a Dim Sum class taught by Ms. Cynthia Chauwan Crinklaw.

Dim Sum is basically stuffed Chinese dumplings. There is a whole genre that falls into this category including Sui Mai, potstickers, wontons,and sticky rice fried dumplings . At Lunds and Byerly’s Ms. Crinklaw presented a delectable trio of entrees including a dessert item of cantonese sweet tarts. While we were enjoying the samples her beautiful operatic voice entertained us with arias from Puccini and others.

Another surprise, we were given a $10 gift certificate to be applied to an item from their Culinary Shop or Gift Basket Shop. MDM found a signature retro bowl from Zak! retailing for $19.99, with $10 dollar coupon it was a steal, larger and more solid than Rachel Ray’s trash bowl, it comes in MDM’s favorite color of green and other contemporary colors of turquoise, orange, yellow confetti . Plus it is eco-friendly since it is made of recyclable plastic. How great is that?

Plus MDM made some new friends–you can’t expect a better night at school. Food, Friends, Fun, Entertainment and $10 coupon–Priceless!

Looking for a good Dim Sum Restaurant in the Twin Cities. Try these:

• Mandarin Village, Bloomington, Minnesota.
• Yanzee, Golden Valley, Minnesota
• Jung Eo, Richfield, Minnesota
• Mai Village, St. Paul, Minnesota.

To check on other class offerings go to Lunds and Byerly’s.

Click Here To See→ Lunds & Byerly’s→uSlideshow of Dim Sum Class

Only those of us Marthaphiles can get excited over a new super pastry bag. But how can you not get excited over any new hot kitchen gadget that makes it easier to be a fantastic chef or baker? JB Prince caters to professionals, but MDM found that this is a great site for those of us who dabble and try to bring a more global variety to the family dinner table. And for those of us who are more adventurous in planning and executing receptions for special occasions, this is a must!

Among these goodies, two pastry bags caught MDM’s eye since although the initial investment is higher than other pastry bags, they can be used over and over again, and are more versatile with ease of use.

One of their new items from their 2008 Summer Catalog, is a rubber pastry bag that makes it strong, flexible and soft. The Super-flex Pastry Bag is very tactile friendly, the smooth rubber interior makes it easy to pipe products, while the textured outside assures a great grip $21.30.

Another pastry bag is made from silicone which is great for piping both hot and cold items. The Sac A’Flex Silicone Pastry Bag has a temperature range of 76°F-446°F. Dishwasher safe and fast drying, at $15.10.

And how about these Mini Mason Jars for those special spices, crafts, workshop, or what have you! Measuring 3¼” x 1½” d. it holds 2oz., $2.00 each. How cool is that?

Visit this site especially if you are planning a graduation, wedding, or anniversary party!

Whether you are a carnivora or vegan, you will admit that eating vegan is healthy and tasty. At Vitalita you can download free vegan recipes including savory desserts, hearty soups, and favorites with an international flare like this Asian Lasagna.

This site has a wonderful variety that is bound to tempt any palate, and you can download the online cookbooks for FREE --perfect for Kindle owners.

Trying to eat healthier? These recipes certainly will make it easier and a culinary voyage for the entire family.

If you ever journey through Wisconsin, be sure to make a stop at the Norske Nook Restaurant & Bakery. Located in Hayward, Osseo, Rice Lake, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin they have been blue ribbon winners at the National Pie Championship held in Celebration, Florida.

If you go there, be sure to sample their homemade pies especially the Banana Cream Pie. In Markdown Mom’s opinion this is the best banana cream pie she has ever bought. A slice of pie will run you $3.95, and a whole pie $21.95 (11 inches) plus a one time deposit fee on the pan (if you bring it back). MDM recommends that if there are 2 or more of you, order the whole pie because even with such large pieces, you will want more.

Wednesdays are Pie Day and you can get a slice of the featured pie and a cup of coffee for $2.49. Tuesdays, seniors 55+ get 10% off. They also have a Pie Club, get your card stamped when you purchase a whole pie and after 7 you get one free! If you love pie, and who doesn’t, you must make this a stop on your list when in Wisconsin.

If you have a special pie place, let us know at Markdown Mom so we can share it.

Outside of the British cleaning ladies, who is going to look in your microwave? I mean let’s get real here, does it really matter when the light goes on and the microwave zaps the food that you really can’t guess what’s cooking inside unless you put it in there? Or for that matter, that a new smell is being emitted from the unit that makes you wonder if the mac’n cheese you put in to warm-up is burning along with an old sock? Or that even though you’re sure you put saran wrap over the bowl, something is sputtering inside and spewing unrecognizable blobs at the window? Well, if you don’t care then maybe it’s time to call the ladies from How Clean Is Your House because you may be living at ground zero for disasters!

A quick, eco-friendly, and time-saving cleaning solution is at hand! Simply fill a glass bowl with water, put slices into the water from half a lemon, and zap it for 1-5 minutes. The steam will loosen the gunk from inside your microwave, making it easier to wipe up, and the lemons will sweeten the interior and add a little zest to your kitchen air.