Posts Tagged ‘Guacamole’

PF Weekly Reading List #12- Canada Budget 2013, CBB vs RFI (Guacamole)

Posted: March 22, 2013 in PF Weekly Reading List
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Economy

Photo Credit by Renjith Krishnan/freedigitalphotos. net

 

My morning consisted of a hot cup of coffee (OK 3) and a read of the Canada Budget 2013 that was released Thursday. It’s quite long but I picked out a couple of bits to chat about today. After reading through it I found this quote from Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty,“We will remain focused on what matters to Canadians—jobs and economic growth, and ensuring Canada’s economic advantage today will translate into the long-term prosperity of tomorrow”  motivational from my perspective as permanent resident. Returning to a balanced budget seems optimistic throughout the budget plan with the deficit projected to drop each year and the government hoping to balance by 2015-2016 which they believe will strengthen Canada’s fiscal advantage.

When I read this budget update these key words stood out- promote, extend, provide, enhance, build, help, improve, continue, invest, create, support, connect, opportunities, action, increase, invest, renew, introduce and initiative, all words that I believe create a unity or air of optimism. As we all know when creating a budget anything can happen so I’m sure many Canadians will be following this closely to see how well we stay true to this budget and how it unfolds over time.

I believe a fiscal advantage is important and like anything else in life I’m convinced that in order to stay on top Canada needs to make sure they are always one step ahead in the game. Life seems to revolve around who’s ready to take the next leap first and if we aren’t ready and leap before we have the knowledge and strength things can roll downhill and fast.

When I emigrated to Canada I knew I was on my way to a country that was special and full of opportunity for me. Not only do I have a beautiful wife whom I love I am now living in a country that I believe has so much to offer those blessed to live here. Although some of you may laugh I can assure you that the UK is not getting any better and many I know are unemployed or are moving away to find work in Australia or hoping to move to Canada. Although I’m still relatively new to Canada I keep my eyes and ears open and brace myself for what might come our way as I’m certainly not a polished Canadian with years of experience. The Canadian Budget is a topic that can become controversial depending on who you talk to and how it affects them coupled with experiences in this country and knowledge of the people who run it- the government.

Starting My Life In Canada

When I arrived in Canada I’d like to say I was a skilled immigrant yet when I had my University credentials changed over I would have had to return to school to further my education to gain the same recognition in Canada as in the UK. In the new budget it’s stated that they want to enhance the foreign credential recognition processes and integration of internationally trained individuals into the job market. I took the plunge to make a big change in my life and with the guidance and opportunities presented to me by the Canadian government. I returned to school to study in order to obtain a career that was in demand in Canada and soaked up all the information that came my way. Besides, my new career is much more engaging and hands on, something that I would never have accomplished back home. I believe the enhancement will help Canada attract the best international talent especially if they know they can do what they are trained to do.

When you read the 2013 budget plan I’m sure you can agree that connecting Canadians with jobs,  economic growth and supporting families are spread thick and that in part is good for Canada. The new plan to improve economic growth to stay ahead by building roads, subways, bridges, commuter rail, public transit, highways and other infrastructures is something that I believe will not only create jobs but help open up the availability of services throughout Canada in a timely fashion.

Supporting Canadian Families and Tax Breaks

Although we always wish for more sometimes we have to take what we get and hope that the benefits are great for those in need of them. What’s that saying “you can’t please them all”.  Adoption was a topic that was brought up in a conversation with friends just this past week and we talked about how expensive it is to adopt. Friends of  a friend who were unable to conceive adopted a child but stated the process was not only long but also costly. The government aims to enhance the  Adoption Expense Tax Credit in order to help those looking to adopt a child. There are many couples who struggle to conceive naturally or simply want to adopt a child who is waiting to find a loving family so hopefully this enhancement will prove beneficial for those who seek a child to call their own.

We can now say goodbye to border tariffs on baby clothing and sporting goods and I’m sure parents may agree this will be a big help to them but only if the retailers pass the savings buck down the line. We don’t have any kids nor are we sports fanatics so this won’t really affect us but it may affect those families/individuals who could stand to save some money and who wouldn’t pass that up, right? I’m going to give retailers the benefit of the doubt with this one and say we will see price reductions comparable to our neighbours in the USA but time will tell. I can only assume with the 76 million dollar relief  investment the government will implement some sort of system to ensure Canadians are benefiting from this.

To be honest though, have you ever walked through the baby section at some of the local shops and read the prices on baby clothes? When you have to pay just as much for a pair of jeans for a baby as you would an adult clearly something is wrong. It’s no wonder parents aim to get second-hand baby clothes from Value Village, The Thrift Shop, Garage Sales, Mom to Mom sales and even heading over the border to the USA. We have friends who simply can’t believe the price comparison from Canada to the USA and shop in the USA to help reduce the costs in their family budget. Having a baby today is costly no matter what way you look at it whether it be every day baby items, maternity leave, day care or babysitting costs etc.

It’s not surprising why the coupon phenomenon took off so fast these past years and it’s because we can’t do it all financially, so something has to give.  Many couples are waiting to have kids because they simply can’t do it all. You can’t graduate from school with OSAP debt and expect to pay for a wedding then afford a down-payment for a house and then slap a baby into the mix to go on maternity leave for up to a year. That’s likely why we are seeing more couples getting hitched in their 30′s and having children later in life, if at all. As we all know debts can take years to pay back so when does life begin for most or do they just say sod it, we’ll deal with the debt along the way? It can be done but potentially without all the fairy tale luxuries they believe they are owed or desire.

Although I agree that personal finance starts at home I also think the education system needs to take charge and educate children about money and budgets to help them on their journey. The disheartening part is that it might not be one person in the relationship with school debt it may be both partners which is a potential disaster waiting to happen for some couples. It’s no wonder many Canadian families are sinking fast into the debt pit. With education costs becoming outrageous and out of reach for many, some opt to forgo further education for a minimum wage job or one that requires only a high school diploma. We have a friend who has a son who is terrified of school debt and not finding a job so he is working to save up to go to school first. Not all parents can afford an RESP or to pay full/part tuition for their children so their options become limited. Never mind adults who simply want to return to school and already have a family, the struggle is always looming.

Finally the government says they will not raise taxes in fairness to the system which I’m sure many Canadians are happy about. They will be cracking down on all the tax loopholes in order for them to keep taxes low so expect them to be pulling out the magnifying glass and scrutinizing everything with a fine tooth comb. All in all this is such a huge topic which I have barely touched on here today. If you are interested in the 2013 Canada budget I’d suggest giving it a read to see where your country stands in terms of  working hard to make your world a better place.

You can read the Canada 2013 Budget Here!

What did you think about the new budget?

Personal Finance Weekly Reading List

PF WEEKLY READING LIST

These are my TOP 8 Blog Post Picks + Funniest Post of the Week and My Top Recipe/Frugal Blog Post of the Week!!

  1. The Frugal Farmer- Back To Basics
  2. She Thinks I’m Cheap- How Future Transit Plans Can Affect Real Estate
  3. T-Shirts and Twine- Living Simply, Easy For You To Say
  4. Modest Money- Evaluating Blog Marketing Efforts
  5. Freedom Thirty Five Blog- The Golden Purchase
  6. IHeartBudgets- Forget Keeping Up With The Joneses I Became One by Kim at Eyes On The Dollar
  7. Johnny Money Seed- The Neglected “Secret” to Becoming Rich
  8. My Own Advisor- Book Review and Giveaway More Money For Beer and Textbooks
Recipes/Frugal Blog Posts of the Week
  1. The Outlier Model- Frugal Ideas For A Housewarming Party
  2. Reach Financial Independence- Easy Guacamole Recipe in 5 minutes vs Mr.CBB’s Tangy Easy Guacamole!!! I’ve been waiting for Pauline’s recipe since we both love avocados so I’m going to test our her dip and I hope you try both our recipes and let us know what you think.
Inspirational or Funniest Post of the Week
  1. Boomer and Echo-  How My Retirement Plans Got Derailed Big Time

Quote-Budget and Money

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Mr.CBB’s Easy Spinach and Wheat Tortilla Recipe

Posted: June 24, 2012 in Mr.CBB's Frugal Kitchen
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I’ve made tortillas ever since I decided that I didn’t want to pay $3.49 at the shop for 8 wraps. To be honest I’m sure you will smack yourself a couple of times wondering why you are paying that kind of money for a recipe that is so quick, easy and frugal to make.

If you do buy tortillas you can cross them off your list and save some money in the budget because convenience truly does cost. It’s important to know your prices on products. As you will see making these tortillas at home is a huge savings compared to the price you would pay at the shop.

We make these once a week and fill them will all sorts of yummy healthy foods for a quick snack, breakfast, lunch or dinner. This one today has Mr.CBB’s Tangy Easy Guacamole Dip on top with a dollop of fat-free Sour Cream or you can use a low-fat greek yogurt.

We also switch it up and make a spinach tortilla simply by adding 4 cups of fresh spinach from our garden to a pot of salted water to wilt. I then toss it in the food processor with garlic. Instead of using olive oil I use my home-made Fresh Basil Extra Virgin Olive Oil. When the spinach tortillas are cooking the smell of spinach and garlic permeates the room.

So without any more drooling…. let’s get on with the recipe!

Total Time- 35 minutes

Total Prep- 25 min

Cook Time- 10 minutes

Tools

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Rolling Pin
  • Griddle
  • Spatula
  • Damp Tea Towel
  • Flat Dish
  • Food Processor (if you are making the Spinach Tortilla)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of flour (I use whole wheat but you can use whatever you like or mix it up. I’ve used whole wheat and pastry flour or unbleached)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil some use shortening or veg oil, I prefer olive oil or I use Fresh Basil Extra Virgin Olive Oil which I make for the Spinach tortilla.
  • 1/2 cup of  warm water, some people use milk I don’t prefer it but you can.
  • If you want to make these spinach add 4 cups of spinach to boiling water to wilt, then chop it up. Set aside to cool then add to a food processor with 4 cloves of garlic and chop.

Directions

  • In a mixing bowl sift the dry ingredients- the flour, salt, baking powder
  • Add in the oil or shortening and I like to get messy with my hands here and mix it up
  • Add in the spinach if you are using spinach and knead for about 4-5 minutes to distribute the spinach- if not skip this step
  • Add in the water and mix it all together with your hands. (*note-If you boiled spinach you can use that water) You may need to add a bit more water to get it to dough consistency and that’s ok.
  • Knead the dough on a floured board twice then form into a ball
  • Cover the ball with a damp tea towel for 20 minutes (the last 5 minutes get your griddle hot around 210 degrees)
  • Cut the ball into about 8 pieces and roll into balls or 4 if you want to make x-large tortilla.

  • On a floured surface take the bottom of a bowl and squash the ball, then roll out with the pin as thin as you can. It will make around an 8-10 inch tortilla.

  • On a dry hot griddle lay your tortilla and cook for about 30-40 seconds per side.
  • They tortillas may puff up and that’s ok.
  • I lay them in a dish and cover with the damp tea towel on very low in the oven around 200 degree. Just enough to keep them warm to serve. Make sure the tortillas are covered with a damp tea towel or they will dry out.
  • Fill tortillas with whatever you like and enjoy..

Tip: Do not over-cook or the tortillas will be tough. When you see they get a bit brown you will know they are done.

Tip: Don’t over handle the dough

Tip: They may not be perfectly round like the pre-made but they are  home-made and nothing beats that!

See how easy was that!! The cost to make 8 tortillas is well “peanuts” to be honest. I estimate around $0.50 for plain tortillas. If you add spinach from the shop it will cost more. If you add spinach from your garden factor in water and time. At the end of the day you know what you put in them and they are hot and fresh and you can’t get that from a package!

What would you fill your Spinach and Whole Wheat Tortilla with?

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