Recession Education

Lately, I've been too paralyzed by fear as I watch the economy collapse around our ears...I've barely known what to think let alone what to write. Oh, also...I've been working in Louisville, KY since August so I've been out of the NYC cheap stuff loop. So, I mark my return to RT! posting as well as my determination to UNDERSTAND this thing and GET THE BETTER OF IT with a referral to This American Life.

Most of you probably already listen to Ira Glass' slightly twee but always entertaining radio show on your local NPR channel...or perhaps, like me, you do the free weekly podcast.
I want to call out 2 particularly fantastic episodes that you can listen to for FREE.
In May, they aired Episode 355: The Giant Pool of Money which began to explain (for normal people) what the mortgage crisis is and how it happened.
Just a few weeks ago, Episode 365: Another Frightening Show About the Economy followed up with more explanation of what has been happening to the economy.

I urge you savvy RT! readers to listen to both shows - they do a great job of explaining how we got to this crisis without pointing fingers - just logical explaining.
After you listen to the This American Life shows, check out the Planet Money Blog and Podcast. Created by the same team that put together the TAL shows, the blog and the podcast are keeping up with the current economic situation in the same "info for the normal guy" manner.
Now that I'm more informed, I'm starting to creep out of my cave and into the (scary) light of life in a recession.

Recession Consumption: 123 Burger Shot Beer

The owners of 123 Burger Shot Beer have made recession prices their business model. As the very creative name states, it's $1 Burgers, $2 Shots, $3 Beers. This place is probably a frat infested nightmare in the later hours, but I visited on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon and we had the patio in the back to ourselves. You have to order at least 3 of the one buck burgers, but they are surprisingly tasty for what are essentially White Castle sliders. (As you can see from the photo, you could eat a lot more than 3 of them). The honey peanut wings were stupidly delish, like a satay on steriods, and all the fried sides we tried hit the spot. Plus, since everything is so cheap you feel like a king -- sure, I'll have another! Yes, bring us waffle fries!

10th Ave between 50th and 51st Street. Beware (or Rejoice, depending on your outlook): There is a little bit of a Hooterish vibe to the place (the waitress's "shorts" were shorter than her apron)...

Recession Consumption: Pie for Dinner

My time in the UK rekindled my love for all things wrapped in a pastry crust, but sadly Americans are not so hip to the savory pie (other than our comfort favorite the Chicken Pot Pie). Australian friends recently escorted me to pie heaven at the Tuck Shop, where I was delighted by yummy pies with glorious fillings including veggie, Thai curry and traditional beef. Dinner for only $5!

Open late and guaranteed to absorb mass quantities of alcohol.
Tuck Shop is on 1st St between 1st and 2nd Avenue.

Quick Tips: Free Ringtones for iPhone

Thanks once again to our favorite outside contributor, Franke, for hooking us up with this fancy and fun piece of info. Don't fall victim to paying for iPhone ring tones like I did; watch the video and them for free. Who can afford to buy ring tones when we have to pay the government $700 billion?

Sunday Night Cooking Challenge (on Wednesday)

One-Pot Rataouille, from Sunset Magazine

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) diced tomatoes
8 ounces eggplant, rinsed and diced
About 1/2 teaspoon salt
About 1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound bell peppers, diced
8 ounces zucchini, diced

I added:
Couscous, Quinoa, or pasta
Goat Cheese

The recipe also called for these ingredients but I didn’t use them and it turned out great:
8 ounces yellow summer squash, diced
3/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1. In your biggest frying pan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and simmer for about a minute.
2. Add tomatoes (with juice), eggplant, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is soft when pierced, about 10 minutes.
3. Prepare couscous or grain of your choice according to package directions.
3. Stir in bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash. Return to a simmer, cover, and cook until squash is tender when pierced, 8 to 10 minutes longer.
4. (I skipped this step) Stir in basil and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve on top of the couscous and sprinkled with goat cheese. The goat cheese is key as it brings it to a new level of delish that will make you happy to eat it for lunch the next few days!

Recessiontainment: Free TV

If you haven't discovered hulu.com check it out. Catch up on some of those t.v. shows you've missed for free. That's right, no need to spend money on Netflix or buying dvds on Amazon that you'll only watch once. And, if you do it now you can catch up on all 7 episodes of Lipstick Jungle before the season 2 premier on Wednesday, September 24th at 10:00p.m. on NBC.

Loose Change

Thanks to Franke for this. And, have fun seeing how much change you can find in a day.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/08/13/change_hunters/

Recessionista: Revisiting Old Habits

Wow. Are we screwed economically or what? I don't know about you, but I am freaking out. I'm not going to pretend like I understand why or how Lehman Brothers collapsed, AIG is in the toilet, and Merrill Lynch is downgrading to "bank" status. What I do know is my already fragile financial life is doing it's own circle down the drain. But, it's fall and it's time to make wardrobe improvements. What's a budget-conscience freaked out girl to do when she feels like she can't shop, yet the air is cooling down and she wants to look cute? Go to Old Navy! Maybe you're like me and needed a break from this discount Gap because 1. you don't want to look like everyone else, 2. you feel you've outgrown it, and 3. now that you're older and making more money you should shop at grown up places. Well, I spent a little time at ON recently after a long hiatus, and was pleasantly surprised by the selection, the diversity of styles, and the accessories. ON sells shoes now! And, they're, like, totally cute! And, the jewelry is fun, bright, and adorable! I dived into the many dresses and skirts they have for fall and found many things I liked that were also flattering. The best part came when I reluctantly picked up a pair of jeans and added them to my dressing room stash. My expectations were low; I have trouble finding jeans that fit in more expensive stores, so I was sure ON could not possibly have jeans I could wear. Imagine my utter joy when I tried on what they call their "Sweetheart Fit" and they wrapped around my curves to perfection. The best part -- they cost $29.50. $29.50 for jeans! That fit! And look good! And don't look cheap! I'll be going back to get them in every wash.
So, ladies, the lesson here is revisit those places you've written off as they might surprise you. The second lesson -- that perfect thing you're looking for (jeans, for example) might be where you least expect them.

NYTVF

I can't believe we ladies here at Recession This! forgot to post this amazing FREE event. The New York Television Festival began on September 12th and offers free screenings of pilots made by people from all over the country. Not only are the pilot screenings free, but there are several panel discussions featuring professionals in the entertainment industry which are also open to the public for FREE. Check out NYTVF for more details. And, if you're around Wednesday afternoon at 3:30, come on down to see Living In Captivity, a 22 minute sitcom about zookeepers, written by Nicole Greevy, Uma Incrocci, and Erica Jensen.

Recession Consumption: Brunch at Home

The Recession This! Girls love brunch, but sometimes $16 for a waffle can seem ridiculous. Inspired by my latest web obsession, Smitten Kitchen, and her deliciously simple recipe for huevos rancheros, I fed my Queens neighborhood posse for the price of one Manhattan brunch entree!

eggs $3.49
2 cans goya black beans $3.38
Sour cream $1.79
Shredded Cheese $5.29
Corn tortillas $1.29

Total: $15.24

It helped that I had a ton of gorgeous tomatoes to make fresh salsa with-- I can't wait to eat them again next weekend!