Essentials

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Try to keep your kitchen stocked with recipe basics:

Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables:KJPGSEVUJYEM KJPGSEVUJYEM

* Garlic, onions, carrots and celery are great recipe and soup starters.
* Frozen corn, peas, carrots and berries for recipe additions and smoothies.
* Dark greens for salads and salad add-ins like dried fruit, nuts and seed

Fresh and dried herbs and spices

Fats and oils—liquid vegetable oils (olive, canola, sunflower, corn, and peanut) for cooking. Specialty oils like sesame oil, walnut or pistachio oil or truffle oil for adding flavor.

Unsalted nuts—like almonds, walnuts and pistachios for snacking

Vinegars—such as balsamic, red wine and rice vinegar for salads and veggies

Strong cheeses, like aged Parmesan or blue cheese for intense flavor in salads, pasta and soups.

Restaurants: Financial Needs

By: Toni House

Many times restaurants have fantastic food and high guest counts, but suffer because of poor financial oversight. Operators have found that there are many accounting services specifically dedicated to the restaurant industry which help to efficiently manage the financial aspects of their restaurant so they can put their focus back on the food and guest experience.

The need for this type of service is evident with the amount of solutions available today, from the simple accounting software to premier outsourced accounting services.  House: understands the need for detailed financial information. 


Owner and CEO, Toni House, First Tax Solution LLC started out at the age of 15 with McDonald's, later owning 5 of her own and selling years later realized the need for Accounting Firms that are more than just number crunchers, The restaurant Industry needed their accountants to know first hand the struggles of owning a restaurant. 

Now many years later after opening her first Accounting Office in Az. with her sister company offered Virtual Online Accounting and Tax Service since 2000 she now has taken First Tax Solution to another level. We offer Virtual Accounting and Tax Solutions Nation wide, we make every effort to help our clients. We believe in making our clients lives as stress free as possible. (newsletter)

We really do care about you, your family and your future. Our motto is Virtual Accounting and Tax Services When You Need It.  And we really mean that.

With our Virtual Online client portals you  have access to premier reporting tools so you have can view current financial information and trends.  Having this type of information helps gain a plan for the larger picture of your restaurant and future financial performance."

About the Author

Toni House
MBA/CEO and founder First Tax Solution LLC. In 2000 Founded and Created the first Online Tax Preparation and Filing Service and now with Virtual Tax Prep. The Complete Accounting Firm , for Small Business, and the Individual busy family.

First Tax Solution: Provides Professional Accounting and Tax Prep When You Need It.

Author of Save Your Money Save Your Family. Owned and op-porated different business concepts. Helping and teaching people how to live the American Dream. From Owning their own business, becoming a Franchise to being financially secure. With 25 plus years experience in Tax Preparation, Accounting, Food Industry, Construction, Medical and Business Advisory.

(ArticlesBase SC #2130867)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Restaurants: Financial Needs

Food and Diet Consumer Reports

Stretching Every Dollar

Buys food on sale and in bulk. When she gets home she divides it up into healthy portions and freezes it, so it's ready to cook when she gets home from work.

When she cooks a dish, she doubles or even triples the recipe. Then, she'll divide the leftovers to use as lunches and she'll freeze some leftovers for later dinners.

Soup is one of the healthiest and cheapest meals. We made a delicious vegetable beef soup that costs only fifty cents a serving. Stir-fry and casseroles are other dishes that stretch a buck.

Frozen, Not Fresh

Feel free to use lots of frozen vegetables in your cooking. They're full of nutrients and are inexpensive. You may be surprised to learn that frozen produce is just as healthy as fresh, sometimes even more. Says, Toni House Author of Save Your Money, Save Your Family

Frozen produce is picked when it's ripe and nutrients are at their peak, while fresh food is often picked before it's ripe, causing it to lose more nutrients when exposed to light, heat and air.

Although frozen produce is a good buy, you can still find deals on fresh produce too. Make sure you chop your fruits and veggies yourself, because the pre-cut ones are expensive. And even when you buy whole fruits and vegetables, bagged are cheaper than loose.

Low Cost Exercise

When it comes to exercise, shop around for low-cost gym memberships. The YMCA has discounted memberships through its Open Doors program.

"It's really important for me, from our perspective, that they're treated like everyone else," said Dean Mattix, director of the Ablemarle, N.C., YMCA. "I was a recipient of the program and it's just the right thing to do. We just want to make the Y available to as many people as possible."

Mary Jones lost 40 pounds after joining the YMCA through its Open Doors program. She pays just $5 a month and considers the YMCA her sanctuary.

"Since it's such a Christian-based atmosphere here, it's so easy just to come," she said. "I don't have to be intimidated by cutesy girls or buff guys and all the language. I can come and feel comfortable."

Jones credits her success to the encouraging YMCA staff members, particularly her fitness coach Rick who designed an exercise and weight-lifting program that was custom-made for her-- a service that is complimentary with a YMCA membership.

She also credits the "Y Change" support group, where she and a handful of other members meet regularly to learn about nutrition and exercise as a group.

In addition to the YMCA, there are other fitness facilities that offer low cost or free memberships. Check with your local government about recreation centers or senior centers or exercise classes such as dance or swimming lessons.

Back to Basics

Don't forget about walking-- it's all the exercise you need.

"You have to make it fun. Listen to music you like," said Penny Price, a woman who lost 50 pounds by walking.

"Walk with a friend. That way if you don't feel like walking, your friend will encourage you to go, and vice-versa," she added.

As a nurse, Price counsels her patients about starting off slowly and working up to 10,000 steps a day. She recommends buying a $5 pedometer to keep track of how many steps you take each day. She also recommends buying a reflective vest to wear when it's dark outside or when you're walking on the side of a road.

If you want to walk, but have issues with safety or weather, walk at your nearest shopping mall. Most malls open their doors before the stores do.

Some shopping centers, like the Greenbriar Mall in Chesapeake, Va., even have a "Mall Walkers" organization that fosters friendships.

The group "Stroller Striders" uses the mall during inclement weather. Moms with their babies in strollers not only walk together, they even stop occasionally to do strength training exercises.

"It's a great place for me to meet my friends, said Rachel McHale of the Chesapeake Stroller Striders. "We can come together, be social, we have the space we need and we set a good example of exercising for our kids."

So whether you're eating or exercising, if you use your head you can live a healthy life without breaking the bank.

Meat Alternatives

Meatless products, such as tofu dogs, soy burgers, nut loaves or texturized vegetable protein, add variety to your vegetarian diet. These products, found in many grocery stores and health food markets, simulate the taste and texture of meat and usually have less fat and fewer calories. Many of the meatless products, such as tofu or tempeh, are made from soybeans.

If you follow a vegan diet, you may need to find alternatives for eggs and dairy products. Try these suggestions when meal planning or cooking:

* Milk. Drink fortified soymilk, rice milk or almond milk in place of cow's milk.
* Butter. When sauteing, use olive oil, water, vegetable broth, wine or fat-free cooking spray instead of butter. In baked goods, use canola oil.
* Cheese. Use soy cheese or nutritional yeast flakes, which are available in health food stores.
* Eggs. In baked goods, try commercial egg replacers — a dry product made mostly of potato starch. Or you can use the following to replace one egg: 1/4 cup whipped tofu or 1 tablespoon milled flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. For an egg-free omelet use tofu instead of eggs.

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Making sure you are getting everything you need

The more restrictive a diet is, the more difficult it is to get all the nutrients your body needs. A vegan diet, for example, eliminates food sources of vitamin B-12, as well as milk products, which are a good source of calcium. Other nutrients, such as iron and zinc, are available in a meatless diet, but you need to make an extra effort to ensure they're in yours. Says, Toni House CEO First Tax Solution LLC and author of Save Your Money, Save Your Family

Here are nutrients that may be deficient in a vegetarian diet and how you can get these nutrients from nonmeat sources:

* Protein. Your body needs protein to maintain healthy skin, bones, muscles and organs. Vegetarians who eat eggs or dairy products have convenient sources of protein. Other sources of protein include soy products, meat substitutes, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
* Calcium. This mineral helps build and maintain strong teeth and bones. Low-fat dairy foods and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, turnip and collard greens, kale, and broccoli, are good sources of calcium. Tofu enriched with calcium and fortified soy milk and fruit juices are other options.
* Vitamin B-12. Your body needs vitamin B-12 to produce red blood cells and prevent anemia. This vitamin is found almost exclusively in animal products, including milk, eggs and cheese. Vegans can get vitamin B-12 from some enriched cereals, fortified soy products or by taking a supplement that contains this vitamin.
* Iron. Like vitamin B-12, iron is a crucial component of red blood cells. Dried beans and peas, lentils, enriched cereals, whole-grain products, dark leafy green vegetables, and dried fruit are good sources of iron. To help your body absorb nonanimal sources of iron, eat foods rich in vitamin C — such as strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli — at the same time you consume iron-containing foods.
* Zinc. This mineral is an essential component of many enzymes and plays a role in cell division and in the formation of proteins. Good sources of zinc include whole grains, soy products, nuts and wheat germ.

The key to a healthy vegetarian diet — or any diet for that matter — is to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Since no single food provides all of the nutrients that your body needs, eating a wide variety helps ensure that you get the necessary nutrients and other substances that promote good health.

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Save Your Money, Save Your Family

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HI everyone,

It has been a few days since my last post, I am in the final stages of editing my first book.

The book cover has been designed, My Publishing Company NorLightsPress.com, they are working diligently to finish the copy editing. Once the editing is done then off to the printing press. I can hardly wait. This book comes to you from the deepest part of my heart.

My name is Toni House I was born and raised in the Southern United States, transferd to and continue to live in Northern Arizona for more than 22 years.

With the weather, the beauty and the people of Northern Arizona there is no place better.
But, to my story.

As a child my family and I lived (well as society dictates in poverty)and at a time in my childhood we were homeless, but with Gods help we always seemed to manage.

I learned very early in life to work hard, pay your way, love God, love your family ( no matter how much you hated them at moments) help and love your neighbor.

As I grew up I realized more and more that we were not like most of our classmates, we did not have many of the nicer things they had, but we did have love and happiness they did not seem to have.

I learned to not throw things away, that you always took care of what you had and you took care of others belongings better than you took care of your own.

I learned what gardening and what eating healthy was about, it was not just about food grown in your own garden, but about the process of growing your own vegetables, the tilling the dirt, mixing compost (they we made ourselves from potato peelings, weeds, tree branches etc) in the dirt. Making rows for each vegetable being planted.

The planting, praying it would rain at the right time so we would not have to water it by hand, to harvesting the vegetables to freezing and canning it to eat the rest of the year.

I learned alot about life in those very meek days. I was the oldest of 6 kids, the 3 of us and my step dad with 3, and with both parents working I become parent number 3.

It was my responsibility at the age of 10 to make breakfast(mostly oatmeal, pancakes and sometime eggs if we had them)to get everyone dressed and to the school bus, and I did everything else that a normal household has to do.

Fast forward to college, I was the first in my family to go to college, by way of working and paying for it myself(as so many of us have and continue to do)
to being successful in my own businesses and helping many others to become successful.

Until 2007 when our world changed, we all are suffering, we all are fearful, we all are worried about today, tomorrow and our future, the future of our country but mostly the future of our children.

So is the reason for me writing my book Save Your Money, Save Your Family
it truly does come from the deepest part of my heart, It goes back to my beginnings to love each other and to appreciate what you have.

Look for it in bookstores soon. Save Your Money,Save Your Family

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Save Save Save

Cover via Amazon

The free lunch lives!
Times may be tight, but here are places where you can eat, drink, play and find treasures without paying a dime.


Cars: Buy online
Did you know that many car dealerships now have two sales teams? The one you’ve traditionally dealt with helps showroom customers. The other deals with people who initiate contact and negotiate over the Internet.

Edmunds.com senior consumer advice editor Philip Reed says the traditional sales force is paid mostly by commission, which gives salespeople an incentive to get you to pay as much as possible. But Internet salespeople usually receive a salary, plus a bonus for the number of cars they sell, which motivates them to move vehicles quickly.


Result? You can save $1,500 to $2,000 on the price of a $25,000 car just by going online. Internet salespeople will send you quotes, help you find financing and even set up a test drive, Reed says. And because you don’t sit through the two-hour showroom negotiation, you’re not pressured into buying things like paint protection or a high-end alarm system.

Checking: You still can find it for free
You might have read that some banks are looking to tack on fees to make up for lost revenue after a rule goes into effect July 1 requiring banks to have customers opt in to get overdraft protection. That won’t take away free checking altogether, but you may have to look harder to make sure you don’t pay extra fees — even if that’s just a few dollars a month. Go to checking finder.com to find free checking accounts at community banks or credit unions that may actually pay you about 3 percent to 4 percent interest, as long as you make at least 10 to 15 debit card purchases and one automatic transfer or direct deposit per month.

Clothing: Rent dresses (yes, really!)
If prom is in your daughter’s future — or if you have invitations for weddings or other spring social events piling up — you may be calculating the hundreds of dollars you’re likely to spend on dresses.

Leave the money in your bank account and rent instead. Rent the Runway, a Web site started by two Harvard Business School grads, rents designer dresses from more than 40 big names (Catherine Malandrino, Doo.Ri, Lela Rose) for about 10 percent of the retail price. A $1,250 Herve Leger rents for $150; a $440 Badgley Mischka for $50. The site solves the size problem by shipping two sizes simultaneously, and it deals with wear and tear by tacking a $5 insurance charge onto each dress. After eight to 15 wears (with cleanings after each), the dresses are retired. The site just added 5,000 items to satisfy demand and will offer accessories and bridal wear, including bridesmaid dresses, in the months to come.

Insurance: Pay premiums annually
Paying insurance premiums monthly — for home, car and life policies, for example — may ease cash flow problems, but, ultimately, that could cost you more than you think. Switching from monthly to annual payments can save you money because some insurers charge fees for monthly billing.

Paying monthly, quarterly or semiannually results in what are known as “fractional premiums.” The higher cost of such premiums amounts to an annual interest charge of 9.5 percent to 29.7 percent, according to insurance broker AccuQuote. Insurers usually don’t disclose the effective annual rate of these fractional payments, but you can figure it out yourself with a calculator like the one at First Tax Solution LLC Financial Tools

Health care: Ask for a break
Even if you have good health insurance — and especially if you don’t — you’re well aware that your plan won’t pay for some services (or portions of services). You can save substantially by asking your doctor for a discount on those items, says consumer specialist Carrie McLean of eHealthInsurance. Insurance companies pay doctors and hospitals an average of only 40 percent of the full bill you’d receive if you were paying on your own, so the fact that they are willing to accept so much less than full price from insurers (including Medicare) gives you a lot of wiggle room in negotiations. “By offering to pay upfront or creating a payment plan with your doctor or hospital, you may be able to get discounts of up to 30 percent of the full charge,” McLean says. If you’re uncomfortable having a conversation about money directly with your doctor, then discuss billing with the office manager instead.


Vacation: Swap homes
A faraway vacation may seem like an extravagance in these tough economic times, but what if you didn’t have to pay for a hotel? What if you swapped houses with a colleague, college buddy, friend or family member?

That could cut the cost of the trip significantly, giving you access to a kitchen, so you can eat in and save more, and possibly a car, too. If you don’t have a friend or relative who’ll swap, Web sites such as Home Exchange.com, Roofswap.com and Intervac.com can help you find free lodging. You can get to know the homeowners and look at their homes before agreeing to swap. HomeExchange.com has approximately 30,000 listings in about 130 countries. You’ll incur some costs: To use Home Exchange.com, you must buy a three-month membership for $47.85 or a full-year membership for $119.40.

Pets: Get hands-on
Karen Halligan, author of “What Every Pet Owner Should Know,” suggests checking your pet for lumps weekly. Why? “You pick up on growths, tumors, lumps and bumps, see if their teeth are looking bad or their coat is abnormal,” she says. Catching problems early can mean the difference between an inexpensive office procedure and chemotherapy that costs thousands — and it can save your pet’s life. How do you do it? In a well-lit area, start at your pet’s head and work down to his tail. Be hands-on so you’ll get used to what your pet looks, feels and smells like when he’s healthy. Then, when something changes, you’ll know you should call the vet.

Colleges: Save while spending
Need to jump-start your child’s college fund? At upromise.com, you can sign up for rebates on everyday purchases. The money will accumulate in an account until you invest it in a 529 college savings plan or a high-yield savings account, use it to pay down a student loan or request a check to apply it toward college expenses.

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35911777/ns/today-today_technology_and_money/#ixzz0iYJQvyu6

Planning Your Meals Make for a Less Expensive, Healthier and Happier Meals for Your Family. Isn't Your Family Worth It?

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Healthy eating starts with great planning. You will have won half the healthy diet battle if you have a well-stocked kitchen, a stash of quick and easy recipes, and plenty of healthy snacks.
Plan your meals by the week or even the month

One of the best ways to have a healthy diet is to prepare your own food and eat in regularly. Pick a few healthy recipes that you and your family like and build a meal schedule around them. If you have three or four meals planned per week and eat leftovers on the other nights, you will be much farther ahead than if you are eating out or having frozen dinners most nights.

Check out my web site Save Your Money Save Your Family and my book Save Your Money Save Your Family. Will be out in book stores Spring 2010

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Cranberry Date Breakfast Bars

Servings: Provides 3 dozen bars

6 ounces dried cranberries
8 ounces chopped dates
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups oats old fashioned
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup powdered sugar optional
1 -2 tablespoons orange juice optional
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract


Preparation:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a saucepan over low heat, simmer cranberries, dates and water, stirring constantly. Simmer until all water is absorbed; remove from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in butter or margarine until well blended.

Spread half of the flour mixture into ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan; bake in oven for 8 minutes.

Remove from oven and spoon cranberry/date mixture over crust; sprinkle with remaining flour mixture, pat gently.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned; cool.

Optional: Combine powdered sugar, vanilla and orange juice to make a frosting. Drizzle over cereal bars.

Servings: Provides 3 dozen bars

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Oat choc pecan breakfast bar

serves 24 prep time 10min cook time 30 min

1 cup softened butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup oats quick cooking
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ toasted
4 eggs
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:
In a bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Combine oats, flours and wheat germ; gradually add to creamed mixture. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. In a small bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Stir in pecans, coconut and chocolate chips. Spread evenly over crust.
Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: about 2 dozen.