Spices make plain dishes sing with excitement. Bill Mayer, massage therapist,  checked the prices of a single spice at the supermarket and realized this is a great item to get at a small ethnic market such as Samosa House and Bharat Bazaar at 11510 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066.  And not only are they a market, they have great prepared foods in their deli if you need an entire meal or just some side dishes.

These spices come in large bags at a small price. Save all your small glass containers and you can start your own collection. Put on cute labels and give them as hostess gifts or share the cost with a friend.

How about a spice bridal shower? Everyone brings their favorite with a recipe. Sure you can go to a restaurant and pay $30 to $50 per person, sit around while you are served mediocre food, and buy the bride another toaster oven.  Or you can dress up your home with some Indian table cloths, have everyone bring a yummy dish with a bottle of the spice used and recipe as a gift to the bride, and give her a day that will be remembered every time she opens  her kitchen cabinet.

Now I love Indian food, however you can also use a French theme and have everyone bring a dish with their favorite herb. Try the Japanese Mitsuwa Marketplace, 3760 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066 , where they have all the ingredients for a Japanese meal and a fantastic selection of teas.  Check out the ethnic markets in your area and see what there is.  Frugal Divas want the best and they know how to get it.

How many times do we look in the refrigerator and think “What in the world am I going to make for dinner?”  This is where the concept of soup becomes a time and energy saver. It’s nutritious, money saving and calorie conscious.  A box of stock, some vegetables, pasta or left over grains such as rice, and protein that can come from garbanzo beans, cut up chicken or frozen turkey meatballs. We are in business.

At some point get boxes of stock when they go on special. They come in many flavors including beef , chicken, and vegetarian. Always have fresh celery and carrots in the refrigerator. Stock pasta in different shapes and varieties - check out the new high protein pastas and rice pastas.  Left over cooked meat in any form goes in the freezer for times like this and for vegetarians keep some tofu handy.

Grab the vegetables adding any that look ready to leave this world (not spoiled just a little past their prime) and start chopping into small pieces. Add some potatoes if you like.  If you live alone use this as a time to relax and focus on the delicious meal ahead. If you live with family or friends, this is the time to get them involved.

This is a judgement call not a strict recipe. So decide how much stock is appropriate, pour in about an inch or two and use it to steam the chopped vegetables and to defrost any meat.

Now comes the fun part, raid your pantry and decide if you want to add a can of diced tomatoes, chopped garlic, black beans, or some fire roasted chilies. 

This is your creation.  Make it a soup or use less stock and make it a stew.  Put out some Parmesan or Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top. Have some bread handy. Especially on a winter night, what could be better.

Resolutions are easy to make and difficult to keep. Make this a year of small steps. Doable changes. Appreciate the bite of an apple, smile at your neighbor, and be kind whenever possible.

Why not have a potluck dinner or brunch once a month and everyone brings a writes down their recipe? Start a potluck dinner club and send everyone an email copy of the recipes. Choose a theme such as healthy versions of classics, economical dishes that tastes great, or ethnic food.

Why not attend a public hearing of your city council? Become more informed and meet the people who run your community.

Why not call ten people in your field and start an informal group? Meet once every month or two and discuss new issues that have come up in your industry, how you are dealing with stress, and what new opportunities are out there.

Why not take a spending fast? Buy only what you need for a week, two weeks, or a month.

Why  not take a walk? It is better to do one small thing to improve your health then not do many big things that you planned.

Why  not eat more fruit and vegetables? Small steps lead to a healthier life style.

Why not get up in the morning and smile at the day? Eventually something funny will happen.

A little here, a little there, make this the year a small dream comes true.