Disposable Income Calculator

Disposable Income Calculator Receives ElectricJoshua's Editor's Choice Web Page Award

How much do you make?

What does that really mean?

Disposable Income: Noun. The pittance you have left after rent, food,
clothes, insurance and dog food. It's how much you really have to spend on whatever you want.

The web site lets you plug your basic financials into the calculator and see how much money you have left at the end of the day.

http://www.disposableincome.net/

This site is free. It was composed by Wondermill, the company created by my personal friend Aaron Dragushan. No personal information is sent out over the internet.

Best of all, it will save you money!

FAT GRANDMA'S POTATO KNISHES

Oddly enough this came up in the Entertainment section when I was browsing Google News.

This could mean two things. The first, that Google's really able to zoom in on me and delivering the news that matters most to me. The second, that the Knish really is important, or maybe if
not quite important yet, gaining in popularity, a little more, every day.

I share with you all another knish recipe.

Long live the knish.

FAT GRANDMA'S POTATO KNISHES

(Makes 8 knishes)

1 tbsp. (15 ml) olive oil

1 large onion, minced (about 2 c./500 ml)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp. (15 ml) paprika

2 1/2 lbs. (1.25 kg) baking potatoes (about 3 or 4), peeled and cut into 1/2 -in. (1.25 cm) dice

Salt

3 tbsp. (45 ml) chopped fresh herbs, such as chives, parsley, basil and dill

1 egg

Freshly ground black pepper

3-4 tbsp. (45-60 ml) flour or bread crumbs

Spray oil

Optional crust

1 c. (250 ml) unflavoured bread crumbs

2 tsp. (10 ml) paprika

1 tsp. (5 ml) onion powder

1 tsp. (5 ml) garlic powder

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).

2. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over a medium flame. Add the onion and cook about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add garlic and paprika and cook until caramelized, another 6 to 7 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a large pot with cold salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pan. Cook the potatoes over a medium flame 1 to 2 minutes to evaporate any remaining liquid. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool slightly.

5. Mash the potatoes in the pot. Stir in the onion mixture, herbs, egg and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix in the flour or bread crumbs. Potato mixture should be thick enough to form with your hands.

6. Wet your hands and form the potatoes into patties about 1 1/2 in. (375 cm) thick and 3 in. (7.5 cm) across.

7. To use the optional crust, combine the bread crumbs, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Dredge each knish through the crumbs, shaking off any excess.

8. Arrange the knishes on a non-stick baking sheet lightly sprayed with oil. Spray the tops and sides of the knishes with oil. Bake until golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes, turning the knishes with a spatula after 15 minutes.

The Old Farmer's Almanac

The Wisdom of the Old Farmers online at:

http://www.almanac.com

The site is divided up into seven categories:

Astronomy, Weather, Gardening, Food, Press, Outdoors and a Shop

Weather can be customized to your area with both long and short term forecasts.

The Food section is also worth noting. There is a good selection of recipes. Better still, you are able to submit recipes for online posting and user feedback.

As a kid I used to enjoy reading the Farmer's Almanac. I picked up a copy this past year and was happy to see that the Old Farmer's were still delivering the goods. Now it pleases me to see that they are a net savvy bunch too.

Potato Knishes

This is for the people who came to my Toastmaster's presentation today.

It's so fun and easy you just can't go wrong. -Josh

Potato Knishes
--------------
3 large baking potatoes (peeled & quartered -- enough for dough & filling)
1 large chopped onion
1 tbsp oil
salt & pepper to taste
3 tbsp margarine
3 tbsp vegetable shortening
1 cup flour

In medium saucepan bring potatoes to a boil. (Add a clove of garlic if you
like.) Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender. Drain well
(reserve some cooking water for later).

Mash potatoes in the pan, adding seasonings and enough of reserved liquid
to hold mixture together. Measure one cup of mashed potatoes for dough and
reserve remainder for filling.

Filling:
Heat oil in skillet. Saute onion until tender and browned. Mix into mashed
potatoes and add salt & pepper to taste (and potato water if too dry).

Dough:
Cut shortening and margerine into flour with a pastry blender or two
knives. When whell combined, add 1 cup mashed potatoes and mix well. Form
dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 20 minutes. May
be kept overnight.

Knishes:
Lightly flour rolling pin and work surface. Roll out dough, making a thin
sheet about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out 3" rounds. Place a heaping teaspoon of
filling on each round. Mosten half the outer edge of each round with a
pastry brush or finger dipped in water. Seal edges with the back of a
fork. Prick tops with fork. Bake on greased cookie tray at 375 for 20
minutes or until golden brown.