A Painted Line

Feeling a bit lost...

2008-04-06T08:41:00.002-05:00

I've been MIA from the blog for several reasons lately. First, we had a German exchange student for 3 1/2 weeks that kept me pretty busy. Second, we had Spring Break and a trip to my daughter's college choice for a dance audition (she was accepted and received a scholarship from the dance dept) which involved 3 trips in 3 weeks and was exhausting. And finally, our beloved puggle puppy was killed when she was run over by the mailman's car this week. We're very sad about that.

Now, the house is empty and quiet. The German student has returned to her family. We enjoyed her visit very much and learned a lot from her. It was great to have her in our lives. Our youngest daughter is very busy working and preparing for prom, graduation and her trip to Germany. So, she's not home very much. And, the oldest daughter is still off at college.

And now I understand what an empty nest feels like. It's quiet.

This post has nothing at all to do with frugal living. I'll get back on track with those thoughts soon enough.

What I'm writing about today is giving ourselves permission to grieve. I'm grieving several things right now. Of course, the loss of my little buddy but also the changes occuring in my life also cause a sort of grief. I'm grieving the loss of my family as I knew it; the loss of my future as I dreamed it (that's a whole 'nother story... just trust me that things have changed drastically enough to warrant a bit of grief there).

I think too often we try to be strong and tough, letting life's difficulties seemingly roll off our backs when really we just want to curl up and cry. It's okay to cry. Sometimes we should cry. It's even okay to allow yourself to get hysterical and scream and shout about the ridiculously unfair cards we've been dealt in life. I don't have to pretend to be tough when it seems my world is crashing in around me.

I think we minimize grief because it's tough for others to watch. It makes other people uncomfortable when we cry and/or scream. Because of their discomfort we tend to try to stuff our own feelings down and deal with them quietly. This week, I've not dealt with it quietly. I've screamed, shouted, bawled and wept. I don't feel bad about it... I've given myself permission to feel it all to not censor my thoughts or feelings but to just let them be for now.

It seems to help. Each day is a bit brighter than the day before. Soon, I will be looking for frugal ways to occupy my time and fill the quiet voids in my day. I know this. But, right now... I'm grieving.

Spring Cleaning Complete... Now What?

2008-03-12T10:30:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I finished the big Spring Clean yesterday. Ahh... I'm revelling in my clean house! It's sparkly, shiny and smells so good. I'm thrilled with how well just plain hot water and vinegar worked for most jobs. I even used it to rinse the carpets after shampooing them and it seemed to pull up any residue left from the soaps.

Now, what to do?

Well, in cleaning I gathered a large pile of t-shirts and jeans to re-purpose. Today, after taking care of household business (paying bills) I will go through them and search the internet for ideas on what to do. Now, I'm not frugal to the point of saving everything. That just becomes clutter and I forget what I have, where I put it, etc. If I can't find something meaningful to do with this stuff... it will go out. I removed a truckload of old clothes and other items to charity and several bags of trash. I probably could cull even more, if I could get hubby to go through his things!

Sometimes, I think people use being frugal as an excuse to hoard things. Or, maybe they start on a mission to be frugal and become hoarders. Really, how many ziplock bags and bread bags must one keep on hand? It's okay to throw things away if you have no meaningful purpose for them and/or no room left in your house! Personally, I only re-use ziplock bags that have had cookies or such in them, never raw meat or even prepared foods. I'm too afraid of foodborne illness and it's easier to just toss them than to sanitize them properly. I don't use them that much to begin with. I much prefer sealed containers. But there again, if you have too many butter tubs... it's okay to throw the excess away or give them away (if anyone wants them).

I don't want my frugal life to end with me surrounded by mountains of carefully saved aluminum foil, plastic bags, butter tubs, etc which my heirs will come in and promptly deliver to the dumpster. I've seen this happen all too often with the Depression Era generation. I've cleaned too many little old ladies' homes when they needed to move to long term care and found the same thing several times. Years of collected "stuff" stored and kept "just in case", much of it no longer of any value or use, had to be tossed out.

So, my mission today is to look at the items I didn't toss out during my cleaning marathon and determine if I have meaningful purposes for them. One only needs so many aprons, grocery bags, pot holders, etc. I'll look for ideas to create gifts also. Then, in the next few days... I'll get to work on some fun projects. Re-purposing is very gratifying work. I'm looking forward to starting on some projects and posting the results here.

Power Outage, Cleaning and Potato Soup

2008-03-08T08:50:00.004-06:00

So, yesterday we had a lot of snow. No school. And, the power went out for a total of about 4 1/2 hours. It was off, then on, then off, then on.

Without the distraction of electronics, my daughter and I set to work with the continuation of our spring cleaning/de-cluttering project. She tackled her closet and bedroom and I did the same. We made a lot of progress. Of course, our living room is now a total wreck because it has become the repository for everything we are hauling away.

Using just plain hot water with vinegar we dusted and cleaned. The ceilings, walls, trim... everything got a wipe down. Ah... it's nice! Today we hope to finish the majority of the project. We'll load the truck with items to donate to various organizations. My husband's clothes will go to the men's shelter. My daughter's and mine will go to the women and children's shelter. We'll take old plastic shopping bags to recycle.

I have a stack of things to look at re-purposing. Mostly old t-shirts and jeans. I'll spend some time looking at them and decide if I will really do the work. Then, I'll toss out what I won't use.

Tomorrow, I will shampoo the carpets in the bedrooms. We have wood floors or tile everywhere else. Once everything has been cleaned and dusted, I'll pre-treat the stains and spots in the carpets with diluted Shout. Then I'll use my home steam cleaner. It's not as good as a big rental, but it's less expensive, does the job and is much less hassle to use!

While the power was out yesterday, I tossed some potatoes in the wood stove and baked them. Then I made a delicious baked potato soup from them for dinner. The power had come back on, but I proceeded with cooking as if it had not. It's nice to have this back-up in place.

With the big spring clean and de-clutter project almost complete, I'm looking forward to sitting down at the sewing machine and starting on some re-purposing and gift projects. I've had to force myself not to get distracted by these projects until I finish my cleaning. It is so tempting to just go whip this up and have it finished... but, the reality is that it's never that quick and simple for me. So, it's much better that I stay on task and finish. Then, I can enjoy my clean, clean, clean house and my new projects!

Full Scale De-Clutter Mode

2008-03-06T10:57:00.004-06:00

Yep, I'm in a complete clean, organize and de-clutter mode. I just hope I can keep up the momentum!

We will be entertaining a German exchange student for three weeks. For me, there's nothing like the idea of a stranger in my house for three weeks to motivate me to tackle projects I've put off for some time.

I'm ready to do it anyway. With both of my daughters moving off to college (next one leaves in August), I'm ready to re-claim some of my space and have some satisfaction knowing it just might stay clean and orderly for a while! Let me dream. It's simply time to go through everything. I've been working on it slowly, but with our guest's arrival in five days... I've kicked in to high gear.

I've gone through my office completely. The only thing I haven't touched are my hubby's old filing cabinets. Those are his to sort through.

I've removed two boxes of books I no longer need nor want. If hubby will go through, his we'd lighten the load on our bookshelves and make room for more books! We love books. It's hard to sort through them because they were all invited into my home for a reason... but for many they've served their purpose and I no longer refer to them. So, it's time for them to find a new home. I'll list them on my Amazon.com merchandise account. If they don't sell in a short time, I'll donate them somewhere. After all, the point of de-cluttering is to remove the items.

I've sorted through my craft cabinets and organized my supplies. I now know what I have on hand for creating home made Christmas gifts this year. I'm pretty well stocked. I also organized my gift wrap and gift bags. Everything is easier to get to and because of this I won't spend money buying things unnecessarily. I have plenty of gift bags which I can re-use. I was also pleased to see that I have plenty of Easter ribbon and such for Easter baskets this year.

I'll be going through my closet next and will probably have a few bags of old clothes to donate to the local charity. Who knows what else I may find in there? I noticed some silk flowers poking off the top shelf a bit ago... perhaps they could go into an Easter basket...

So, it seems that my cleaning and organizing is coming at an opportune time. Not only am I preparing for our guest, but I'll also be able to conserve expenses by knowing what items I have available for various purposes. And, freeing up space... which just feels better than disorganized clutter chaos lurking behind cabinet doors. When I reach the pantry, I'll make out a menu list based upon the items I have on hand and then just shop for the few things I may be missing.

I think maybe I should do this more frequently.

Or... not.

Home-Brewed Root Beer

2008-03-05T10:03:00.003-06:00

Today I decided I needed to do some fun things to break up the monotony of day-in, day-out chores. So, I will make some home brewed root beer. I've made it with my daughters in the past but it's been a very long time. I have root beer extract, yeast and some great gallon plastic juice bottles on hand.

We only purchase soda occasionally or as a treat. It's not healthy and it's not within our budget to provide it daily. So, not only will the making of the home brewed root beer be fun, it will also give us a nice fizzy treat, for just a few pennies!

There are several recipes available on the internet, but all of them are simple. Water, sugar, rootbeer extract and yeast. You clean the bottles well, sanitize them, mix up the ingredients, pour it into the bottles and then wait for about 10 days. I plan to make 4 gallons of it today.

Home Brewed Root Beer
makes 2 gallons

1/2 tspn yeast Use either regular yeast or champagne yeast, if it's available.
2 oz or 4 tbspn root beer extract
4 cups sugar
Water (fill to 2 gallons)

Thoroughly clean and sanitize plastic soda bottles! In a small bowl dissove yeast in warm (98 - 110 degrees) water. Mix thoroughly and let stand for a few minutes. Shake bottle of extract well. In a clean, sanitized pot containing 2 gallons of water add 4 cups sugar and 4 tbspn root beer extract. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the dissolved yeast and mix thoroughly. Use a clean funnel and fill bottles to within 1 - 1 1/2 inches from the top. Seal tightly and turn on side to check for leaks. Leave alone for 3 -5 days in fairly warm space (72 - 75 degrees). I place them on top of my refrigerator at the back, where it is warmer. Then store in a dark place for at least a week, two weeks improves the flavor. When the soda is ready the bottles should be firm to the touch. Refrigerate before opening. The quantities can be easily adjusted to make smaller or larger batches. Small batches are recommended when new to home-brewed root beer.

Almost Spring Slump & Earthworm Rescue

2008-03-04T02:17:00.004-06:00

Well, I didn't post in over a week. That's very unusual for me. I just couldn't think of anything interesting about which to write. It's not that I took a break from my frugal life for a week. Quite the contrary, I went shopping at the bargain store and had some amazing finds. I continued to de-clutter, clean and organize (though, I must admit it's going slowly). I have a stack of things for re-purposing.

I just got in a bit of a slump in general. It happens. A good friend advised me never to waste time or energy beating myself up for getting off track, going into a slump, having a blue day, whatever... but rather to recognize it and then move on. Okay, so moving on...

We had a brief break in winter weather that brought us springlike temperatures for two days. So, we made the most of it. We knew as we worked that the break would be followed by a very cold week. I planned to retreat back inside and return to cleaning, decluttering, organizing and repurposing (does it ever end).

Over the weekend, hubby and I cleaned our yard somewhat. At least we got a pretty good start on the big spring clean. We have a large yard by most standards (2 acres) and a lot of trees. Which means a lot of leaves. Even with raking in the fall, there are a lot that continue to fall throughout the winter so we have to do another pass in the spring. This means a lot of compost material for the garden.

Hubby has started his seedlings for this year's garden. He is the expert on growing all things organic, heirloom and delicious. That's his blog over to the right (John's Garden Blog)... visit it if you really want to know more about our garden efforts. I'm just excited to hear what he's preparing to plant and can't wait until we have the fresh bounty.

Yesterday it rained... and rained. And, then, it rained some more. As I walked to our mailbox down our gravel road, I saw earthworms everywhere. They were escaping the saturated soil. However, they are not fortunate enough to be able to visit weather.com and see that this water was about to become ice and they would be frozen on the road. So, I donned my poncho and went out with a bucket and began the earthworm rescue. Okay, now my family thinks I'm certifiably nuts.

But, we had just created two huge new compost piles of leaves and I knew they would make the perfect home for our earthworm friends during this weather event. The compost pile would certainly benefit as would the earthworms. So, I rescued... maybe 40 or so earthworms, from being squished under the tires of a vehicle or frozen. I carried them to the huge pile of leaves and dumped them on top. I stood and watched them begin to crawl into the leaves and smiled as I went to tell my hubby what good deed I'd just finished for his garden.

My oldest daughter called because my mother told her she saw me rescuing the earthworms and that I had officially lost it. When I explained why I was out in the cold rain rescuing earthworms, she laughed and said, "okay, Dali Mama."

I think I should be nominated for gardener's wife of the year for my efforts! :)

Lovely Legumes

2008-02-22T10:57:00.006-06:00

hmmm... it's Friday, where has my week gone?

I cooked with two different legumes this week and made several meals for very little expense. Legumes are a great way to extend the protein available in your diet while keeping meal costs affordable. This week I used lentils and pinto beans.

I only used one cup of lentils and have plenty left for other meals. I chose to sample a new recipe shared on Frugal Village, a frugal living message board, Sloppy Sam's. The Sloppy Sam recipe was quick and easy. The result was delicious. Though, I wouldn't exactly compare it to the meaty Sloppy Joe version. This dish is very good served in a warmed wheat pita with shredded cheddar cheese.

Sloppy Sams 4 servings so says the official recipe, but I got closer to 8 servings from this... it's very filling!

3 cups water
1 cup lentils, rinsed
salt to taste (optional)
1 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped tomato [I used 1 can diced stewed tomatoes]
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/2 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 tablespoons molasses
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 hamburger buns, split

Combine water and lentils in a saucepan; season to taste with salt if desired. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook onions with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until the onions have softened and turned translucent, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, ketchup, mustard powder, chili powder, molasses and Worcestershire sauce; simmer 5 to10 minutes until thickened. Drain lentils and reserve cooking liquid. Stir lentils into sauce mixture, adding cooking liquid or water as needed to obtain the desired "sloppy joe" consistency. Serve on buns. It's even better after sitting in the fridge over night... one of those recipes that actually tastes better when served the next day!

I also chose to prepare an entire bag of pinto beans. This makes much more than my small family (three at home) can reasonably consume before spoiling. So, at least half of the batch will be used to prepare refried beans, which will be frozen for later meals. A batch of cornbread, rice and fried potatoes will accompany those not mashed and refried!

The lentil recipe was a bit more spendy than just preparing the pinto beans, but overall I saved significantly versus using other available protein sources. Beef, chicken, pork, fish are all rather high in cost right now and I doubt the price will drop.

One way to cope is to stretch the weekly food budget by adding more meals featuring lovely legumes. There are many recipes available through searching the internet. Preparing legumes is simple and the instructions are usually very plain. Lentils are wonderful because they can be prepared quickly and do not require soaking. They also last in your pantry forever.

In order for legumes to act as complete proteins, they must be combined with other foods. The sloppy sam's need to be served with grain in order to be complete. Once placed inside a pita with some cheese or on a bun, you have a complete protein and a healthy meal. Other examples of legume combinations resulting in complete protein are: red beans and rice (or any legume and rice), pinto beans and cornbread, hummus and pitas, peanut butter sandwich (any legume and grain).

My husband is an avid gardener, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the agricultural aspect of legumes. They are easy to grow and can grow (but not as productively) in poor soil. The plants are high in nitrogen and are beneficial biomass to improve the soil. Simply till them into the soil. By growing your own legumes you have a very inexpensive protein source and an equally inexpensive organic fertilizer for your garden!

De-cluttering and Repurposing

2008-02-19T16:24:00.004-06:00

Well, it's time to de-clutter. You know... you just have to stop and do that every so often. And, it's a bit over-due in my house.

De-cluttering for me is a process of removing things from my home or re-purposing them. If I have no use for them, but they are fit enough for another person's use, I'll donate items to a charity. If they are worn, I will either throw them out or find another purpose for them. I'd love to fix more things, but I'm just not skilled, motivated or capable of fixing some of the items... so they re better off going to the trash or to someone who can fix them.

I love the idea of re-purposing items. And, with the internet, there are so many resources for creative re-purposing... there's just no excuse not to do it.

Today, for example, my husband sorted through his closet and had several pairs of jeans which were either too worn or too small. Those in good shape, but too small went to charity. Those that were worn... had the scissors taken to them. One pair will be a book bag (made from the pockets, and section just above the crotch) and two childrens aprons (made from the legs). Others may become potholders, neck rolls, or other such items. I found a lot of instructions online for re-purposing blue jeans. It will be fun to break out the sewing machine for these simple projects.

Another simple project involves using old t-shirts to make durable grocery bags. The idea came from the Martha Stewart website and is extremely simple and cute!

A fond memory of mine involves sitting in the quilting bee with the ladies of our community. They never let material go to waste. Every scrap had a purpose. If nothing else, they were sewn into patchwork quilts. Though I grew up around the quilting bees and know how to sew the tiny stitches to hand quilt... I don't sew very well and I've never laid out a quilt pattern. I hear the old ladies' voices telling me that it doesn't matter, just do my best and regardless, the quilt will be warm.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to go that far with my re-purposing. But, I do intend to make my girls each a t-shirt quilt from their youth shirts. I've got them cut out and just need to sew it all together. One day, I will make time for this... once I get over the anxiety I have about it.

In the meantime, I'll practice my stitching with some more simple projects.

Homemade Hashbrowns

2008-02-18T17:06:00.002-06:00

I decided to start the morning with some homemade hashbrowns in a breakfast skillet scramble. Yum! I can't imagine why anyone would buy hashbrowns. They are so simple to make, cost far less and taste oh so much better!

There are two schools of thought on homemade hashbrowns. My sister-in-law uses raw potatoes grated in her food processor and then fries them up. They are tasty, but don't really stick together much. I like to boil my potatoes first, then grate them and make the patties. These are tasty too... but they make the actual patties.

The trick when you boil them is to leave the peels on and boil them just until they get a little tender (about 10 minutes). Don't boil them as long as you would for mashed potatoes. They need to still be firm... or you'll have mushy hashbrowns. Then chill them. Some recommend overnight chilling and this is good if you plan ahead. I'm more spontaneous... so, mine were chilled with cold water and a sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes. It works.

Then, you just peel them, grate them and you can scoop them into the skillet and fry with butter and onions... or however you like them.

If you want to freeze them for later use, simply place waxed paper on a cookie sheet and put the piles of hashbrowns on it. Place in the freezer and freeze individually. Then, when frozen, move to freezer safe bags or vacuum seal.

Taxes, Tuition and Time

2008-02-17T06:48:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was all about getting the taxes finished. I have to have them complete so that my daughters can complete the FAFSA and apply for scholarships. Fortunately, they weren't too complicated this year.

I love being able to e-file the taxes. It seems much faster. The software asks questions which makes it easy. The entire process is relatively painless. I think Free-File is great! If you qualify, you must go to www.irs.gov and pick a software vendor from there. If you go directly to the software site, it won't allow you to free-file. I just love modern technology!

With that done, it was time to work on some scholarship and financial aid info for my daughters. My oldest is attending a private college in another state and my youngest will attend the same school next year. I was really surprised to learn in our search for colleges that the private colleges often have financial aid packages which make them more affordable than public universities. That is certainly the case with the college my girls have chosen. I am not wealthy. I could not afford the tuition which is close to my annual salary. However, between scholarships and grants, the cost was reduced to less than what I would pay for them to attend a state univ. Talk about a bargain!

Right now, I'm working with the financial aid office to have them re-evaluate my oldest daughter's financial aid package. We had a change in our financial situation which made a significant change to our income from what was reported on the FAFSA used to make the determination. It's important to know that if this happens, the financial aid office can re-evaluate. It's crucial to notify them as soon as possible and provide them as much information as possible. It's a slightly painstaking process, but well worth the effort. I'll have all of that ready to mail next week.

It's hard core scholarship season. I'm cracking the whip daily to make sure my daughters are applying for scholarships. Every little bit helps. They both have a goal of trying to have everything paid for through scholarships and grants. This would leave their college fund available to help pay for graduate school, for which it is more difficult to receive funding. I appreciate their goal. I think it's entirely do-able. My goal, is simply to have their schooling remain affordable!

Time...really does fly by. It seems that it wasn't long ago I was completing scholarship applications myself. I recall when my daughters were little thinking about them heading off to college and it seemed so far away. Now that it's here, where has all the time gone? Perhaps, I should learn to be more frugal with my time.

Valentine's Day Reflections

2008-02-15T07:28:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was really busy. It began with a shopping trip and ended with an incredible, memorable meal.

In our home, Valentine's Day has become a celebrated holiday much like Easter or Thanksgiving but not up to the level of Christmas. I really hadn't realized I'd created such tradition until my oldest daughter in college lamented not being home for Valentine's Day for the first time. She related that, since they split other holidays with their dad, Valentine's Day was the only one they were consistently home to enjoy with us and I had created several memorable traditions... including the meal. I like that I have made my family feel loved and appreciated on one special day each year and that it's been a special, memorable part of our lives together.

I splurged a bit on the meal but not too bad. I was able to prepare the following menu for slightly less than $10/plate:
Shrimp Cocktail
Wheatberry Salad
Snow Crab Clusters
Filet Mignon
Twice Baked Potatoes
Rolls
Tiramisu
Sparkling Grape Juice

We usually serve rock lobster tail, but I couldn't find it this year and my youngest daughter prefers crab. So, the substitution was made when I went shopping in the morning. My shopping trip began at our local bargain store, where I found the sparkling grape juice for $1.29/bottle. I finished by picking up the crab and steaks and headed home to start cooking.

After scrubbing and wrapping potatoes, they were tossed in the ashes of my woodstove to bake as I prepared my wheatberry salad. The day was off to a grand start!

I paused in the afternoon to go pick up a gift for my husband. A friend had offered to let me have his sliding glass doors when he replaced them. My hubby has been collecting windows and sliding glass door panels with which to build a greenhouse for several years. With these two panels, I believe he has enough glass to build his greenhouse now.

Upon my return, my hubby helped me to finish preparing the meal and we enjoyed it with my daughter and her boyfriend. Our gift exchange was minimal this year, but that's okay because the meal and time spent preparing it together and eating together is really what we enjoy on this holiday.

Wheat Berries

2008-02-13T08:13:00.002-06:00

I mentioned the other day that I found a bag of wheat berries in my freezer. Well, I've done a bit of research on them and am quite interested in giving them a try.

It seems if you soak wheat berries overnight, they can be used in any number of salads. I've also found instructions for sprouting wheat berries and suggestions for using the sprouts in a number of dishes.

Today I will do both. I'll start some sprouting and I'll soak some for a salad.

I found a 3 lb bag of wheat berries for $3.80 online. And from all the recipes I've read it seems that it takes a small amount of wheat berries for a dish. So, I'm adding wheat berries to the list of frugal grains for the larder.

Grits, Apple Fritters and Potluck Supper

2008-02-12T15:15:00.006-06:00

It's been a busy day here. I began by cooking my first batch of grits, moved on to apple fritters and will finish with a dish for tonight's potluck supper (swim team). I took a brief nap in the middle of it all... after sampling the apple fritters.

Grits have the texture of coarse sand before they are cooked. They are simple to cook. Most grits fans tout the excellence of old-fashioned stone ground grits over the instant, quick variety. The bag in my freezer was the instant, quick variety. But not from Quaker, from a mill in Oklahoma. So, I don't know about that, mine turned out pretty good!

If you are sure to slowly whisk the grits into the boiling water you won't have lumpy grits.

When my grits were finished I poured them into a buttered loaf pan, reserving a bowl for myself. To this I added chopped ham and shredded cheddar cheese, mixing them thoroughly with the grits. Then, I covered them and placed them in the fridge to cool for several hours, to firmly set.

To my bowl I added butter, brown sugar, a drizzle of molasses and a handful of leftover chopped ham. It was delicious. As I enjoyed this interesting, somewhat nutty texture with a hint of corn flavor from my bowl, I pondered the origins of such dishes.

Proverbs, Biblical scriptures, Buddha and the Tao all suggest that the gleanings from the field be left for the workers. That's exactly what grits are; the hard bits of corn left after grinding cornmeal. After boiling up a big pot of stone ground grits, the cook would take leftovers and make something else rather than throw them out. Grits don't re-heat well for hot cereal. From that frugal mindset came many different recipes for grits. Including the fried grits I will prepare.

Fried Grits

Prepare grits according to directions
Pour into buttered loaf pan
Add 1 cup chopped ham and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Mix well
Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours
Slice "grit loaf" into 1/2 inch slices.
Dip first in 2 eggs beaten, then dredge in flour (approx 1 cup)
Pan fry or deep fry until golden brown, turning to cook both sides evenly

Fried grits can be served for breakfast, brunch, snack or side dish.

Fried grits update: I made the fried grits for breakfast the following morning and wow, they were fantastic! I will chop my ham a little more fine in the future and maybe add a bit more cheese. These were very filling. A "stick to your ribs" kind of breakfast. The fried rectangles are handy to grab and eat on the run as well.

This afternoon I decided to try another apple fritter recipe. So far, this one is our favorite, but I have a couple more to try. They are all very quick and simple. I'm able to have a fresh batch fried up in 30 min or less.

Apple Fritters

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons oil
4 large apples, peeled and cored
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until smooth.
Heat oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) in a deep fryer or heavy bottomed deep pot or skillet.
Slice apples into 1/2 inch rings. Dip apple slices in batter and fry, a few at a time, turning once, until golden. Drain on paper towels and dust with confectioners' sugar.

The recipe says to dip the apples, I found the batter a little thick for that. I had to dunk them pretty good and use a spoon to help coat them evenly. I don't have enough experience with it to know if the batter should be thinner. But, I do know they were very, very good. The recipe above is modified somewhat from a recipe I found online that was even a bit thicker. I refrigerated the batter to make some more fresh fritters later. I'm not sure how it will do, but I thought it worth a try. The fritters are not so good cold.

Apple Fritter Update: I used the batter the following afternoon without any problem. In fact, the spices had infused into the batter and it tasted even better. With the last bit of batter in the bowl, I chopped up my remaining apple and stirred it in. The result was fantastic! I think this is how I'll make them in the future... small, hushpuppy sized apple fritters.

The swim team is having a potluck supper tonight. I told you potlucks were popular in my community! It's the last get together before their district finals meet and the top swimmers are selected to swim representing the team at the state meet. I altered the sign up sheet a bit. Because these athletes are still in training and the meet is tomorrow, we needed very few sweets and mostly healthy proteins and carbs. For some reason everyone wants to bring a dessert to a potluck dinner. So, I placed necessary items in slots on the sign up sheet (paper plates, napkins, etc) and designated the number of main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Then, the kids just had to sign up by an item. They didn't even have to get specific and nail mom to preparing a certain item. This went over very well.

My family signed up to bring a main dish. So, tonight it's Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I love this recipe. It's one I make when I make the crockpot chicken and freeze to bake later. You follow the recipe as below, but you freeze it instead of putting it in the oven. Then, when you're ready for it, you just pop it in the oven and it's ready in about 30 - 40 minutes.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

3-4 chicken breasts (or 6 Halves) (approx 4 cups shredded or chopped chicken)
1 (10 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) can diced green chilies (hot or mild, or a small can of each)
1 (10 ounce) package cheddar cheese, grated
1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
12 corn tortillas
16 ounces sour cream

Place Chicken in large saucepan and cover with water. Sprinkle in ground cumin,add garlic powder and salt. Boil about 20 minutes and shred from bones. Save broth.
Mix soups, sour cream & chiles in large pan. Add only enough broth to slightly thin.
Re-season as needed. Simmer on low 15 minutes. Add chicken and diced onion.
In large (9x13) casserole dish, arrange 6 Tortillas flat across bottom, spoon in 1/2 the sauce, sprinkle 1/2 the cheese. Repeat- Tortillas, sauce and cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. I use two smaller Pyrex covered casserole dishes when I freeze it, because this makes more than enough for our family.

This very filling entree goes a long way to feed a crowd!

True Grits

2008-02-12T07:18:00.000-06:00

I was digging around in my freezer, seeing what I had on hand and how old it might be (it's time to use up some of the things I've had in there a while) and I discovered a bag of grits. I don't recall purchasing grits. I don't even really care for grits as a breakfast food. And, while they are a southern soul food staple... they weren't in the house of my youth. They don't seem quite so popular west of the Mississippi in the part of the south I call home. So, I really don't know what to do with grits. I can only imagine they came to my freezer as a gift from someone well-meaning. Or, my husband picked them up when I wasn't looking (I think he might actually like them for breakfast!). Anyway, I don't intend to waste them.

So, I'm searching around the internet for grits recipes and I'm finding a lot of them. Apparently, baked cheese grits are a popular dish. Grits combined with cornmeal make spoon bread. There are recipes for grits biscuits and bread. I've also found a few grit casseroles that look interesting. I think I'm most intrigued by the fried grits recipe I found. I'll certainly give the shrimp and grits recipe a try (I feel a Bubba Gump moment).

I'm sure that after experimenting a bit, I'll come up with a few grits recipes to add to my family's menu. I'm not exactly sure why I've never ventured into grits territory before, but it certainly is a frugal food. It's very existence is frugal since it's the gritty bits of corn gleaned after grinding cornmeal. It's inexpensive and a little bit goes a long way. But, as we all know, it's not a bargain if no one will eat it.

So, today, I'm making fried grits. If they work out, are tasty and my family likes them, I'll add the recipe later.

I'm still experimenting with apple fritter recipes. We made a batch yesterday and they were good... but not what I was looking for, so the search continues and I still have supplies on hand!

As I was digging through the freezer, I also discovered a bag of wheat berries. I'm not sure where they came from either, but now I'm intrigued and searching for recipes. I've no idea as to their cost, so I don't know if I can recommend them as a frugal menu item... but I'll check into it. Because, if I like them, I'll want to add more of them to my larder.

It seems I have a busy week experimenting in the kitchen with new ingredients and recipes!

The Mormon Way

2008-02-11T02:35:00.001-06:00

When I was a child a couple of our neighboring farmers were devout mormons. They shared a few tenets of their faith with us when we were around their farms. Most of them made sense and seemed in anyone's best interest to take them to heart. It's hard to argue with treating your body as a temple and not polluting it. It's even harder to argue with their teachings on food storage and emergency preparedness.

The mormon faith teaches followers to be self-reliant. They are instructed to be responsible for themselves, their family and their church... in that order. A very big part of this is food storage and emergency preparedness. Each mormon family should have at least a two-week supply of food for every person and a year supply is even better, according to Church recommendations. This is good advice for everyone, regardless of their faith. As is the advice to develop a family emergency plan and 72-hour emergency kit.

It seems a rather daunting and expensive task, building up that much of a larder. But, a two-week supply is not that difficult to obtain. The first step in the task is to consider what meals you would likely cook and to list ingredients - making sure you have enough of the things your family will actually eat on hand. The second step is to consider your means of storage and the uses for your supplies. After purchasing begins, another important step in this process is to rotate the stock. Food doesn't last forever, so occasionally one must eat what is in storage and replace it with fresh items.

A basic food larder should contain some legumes, grains, powdered milk, water, cooking oil, and dried fruits. It is helpful when you grow a garden and preserve your own produce. Whether you can or dry the food, make sure it is in a form you will eat. And, try not to rely too much upon your freezer. In the case of a disaster, you will not likely have power and your generator may not run long enough.

As for emergency preparedness, this goes a step beyond just securing and storing food for your family. A 72-hour kit with enough food and water for the family, flashlights, blankets and items in the event of an evacuation is the central piece for emergency preparedness. But, so is the family plan and the discussion that goes along with it. If you were evacuated, where would you all meet up? What if cell phones didn't work? These are all important considerations that will save your family stress during a crisis.

What kind of crisis? It could be any kind. We all witnessed what happened to millions who were unprepared when Katrina hit. And, in my own backyard, so to speak, we received a poignant reminder in the form of a tornado. Cell towers were out for some time following the sudden storm. Power was out for several days for thousands who suffered no other damage.

The LDS (mormon) Church has several books printed on the topics of food storage and emergency preparedness. They have been considered the Gentle Survivors by many for several years. It was even a running joke in our family for a long time that if there was a big disaster, we should all head over to our mormon neighbors because we knew they were well-stocked. Rather than rely on them, however, we just adopted The Mormon Way into our lifestyle. My pantry always has at least a two-week supply... if not closer to a month. And, I have emergency supplies including flashlights, lanterns and basic camping supplies. I'm not quite as organized about my storage as most mormons I know, but then again... I haven't attended their classes on the topic.

We should all take a lesson from their teachings and work to be more self-reliant. In the event of a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, or an unemployment disaster... if you have food storage and an emergency plan you can ensure your family's security.

Apple Fritters and Conversation

2008-02-10T17:03:00.001-06:00

We were invited to a dear friend's house to enjoy hot, fresh apple fritters and visit. He, his wife and young son were in town visiting his mom. His mom fried the apple fritters while we chatted. She apologized for not having the exact recipe she used when the boys were in high school and played games at her house. No apology was necessary. They were delicious.

She is older than our parents. Our friend was a "late-in-life surprise" baby... twin actually. She came here from Germany where she worked as a seamstress in fashion houses before the war. During the war, she just worked to survive, from what she said. I'm not sure about the dates, but I don't think she was able to move here until after the war. Our conversation turned at one point to her amazing skills both in the kitchen and at the sewing machine.

She related that during wartime in Germany, what she witnessed was the wealthy people had the most difficult time surviving. They did not have their own cow, they bought their milk... same with eggs and other items. When these items were in short supply, the wealthy folks did without. They did not know how to perform basic survival skills and had long relied on others to help them. When their money lost its value, they could no longer hire help to cook their meals or to women wash their laundry. She cautioned against our modern world to a certain extent, saying that we should all know enough simply to survive.

She is right.

Something I've heard my entire life, growing up in the Ozarks money-poor and land rich, was, "by golley, I can always take care of me and mine living off my land." And for the most part that was true when I was younger. Most everyone had at least a handful of chickens, a milk goat or cow and a patch of land big enough for a garden. That's not so much the case now.

Other than complain about high prices, I don't really see folks doing much about their situation. I don't see them making lifestyle changes to enhance their survival during lean times. Maybe they don't feel the need. Perhaps they are so sure of America's ability to bounce back that they aren't concerned. Perhaps they don't remember what it's like to do without... or they never really knew.

It's unfortunate that it's not just an easily defined group such as "the wealthy" who will have difficulty surviving should our country's economic woes last very long. Amazingly few know how to cook, unless it comes from the freezer section. And, that's just the most basic of survival skills.

It's frightening. But, I don't think most folks are aware enough to be frightened. They could make some very simple lifestyle changes and find themselves a lot more secure.

Mull it over while munching on Apple Fritters. This is pretty close to the apple fritter recipe our friend's mom used.

Old-Fashioned Apple Fritters
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon melted shortening
2 large apples
oil for deep frying

Sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Combine egg and milk; add to flour mixture; beat until smooth. Add shortening and mix well. Peel and core apples; cut into 8 wedges. Dip apple wedges into batter and fry in 370° oil for about 4 minutes, or until brown.

I've since found a few others I think I will try out and post about later! They certainly were delicious and seemingly simple.

Twisters and Life

2008-02-09T10:10:00.001-06:00

Well, the tornadoes that are making headlines hit our small area. My family and I are safe. Our property is unscathed. But, the little community just a few miles from our home is devastated. As are several other small communities in our area.

During this time, the people have come together and reached out to one another. Local agencies have had to ask people to stop donating until they can organize the stuff they've already received. Volunteers have been asked to register their services at one location and wait to be called to help out. The response has been overwhelming.

My thoughts of late aren't on frugal living so much as community spirit. I've been fortunate, as a small town girl, to witness the amazing things a strong community can do several times in my life. From the time we rebuilt the bell tower at the local historic school house in my tiny community to the first tornado cleanup I experienced as a teenager in the 80's I have many memories of everyone stopping what they were doing and coming together for the greater good.

Often the women would cook and wrangle the kids. They'd make sure that there was plenty to eat and drink for all the workers and that the little ones didn't "get under foot" during the work. They'd help out where they could, but mostly it was the men and youth that did the bulk of the labor. Since I was a youth, perhaps it was mostly the men that did the bulk of it... but we certainly felt like we were making an important contribution to the efforts. If I couldn't run a chainsaw, I could certainly haul limbs to the burn piles... or run glasses of ice cold tea and lemonade to the guys.

This spirit is alive and well today. I had occasion to drive through one of the communities that suffered in this disaster. The hospital was hit very hard but fortunately only a few homes and businesses were really effected directly. However, the entire town area was without power. So, there were grills set up in the parking lot of the local grocery store and they were cooking the meat before it spoiled and passing it out to all takers. All along the road I saw grill after grill of volunteers cooking meals for the entire town... they were all sharing. They were making sure the volunteers for the cleanup were fed, but they were also taking meals to the elderly and to their neighbors without power.

This was very heartwarming to witness. It is unfortunate that it sometimes takes a crisis to remind us to slow down and look out for one another. With the strength of community we can accomplish amazing things and without it we are left alone. No one should be alone.

Kill-A-Watt

2008-02-05T09:56:00.001-06:00

My daughter's college is having a contest among the dorms to see which dorm can reduce their energy usage the most. The program is called Kill-A-Watt. The dorm that wins the contest (lasts from February - April) is given the amount of money they save to spend as they choose. We started our own Kill-A-Watt program in our home this winter after seeing our November electric bill. While our usage had not really increased terribly, the rates had. And, it was time to seriously address the amount of energy we use in our home on a daily basis.

We began with an awareness campaign... my daughters called it nagging. Turn off anything you aren't using. Unplug anything you won't be using for a while.

It worked. We reduced our usage by 1,000 kW for the month of December. That was 1,000 kW less than the previous month's usage and almost 1,000 kW less than the same period one year ago... although this year the average daily temperature was 10 degrees colder.

One big factor was our supplementing our central heating source with a fire in our wood stove. This helped significantly. But, the other steps we took were not insignificant. We often discount how much energy that forgotten lamp is drawing or that those appliances that aren't in use but are plugged in are constantly pulling watts from the energy lines. Simply going as unplugged as possible adds up to several watts saved.

Of course there are several things one can do to reduce their energy usage including purchasing energy efficient appliances and reducing heat or A/C loss through caulking and sealing areas in the home. One can even use solar collectors or passive solar to heat spaces.

Then, there are the little things, several of which I've mentioned here and there in this blog. They include using the oven when it's cold outside and then when you're finished opening the door to let the heat in the room. Not using the drying cycle on the dishwasher, but again, opening the door and allowing the heat and moisture (winter is dry) into the room. Not using the dishwasher and handwashing dishes (gasp!) can save energy.

My oldest daughter suggested we hang-dry jeans and other items that take longer to dry... something she picked up from not wanting to spend more quarters in the dorm laundromat. This has the added frugal bonus of helping our clothes to last longer. A simple rack can be made or purchased from Linens-N-Things which makes hanging your clothes inside a simple, organized task.

Presenting energy savings as a Kill-A-Watt challenge can be fun and spark creativity. I was surprised at how my family has responded to our call for energy reduction at home. But, I'm even more surprised and inspired by what's happening at my daughter's college. These young women are really working to reduce their energy usage and I'll be interested to hear some of their creative methods for achieving their goals.

Quiche - Quick, Simple, Inexpensive

2008-02-04T07:25:00.001-06:00

Everyone in my family enjoys quiche, especially my husband; thus shattering the stereotype that "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche". Anyone who knows my husband would certainly say he's a real man. A burly, strong lumberjack of a guy who can wield an axe and grow some of the best tomatoes you've ever eaten in the garden he works with his own hands... but, I digress. Quiche is a wonderful entree to add to your menu. You can serve it for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It is filling, versatile, quick, simple and easy on the budget.

I was reading quiche recipes today when I realized I hadn't served this lovely dish since Christmas brunch. I usually make quiche when my chickens are laying eggs in abundance. Even if you have to buy eggs, quiche is still an inexpensive entree. If you serve it with a salad, you have a wonderfully balanced meal. I like to serve it frequently in the spring when fresh ingredients for the quiche and salad are abundant, but it's great any time!

Here's the basic recipe I use:

Basic Quiche

1 prebaked pie shell (I make my own crust... recipe follows)
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
3 large eggs
1 cup cream (light cream, heavy cream, half-and-half are all acceptable)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of ground nutmeg

Lightly brush the pie shell with mustard. Whisk together eggs, cream and seasoning. Pour mixture into pie shell, place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 until slightly puffy and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 30 - 40 minutes. Let cool about 15 minutes prior to serving.

While the quiche is baking, you can prep your salad to serve with it!

Here are some other family favorites, but remember to feel free to create your own.

Classic Quiche Lorraine

Cook 8 slices bacon in skillet until brown and crisp. Saute 1/2 chopped onion in the bacon grease until soft. Place 1 cup shredded swiss cheese in pie shell, add bacon and onion, top with egg mixture, sprinkle top with 2 - 3 tablespoons shredded swiss cheese.

Broccoli Quiche

Microwave 1 cup broccoli florets until tender (2 - 3 minutes). Coarsely chop and arrange in pie shell. Saute 1/2 chopped onioin and 1 minced garlic clove in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft. Scatter over broccoli. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Pour in egg mixture, sprinkle with paprika.

Bacon & Spinach Quiche

Cook 4 slices bacon in skillet until brown and crisp. Saute 1/4 chopped onion in the bacon grease until soft, add 1/2 cup frozen or 1 cup fresh spinach and cook until spinach is heated or wilted respectively. Place 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese in pie shell, add bacon, spinach and onion, top with egg mixture, sprinkle top with 2 - 3 tablespoons shredded swiss cheese.

Ham & Cheese Quiche

Place 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup chopped ham in pie shell, top with egg mixture.

Pie Crust

2 cups flour
1 cup vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup ice water…approximately.

This will make 23- 9” pie crusts. Put flour and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add shortening or shortening and lard mix. Use a pastry blender or fork and cut the shortening into pieces that are no smaller than large peas. The larger pieces the better. Add ice water a little at a time and mix. You want the dough to just stick together, not be too moist. The dough should not be sticky at all. Round the dough in a ball. Try not to handle the dough more than absolutely necessary. Keeping the shortening in pieces is what makes the crust flaky. Wrap the rounded dough in plastic wrap or put in a ziplock bag. Put in refrigerator for at least an hour. This will allow the water to be uniformly absorbed and let the dough rest. Take out and divide into 2 equal pieces. Roll out dough on floured surface. Roll away from you , turn dough, roll away from you and turn dough, all the while, working it into a round. Use a pie pan to determine that you have the right size. It should be a couple of inches larger than the pan. Fold the dough over your rolling pin and place in the pie pan. For a baked pie shell, prick the dough with a fork all over the bottom and sides to keep it from bubbling up, cover with foil and fill with beans or pie weights. Bake in pre-heated oven at 425.

Frugal College Life

2008-01-30T05:53:00.000-06:00

My oldest daughter is a fresh(wo)man in college and my youngest daughter was just notified of her acceptance to the college of her choice. I'm very pleased that both of my girls have received substantial scholarships for merit and financial need. They've also benefited from the wonderful gift of a 529 plan from their grandmother. This combination of funding has reduced my burden tremendously. But, there are still expenses involved that I must cover (books, supplies, the remainder of the room & board not covered by the above listed aid) and this leaves my budget tight. I have told the girls that their tuition, room, board and books are covered, but anything else, they must provide. This has led to some creative strategies by my oldest daughter.

She does not have a car at college. She doesn't really need one, except to make the trip home. She uses the bus system to get around town but most of what she needs is within walking distance of her dorm. She also rides with other students as they make trips to the mall or other shops for groceries and supplies. This saves the gas money, insurance, parking permit fee, and hassle of maintaining a vehicle.

She obtained a really great job, working in the nursery of a church just a few blocks from her dorm. The church has taken her in and treats her very well. She works for a few hours on Sunday morning and Wednesday night, no conflict with her school schedule at all. The pay is good enough that she is able to get the spending money she needs from this. The church members have asked her to do some private babysitting and even work as a server for a catering job. These extra jobs are great because they give her the flexibility of looking at her schedule to decide if she can do them and, if so, provide her some extra income. The added bonus is that she's networking and creating her own friendships and sense of community beyond the college environment.

On weekends, the cafeteria at the school only serves brunch. Because of this, I send my daughter supplies to make her own meals and she buys fresh ingredients locally. I've taught her how to cook and she does very well. Following Christmas break, I sent her a cooler with some tilapia, salmon and other frozen items for her to enjoy on her weekends. This past weekend, she was cooking in the dorm kitchen (which is located across the hall from the head RA for the dorm) and visiting with the RA. When asked what she was cooking for dinner, my daughter rattled off her menu, "Pan-seared salmon with mango-chipotle chutney, wild rice and baked sweet potatoes." (Yes, the mom here is saying, "where's the green veggies?"... but hey, it's not pizza!) To which the RA responded in some sort of awe, according to my daughter. Then, my daughter expressed that she felt sorry for the kids she saw heating up Easy Mac in the microwave and those who obviously hadn't a clue how to cook. From this conversation was borne the idea (and permission) for her to cook meals on Saturday and Sunday and sell the plates first-come, first-served to any takers. She posts her menu in the lobby, with a sign-up sheet for planning purposes. She charges $5 or less (depending upon the menu) for a plate. I think this is fabulous, and as I told her, if she only gets enough to pay for the groceries/supplies, then she's still ahead because she's basically eating for free. If she makes a little money, great!

There are other opportunities to save or make money. You'd be surprised how many kids don't know how to do laundry. Some have become so frustrated that they take theirs to the local "Wash-n-Fold" place. For someone who doesn't mind doing laundry (not my daughters) there is the potential to take over some of the Wash-n-Fold business by taking in dorm mates laundry and doing it at the laundromat when doing their own.

If you want to save some money, make sure your young adult knows some very basic living skills before they jump out of the nest. Learning to cook, do one's laundry, maintain a vehicle and network are key skills that will save them (and you) money.

Additionally, teach them things about living frugally. For example, don't buy your supplies at the campus bookstore. A trip to Wal-Mart, Target, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Best Buy or several other places provide notebooks, art supplies, calculators, etc at a price far less than available in the bookstore. Always check online to see if you can buy your textbooks cheaper (use ISBN number). There are several excellent online sites that sell college texts. And, likewise, check online before selling your book back to the bookstore. If the school offers you $3 for the book you paid $30 for a few months before, then do like my daughter did and offer to sell it to someone taking the class the next semester or next year. She got $15 out of it, which was win-win for her and the student who needed the book. Also, apply this technique to books you need for a class; ask around, someone may have them in their room. This is where networking with classmates pays off. Finally, don't rush to buy every book on the syllabus. They should be available in the library and some will not be needed until later in the semester and some are not needed at all.

While obtaining a college education is a costly endeavor, it can be made more affordable with a frugal mindset.

Chocolate Prices on the Rise!

2008-01-29T08:05:00.000-06:00

Reading today's headlines I learned that Hershey's will be increasing the wholesale price of their chocolate bars 13%, effective immediately. They cite the rise in fuel, energy and commodities (milk) as the reason for the price increase. This is without a doubt a justified increase. But, it's bad news for chocoholics like me.

There are several ways to satisfy the chocolate cravings. One of my favorites is with Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. Because of their peanut butter and oatmeal contents, I like to think of them as somewhat healthy. Another is homemade fudge... and not the chocolate chip and marshmallow cream kind.

The key ingredient here is cocoa. This is one item I strongly recommend you don't buy the generic brand or an off-brand, unless you can test them in a small quantity first. I've tried buying the generic brands in the past and found that there was a definite difference in color, texture and most importantly flavor. Cocoa is a bit spendy, but a little goes a long way in recipes.

When I was a child, it was a rare treat to get an actual chocolate bar of any sort. A Hershey's bar was carefully eaten and savored one rectangle at a time. Mom made a lot of treats for us with cocoa, including cakes with a lovely cocoa buttercream frosting and fudge. On the news of the price-hike for chocolate, I've begun to prowl through some of the old church and community cookbooks I have from the 1950's and 60's. They have a lot of good recipes for cocoa based sweets.

In the meantime, I believe I'll whip up a batch of Chocolate No-Bake Cookies today.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
½ cup butter
½ cup milk

Combine in saucepan and bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and Add:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tspn vanilla
3 cups raw oats

Drop by rounded teaspoonful on wax paper.

Homemade Soft Pretzels

2008-01-27T08:03:00.000-06:00

I'd never made pretzels before. I'd purchased them a few times at malls, ball games, airports... whenever the smell of hot, fresh pretzels hit me hard and I couldn't withstand the temptation. I really never even thought of making them myself. Until I was in the Bargain Store prowling the aisles and found a tub of Gourmet Pretzel Mix. Hmmm, I thought, "this could be fun." The tub was only 50 cents and extra bargain... they were marked buy one, get one free. I guess a lot of folks are intimidated by the prospect of making their own pretzels. But, they shouldn't be.

I decided to make the fresh pretzels for a treat this weekend. Following the directions carefully, they were quick, easy and fun to make. Although the mix from the bargain store is certainly a bargain, it will not be there for very long. And, I want to add these yummy pretzels to my cooking repertoire. So, I began searching for pretzel recipes.

The first place I looked was my trusted Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery. There I found an interesting write-up on the history of pretzels, but no recipe. Did you know that pretzel bakers are credited for saving the city of Vienna from Turkish invaders in 1510? Or that pretzels are on record as existing in the USA as early as 1652, when court records show a baker sold pretzels to the Indians. Some historical accounts credit the invention of the pretzel to monks somewhere between the 5th and 7th centuries and state the shape resembles a person's arms folded in prayer. Pretzels also showed up in marriage ceremonies and the pretzel shape was referred to as a "marriage knot". A gilded pretzel hanging outside a shop in Germany or Switzerland represents a bakery. I learned that the pretzel was very much a German staple.

I was even more determined to find a recipe after reading about pretzels. I have a strong German heritage, but somehow... I missed out on the pretzel baking!

I've now found 3 recipes which are similar to one another that I'll try before I post the recipe here. The similarity is that they all call for dipping the pretzel dough in boiling baking soda water. This step adds flavor and creates the lovely firm skin. Avoid quick recipes that simply call for frozen bread dough which you thaw, shape and brush with egg... they won't be the same and you really aren't saving much by purchasing frozen bread dough.

Mixing up your own dough is not difficult, especially if you have a mixer with dough hooks. While some folks find working with yeast intimidating, they really should not. It's quite simple and just requires some time to allow the dough to rise. I suppose that's easy for me to say since I recall baking my first batch of bread at age 9. We did a lot of such baking because it stretched our family budget. It was much cheaper for us to bake our own bread than to purchase it from the store. And, nothing beats hot, fresh bread from the oven slathered with fresh churned butter! Except, maybe a hot, fresh pretzel!

It's the Little Things

2008-01-25T10:19:00.000-06:00

Little things add up. Keep a jar and toss your change in it every day, when the jar is full... start another one. This is a pretty obvious way to see that little things add up. Others aren't quite so glaringly obvious.

Do you review your monthly bills? Most people don't really look at them too much. They scan over them and pay the amount requested. However, bills need to be reviewed for accuracy. Do you really want to pay the phone company extra each month for services you aren't using? Remove the line maintenance fee! It's like buying an extended warranty. Check for other fees.

I have two phone lines, for one I was being charged a rate for having touch-tone, the other I wasn't. All my phones are touch-tone... why was I being charged for one and not the other? I asked for the charge to be removed. I'd requested bundle billing with my dsl, phone service and unlimited long distance. This was to save me some money each month. A review of my bill after requesting the bundle, showed that they didn't bundle it. Another phone call.

It can be frustrating to deal with these things and that's why I'm sure most folks would rather not. But, think of that change jar. If your utilities are hitting you for $1 here or $3 there in extra charges, it doesn't take very long for that to add up. Double check your meter readings... I've had them reported incorrectly. Take a good look at that bank statement, I've had the bank erroneously enter a $10 check from my account as a $100 check. That was a messy error. All of these entities rely on a combination of humans and computers... mistakes do happen.

So, take the time to really look over your bills and note any changes. If necessary, prepare to approach the entity regarding the error. Remain calm. It's not the person on the other end of the phone line's fault that an error was made and they aren't personally profiting from the mistake. Remain vigilant. It may take several attempts to correct the problem. If you keep decent records though, it should all work out in your favor.

Cleaning House

2008-01-24T08:36:00.000-06:00

It's a slow internet day. There doesn't seem to be much of interest to read today. Now that I upgraded to a DSL connection it only takes me a few minutes to check my email, visit a couple of favorite forums, read the local news and post to my blog. This leaves me with more... "free time". As I was pondering what I should do with my "free time" today, the nagging images of my dirty dishes, dirty floors and the pile of laundry kept flashing in my mind like a bad slide show. I guess I'll be cleaning today. But, only after I make this post because now I have a topic!

I don't really spend a lot of money on different cleaning products. Anymore. I used to, back when I thought they really did save me time and got things super-duper clean, therefore I simply could not live without them. I will admit though I still have a few products that are just my favorite trusted friends. But, I don't have a cabinet full of various cleansers and polishes. I've found that I can clean just about anything in my house with ammonia, vinegar, bleach (but don't mix it with the ammonia) and baking soda.

You can find tips for using these products all over the internet. So, I won't go into all of the possibilities, but I will run down a few of the things I do.

Ammonia - mix 1 part ammonia with 3 parts water, place in sprayer bottle and use for general cleaning and windows.

Bleach - use to sanitize or whiten anything (pour into toilets).

Vinegar - add to dishwasher, add to laundry (the really smelly laundry or the fabrics that wrinkle badly), use to remove hardwater limescale everywhere.

Baking Soda - place on damp pots to remove tough burns (let sit about 5 minutes), use to absorb carpet odors.

For tough carpet stains, I dilute some "Shout" and spray it directly on the stain before cleaning the carpet.

And for those of you who simply must have some cleaning products because using the four I mentioned is just way too simple, basic and rustic for you... try stocking up at the dollar store in your area. You can usually find great bargains on such products in the aisles of Fred's, Dollar General and The Dollar Spot.

Frugal Valentine's Day

2008-01-23T06:45:00.001-06:00

Valentine's Day is a huge commercial holiday. Americans spent about $17 billion on the holiday last year. That's approximately $120 per person, including children. The money is spent on chocolates, flowers, wine, stuffed animals, cards and jewelry. Jewelry is the only item that lasts much longer than the holiday... not counting what the chocolates do to the hips. I don't think the amount of money spent includes the romantic meals as the numbers came from the retail industry. Regardless, that's a lot of money.

So, if you don't spend over $100 on your honey, you look like a schmuck. Right? Wrong. Unless, you have a high-maintenance honey. In which case, you really shouldn't be reading a frugal living blog.

We all like to feel special and loved. That feeling can be created without spending a lot of money. It will take some planning and some creativity. That's why I'm writing about it today. You have three weeks to plan and create a special day for the one you love.

I live in a small town without too many fine dining options. Finding babysitters on Valentine's Evening is difficult. As a result we began the tradition several years ago of creating a fine family feast for the festivities. Traditionally the meal includes rock lobster tail and filet mignon. Rock lobster tail is smaller, less expensive and sweeter tasting than regular lobster tails. Usually this portion of the meal costs about $4 - $5 per person - remember it's a special occasion!

To this base we add any number of side dishes from salad to twice baked potatoes... it just depends on what we're in the mood for that year. And, my honey always makes a very decadent dessert for the occasion. The table is set nicely, with candles and the good china. As our daughters grew to become young ladies, they now invite their sweethearts to join us for this special meal. This is a tradition I love.

Other special ideas:

Create your own conversation heart cookies. Make heart shaped sugar cookies. Glaze them with pastel colored frosting and use a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper to create a cone, place frosting in and write words on the hearts. Fill a basket full of them and deliver to your sweetheart, use for place "cards" at your special meal, let the kids pass them out for their special friends.

Make your own box of chocolates. I picked up some chocolate molds in all different Valentine's motifs at a craft store clearance sale several years ago. They are re-usable. I like to use the Ghirardelli melting chocolate, it's not waxy. Look for interesting things to add to the chocolate to make it special. A couple of drops of cinnamon oil can make a yummy chocolate.

Knit a nice scarf, it's cold outside. Can't knit? Get a Nifty Knitter and some yarn.

Make a photo collage, or a scrapbook, or create a nice frame for a picture of you.

Write a poem and frame it.

Create a memory box. Decorate a box (can be a cigar box, shoe box, shirt box...anything) with a collage of images and phrases. Place momentos inside - movie ticket stubs from the first movie you saw together on a date, the cork from the bottle of wine, etc.

Burn a cd of music.

You can force tulip bulbs to bloom in a pot (it's a little late for this project this year... it takes about 8 weeks, but keep it in mind!).

If you just have to have flowers, get an in-expensive mix a few days before Valentine's day or order bulk online and arrange them yourself. Most of us have a ton of flower vases and by picking them up a few days in advance, you will save money. Arranging them yourself will save some of the costs as well. You can turn that $5 or $10 bouquet into one that looks like it cost much more. My honey will sometimes find interesting twisted twigs or pretty foliage to add that makes them even more special.

I like receiving a gift certificate for a rose bush of my choosing to be added to my garden at the appropriate time. Or, several packages of flower seeds. Yes, I'm just that kind of girl, some of us are. I like looking at the flowers all summer and I do think of my sweetie when I cut them and arrange them. I also really like it when he cuts them and surprises me with a bouquet on the table.

If you start looking and thinking now, there are a lot of creative, romantic, special ideas to show the one you love how special they are to you... without spending $120 or more.