Frugal Thoughts

Homemade Sandwich Bread

2011-05-02T13:00:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...one of my greatest challenges as a "from-scratch" cook has been trying to find a bread recipe that will slice well for sandwiches. My husband loves homemade bread but does not want slabs on either side of his filling...he wants nice, normal sized slices. Well, I am happy to report that I have finally found one! Perfect texture and, if you wait till fully cooled, slices perfectly.

Sandwich Bread

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
4 tsp vital wheat gluten (you can find this in most baking departments, I'm sure. Found mine at Molasses Hill Bulk Foods in Alexander)
2 TBSP dry milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour (white, wheat or blend...I have tried 1/2 and 1/2 and all WW. Both really nice...)
3 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP olive oil
1 1/4 cups warm water

Mix dry ingredients, add water and oil. Mix well and knead till elastic; adding a bit of flour as needed so it does not stick to you! (Meaning you can poke it and the hole will pretty much fill back in! Around 4-6 minutes.) Cover and let rise for about 1 hour. Form dough into a loaf and place in a buttered loaf pan. Cover and let rise until it looks pretty. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or till it is as brown as you like it. Remove from the pan to cool and do not slice till fully cooled. (Better even to bag when cool and slice the next day...)

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Seasoned Salt

2011-04-27T09:03:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...another one of those simple items you can make yourself for just a fraction of the cost.

Seasoned Salt

8 TBSP salt
2 TBSP pepper
2 TBSP paprika
1/2 TBSP onion powder
1/2 TBSP garlic powder

Mix all ingredients with a whisk. Store in an airtigth container. (Old pickle jars are great for this type of thing!)

Make & Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Easter Popcorn

2011-04-22T12:55:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...been totally "stealing" other blogger ideas for fun and easy treats this week. This recipe is for a white chocolate, Easter popcorn. We will be making and taking to an egg hunt/lunch tomorrow.

Candied Popcorn for Easter

8-10 cups popped popcorn
1 cup peanuts

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

1 cup Easter M&M's
1 cup white chocolate chips
sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Spread the popcorn and the peanuts out on a sheet pan lined with parchment. In a large pot add butter, sugar and corn syrup. Heat over medium till melted and bubbly. Meanwhile, combine the vanilla and baking soda in a small bowl. Remove the pot from the heat; add vanilla and baking soda mixture until well combined. Immediately pour caramel onto the popcorn. Stir well with a heatproof utensil. Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. When you remove from the oven, immediately sprinkle with the M&M's over popcorn. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave and drizzle over popcorn mixture. While the chocolate is soft, sprinkle everything with spring sprinkles. Let the popcorn and chocolate set up and cool. Break popcorn into chunks and serve.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Cheep, Cheep, Cheap?

2011-04-20T15:59:00.001-04:00

Hello one & all...seems to me that we pay for convenience so often that a lot of the time we don't even realize we are doing it. Take egg coloring, for example. It costs pennies to make your own...and has the added benefit of exposing your child to primary and secondary colors. Super easy, bright colors. Doesn't get any cheaper - perfect!

Egg Color

1 TBSP white vinegar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
20 drops food coloring (we used 16- cuz', yeah, I am that cheap!- and they turned out great!)

Use coffee cups (resist stains better than plastic) and mix them up. Can make cool colors like teal and purple too! The longer you leave the eggs, the darker and richer the colors...

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Mini Social Website

2011-04-19T08:48:00.004-04:00

Hello one & all...just been to a "new to me" discount website and found a great deal on organic, paraben free bubble bath and sunscreen for the kiddos. My two youngest have super sensitive skin and I find that the organic products do not bother them as much - especially in winter when their skin is already dry! Organics are expensive though and I often have to turn to Ivory soap which seems to be less irritating than a lot of others but still not what we need. Just purchased two bottles of organic, natural bubblebath/body/hairwash from the Mini Social. With code LUCKYKIDS you can get $10 off any order $10 or more in honor of Earth Week.

https://www.theminisocial.com/myaccount.php?invitation=118139

Let me know if you find any great deals! Blessings, Eve

Free Tuna

2011-04-12T08:36:00.000-04:00

Hello one & all...just a quick note to tell you that there is free tuna at Tops this week with a doubled printable coupon. If link does not work, copy and paste to print! Blessingss, Eve Starkist Coupon

Healthier Macaroni Salad

2011-04-10T15:04:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...been living life and have thought often about posting. This, obviously, is the first time I have made the jump from thought to action in a very long time! Joined Weight Watchers a couple months back and have dropped 11 pounds to date. Also, amped up a workout routine and, in total, have dropped a whole jeans size. Feeling and looking better than I have in a long time. All this focus on health and activity has changed to way we view food around here. I just try to tweak things in a healthier way...presenting "healthed up" macaroni salad. Passed the kids and husband test quite nicely... Classic Macaroni Salad 8 oz. uncooked macaroni (I used Barilla Plus but white or whole grain could be substituted) 1/8 tsp salt (for cooking water) 1/2 cup reduced-calorie mayonnaise (I use Aldi's) 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 tsp mustard (I used plain ole yellow) 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 cup celery chopped 1/4 cup onion, finely diced 1 Tbsp dry parsley or 2 TBSP fresh 1/8 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp salt or to taste Cook macaroni in salted water till tender firm and rinse with cold water. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile. in a medium bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, mustard, and garlic powder. Stir mixture into macaroni. Fold in celery, onion and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. ***I mixed cold ingredients about 1/2 hour before serving. Might be a bit dry if mixed too soon. This was very flavorful and guests were surprised to learn that the salad was made with lite mayo...a success! Make and enjoy... Blessings, Eve

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

2010-10-18T06:56:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...seems that this has become my new "go-to" soup for the season. Super easy and quick; thick and hearty so it "eats like a meal." Plus they all love it...doesn't get any better then that!

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped (made the last batch with a few sprinkles of celery seed...tasted the same!)
1/2 tsp garlic, minced
1 TBSP Canola oil
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth (or 4 cups broth/bouillon, prepared)
1/3 cup long-grain white rice
3/4 tsp dried basil (I used Italian seasoning...smelled and tasted so wonderful!)
1/4 tsp pepper
3 TBSP flour
1 can (5 oz.) evaporated milk
1 cup cooked, diced chicken

In a saucepan, saute the onion, carrot, and celery in oil until tender. Stir in garlic, broth, rice, and spices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or till rice is tender.

In a small bowl, combine milk and flour till smooth.; stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or till thickened. Stir in chicken, heat through.

1 cup = 185 calories and 4 gm. fat (when prepared with fat free evaporated milk)

Add bread and butter and/or a salad and it fills and warms. Make and Enjoy!

Blessings, Eve

Beefy Tomato Pasta Soup

2010-10-12T06:39:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...spent the most wonderful Autumn weekend. Saturday I joined my sister and niece for a day at the Buffalo Zoo. We hadn't been in a year and I was amazed at the changes and additions. I spent many a childhood day running around that kiddie hot spot...it always brings back the fondest memories for me. Sunday brought a day of Autumn splendor at the Genesee County Park. Joined by my sister-in-law and her family, we lazed the day away in the surprisingly strong fall sun while the kiddos rode their bicycles and worked hard at conquering the heights of the playground. We had such a great time that I took the children back again yesterday, with bikes on board, for yet another afternoon. It is absolutely beautiful there this time of year and very quiet.

My sister-in-law brought a crock pot of soup on Sunday that warmed us both body and soul and sent me in search of soup recipes both old and new. Came upon this one that I will share and thought it was to be a winner for sure...so glad I was right as the brood was super hungry after yet another day in the fresh air.

Beefy Tomato Pasta Soup

1# ground beef (or venison)
2 medium green peppers, chunked
1 medium onion, chunked
2 cloves garlic, minced
5-6 cups water
2 cans (14 oz.) Italian chunked tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 TBSP brown sugar
2-3 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups uncooked spiral pasta

In a dutch oven or soup kettle, cook meat, green pepper and onion till no longer pink. Drain. Add the rest. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook for slightly longer than recommended time, stirring occasionally. Pasta should be tender but not mushy. Top with Parmesan cheese and croutons if desired. ***This is a wonderful, hearty soup that I served with bread and butter and a side salad.

***Made this with ground beef (my venison is running low!) and home canned herbed tomatoes. If using home canned I recommend that you go a little heavier on the salt. Also, feel free to use regular diced tomatoes and simply up the Italian seasoning.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Easy Bake Oven Recipes

2010-10-04T06:40:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...after a wonderful weekend that included celebrating my husband's birthday, we are back to the daily grind. And that includes entertaining our children. This one is by special request...Easy Bake Oven Recipes. (That you can actually afford and that taste somewhat decent!!! Really!)

Brownies (makes one serving)

2 1/2 TBSP sugar
1/8 tsp. vanilla
4 tsp chocalate syrup
2 TBSP + 1 tsp flour
1 tsp oil

Stir all together until the batter is smooth and chocolate covered. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. Bake 15 min.

Quick Cake

3 TBSP boxed cake mix (or snitch a bit when you make from scratch!)
1 1/4 TBSP water

Start with 1 T water and add as needed to make a traditional cake batter consistency. Grease and flour pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

1 cup sugar
3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup shortening

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir with wire whisk until blended. Cut in shorteneing until resmbles coarse meal. Spoom about 1/3 cup mixture into 11 ziploc bags. Use within 12 weeks.

To use:
1 packet cake mix
4 tsp. water

Grease and flour pan. Easy bake for 12 to 13 minutes.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil

2010-09-27T07:06:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...been canning up a storm with my "barely noticeable" free time and have a nicely stocked pantry in the basement. Will share the totals at the end of the season. (For my own personal satisfaction, if nothing else!) But for now I am still finishing up and have found myself with a few handfuls of tomatoes straggling in every few days. Not enough to can and I have 5 or so bags put up in the already full freezer. So hubby suggested this soup that I made a few years back and it brought to mind how much we enjoyed it. I will be slipping it into the menu this seek and thought I would share.

Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil

2 cups of cut-up fresh tomatoes, seeded and skinned
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 chopped onion
2 tsp brown sugar

Simmer, covered about 15 minutes. Cool till a manageable temp. and puree in a blender. Simmer again till needed.

Prepare 4 cups white sauce:
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp basil, dried or 1 T fresh
1 tsp salt
4 cups milk (dried, reconstituted works fine my notes say...apparently I was short of milk at some point when I made this!)

Gradually add the puree into the white sauce, stirring constantly. Garnish with sour cream if desired.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Canned Apple Pie Filling

2010-09-20T06:42:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...been canning up a storm and this little goodie is on the schedule for this week so I thought that I would share! This recipe is wonderful for pies, crisp and other recipes. I make a pork, stuffing apple casserole that is all the better for a jar of these apples from the basement. My hubby likes it with smoked polish sausage as a breakfast side through the fall and winter. (Plus the added benefit of no corn syrup like the store canned version...another one of my "things!")

Canned Apple Pie Filling

4 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
10 cups water
3 TBSP lemon juice
1 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Cook first 5 ingredients until thick and bubbly. Place cold apples in clean, hot jars.

Pour hot syrup over apples, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Seal and process 20 minutes in a hot water canner. This syrup makes enough for about 9 quarts of apples.

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Gotta Have a Plan

2010-09-15T06:43:00.007-04:00

Hello one & all...been doing a lot of thinking (and let's face it, talking!) about menu planning. Cannot stress enough how much money, time and stress using a menu plan will save you. Different schools of thought on how to best approach a week or month of menus. I have always "shopped" from my freezer for protein and then added on from the store. I have a friend who is coming up with four weeks worth of menus based on her food budget and she plans to rotate these menus each month. (Variations will come based on sale items. For example: turkey breast on sale? Swap for a chicken recipe that week...or for several weeks if you stock up!) I am toying with combining the two. Wouldn't it be grand to simply shop from a master list that has been coupled with a weeks worth of menus? To know that your family enjoys them all and that you can purchase all items at one "discount store" and be done with it? Interested yet?

Not quite far enough in the planning stages to share yet, but I will when the time is right. I do have two weeks of menus for you, though. May give you some ideas...may not.

M- grilled Venison Tenderloin, zucchini sauteed with onions and Italian seasoning, cheesy rice and tomatoes, pickled red cabbage
T- Baked pork chops, stuffing, fried apples & onions, quartered new potatoes (from our garden!) and Parmesan baked tomatoes
W-Sausage, rice and corn, tomato salad, 90 minutes rolls
TH-Spaghetti, garlic bread (one leftover hot dog rolls) and tomatoes with ranch dressing
F-Chuck wagon Chili (see search for recipe), cornbread muffins and apple slices
S-Turkey Breast (in the crock pot), Old fashioned corn pudding (see last post), mashed potatoes and gravy
S-Ramen noodles tossed with turkey and peas (Really! The kiddos love it and the hubby does not mind it...a real winner!)
M-Turkey Barley Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
T-Spanish Rice Enchiladas (this was a crock pot Spanish rice recipe gone bad! Worked great for the enchiladas though...will make it again on purpose...) canned corn
W-Rita's Sausage, Potatoes and Peppers (Search for recipe) and carrots from the garden
TH-Bacon Burgers, FF, baked beans and cucumbers and sour cream dressing
F-Tuna casserole with peas on the side
S-Grilled chicken 1/4's, parsley chunk potatoes, broccoli and cut up tomatoes with ranch
S-Venison roast in the crock pot with mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and applesauce

Blessings, Eve

Old-Fashioned Corn Pudding

2010-09-10T06:31:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...don't let the name throw you. This is absolutely delicious! Sweet, savory side that I served with a turkey breast dinner last night.

Old-Fashioned Corn Pudding

3 TBSP flour
1 cup sugar (will use 2/3 cup next time...a bit too sweet for me!)
2 eggs
15-1/4 oz. can corn
5-oz. can evaporated milk (I used skim milk with perfect results)

Whisk together flour and sugar. Whisk the 2 eggs, milk and sugar. Combine and add corn. Stir well. 2 quart casserole, uncovered. 1 hour at 350. This will easily double...next time I will probably double and decrease the sugar by about 1/3.) So good and very "fallish" (is that a word??)

Make and Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Remember me?

2010-08-02T22:09:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...long time, no post, huh? Didn't realize exactly how long till I signed on. Wow! The nice weather and the children being home has sent me for a tailspin this year. Seems we are non-stop every day. They have vacation bible school this week. The littlest (2 1/2) is doing wonderfully after hiding behind my shirt for the first half of today's session. By noon one would think that she played there every day! Praise God!!! Momma can use the break and the fellowship and she can use The Word.

Found a nice little freebie to share with you. This is a page on the Usborne Books website (LOVE their books!) that offers up some PDF's of their wonderful doodle pages. Great, detailed coloring pages perfect for older kids and/ or color pencil lovers. The squid is my favorite...print and enjoy! http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/Doodle.asp?sid=D0036&emkt=199

Blessings, Eve

Freezer Treats!

2010-05-28T16:53:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...spent the afternoon at a friends house. Had a nice lunch and a chat while the children played. They were so quiet and content that I admit (shamefacedly!) that I was mildly surprised to see my 7 yo boy washing hands for lunch...seems I actually forgot he was there! (I know, I know...not something one generally admits but it is kind of funny and quite the compliment to his fine, fine behavior!) Came home and, after refereeing the two older ones (seemed they used up all their goodness at the friend's house), I made freezer treats. Use whatever you like...my littles seem to like yogurt combinations the best. Large tubs of yogurt from Aldi or Walmart (a couple generous spoonfuls), frozen fruit of your choice and enough juice to make the blender blades spin. Viola! Figured ours out to 16 cents each. Full serving of fruit, calcium and NO preservatives.

Make & enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Cheerios Breakfast Cookies

2010-05-27T07:33:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...made these last night after it cooled down a bit. the kiddos had them for breakfast and all gave them two thumbs up!

Cheerios Breakfast Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups oats (old-fashioned or quick)
3 cups cheerios cereal
1/4 - 1/3 cups add-ins...mini chips, diced dried fruit, etc.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat sugar, canola oil, peanut butter, water, vanilla and egg till well blended. (I used a whisk & it worked fine.) Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, oats and add-ins. Very gently fold in Cheerios. Drop the sticky dough onto ungreased cookie sheets by the rounded 1/4 cupful. Flatten and shape dough with fingers to roundish shape.

Bake cookies in preheated oven for 11-14 minutes or till slightly browned on the edges. Cool completely before serving or storing. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc. Can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Makes 20 breakfast sized cookies.

***Nest time I am going to try replacing 1/2 the oil and a bit of the sugar with applesauce. Would make for an even moister texture and less fat. Try a mix of dried fruits and raisins for an extra nutritional punch!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Best Chicken EVER!!!

2010-05-23T19:23:00.004-04:00

Hello one & all...made the best chicken EVER for supper tonight and wanted to share ASAP! (This recipe is adapted from the original on CannyWomen.com)

Crunchy Oven-Fried Chicken

3-4 pounds frying chicken...I used 1/4's and disjointed for drummies and thighs
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2-3 cups crushed corn flakes
2 medium cooking onions, chopped
1/3 cup fresh, chopped parsley - or 2 TBSP dried
1 TBSP dried thyme
2 TBSP dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in a 9x13 pan in oven. Meanwhile prepare chicken by dipping in the milk and rolling in the cornflakes. Place in pan skin side down. Combine chopped onions and herbs and top over the chicken with the mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully flip chicken pieces and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes till tender and juices run clear. Topping will fall off but it's OK...you'll see. Serve chicken with rice or noodles and put some onion mixture on top...This is so, so, so very yummy and will be served again and again in our house! Warning: This is NOT low-fat chicken...tee-hee!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Toddler Winter Boot Blowout!

2010-05-22T11:26:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...not my usual kind of post but Lands End.com is having a great sale on toddler boots. We bought these same boots for $19.99 (on sale even then!) and they are worth every penny. Easy on & off and super warm. They have toddler sized 12 and 13 for $3.50 and free shipping with code SCHOOLSOUT and PIN#1723. Look under shoes/sale/Snow Flurry. Then click on toddler sizes. (The kid/big kid are on sale as well but at $14.99.) Hope someone can use this info to get a good deal for the upcoming winter (or future winters!) Blessings, Eve

Give gardening a chance!

2010-05-12T10:13:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...been planning and dreaming big dreams for my garden this year. We already added strawberries and there are flowers aplenty (even on our newest plantings) so I am hopeful for a small, yet tasty, first harvest! I am taking a different approach this year and concentrating on a few new items...potatoes and onions will be new items for us. I will definitely go with eggplant as it was outrageous at the farmer's market last year. Tomatoes, peppers (hot and sweet), short row of beans, short row of edible pod peas and carrots. I have a fairly large garden and, once again, a decent segment will be devoted to salads and spinach.

I am most definitely fine-tuning my preservation thoughts and will only freeze and/or can what I am certain will be eaten. (I have a few items still clogging the shelves that simply were not favorites and did not get reached for quite often enough.) No more fancy soups, picklings or sauces here. I figure better to give excess harvest away than waste time, money and energy putting it by and then never eating it...better still for someone else to enjoy it.

Still uncertain whether gardening is worth the effort for you and your family? Check out this article from Mother Earth News. (My new, favorite magazine and e-newsletter!)

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Square-Foot-Gardening-Food.aspx?utm_content=05.12.10+SLCS&utm_campaign=SLCS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

Read and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Buffalo Wing Turkey Burgers

2010-05-08T10:49:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...have a new recipe for you. Different and kind of fun! We served these to new friends and they were a hit with children and adults. Don't let the ground turkey scare you off if you are new to this frugal, versatile, healthy alternative to ground red meat. Very flavorful, very moist recipe...buy better ground turkey. The stuff from the discount stores has a "different" texture and taste. Jenny-O is my preferred brand and costs, pound for pound, very close to decent ground beef.

Buffalo Wing Turkey Burgers

For each 4 burgers:

1 pound ground turkey
4 TBSP Parmesan cheese
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 large carrot, shredded or finely chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder (or 1/2 small onion, finely chopped)

Sauce:
1/2 stick butter
hot pepper sauce
ketchup

Put chopped veggies in a microwave safe bowl and nuke for 2 minutes to slightly soften. Once cooled, mix all ingredients and form 4 patties. Grill 10-15 minutes (till 160 degrees) or till cooked through. Do not overcook.
Cover and set aside. Melt butter in a skillet, add hot sauce and ketchup to taste and desired thickness. Once mixed add burgers. Simmer and coat burgers till most/ all the sauce has been absorbed. (You are trying to infuse the flavor into the burgers.) The original recipe for these called for toasted English muffins, a thick slice of cheddar and some crumbly bleu cheese. I found that these were wonderful simply on the plate with onion, tomato, cheddar and creamy bleu. Delicious! Play around with this to suit your taste...the kids enjoyed them with BBQ sauce. How about sweet and sour to resemble a country sweet wing? LMK if you find any new combos that you liked!

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Super Couponing

2010-05-04T07:37:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...been doing a bit with super couponing. You know- use 4 coupons, get it for free? Well, it's not quite that simple but pretty near. This link will direct you to a wonderful woman that puts deals together for our area. Matches coupons to Internet printable coupons to sales flyer's. She saves ma a TON of money and thought some of you might enjoy dabbling in this money saving area. Enjoy! Blessings, Eve

http://triciasfrugalfinds.com/?p=4288

Is it worth it?

2010-04-18T20:30:00.003-04:00

Hello one & all...been a while, I know. Been busy with the little details of life...piano lessons, band concerts, boy scouts, girl scouts, AWANA, art shows, science shows, renaissance fairs. Whew! On top of that we have faced two family medical crises. My father underwent two separate eye surgeries to remove cataracts and then blood clots from inside his right eye. Modern medicine is truly amazing...he can see better out of that eye than before the surgeries! Then my Mom was hospitalized with a lung infection last week. The littlest one and I spent 6 hours in the ER waiting to find out that they were admitting her. (My two year old was an angel!) Scary stuff. Been to see her 5 days out of the 6 that she has been "stuck there." (Running here, running there, running, running everywhere.) Tonight's visit was a true pleasure as she seems more her old self and her chest doesn't pain her quite as badly. The Lord is so very good and we all feel so very blessed to have both Matriarch and Patriarch back in action!!!

Been thinking a lot about the true value of things...I am not a "things" type of person. I don't have those desires to buy big fancy "toys" or to have the latest of this or that. I do get a hankering, though, every single spring for a camper. Not a fancy high-end one. Just a med-sized pop-up to replace the two (yup, we now need two...cheaper than replacing tent #1 with a huge model!) tents that are our current outdoor gear. Then I started thinking along the lines of the greatest Frugalista of all time...Amy from The Tightwad Gazette. She compares relative values something like this. I love to tent camp...my husband and 12 yo daughter- not so much. But I LOVE to tent camp. I am one of those freaks that would canoe out to an island with no toilet and no power for a week of camping (I do not, as yet, own a canoe but I'm trying to make a point here...) My tents cost $27 (love that Cabela's card!) and $35. A decent pop-up camper in so-so condition costs around $2500. Now, would I love camping 42 times MORE if I owned a pop-up versus our tents. Just can't see it given my current over the top (so the hubby says) desire to sleep on the ground. A mattress and metal shell cannot possibly make me enjoy camping 42 times more.

So when considering an upgrade or purchase do the math...I often ask my kids if they enjoy pizzeria pizza 4 times more than homemade. They always answer no.

Blessings, Eve

Au gratin Potatoes

2010-04-01T20:31:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...spent a glorious afternoon at the county park with a number of friends and their families. Decided yesterday that the day was going to be too beautiful to pass on and made a slew of phone calls. 7 adults and more than 15 children aged 7 months to 13 years descended on the local playground. What a wonderful time! Fellowship, healthy play and sunshine. Everyone brought their own lunch and sunscreen and came and went as suited them. I couldn't have asked for a nicer way to spend the afternoon. Mu children asked, on the way home, if we could get everyone together like that every week come summer. Got me to thinking that it might just work to pick a specific weekday...say Wednesdays...and simply pick a new spot each week. Come if you can, skip if you must. Hmmm...looks like I just took on another project!

I am hosting my family for Easter and plan to make Au gratin potatoes. It is my son's favorite dish and so easy...so much better than Betty can ever hope to make!

Au gratin Potatoes

6 TBSP flour
1/2 cup dry milk (optional)
1 tsp onion powder (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups cold milk
4 cups potatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
3 TBSP butter

In a quart jar place the flour, dry milk, onion powder (if using instead of onion) and salt and pepper. Close and shake thoroughly. Add cold milk and shake again until all the flour is dissolved. In a greased 3 quart casserole dish layer the potatoes, onions, and cheese dotting each layer with butter. Add the milk- flour mixture. Bake in 325 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 4. **I usually double this recipe and make it with the real onion and the addition of dry milk. Adding leftover ham, bacon, even burger is wonderful. Use a 9 x 13 and plan on around 2 hours cooking time.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve

Coloring Easter Eggs

2010-03-29T17:17:00.002-04:00

Hello one & all...spent the weekend preparing for the upcoming holiday. Priced store bought color kits between $.99 and $1.69, depending on what was included. Homemade color is super easy to make and very inexpensive. (Given that you do not buy your liquid food color at a supermarket for $3.00 and up! Yikes...try Save-a-lot and Dollar General type stores for low cost replacements...) Mix 4 oz. of white vinegar and 2 oz. of water. Add 15-20 drops of color and mix. Yup...that simple! Add in eggs and soak till desired shade. This recipe offers great versatility as you can create any colors your children would like. These colors are NOT neon strength but will certainly create pretty, pastel eggs for the basket. Finish with stickers, glue, glitter and sequence for a spectacular display. Happy Easter everyone! Blessings, Eve