Living Simple Living Better

2013-01-31T11:49:00.003-07:00

Now that spring and summer are nearly here, check out MY ETSY SHOP!

When was the last time you went to the library?

2012-11-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Working a 40 hour a week job can really cut into your day! Since I was laid off my job 6 months ago, I've had the pleasure of trying new things, like this blog!

Because this blog is about saving money, when I see a book I want to read, instead of going to Amazon, I go to the public library! Libraries have changed so much from when I was a kid (back when the earth was cooling)! It is so much more than books. You can now download digital audio books and even books to read on a Kindle. They also have videos of the History Channel and PBS...two of my favorite stations to watch! The library is also a great place to go to read newspapers like the NY Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and, of course, your local paper.

New food discovery in Las Vegas!

2012-11-09T08:15:00.001-07:00

Now that I finally got moved in to the house, I have had a little time to explore my surroundings. What a GREAT discovery I made at the 99 Cent Store! The 99 Cent Chef: Deal of the Day - Mexican Soy Chorizo: I have tried a lot of different Soy Chorizos and spent a lot of money doing it! If you live where there is a 99 Cent Store, go get some! It is the best. Buy a few tubes and throw it in the freezer. I also discovered a great quick and easy recipe from Trader Joe's on making huevos rancheros using this product instead of Trader Joe's more expensive version. I tweeked the recipe a bit to make it more healthy and I will post a photo and recipe the next time I make it! Stay tuned!

Check out my Etsy Store

2012-08-21T14:22:00.000-06:00

It has been so hot this summer, I decided to take a break from being outdoors. A good friend of mine who lives in Wyoming, near the snowy range, suggested I start making fly fishing lanyards! They are an alternative to wearing a vest. You can clip all of your accessories on the necklace. So check them out. I have made some especially for ladies. They would make a unique and personal gift for the fisherman in your life!

Wired and Strung Out

Life!

2012-08-17T11:38:00.001-06:00

Well, it's been awhile since I have not found anything worth sharing and I have been a bit preoccupied. Neither one of my young adult children are doing well. One has physical problems and the other has mental problems! If it's true that a mother is only as happy as her least happy child, then you can understand how I have felt most of the summer.

I sold my house in Colorado and will be moving to Sin City. Housing is relatively cheap there and my son is going to UNLV, or at least was until he got this rare infection and has reactive arthritis for a few months. Why not LV? I have lived in Iowa, (born there), Alaska (11 years), Wyoming, Arizona, California, and soon Nevada! At my age, I should be over having "wonderlust" as my grandmother used to call it. I like to refer to it as "a curiosity for how the rest of the people of this country live!"

At any rate, I am busy packing and checking the web for possible rentals. Maybe I should just get a motor home and start a still-crazy-after-all-these-years-blog! Hmmm.....

Storing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

2012-06-17T11:53:00.000-06:00

Now that garden season is here, here are some tips on how to store fresh food.
Some fruits give off a gas called ethylene and unless you WANT your fruits and vegetables to ripen quicker, you need to keep them away from your produce.
Here are the foods that contain ethylene and should NOT be refrigerated:

Avocados (ripen on the counter, then refrigerate)
Apples
Bananas
Tomatoes (if refrigerated, they will become mealy and will have less flavor

If you would like to print the complete chart here is the link to the pdf file:

More Food Tips:

POTATOES AND SWEET POTATOES	When potatoes are chilled, the starches in the flesh change to sugars. This will make the potatoes taste sweet when cooked.Make sure to keep potatoes and onions separate when stored.
HONEY	Honey will thicken and crystallize if stored in the refrigerator, even after opening. If this does happen, you can place the opened jar of honey in a pan of hot water and it will return to a pourable, smooth texture.
OILS EXCEPT NUT OILS	Most oils will thicken and turn cloudy if stored in the refrigerator. The exception is nut oils, which can turn rancid very quickly and should be stored chilled.
BAKED COOKIES	Do not refrigerate cookies if they do not contain a cream or custard filling. They will go stale much faster and lose quality quickly if stored in the refrigerator.
PEANUT BUTTER	Read the label on the peanut butter you buy. Some fresh, organic brands do require refrigeration. But most ordinary peanut butters should be stored, tightly covered, in the pantry, even after opening.

BREADS	The starch in breads will change structure under refrigeration (called retrogradation), making the bread texture tougher. Breads also lose moisture faster in the dry refrigerator environment. Do not refrigerate breads until the label says to.
CHOCOLATE	When chocolate is kept too cold, and is then brought to room temperature, condensation can make sugar condense on the top of the product, forming a rough surface called sugar bloom. Unless directed on the label, store chocolate, tightly wrapped, in a cool cupboard.
ONIONS	Do not store onions in the refrigerator. They should be stored in an open container in a cool, dry place - away from potatoes!

2012-06-01T09:42:00.001-06:00

My house in Colorado is for sale. Several weeks ago a young couple looked at it and when they saw my rhubarb patch, one of them asked me what it was. I told them it was rhubarb. His comment was "what is rhubarb?". It wasn't until then I realized that rhubarb wasn't as well known in some parts of the country as in other parts. So I decided to post this for all of those who either don't know what it is or don't know what to do with it!

Here's what it looks like....

Basic things you should know about rhubarb:

It's a staple in the Midwest. ;-)
It's tart
It's most common use is for desserts/sweets (pie, cobbler, cake, muffins, jams, sauces,etc.) See link for WAY more uses and recipes
It's leaves are poisonous. (don't let you pets nibble on them!)

If you want to know more and want hundreds of recipes to choose from, go to
The Rhubarb Compendium

Strawberry Rhubarb "Lemonade"

This recipe is simple and very refreshing (especially with a splash of Vodka!)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups water
1/2 pound rhubarb, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup sugar, or to taste
Two 3-inch strips of lemon zest removed with a vegetable peeler
plus additional for garnish
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup fresh lemon juice

Procedure:

In a saucepan stir together the water, the rhubarb, the sugar, 2 strips of the zest, and the vanilla, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved, and simmer it, covered, for 8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the strawberries and boil the mixture, covered, for 2 minutes. Let the mixture cool and strain it through a coarse sieve set over a pitcher, pressing hard on the solids. Stir in the remaining 1 cup strawberries and the lemon juice, divide the lemonade among stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each glass with some of the additional zest. Makes about 7 cups, serving 6

How to Make Bagel Chips

2012-05-25T12:30:00.002-06:00

It's cool and cloudy today and I have to take something to the neighbor's Memorial day barbecue. Bagel chips and Hummus are always a favorite! If you make everything yourself it will not only taste better, but will also save you money.

Most bagel/coffee houses will sell their day old bagels at a discount. Buy a bag or two and freeze them. If you slice them BEFORE you put them in the freezer, you won't have to defrost them (to slice) before they go into the toaster.

TO MAKE BAGEL CHIPS YOU WILL NEED:
1-6 bagels any kind (the sweet ones aren't as good for dipping)
Cooking spray
Seasoned salt (such as garlic salt, onion salt)

my favorite- Essence of Emeril (see recipe below), or whatever sounds good!)

(Click on Photos to enlarge)

Start by slicing the bagel 1/8-1/4" thick (you will need a sharp or large serrated edged knife).

Lay them on a cookie sheet in a single layer (this on "an 11x16" baking sheet)

Next, spray them with cooking spray and sprinkle on your seasoning.
Turn each one over and repeat
Place in the center of a 360 degree oven for 5-7 minutes (watch them carefully, depending on the thickness, they will cook sooner than later)
Take them out of the oven and turn them over.(If some are already light golden brown on the flip side, take them off)
Cook for a few minutes more until they are a very light golden brown (see photo)

They should be a VERY LIGHT golden brown

Let them cool and place them in a bag. They will keep at room temperature for quite awhile. They usually never last more than one sitting so don't worry about them going "bad"!!

Make some fresh Hummus to dip into.

Hummus

2 cans (15.5-oz) garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained, with liquid reserved
2 teaspoons cumin powder
3/4 teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh garlic ; chopped
1/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)

If you want a hotter, spicier (non traditional) hummus, add 2-3 tsp. of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (the excess from the can can be frozen in a ziploc bag)

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend til smooth. Add liquid from the chickpeas for desired consistency.

Essence of Emeril

(don't buy it when you can make it!)

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions:
Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

2012-05-22T11:55:00.000-06:00

Genetically Modified Food-Guess who is really to blame?
Here are two great documentaries on genetically modified food:

The Future of Food free on Hulu

The World According to Monsanto on YouTube (airs on Link TV)

If you are not familiar with GE (genetically engineed)/GM (genetically modified) food here's a brief explanation. Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) were first put on the market in 1996. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, rice, and cotton seed oil. In other words, a plant (or animal) can have strands of it's DNA cut and spliced with another kind of DNA...Typically to change the way the plant behaves or grows. There is an on growing controversy about the safety of these foods and impact on the environment. Most importantly, why aren't these foods labeled? Huge corporations like Monsanto (the makers of Round Up) and Dow have genetically Modified the seeds of the plants mentioned. Monsanto calls their "new" seeds Round Up Ready. A farmer can plant this seed and spray the hell out of it with Round Up...and I DOESN'T DIE!! Monsanto (like so many other large corporations, OWN the politicians they support. (After all, if you're a politician it's all about the money and getting re elected.) It doesn't matter what your party affiliation....One side is often times no better than the other. We vote them in and we can voter them out. So should we blame Monsanto for doing what big corps do? Let's start blaming the men and women who take their money. Click below to see if any of your congressmen or women are supporting Monsanto. The more you know about Monsanto, the more you will be appalled! DO NOT SUPPORT THEM!

The Center For Responsible Politics

Eating Healthier Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

2012-05-19T10:57:00.001-06:00

We have all become aware of the chemicals in our food and water supply. A website called Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a list of foods that contain the most and least pesticides. You can download and print the list or, if you have an Apple ipad, iphone, or ipod, you can get the App called Dirty Dozen. Dirty Dozen

EWG's Dirty Dozen

Freezing Dried Beans

2012-05-15T09:37:00.000-06:00

Someday I will have enough garden space to grow my own beans, but until then, I have to buy them in bulk. They are considerably cheaper than canned (after all, you are paying for the can which will either take up space in the land fill or have to be recycled). So buy them in a bag or in bulk (cheaper yet), cook them up and freeze them! I live alone and often times a can of something is too much for me to finish in one dish. So here's what I do. I will use pinto beans as an example:

Measure out the amount of dried beans for the amount you want to have COOKED (it's approximately 1 cup dried =a little more than 2 cups cooked.
Soak the beans for about 8 hours (or overnight) or according to package instructions. They will double in size so use a large enough pan and plenty of water
Cook the beans (about 1 1/2 hr.)
Using a one cup measure, scoop them into a large size muffin tin (they will pop out easier if you spray them with a cooking spray).
Freeze them, then pop them out and put them in a Ziploc bag and back into the freezer.

You now have serving sizes of about 1 cup...take out more if you need to. NO waste!

2012-05-15T07:56:00.002-06:00

Beer Bottles Goggles-What a great idea!!

I found a website that I just love! http://greenupgrader.com/. It's got all kinds of craft ideas for "repurposing" as well as great articles on sustainable living. I came across it by looking for some information about New Belgium Brewery (WAY TOO MUCH FUN if you ever get to Fort Collins, CO).
So, here is a unique way to repurpose a beer bottle!

Don't ya just love it?

Beer Bottle Goggles

Building a raised garden bed

2012-05-14T08:12:00.000-06:00

I believe that there is a little farmer in all of us. I love to grow my own food. It's near the top of my list of Living Better. Not only do you get the satisfaction of doing it your self, but you are also getting exercise, fresh air, and saving money. Also, you control the chemicals in your soil and the way you want to control pests NOT Monsanto! ( I am saving my disdain for Monsanto for another day!)

When I was younger and had a family, I had a huge garden. I didn't mind the bending and squatting to plant and pull weeds. As I got older, and the kids left, I realized I didn't need such a big garden so I decided to scale it down and grow my food in a raised bed. What a treat!!

My Raised Garden Bed (click to enlarge)

I discovered that there are many advantages to a raised garden bed. One of most important advantages is that it greatly reduces soil compaction. Plant roots need air. Also, plants in a raised tend to produce more and grow faster because the raised bed warms up faster in the spring. I built my raised bed out of some flagstone I got from a neighbor who had it left over from building a fireplace.
Wood is probably the material of choice. I think this one, from Sunset Magazine, is great..simple and relativily inexpensive.
How To Build a Raised Garden Bed
So, depending on where you live, get growing!