Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Jar Gifts and Other Fun Things

I promised some jar recipe gift ideas.  Jar gifts are so easy to make from supplies on hand.  Don't think you have to use canning jars - you can use whatever jars you have that "fit" the recipe.

I LOVE giving food items, and most of my gift recipients ask for them - my theory - we ALL HAVE TO EAT!  I love FREE groceries!!!  Any home canned good works in a goody basket or bag.
Salsa - spaghetti sauce - jelly/jams - applesauce - green beans - pickles - etc.................

There are a lot of fun ideas available to fill in with.  Here we go!

TRAIL MIX
I mix salted peanuts, M & M candies, and raisins/craisins together in big pans.  I then fill jars or even baggies with the yumminess.
You can other things as well.  Frosted cereals, mini pretzels, banana chips, etc.
There is no set recipe for this - BUT it is always a winner.
**You can also buy HUGE bulk bags of Chex-Mix at Sam's or Costco and divide into smaller jars or bags.



CAPPUCINA IN A JAR
2/3 C instant coffee granules
1 C hot chocolate mix (I buy big cans super cheap of Kroger brand - or make your own)
1 C powdered non-dairy creamer
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
Mix together thoroughly and put into a jar
Add instructions to jar :  Mix 3 Tbsp. to 6 oz. hot water
Maybe add a pretty coffee cup.



PUMPKIN DIP
 2 C powdered sugar
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. allspice
2 tsp. cinnamon
Mix together and place in a zip lock bag
Attach together with a 15 oz. can of pumpkin and an 8 oz. cream cheese.
INSTRUCTIONS :  Mix room temp. cream cheese, powdered mix and pumpkin together.
Serve with gingersnaps or graham crackers.  (You could give the crackers/cookies as well)



BULK COCOA MIX
This can be made for home use or divided up and presented as gifts.

10 C dry milk
1 3/4 C dry coffee creamer (could be flavored for a neat perk)
1 3/4 C cocoa
5 C powdered sugar (OR Stevia "for baking" in equivalent measure)

Combine and mix very well.  Store in a cool dry place.
INSTRUCTION:  Mix 1/3 C of mix with 3/4 C boiling water
Makes approx. 50 servings
**If dividing up into to smaller jars (maybe tie a small packet of mini marshmallows to the jars)
Gift with a pretty cup from thrift store or Dollar Tree


Here is a cute idea I made up today for a couple of newlyweds as a small token gift.

The oven mitt I have had in my 'gift box' for quite a while.  Added cookie mix and brownie mix ($1 ea.) and a spatula and whisk from the Dollar Tree.  I spent $4. 
This could be done even cheaper if you added a jar recipe of cookie mix or brownie mix you made yourself (or gotten for free with sales and coupons).

REMEMBER; Just about any recipe can be made into a jar recipe gift.  Layer your dry ingredients (to make it pretty) in appropriate size jar and add instructions of how to mix with their own wet ingredients and baking instructions.


I will post  soup "jar" recipes in the next post, and some other ideas you may like.

HAVE FUN CREATING

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Frugal Happenings 11/27

Good morning all.
I hope you all had a wonderful day of thanks this past week.  I hope you enjoyed family and friends and lots of yummy food.

We are still using leftovers - today what isn't used in soup, will go in the freezer at our house.  Desserts have already been frozen for a later date. 

I stayed home on Black Friday - there was absolutely nothing I needed bad enough to fight those crazy crowds.  I saw pictures on the news of people fighting from different areas around the country.  Really?  Acting like total idiots for stuff they really don't need  (and going in debt for) on the day after being thankful for what we have.  CRAZY!!!!

It's hard to believe that we are the last few days of November!  Hey folks - 4 weeks till Christmas!!!!
Don't hate me for continually reminding you!  I think I am reminding myself more than anything.  I need to get busy.  I am just not into yet this year.

My frugal week:
  • Stayed home for 7 days straight
  • Using leftovers and re-inventing them
  • I was gifted 2 Pennsylvania Dutch squash by my brother.  Together they weigh 15 lbs.!!

  • On Friday I made and canned 10 pints of Concord grape jelly from grapes I had frozen this summer (from the yard).  It helped clear the freezer a bit too!!!
  • 'Cooked' the turkey carcass and got 4 quarts of extra stock.  Froze into 'pucks' in my muffin tins. I then placed into freezer bags for use later.
  • Froze over half of the cheesecake for later.  We ate way too many sweets this week!
  • Made approx. 100 small squirrel cookies with items that I had saved back that were stale.  (Not wanting to waste or throw anything away).    Have plenty of supplies left to make more.  (old cake mix, stale cereal, some stale nuts - anything will do).  NOTE:  The squirrels love them and are starting to take from my hand!
  • Went to Kroger Saturday to buy milk and bread ONLY.  Did get a box of huge deli croissants (4) on clearance for 1.49.  Cooked up eggs and sausage at home and made my own croissant-"wiches".  G will enjoy them heated up this week.
  • I have been recording movies and programs we never get to see this weekend.  Noticed that we have a weekend of FREE premiere movie channels from U-Verse.  Taking advantage of that.
  • Brought in several of the free jars I received this summer and scrubbed them all.  Getting ready to make jar recipes tomorrow for my gift giving.
  • Did laundry in cold water and line dried in the basement. (Bonus - adds humidity to the house, keeping it warmer on cold days).
  • Stopped at the oldest 2nd hand bookstore in the city on Saturday.  I ended up with 6 different publications for $18.  I know it's more than many thrift stores - but I love helping out a small business, especially one in our community (just up the road).
I love anything Amish.  The Ball books (3) range in age from 1941 to 2006.  The Mayberry cookbook is a real hoot.  Lots of recipes and full of pictures and stories from the show.

I am going by my brothers' old home to pick up a family piece of furniture today.  It is a desk and chair that Mom worked a part time job for, as a gift for Dad's Christmas when I was about 3.  I have no idea where I will put it (for now in garage), but I don't want to see it get lost or sold. 

Meals this week:
Made a small pot of soup from frig. leftovers
Breaded fish, fries and slaw
Leftover fish and slaw
Grilled cheese and salad
T-Day meal
T-day meal of leftovers
Turkey Manhattens (YUM)  This must be a regional item, as I saw a diner up the road that was advertising them as their special yesterday!!!!!

How was your week?  Are you still eating leftovers?  Have you made any gifts for the Christmas holiday (or done any frugal shopping)?
Let us all know what you are up too.

COMING THIS WEEK:  Jar recipes for gifting - and more!

May the Lord be with you in this coming week and keep you in His safe and loving arms.  God bless you all.
I am so thankful for all my blog and FB friends!!!
PEACE



Wednesday, November 23, 2016

SHOP SMALL

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday here in the states.  That is supposedly the day that retailers finally get into the black with profits (I am not believing that).

We then  have Cyber Monday - the biggest shopping day of the year via internet. 

My preference is Small Business Saturday! 
Most folks that visit my blog are frugal folks.  We are also creative and try to step out of the normal flow of things.  We make gifts and get creative with gift giving ideas.
SMALL BUSINESSES can allow us to do that, as well as helping our local community.

There are so many options for gifts at small businesses.  One can buy gift cards/certificates at that small Mom & Pop diner or restaurant that everyone loves.  We have many small family owned shops that sell jewelry, art, crafty gifts, wine, pottery, candy, baked goods, cheese, handmade toys, wood crafts, area orchards, ethnic groceries..........................................................  I even include the small local thrift stores in these shops and used book stores.
Most larger communities and cities have a great variety of small businesses.
There will be lots of Craft Bazaars going on around the country this weekend as well.  Those are great options for buying unique gifts at an affordable price.  They also give a lots of great ideas for making homemade gifts.

If you are inclined to shop this weekend - stay away from the huge box stores that just make their millionaire owners richer, if at all possible! 
Help out that small guy who lives in the community, whose children go to local schools and participate in local sports................... help out a neighbor! 
Help save a job of someone struggling just like you and I.

SHOP SMALL SATURDAY  (and everyday if possible)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHOP SMART

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Turkey Day Leftovers

Thanksgiving evening, most of us curl up to watch a movie and "roll" into bed!  Generally we are all so full that we can't imagine eating for days.
BUT there are always leftovers, and heaven knows we WILL be eating again tomorrow!!!!

My all time favorite thing on Friday is a cold turkey sandwich with salt and mustard!  I look forward to that every year!!!!!!

Many people just get tired of all the leftovers because they only eat them in their original form.  We do once or twice - THEN it comes time to get creative!

HAM
I love fixing a ham and potato and cheese casserole - baked.
Ham and cheese grilled sandwiches.
Ham and soup beans or split pea soup with ham added
Green beans, potatoes, and ham
Julienned ham on a large chef salad
Ham and eggs
Fried rice with ham
Potato soup with ham added
The list goes on and on...............................

TURKEY
Turkey/noodle or turkey/rice soup
Casserole (I layer dressing, mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy - top with cheese and bake till heated). Kind of like Shepherd's pie.
GO MEXICAN with tacos, burritos, enchiladas
Turkey chili
Add to a chef salad
INDIAN - spice it up and make a tomato/curry type soup with turkey
Grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches
Another FAVORITE at our house is turkey Manhattens (like the beef ones we have)  Turkey sandwich split - mashed potatoes in the middles all topped with gravy.
Turkey and noodles or dumplings
Use in ANY way you would chicken

POTATOES
Whether mashed or mashed sweet potatoes - they can be turned into potato cakes and fried
Add to soup as a thickener
Freeze in individual muffin tins for a later date
Make potato candy

GREEN BEANS OR OTHER VEGGIES (fresh or cooked)
Add to any type of soup or stir fry or fried rice or homemade lo-mein

CRANBERRIES
Not a favorite here - but I do like them with added oranges, mandarins or pineapple
Great mixed with apple sauce - (Mmmmm over yogurt or cottage cheese)
Mix sauce with apples and make an additional pie
Serve over hot oatmeal
Add to Jello

STUFFING
Spoon portions into a muffin pan and bake till crispy on the outside.  These are good frozen for later too. (great for quick lunch or snacks)
I love to add to a waffle iron - heat till browned on outside - add a fried egg and make very hearty breakfast sandwiches

DESSERTS
Cheesecake - is wonderful frozen.  I always have some in the freezer during the holidays - for a special frozen YUM when we get a craving.
Most pies and cakes can be frozen as well.  Same with cookies and brownies.
You could always send those desserts home with others...........NAH!


OK, this is all off the top of my head.  WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR LEFTOVERS?  We all need to know!!!!!!!
I know we will end up putting some meat in the freezer, as well as the ham bone, and I will make stock with the turkey carcass.  Thanksgiving food is the food that just keeps on giving!

I love this time of year and the special foods that we tend to eat only around the holidays.  I absolutely LOVE to re-invent things too.

I hope this gives you some ideas of new things to try.  Share any ideas you have for turkey day food reincarnations!
HAPPY EATING!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Frugal Happenings 11/20

Oh baby it's cold outside!!!!!!  It sure feels more like winter than fall today.  We went from record breaking highs to frigid in a 24 hour period!  Friday out thermometer registered 80* and Saturday never got out of the 30's.  The wind Friday night was horrid, we had 60 mph winds, torrential rain, then plummeting temps.  All in a typical Indiana day!

This has been quite a stressful, emotional, and physically exhausting week.  Thursday evening I fell asleep at 9:15PM (something I haven't done in years) and slept till 7AM.  Now it is time to get used to a "new normal" for the entire family.  That is going to take some time to get used to.  Sadly, it is something we all have to do in our lives.

Friday I ran a bunch of errands that I have put off for a while.  I have been doing a lot of cleaning, de-cluttering, and tossing in the past couple days.  It is very therapeutic for some reason!

My frugal week:
  • Exceptionally warm temps meant having the windows open a couple days, and no AC or heat. Love airing out the house
  • Took extra blankets out to the greenhouse for the kitties beds.  Babies got to stay warm!
  • Filled all the bird and squirrel feeders before the cold snap happened.
  • Did laundry in cold water and with dehumidifier water.  Dried some in dryer, most was hung in the basement to air dry (this happened after it got so cold).
  • Hard boiled a dozen eggs
  • Used a $10 off $40 coupon that came in the paper for Aldi.  Used for Thanksgiving specials and more stocking up.  Out of pocket spent was $36.
  • Dried more bread for the dressing bread stash
  • Resupplied upstairs pantry from stock in basement
  • Received a gift card of $50 from a wonderful friend this week.  Note said "when you don't feel like cooking".  Touched my heart!!!!!

Meals this week:
Used leftover meat/bean mix and made 2 more crunch wraps and had with a nice salad
Tuna patties and mac n cheese
Loaded baked potatoes
Canned soup (got home late)
Church sent home dinner for both of us.  Fried chicken and lots of sides and desserts.
Homemade pizza
Dirty rice and chicken strips with side salad
***********************************************************

I have my big old frozen bird in the frig. to thaw, and I have all my ingredients ready for cooking and baking this week.  Most of the ingredients have come from the pantry with the exception of the turkey and ham. 
I am going to keep it pretty simple.  Looking forward to re-using leftovers for many days in many ways!!!   (I will post some leftover ideas this week).

Are all of my U.S. readers ready for Thanksgiving?  Do you have any special plans?  Any unusual or family recipes that will be used?
Hope everyone is staying frugal!!!

May God bless you all in this coming week.  Praying all stay safe and healthy.


 5 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sunday, November 13, 2016

Frugal Happenings 11/13

Good morning all.  I hope this finds you safe and healthy.
First I would like to take moment to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers this week.  It meant so much during this very sad family time.
This coming week (Wed. and Thurs.) will be sad days as well - but the family will be together, and we will share our love and our stories.
Again THANK YOU all so much.


I did not get to my Christmas jars this week.  I have time.  Did you realize that Christmas is 6 WEEKS from today?   EEK! 
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away, and then a few short weeks later is Christmas.

Our gardening season is officially over.  We finally had frost earlier in the week, then a hard freeze both Friday and Saturday nights.  We are having much cooler days and cold nights.  It does seem more fall like.  However I do hate the fact that it is getting dark so early - but as Ellen reminded us, in a little over a month, the days will be getting longer again!

My frugal week;
  • I got the raspberry plants all cleaned out and cut back, as well as the grape vines
  • Mowed (probably last time this year) and did a lot of yard work
  • Picked 2 zucchini and the balance of the green tomatoes

  • Cut G's and my hair
  • Spent much of Friday getting together pictures for my nieces to use in video at funeral home.  I am the keeper of all things family.  It was sad, but neat looking back at all the pics!
  • Pulled out all the garden plants
  • Made a 4 day supply of steel cut oats with cranberries and pecans added.  It's time for some hardier breakfast foods again.
  • Bought milk at the store and that is it!  No grocery shopping again!
  • Returned all books to the library
Meals this week:
Homemade chicken and noodle soup
Thickened chicken and noodles and mashed potatoes
Homemade fried fish sandwiches and stuffed jalapenos from freezer
Homemade Mexican beef and pasta skillet
Arby's
Biscuits and gravy
Homemade Mexican crunch wraps (oh so good)


Crunch wraps - tostada shell set in large tortilla - smothered in stuffing and cheese - tortilla wrapped up around and toasted in quesadilla maker = YUM
 
 
Despite having a sad week - we have also been blessed in many ways.  We have tremendous love in our family.  We woke each morning to a new day, we have our health, we have a roof over our heads and food on our table, and we have our sweet fur babies to cuddle.  God is good all the time - and we know sorrow is part of life.
 
 
What did you do frugal this week?  Are you getting ready for the upcoming holidays?
 
God bless you each and every one.  Thank you for visiting, and I pray you each have a wonderful week.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

SADNESS

It with a tremendously heavy heart, that I report that my darling big brother Ron made the journey home to God this afternoon.
We all spent the day with him today, and he made his final journey about 2:30 PM.

Ronnie was such a good big brother.  I know he is healthy, at peace, and finally TALKING again!  Meeting people and talking, to him was always one of his passions, and since May he has basically been unable to speak.  I told my other brother this afternoon, that God is probably saying Sssshhhhhh!!
Ron was a Christian, so there is no doubt whatsoever that he is with God, Mom and Dad, our sister Linda and his wife.

There were many years between Ron and I.  He was a senior in high school the year I was born.  He used to take me riding around with him in his convertible when I was probably 3 or 4.  I got to stand up in the front seat, and he would have the top down.  This was MANY years before there were so many rules.
I always told him that I was his 'chick magnet' - as he always had girls come up to see the cute little girl!

We had so many good times.  We shared our thoughts on everything.  We have always had such a close knit family.  Now there is just 3 of us siblings left.

This is Ronnie and I  - oh, just a few years ago!

I will miss him so much, but I am at peace knowing that he is healthy again and in Heaven.
Please say a little prayer for his children and grandchildren - they are all so lost at this moment without him.

PLEASE hug someone you love tonight and tell them you love them. 


I'll be back to blogging soon.
Thank you all.




Tuesday, November 8, 2016

More Holiday Favorites (recipes)

Good morning everyone.
I hope this all well today.  I feel better now that I VOTED!  I was in and out in 5 minutes.
Now comes the hard part ------ waiting!
God bless us all and our country.

Today I will be listing a couple more recipes that have always been favorites in my life.  They started with Mom and I have continued on  with them.


SPRITZ COOKIES
1 C butter, softened
1 C confectioners sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. rum extract
2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
(Colored sugar, icing, nuts, candied cherries, etc. optional - for toppings)

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg and extract.  Combine the flour and salt and gradually add to the creamed mixture.
Using a cookie press fitted with disk of your choice (for fancy designs), press cookies onto an ungreased baking sheet about 1" apart.
Bake at 375* for 6 - 9 minutes, until lightly browned.  Yields about 7 dozens (depending on design).

**You can sprinkle with colored sugar, top with a nut or cherry half before baking.  You can also add icing after baking.  Sometimes I make candy cane shaped cookies and add stripes of pink icing.  Or tree shapes and add a tiny bit of green icing.
**I have also used peppermint extract or almond extract instead of rum for variation.
*You can also add food color to the dough for pretty colored cookies
.These were always a family favorite.
*****************************************************


JELLO SALAD
This is one of G's favorites!
1 can pineapple (crushed or chunks - we like chunks)
3 oz. Jello  (flavor according to holiday)
1 C evaporated milk
3/4 C apple
1/2 C chopped pecans
1/2 C mayo
1 Tbsp. lemon juice (don't leave out!!)

Drain pineapple and keep juice.  Mix juice with enough water to make 1 cup.  Heat.  Dissolve Jello into hot mixture and then cool slightly.  Stir in evaporated milk.  Add in the mayo and whisk until smooth.  Add the remainder of the ingredients.  Chill.

I usually double the recipe when making.  When I double, a can of evaporated milk does not make 2 cups - so I used the evaporated with regular milk added.  (Just a hint for you)

We make orange Jello for Thanksgiving, and either lime or strawberry or cherry at Christmas.  You can use any flavor you want.  It's all good! (I have made peach and pineapple Jello at Easter too).
**Another tip - sugar free Jello does NOT set up in this recipe well.  I have tried.
*******************************************************


DUMP CAKE
1 - 20 oz. can pineapple with juice
1 - 20 oz. can cherry pie filling
1 cake mix
1 C chopped nuts
1 stick butter

Dump fruit and juice and pie filling into the bottom of a lightly greased pan.  Pour the cake mix (straight from box) over the fruit.  Even it out.  Cut butter into pats and lay all over the top.  Top with chopped nuts.
Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.  YUM!!!

**You can really use any fruit in syrup you have and any flavor pie filling.  Experiment with different flavor combos.  (You can use equivalent of home canned).
**I have used white cake mx, yellow cake mix, orange and lemon.  All have been good.
*******************************************************


These recipes are all very easy and fairly inexpensive to make.  Most of the ingredients are things we all have on hand.

I will be making all of these sometime over the next few weeks.  I will continue to share some of our holiday favorites in the upcoming weeks.
I hope you all enjoy. 

TIS THE SEASON for goodies!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Frugal Happenings 11/06

Good morning everyone!
I hope this finds you well and I hope you had a good week.

Did those of you that need to - remember to change your clocks?  UGH - how I hate that.  I know there is a "good" reason for it - but it seems silly to me.  Most everyone in the  U.S. changes their clocks  and  are all still the same amount of time apart in different time zones.  Seems silly to me.  I wish we we'd leave the spring change alone - and let it be.
I just hate all the darkness we experience at early hours in the fall/winter.
OK - end rant!!!!!  LOL

Well, my long time next door neighbors are gone now.  I delivered their kitty to them this week to their new house. (I had a carrier - they didn't). 
A dear sweet older guy that lives behind us (other side of alley) moved this week as well!  I will miss him - he was such a sweet gentle man.  Taking care of a yard and the snow in winter, has gotten to be too much for him.
Have I ever mentioned - I HATE CHANGE!!!!

We have had traditional fall weather this week.  Nice, sunny days and chilly nights.  Leaves are changing and falling!

I have laundry going this morning.  Chicken legs are boiling in a pot of water.  YES all that talk about noodles this week, made me hungry for them!!!  LOL.  Will have yummy stock, and will pick chicken off the bones and make chicken and noodles this afternoon.  YUM!  Going out to mow the yard today.  Hmmmm - I wonder if it will be the last time this season?

My frugal week:
  • Picked a couple zucchini and some more green tomatoes (smaller) and more cherry toms
  • I got a FREE plastic table that the neighbors were trashing.  It will work well, to cover feed blocks for animals this winter (from the weather).
  • Got one rain barrel emptied and put away for the winter
  • Hoses all drained and put up
  • Did a TON of yard work this week  FREE exercise.  Still a lot to do before the snow flies.
  • Line dried laundry
  • No AC and heat only a couple cycles on a couple mornings
  • My HUGE FRUGAL - stayed out of grocery stores this week!!!  Using the pantry and freezers only
  • I did run by Ollie's after looking at their ad.  Decided to NOT buy anything I had seen in ad.  I did buy a 2.99 Gooseberry Patch cookbook of simple recipes for a male friend of ours who is learning to cook.  He will get it for Christmas!  (Book was regularly 15.99)  I love the book prices at Ollie's!!!!!!!!
  • Found some change laying in the parking lot.  Picked it up and in my change jar it went!
  • Been working on de-cluttering a lot.  Going through magazines and books.  Have MANY to donate
  • Finalized my ideas for "jar recipes" for gifts.  Will be starting those this week
  • Froze the last of the Mexican chicken to use at a later date
Dinners this week:
Mexican chicken over rice
Enchiladas (made with Mex. chicken)
Leftover enchiladas served over pasta cooked in salsa
Chicken strips, Au-gratin potatoes, sliced tomatoes
Pork chops, mixed greens, baked beans
Thick cut fried potatoes, burgers, baked beans
Homemade pork/veggie lo-mein
*********************************************

What has everyone been up to?  What did you do FRUGAL this week?
Check in and let us know how you are.

I pray you all have a safe, healthy, and frugal week.
REMEMBER TO VOTE!!!!!!!
God bless.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Holiday Favorites

We all have recipes that have become holiday favorites.  So many things that we love at the holiday time, I just don't fix any other time of the year.  Crazy, isn't it?  I guess that is what makes those items so special.

We do have some family favorites that do get made a few other times during the year.  These are always requested when there is a family get-together as well.

Here are a couple of goodies:

HARVEST POTATOES
(This is one of our favorite ways to eat potatoes!)

1 - (32 oz.) pkg. frozen hash browns potatoes, thawed
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 C sour cream
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C butter - melted
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 medium onion, diced

TOPPING
2 C corn flakes
1/4 C margarine or butter, melted

Grease a 13x 9 baking pan.  preheat oven 350*.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the topping.  Spoon into baking dish.  In a small bowl, combine topping ingredients.  Sprinkle over potatoes.  Bake for 45 minutes.  Makes 12 servings.
These are so good.  People will always ask for the recipe!!!!!!
**************************************************************


HOMEMADE NOODLES
(this is how I learned.  Everyone has their own way)

6 C all purpose flour
12 large eggs - room temperature
2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder

Mix all the dry ingredients well.  Beat the eggs together .
Make a small 'well' in the flour mixture and pour in the eggs.  Mix until all is well blended.  Needs to be about pie dough consistency.
Make several balls of dough (about 4" across) and wrap in saran wrap.  Let these balls rest for approx. 20 minutes.

Flour your board or counter well.  Roll out to approx. 1/8" thick. (thicker if you like thicker noodles).  I move these circles to another lightly floured surface, while rolling out all the remainder balls.  (Fold over and gently move to another table. Lay circle out flat again after moving)

Dry dough for approx. 1/2 hour - 1 hour.  You can tell if it feels like it has dried some.
Cut your noodles into strips.  Let them dry again for 1/2 - 1 hour.

Your noodles are read to cook or place in freezer.
I like to use gallon bags, that way the noodles are in the bag loosely and will not be crushed.  This makes a lot of noodles.  We get several meals from each recipe. (When cooking for 2)

Lay your bags as flatly as possible in an area of the freezer where they will not be mashed.
Your noodles are ready to cook at a moments notice!
To cook - place noodles into boiling broth and cook to desired consistency.
*************************************************************

I used to get together with a couple friends and we would all bring flour and eggs - and we would have a noodle making party.  At the end we divided up everything into thirds.  It was a fun way to spend the day - we'd have lunch and talk and catch up on gossip!

I hope you enjoy the recipes.
I will be sharing some more of our family favorites as the month goes on.

HAPPY EATS!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

November and More

WOW, here it is November.  We are definitely on the short end of the year.  A few short weeks till Thanksgiving and then on to Christmas.
It is supposed to hit 80* here today - unbelievable!
I will be hanging laundry out here shortly and I have flowers still going strong (and a little garden).


My clematis bloomed and died back after it's early summer flowering.  It has regenerated growth and it is BLOOMING again!  The plant is covered with big old fat buds as well!
I have never seen this happen this late in the year.  It is so pretty.


*************************************************************
I know that many us open our hearts and pocketbooks to help others as much as possible throughout the year.  Many people seem to do more during the holidays and the winter.  I guess that is normal - as we all seem to see the need more then.



 
 
I save my change during the year and use it for special things. 
YES, it may be for extra Christmas money.
It may be for buying gift cards for people we know in need.
It may be for buying a couple gift cards (grocery) for ourselves to keep back in case times get tough.

MOSTLY, it is for purchasing items for the area food pantries and soup kitchen.
For buying inexpensive hats and gloves and throws and passing out to the homeless at the soup kitchen and area park.
For gift cards given to the food pantries - so they can buy specific items they need.
For buying gifts for the 'giving tree', so a child gets Christmas.

Our spare change can make a big difference in OUR lives and also in the lives of OTHERS!
Take some time this fall/winter and do something nice for someone less fortunate.

****Remember when donating to pantries that the basics can be the difference between existing and living.  Children's bellies may get full.
*Dry packaged goods (pasta, mac n cheese, dried beans, rice, etc..)
*Peanut butter and jelly
*Canned goods and sauces
*Canned fruit
*Fresh potatoes (find a great deal - buy them)  One year Aldi had 10 lb. bags for .99 and I bought a 150 lbs. and donated.  The pantry was so excited - as everyone would get a few fresh potatoes - and usually they get no fresh.
*Don't FORGET laundry soap, bath soap, dish soap,  hygiene products (Dollar Tree is a great place for these items)

I realize that many people reading this may be struggling financially.  If so, I hope someone donates, so that you can receive some help.  If you are doing OK - then do something nice for others.

Give with an open heart and love. 
GIVE JUST TO BE GIVING AND EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN.

It is only by the grace of God.............
Thanks everyone!