I Did It!! Eggrolls

I decided to try my hand at some easy eggrolls.  YAY!  They were scrumptious!
Everything I did was easy and no real recipe - I just winged it.  I will do again either this week or next.

How did I make them?  I used one of those cans of pulled pork that I bought.  I was a bit leery, but it was tasty.  Just out of the can it tasted like good pork.  I will keep more of it on the shelf - super easy for just me.

This just out of the can and drained.

I drained it and threw it in a bowl.  I then added about 1/3 of a package of that slaw mix you can buy in the produce section.  Shredded cabbage and carrots.  I didn't have any fresh cabbage and that was easy.
I drizzled with a little sesame oil (very little), soy sauce, and a bit of Teriyaki sauce.  Mixed it all up and then place in the vegetarian wraps that I got on clearance a couple weeks ago.  (I would have used any type) -  that is what I had.

                                                (Haven't used the fried rice seasoning yet)

I put a decent amount in each wrap and then folded it all up. (like wrapping a present & rolling it up).
Placed on a foil lined bake sheet sprayed with a bit of cooking spray.
Heated oven 400*.  Baked 12 minutes and then turned over and baked 12 more minutes.

This made six eggrolls.  Now I could have added a lot more slaw mix and made even more.

Let me tell you - these were super tasty!!!!!!!!!!  

They didn't need a thing added to them to eat.  They were plenty seasoned from the sauces and oil I added.

If you have home cooked pork that would work.  You could use cooked ground sausage, shredded chicken or ham - or NO meat.

I think the next batch I make might be meatless (or maybe chicken).

You could add about anything you want or have and any type of sauces that you like and have on hand.  This is a fun thing to make with whatever you have.

Doing these in the oven saves a lot of calories and they came out perfectly browned and crisp on the outside.

I hope this gives someone incentive to try something new.  Don't be afraid to step outside the box and try new things.  I will definitely be making again.

ENJOY!

Free Produce Bags and Green TOO

I like using my cloth grocery bags as often as I can.  I have many and I keep them in the car and ready to go.
Anyone that goes to Kroger (and maybe affiliates) knows about the .99 clearance produce bins.  You can get all kinds of fresh produce for .99 a bag.  I have gotten huge baking potatoes (5) for .99.  I have gotten big bell peppers, apples, oranges, onions, etc.  The deals are always great.

Those little bags are super to re-use.  They are always tied shut.  I tear off the label at the bottom and re-use them any time I buy select produce.  They are kind of stretchy, so you can get a lot in them.  I keep them ready to go in the car as well.  They are easy to launder and can be used over and over.

                      See the white tag at the bottom?  I rip that off and it's ready to go again.

That little bundle in front is 6 bags - and yes they are held together with a 'broccoli' rubber band.  I keep everything!!!!

Just drop these into your grocery bag or your bag holder.  I have a huge bag that all my others fit in and I keep them at the ready in the back end of the Blazer.

So there you go.  Keep those bags and re-use.
These would also probably make great scrubbies for your pots and pans.  You could maybe use for soap scraps as a scrubber for garden/greasy hands or rough feet in the bath.
You could get creative and use these for all kinds of things.

Free and green today!

Weekly Wrap Up 10/27

Good morning to everyone.  I hope you have all had a blessed week.
The weather is a changing here.  We have had warm and sunny and we have had wind, wind, wind and rain and more rain!!!!  I am so done with the windy stuff - it just makes it feel so cold.
Yesterday was some nasty day.  We had pouring rain all day and evening (we did need it) and the wind was just crazy.  There are many a limb to pick up today.
Lots of leaves came down as well.
It appears that this week is going to get chillier too.  Looks like maybe flurries Halloween night.
The squirrels and birdies are back with a vengeance.  Those babies are hungry!  I looked out back the other day and counted 22 mourning doves.  I have never seen that many here in all the years I have lived here.  It was incredible and listening to them coo was soothing music.

This is going to be probably the first year in my life that I will not be doing Halloween.  I used to go out and get goodies as a child and had so much fun.  Treats were much better then, as many were homemade!!!!  Then as an adult - I wanted the kids in the neighborhood to have as much fun as I did.  It gets more worrisome every year.  You truly don't know if children or adults are dressed up.  I have always bundled up and set outside (so I can keep house locked).
This year, I just don't have it in me and I don't feel nearly as safe being alone.  I know my neighbor would come over - but there just aren't the kids around that there used to be.  Most in the neighborhood quit handing out candy a few years ago and the weather is going to be nasty.  So I will snuggle inside.

                                   Isn't that the cutest picture?  Halloween fat cat the day after.

My frugal week:

• Put together new bottles of dish soap. shampoo and foaming hand soap
• Found out that I had a 53.70 credit on my light bill.  I am on the budget plan (pay the same every month) and I had this much credit for end of cycle.  I get to pay less this month.
• Trimmed my hair and did a color touch up (at home)
• Only used the heat a couple times
• Went to bank to take  care of more business - boy what hoops I have had to jump through.  I have an appointment to go back Tuesday with more info.  I HOPE this will take care of things.  They keep adding stuff they need.
• Fried a pound of sausage patties up - freezing most for future
• FINALLY started getting G's retirement pay.  Again jumping through hoops for months!  I have been living on savings/life insurance until now.  So now I get a paycheck!!!  Never did it enter my mind that they would go back and pay me back pay - BUT they DID!!!  What a relief and surprise. 
• Continue to work on big clean - never ends
• Doing all the normal things 
• Went out to lunch on Saturday with my sister.  We went to the 50's Diner - which was fun.  She treated for my birthday.
• I did run to Kroger to get eggs and some salad fixings.  They also had chocolate milk for $1/half gallon and cheese on sale (I always get cheese).  I found 2 bottles of Dawn anti-bacterial dish soap on clearance and got those for the pantry.

My weekly menu last week:
Hamburger hash and salad
Leftover hash, sliced tomatoes and garlic toast
Homemade mix of Rice a Roni (beef) and a small cooked burger from freezer
Soup using leftover rice and a can of condensed vegetable beef soup
Sausage and egg sandwiches (used 2 toasted hamburger buns)
Chili mac (used chili from freezer)
Lunch with sister

Hamburger hash.  An old time favorite - just simple old fashioned and frugal comfort food.  Hamburger, potatoes, carrots and onion.

What have you been up to?  Any frugal finds this week?  How is the weather in your area?

I look forward to hearing from you all.  

Thank you for all your lovely comments this week - I do look forward to hearing from 'my friends' each week.

May you all have a wonderful, healthy, safe and frugal week.  Blessing to you and yours from my humble little home to yours.

A New Era of Frugality

Have you always been frugal?  Did something happen to get you started on the frugal pathway?  Did you learn this way of life from your parents?

We all know that things happen in life to make us need to watch our funds.   Things happen in society to scare the beejeebies out of us.  Stuff happens in life.
I know my parents and grandparents went through the great depression and they HAD to be as frugal as possible.
Regardless of the depression - Momma and Daddy needed to be frugal and wise with everything.  They had little money and many children to take care of.  Neither came from money, so there wasn't a base to fall back on - they had to do the best they could with what they had.
WE ALL DO!

Many people are getting "into" being frugal again and trying to live a more simplistic life.  It is becoming the THING to do.  That is good, but some of us have spent our lives being this way.  I know it wasn't always fun - but then it just became a way of life and made so much sense.  Being a GOOD STEWARD of what you have should never go out of style or be a trend.  It should be a way of life.

Life changes and we must adapt or we get left behind.  

Challenges will come and we may fail - that is natural.  Failure is just an opportunity to grow and learn.  So many people just give up too soon, because that is easy.  You have to commit to living the best possible life you can with what you have - even if it isn't a much.

ATTITUDE will determine success or failure.  

A big thing to remember is DON'T PANIC!  Panic can send you into a tailspin that takes ages to come out of. Remember those people back in the depression (or the 80's) who went ballistic when the stock market fell?  Had they kept calm and steady - things would have leveled out.  Life has a way of recovering for you if you just stay calm and give it a chance.  "Slow and steady wins the race" is  absolutely true.

I think that being creative with finances and things is what makes this whole frugal journey fun.  I like seeing what I can do with what I have.  I like seeing how far I can stretch my funds.  I like that feeling of "hey, I did it".
Now don't think for a moment that I condone being CHEAP.  That is a whole other thing than frugal.  I would never cheat, steal or harm another - I would never resort to doing gross/nasty things to save money.  However, I DO believe in being resourceful and responsible.

I had a younger family member say something the other day, that seems so fitting in this regard.
She was talking about how life is basically like the colors of fall.  All the colors are mixed together and often even distorted - but if you keep your eye on your goal or prize you can single in on one color or the greener grass that is still there.
That seems so fitting.

My advice is keep your family and friends close, be mindful of your money and things, be a good steward of all that is put in front of you on this earth and look towards the spiritual.  Whether your spiritual side comes from nature or from a higher power - look to the greater good.
We are part of a huge system and we are but a speck of sand on a beach.
SO the next time you get your panties in a fluff thinking the world is conspiring to "get you", just remember there are so many things out there that we can't understand or control.

You can't always choose what happens around you - BUT you CAN choose how you respond to it!
Choose to be happy with what you have.
Give up the pity party to get back the power.

Live the best life you can and TEACH others how it's done!  That is CHOOSING a good life.
THAT is the new Era of Frugality.

What Say You?

Good morning all.
Some days I just can't decide what to post about.  Days turn into weeks and those into months and those into years - and my mind goes blank!

I have lists of ideas to post about, but somedays I just wing it.  Funny, those seems to be the posts that I get the most comments on!  So I never really know.
I get bored and wonder if you do as well.  I sure don't want you do get bored while visiting.  I don't want the blog to become stale.

I do have some ideas for future posts that I think many will find informative.
**I plan on posting about more "jar" recipes for your pantry and  for gifting.
**I do plan on writing soon about preemptive measures that need to take to insure your survivors are covered and taken care of.
**I plan on giving tips on things to do AFTER the worst has happened in life
**Of course recipes here and there
**I keep trying to come up with and find new ideas on saving and being resourceful
**Frugal gift ideas and tips for the holidays

I know a request in the past has been for the blog to have and index - to find things quicker and easily.  I have tried to figure this out - quite unsuccessfully I might ad.  I won't stop trying.

I don't want to do ALL the posts about me.   My life is not exciting and that for sure would bore people.  I do the Weekly Wrap-Up and I think that is a big enough dose of me!!  LOL
Now I do like to post about memories and the old days and ways of my family.  They taught me about life - and that is worth sharing.  Memories can take us to a different, lovely and simple time and those are just fun - hopefully not just for me.

So what say you?  What do you want to see?  What are your interests?
Let me know your ideas.  I want to keep you happy and interactive and that means I need a boost of brain power!

Weekly Wrap-Up 10/20

Good morning all.  Hope this Sunday finds you well.
We have had warm and cold this week.  A little rain and wind.  It appears a storm is coming through tomorrow and temps this week should be about normal for this time of the year.  It looks like it will stay in the 50's and 60's as high this week.
The leaves are changing color a bit more - but I am afraid after tomorrow's storm - there may not be much left to see.  The wind is supposed to be pretty gusty.

My week:

• Got the furnace all checked out for this season and it is good to go.  No charge for this check
• Did a lot more paperwork - UGH
• Cleaned the ceiling fans and have been working on more deep cleaning
• I told you I went to Dollar Tree and Kroger this week.  A few goodies had - not much.  While out that day I also stopped at the hardware and used the $5/$25 card I had.  I got enough furnace filters to last through next summer and some bird seed
• Put 4 - 2C bowls of potato soup in the freezer
• Froze 1/2 of the cake I made last week
• I ran to a church sale yesterday and got a few goodies.  I was surprised to find anything.

 I got this BRAND NEW - never used - iced tea pot for .50!!!!!!!!  DEAL OF THE YEAR!!  I love making tea this way (have for 20 years or so) and mine quit several months ago.

 This fleece throw to put on the love seat cushions.  Kitties love to sit here - so this keeps fur off couch and easy to wash.  .75

 2 Ideals books.  I love these old books/magazines.  One is from 1956 and the other 1967.  I love the poems and pictures for making cards.  .50 each.

BRAND NEW (never used) handbag in a tapestry type material.  3 separate compartments and a zipper section.  .50

I also found a pair of wrap around sun glasses (goes over your glasses) for $1.  I got those for driving until I decide about prescription sun glasses again.

• FINALLY got the bathroom sink taken care of.  Of course nothing is simple!  Little leak became replacing all drain pipes and water lines on the sink.  Faucet was also leaking, so that got replaced as well.  Drain, water lines and faucet were over 30 years old and were stubborn about coming out!  Also the sink is a pedestal and sits between tub and toilet with very little room to move.  My goodness it was a process.  My neighbor did most of the work and I was the assistant and gopher.  JOB DONE - so happy.  Now I can feel confident about replacing paper and flooring.  (Also get to return some items for a refund - as got everything we thought of that we might need).
• Went to my brothers for a cook-out last night and got to see several of the nieces and nephews.  Brought home a couple cupcakes to eat today!

Meals this past week:

Potato soup

Cheeseburger and salad

Burrito supreme

Cheesy/beef spread (with leftover beans from burrito) on buns (open face)

BLT and a bowl of Ramen soup

Mashed potatoes w/chives and chicken breast

Cookout at brothers - hot dogs, chips, cider and chili (all by a fire)!!!!  Oh, Smores too!

Cheesy/beef spread (with beans added) over buns - so yummy!  Used a packet of the Velveeta with seasoned ground beef.  Buns have been if frig for a while and needed to be used (toasted first).

So there you have my week.  Nothing exciting, but did get some things accomplished.  

I have laundry going this morning and I plan on doing a deep clean in the bathroom today (after yesterdays mess).  It is cloudy today, but decent temps.

What did you do this week?  Did you get any great deals?  Are you working on Christmas projects yet?  I look forward to hearing from you all.

Stay safe and frugal this week.  Prayers for health for you and your families.

Blessings from my humble little home to yours.  

A Couple Simple Solutions

I do believe we all like simple solutions and creative ways to make life easier and to be frugal as well.  Easy-peasy is for me!!!!!
I am one of those people that like Velveeta.  Yes, I know it really isn't cheese - but I like the taste and LOVE the creamy consistency.
It is very expensive for the brand name (in my opinion).  I have purchased Aldi brand, which costs about half as much (and it is good).  It seems that I don't use often enough to justify buying a big box of it (and the smaller ones are expensive too).  I do have a 'keeper' for the frig that is Tupperware, but after time the cheese still gets dry and much of it gets wasted.
I found just the thing for me to satisfy my FIX!

I get these at the Dollar Tree for $1 a packet.  It comes in original flavor and jalapeno.  It is already creamy and soft - not the hard chunk of the boxed cheese.  Ready to use.  This is just the right amount to add to a batch of rice, potatoes,  macaroni, meat, etc.  It sure works for me.  It still has the same taste.  You might want to give it a try.  Great for that occasional 'need' for Velveeta!

                                                           **********************

I know I have listed my Rice-A Roni recipe a couple of time.  I will list again today - since we are all thinking about 'jar' recipes for gift baskets.  I will be adding this to the brother/sister baskets.

2 C uncooked rice

1 C broken thin spaghetti pieces

6 Tbsp. instant chicken or beef bouillon powder

2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. dry thyme

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.  

TO USE:  Shake up to distribute all ingredients.  Mix 1 cup mix and 2 Tbsp. butter and 2 cups of water.  Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat.  Cook until rice is tender.

Now with this recipe you have 3 cups of mix (equivalent to 3 boxes of mix).  

I have always just broken up spaghetti for this (by placing in a baggie and hitting with a hard object) - but I found a quick and simple solution which if frugal and makes this recipe even more like original Rice-A-Roni.

I purchased this very thin vermicelli that is already in tiny pieces just like those in Rice-A-Roni. It was at Kroger and was .45 a bag.  This bag will do 2 batches when measured out.  It doesn't pack into a cup - so a loose cup of pasta is what you get.  Give or take a little in each batch. 

It doesn't have to be precisely a cup - you can divide the proportions of rice/pasta out any way you choose.

This is a handy mix to keep on hand.  Makes a great side dish for any meal.

So there you have a couple easy solutions to your cooking/pantry needs.

I hope this gives you some ideas that maybe you might use.  

Simple solutions are always nice to have on hand.  

Keep these simple solutions in the pantry!!!!!