Playing with my Food!

 You guys have probably figured out by now that I am not one that tends to follow the rules of cooking!  I like to switch up recipes, add and take away things, and just play with my food.  I get bored with the same old thing.

There really aren't a ton of rules.  I just wing it.  My mom hardly ever used recipes and I am the same way.

So today, there are just a few ideas of playing with your food and changing things up a bit.  Don't like an ingredient?  Change it to something you like!

TUNA CASSEROLE

I know many people who refuse to eat this.  I truly have always liked it.  I doubt I ever make the same way twice.

Don't like tuna?  OK - use chicken, turkey, ham, or whatever you have.  You can add veggies and make it a one pot meal.  I like to add frozen peas, or broccoli.  Add what you like.  You can also add cheese or top with cheese.  I like to use a topping of crushed chips or crushed flavored crackers or unsweetened cereal flakes crushed - you can use breadcrumbs.  Gives it a nice textured topping.

PASTA SALAD

Oh goodness, this is a great one to play with.  No rules at all.  Along with your pasta (whatever type you use) throw in any kind of veggie you want.  Broccoli, peas, cauliflower, radish, tomato, carrot, celery, olives, chopped pickle, cucumbers, zucchini - you name it.  You can add chopped meat as well.  Dressing?  Whatever floats your boat.  You can make your own or use bottled or a combo of different types.  I like a combo of Italian and Ranch.  I also love to throw in sunflower seeds to the salad for a nutty flavor.

You can also use fruit - apples and nuts make a tasty salad ingredient.  I like those along with chopped celery and a creamy dressing - super good with pasta.

HAVE FUN

Use your food in new ways.  Bell peppers are great stuffed and baked.  Mmmmmmm

Think about stuffing them with meatloaf mix and baking.  How fun - self-contained meatloaf.

I like using peppers for dip containers at get togethers.  They are cute and they can be eaten when the party is over!!!

ITALIAN BREAD

Use as garlic bread, bruschetta, French toast, pizza, so many things can be made with a little imagination!!

BACON GREASE

No meat - no problem.  You can make gravy using a little bacon grease to make your rue, and it gives it great flavor.  Fry potatoes, squash, green tomatoes, okra, anything at all - in bacon grease for extra flavor.  Use as a flavoring in beans.  You can have that meat flavor without using meat or using very little meat.  It is gold in a jar at my house!  

TEA - flavoring

I like iced tea.  I get tired of it just plain.  Sure, I have a few flavored tea bags - but mainly keep those for hot tea in the winter.  You can flavor iced tea with all kinds of things and it tastes like those expensive bottles you can buy!  Fruit juice - any kind you desire.  OJ, grape, apple, lemon, even juice from watermelon (that is tasty).  You can use Kool-Aid.  Mint or lemon balm or any herb you desire.

I sometimes brew my tea with apple peels, or slices of oranges in the mix.  You could throw in peach peels - you name it - you can use it to flavor.

COOKIE BOWLS

These are fun and easy to make.  They are great for a special treat.  Great for ice cream or pudding bowls.  Kids like them, and they make a fancy creation for adults as well.

Just flip over that muffin tin - grease - and apply cookie dough.  Bake as usual!  Fun food!

Have gravy or sauces left?  No need to throw them out.  Freeze in ice cube trays.  Once frozen pop them out and place in a freezer bag - and now you have instant flavor for another dish - no waste.  Great for soups or casseroles.

What are some of your tricks and hacks?  I love getting new ideas.  Let us know some of your PLAYING around with traditional food!  

Food can be FUN!

You CAN Still Get Deals - Just Look!

 Everyone is a buzz with the costs at the grocery store.  Yes, things have gone up and they will continue to go up for a while.  The powers that be can say - we are GOING into recession - in my opinion we are there!!!  Have been for a while.  Just me.

As much as prices have gone up, you can still save and get a deal or two.  You have to pay attention - close attention.  You have to be selective.  You need to buy those loss leaders.

When I do go to the store - it is basically only for the loss leaders and clearance - that is it (except cat food).

These are portions of ads I have saved over the month of July.  There have been many, many good deals.  Those would be the only things purchased if it were me.  

When you can get a deal - get as many as you can or as many as you  can use in the next few months.  Add to your deep pantry and freezer.

I only buy fresh fruit and veggies IF on a digital coupon sale or clearance - period!  Otherwise I will get frozen.  

I only get meat on digital coupon or clearance as well - period!

The best deals I have noticed over the past month in our area:

Ground beef - 2.49/lb. 

Bacon - 3.99/lb.

Milk 1.29 half gal. (way better than gallon price)

OJ - 1.29 half gal. (way better than gallon price)

Watermelons - 2.99

Melons - 2/$4

Peaches - .99/lb.

Ribs - 2.99 lb.

Butter - 2.79 lb.

Chicken parts - 1.29 - 1.99 lb.

TP - 8-12 packs from 3.99 to 4.99 BIG rolls

Seedless grapes - .99 lb.

I get produce in the clearance bin for .99/bag.  Being just me - I don't need as much per week, and I can get extra and freeze or can.  I often get bags of 6 - 8 nice baking potatoes for .99.  There are always bags of Roma tomatoes (12-15 per).  Colored bell peppers 3-4 per bag for .99.  Banana - .39 lb.

I wait for any sales on meat.  I can get sausage, hotdogs, burger, pork loins, etc. on the digital coupons.  Clearance meat in my area is usually still way overpriced and not fresh looking.

Check your main aisles for assorted clearance - it can be anything from pet supplies, to OTC medical to food items.  Most stores have a main clearance section.

I also look at the bakery markdowns - there is always a rack full of things.

Bread clearance - bread, buns, bagels, donuts, etc.

Freezer department usually has a section with clearance as well.  I have even purchased ice cream on clearance.

If you have the time and you are disciplined to not over shop - also look for manager's specials.  Kroger does these all through the store - these are items that they plan on removing from their inventory in the future.  They have stuff marked way down to get rid of it.  I have in the past purchased canned tomatoes for .29/can or rice products for .59/box.  I even got hickory flavored canned Spam for a huge discount. (Yes, I like Spam now and then).

You really need to pay attention and always be alert.  You need to get those digital items (and only those) when you see a deal.  They are trying to draw you in with those deals, hoping to get you to spend on other stuff.  Hey, we can PLAY to GAME too!!!!!!

ALWAYS check the clearance sections.

Get to be friends with managers or workers - to find out when most markdowns happen.

Have a friend or relative that let you know when there is a deal you could use.  We all need that support group or person.

So yes, my friends, prices are up - but do not despair.  You can still get deals and find decent priced items.  It takes patience.  It takes attentiveness.  Make sure you stock up when you can. 

ONLY YOU can prepare your lauder for the future.

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE

August Plans?????

 Happy August to everyone.  It sure doesn't seem possible that we are already to the eighth month.  Time is just flying by.  

I think about certain things in August.  Sunflowers.  Peaches, watermelon, pears, apples, corn, grapes.  Heat!  Canning.  

Our fairs are happening.  Kids have gone back to school in our area.  Daylight getting less.

The promise of fall is just around the corner.

  

I will have ripened grapes by the end of the month.  I may plant a fall garden - lettuce and onions.  Have to start thinking about what I want to give this holiday season. 

There are some outdoor things that need to be done before cold weather gets here.

What are your plans?

Maybe you have a trip planned.   Gardening/preserving.  Saving money.  Farm stands and farm markets.  Yard work.  Household projects.

Let us know what all you have planned.  Maybe we can share ideas and get some new ones!

HAPPY AUGUST!!

Weekly Wrap Up 7/31

 Happy Sunday all.  Good-bye to July.  I just am having a hard time realizing that we are getting so much closer to fall already!  Goodness.

We have lost a lot of daylight time this month.  It won't be long till I am going out in the dark every morning again!  I think that is the one thing I really hate.

This morning is lovely.  I heard some birds that I have not heard before this morning.  I am not at all sure what they were.  You just never know around here!

Speaking of which!!!  My neighbor called this week and said 'come out back now'.  Out I go and he is looking to towards the alley and then points in an upward motion.  I walk back and look up and holy cow - what do I see??????   A turkey buzzard!!!!!!  Then he points again and there are 2!!!!!!

Never in all my years here have I seen that!  I have seen them out in the country, but never that close to home.  The things are huge and ugly!  Kind of an ominous feeling!!!!!

                                              There was one on another pole as well!

                  Look at the wingspan.  Heck, it looks to be a third the size of the house back there.

I guess you just never know what you might see around here anymore!!!!  LOL!  I need to learn to not be surprised!

We had rain last Sunday and again on Wednesday.  It rained basically off and on all day Wednesday.  Loved it.  It filled my barrels again.  We ended up cooler for a few days - less humidity.  It will be warm again this upcoming week.  I can handle the heat -- it is the humidity that gets me.  My kitties have sure been enjoying the cooler weather!

My week:

• Told you about racoon wrangling last Sunday!
• I washed the Blazer with rainwater from the barrel - no spotting!
• I 'found' a $100 GC I forgot all about having!!  Looks like maybe some free groceries coming up
• Froze okra
• Harvesting.  A did get a couple cukes, okra and tomatoes.  Cherry tomatoes are nuts!  I eat them like candy!!!!  Getting regular tomatoes as well now.

• I finally mowed!  Mowed and trimmed the entire yard.  The grass really didn't need mowed, just all those spindly weeds.
• Paid everything I had here
• Worked on cleaning out the big perennial bed - it was a mess of browned lily leaves and weeds.
• Worked on the flower bed behind the house and also worked on the back fence area (mornings when cooler)
• I did go to Kroger - SIL called and told me I need to go!  I told her I didn't need anything, and she said GO - you can get some deals on clearance.  Yep, I did.  On top of the clearance, I got a cantaloupe, milk and a few clearance potatoes.  I spent $48 - my monthly total for July!!!!!

Bags of mixed chocolates- 1.99 each.  They are each 2 1/2 pounds!!!!!  In the freezer went 2 of them - neighbor got one - and one for snacking (keeping in frig).  Pasta dated 3/2025.  Re-usable containers - will be great for gifting holiday treats.  A few odd and end other items.  My SIL really knows me!

• I fix a squirrel feeder that came down this week.  It has been up for years - so reinforced that.
• Used dehumidifier water in laundry
• Toasted a couple stale hotdog buns and made cinnamon toast
• Used food from home and leftovers.
• Doing all the normal stuff we all do.

Meals this week:

Bacon burger and fresh veggies

Cream cheese and veggie roll-ups

Loaded baked potato

Beef and cheese nachos

Tuna patty and fried green tomatoes (had one fall off!)  YUM

Breaded pork steak and zucchini/rice/cheese, sliced tomato

Pork chops, 1 potato and a couple small carrots - all cooked together

SNACKS - fruit, yogurt, cinnamon toast, a few bites of candy

How is your weather?  I know many are still so hot and there is floods and fires all over.  So sad.  I hope you are all well and safe.

Any deals this week?  Garden goodies?  What is happening in your neighborhood?

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful comments on my home this week.  That was not my intention at all but appreciated.  I was just hoping to show someone that you can make a nice home on little money.  New doesn't make it better or worse.  Just use what you have and what you can afford.

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  Blessings from my humble little home to you and yours.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the end of the earth.

Proverbs 17:24

A wonderful section of Proverbs to study!!

Dear Lord, help us each one to choose joy over darkness.  Help us to each spread smiles and happiness each day.  Let us be Your window of hope and goodness to others.  Let us reflect Your love.  Let us all be messengers of goodness and peace, not despair.

Amen

My Life on Little

 The other day we were talking about living our lives on little money.  It can be done.  I am not one that buys a lot of stuff.  I DO HAVE a lot of stuff however!!!!!!  Most of what I have has been given to me or things that I have had for years and years (many family heirlooms).  I am not a minimalist at all!!!  LOL

Back in 2002 we bought new living room furniture and a new dining room table.  That was our splurge.  I still have and use those things.

You can make a comfortable and lovey home with little money.

I will give you a tour of my humble little home today.

The front porch.  The green glider was given to me - the other one is probably 25+ years old.

Different views of the living room - it is really a small room - this all makes it look bigger!

Dining room - just off living room.   Kitchen to left.  That door at back - is my pantry.

Yep, that is my counter space - ALL OF IT!

Added extra storage - utilize all those spaces!

This ties the 2 above areas together.  It is a tiny kitchen!  But I have cooked for 40 in it before!!!!!

Over my bed.  The bedframe is an old waterbed frame with headboard.  One day it will be replaced - it is just nice to have storage underneath!

This is basically the entire bathroom.  You can see toilet, sink and tub and storage cabinet on left (old pie safe).

I do have a 2nd bedroom that I use for extended pantry, office, and kitty room!  Nothing exciting to see in there.  I also have a full house basement.   I am fortunate to have that extra room.  That is where the washer/dryer is  and the furnace and water heater and much storage.  There is also an area that was once used as a TV/family room.

This is what a little $29,000 (purchase price years ago) house looks like.

It isn't huge.  It isn't new and fancy.  It needs work.  It didn't cost a lot.  It isn't in an exclusive neighborhood.  But IT'S MINE!

I just thought I would give a little tour, and show it doesn't take a lot of money to live nicely.  I am very comfortable here.  Life is good.

This is my world living on little money!!!

Have a great day all!!!!!

Easy Summer Delights - YUM

 Thereare many yummy goodies that we can make at home, that taste so much better than any of the jink we can purchase ready-made!  We like using what we have, and we like simple and tasty.  I know I have probably shown these before - but a quick reminder never hurts.

YUM - homemade ice cream sandwiches with homemade or store bought cookies.  I live using graham crackers as well - super yummy if you can find chocolate grahams!  Any cookie will work!

                                                              Banana Apple Bread

Super tasty and easy.  Just know you can switch up fruit and use what you have.  Peaches, apples, banana, shredded zucchini, applesauce, pears, etc.  Have fun with it.  Great way to use lder fruit that needs used and not wasted!

Make up these baggies of dry goods and always be ready for making a batch of brownies.  Great to keep several bags made up (store in a glass jar).  Make great gifts as well.  Just add the wet ingredients when ready and bake.

This was sure a favorite of mine when I was a kid.  I made them often.  It was also a nice treat to come home to after school.  Super easy and yummy.  Get the young-ins involved!

Make your own microwave popcorn.  No chemicals or add ins of junk.  Just tasty and quick popcorn.  This does work.  Use those lunch bags you can get cheaply!

Super inexpensive lunch or dinner.  Can use meat or just veggies - use some cream cheese.  Season the way you like.  I did this for dinner one day this week.  Used softened cream cheese, garlic powder, thin sliced meat and loads of sliced veggies  SOOOOOOOO good.  You can slice up like shown above, or leave like a burrito.  There is no limit to what you can add.

Super tasty treat.  Big cookie, cream cheese mixed with a little sweetener and lots of fruit!  Num-num!

You can make veggie ones as well.  Pizza base or naan bread or tortillas or Italian bread slices - cream cheese and seasoning and top with loads of sliced fresh veggies.  There is no limit to what can be enjoyed.

So there is my weekly treat suggestions!  I hope that maybe these give someone a new and fun idea.  They are all tasty and I have tried them all.  ENJOY and happy eating!

KEEP IT SIMPLE - KEEP IT HOMEMADE - KEEP IT YUMMY

How I Can Live on so Little

 I recently saw an article about poverty levels in the US for 2022.  I was slightly amazed.  The dollar figures are low, but I then got to figuring, and I live on less.

Please know, I am in no way being disrespectful of people living in poverty.  There are many who do and have a very rough time.  I hate that for them.

I lived life with a purpose and still do.  My purpose was to have a good quality lifestyle and to be able to do good for others, as well.

POVERTY LEVELS - lower 48 and DC

1 - 13,590

2 - 18,310

3 - 23,030

4 - 27,750

Alaska has a slightly higher monetary amount and Hawaii is a bit higher yet.

I live on an amount that is below the level for one.  I live a very good life.  I want for nothing.  I have all I need.

Years ago, we purchased a smaller and older home (1947) that we paid $29,000 for.  It is about 900 sq. ft. and we do have a basement.  There is also a detached garage and a decent size back yard - the front yard is tiny.  This was purchased in 1985 (right before we married) and I still reside here.

My property taxes are almost non-existent.  I joke each year, that soon they will pay me to live here!  Actually, this year they did go up a tiny bit.

We bought a brand-new vehicle in 2001 (a 2002) and I am still driving it.  It has about 67,000 miles on it.  Still looks nice.

I am NOT a shopper.  I very seldom purchase things for myself.  I keep thinking about new furniture (and I will), but it is not that wildly important obviously.  I am not a clothes hog!  I spend money on groceries and on my pets and nature.  I buy gifts for others.  I donate to certain causes.  That is about it.

I have utilities payments, a supplemental insurance plan and a life insurance/investment I pay each month.  I pay vehicle insurance and property taxes every 6 months.  Both are minimal.  Basically, I spend less than $800 a month on everything other than groceries.  Even with groceries, I believe I live on less than the chart shows for one.  Not because I have to, but because I chose to.  Sure, some months may be a bit more, depending on gifts and donations (but still quite low compared to most people),

We both saved as much as we could for the future.  We knew there was a possibility that hubs would not be able to work at some point.  We CHOSE to live a smaller less expensive lifestyle.

I always donated to 401K (max).  One place I worked for a longer period had an ESOP plan (employee stock ownership plan).  Glen had donations made and added to them in PERF (public employee retirement plan).  We always tried to save at least 10% -15% of our income.  We invested here and there.

We worked out bums off to pay off the house and the car.

Actually, we had older vehicles (that cost little) until the house was paid off.  We made a pact - if the house ever got paid off - we would purchase a brand-new vehicle!  Neither of us had ever had one.

Well, that is what we did.

The Blazer cost MORE than the house did!  I about had a cow - and swore I was going to sleep in it!!  LOL!

We were huge yard sale fans.  We hardly ever bought anything new or for full price.  G was on board, and loved finding tools and gadgets for next to nothing.  He worked for the city garage, and they often brought back things that people had put out in the trash.  Being a mechanic, G could fix anything.  I used our first lawn mower for over 22 years (it was old when we got it).  Since then, I have had to purchase 2 - as nothing is made the same today.  Our tiller cost nothing - I still use it.

Oh sure he had tons of expensive tools he purchased for his job, and a huge tool chest to hold them.  He paid for those over time and had a payment plan worked out with the tool guy.  (That chest and those tools are here).

We were very mindful of our spending - yet we always had a good time.  We camped with friends, and we wondered the roads of IN and saw and experienced a lot of things.  We still had fun!  We would get together with friends for dinners and cookouts or just for patio sitting and having a cocktail and conversation.  We never felt deprived.

I still do NOT feel deprived.  I live very simply.  I really do have a LOT - and I am trying to rid myself of much of it.  I mean how much does one person need?

I have all I  NEED!  I am very fortunate.

Again, I am not saying this in any way to make light of people living below the poverty level.  It is a serious problem.  I am no way trying to be disrespectful.

I /we were able to make choices in life to live the way we did.  Those choices allowed for a good life and a safety net of funds.  It meant living differently than many we knew - but we were happy with our decisions.  It meant being able to survive on one salary of necessary.

Today I chose to live on less (even with inflation).  It enables me to be able to help others when I feel the need. It enables me to have no stress on bills and needs.  It enables me to not panic in the midst of an emergency.

I tell this story to maybe help someone younger make different choices.  Maybe they can see that living life with a purpose in mind, can be beneficial for the future.  It is meant to show that PLANNING and PURPOSE can maybe be better than living large in the moment.

Maybe it will help someone.

What mindful choices helped shape your current situation?