Game Day - Weekend Treats From Home

 Howdy all.  Hope this finds you all well.  Today looks to be a good day here - probably the best of the week.  After the weekend, it looks like it will cool a bit here again.  Winter is not over - and it is sure showing itself in some northern areas!!!  YIKES - hope all are safe.

Four more days and it will be Super Bowl Day.  I know a lot of people watch and celebrate - not me anymore.  Not that I ever did - but G enjoyed watching.  Of course, we always had to have certain things on those special days.  I was looking back of old posts when I saw one in 2016 about buying wings for .39/lb. for G.  LOL - wow, wouldn't those prices be lovely again?  Now wings are about the most expensive piece of chicken you can buy.

There are lots of fun treats and goodies that can be made at home with what you have on hand.  They can be special for just those special days, or they can be yummies for any day!

Hope you find an idea you can use.

First don't forget about easy things.  Deviled eggs, veggie trays with whatever you have on hand, cheese and crackers, maybe make some meatballs or cut up some wienies and add BBQ sauce, chili and crackers, baked beans, mac n cheese, burgers (sliders are fun), wings if you have them (or any chicken), etc.  There are tons of easy goodies to make and just stay in that budget and use what you have.

FRIED RICE BOWL

Click on recipe to enlarge for better reading

Super easy and fun.  Just something a little different for a meal.  Most everyone will have ingredients on hand - or you can substitute what you have!

Makes a great meal as well for those busy days!

CORN BEAN SALSA

Click on recipe to enlarge for better reading.

Super easy to make and it tastes so good and fresh.  Eat with chips or tortillas or crackers.  You can use canned chopped tomato is no fresh.  No black beans - use kidney or whatever you have.

Refrigerate - so yummy cold!

TAILGATE DIP

Click on recipe to enlarge for easier reading

You can cut down the amount of ground beef and sausage if desired.  You could also use ground chicken or turkey.  Use what you have. Add a cup of salsa (or spicy tomatoes) and some cheese - heat and eat!

I love this dip - one of my favorites.  Serve with crackers, chips or tortillas or pita or even toasted bread pieces.

Another thing I have had as a meal with a salad!!!!!!

CRAB DIP

Click on recipe to enlarge for easy reading

This may take a purchase or two.  I always have faux crab meat in the freezer - I know not everyone does.  I often don't have a round loaf of bread.  I mix up the ingredients and bake it up.  I leave it in the bowl and serve with crackers or toasted bread or French bread chunks.  Whatever I have.

Now it is pretty for presentation in a bread bowl as stated - but you don't have to do that.

I have had this for dinner with a side of fresh veggie or salad!!!

Remember none of these have to be followed word for word - use what you have and improvise.  You may come up with a new family favorite.

Another idea - go and clean out the freezer (especially deep freezer) and see what odds and ends you have hiding in there.  Get them out and get creative with them for your fun game treat/meal.

USE IT UP!  

Keep it inexpensive and have fun!!!!!

Have a great day and be safe.

When a Little Becomes a Lot

 Good morning on this Tuesday.  Hope you are all well.

Today is just a little reminder that a little can be a lot.  It is true in so many instances - but this one is a big one for sure.

Yep - get that calculator out and do the numbers.  I did!  It is so very true.

People don't realize how fast things add up.  

$27.40 a day - could be meals out (on the low end), coffees, cigarettes, bar visits, junk food, lotto tickets, thrift shopping, daily store visits, you name it.  It's your money and you can do what you want with it - but when you do - you need to realize WHAT you are really spending!!!!!

$10,000 is a lot of money.  That can pay off debt, pay off a home early, save for the future or emergencies, it could be invested, you name it.  I think in most people's books that is a chunk of change.

Now you add in things like interest fees, late payments, wasting food and trashing it, not taking care of your possessions, etc. and the money just keeps racking up!

I have a neighbor that does a big grocery shop every Saturday - and then goes to the store absolutely every day and brings home at least 2 bags of stuff!!!!  That is surely $27.40.  They also gamble on things a lot.  He smokes like a chimney.  Both work jobs that pay a good salary and well - they live in my neighborhood.  I know what they pay for rent - most people would be happy to pay it.  They even have a roommate to help with expenses!   They have had to sale things, because they can't afford them.  They are a fine example of what excessive spending looks like (they are about my age).  All I can do is shake my head.

Years ago, we wrote down & logged absolutely every penny we spent.  EVERY!  It was eye opening how much money got spent on frivolous things.  We sure curbed back on our "wants" and that is when we really started to save $.

Be a good steward of what you have.

Pennies do make dollars and dollars CAN and WILL make a huge difference in your life.

Stop and think about all those littles buys - they can make a big difference in your funds.

Have a wonderful day!

Weekly Wrap Up 2/4

 Hello all.  Hope this finds you well and safe.  It is amazing how quickly Sunday seems to come around!  I know it is seven days - but boy they do fly by.

Well, it appears the big rodent saw his shadow this week!  Spring is around the corner?  We will see, it will get here whenever it is supposed to.  Meteorologist or rodent - I don't put much stock in either one!

We are supposed to have a mild upcoming week here.  50's and some sun.  We had sun yesterday and boy was that a pretty sight to see.

We get an extra day this month - it's leap year!

I had several different woodpeckers out there this week, and there were more robins.

I even looked out the living room window and saw chickens!  Geesh one day they were on the front porch.  I have stopped putting birdseed out front for now.  They haven't figured how to get in the back yard - as they just walk around the block!  These chickens need to stay home.

This is technically the neighbor's yard - but right outside my window.

This week was kind of quiet again.

• Did some more decluttering - it is an ongoing process
• General cleaning
• All the laundry
• I ran out one day to Fresh Thyme Market and restocked my natural supplements.  I also got myself 2 sweet onions, 4 bananas, and some cocktail tomatoes.  Oh, and a couple fresh tamales!  I looked around the entire store (it has been a while since there) and just enjoyed the morning. Talked to several other customers.
• I then stopped at a place that has been around a short while called Circle City Bargains - it has a bit of this and that.  Fresh produce at super prices, snack foods, and even some furniture and yard and garden tools of all kinds - really discounted prices!  I ended up with 2 jars of cashews (19 oz.) each for $3!!!

Not even close to best by date.  Very tasty for a snack.  They are so good.

•  Then stopped at a newer Hispanic market on my way home to look around.  Bought nothing - but it was fun to look & listen to the music!
• Used up a small bit of mushrooms I had in taco meat, and used up a bit of onion left and some leftover rice in same
• Froze leftovers that I did not eat this week
• Got a little fresh air in the house on Saturday!
• Just doing all the regular stuff we all do.
• All meals from home

Meals this past week:

Tamales and rice

Pulled pork (freezer) sliders, fresh veggies and hardboiled egg

Chili (freezer) cheese dogs and small salad

Chopped steak with sauteed mushrooms and peppers, long grain rice and fresh veggies

Leftover rice w/Aminos (like soy sauce) and salad with egg 

Loaded nachos  (had no chips - so I roasted a couple tostada shells and broke them up)

Cup of cheesy broccoli soup (freezer) and grilled ham & cheese sandwich

SNACKS:  fruit, nuts, and cheese & crackers

How was your week?  What did you all accomplish this past week?  I think we are all getting anxious for spring - I know I am.  But, like mom used to say, "just wishing your life away"!!  LOL  

My mind is wondering on spring things though.

Any great deals this week?

I hope this finds each and everyone of you well and safe.  I hope all things family are going better for many of you with problems.  I wish you all a wonderful week.

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.

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

Lord, we do thank You for being our stable rock.  We know we always have You with us.  Help us each one to lift our problems to You.  Amen

Convenience - Deliberate Choices

 Good morning and happy February!  Hoping for a bit more sunshine this month!  January was sure a dreary month in my area.  Sun makes so much of a difference.  It is shining here at the moment!  YAY

Just a couple things to think about today.  We all love convenience!!  Yes, we all do.  BUT, it costs a lot of extra money, and truth be known, most of the convenience foods are not good for us.  There are so many extra 'ingredients' in them.

I understand there will be people who say "I work", I have a big family", "I am just too busy" to cook from scratch at home - "I need those convenience foods".  NOT REALLY!

Stop and think about this realistically.

You PAY for every process to get that food into your home.

Raising the food (feeding and caring for), your pay for picking or slaughter, you pay for the processing plants, the travel to get it there, you pay for packaging, turning food ino meals or chopping or cutting, you pay for travel again to the stores and you pay for the store and its employees and upkeep!  Maybe you have it delivered - I bet you pay for that too!  So many steps that you pay for.

Not a thing in this picture that can't be made from scratch with wholesome ingredients.  I see the words "Healthy Choice" and have to laugh.

Mixed veggies and meat, mac n cheese, oriental cooking, chicken bites, lasagna, etc. - easy to do at home.

Have you looked at the price of frozen lasagna at the store?  Oh my goodness, it costs a fortune.  Sure it is easy - take it out of the box and place in oven.  It tastes nothing like homemade and it has so many preservatives in it!

These small size convenient dinners cost hefty dollars.  Most all is just so easy to do yourself.

OK, for those saying no time or it will cost more.  Well, take an evening or a weekend morning or afternoon, and do some batch cooking.  Place meals into containers and freeze for later.  

NO it doesn't have to cost more.  EX; lasagna.  You don't have to buy a lot of fancy ingredients - pasta not that expensive, spaghetti sauce, grnd. beef or sausage (or no meat), cheese on sale (cottage cheese works great - coming from a person who will not eat cottage cheese plain).  Easy-peasy.

Buy chicken on sale - cut into pieces and bread and fry.  Makes great nuggets or tenders.  You get a lot more for your money.  Stir fry or oriental - use up leftover veggies and meat add some seasoning sauce and serve over homemade rice.

Mac n cheese - cheap pasta and whatever cheese you have from sales!  Nothing like homemade mac/cheese.

Waffles, pancakes - so super easy.  make and pack into baggies for easy and quick meals.  Breakfast sandwiches - make your own and bag into the freezer.

Veggies and rice or pasta maybe with cream sauce or cheese - super easy to do yourself.

Shred your own cheese - it is fresher that way and no added fillers to keep it from clumping.

Use up leftovers in some new way.

**Have a shelf in your frig. that is an "eat me first" shelf!!!!  Those bits and bobs of leftovers or small pieces of fruit or veggies - anything that needs to be used up in a hurry.  This way you are not wasting food (money).

I BUY ingredients!!!!  That is what you should do as well.  With ingredients you can make ANYTHING - and it is cheaper and healthier.  

Another benefit is less packaging!!!!  By the time you get those fancy meals you have tons of packaging that is just going into the trash.

Buy fresh when possible - look for markdowns at the store.

Buy or make sauces or soups.  

Think about growing something this year - something!!!!!!  It all helps.

In my opinion living the greenest lifestyle combines using something that already exists, in it's simplest form.  It is healthier and less expensive.  This goes with most things - not just food.

If we all found new uses for the things that already exist - it would stop a lot of manufacturing of new things - that leaves an industrial mess behind it.

So, start buying ingredients and making your own 'freezer' and 'fast' food!  It will help you in so many ways.

Hope this advice gives some of you a new idea or two.

Have a great day!

A Fun Bite or Two

 I have made myself a fun goody once each the past couple of weeks.  Not sure what to call it!  It could be called a VERY thick shake/smoothie or a soft serve ice cream of sorts.  Call it what you like - but it sure was good and easy.  Used what I had here to make it.

I used:

1 cup of milk (whatever type you have)

some frozen fruit (about 6 strawberries) - you could use fresh fruit or even jam if no fruit (any type)

a squirt of honey

The equivalent to a small tub of yogurt (single serve) any flavor - OR you could use a big spoonful of ice cream/ice milk

8 ice cubes

Blend it all up together until smooth.  I did mine in the Ninja cup.  IF really hungry you could have it all - or it makes plenty for two

                                                      Good golly gosh - it was good!!!!

Many times we all want a treat but hate making a big amount of something.  Well, that is OK - you can freeze items for another day.  I often freeze brownies in airtight packs for the future.  Something many don't think about is frozen cheesecake.  I love it frozen - it is such a yummy treat.

Of course, there is always making pudding and placing in individual cups to last a few days or even Jello with fruit.

I like pecan pie - NO I love pecan pie!  It is so sweet and rich, not something one should eat a lot of.  There is a way to make mini pies.  I noticed an ad for mini pie shells once, then I saw some on mark-down at the store and got them.  There are 14 mini shells in a pack.  I got them on markdown for about $2.  Super-duper idea.  Now you can easily make your own - roll your pie crust just cut into smaller shells.

You can make any kind of pie, quiche, tart, etc. that you make like!  Now if you are making homemade crust and want to do this - place your crust and filling in a muffin tin and bake away.  If you need a pre-baked mini pie crust - do this like we showed last week with the biscuit bowls.  Form the crust over the back of the muffin pans and bake - then fill when cool.

Want individual cheesecakes?  Make your crumb crust as usual the pat into lightly buttered muffin tins and fill with your favorite cheesecake.  You can even use pre-made for this - just use a glass to cut out the appropriate size crust from a pre-made one.

Sometimes we just a bite or two of a goody to be satisfied.  It is easy to make smaller sizes and freeze the rest for another day.

You can think about making brownies in muffin pans as well (crispy edges all the way around!!).  Cakes (good for ice cream or fruit toppings!) and muffins too.  Those muffin tins are good for a lot of things!!!!  

Just another way of thinking outside the box a little - using what you have and making fun and tasty goodness.

Have a SWEET day!

It Isn't Just $$$$

 Today, I just want to clarify something that many don't understand.  Being frugal (minders of our stuff), isn't just about money!  I will say, when my journey first started many years ago, YES it was.  We both came into marriage with debt, hubs had just purchased our house (right before meeting me), and we neither made big money.  So yes, it was about the money.  We wanted to pay off the debt we had, save, do things, and update our home.

Well, after a while it became HABIT and LIFESTYLE and a CHALLENGE!  We did get that debt taken care of quickly, paid our home off at 15 years instead of 30.  Bought a brand new vehicle (which we had never had before) and paid it off in one year.

We saved and saved some more.

Best of all we HAD FUN too!!!!!  Not expensive fun - we weren't world travelers or anything.  We wondered our state from here and there, we camped with our friends (we bought a camper), and we enjoyed the simple things in life.

Sure, most people start out with a specific reason.  It may be little money, it may be debt, it may be illness, it may be loss of job........just so many reasons.

Today, I am in good shape.  We did things right - we knew there may be medical issues at some point.  G wanted to make sure I would be ok if left alone.  Well, I am OK.  

I can buy pretty much what I want.  That is the thing - I don't WANT for much of anything!

I like my quiet time and just being with friends and family.  I like my stuff.  I like being a good steward of what I have.  

I don't want to add a lot to the waste of the world.  I try to use things in new ways, so as not to have to buy the junk that is thrown at us today.  I buy food to eat and nourish my body - why would I want to throw it away?  I try to take care of the environment as best as I can.  I know one person can't do a lot - but I can DO something.  

I try to keep the heat down, and turn the lights off so as not to overuse the utilities I have been blessed with.

I want to do the good things.  I want to take care of nature and enjoy the beauty.  I want to use what I have intentionally gone out and purchased and not waste it.  Why wouldn't I?  I want to get the best deals I can get and use my finances with care.  It took work and determination to have the finances - I sure don't want to fritter them away.

You can start living the "frugal" (determined) lifestyle for any number of reasons.  But at some point, I almost guarantee you - you will be doing things without thinking about it - just because you are used to it.

That is a wonderful place to be.  

So, if you are new to this and are just starting the journey - please don't feel you being punished or that you are poor or that you are never going to get ahead.  It happens!  Slowly but surely things work out.  You just have to keep moving forward.... that is important.  Don't give up.  If you fail at something, that means you have another opportunity to try again.  

No success comes without failure!!!!!!!!!

Do what you can.  Start small.  Be conscientious about your decisions.  It all adds up.

YOU GOT THIS!!!!!

Smile and have a good day.

Weekly Wrap Up 1/28

 Happy Sunday to everyone.  The last Sunday of the month! Again, time flies.

It is rainy, rainy, rainy here.  Did I mention rainy?  LOL.  I sure hope this helps the drought numbers.  Goodness, it hasn't stopped since yesterday afternoon.  Looks to be in the 40's most of this coming week as highs, so not too bad.

Been watching lots of birds and squirrels in the yard.  The big old woodpecker was out there this week.  So majestic!  This morning, I saw Rocky the racoon out there!  I figured there was one around, as a couple mornings the water bowl that sits on the deck had 'dirty' water in it.  That only happens with the racoon.  And the neighbor had set a trash bag outside his back door the other night, and the next morning it was a mess - someone hunting for food!

It has been kind of quiet around here this week.  Just going with the flow,

• Worked on cutting up some material for my gr. nieces throw/quilt she wants
• Paid everything I had in house and mailed a package
• Did a little more decluttering
• Baked a butter cake - plain
• Made some hard boiled eggs with the older eggs I had
• Ran to the feed store for the critters!
• While out - ran into Kroger for fresh items.  I have been craving fresh fruit and veggies.  I also got eggs - 18 count for 1.99 (2), milk, fruit, veggies all for FREE with a GC
• Got gas while out to use up the Dec. points.  Due to buying GC's last month at Kroger I had a lot of points - saved $1 gallon, paying 1.99/gal. for gas.  I only needed $10 and some change worth.
• Using what I have and using up leftovers

Meals this past week:

Sliders, oven potato bites

Homemade pizza (using lots of older veggies on hand)

Fried cabbage, scrambled eggs and bacon

Leftover pizza

Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and gravy

Beef (from freezer) sandwiches and leftover potatoes

Fried green tomatoes (home canned), and a small chef salad (used leftover chicken and hard boiled eggs)

How was your week?  Have you been decluttering or spring cleaning?  Any great deals this week?  I think this may be the week that many just decided to chill a bit, from what I have been reading!  We all need a quiet week or two now and then.

I hope that all having health issues or family health issues are doing well or better.  Please know you are all in my prayers daily.

Blessings to you and yours in the coming week from my humble little home.

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

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

Romans 8:26

Lord, we pray for all things and people as best we can.  You know our hearts and you know what we need and mean.  Please help us each one to have faith larger than our fears.  Lay healing hands upon all in need.  Amen