Groceries - Take Control Where You Can

 Hello all.  Hope you are all safe and well.  Boy we had a super big bad storm system come through our state last night.  It did some damage in many places, yet again.  It was a system that was a strip of storms that covered most of the state from north to south.  Somehow there was a tiny break in that system as it approached my city and I got no rain at all!  There was wind, but no rain.  Just the weirdest thing.  I am so thankful.

It is the FIRST day of SPRING!!  Sure doesn't feel like it.  Cooler and sprinkling this morning - maybe some snowflakes!   The daffies are blooming, the forsythia is thinking about blooming, I see some buds on some trees, and the grass is greening. Looks like the warmer temps are gone for at least a week or so.  Such is March!

I know lately, I have talked a lot about our pantries and freezers and our kitchens.  It seems to be one of the things many are talking about.  It truly is the one spot in our budgets where we DO have some control.  Utilities are what they are.  Gas is what it is.  Rent/mortgage is what it is.

Groceries, we do have choices we can make, and we can pick and choose items.

To me, grocery shopping starts at HOME not the grocery store!

Your refrigerator food is some of the most expensive food items you buy!  It also tends to be where the most waste happens.

We need to bring that food home and prep it and USE IT.  Use those leftovers in some new way.  Clean the frig every week to see what actually needs to be used and USE it.  Don't let it become a science project.  Using what you have, decreases the need to shop and/or to not eat out.

Check the pantry - try to keep an inventory - or least look through it very often.  Use those oddball items that have been sitting around.  Use the older stuff that keeps getting shoved back.  Get creative.  There are many sites on the computer that let you enter what ingredients you have - and gives you recipes and ideas for meals.  MyFridgeFood.com is one that I have used several times.  Get out those cookbooks.  

Think about getting or borrowing a vacuum sealer.  It sure save items in the freezer.  No freezer burn as it removes the air from the packages, and that is what causes the burn.  If you can't get a vacuum sealer, try your darndest to get as much air as possible out of those packs. Many use a straw to suck air out!  Freezer packs can be stored FLAT (smoosh them out), and you have a neater freezer and can see what you have easier.  It helps give you more room as well.

PLAN your meals around what you have!!  Shop less often and then go for sales only and clearance and to generally just re-stock items you are low on.

Keep some freezer meals on hand - so that you can get a meal out in a flash if necessary.  It helps keep you from eating out.  Also think about meal 'ready' items.  Pre-cooked taco meat or packs of cooked dried beans.  Maybe sausage patties already cooked, pancakes, waffles, containers of soup, etc.  Having things that you can just easily thaw and reheat really helps the budget by lessening the urge to go out.

Air fryers and Instant Pots can help make meals in a short time.  They can be expensive, so look for sales or second hand - or ask for them as a gift! 

Utilize a crockpot if you work or have busy days.  They make great meals without a lot of work.

Buy seasonal fruit and veggies when possible.  Not everything is cheap out of season.  Sales on foods go in cycles - keep track of those and stock up then.  Holidays create a lot of seasonal sales!  Take advantage - it is like money in the bank later.

If you get the opportunity to grow anything when the weather warms - do it.  Even if it is just lettuce or a tomato plant.  That is something, and it keeps you from buying.  If you have excess - freeze or can or dehydrate.  OR barter with someone else for something you don't have.

You don't HAVE to buy junk - you can make it!  Yes, you can.  Make your sweets, breads, crackers, chips, dips, snacks of all sorts.

So as the old saying goes - use it up, make it do.  Think about your decisions carefully.

Get creative.

You DO have some control - so take advantage of it.  Don't get all flustered, make it fun and maybe even have the family help with ideas.

Have a great day everyone.

NO POLITICS PLEASE

More Pantry Fun

 Happy Wednesday all.  Hope you are all well this morning.  My goodness, what a pretty sunrise we had this morning.  It didn't last long, but boy the colors were spectacular.  It is in the 50's this morning, but winds will be coming in and blowing in a cold front & storms late tonight.  We will be cooler for the next week or so.  It is March Madness time (basketball tourney), so that is to be expected.  We most always have nasty weather during tourney time. 

The grass is greening up, the daffodils started to bloom yesterday, the birds are back - so spring!

There have been tornadoes, dust storms, fires, blizzards, flooding and severe storms all over - all at the same time.  Crazy spring weather for sure.  The craziness of March!   Stay safe out there.

Let's talk a bit more about making things from the pantry.  It seems that is the thing we all like and look forward to figuring out.  It helps the budget, and it is just plain fun!

NATURE

Now that spring is popping up in many places, there are several ideas to utilize the gifts that we are given in the spring.  Dandelions and violets will soon be appearing, and both can be made into jelly.  I have done both before.  It is a bit time consuming to get ready, but it is very good and uses nature.  Some eat dandelion greens.  I had those as a child.  But there are many pretties that can be used in jellies out there.  Peonies, lilacs, honeysuckle, roses, lemon balm, mints.  Nasturtium can be used in salads - both flowers and leaves - for a tangy peppery taste.  With mints and lemon, you can make extracts as well.

Don't forget the wild garlic and onions - great when added to salads.

Nature provides us with a lot of tasty morsels.

Not the healthiest thing in the world, but this recipe comes in handy at times.  Using a can of sweetened condensed milk to make caramel.  I have done this on the stove top before.  Make sure you keep it covered with water while processing.  It really is tasty!  Generally, we all have a can or two in the pantry, so this something different to do with it.

HOMEMADE 'CORN' SYRUP

A lot of people don't like corn syrup - so here is a version to make your own

2 C white sugar

3/4 C water

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

Whisk is all together, bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer for about 3 minutes.  Uncover and cook to a 'soft ball' stage (a drop in cold water and then sinks in a ball).  Cool and store in an airtight container for a couple months.

To make DARK syrup - combine 3/4 C of the above with 1/4 C molasses

CREAM CHEESE

If you need cream cheese for baking and have none, you can blend cottage cheese in a blender until smooth and use that.  It will not taste like cottage cheese in the recipe.

I can't stand cottage cheese, but I do use it in lasagna as the cheese, if I have it on hand.  Used to do that a lot when G was here, as he liked cottage cheese, and I had it on hand always.

SPRINKLES

It is coming time for holiday cookies!  Lots of people like to bake, ice and decorate cookies for various holidays or parties or just for fun.  No sprinkles - no problem.  

Pour some sugar in a shallow bowl and add drops of food color and mix thoroughly.  You can customize your colors yourself.  I have done this so many times over the years.  Super easy and fun.

You can make these with any type of fruit you have.  Strawberries, bananas, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, etc.  I have done this and used regular milk - as I don't keep coconut milk on hand.  You can even blend in some flavored yogurt - there is nothing set in stone with this idea.  Use what you have a make a nice treat or snack that is pretty healthy as well!  Make into pops or freeze in ice cube trays for small treats.

BROWN SUGAR

Make your own.  Use 1 cup sugar and add 2 Tbsp. of molasses and stir.  This is like light brown sugar.

Want dark?  1 cup sugar and 4 Tbsp. molasses.

TRADES

1 garlic clove = 1/8 tsp garlic powder or 1/2 tsp granulated garlic

Lemon zest 1 tsp. = 1/2 tsp. lemon extract

Unsweetened chocolate 1 ounce = 3 Tbsp cocoa plus 1 Tbsp. shortening or veg. oil

Self-Rising Flour - use 1 C all-purpose flour and add 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt

HOMEMADE GATORADE

1 pkg. unsweetened Kool-aid

1/2 C sugar or sweetener equivalent

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 C orange juice

2 quarts water

Mix it all together and chill.

You can use whatever flavor you desire and could even sub lemon or lime juice

I have made this many times - just using what you have!

Hope we all have a nice last day of official winter!  WOOP!

I know winter weather will be sticking around for a while for many, but it sure is something nice to think about - the last official day!

Have a super day all.

What Goes Around....Comes Around

 Good morning to all.  Hope this finds all well and safe.  Cool morning here, but it will be a lovely day.  Probably the best of the week.  It was about 42 when I got up - maybe going to 70*F today.  NICE!

I sure hope all the storms have died down, and people can pick up the pieces of their lives again.  So many sad situations out there.

I have been doing some reading over the weekend and I spent a good deal of time going through my old notebooks and articles that I have kept around for a long while.  It is funny, I came across some things from early in the 2000's (around Y2K) - and here we are!  Some I thought were kind of comical as well.  People just didn't have a real clue to real life for many!

Here is one of the quotes:

"People taking personal responsibility for sustainable, simple and frugal lifestyles are a wave of the future.  Catch the leading edge of this epic transformation that will change the face of the nation forever.  As it turns out, you are not your stuff." 

Really??  Wave of the future?  How about the way many have lived all along?  How about how our ancestors did?  

This was a big wave around Y2K, then again around 2008, and now again!  Maybe, just maybe if people had lived like this all along - there wouldn't be a problem!

I know many live a totally different kind of life and have always lived differently.  But suddenly, this is a NEW thing again.  Everyone seems to think 'the sky is falling'.  Well, it has happened many times in the recent past, and we made it through.  YES, WE MADE IT THROUGH!  

I am one of those that hasn't really changed a thing in the way I live, as I have lived a very sustainable lifestyle for many years.

Just a little common sense is what is needed.  A little less WANT, and more NEED.  A little more looking at things differently.  A little more caring about the earth and others.  A little more of just being frugal and responsible.

I look at this blog as a piece of all of us.  We all contribute recipes, ideas, tips, memories, etc.  We are passing on a little piece of ourselves and our families to others.  We are passing on history!!!  How cool is that?

For those of you just starting this journey - you truly CAN live better with less.  Less money, less stuff, less stress, less complications, less aggravation, etc.  We can live a better life if we look back at what grandma did, served, cooked, and saved.  We need to go back to "slow food" instead of fast food that is literally not even food in many instances.  The chemicals and such that are added, are doing us all harm.  Use real ingredients and make it yourself.  You will be amazed.

People need to take more personal responsibility for creating a better life.  Stop blaming problems on everyone else.

We change things one person at a time, one decision at a time, one household at a time.  BE the change that you want to see.  Talk to others and tell them.  Educate others.  Learn.

Don't give up or despair.  Don't feel sorry for yourselves.  Sow goodness and blessings wherever you go and to all you meet, and you will be amazed how you will reap blessings and kindness back.

You aren't living a second-class life, when you try to live a more frugal (or sustainable) lifestyle.  You are learning to live a first-class, worry-free lifestyle.  You realize what is truly important - and it isn't stuff.  The more you learn and practice living a simpler lifestyle, the more control you have over your life.  This makes you less vulnerable, and you will learn how to get through just about any situation.

REMEMBER a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step!!  Start today, make one change, and a second tomorrow and so on.  You can do this.  Stop the fretting and the anxiety - we are here for each other.  Let us all continue to use the wisdom of our ancestors and the wisdom we have acquired over the years to help each other.

BUY what you use, USE what you buy.  Recycle and make positive changes in life.  Learn to live on less of everything - you will be amazed how freeing it really is.

Have a fantastical day!!!

Weekly Wrap Up 3/16

 Happy Sunday my friends. I sure do pray you are all safe.  There has been so much bad weather happening the past couple days.  So much destruction.  Prayers for all.  

We had a few tornados touch down in IN, but nothing like that here in my area.  Just lots of wind and rain, thank goodness.  We have hit our warmest of the day, earlier this morning.  The temps will be dropping back into more normal (for this time of year) range.  We have had a very warm week, but that is over for a bit.  More normal for this coming week.

It seems March is always full of wind and storms.  It is a scary time.

Here we are half-way through the month.  Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.  They had a parade here in the city Friday - and it happened without rain!  It usually pours on the day of the parade.  ENJOY

AMEN

I actually got out my flip-flops this week!  Yes, it was that warm (80 one day).  I think I broke every nail while doing yard work!  LOL.  Daffodils are starting to bud.  Birds are just amazing.  Robins and more robins, tons of doves, and even the one-legged pigeon - it has shown up daily for about two weeks.  Amazing.  The cow birds are back too.  My little world is starting to wake up!

Sis went home Friday!  It has changed and they say she can now do assisted living.  So they are getting that all worked out, and then she will move.  She should be able to move real soon.  If so inclined, please say a little prayer that she doesn't get hurt anymore and stays safe.

My frugal week:

• Got to air the house most of the week.
• NO heat for many days
• I worked and worked outside.  Cleaning out the front beds and spots all over the yard.
• Did my weekly "trash" walk and picked up lots of items
• Refilled all the soap containers - my usual of soap, water and vinegar
• I did put out spring door decorations
• Cleaned all the windows, doors and mirrors.  Did the ceiling fans as well
• Made a gallon of tea.  Had sparkling fruit water several times (soda stream)
• Got to unplug all the outdoor water bowls and birdbath
• I think I have laundered about everything in the house!  I am on a roll with spring cleaning.  Just laundering everything
• I stayed home until Friday.  I did run in Kroger for sales only.  Cabbage - .49/lb., asparagus - 1.49 lb., bananas .49 lb.  I did get 2 - 4 lb. bags of sugar as hummingbird season will be soon (to add to what I already have).  I also found 1 lb. of Brussel sprouts on sale for 1.69 and 3 lb. Cara Cara oranges for 2.99
• Cooking at home, using up leftovers.  No oven used - just air frier
• All the normal stuff

Meals this past week:

Beans & rice, ham slices (freezer) carrot & cuke stix

Cheese topped bagels (roasted), summer sausage and small fruit salad

Faux crab salad over lettuce, crackers

Chicken strip, potato & cheese roll-up

Pan seared flounder, crab and salad (homemade cocktail sauce as well)

Beans & rice (freezer) and tortillas, fruit

Cheese, fried onion topped chopped steak and salad

There you have it.  Nothing exciting, just trying to get things done while the weather permits.  I have sure enjoyed this taste of spring.  This week I will probably continue to work inside.  Trying to get creative with meals.  Buying the cheaper goods while available.  I only buy cabbage when it gets super cheap - it lasts quite a while.

How has your week been?  Did you get any good weather to enjoy?  Any good deals? 

I sure hope none of you had to endure damage from the storms.

I pray you are all safe and healthy!  Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.

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

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Lord, again we send thanks for all our mercies received.  Please help us each one to live according to the scripture.  May we each live our best lives and help others as well.  We pray for peace and love in this world for all.  AMEN

Rise and SHINE

 Happy Thursday all.  Another beautiful day in the neighborhood!  40's this morning, going up into the 70's again.  It looks to be another great day for being outside.  The birdies are serenading me as I write, and Bitsy is all pumped up watching them.  I noticed yesterday that there is a bird nest in the gutter on the porch overhang.  The bird hardly ever leaves!

I have lots of green popping up in the perennial bed.  We have a cool down coming in Sunday, after the storm front moves through, and are looking at one cold night.  I am sure everything will be fine, as they were all up some, during the last cold snap.  It basically will only last a day or so, then temps go back up.

I came across a meme or saying that I thought just summed up how we should all be.  There is so much anger and negative happening, and people sure DO respond to it.  I am so over it.  You can control how you respond - only YOU can.  

Years and years ago, I had a very bad temper.  It was not pretty.  Once I met G, I realized the reason I was that way before, it was because I was not happy!  Once I got happy - everything changed.  Sure, I was broken hearted and lost when I lost him, but I still feel that love from him in my heart.  That will never leave.  He would want me to go forward and do good.  That is how I try to live and not let that negative creep back in.

I just want to be happy each day and maybe make someone else's day a little more joyful.  That is it!  Pretty simple.

I have stopped watching a lot of You Tube channels and have stopped reading a lot of blogs because all I see is negative.  That isn't what I want to absorb in life.  You shouldn't either.

STOP letting yourself get triggered by the bad stuff!!!!!  That is exactly what is happening.

Look for the GLIMMER and SMILE.  I do believe it is true, the more you start to notice the good things in life, the happier and healthier you will feel.  The more you are likely to do something nice for another.  The more you are likely to smile or say a kind word. 

That is what we need.

Be that GLITTER that makes things shine and gives another a picture of GLIMMER!

Sending out blessings to you all.  Have a wonderful day!

**(no politics)**

A Little More Assistance in the Kitchen - Mastering Your Pantry

 Good morning and happy Wednesday to all.  A little cooler this morning, in the 40's.  Bright and cheery looking outdoors and it will be a lovely day again.

This morning there were 2 red-winged black birds and the newest one to show up had a ton of red on its wings.  I bet it is a male.  Their song is just so neat, very distinct from all the other birds.  Gosh I love the morning songs.  I wish I had a recorder, so I could record and post.  I would love you to hear what I hear every morning and a lot of the day!

Today, just a few more kitchen ideas to maybe saving a little money.  Make it yourself and subbing when there is a need.  We all need new ideas for making yummy things for our kitchens and our families.  Hoping this helps someone save a little and have fun.

Pretty darn simple.  No need to go buy an expensive bottle.  It always seemed I would buy a bottle and use it so rarely, that if would just get funky.  This works for smaller batches.

Great subs. The syrup - I keep a little bottle of maple flavoring on hand to add to the flavor.  These work great to keep you from making that extra run out to the grocery.  Use what you have.

Be a master of your pantry!!!!!

Click on these separately to enlarge for easier reading.  

Just a simple way to make homemade ketchup.  Not like most canning recipes that contain dozens of items and takes hours.  This tastes really good.  Uses normal at home pantry items, doesn't take a lot of time, win-win.

Love me some homemade sloppy Joe.  No need to buy the bottles of sauce.  One of the easiest things to make.  I also add a splash of Worcestershire Sauce - gives it a bit of a zip!

Easy-peasy ideas.  Hope these help someone out a little.  New homemakers need to find easy ideas to stretch those dollars.  There isn't always a mom available to answer questions.  Let us by the mom to them and whomever might need a good idea or two.

If you have an easy tip - drop us a note!

Have a beautiful day my friends.

Getting By and Getting Ready

 Happy Tuesday to all.  I sure hope this finds you all well and safe.

It is a lovely morning here today.  Woke to 50*.  Yesterday was gorgeous.  I worked on some spring projects that I wanted done.  More of the same today.

Sitting here listening to the birds sing.  I have a feeder on the front porch and the birdies just sing out there.  It is great kitty "TV" as well.  Out back I have all kinds of birds, but in the front it is mainly the little fellows and of course robins in the yard.

The chickens two doors down have sure been enjoying being outside most of the day!  This isn't them (not my pic), but they roam all over the yard.  There are 2 black ones, 2 brown ones, and 2 that look to be a combo of black/white.  They have a young dog as well, and he acts like a herder - lol!  It is fun to watch.

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  I got some work done.  Spring is in the air, and I am ready.  

I got the two security door windows cleaned inside and out.  What a lovely difference it makes.  The front door is a toughie to do, as it is one solid window from top to bottom and you have to take it out to clean the outside.  The doors have a lot of wrought iron fretted work on them - and you can't clean around it.  But I did it!  My back was screaming at me - but that is part of spring.

They just look so good.  Noone else would probably notice but I do!!!  

That is the thing - do things for yourself!!!!  You don't have to care what others think when it comes to your place - do you!  Do what makes you happy.  Do what brings you joy.

I had this piece from a broken car window cleaner in the Blazer.  I got it out, cleaned it with a little vinegar - and used it on my windows!  I just held it in my hand.  I am sure somewhere in the garage there is a handle that will fit it (I will look) - but yesterday it worked great to clean big windows!

Being a beautiful day - it was a line drying kind of day!  I have a clothesline still in my yard.  I need to re-line it this year.  I have everything to do it.  I think I have the only actual clothesline left in the neighborhood!!!  Seriously.  Other improvise though.  I love their ingenuity.  A couple of younger couples do what they can to use the great outdoors and the free air!

2 doors down.  (the chicken house).  She hung the little ones clothes out to dry the best way she could.

 

This was taken a couple years ago - 2 doors over the other direction.  You do what you can with what you have!!!!!  She still does this with towels, covers and jeans.

I got these solar lights at Christmas as a gift.  After cleaning the front flower bed this week, they will be going out there!  There is a hummingbird, a dragon fly and a flower.  I bet they will be so pretty lit!  I got a huge decorative pot for Christmas as well - that will soon make its way to the porch.  It will be filled with some pretties for sure.  It is fun to get these things out that have just been stored for a while.

After cleaning the doors, I put out my spring door decor.  It always looks so cheery.

I also got the bedroom windows cleaned yesterday.  Today I will be working on all others.  That is a job, but it makes me so happy when done.  I just love a CLEAR view!  I also washed the screens down too with a wet and soapy rag - then rinsed with the dampened rag.

Airing out the house makes me happy as well!!!!!  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  I just love fresh air.

There are so many things you can do to spruce up things and they don't have to cost a cent!  Just washing down the house with a hose or cleaning the windows, makes a huge difference.  Wash the windows and screens and the window coverings.  Change out the bed coverings or add a cheery afghan or pillow.   Little things can just make you go "aaaaahhhhhh".

I wish more of my neighbors would 'pretty up" their yards - but I can't control that.  As long as they keep things mowed and trimmed, I am glad.  I just love doing all the little things - to me it makes a house a home!

I know you gals up north in Canada are still in the deep freeze.  I saw a map yesterday showing weather - and dang gals - you aren't catching a break!  It is lovely down this way for now.

I hope all of you that can - get out and do something to enjoy this fresh air and sunshine and warmth.  Get that free vitamin D!!!!

Like I said above - do things that make you happy!  Get creative and have fun with your home and yard.  It doesn't have to cost a penny if you don't want it to.

Enjoy this day you were gifted!!!!!!