Flexibility - It is Important in Life

 Flexibility is important in all aspects of life!  If you have ever been married or in a relationship - you know how important it is.  Give and take and not always what one thought reality would be.  In work places - flexibility is a must.  In friendships we have to be flexible.  It is important in life in general.  NOTHING ever goes as we expect and we just have to make new plans, follow new routes and do what we can do.

It is very important in our pantries as well.   If you can be flexible you will be blessed.  Times get tough, weather gets bad, plans change - learn to use what you have in new ways.  It saves money, time and supplies and you will never go hungry! 

Let's get flexible!!!!!!

A few ideas:

No cream cheese?  Cream some cottage cheese and blend with a little butter

No Ricotta cheese - use cottage cheese

Use 2 Tbsp. of flour for every one on cornstarch needed for sauces

Brown sugar = 1 C sugar plus 2 Tbsp. molasses

Buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt OR a Tbsp. of vinegar added to enough milk to make a cup - let it set for 5 minutes

1 cup sour = 1 cup plain yogurt

1 pkg. of dry yeast = 1 Tbsp. bulk yeast

1 Tbsp. lemon juice = 1/2 Tbsp. vinegar

1 chopped onion = 1 Tbsp. instant minced onion

1 C tomato sauce = 1/2 C tomato paste + 1/2  C water

1 tsp. dried herbs  = 1 Tbsp. fresh herbs

Bacon = ham pieces, smoke flavor

Butter, margarine, shortening in baking = applesauce

Heavy cream in sauces or soups  evaporated milk  (remember you can buy cream that is shelf stable)

There are so many things in the pantry that takes the place of something else.  It just takes a bit of thought and imagination.

We all know that rice, potatoes and past can be switched about in meals.  Don't have one - use another.  Brown rice or long grain rice instead of white rice.

Fresh potatoes, frozen potatoes, dried or flaked potatoes - options!!!!!!!!!!

No meat and needing to add flavor to soup, casseroles or meals - just get those seasonings and bouillons out.

Any type of bouillon, spices and herbs, smoke, cheese, dehydrated veggies of any sort, tomato products (any kind - think salsa, marinara, spicy tomatoes), broth, stock..... the  list goes on and on.  There is no reason to serve a bland meal - there are tons of options for flavor and can give a meal a robust taste.

No frig milk - well there are options.  Dry milk, shelf stable milk, evaporated milk,  You can even use almond or nut milks or coconut milk - depending on what you are making.   You can even water down cream if you have it.

Cheese - I love cheese and use a lot of it.  It is a great flavor booster in foods.  I always keep powdered cheese - lots of it.  It works well in soups and casseroles and even added to mac.  There are options like Velveeta (you can make your own as well), and you can get individual packets of creamy Velveeta for single use.  These are shelf stable and I really like keeping a few of those on hand. (I get at Dollar Tree).  Think cheesy soups and there is jarred/canned nacho cheeses which are shelf stable.

I like having shelf stable cheese options.

It isn't just food - many times we get colds, flu, allergies or just sniffles.  I keep a good OTC medicinal pantry - but I truly like natural choices as well.  There are so many and people just don't think about it.

There are many other herbs and everyday products that help us.  We need to know our options.  I am a huge advocate of Vitamin C, D and Zink as well.  If I feel a cold or congestion coming on - I make a hot toddy of sorts.  Hot tea, lemon juice, honey and optional a shot of whiskey or bourbon.  It kicks it every time.  Hot tea and honey is a good 'for what ails you' plan!  My Daddy ate raw garlic every day and I never remember him having a cold.

                                                          This stuff works!  

I also believe in eating fruits.  I am a huge apple and orange eater - whatever is seasonal.  I do believe in the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away".  It seems to work well for me.

Do some RESEARCH on herbs and natural healing!  You will be glad you did.

Cleaning is another place to be flexible.  So many options instead of chemicals.  Use natural and what you have.  So many things are inter-changeable.

Baking soda in place of cleanser.  Peroxide instead of bleach and it cleans.  Vinegar instead of fabric softener and it works on windows/mirrors and general cleaning.  Alcohol for cleaning general surfaces.  Dish soap in a pinch for shampoo or even laundry.  Bar soap can be grated and turned into laundry soap or liquid soap.  It just takes a little creativity.

Paper goods - if you run out of TP have wet wipes on hand.  You can clean with a wash cloth and water/soap, you can make your own washable wipes, you can get a bidet attachment.

Paper towels - use rags instead.  Newspaper can be used to clean up wet spills or to wash windows.  Cut old worn clothing into rags.

We all know different ways to save and stretch that budget and what we have.  

We truly live in a time of abundance - no doubt about it.  I know - I hear all those stories about shelves at stores containing less and less - but BE FLEXIBLE.  If you can't find what you WANT - get something different.  This really is a time of abundance, just not maybe what you want.

Be grateful you can walk into a store.  Be grateful that you have so many to choose from.  Be grateful you have a pantry and freezer well stocked.  Be grateful you have options.

Remember back to the days of the big depression - there were no choices to speak of.  If you didn't grow it, make it - you didn't have it.  Options were very limited (we haven't seen anything like that yet).  During those dark days there were people not able to find ANY work - today you can find jobs on every corner - you just have to be willing to be flexible!  They didn't have food stamps or unemployment then.  They didn't have food pantries to speak of.  There were 'soup lines' - and people were grateful for watered down whatever!!!  

There were the dust bowl days - no crops - animals died.  People died.

Folks remember how GOOD you have it.  Quite complaining and learn to be FLEXIBLE. 

Life goes on.  Wants and needs are two different things.  You can eat and eat well on a little money and just by 'playing' with your food.

Look at what you have with new eyes and learn to be flexible!!!!!

Blessings to all.