Simple Foods = Good Eats #2

Last week we talked about dried beans/peas and pasta.  All cheap, yet good eating.  Inexpensive foods can get us through the hardest times and keep our bellies full and give us nourishment that may be very needed.
There are several items that we can all keep in our pantries to aid us in the event that we can not get other foods.  Simple and effective!


RICE
Rice is a very inexpensive item to keep on hand.  It is extremely versatile.
It can be used to extend meat or eggs.  It can be used in casseroles and soups.  It can be used in salads and as a side dish.  It can be mixed with veggies, meat, fruit or nuts.  Fried rice is a favorite here or served with stir fry meals.  We like a scoop of rice in a bowl of chili.  There really isn't much that can't be done with it.  It is the GREAT EXTENDER!
(You can cook a bunch and freeze for later as well)

There are so many varieties available, and I must sadly admit that I have tried just a few.  That is one of my goals - try more varieties.
Our mainstay is long grain white rice, then there is brown rice and one of my favorites long grain wild rice.
There is jasmine, Arborio, black, yellow, red, basmati, brown, wild, and on and on.

White rice is processed and the hull (or bran) is gone.  It requires less cooking - and it also contains less nutrients.  It is extremely inexpensive.  It stores very easily on the shelf for long periods of time.
(* a trick to keep it from sticking together when cooking - is a splash of lemon juice while cooking.  Fluffy rice every time)

All others are basically whole grains and are minimally processed, so they have their nutrient rich outer hull in tact. They take much longer to cook and tend to be much more flavorful.  These flavorful and colorful rice varieties can only be kept on the pantry shelf for a SHORT period of time before going rancid (from natural oils).  It is best to keep them in jars in the frig or in the freezer.  I have brown rice and wild rice jars in my frig all the time.

Wild rice is actually a grass - not rice.  It has a toasty flavor and is great for pilaf.
The other varieties  are quite flavorful - from fragrant and flowery to nutty and robust.  Do a little research and give some new rice types a try.  They are all quite frugal.

                                                      

Easy Fried Rice Bowl

1 C cooked rice

1/2 C frozen mixed veggies

1 egg

1Tbsp. Balsamic vinaigrette dressing or an Italian

1 Tbsp. soy sauce.

Mix veggies into rice, pour egg over veggies/rice.  Cover and microwave for 5 minutes.  Let it stand covered for 5 minutes.  Fluff and add dressing and soy.  Toss to combine.  Super easy meal.

(This can also be done on top of the stove- just watch it doesn't stick)

My hubs would also add sesame oil if he was eating.

SOUPS

Soups can be a mixture of anything!  They are convenient and easy.  They are filling. 

You can keep home canned soups in your pantry, store canned, dehydrated mixes and yes even Ramen!

I know, I know - Ramen is not really nutritious, not healthy (high salt) - but it is tasty and easy to store and it is SO CHEAP (.10 - .20 pack) and could keep you from going hungry.  There are dozens of flavors available too.

I keep a variety of canned soups on hand - that I get on sales - just because they are so convenient in a rush.

I also keep gallon jars of dehydrated soup mix on hand.  I generally add some to my homemade soups that I make with fresh goods.  It is great extender and has lots of herbs in it.  I can also make a 'cup of soup' with dehydrated veggie soup mix and scalding water.

I make up my own mixes for cream of soups and for onion soup mix.  I dehydrate  tomato skins (when canning) to use for flavor in soups, and I even blend dried tomato with different herbs to make my own flavor combos.  

Folks there is nothing you can't do!!!!!!  Don't be afraid to mix and match and come up with your own personal flavor sensations!

Soups are basically meals in a can/jar.  They are easy, nutritious, frugal and will keep you filled up and happy.

Back to Ramen - I have made the noodles many times without the seasoning pack to use with our home made oriental dishes.  It is cheaper than even spaghetti.
The noodles can be deep fried and added as a topping to oriental dishes (this is really tasty - kind of like chow mein noodles).  Those seasoning packets can be saved and used in large pots of soup for seasoning.  If used in a big pot of soup - it cuts the salt factor.  Add cooked unseasoned noodles to soup right before serving.
I love inexpensive ways to extend meals.

RAMEN NOODLE SALAD
1 pack slaw mix (16 oz.)
2 packs beef Ramen noodles (Break into smaller pieces)
1 indiv. size pack of  sunflowers seeds
1 small pack (4 oz.) of sliced almonds
1 bunch green onions - chopped
1/3 C vinegar
1/2 C sugar
3/4 C oil
Seasoning packets

Mix slaw, noodles (not cooked) and seeds/nuts and onion in a bowl.
Mix oil, sugar & vinegar in a separate bowl and add both seasoning packets.  Mix.
Pour dressing over salad 10-15 minutes before serving.
This is REALLY YUMMY!

So now we have two more food items to add to that deep pantry for those times that life may throw us a curve ball.
We use these items daily/weekly as well - but it sure comforting to know they are here (and cheap) and will be good eats now and later.

Lets keep those pantries stocked up!  You just never know.
Stay frugal and stayed prepared!

Frugal Happenings 3/3

Happy March everyone!
It sure doesn't feel like it here at the moment.  We are back in a colder state and going to get colder yet this week.  Brrrrrrr.  Back to more normal temps by the end of the week.  It sure doesn't feel like "spring" month.  I understand those in the southern hemisphere are now in "fall" and happy for it.  It has been so very hot there.
I find it amazing and just neat how drastically different it is where we live, yet we are all so similar!

I have noticed that every morning when I go out to feed the fur babies (generally before dawn) the birdies are happily singing.  I hear so much more variety and it does sound like spring.  The daylight hours are most definitely getting longer!  YAY!  I can look out at the horizon and see a bronze mist in the distance - the trees are starting to get leaf buds and it looks kind of bronze like.  I noticed the other day that a few tips of lilies are poking through the ground as well as a few red tips of peonies.  It truly won't be long till the earth comes back to life!

It has been another relatively quiet week here.
My frugal week:

• I made a butter sheet cake for snacks (I love butter cake)
• I also made mousse-like chocolate pudding (it was good as a topping on the cake)
• Early in the week I went out and picked up lots of trash that had blown in from those crazy winds we had
• I accomplished a little bit of yard work and picking up sticks (again) on a warmer day
• Colored my hair for about .67!  I used a third of a $2.00 clearance box of dye.
• Got to air out the house on a couple of afternoons
•  Continuing spring cleaning - mopping, cleaning windows, mirrors & pictures, working on the cabinets, etc.
• Received another of my "gifted" Martha Stewart Living magazines - those are neat
• Did not have to purchase any fuel for the Blazer this month (Feb.)
• Been working on coming up with a plan for a baby quilt for a soon to be first time Mommy in the family
• Used a leftover chicken breast and used the meat in soup, and used the skin and  bone to make broth for the same soup.  I also used the hard ends of asparagus in that broth for flavor
• Used all leftovers for breakfast or lunches
• I finally ran out on Saturday - I just needed to get away from house.  I ran to Aldi and bought 4 lb. bag of juicy & sweet navel oranges for 1.99.  I think I need to go get more before price changes - they are wonderful.  I also bought a bag of frozen peas (for salads) for .85 and a gallon of milk for 1.59.
• I am saving the orange peels in a baggy to make cleaner with
• I washed my quilt and comforter and felt they needed a bit of brightening up.  I washed with peroxide in the water - and the whites are so much whiter and the colors brighter!  It is natural too!
• Just doing all the normal stuff - cooking from scratch, cold water wash, making tea, etc.

                                                                      Mexican casserole

Meals this past week:

Homemade beef sliders (like White Castle) and chips and dip

Cream of asparagus soup - 2X (with chicken in it)

Mexican oven casserole

Sausage gravy over toast and chicken tender strips

Homemade meat pie (pot pie)

Homemade pizza

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I have just been trying to use up everything that we can and not waste.  Thankfully G isn't a traditional breakfast kind of guy and he likes leftovers for breakfast!  That helps use everything up.

Still mainly using the pantry and the freezers for our meals.  I really don't need weekly groceries, except for re-stocking items we get low on or that occasional thing we run out of!!!  (Rarely happens - but it does sometime)

I sure love having a well stocked pantry and freezers!

How was your week?  Any great deals?  Are you all ready the changing of the seasons?  I can't imagine too many that aren't!!!!!

Here is wishing you safety and health in this coming week.  The promise of a new season is upon us, so we should rejoice.  Take time to hug and share this week - those are things we all need.

Many blessings from our humble home to yours.

Thanks and Good Wishes

Today I just want to say "thank you" to all you gals for tagging along on this little journey of mine.  I appreciate each and everyone of you so much.
You all add ideas, thoughts, and perspectives that maybe others hadn't thought of.  I love that we share personal moments and great ideas.  We can laugh at ourselves and give each other things to laugh about.  We share and comfort.  We have fun don't we?

I love how we encourage each other and sympathize with one another.  We have all had bad moments and good moments and more of each will come.  That is life.  But we are there for one another and that is amazing to me.   We come from different countries, different walks of life and different economic situations - yet we seem to care for one another.  THAT IS LIFE!  

I wish we saw more of this kind of behavior each and every day amongst the general populace.  I seem to hear so much bad, so much judging, so much evil, and so much depravity.  

I love my little place here, with a group a really wonderful souls!

So go out there this week and make someone's day by saying a kind word or offering a hand up.  Maybe it is just a smile, a hello, a 'how is your day', reaching an item on a shelf, opening a door...…. the list goes on.

You may change a perfectly awful day for someone.

Be the miracle you would like to receive.

God bless you all and THANK YOU for being here.  

I look forward to our journey this year.

Simple Foods = Good Eats

There are many simple, yet frugal items that we can purchase and stock, that are so good - good for you - and filling.  These are things we should have in our food arsenal for those "just in case" SHTF days.
Remember - we never know or expect when things go wrong.  Weather, financial hardship, truck strikes,  health, job loss, terrorism - the list goes one.  Generally emergencies happen when you are least expecting them.  It is always smart to be prepared for anything.

DRY BEANS & PEAS
Beans are so very good for you and full of protein.  Many vegans use beans instead of meat.  They are versatile and can be prepared in so many ways.

 I keep a variety of dry beans and peas on hand.  So many uses for them.  Lima beans in the jar.

It doesn't matter what brand you buy - they are all good.  As you can see - Kroger, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, and ethnic stores are all represented.  I get them where they are the cheapest.

There are so many varieties to chose from.  In the ethnic store I go to, if there is one type - there are a 100 to chose from.  Every shape and color and different tastes.  You need to try new varieties and experiment a little.  Don't limit yourself - you may just find a new favorite.  Beans are very inexpensive.

I use not only for ham & beans, but also in soups and stews, as meat extenders in tacos & such (such a good food extender), smashed as in refried, side dishes, casseroles, you name it.  They can be canned for easy consumption in the case of emergencies or just for convenience.  Once cooked - beans and lentils can be made into  vegan burgers (they are yummy too).  Dips can be made from beans.
So many uses and so good for you.
They will last years and years in dry form if kept in a cool dry place.  NO, they may not cook as quickly when they are very old (nor maybe get as tender), but they will still provide you with nourishment, fiber, protein, and fill your belly!

PASTA
Pasta is so very versatile.  Most people think of it as something that goes under sauce or that is added to cheese.  It can be so much more.  There are flavored  varieties, different shapes and sizes, gluten free and not, wheat, plain, veggie  and on and on.
I love pasta!  We often receive fun varieties in gift baskets we get at Christmas.  My nephew and his wife get us a variety of things we probably wouldn't try without influence!

See - fun shapes and sizes, different flavors,  just a lot of variation!  I also have linguine, spaghetti, elbow macaroni & shells.

Pasta CAN be covered in sauce or cheese - but it can be added to soups and/or casseroles (great extenders).  Many pasta can be made as a side dish, stuffed, baked, used under stir fry dishes, made into jar mixes (for dry shelf stable meals) and so much more.

I have purchased little alphabet pieces of pasta at the grocery to add to soup mixes, which is fun.

I like to break up spaghetti and add to rice and make my own rice a roni style mix.

I use spaghetti to make our own lo mein type oriental meals.

There are just so many uses.

If I plan on keeping pasta for a long, long period of time - I freeze it for several days (to kill anything), bring to room temperature and then store in glass jars or in sealed tins/or tubs.  It will last for ages in kept cool and dry.

So there are two items to add to your deep pantry that are frugal and filling and in many instances very healthy.  These could literally save you and your family.

I am going to try to post about different items each week - so we can all keep low cost items at hand for whatever life may present us.

BE READY FOR WHATEVER MAY COME YOUR WAY - AND HAVE YUMMY EATS AS WELL!

Frugal Happenings 2/24

Good morning.  We are now approaching the end of February.  Truthfully, I am glad.
We have had the wettest and ickiest February in years and years.  Hopefully March will be better.  It seems every weekend has brought a pretty extensive weather event this month!
Today is no exception.  Oh my, the wind is just ridiculous!  We mare having 35 - 45 mph sustained winds and gusts of 60 mph.  Most of the rain missed our area last night, but this wind...….UGH!

Momma and Fluffy are hiding under the back porch - the greenhouse is rattling too much for them.  Poor babies.

It has truly been a super quiet week.  Just haven't had a lot of oomph!
My frugal week:

• Did a lot of reading and research
• Been working on my deep spring clean more
• I did go out one 'nicer' day and picked up a crazy number of sticks in the yard.  I only got the bigger ones, there are a ton of little ones.  So anxious to do spring clean-up!
• Scoured all the bird baths and watering holes outside on a 'warmer' day
• I found the leather punch and added holes to a belt that was too big - thus giving me a new one to wear.  I have a couple others I may do as well (thinking of cutting one down that was G's).
• Doing all the regular stuff - laundry in cold, hanging much laundry in basement to dry (adds humidity), making tea, cooking from home, etc.
• I did go out one day this week.  Ran to Kroger to get fresh asparagus - .99/lb.  We love this time of year, as there is always affordable fresh asparagus to be had.
• I got a few mark downs as well.  Not a lot to choose from.  I got 4 bags of Heath toffee/choc.chips for .99 each, and can of Maxwell House coffee for 3.79 and 2 packs of blueberry bagels for .79 ea.  I got what they had.  Kroger clearance hasn't been that great recently at our closest store.  (I might need to check out other locations)

Sorry the picture isn't the clearest!!!!!  But you get the idea!

Meals this past week:

Stew (leftover)

Grilled corned beef/Swiss sammies and cup of soup

Eggs, bacon, hash browns & toast

Cheesy chili mac and hot dogs and sliced veggies with dip

Leftover cheesy chili mac and a nice salad

Beef and cheese nachos

Fried chicken breast and steamed asparagus

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This is so much of how I have been feeling lately.  I am thankful everyday - but so much is happening in the world that is unsettling.  It just reminds me of how totally fortunate we are.  We take so much for granted when we should be thankful for everything.  We live like Kings to many!

How was your week?  Did you get any good deals?  What is on your frugal agenda?

I love hearing from everyone - we have had so many new ladies commenting lately.  I LOVE IT!  I think maybe we are growing, learning and teaching - all of us together!!!!!

May your week be blessed beyond measure.  I pray for health and safety for each of you. 

I hope we all learn something each day, share something each day, and live a generous life.

Blessings from our humble home to yours!

Wisdom and Knowledge NOT from Books

I love books - but there are so many ways to enhance our knowledge that does not come from a book.
Look to your parents.  Your grandparents.  Your siblings.  Your friends.   You and me.

Some knowledge just NEEDS to come from others.  We learn from our experiences and from others experiences.   We learn from the positive influences in our lives and we learn from the negative as well.  Everything is a learning situation.  This is one reason I love Blogs.  We are sharing our personal knowledge and it will live on and never be lost.

Remember - you are definitely part of the past and you are also part of the future.
I know I have learned so much from my parents and the stories I heard about their parents and families.  I learned from my siblings.  I have learned from friends and all of you.  I have learned so much about my strength from learning about my ancestors. I also know that a part of me will be remembered and go on with the younger folks in the family.

Some people could care less about learning about their ancestors.  That is ancient history!  Not so much.  You may not have personally known these people - but they are in you and your DNA  What those people went through is amazing.  We DO get many of our traits from those of long ago.
They went through foreign and civil wars.  They went through poverty and the great depression.  They went great loss and despair.  They went through good times and good fortune.  So much.
I had a 6X  great grandfather that was captured by Indians and later rescued, we had many business owners, we had farmers, we had Amish in recent generations, we had very poor people and wealthy people.

Luckily I have many stories passed down from my folks.  I try to pass those on as well.  But what about YOUR story...….. your dreams, your hurts, you recipes, your goals, your hobbies, your ideas and thoughts,  your life?
Pass those stories on.

NOW is the time to write your story.  When you are no longer on this earth - those stories are lost forever!!!!!!
If given a chance talk with parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents - get the stories NOW!!!!!!!  Write them down, do not depend on your memory.
We are more like our ancestors than we can possibly imagine.  The stories are real and fascinating - they are us.
JUST REMEMBER - had one ancestor in your lineage not endured and had the strength to survive - you wouldn't be here.   It's that simple!

We have each gone through good and bad, happiness and sadness, loss and heartache, health and sickness, security and insecurity...………………..  and through it all, no matter how awful or good - you woke up this morning.  You are reading this.  You have survived!  In my book that makes you a success!

Isn't that worth passing on?  The knowledge of your survival may just help another.  You may be someone's inspiration.  Your ideas may help another.  That is what it is all about.

FAMILY HISTORY is everything.  It is who we are, like it or not.
Don't let it go to the grave with you!
It is PRICELESS information.

A Bit of THIS and THAT and DID YOU KNOW to Save

There are so many little ways to save a bit of money in our everyday lives.  Also a lot of ways to recycle things, so we don't continue to clog the landfills.
Today will be a little of this and a little of that.  Hope you find something you can use!

• Heavy water stained porcelain sinks are easily cleaned with a nice heavy thick toilet bowl cleaner.  Spread the cleaner on the sink - let it sit for about 5 minutes - and wipe away those heavy water deposits.
• Rub white chalk on ANY grease stain (rub it in well) and then launder.  Grease washes out.
• We all know baking soda is good for cleaning - I love it to make chrome faucets sparkle.  It works really well (I use the old stuff)
• Lids - wonderful lids.  So many are inter-changeable.  I save lids from parmesan cheese jars, lids from jar candles (when jar can't be cleaned well enough), and squirt bottle tops and even screw on tops from pop bottles.  They all work well for new ideas.

Those candle jars lids fit perfectly on wide mouth jars, parmesan lids fit regular mason jars.  Squirt lids fit individual water/pop bottles.  Regular lids will screw on many squirt bottles

• Put a couple of candle melts (or candle scraps) into a small jar.  Add a lid with several holes poked in it.  Place in your cars cup holder and in warm/sunny weather you have a great car air freshener
• Check you medicine cabinet/medicinal storage area/health & beauty - Odds are you have more than one bottle of the same thing opened!  Combine and have less clutter.
• I bet everyone's garage has a stiff old paint brush (I have a few).  Place them in a bowl of vinegar for 30 minutes and they soften right up.
• If you get permanent marker on your clothes - rub  hand sanitizer into the mark then launder - all gone!

Did you know?

Annie's Mac N Cheese is the same as Trader Joe's

Kirkland (Costco) Signature batteries are made by Duracell

Great Value spices are actually McCormick (packaging is all that is different)

Great Value canned veggies are Green Giant

Wal-Mart frozen dessert topping is Cool Whip

Aldi's frozen breaded chicken strips are Tyson Foods

Kroger brand American Deluxe Cheese slices are made by Kraft

Save a few dollars and buy store brands.  So many times they are manufactured by the same plants as brand names - just different labeling!

Read your labels!

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An easy way to save for a special item or to start kids out saving - or just plain old save THE EASY WAY - do this!

Save a penny for whatever day it is in the year.

1 penny day one.  5 pennies day 5.  1.00 for day 100.  2.00 for day 200 and 3.65 on the last day of the year.  You will end up with $667.95 saved with NO effort at all.

IT CAN'T GET MUCH EASIER!

Odds are you could easily double that and ADD an easy $1,335.90 to your emergency or fun fund.

Get creative with your saving/emergency fund plan.  Save  'the penny plan way'.  Save ALL your change.  Save dollar bills you receive for change.  Some people save fives.  Some save dimes or quarters.

Figure out what works for you and something that is easy.  You will be amazed how much you can save.  It all adds up.

DON'T FORGET - buying cheap or getting free items for your pantry is also creative savings!!!!!!  Those savings are truly money in the bank. 

Happy saving!