Help - What Say You?????

 Today I am asking for everyone's help.  We will be staring a new year in three weeks.  A new year brings lots of new things - some good and some not so good (as we saw this year).  All we know for sure is that with life comes CHANGE.  We sure don't have to like it - but that is one constant - life changes.

I am searching for fresh ideas for the blog.  I have been doing this a fair amount of years, and enjoy it so much.  I just don't want to become dull and boring.

I have never really wanted to be the person who just uses the blog as a daily diary.  I guess that is what blogging is in a way - but you aren't going to get excited about "I did A. B and C today" over and over.  I want things to be fun and fresh.

My question is - What do you want to see in 2021?

Do you want more financial and budgeting?  Recipes?  Health and home?  Gardening?  Personal?  Natural living?  Hints and tips?

WHAT SAY YOU???????

I will go through the next three weeks as normal.  I would love to have some sort of plan for the new year.  Tell me what you are interested in and what you may like to see.

I have always been a planner.  I just sometimes need a path - or maybe a new path.  

Give me your best ideas.  I look forward to reading them and hearing from you.  

This is, after all a group endeavor.  We all support, help and care about one another.

Thank you!!!!!

Refreshing Some Ideas From Christmas Past

 We are drawing closer by the day to Christmas.  Gifts are being bought and goodies are being made.  Then there are those of us who haven't baked a thing yet!  It will happen - eventually.

Today I will post a few ideas from years past that you might want to try and some that just makes life easier.  Oh they taste good too!

COOKIE BARS

Super easy and yummy.  Use any type of chips you want.  You could even add colorful sprinkles on top!

EASY CHEESY CRACK DIP

Super easy dip!  I like to add chopped jalapeno to mine.  Great with any type of cracker or chip.  Mix and have on hand for any occasion.  Great appetizer as well.  (I have made it and topped baked potatoes with it as well)  

AMISH SPREAD

I posted this recipe last year and it was a hit with several readers.  If you have not tried Amish peanut butter or spread - you are missing out.  It is so stinking good.  It makes a great gift and it is just a comfort food for anytime.  NO it isn't diet by any means!!!!!  LOL

It sure is tasty.

Muffins that taste like pecan pie - oh my.  What a great breakfast bite or just a treat.  These are so tasty.

NOT FOOD - but it may be the most appreciated gift you could give!!!!!  LOL  This was a hit last year and WHO KNEW - TP would become  such a hoarded commodity????  Not only would this be a funny gift to give to family or friends - BUT useful as well!!!!

Wrap a roll and add a funny card - maybe make up a verse that reflects 2020!

There you go - refreshed ideas from the past.  Maybe you will find something fun to make or share with others.  It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive to be fun and tasty.

Have fun and enjoy.

Good Golly Miss Molly

 You know the song?  Good golly Miss Molly that girl - she sure likes to "stock"!  LOL!!  Changed it a little. (hehe)

I have been putting stuff in jars and rearranging.  Making my lists and checking them twice!

I have put together some jar recipes for gifting.  Soup mixes are ready and now I need to work on trail mix.

                                       Getting supplies and jars ready to put together soup mixes.

3 types of soup mix.  Long grain rice and dried mushroom (in front), Creamy potato soup (white) and Patchwork soup with spice kit in jar.  RECIPES for these are all on September 9, 2020 post.

                                                           Jars and storage in main pantry

 Snacks, tomato products (not home canned - those in a different spot), dressings and condiments, puddings and Jello and misc. stuff

                                                     Lots of canned meats and veggies

Have you put together any jar recipes to gift or for your own pantry?  They are nice to have on hand when you just don't know what to fix.  They always make nice gifts - no matter the time of year.

Are you stocked and ready for the winter and the beginning of 2021?

Watch those sales and prep.  Straighten and keep track of what you have and USE IT!

We have no idea what the weather will be like this winter, nor do we know what the health situation will be.  Life can throw anything in our way - health scares, financial problems, loss of jobs, bad weather...... 

Just BE PREPARED!!!

Weekly Wrap-Up 12/6

 Good day to all!  Hope this finds you all well and healthy and safe.

I am doing pretty well.  We have had decent weather for the beginning of December.  The first of the week was a bit icky, but we have mellowed to having days in the 40's and nights in the 20's and on and off sunshine.  Had a brief flurry on Monday (I believe), but nothing stuck.  

According to the weatherman the month of December may be warmer and drier than normal in our area.  OK!  Sounds good to me.

There was a couple days that I heard the call of crows/ravens (whatever they are).  Looking out back, there were a good dozen or more between my yard and the neighbors.  They were huge!!!!  I watched one walking down the alley as if he owned it.  Just kind of strutting along.  There is just something ominous about them to me.  I don't know why - they just give me the creeps.  Thank goodness they were just passing through.

It is funny - we have lots of doves and pigeons that show up as well as all the littler birds.  Blackie could care less - he lays out there under a bush with pigeons and doves eating right next to him.  BUT - let the hawk show up, and he is up and moving!  I have a very large adult hawk and a younger one that comes by from time to time.  I mean this would be paradise to them - so many small birds.  Blackie is not having it.  He does all he can to scare/chase them off.  I just wonder if he senses that they are predators and not friendly.  It is really strange to watch.

My nephew came into town Saturday for business and came by for a nice visit.  It was great to see him.  We had some great conversation.  Usually only get that opportunity on the phone.  Super enjoyed the visit.  Great way to end the week.

This week - nothing major to report.  Just a lot of small things - none of which took a lot of time - but needed done.

• My biggie - didn't leave the property all week and spent ZERO money!!!!
• I froze turkey pieces for wraps and some for soup (chopped)
• Made a small pot of turkey and noodles
• Got more items together for donations
• Made some cuttings of some very old house plants that I have - to root in water
• Printed out some recipes I found
• Have had FREE premium channels all week and have been recording some movies to watch later
• Put together new bottles of dish soap and shampoo - both with a bit of vinegar added
• I spent about a day and a half straightening all the pantry stock.  Upstairs daily pantry, basement stock and second bedroom pantry over flow.  I brought up a lot from downstairs.  Organized, cleaned, inventoried and re-arranged and rotated.
• I jarred up a bunch more pasta.  Did a gallon glass jar of veggie rotini and a gallon pf thin spaghetti.  Spaghetti is a pain - so stopped after one gallon jar - as it doesn't fit and you have to break it all to fit in jar.  Brought the balance of boxes upstairs.  I refilled all my kitchen jars as well.

• Started working on my jar recipes for gifting.  
• Found  a good Christmas music channel on cable and have been listening to many oldies.
• Just doing all the basics of everyday life.  Not a lot of excitement at my house!!

Meals this past week:

Turkey and noodles and slaw

Fried garbanzo beans topped with taco meat, cheese and diced tomatoes

Hash browns and southwest pinto beans (canned)

Cheeseburger 'sloppy Joes' and fries

Rice mixed with leftover Joe mix & cheese and salad

Meat/cheese and veggie wrap

Fried rice with mixed veggies and ham pcs. added

**Finished up the desserts left from Thanksgiving as snacks

How has your week been?  What is everyone up to?  Baking, shopping, crafting, wrapping or just snuggling for a long winter nap?

I pray you all have good and thrifty week ahead.  Stay well.  

Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home to yours.

Thank you Lord for ALL our blessings.  Amen

Less Than 5 - Frugal and Easy

 People are watching their dollars every where.  Christmas is coming and much of the extra funds are going for that.  People are staying home and using what they have on hand.

BORED of the same old meals?

Today I will share with you a couple recipes that are less than 5 ingredients (should have in the pantry) and they are super easy and frugal.

OLD FASHIONED SPOON BREAD

1 C flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

Blend these together and ADD 3/4 C water.

Drop by tablespoon into a heavy skillet filled a 1/4 in deep of hot oil.  Flip over when bubbles appear along the edges.  Heat to golden brown on each side.

Kind of looks like an English muffin, but is very soft on the inside.  Top with butter and dab of jelly - Mmmmm.

SALSA LASAGNA  (no meat needed)

16 oz. can refried beans or equivalent of homemade

1 C salsa

9 lasagna noodles (cooked)

1 C cottage cheese

1 1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Combine beans and salsa and heat in a small saucepan - till warm (makes it spreadable).  Spread 2 Tbsp. or so in an ungreased 8x8 pan.  Place 3 noodles on top.  Layer with half of remaining salsa mixture & half of cottage cheese and then 1/2 C cheddar.

Repeat layers beginning with noodles - top remaining noodles with cheddar.  Bake at 350* for about 30 minutes until bubbly.

MINER'S STEW

1 lb. ground beef - browned

8 potatoes - peeled and sliced

1 onion - sliced

8 oz. tomato sauce

salt & pepper to taste

Layer beef, potato and onions in an ungreased 2 quart baking dish and set aside.  Mix tomato sauce with a can of water and pour over casserole.  Salt & pepper to taste.

Bake, uncovered at 350* until potatoes are tender - about 1 1/2 hours.

POTATO BEEF CASSEROLE

5 potatoes, peeled and diced

1 onion - diced

1/2 lb. ground beef, browned

1 can cream of mushroom soup (10 3/4 oz. can)

Place potatoes and onion in an ungreased 13 x 9 pan.  Mix browned meat and soup together and add 1 CUP water.  Stir and spread over potatoes.  bake at 350* for about an hour.

**I always think alternatives - cheese soup, cream of broccoli, cream of celery.......Mmmmm

Super hearty and comforting.

There you be.  Easy - peasy recipes - that use few ingredients - that are frugal - and come from the pantry shelves.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!

SHOP YOUR SHELVES!!!!!! 

What is a Provident Woman?

 DEFINITION

Provident - 1.  making or indicative of timely preparation of the future.   2.  Careful about planning for the future and saving money for the future.   3.  providing carefully for the future.   4.  exercising foresight in the management of one's resources.

Basically planning for the future.  Being wise.  Being careful.  Being resourceful and not wasteful.

Knowing that a penny saved is one you don't have to earn again.

A provident woman:

Is a patient shopper and looks for deals and is a wise and thrifty shopper

Can stretch  a penny into a dime

Is a good steward of all of the family resources

Is a fortress wall to protect her family from the storms of life

Provides a sense of security for the family from ANY storm in life

She plans, recycles, and manages

She saves a little and stores food, water and supplies for the future and for unexpected storms of life

She is prayerful for her family and others

Understands ways to make a great family life and have wonderful memories without spending a lot

She understands that family and friends are everything

She knows that knowledge is valuable -  First aid, sewing, cooking, shopping, budgeting, gardening, preserving AND she shares that knowledge and teaches others

She is a caretaker of the family, neighborhood and community and leads by example

She knows how to make something from nothing

She is someone you can depend on

A provident woman is a combination of all/many of these things.  Life gets chaotic and scary at times, but for those that are prepared and faithful every day is covered and joyful.  You have been given one more day - use it to the max.  

Do not panic - do not stress - do not fear.  Have faith and move forward one day at a time.

What is a provident woman?  You are.  I am.  This little community is full of them.  

I love how we all share and care.

BLESSINGS MY FRIENDS

Simple Ways $$$$$

 Good morning on this first day of December!  December kind of blew in here with colder temps and flurries.  Yes, it literally blew in - it was very windy yesterday and still pretty breezy today.  I think a lot of people got snow - luckily we just had a few flurries.  Highs today will be around 34*F.  Brrrrrr!

Let's start the month out with a few reminders on some simple ways to save a dollar and save your stock.  Money and stock is precious ALWAYS - but more so for some right now.  Any way that we can save money and make things last longer is a great help.

• Store your cottage cheese, sour cream or dip upside down in the refrigerator.  Make sure that lid is on securely and then flip it over.  It keeps the air off the top of the product and they last waaaayyyy past their 'best if used by' date.  I have done this for years.  Glen loved cottage cheese and I way stock up when on sale and it would last months - fresh as new.
• Place an old dish cloth or scrap of t-shirt in the bottom of your crisper to absorb moisture.  This enables your fresh food to last longer.  Some people use paper towels - but they cost $.  I just use an old dish towel and I can launder it.
• If you have fresh veggies that have had better days - trim off anything that has darkened or spotted and use the rest.  Don't throw away the whole thing because of spots.  ie: cauliflower - cut those dark spots off and cook the rest.  Trim up carrots and use balance.  Don't waste!
• Milk - keep it toward the back of the shelf.  It is actually colder at the back of shelf - it doesn't warm up when opening the door.  Milk lasts a lot longer.
• Eggs - don't keep in the door in the fancy egg holders.  Keep them in their boxes on a shelf in the frig.  Anything like milk or eggs - warms every time you open the door.  Be careful what you store in the door - that is actually the warmest part of frig.
• Jazz up bland foods - add spices or herbs or cheese.  You can make bland foods taste great - don't just toss them.

• Do you have fruit that is getting older?  Turn it into jam or marmalade.  Cook apples (fried apples), make applesauce, or make baked apples.  Mix different fruits together for a yummy jam or cobbler.  Use in smoothies (you an freeze for later).  Don't waste it.
• Keep bacon fat in a jar for seasoning.  great to use when frying up blander foods - fried potatoes = Mmmmm.  Use to season in beans or other foods.  I also keep beef fat (from ground beef).  It can be used for frying and seasoning as well.   Save your oils for other things.
• Keep you steel wool pads (Brill-o) in a baggie in the freezer to keep them from rusting in between uses.
• If you want to keep coffee in your pantry long term without taste changing - keep coffee beans.  They last almost forever.  You can get a cheap coffee grinder at most thrift stores (I have 2 and paid $1 ea. at yard sales).  Also instant coffee - unopened - lasts virtually forever as well.
• Get yourself a food safe bucket or two and store extras in it.  Mark the date on the outside of bucket and set it aside.  If IT ever hits the fan you have extra stores that you have put back and just ignored until really needed.
• Did you know that you can plant many dried beans that you cook?  Do a test (damp paper towel, seeds and plastic baggie) to proof.  Worth a try.
• You can regrow Romaine or bib lettuces that you purchase as a bunch.  Slice a thin slice off bottom to get a fresh bottom - place in small amount of water to root and plant.  Same with celery.  Many people do green onions this way - I eat the whole thing myself!
• Remember to watch the holiday markdowns for great deals.  Candy, baking stuff, plates, napkins, candles, cards, wrapping paper, cookie decorations, candy canes, etc.  Stock up now and use for upcoming occasions - birthdays, Valentines Day, St. Patty Day, Easter..... OR "I just need chocolate" day!!!!!!!!!!
• If you get a great sales on hard cheese or butter - buy it and FREEZE.  Cheese is great for grating and cooking.  Butter is wonderful frozen and lasts.  
• Remember to shop YOUR shelves first - ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!
• Buy cheap when you can - things will always go up in price and getting it cheap is money in the bank!

Just remember - success doesn't come from dollars.  It comes from hard work, learning and better experiences.  Learn to save by spending less and using less NOT necessarily by earning more.  

Be MONEY WISE

You have a great money saving tip?