Christmas Tales and Goody Jars

Hello my friends.  Here we are a little over three weeks away from Christmas.  It is really hard to believe.
I thought you like a little Christmas tale I came across this past weekend.  It is a cute little story I had never heard before.
Also I will be passing on a couple more gift jar recipes.

Click on the picture to make it appear larger.
I think this is such a cute little tale.
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PATCHWORK SOUP MIX
1/2 C barley
1/2 C split peas
1/2 C rice
1/2 C lentils
1 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. granulated garlic
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Place the beans and rice in layers in a pint jar and add the remaining ingredients in a baggie on top.

DIRECTIONS:  Place the beans and rice in a large stockpot and cover with 10 cups of water.  Chop one onion and add season packet.  Bring to a boil, lower heat and cover and simmer for 1 hour.  Check after about 30 minutes to see if you need more water.  Stir occasionally.
**I sometimes make and add ham chunks or cut up smoked sausage.


SNOWFLAKE MUFFINS
(savory muffin good with soup and stews)
2 C all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Measure the ingredients and stir together.  Place in a jar or a baggie with directions.

DIRECTIONS:  Pour mix in a large bowl, and make a well in the center of ingredients.  Beat together one egg, 1/3 cup oil, one cup shredded cheese and one cup milk.  Combine with mix, stir to moisten.  Fill 12  greased muffin cups 3/4 full.  Bake at 400* for 15 - 20 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes and remove from tin.
*You might even gift this with some pretty muffin pan liners! 


There are so many fun things you can make with the ingredients you have on hand and give as much appreciated gifts.
To see other soup jar recipes - check back to older posts.  Potato soup, Love soup, and White Christmas soup are all posted on December 1, 2016 post.
Bulk cocoa mix, pumpkin dip, and cappuccino mix are listed on November 29, 2016.

All of the soup recipes have been a hit in our family. 
Not only do I give these as gifts, but I like to keep a few ready on the pantry shelves.  It makes it easy for a quick warm meal on a cold evening.
REMEMBER to include yourself in jar mixes you make up.
Quick and handy.

I am making up soup jars today!
Have fun and ENJOY!

Jars of mixed beans with seasoning packet included that I did last year.  I keep these on hand as well.

Re-Boot

I don't know about you, but I needed a bit heaping dose of RE-BOOT in my life.
What do I mean?

I have been so sluggish and grumpy lately, thanks to the weather.
I am so tired of seeing and hearing about all the violence all around the world and in my own town.
I am sad reading about all the singers/actors of our time passing away.
I am so missing family and friends (who are in heaven) during our holiday occasions.

I needed to be re-booted or re-charged in the worst way.
I feel so much better now (although still missing people).  WHAT DID I DO?  Well, sometimes life just takes care of what we need!!!!!

The weather changed drastically, and we have had decent temperatures and sunny skies!  I needed the sun so badly.
I have gotten outside and done some REAL work - exercised and worked my body to tiredness, and breathed in lots of fresh air.   It really does make me feel better!
Sometimes you just have to turn off the news - the stuff is still going to happen - I just don't need to hear about it every day.  That doesn't mean I don't care - but we all need a break.
People die - we are at that age that many of our contemporaries are passing on.  YES, it's sad and kind of scary - but we all know that age doesn't always have anything to do with it.

Lastly, it seems that fate, God, coincidence, whatever you want to call it - stepped in.
We are not big movie people, at least I am not.  G watches far more TV than I do.  I happened to be glancing through the FREE channels that we received this past weekend, and recorded many movies for him.  Two of those movies I sat and watched with G, plus a You-Tube movie he pulled up.  Mind you, I hardly ever do that.

They were what I needed.  They made me stop and think, look at the world through new eyes AGAIN, and be more appreciative of EVERYTHING.

We watched The Shack.   Love, love, love this movie.  Bad things happen to good people, We all get sad, we all experience terrible loss, we all get depressed, but we are NEVER alone!

We watched Miracles from Heaven.  It is based on a true story.  At times we all have our faith tested to the max, but again we are NEVER alone.

On You Tube we watched The Heart Christmas, about a child dying (based on true story).  This movie was presented by St. Jude.  Make life the best possible, in every moment you have, then when the time comes, AGAIN we are NEVER alone.

We watched all three of these movies 'by chance'  in 3 days.  Was it 'by chance'?  Some will say yes.  Others will say we were guided.  Me - I think it was SUPPOSED to happen when it did.  I needed to see them - to re-boot my mind, body, and soul.
I needed the reminder of thankfulness, love, faith, and beauty in the most minute things.

We all get so busy at this time of the year.  We all get so overwhelmed at this time of the year.  We all get sad, lonely, and somewhat depressed this time of the year.
DO SOMETHING to rejuvenate yourself.

It takes NO money, just a little time.  Pray/meditate, read your book of worship, watch a movie that has a message, read a touching book, breathe the air and work the work, help others, commune with nature........
Whatever it is - DO IT!  Take some time for you.  We all need that "me" time once in a while to recharge our batteries.
Don't feel selfish about it.  If you need it - do it.

Re-boot, recharge, whatever you want to call it, so you can truly ENJOY ALL the holidays have to offer.
Be blessed my friends and remember you are NEVER alone.

Frugal Happenings 11/26

Good morning all my lovelies!  I hope this finds you well today.

Here we are at the bottom end of November and Christmas is just 4 weeks from tomorrow!  How did that happen so quickly?  YIKES

We had a lovely week.  The weather has been pretty great all week - at least for this time of the year.  We have had lots of sunshine, which has helped my mood tremendously.  The temps have stayed in the 40's, 50's and low 60's most of the week (daytime).  I even got to open the doors a couple days and let a little fresh air in.

Our Thanksgiving was very nice with good company and food.  However, I am glad that is behind us.  It is always so extremely tiring.
Our dinner was actually only about $20 out of pocket. That was for the turkey and the ham.  I had everything else here that I needed.  It fed 6 people, leftovers home with 3, and we have been eating on it since.  Not a bad deal!

The grandson of my neighbors that moved over a year ago, came by to visit with us on Wednesday.  Bless his heart.  He is 21 now (we have known him since day1), and still feels like visiting.  He always said we were his adopted aunt and uncle.  That really made my day.
I found out that the new neighbors had their baby, a little 6 lb. girl named Charlotte.  Sweet.

My nephew (like son) stopped by on Saturday with his fiancé.  They have been together for about 5 years and got engaged this weekend!  They came into town and stayed at a fancy hotel, had dinner, and saw the Christmas lights.  Her ring is beautiful and I am so pleased for them.  It was great to see them.

My frugal week:

• Purchased an additional turkey for .38/lb. for future use.  I wish I had had more room, but my freezers are full.
• Pre-made lots of ice for holiday gathering
• I did home maintenance on the Blazer.  I checked all the fluids and topped off what needed to be.  Added Heat to gas tank and filled tank.  Preparing for cold weather.
• Cleaned both full glass storm doors inside and out (nice weather day) with vinegar and newspaper.
• Made an appointment with insurance broker for this coming Tuesday to discuss health insurance options (UGH)
• Deep a lot of deep cleaning - polished cabinets and floors, mopped, laundry, bedding, cleaned under and behind about everything, dusting, etc..
• Put out a few Christmas decorations.  Changed out the door decorations with things I already had. 
• I kept the turkey carcass and ham bone - both in the freezer, to make stock with later.
• I did go to Big Lots on Friday (I swore I wouldn't shop that day!).  I got 5 pretty tins of assorted popcorn for $4 each.  I also got 3 HUGE 20 oz. bags of tortilla chips for $1 each.  Those will be great for holiday gatherings.  I also got 12 regular size bags of Skittles for .25/bag (kids will love those!)
• Stopped at our local hardware, where I had GC for $5/$25 that expired at end of month.  I got us a new large outdoor thermometer, a finch feeder, a large bag of pet safe ice melt, and a night shirt for me - out of pocket $21!
• Saturday I went to a fairly new small business I heard of.  It is vintage and lovingly re-made items and homemade.  Oh did I have fun in there!  I did buy some small gifts and items for gift baskets.  I got a FREE cloth shopping bag.  First 50 got a bag with 'swag'!!!!  FREE gifts.  I got 3 handmade ornaments, Christmas earrings, 2 handmade cards, a key chain, sample of skin cream, and other small stuff.  I will definitely go back there to shop.

• I ran to the Dollar Tree and got several stuffers for the younger kids gift baskets
• We are getting FREE movie channels again this weekend and have been DVRing many movies to watch later.

Meals this week:
Leftover Chinese
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
Hamburger goulash
Fish sandwiches and chips/dip
Thanksgiving dinner
T-day leftovers
Turkey noodle/veggie soup
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How did your week go?  Did all my U.S. friends have a nice Thanksgiving?
Did anyone get any great deals this week - grocery or Christmas?

I hope each and everyone of you have a wonderfully blessed week.  I pray the Lord protects and comforts you and your families.
Sending good thoughts from our little humble home to yours!

                                     

 



           

Be Thankful for Everything

We here in the U.S. are getting ourselves ready for Thanksgiving Day.  A day set aside to recognize ALL that we have to be thankful for, and a day celebrating the struggles and thankful lives of our ancestors.
I can not imagine what it was like for the Pilgrims when they came here, a land that was wild, untamed,  and scary. 

I am so thankful for all of our ancestors that came before us.  We are truly who we are and where we are today because of all they endured.  I have some very historic roots in this country, that started on this land way before it was a country.  I thank them all for their sacrifices.

I am so very thankful for all my family and friends, and for all my fur babies.  God has blessed us in so many ways I can not list them all.
We have a roof over our heads, food for our table, heat to keep us warm, decent health. water, electricity and tons of things we take for granted.  YES, we are blessed to have these things, as much of the world does not.
We are blessed with freedom!  True, we gripe about that sometimes (that things are being taken away) - but we still have the freedom to speak of it and write about it.

I am very thankful for YOU, all the friends that I have made around the world.  I just find that the most awesome thing ever.  That we can come together with ideas and thoughts that are so similar, from so many different places.
I do believe that there are no accidents in life - we were all suppose to come together for a reason.  I hope we continue to add to our little circle and grow in new ways.
We may all be from different regions - but we are still all the same.  We ALL want a good life and we want our time and monies to be used wisely and for the greater good.


God bless you all - no matter how near or far you are on this earth.
Thank you for being so kind and thoughtful and for being friends.  Thank you for sharing and being teachers to one another.  You are all PRICELESS GEMS!!!!!!!



*I will be back after the holiday.  However, I will try to respond to any comments.
Thanks!

Frugal Happenings 11/19

Good morning everyone!
Are you all ready for the events of the coming week?  Can you believe it is already Thanksgiving?  Just a few more weeks and Christmas and the year will be over.  WOW

We have had an eventful weather week for sure.  We had ONE really nice sunny day (busy day for me), but mostly it was gloomy and gray.  Yesterday was an epic weather day - basically 3 seasons in one day!  It started out in the mid 60's and rainy.  We had 20-30 mph winds and gusts of 40-50 mph.  Torrential rain at times and the temps started dropping.  My late evening it was in the low 30's.  Crazy!  There were libs down all over the yard, and pretty much the rest of the leaves are now off the trees.

My frugal week:

• I colored my hair with supplies on hand (it was much needed - it had been 2 1/2 months!)
• I did laundry in cold water and 'line' dried most of the items in the basement
• I did get to do a bit of 'teenage' shopping this week - what a challenge that is!
• On the one great day we had - I got to mow and mulch and rake leaves.  ALL leaves and mulch went out on the garden. However, now you can't tell I raked - I need to do it all again.
• Emptied the rain barrels and got them put away for the winter.  I did save many gallons of rain water for house plants and hair care.
• I received 2 more coupons for FREE items at Bath & Body Works.  I LOVE my postman - he leaves me coupons that would go to the empty houses!
• I received a coupon for $5/$25 at Sav-A-Lot.  Good till the end of the month.
• Turkey is out for thawing
• Pulled together all my pantry items for Thanksgiving day and they are all out an waiting to be used.
• Totally cleaned out and condensed items in frig.
• G had his home doctor visit - good for another 3 months!
• Been cleaning and de-cluttering
• Made pudding with some milk that is in need of being used
• Have FREE Cinemax and HBO this weekend, so we have been DVRing many movies for later viewing.

Meals this week:
Ground pork burgers and spicy mac n cheese
Taco soup
Reversed Shepherd Pie (mashed on bottom)
Homemade pizza
Tuna noodle casserole and salad
Pork chops and dirty rice
Chinese (not frugal - but have enough for dinner tonight as well)
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I am ready for all the Thanksgiving festivities.  I have everything I need - most just came from the pantry.  I am not sure how many we will have for dinner - but a couple either way won't matter a bit.  There will be plenty of food to go around.  I do know we have a couple friends coming that day.  They really have no family to speak of, so that is what we are!  Family isn't always blood.

I do believe that I may go to Kroger this week and get another turkey for the future.  They now have them advertised in our paper for .38/lb. with $20 purchase (that isn't hard to do).  I may get supplies with that $20 for one of the friends that is coming.  She is in a real tight spot - so anything I get her would be appreciated.  I think I'll get a lot of basics - she is alone, so doesn't do a lot of cooking.

I sincerely doubt that I will go shopping on Black Friday - too many people.  (I will probably do yard work).  I may do some on-line shopping, and I will be scouring the adds that came in todays paper.  For those outside the U.S., Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and is considered one of the biggest and best (price wise) shopping days of the year.  Supposedly it is the turning point for retailers to start making a profit!
I  try to make most of my gifts and to shop smaller mom and pop shops.  I hate making those giant retailers richer!


How was your week?  Are you ready for turkey day?  Did you add to your pantry or gift collection this week?
I will post again before Thanksgiving, but in case you don't visit before then, please know that G and I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

May the Lord bless you and your families.  Be kind, be thoughtful, and bless someone less fortunate this week.
Blessings from our home to yours!

A Switched up Kitchen CAN BE Tasty!

We are now at that time of the year that we all cook and bake more than just about any other time.
I am not sure about you - but I love to jazz it up a bit and try new things sometimes.  It's fun and you just MAY find a new family favorite!

You all know I am huge on not going out to buy that one ingredient that I may be missing.  I SWITCH or IMPROVISE more than I care to admit!!!!  LOL
Recipe - hmmmm what is that?

Here are a few ideas I have tried over the years and generally they turned out great.

• A recipe calls for vanilla.  Try a different flavor extract - there are no limits.  Use something else that goes with all the ingredients
• Think about using alcohol if you have it.  Rum - flavored rum, Schnapps in flavors, Irish Cream (comes in many flavors), flavored vodkas, etc.
• Recipe calls for milk or water - try buttermilk, coconut milk, eggnog, chocolate milk, etc.
• When making sweet breads experiment with different flavors of fruit puree's. Breads aren't just banana and apple - how about strawberry, kiwi, mango, pineapple, etc.
• Zucchini bread is yummy - but add fruit and nuts for more yumminess!  Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raisin, dates and/or any type of nut
• Pumpkin or any kind of winter squash can be used instead of zucchini.
• If making a squash 'type' bread, try adding dome different herbs and spices to come up with a sweet and savory loaf
• Turn bread recipes into muffins or smaller loaves.  Don't have mini loaf pans?  Keep cans from fruits/veggies from the grocery store.  Remove labels and clean well - grease inside well and bake small loaves of breads.  If greased well enough the bread should just come right out and you can use the can over and over.  Sliced they are really pretty - little circles of homemade love!!!                                                                 Mom would cut the humped top off (we ate those!) and would 'wrap' up in plastic wrap and ribbon much like a Tootsie Roll!   CUTE
• Add chocolate milk, eggnog, or even buttermilk to a French toast recipe - YUM
• Need colored sugar sprinkles for cookies?  Use your regular sugar and add a few drops of food color and stir until blended.  Works perfect and you can make all types of colors.  I do this all the time.  Cover and keep until needed again.
• Brown sugar gone?  Mix regular sugar with molasses - a little or a lot - depending on if wanting light or dark brown sugar
• Out of powdered sugar?  No problem - blend regular sugar in blender till powdered!
• Add coffee to chocolate baked goods to enhance the flavor.  You don't need a lot - but it really adds to a great chocolate flavor.
• Tired of regular iced tea?  Add fruit juice of any type to your tea.  Very refreshing (I even keep juice from watermelon in the summer and freeze to add to tea)
• Need some fancy toppings for your cookies?  Add chopped nuts, crushed candy canes, colored sugars, crumbs from bottom of cereal box, etc.
• Re-cycle leftover Halloween candy into baked goods.  Chop up and add to cookies, brownies, layers of icing in cakes, etc.

• Use jelly as  a glaze for ham, pork or lamb (even meatballs)
• If you are like me, you have lots of jelly and jams that are homemade.  I like using it in thumb print cookies or molasses cookies  or by making jelly rolls.  Fun and different.    Make sandwich cookies  for the kiddies using peanut butter and jelly as the center.
• Heat jelly or jam and add to pancakes or waffles to 'special' them up!
• If you are using boxed cake/brownie mixes or packages of cookie mix - jazz them up.  Add chips, nuts, marshmallows, dates, fruit blends, dried berries, toffee or chopped candy - there is no limit to customize the flavors!  Think SEMI homemade! 
• Remember pasta sauces aren't just for spaghetti - use in chicken dishes, with pork or beef.  It's a great way to make up a new meat dish to jazz up the menu.  (Salsa chicken is fave here)
• Add salsa to rice for a version of Spanish rice - YUM

CHRISTMAS BREAD
18 oz. box of yellow cake mix
3 1/2 oz. package of instant pistachio pudding
4 eggs
1/2 C oil
1/4 C water
1 C sour cream
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1/4 C sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
Combine cake and pudding mix, add eggs, oil, water and sour cream.  Pour into 2 - 9 x 5 loaf pans (I make in mini version).  Mix sugar and cinnamon together, and sprinkle over bread tops.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes (adjust time for mini).
I make these each year and they are a hit!!

**I am thinking chocolate cake mix and chocolate pudding or yellow cake with butterscotch pudding mix, chocolate or yellow cake and banana pudding mix, etc..  Add nuts or dried fruit and you have one special bread!  Jazz it up and customize to your own special bread!  You'll have everyone wanting the recipe!! 


Think outside the box this holiday season.  Switch things up and create some new tasty goodies.  You can have LOTS of fun meals and holiday sweets for little money.  Frugal can be fun!

DO YOU HAVE ANY SWITCHED UP FAVORITES OR RECIPES?????

Have fun, switch it up, and STAY FRUGAL my friends.

Kitchen Gifts on a Dime

We are now on the downward side of preparing for Christmas.  Less than six weeks.  YIKES
Today I will list a few ideas for families or adults (and even teens), that come from your kitchen and will cost you only pennies for each gift.
I am a huge  giver of homemade goodies and that is probably my favorite gift to receive.  WE ALL HAVE TO EAT!!!!!

There are always the lovely gifts of homemade cookies and candy.  Homemade breads and jams and jellies are always a big hit too.  Any home canned item is a special treat.


EASY ONE BOWL BANANA BREAD
1/3 C oil
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
2 1/3 C baking mix (homemade or something like Bisquick)
1 C sugar
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional - can use your favorite nuts)

Beat all the ingredients together for about 30 second.  Pour batter into a greased 9 x 5 loaf pan.  350* oven for 35 - 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  I like to make in mini foil pans (I use over and over).  If making smaller loaves, adjust baking time. (I usually get 4 small ones per one recipe)

CHEDDAR BASIL BISCUITS
2 C baking mix
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 C milk
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 c butter, melted
Stir together biscuit mix, cheese and milk until a soft dough forms.  Drop by heaping spoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 450* for 10-12 minutes.  Combine basil, garlic powder and butter:  Brush over the tops of hot biscuits.

Wrap up in plastic wrap and a bow and set into a Dollar Tree basket, bowl, or colander - maybe add a jar of homemade pepper jelly or a jar of homemade butter.


APPLE PIE IN A JAR
(The cost of a bag of apples)
5 lbs. apples, peeled, cored and sliced
4 1/2 C sugar
1 C cornstarch
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
10 C water
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
Pack apples tightly into wide mouth jars.  In a large sauce pan cook sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and water over a med. heat until thick and bubbly, add lemon juice.  Cover apples in syrup, wipe jars, add lids.  Water bath for 20 minutes.  Makes 7 quarts.
This will make 7 gifts!  Maybe wrap in a Dollar Tree kitchen towel.


COFFEE STIR STICKS
1.  Dip candy canes into melted chocolate or chocolate chips.  Dip about half way up the candy cane.  Let dry and wrap in plastic wrap with a ribbon or jute  (gift 5 or 6 each).  Gift in a pretty $1 mug.
2.  Dip the spoon end of plastic flatware into melted chocolate.  Let dry and package up as above (with candy canes).  Again gift with a $1 mug.
These are so simple to make - and they have always been appreciated and enjoyed when I have given them.
**You could also add a couple drops of peppermint extract to melted chocolate for a chocolate peppermint stirrer.


OTHER ideas:
**Make a batch of flavored croutons and gift with perhaps a jar of homemade dressing or attach a nice pair of salad tongs.

**Make up dressing bread, and gift with dehydrated celery and onions and a container of stock.

**Jar up any cookie, cake or brownie recipe (dry ingredients) with an attached card with instructions on wet ingredients needed and baking temp and time.  ** Remember to layer your ingredients to make for a pretty jar.  Attached a ribbon or jute tie to the top with recipe card.

**Dip pretzel rods in melted chocolate (cover about 2/3 of pretzel).  Dry and package up for giving.  OR dip small pretzel rounds or squares in chocolate.  Sprinkles can be added while chocolate is still wet.  If using almond bark or white chocolate, you can also add food color to make them more festive.
I LOVE getting chocolate covered pretzels.  They are always a hit with young and old alike.

**Use tins (bought at thrift stores or Dollar Tree) or large glass jars and fill with homemade cookies or candies.  Maybe gift someone special that much loved cookie jar or family dish filled with goodies (2 gifts in one).

** Never forget homemade pickles, soups, sauces, jellies, jams, relishes, etc. or any home canned goodies.  Odds are, it something they won't already have!

A GIFT FROM THE KITCHEN IS A GIFT FROM THE HEART!
Gifts don't have to cost a fortune.  The best gifts are the ones that contain LOVE!

Have a blessed day!