Frugal Tip

Frugal Tip
Tuesday October 5, 2010

How not to go to the grocery store!
I avoid going to the grocery store on purpose.
You may ask Why?
It is a money trap!


Can you not go to the grocery store for
the whole month.
I know for some this may seem upsurd.
It may help you become a better planner.
I am all about planning as it helps me
with my daily life.

In the month of October it should be easy.
Lots of baking of items for the family.

Yesterday my daughter and I made
apple muffins for breakfast.
We got oh what did you make?
It is a great treat for my family. As we
don't buy cereal from the store.
What we eat for breakfast I am usually
coming up with by making something.
Whether it be pancakes, waffles,
muffins, eggs, yogurt to name a few.

Let me inspire you to see what you
can make this month!

What flowers are blooming in your garden?

What Flowers are Blooming in your Garden?
Wednesday September 8, 2010


These are pink cosmos that we continue
to plant year after year. These guys got
really tall this year in the middle of the garden!

Four O' Clock Marbles, you got to love these
little flowers. The flowers open in the morning
and the evening. They are closed all day though.
The seeds are large and black when they are ready
to be collected. I have these with my lavender plants.
This group is multi colored. We purchased these
seeds from Select Seeds and they are heirloom
flowers.

Here is a flower I planted at the beginning
of July, Benary Zinnias.

Flowers on the Table
That is one good reason to grow
cut flowers.

Enjoy the flowers!
See Gods Glorious Work!

Frugal Tip

Frugal Tip
Tuesday April 27



Frugal tip of the week, making waffles.

My family loves waffles. This is our
typical breakfast. Our biggest expense
is the syrup. In the spring when the
strawberries come into season I will make
strawberry syrup. Then in June blueberry
syrup will get made also. These are my
substuites for the maple syrup.

I can make these in large batches and
put them in the freezer.

Cutting Food Costs

Thursday April 15
Cutting Food Costs

This is the time of the year where our food costs
start to decline. My husband and I love eating our
own produce. We are eating greens we planted
last fall, that we grew in our cold frame. This is
what I call the salad season, which means we are
eating local produce from the right season.
We are currently munching on broccoli we
put in last fall, it is quite tasty.

The Freedom Harvest Challenge that the Dervae Family
did last year I am attempting to do this year.
Click on the title for a link to the family site.

What are we cooking?

What are We Cooking

Wednesday October 7

I am a day behind due to being out.

Tuesday Menu

Mike decided to have scrambled eggs in a flour

tortilla for breakfast.

Lunch-Mike brought the left over chicken cassserole.

Andrew slept overnight at the college

Rachel ate over a neighbor's house

Mom- Bible study Tuesday's will be different.

Dinner- Chicken Chili, thankfully I had already

cooked the chicken and the beans.

I did spend $10.oo for eggs, mushrooms, and cabbage,

a basket of tomatoes, carrots.

Wednesday Menu

Breakfast-Mike eggs and flour tortilla

Andrew still away

Rachel and Mom scrambled eggs and biscuits

Lunch-Mike still had lunch at work.

Mom and Rachel-Sausage Risotto

Dinner- Chicken Salad Sandwiches,

sliced beets, and Coleslaw.

Today I made sour cream with left over

milk. I will need that for my biscuit making.

Money spent today was rolls for dinner $3.20,

5.00-arugula. tomotoes, green onions.

The tomatoes are for future recipes.

Milk came today so that was 18.00

I added cheddar cheese.

Always trying to think ahead for a last

minute or a busy day.

Yogurt

Yogurt

Saturday June 6

Making yogurt took one day.

I used whole raw milk for this recipe.

8 cups of whole raw milk

1/2 cup yogurt culture

(store bought)

Place in crock pot for 2 1/2 hours on low.

After, the two and half hours turn off and leave

in the crock pot for 3 hours. Then, add your yogurt

culture and blend. Place towel around crockpot to

hold the heat in, and leave overnight.

The next morning put in container and refrigerate.

You have yogurt.

Now, you can't tell me you don't have time for that.

The kids and I had strawberries and yogurt for a treat.

Although, they added powder sugar to sweeten it up.

Enjoy!

Saturday's Lunch

Saturday's Lunch

Today we went to Haddonfield Farmers Market.

This was a real treat.

It was about a hours drive from our home.

My dear husband found someone selling blueberry

bushes for 4 dollars a piece on Craig's List.

It turned out they were going to be at this Farmers

Market.

What a quaint town it was. The old houses, I just love

looking at the different houses. Next, time I will be sure to

take pictures.

I decided to make a nice lunch for us when we got home.

Salmon Patties

taken from Marcia Adams New Recipes

from Quilt Country

1 15 oz can of red salmon, drained

1 1/2 Tablespoons butter or vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1/4 green pepper, finely chopped

3/4 cup finely crushed saltine crackers

(about 20)

1 Tablespoon finely minced fresh dill

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 shakes of hot red pepper sauce

3 Tablespoons milk

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2-2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Pick through the salmon and discard the skin

and any bones, set the salmon.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter or oil,

onion, and the bell pepper. Saute over medium heat for

5 minutes, or until the onion begins to color.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the salmon,

crackers, dill, black pepper, hot pepper sauce, milk,

and lemon juice. Combine lightly, then add the egg

and mix lightly again. Pat down the mixture in the pan

and cut into 6 wedges. Form into thick patties, about

4 inches in diameter. Heat the oil in a sauce pan and

saute for about 3 minutes on each side.

Now, I must tell you a few things.

I did not have all these ingredients, so this is what I did.

My dear husband started getting the salmon from Costco,

I use 3 small cans.

I have no green peppers as I don't use ingredients out

of season. I had no crackers as this is something I have

decided to do away with, unless I could make them.

No, fresh dill as its too early in the season, I used dried.

I was out of milk.

I always leave out the hot pepper sauce and let my family

put it on themselves. I can't eat spicy foods.

The crackers I substituted my ground flour. The milk,

I just used a few more egg whites.

Since I make my own mayonnaise I always have extra

egg whites hanging around.

Of course you will need tartar sauce.

Really Good Tartar Sauce

(from the same book)

1 cup of mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 Tablespoons finely chopped dill pickle

1 1/2 Tablespoons prepared mustard

1 Tablespoon chopped capers

1 Tablespoon minced fresh parsley


Coleslaw

Recipe is called,

Five Vegetable Coleslaw

(taken from same book)

Serves 6 to 8

8 cups shredded cabbage

(approximately 2 lbs)

1/2 medium onion, sliced

2 celery ribs, julienned

1/2 medium red bell pepper, finely julienned

1 large or 2 medium carrots, shredded

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Dressing

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 Teaspoons black pepper

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon celery seeds

1 Teaspoon mustard seeds

1 1/2 Tablespoons cider vinegar

Combine the vegetables and let stand for 2o minutes.

Salting the vegetables draws off the liquid in the vegetables.

Drain and set aside.

Prepare the dressing: Whisk together all the ingredients and

add to the vegetables and chill.

This is what I changed.

I usually make half this recipe. My family doesn't like all the

raw onions. I use chives from the garden. Again, I only

use what vegetables are in season. Right, now all we have is

carrots and parsley.

That's okay as everything has a season.

Enjoy!

Baked Beans

Baked Beans

Friday May 7

Since I was a girl at family gatherings someone always brought

baked beans. That was growing up in the midwest. Well,

I live on the east coast now and most people only know of whats

in the can. Here's the recipe I follow. Its from one of my amish

recipe books.

Marsha Adams New Recipes

from Quilt Country

The real ingredient to this recipe is the maple syrup.

You cannot substitute store bought pancake syrup.

Maple Baked Beans

Serves 4 to 6

1 pound or 2 cups of dried white navy beans

Liberal pinch of baking soda

1 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons of Molasses

1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion

1/4 pound salt pork

Soak your beans overnight. Rinse in the morning.

Put in fresh water and place on the stove.

Then pour about a teaspoon of lemon juice into

the pot. Add any left over vegetables you may

have. I always keep any onion, celery, and

carrot ends. Never throw your scrap pieces out.

Do not add salt to the pot in the beginning process

of cooking. They should cook about an hour.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Place your cast iron pan in the oven to get it

hot. Then add some left over bacon grease to

the pan allow this to melt. Add your chopped

onion and allow the onions to soften a little bit.

Then, add your drained beans to the pan.

Mix together your molasses, syrup, mustard and

pepper. Combine with beans and onions stirring

only very gently. Put your salt pork on top and

pour enough liquid to cover beans. Cook covered,

for 6 to 8 hours. I have to tell you I usually only cook

mine for about 4 hours. Do not allow all the liquid

to evaporate though.

Enjoy.

Frugal tip of the week

Frugal Tip of the week

Chili for dinner. This was my quick dinner. Due to it being

Monday and everything is in disray. I knew I needed something that

did not take a long time to make.

I had ground pork in the freezer. That was taken out

early in the day. This way it could defrost with out

any help. Sometimes in the past I used the microwave

to help defrost frozen items. Due to my vow of

not using the microwave.

This perty much freed my day up. Technically, I did not

start dinner until 430.

I took the cast iron pan and heated it up.

While, the pan was heating up, I began chopping one small onion

and two garlic cloves. When, the pan was heated I added olive oil

to the pan and then toss any the onion and garlic. Let that saute

for a couple of minutes. I took my cooked pinto beans out of the

refrigerator and drianed them from their juice. The amount was

3 cups of dried beans, which I cooked a couple of days in advance.

Add all of the beans except 2 cups and reserve them.

While the beans are sauteing I open a can

of whole stewed tomatoes and tossed 3/4 of them into

the magic bullet. The vegatables have now sauted, now I added a

little corn meal and some extra olive oil. Let this simmer for a couple

of minutes, then add your broth. Oh no, you don't have any.

I solved that problem, the night before we had pasta and I saved

the water. Which by the way acts as a thickner along with the

cornmeal. Now, add your tomato mixture, along with oregano, cumin,

salt ( I use Kosher salt due to it being larger so you don't use so

much.)Let this simmer on low. Then add your beans

While this is simmering I mixed up corn bread.

Turn your oven on now so the oven will be heated by the time

your finished mixing.

This is my all time favorite corn bread recipe.

From Marsha Adams book of Heirloom recipes.

1 1/2 cups of cornmeal

1 cup of flour

1 1/2 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of salt

1 1/2 cups of buttermilk

1 egg

5 Tablespoons of oil( Canola or corn)

3 Tablespoons of honey

While my oven is heating I take my square cast iron pan out

and put it in the oven to heat. When its hot I put a tablespoon

of bacon greese in the pan. Now, where did I get that from.

The last time you made bacon for your family for breakfast what

did you do with the greese in the pan. I don't throw it away, I get a

jar out and pour in the greese. Put it in the refrigerator for safe

keepings. Now, I put the bacon greese in the pan and it melts

since the pan is already hot. Smear it around so the whole pan

is well greased. Now, your pan is ready as soon as your done

mixing the batter. Just remember when your mix together the

dry and wet ingredients don't over mix. This is where you could

end up with a dry cornbread. The cornbread is baking in the oven.

Mash the reserved beans and add them to the pot which also adds as

a thickner. Just continue to simmer while the cornbread is cooking

and your done.

When the men walk into the house, what a great smell they get as

theycome home from the office.

It is now time to eat.

Now for the cost of dinner.

My organic pinto beans cost me 1.19 a lb when I bought in bulk.

I bought organic ground porkfrom a local farm. That cost me 9.00

and the tomatoes cost me 2.29 due to having already run out of my

own canned tomatoes. But, I did not use the whole can. Cornmeal

which was used as a thickner is a staple item I keep in the house.

Olive oil is also a staple food. Since, I don't buy stock and used

the pasta water that didn't cost me anything. I would say

this is a frugal quick dinner.

Corn bread is also a frugal item to make. It will also fill

everyone up and it makes everything smell nice.

Money Growers Manual

I came across this picture what an idea.

Selling plants and vegetables

from your backyard. I always have lots of left over plants, why not sell

the extras. Last year I potted about 15 chive plants that had grown in

a herb bed. Growing scented geranium plants is another novel

idea I had.

I am always propagating these little gems. Right now I have all my

geraniums in my bathroom where there is lots of light. Plus it is cool

up there, geraniums do not like the heat of the house.

Last year I was at a garden center and they were selling one of my

geraniums for 15 dollars a piece. I bought one of those plant from a

mail order catalog called Select Seeds. They only sell heirloom plants

and seeds. For 5.00 dollars I purchased one of three varities and I am

propagating these little gems.

We will see what this growing season will bring us.

Pionneer Women

Pioneer Women


Pioneer Woman Getting Water from a Well Near Her Log Cabin, Carolina

Taulua Bottoms Legacy: The Story of Talula Gilbert Bottoms and Her Quilts (Needlework and Quilting) Nancilu Burdick

Last year when my mother came to visit for the holidays she brought this book.

I had such a joy reading this book with my daughter, mother and my Aunt.

We always get together in the kitchen taking turns reading outloud to each other.

I am always interested in learning how women survived.

If you have not been inspired lately and are feeling overwhelmed.

Read this womens story and you will be changed forever.

Did you have a mother who trained you in homemaking skills?

Try to imagine you are living in the 1800's and you get married

and know nothing. Luckily, she married a man that lived with

his mother. This woman became her mother, what wonderful

experience the Lord gave her. She went on to learn not only

the joys of homemaking but learning the art of quilting.

She made over 125 quilts in her life time. Imagine how

she must of had to get her work done early enough to also

be able to find time to quilt.

Let me ask you why are we not making our own quilts?

Simple Ways

Saturday September 13, 2008

Simple Ways

Simple ways are just ideas in which are lives can become more simplified.

In July I talked about simplifying my life in the house so I could work

more outside. I have spent the summer doing just that. Here is one

way, the Lord helped me this year. First I started going back to

planning my week. What do I want to accomplish this week? If we set

goals, we will work toward those goals. Last week I wanted to work in

my garden all week. The whole week I strived to work in the garden.

There were certain tasks I had to accomplish in the house before I

could do that. There were tomatoes to process, so first I had to get that

done. I also went back to making bread so that needed to be done. School

is back in session so the morning are dedicated to teaching and keeping my

daughter on task. Now, that the house was more in order, I found one

morning where I was able to work in the garden.

Planning is the key!

Watching my mother as a child I think has helped me in many ways.

She planned her day according to what needed to get done. First, meals

had to be planned and made on to be on the table.

Second, she made most of the clothes for our family. She also had to

make time for sewing. Third, there was a budget to follow. My mom had a

budget of 5o dollars every two weeks to feed 6 people. Fourth, she had to

grow as much food as she could.

Now that I am an adult I can say what worked for her can work

for me.

Thank you God, for our mothers.

Apple of Her Eye

How do we spend our time?

A pioneer woman in the spring would be getting a spring planting in. This would give her family nourishing food after the long winter. The gloomy months of winter would be a time of rest. Planning her garden would take a good deal of time. Getting the garden ready as soon as the soil is workable. Sometimes this can be done as early as mid to late Febraury. Seeds can go into the ground as early as the beginning of March in New Jersey.

Everything has a season!

We can learn from this woman, her hands were not idle. Up early, getting breakfast

ready for her family. Planning the rest of her day.

Planning meals took a good amount of time.

Just imagine how hard it was for the Pioneer woman.

Can I do what she did in her time?

That depends on my question.

How do we spend our time?

She had no choice of food. Her carefull attention of what was in her

pantry was so very important. She planned her meals by what

she had, sometimes it was not much.

What's in your pantry?

Can you fix all the food that's in your pantry for all the food your

family will need?

Can you grow the food you will eat?

Today I will ask God to give me the strength to provide food for

my family.

Show me how I have the time to grow a garden full of vegetables.

I pray for the wisdom to carry out this task of raising nourishing food.

My humble days

Saturday was material shopping day, I have to say it was fun. It was like being that little girl, dreaming of all the beautiful dresses. Then, we came home and we washed the material and hung it out to dry. The wind on Saturday was like Kansas wind in March blowing the material. Its amazing how the wind can dry material so quickly. Besides the dreaming we had to clean up from Friday's Birthday party. My second son turned 16 on Friday, he had a Lan Party. Which is basically a bunch of young adults getting together a playing computer games. My son loves to have these get togethers, as he has a high knowledge of computers.
Home educating a high school student can also be reeducating yourself. Sometime ago, I had mendtioned a book we have been studying on American Government called America's Providential History. Since then, my son and I have been checking out the website The Constitutional Party and listening to a program on the radio on govenrment. The constitution states that anyone in office should be a christian. Is this country run be the people or by the people in office. This county started out for the people as christians it is our responsibility to continue.
Rain,and more rain what a season of joy. We had two days of rain again, my grass is praising the Lord. Farming with rain can be a chore and I know my chickens do not like rain. The sheep don't even come out,well unless they think I will be bringing hay.

The weekend, the teacher has a day off

Saturday to me is a day off from school. Yes, I am a teacher, but also a mother and a wife. First, I want to say us women have it easy that are born in this era. If women live the way God intended us to live. Being in the home everyday is where I love to be as I tend to my activities. The garden which provides food for my family, is where I love to be. Being outside with Gods creatures is another way for me to be at peace. Visit this website, maybe God will fill you with the Holy Spirit like he did with me.


Today started with my Bible in the hand as God spoke to me through his word. Then, my daughter and I went for our run. Well, I walk and she rides her bike to get our hearts pumping. Getting the laundry done today will have to take priorities. Since, the last couple of days its been very humid and no wash was done. Yes, it takes longer to hang laundry out, but it doesn't cost me anything but my time. I read a blog on someone who left a reply yesterday. She really inspired me to keep doing something I really enjoy. Making my own cleaning products is a passion of mine. It started out after I began making handmade soap, and then went to cleaning products. Being chemically sensitive was a wake up call, you might say. To my friend who also makes her own products, keep going.
In the earlier centuries of our time everyone made their own soap products. This is one more reason us housewives can be thrifty. I am not saying it is cheaper, but it is better for you and your family. My family will tell you their skin has never felt better. The winter is the true test, no more itchy skin.