Life has been full and busy for me. So many times the thought crossed my mind: "I should blog about this." I just haven't had the leisure time. I have been spending much less time on the computer. In fact, I made a decision not to turn the computer on until the late afternoon on weekdays. I seem to get so much more accomplished. I get my e-mail on my phone now, so that helps to eliminate the compulsivity of needing my computer on all day!
I have been Samming it up (that means Sam's Club shopping) for most items in my pantry, and going to the store much less frequently in a commitment to spend less. It works! It takes a bit more time to plan, but I easily recoup that time by not going to the store as much. If you are a Sam's Club member, did you know that they have something called Click n' Pull available on their website? It's a free service. You can shop online, fill your cart online by 5 p.m. and pick up your order at your local Sam's the next day. The prices remain the same as if you'd walked into Sam's and pulled it off the shelf yourself. The product selection seems to be about the same as well. I like this because it eliminates the compulsivity of buying those cool items at Sam's that I really hadn't planned to.
I have started my vegetable garden seeds indoors with my Ott Light. We will prepare our raised beds outdoors the first week in April, and move the little plants out there when the danger of frost has past (somewhere around the third week in April). I'm sure that this will save us money in wholesome food in the long run...but this year was expensive due to the materials needed for the raised bed. Usually, I do container gardening. This year, in light of the rising cost of food, we decided to go big. Unfortunately, we live on the side of a mountain with very sloping, steep land and mostly shade in the back yard. Some creativity was involved in this year's garden plans. I'll take pictures when it's time! Do you kow how much dirt costs? Would you believe $25 per tractor bucket (roughly 3/4 yard)? We need ten of those tractor bucketfuls! Oh the things I took for granted...
I also wanted to catch you up on some product reviews, which are always whirling through my mind, both good and bad:
Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner (32 fluid ounces, salon pump bottle) $5. I have thick, curly hair which tends to frizz. This smells great and leaves my hair so smooth and shiny!
CeraVe Lotion, as recommended by my new dermatologist. I have rosacea and occasional acne flareups, along with gently aging skin. This is miracle stuff, and very reaonably priced, especially when you can get it BOGO from time to time.
Signature Minerals, mineral foundation and natural facial products. I can't say enough about what this has done for my skin.
That's it for my glowing product reviews. I have to go play Battleship with my teen, on this very rare occasion in which he actually asked me to play a game with him. More later!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Frugal laundry
Wow! So the price of Tide has escalated to untouchable for this frugal mama! I am a big believer in the power of Tide, and I always have been, but it was time to start investigating some frugal options. I would attempt to make my own, but I have one of those newer and finicky HE machines, and I'm not sure if homemade laundry soap would work in my machine at all or even damage it.
Choices are limited at the store when it comes to HE formulations. You have TIDE, and ALL unscented, and occasionally GAIN or CHEER HE, but not with any consistency. I'm a sniffer, and I love the smell of fresh laundry, so fragrance is important to me. There's one of the above brands, and I'm not sayin' which that smells like SKUNK. You read that correctly. S-K-U-N-K. There's another of the above brands that has given us all a rash on our sensitive skin. That leaves the other two choices, one of which is difficult to find all the time, and the other is too expensive.
So, in my excursion to Sam's Club, I noticed ECOS All Natural Laundry Detergent. Not that I'm big into environmental causes, because they tend to have their roots in the agenda of the Liberals. However, I am into *natural* when it comes to my family. It's just a preference and I am a believer that petroleum products are not healthy for consistent usage (not to mention all the other toxic chemicals in laundry soap). ECOS was $12.63 for 210 HE loads (or 105 loads in a regular machine). I hesitated because the detergent was lavender scented, which I love if it's not too strong, but how would it register with the males of the house? I bought it anyway. I've had a chance to use it already, as I've always got dirty laundry conveniently lying around. I tried it on a load of fleece and sweatshirts. I LOVE it! No strong smell of lavender noted after drying, yet the clothes have a clean smell and everything is so soft* due to the built in soy-based softener. This is definitely going on my shopping list for Sam's Club. I may even stock up. Once the secret's out, the price will go up.
*I do not use fabric softener, but rather dryer balls.
Choices are limited at the store when it comes to HE formulations. You have TIDE, and ALL unscented, and occasionally GAIN or CHEER HE, but not with any consistency. I'm a sniffer, and I love the smell of fresh laundry, so fragrance is important to me. There's one of the above brands, and I'm not sayin' which that smells like SKUNK. You read that correctly. S-K-U-N-K. There's another of the above brands that has given us all a rash on our sensitive skin. That leaves the other two choices, one of which is difficult to find all the time, and the other is too expensive.
So, in my excursion to Sam's Club, I noticed ECOS All Natural Laundry Detergent. Not that I'm big into environmental causes, because they tend to have their roots in the agenda of the Liberals. However, I am into *natural* when it comes to my family. It's just a preference and I am a believer that petroleum products are not healthy for consistent usage (not to mention all the other toxic chemicals in laundry soap). ECOS was $12.63 for 210 HE loads (or 105 loads in a regular machine). I hesitated because the detergent was lavender scented, which I love if it's not too strong, but how would it register with the males of the house? I bought it anyway. I've had a chance to use it already, as I've always got dirty laundry conveniently lying around. I tried it on a load of fleece and sweatshirts. I LOVE it! No strong smell of lavender noted after drying, yet the clothes have a clean smell and everything is so soft* due to the built in soy-based softener. This is definitely going on my shopping list for Sam's Club. I may even stock up. Once the secret's out, the price will go up.
*I do not use fabric softener, but rather dryer balls.
Pasta is always frugal
But to me, pasta has the tendency to get tedious...like too much of the same thing. Here's a pasta recipe that I discovered many years ago, right off the giant bag of egg noodles at Sam's Club. I'd forgotten about it until today, when I purchased a bag of those noodle. My family was so happy that I rediscovered this recipe!
Montalcino Pasta Oriental
10 cups egg noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil (you can use whatever oil you have on hand)
1/2 cup carrots, julienned
1/2 julienned bell pepper (red is prettier, green is more economical. Use either.)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tsp. sesame seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon fresh garlic
1 teaspoon dried ginger ( I decrease this slightly. We're not ginger fans.)
1/4 cup soy sauce (or Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
salt
pepper
Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside. In large stir fry pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add vegetables and sesame seeds and quickly stir fry for two minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
Mix in soy sauce and broth and bring to a boil. Stir in cooked noodles and season to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 6-8.
To add protein, you could throw in some leftover meat, but this is really great the way that it is...and frugal too! My family gives in 2 thumbs up!
Montalcino Pasta Oriental
10 cups egg noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil (you can use whatever oil you have on hand)
1/2 cup carrots, julienned
1/2 julienned bell pepper (red is prettier, green is more economical. Use either.)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tsp. sesame seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon fresh garlic
1 teaspoon dried ginger ( I decrease this slightly. We're not ginger fans.)
1/4 cup soy sauce (or Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
salt
pepper
Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside. In large stir fry pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add vegetables and sesame seeds and quickly stir fry for two minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
Mix in soy sauce and broth and bring to a boil. Stir in cooked noodles and season to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 6-8.
To add protein, you could throw in some leftover meat, but this is really great the way that it is...and frugal too! My family gives in 2 thumbs up!
Frugal that doesn't feel frugal
I took another visit to Sam's Club today. Now that I've greatly reduced my trips to the store, it's amazing how empty things can get when it's time to go for another stock-up. I make nearly everything from scratch, not just by choice so that I can control the ingredients, but also out of necessity. I won't gripe here about the economy, by the way.
Now that I know what the good deals are at Sam's Club, I was thinking that the trip in and out of there would be expeditious. But no, I always seem to want to browse in Sam's Club. It's so obvious to me now how convenience entices consumers to spend way more than they should. There were a few things that I strolled around in my cart, but after I mulled them over I put them back. Yeah for me! That reminds me of my sister-in-law. During her last visit, we talked about how easy it is to BUY things, maybe even things that we don't really want or even need. Yet the fleeting satisfaction of making purchases keeps us going back for more. Here's her solution: Visit www.amazon.com or your other favorite online shopping site. Browse around for a while, even place things in your cart if you feel that you really must. When you feel that you've really shopped, shut down your computer for the night. That's right. DO NOT PURCHASE.
There. You've had your shopping fix, and you haven't spent any money.
Several days later, log back in to your cart and look at all the trivial things that you felt compelled to place in your cart. Not only does this give you new perspective, but you will also feel a sense of relief that you didn't foolishly spend all that money.
Now that I know what the good deals are at Sam's Club, I was thinking that the trip in and out of there would be expeditious. But no, I always seem to want to browse in Sam's Club. It's so obvious to me now how convenience entices consumers to spend way more than they should. There were a few things that I strolled around in my cart, but after I mulled them over I put them back. Yeah for me! That reminds me of my sister-in-law. During her last visit, we talked about how easy it is to BUY things, maybe even things that we don't really want or even need. Yet the fleeting satisfaction of making purchases keeps us going back for more. Here's her solution: Visit www.amazon.com or your other favorite online shopping site. Browse around for a while, even place things in your cart if you feel that you really must. When you feel that you've really shopped, shut down your computer for the night. That's right. DO NOT PURCHASE.
There. You've had your shopping fix, and you haven't spent any money.
Several days later, log back in to your cart and look at all the trivial things that you felt compelled to place in your cart. Not only does this give you new perspective, but you will also feel a sense of relief that you didn't foolishly spend all that money.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Mama's Pizzeria!
When we first moved to our little corner of northwest Georgia two years ago, we almost immediately discovered an authentic pizzeria that became a Sunday afternoon habit. Giovanni's Pizza was the best. The service wasn't always great, but we could get two large pizzas overloaded with stringy, stretchy, full-fat version mozarella for $10. The middle of last year brought a disappointment when, without warning, Giovanni's disappeared. So began my quest to duplicate his recipe. The secret, I think, was in the cheese. Pizza is not a good choice for curtailing culinary indulgence...so no part skim mozarella, if you can help it.
As a family, we prefer a thin crust. Yes, you can have really, really good homemade pizza on the table in 35 minutes (not including oven preheat time to 375 degrees).
Starting with the dough...
In your Kitchenaid, using your dough hook, following ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
You may need to add water to the dough one Tablespoon at a time, depending on the humidity. Your dough should be very pliable, but NOT STICKY!
After you've mixed your ingredients for three minutes on low, separate the dough into two balls and roll out onto your two pizza pans. I prefer to cook on baking stones, well seasoned. I prebake the rolled dough at 375 for 10 minutes, then add my toppings. Toppings are an individual preference, all the way down to the sauce. I use whatever sauce I have on hand, but prefer tomato puree seasoned with oregano, basil and thyme. After you've loaded your pizza with toppings and cheese, bake in oven again for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
So easy! And you read that recipe correctly...no rising time for the dough.
Some other variations (think CiCi's!) that we've tried:
Sauteed onions, bell peppers and black olives (for the grownups, of course)
Mexican Pizza: I've been known to use leftover taco meat, but you can fry one pound of ground beef and add an envelope of taco seasoning, prepared according to directions. Replace the mozarella with Jack or cheddar cheese, and after cooking, load on the taco toppings: lettuce, sour cream, chopped tomatoes...whatever you like!
Philly Cheesesteak Pizza: Fry one pound of ground beef, add one envelope of onion soup mix, and one cup of water with two tablespoons of flour (hint: whisk in flour well to the cold water before adding to the meat) . You can grill some more onions, bell peppers and mushrooms for a topping and finish with melted velveeta!
YUM!
As a family, we prefer a thin crust. Yes, you can have really, really good homemade pizza on the table in 35 minutes (not including oven preheat time to 375 degrees).
Starting with the dough...
In your Kitchenaid, using your dough hook, following ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
You may need to add water to the dough one Tablespoon at a time, depending on the humidity. Your dough should be very pliable, but NOT STICKY!
After you've mixed your ingredients for three minutes on low, separate the dough into two balls and roll out onto your two pizza pans. I prefer to cook on baking stones, well seasoned. I prebake the rolled dough at 375 for 10 minutes, then add my toppings. Toppings are an individual preference, all the way down to the sauce. I use whatever sauce I have on hand, but prefer tomato puree seasoned with oregano, basil and thyme. After you've loaded your pizza with toppings and cheese, bake in oven again for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
So easy! And you read that recipe correctly...no rising time for the dough.
Some other variations (think CiCi's!) that we've tried:
Sauteed onions, bell peppers and black olives (for the grownups, of course)
Mexican Pizza: I've been known to use leftover taco meat, but you can fry one pound of ground beef and add an envelope of taco seasoning, prepared according to directions. Replace the mozarella with Jack or cheddar cheese, and after cooking, load on the taco toppings: lettuce, sour cream, chopped tomatoes...whatever you like!
Philly Cheesesteak Pizza: Fry one pound of ground beef, add one envelope of onion soup mix, and one cup of water with two tablespoons of flour (hint: whisk in flour well to the cold water before adding to the meat) . You can grill some more onions, bell peppers and mushrooms for a topping and finish with melted velveeta!
YUM!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
A tiskit, a tasket
You need a TRANSFER BASKET!
This is a great idea, especially for those like myself who want the entryways into their home to resemble the Pottery Barn catalog!
Amanda C., a mom and professional organizer uses a transfer basket to gather everything that needs to go out the door the next day (library books, bills to mail, schoolwork if you're so inclined to take it with you!). The basket is hauled into the car with every departure and brought back into the home when you return to be emptied. Hint: leave it in the same spot near your most commonly used doorway...and make it pretty!
Another idea is to have Prayer Basket. What is it about some of us that makes us want to basket up everything? I love baskets of all shapes and sorts! In your prayer basket, be sure to keep your current devotional book, a journal, your Bible, some highlighters and nice pen to write with. It might also be a good spot to park your MP3 player for times when you want to have some inspirational or Praise & Worship music. I like to keep my morning devotions on the move. Sometimes I may just sit in the living room, other times I will move it outside or on the side porch if the weather is nice.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Menu Planning the {simple} way
I've found a system that I think might work...maybe not so structured as I thought I would need, but it appears to be simple enough to actually stick with it! I DO need to menu plan. It's one of two surefire ways to keep the grocery budget here at bay (the other is shopping less frequently).
Here's the framework that I'll be using for our menu plans (dinner only):
For breakfasts I'll be starting out slowly with the framework in America's Cheapest Family, which is a very generic Monday - cold cereal, Tuesday - muffins and fruit, Wednesday - warm cereal with fruit, Thursday - eggs and all that, Friday - bagels with cream cheese and fruit, Saturday - something special like waffles or pancakes, Sunday - something make ahead.
Lunches stump me. I have one child who could live on PB&J with milk, and another who lives for those frozen El Monterrey Burritos. Other times we have grilled cheese and soup, or pizza rolls, leftovers, nachos, or quesadillas and salsa, but rarely lunch meat sandwiches (which are expensive, and I'd rather splurge at Subway occasionally). Lunch seems stuck in a rut to me, but I know that I need to have a more defined plan to help with my (soon to be) once every two week shopping trips.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
