Frugal Foodie

OK, maybe ghastly is a bit strong. But, they were sad.

Each spring our subdivision does sales on a Friday and Saturday in April. DH got up early, showered, and hit them early with a list of things we were looking for as well as a list of things a friend was looking for.

He came home empty handed. He said the pickin's were slim.

I wonder if the economy is showing it's hoary head.

I suggested this to DH -- perhaps folks don't have the money to buy new stuff, so they aren't letting go of anything we are interested in, just trying to sell those things that aren't necessary.

I know the local thrift shops are booming around here. I certainly hope things start looking up for the families in my community as well as the rest of the country. Not because I feel the desire for better garage sales, but it's difficult for so many families to keep their heads above water.

We had training today for Common Core reading. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is national standards for reading that most of the U.S. has adopted. Teachers normally do not get more than 30 minutes for lunch, so on training days, we often are allowed an hour.

I packed my lunch this morning -- a few leftovers and some fruit. My partner did the same. We were the only two left in the room as the mass exodus left to go purchase lunch.

I looked around when they came back. Many have complained how their money just doesn't go as far as it did or they have huge expenses...yet they thought nothing of going out for lunch.

When they came this morning, many brought their breakfast they had picked up or soda or coffee purchased. My old checkered Thermos almost seems out of place. One person was telling me what a deal it was for the soda they bought this morning on the way as I drank my home brewed coffee and then my Thermos of water after lunch.

It's a treat to go out -- I realize that, but tomorrow when we return, I bet many will treat themselves again to a hurried lunch and a thinner pocketbook.

I hit the library again and saw a cookbook with cooking with olive oil. It is a type of flatbread and I think one could serve it in place of cornbread. Other than the carbs, it appears to be pretty healthy:

Oatmeal honey bread



1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup honey

1 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil



Preheat oven to 400. Coat a 9 inch round or square baking pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the center. In a separate bowl add the wet and whick. Pour the wet ingredients into the well and stir just until moistened.

Transfer batter to the prepared baking pan.



Bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Can be served warm or cooled entirely.


We will be eating it with a few meals this week...fairly economical as far as bread goes too.

There was a letter in an advice column this week where the writer said they had invited neighbors over for dinner multiple times, but it was never reciprocated, although these same people invite others over. The writer asked when was it OK to stop or something to that effect and how to maintain the friendship.

Good question. We have a couple we have had over multiple times. She is a self professed "great cook" -- her words, not mine, and she has invited other folks over to their home for meals and then tells us about it. She goes into detail about all the things she did to make their meal enjoyable and how pleased their guests were.

When we have invited them over, the dinner conversation usually consists of the "great cook" telling me how she makes the same dish or similar dish and implying how much better it is.

I am thinking she is just plain rude. I'm not claiming to be a gourmet by any means, but unless something can cause an allergic reaction, I would think one would hold one's tongue. Guess I have been wrong about this all these years.

So, when does one decide to stop inviting someone over?

Friday night we watched the program on the new HGVT Green House. We enjoy seeing the new products out there and how people are trying to help the planet.

I had to chuckle when they kept acting so very self-righteous about reusing furniture and materials and shopping and flea markets and antique shops. They acted almost like it was their very own original idea!

Most folks who have to watch their pennies and even those who don't, but want to, reuse and repurpose things. When I look at my kitchen, so much of the stuff in it was bought used. Or, I inherited it from my grandmother.

We often go to antique shops. I not only like the idea of saving a little money, but the idea of buying something that was probably made in America so many years ago. I'm a little tired of all the cheaply made stuff from overseas.

It was just interesting how the commentators were singing the praises of repurposing things and how glorious it was like it was their very original idea. I think most of us reuse and repurpose if at all possible.

There's a little email making the rounds about an older lady going to the store and the cashier says something about your generation not understanding about going green because she hadn't brought her own bags. It was then pointed out how people used to buy soda in glass bottles and return them to be reused. I was thinking about all the canning that used to go on and people used and reused those canning jars for years!

I know HGTV has to sensationalize to keep the viewer interested, but some of us have been "green" in a lot of areas far longer than the network has been around.

I need to go and heat up the sloppy joes in my second hand pot and serve on my second hand plates. Just thought I'd give a few of my thoughts when it came to being green.

We had ham for supper. We originally had ham for Easter dinner. Then again for supper Sunday night. I had some for lunch on Monday as well as ham and eggs Monday. We ate it again tonight. Hubby had some for lunch too this week. I think we got our money's worth out of that $15 ham. Three meals Sunday noon; three meals Sunday supper. (We had a guest Sunday and then sent her home with some for her supper.) Supper Monday, lunch Monday, DH's lunch Tuesday, and then tonight...let's see 12 individual servings on one ham! I can honestly say I was glad to see the end of it for now, but I feel like we did pretty well...and it was economical.

Today is Easter and around my home, my hubby really likes a traditional Easter dinner at noon...ham, scalloped potatoes, cornbread, green beans, and deviled eggs. Anyway, that's what he considers traditional.

Each year for each holiday we extend an invitation to a former neighbor or ours. Sometimes she accepts. This Easter, she accepted. In addition to the above, I also fixed honey glazed carrots, peas, and a white cake with white icing since that is her favorite cake and her birthday was Thursday.

The table is set, the food is out, and I suggest I dip up the potatoes since I just got the pan out of the oven and didn't want anyone to burn themselves. She laughed and said that was OK and then said, "I really came for the cornbread." We laughed and then she was afraid she hurt my feelings. I told her no, it was taken as a compliment and she could have as much as she wanted.

The cornbread is baked in a skillet and it is Paula Deen's corny cornbread recipe, except I use less sour cream and more creamed corn. Why? Because her recipe calls for one of those expensive little cans of corn and I buy the corn on sale so I use what is on hand.

We had a nice dinner and we sent some leftovers, including cornbread home with her for her supper.

As a cook, having someone compliment on something is never taken as an insult.

What is a traditional Easter dinner for you?

Our weather has been weird! Living in the Midwest we didn't really have much of a winter...unseasonably warm! Then, the past few weeks it has been in the 70s and 80s and flowers are popping out, trees are blooming, grass is growing...DH has mowed twice already!

Normally one doesn't think about a hearty soup in this kind of weather, but fortunately DH likes soup year round. I had a meeting after school last night and wanted to get something fixed that we could have ready when I got home. I tried this new soup recipe and hubby took one bite and informed me it was a keeper!

Hearty Tomato Pasta Soup

1 lb bulk Italian sausage
6 cups beef broth
1 can stewed tomatoes (28 oz)
1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
2 cups sliced zucchini
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped in small pieces
3/4 cup of pasta of your choice

I browned the sausage with the chopped onion. I sauted the vegetables in extra virgin olive oil. I then added the sausage to the vegetables then everything else and let it simmer for about an hour and a half. I added the pasta the last half hour and it cooked. It was whole wheat pasta so I figured I could add it that early. I think you could wait and add the other pasta later. I refrigerated it over night and heated it up when we got home. With crackers it was a very, very heart meal!

By fixing it ahead, it meant we weren't tempted to go out and there is enough left over for lunch!

A couple of weeks ago when I was on spring break, I checked a out bunch of cookbooks and cooking magazines.

So, each evening as we watched T.V., I would peruse these periodicals and tomes. I found some interesting recipes. The following is for a bread that isn't really sweet, but still kind of yummy.

Savory Sweet Potato Bread

1 1/2 cups uncooked shredded sweet potato (about 1/2 potato)
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons minced onion
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sesame seed

Preheat oven to 350. Grease baking loaf pan. Mix all ingredients but sesame seed. Put in loaf pan and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

10 servings and 31 g of carbs per serving

I made a loaf last week after attending a meeting that kind of upset me. There is something about baking something and having it come out that gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

The first time I made it, the batter seemed dry and I added and egg and that seemed to take care of it. I think although the eggs were supposed to be large, they must have been on the small side.

Anyway, it's kind of nice recipe and I feel that it sort of is healthy with the sweet potato and the whole grain flour. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

OK, didn't mean to be sexist, but if I added "and guy's" it would make the title kind of cumbersome. Not trying to hurt any one's feelings.

I use mine quite often. Last night I put a whole chicken with some herbs and vegetables and water...woke up to a house smelling wonderful. It wasn't a huge chicken, but there is enough meat for two casseroles and chicken salad, and I froze some of the extra broth.

I've made vegetable soup in the past two weeks, and I tried a new pork chop and potato recipe last week.

I have 4 different ones, all different sizes. I just find myself blessed to have this wonderful piece of kitchen appliance world.

I believe by using a slow cooker, I've saved money. I use a lot of casseroles and by cooking chicken ahead instead of buying a rotissere chicken I've saved money. Plus, I control what goes on and in the cooker. I keep broth frozen and that's handy for many meals tool. Healthier and cheaper than buying stuff from the store.

I get excited when I see recipes for the slow cooker that I think I'd like to try.

Don't tell anyone, but I gave a little hug to the cooker when I put it away today after washing it.

My husband hasn't met a potato he doesn't like!

For years he said he didn't like sweet potatoes, but a couple of years ago he asked me for a bite of mine and decided they were A-OK. So, I try to fix sweet potatoes frequently because I like them, but also because they are nutritious.

I am usually on the look out for potato recipes. I checked out a bunch of cookbooks from the library while I was on spring break and perused them and I found a recipe that I could hardly wait to try. I didn't say anything to DH, just served it last night and he tried a bite, asked me if it was a new recipe, and said if it was, it was a keeper. It has both sweet potatoes and white potatoes in it. So, it was a hit with hubby.

I think when I fix it again, I will add some milk because it was a little dry near the bottom, but it had a good flavor.

Two Potato Gratin

1 large red onion, cut into wedges
1 T olive oil
1 1/2 lbs baking potatoes (about 3 medium)
12 oz sweet potato (about 1 medium)
5 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 c half and half
2 t cornstarch
1 T butter
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400

In oil, cook onion wedges until tender. Peel potatoes and cut in 1/8 inch rounds. Arrange half potatoes and onions in shallow 2 quart baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Potatoes should be in a single layer overlappying slices. Sprinkle with half of cheese. Arrange remaining potatoes and onions, creating pattern if desired.

In 2 quart sauce pan whisk half and half into cornstarch to dissolve. Add butter. Heat on medium high until bubbles begint o form. Pour over potato mixture. Cover with foil, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle reaming Gruyere and bake 25 minutes until golden and bubbly.

I would think this could be changed up by using different onions (Vidalia or green onions) and cheeses. I wasn't sure how it would taste with the sweet potato, but it was more savory in this recipe and quite scrumptious.

Hubby has yet another way to enjoy the potato.

Last night's supper totally blew the budget!

Actually, it wasn't totally unplanned. We were at the meat market and the steaks looked so good. So, we bought two so I could grill them. I realize if we had gone out to eat, the cost would have probably been triple. Yet, I sort of felt naughty.

I have been on spring break and we have had th opportunity to get put and about. We went antiquing on Monday. I put beef and barley vegetable soup on the slow cooker so we would have supper waiting for us when we got home. On Wednesday we drove to Iowa to see the American Pickers' Antique Archeology as well as look at antique shops and when we got home, I heated up the leftover soup and used the last of the meatloaf we had Saturday for sandwiches.

I usually try to figure out what a meal costs to see if we saved money. The steaks weren't exactly cheap. But, they were good and a treat.

Tonight it is back to common food..sloppy Toms -- like sloppy joes made with ground turkey breast. One pound with onion, bell pepper, mushrooms makes two meals. Guess that will help the budget!

Givers and takers...we seem to fit one category or another, don't we? Sometimes both, but usually one is a better fit.

One gal I know lets me be both. I save our plastic containers such as cottage cheese and wash them and save them for her. She runs a small restaurant and uses them to take home leftovers for herself, her mom, and her daughter-in-law since they cannot service the stuff the next day. She said she loves having all these different sizes and she doesn't have to worry about remembering to bring back the good ones they used to use as she dashes out of the house early each morning. She said she's now using them at home to plant seeds for plants. She, in turn, has been saving me the box top things that schools use to send in for funds. I donate them to my schools and help them. So, we are both givers and takers.

Another person I know is a better taker. I save things like coupons and newspapers and give them to this person. I think they are appreciated. I usually don't mind saving these items.

I'm not a good taker. I guess I think I need to always be a giver and it is difficult to be on the receiving end. I guess we are what we are.


Otherwise, it was a nice day to be off. Our school district has designated this week as spring break. DH and I visited a friend and dropped off a birthday cake and a present and then voted, ran an errand and came home. He cleaned the siding outside and I worked on cleaning a room.

Supper was spaghetti with meat sauce made from ground chicken. I've been trying to figure out what we spent on suppers. I think tonight's was less than $7 for the spaghetti and sauce, homemade bread, salad, cottage cheese, and fruit. Last night we had beef and barley vegetable soup made in the slow cooker. It was about $7 and we have enough leftover for another meal. Sunday night I made a bruschetta with the homemade bread for a light Sunday supper. I think that meal cost less than $3. Not too bad for 3 suppers...guess I'll take that!

I haven't blogged this week due to being very tired. We started state testing last week and I spent three days of this week doing make up tests. It seems that at one of my schools, we had something that went around because there were many, many students who missed two or more of the tests.

In Illinois, it behooves a school to get all these tests made up. So, Monday I spent the day between two schools, and Tuesday and Wednesday I was at just one school because of so many make ups. One student had 8 tests to do, and of course, one cannot do all those in a day. He came Wednesday and we got a few of them completed, but the principal was going to have to finish on Thursday and Friday.

I was allowed to attend the Illinois Reading Conference in Springfield Thursday and Friday. It reaffirmed my love affair with reading and writing.

Many of the sessions are on Common Core Standards since Illinois has adopted them and they take effect 2014.

I attended sessions on writing and the Common Core and ideas on how to make writing more interesting.

Jack Gantos is an author who shared his outline on writing picture books. His first step was to have kids read lots of picture books to see how they are created and then come up with a character, setting, problem, resolution, and emotion. If you are familiar with Rotten Ralph, he's the author.

I look forward to sharing these ideas and hopefully getting students a little more interested in writing.

I can say I was very tired when we got home last night. I was glad to be able to relax. And I'm glad I get to write about my experiences.

This week has been stressful as we do state testing in our schools. We have had a lot of students absent so it is imperative to do make up tests. And that isn't easy when you realize one has to read the directions verbatim as well as allow the time allotted for each child on each test.

I slept in this morning and that was nice. We went to brunch and then to the library. I walked out with a large pile of books and 5 magazines. We then drove to a small community for a home and garden show. The community is well known for the Amish who live there.

The furniture and cabinetry displayed by these craftsman was gorgeous. It was exciting to see their beautiful works of art. We admired their wares and looked at many of the other things they had.

A mile or so out in the country is a bulk store run by the Amish. We stopped and bought some cheese, brown rice, grits, and some hard wheat flour. I spent less than $20 altogether on these items.

We drove back into town and parked and went through a couple of the shops. One is an antique shop. It was fun looking through all the items. This one seems to have the largest display of kerosene lamps (new and used) that I have ever seen. One had the base that looked like a vase with handles on both sides and grapes that were in 3D relief. Neither DH or I have ever seen one like that. After poking through we bought nothing, but had a nice time. We walked down another block and saw a drugstore with an old fashioned soda fountain.

The soda fountain is made of marble. We each had an ice cream cone and sat at one of the tables and admired the pop bottle collection along the walls above the shelves. These were mostly older bottles and some were unique.

We arrived home and I baked a loaf of bread that I had mixed together and made chicken parmigiana. I can say I'm tired and dreading moving the clocks forward for daylight savings time, but I had a wonderful day with my wonderful hubby.

Sometimes I think I grew up pretty naive.

I certainly didn't have the "Leave It to Beaver" family. I was fortunate to attend a parochial elementary school only because at that time, there was no tuition charged.

In my mind, I just thought everyone grew up like me.

I remember in 8th grade we had an art and talent show. Anyone could exhibit anything.

I liked to draw and paint and I thought I would use a hymn verse and illustrate it.

I worked hours on it. And in my innocent way, I was very proud of it. I took it to school to have it on display that evening.

We went to the show after school. As we walked around and looked at all the other items on exhibit, I realized then I was really different.

Most of the craft items were made from kits and looked very, well shall we say, professional. At least as professional as a grade school item can look. They all looked very, very nice. The raw materials were new when they started, store bought, and everything looked very "perfect."

Over to the side, almost hidden, was my painting with the hand printed hymn verse. You see, when I wanted to do the painting, I didn't know what to paint on so my dad suggested I paint on a piece of cardboard. He cut out a piece of cardboard and that is what I painted on. We didn't have a frame or anything for it. If you looked on the back, you could see what product the box came from.

It looked pretty sad compared to all these other exhibits.

It was then I realized we were poor. We used what we had because there simply wasn't the money to go buy extra things like canvas or special drawing and painting supplies. I thought everyone but the very rich did the same. And I didn't think I knew rich people before this.

I had used the paints we had at home and they were left over from when my folks had painted used bicycles that my dad had fixed from old parts and sold. The painting was glossy. And then I saw it as gaudy and ugly.

I started looking at what others were wearing and then seeing the faded clothes I had on. It never bothered me before, but then I realized I didn't look like others or live like others. And I could then tell by where my project was and how it was treated, it was shameful to be poor.

I hope I never have or never will treat another person or their creations like that because I remember my heart aching at that moment and my face flushing with shame.

Of course nothing was said to me, but I knew then I was different.

A few years back, a friend of mine and I talked about when we realized we were poor. I remember she said it was when she was in high school. And she remembers how it made her feel.

Although our blogs and this site are about saving money, I hope we never think it is shameful to be poor or treat someone less because of it. Somehow, after reading many of the blogs and posts, I don't think that is the case. I just hope fewer children have to feel as badly as I did that spring in eighth grade.

It's been an interesting month or so. Each weekend after the grocery shopping and menu planning, I spend a few hours cooking things that I can reheat or bake or whatever so there is something waiting in the fridge when I get home. Therefore, I have no excuse to not cook and eat out.

I try to hit sales and either stock up on stuff or buy what is on special many times so our meals are reasonable.

Some of the folks I work with ask me what I've fixed or what I'm planning. A few times previously this year I've shared some of the stuff I've made with my coworker. She and her hubby seemed to appreciate it.

Well, she started looking at the grocery ads, planning her list, and cooking on the weekend. She told me today that she thinks they have really saved money by planning their menu as well as cooking things ahead of time.

A personal benefit is we have been exchanging casseroles the past few weeks. So, we not only are getting to try different recipes, we have a bigger assortment of foods available.

I think that is saving money for both of us besides letting us try new things.

There's an antique mall around us we happened upon about a year ago. A local guy decided to start it and has his own things besides some consignment items.

A few years ago I decided to get rid of the plastic in my kitchen and started replacing it with Pyrex, Corningware, Fire King, etc.

I bought a few items here and there, but I really hit the jackpot with this place.

DH loves going in and poking around too. I found a Paula Deen cast iron Dutch oven for $10 a couple months back. I bought 4 Christmas glasses (Anchor Hocking) for $3. I love enameled cast iron so the Dutch oven was a find. I have a huge one and a small one so this one was a jewel. It isn't my favorite color, but I'm cooking with it, not decorating with it. The glasses were cute and we've used them a lot.

Well today we went and I found some cloth napkins. I have been using cloth napkins for about 4 or 5 years. I read this was a way to cut back on costs and trash. We had a good time looking at stuff. The guy who runs this place must not only have the Pyrex and Corningware market cornered, but also costume jewelry. I had a good time trying on some of the big honking diamond rings and when I say "big", I'm talking golf ball size.

We spent $5 on the 8 napkins. I think we got more than $5 worth of pleasure just poking around. But, I pointed out to DH, this place is lethal because if I weren't so cheap, I could overspend very easily there.

Before heading off to work, I try to peruse the paper for a few local stories and glance at some headlines.

However, one story caught my eye that claimed that the recovering economy can withstand the rising gas prices.

I'm wondering where they got that information. Maybe some cities won't have a problem, but locally, we have had two businesses with major layoffs, and many of our folks who are employed are underemployed. I'm sure having to choose between gas in the tank and food on the table and medicine for health, many will not buy fuel and try to find alternatives or stay at home.

I'm sure our tourism will be hurt this summer too.

I remember when news stories were supposed to be factual and based on true stuff. It seems that news is often skewed by sensationalism to tell the story or the personal views of the editor. I'm a realist. If it is a news story, I want the facts, good or bad. If I want to read an opinion, I'll look on the editorial page. I really wonder where the reporter got those facts on the economy and gas prices. A generalized story on the wire doesn't mean everyone has the same situation. So, I am thinking we might have a situation where the economy might not be able to weather these gas prices...at least near me.

Just call me a skeptic!

We had turkey pot pie for supper tonight. I have tried 3 different toppings and have concluded that I like the homemade pie crust the best. I have been using some things we had...I have some Bisquick that I need to use up so that was the top tonight. It was OK, but just a bit heavy. DH who normally loves all things bready, ate some, but said he wasn't in love with it.

We had turkey breast last Saturday night for supper, so I used some of the leftovers for the pot pie and roasted a large pan of vegetables over the weekend. Half went into the pot pie and half went into cooked rice. The rice dish is for supper tomorrow night with either salmon patties or tuna cakes.

It was pretty windy here today with gusts up to 50 mph, but I will not complain after seeing the tornado damage on the news in Harrisburg, IL, and Branson, MO. A few broken limbs and other things is nothing compared to the tragic loss these cities and some others had.

I guess I should research other ways to make pot pie. I've tried turkey and chicken and I imagine there is also beef. Anyone tried anything else?

I have been going through my cookbooks and found a recipe for the slow cooker. I am trying to use things up in the pantry before they are past their date, as well as use what I have in the freezer. At our recent meat shop run, they had beef stew meat on sale, so I bought some thinking I could always either make stew or use it to make another dish. Then I found this recipe:

Beef and Barley Vegetable Soup

1 pound stew meat -- trim all fat
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2/3 cup of barley
2 cans of diced tomatoes (with garlic if possible -- if no garlic, mince a couple of cloves)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 cups beef broth

Put all in a slow cooker and cook 8-9 hours on low. I have it ready for tomorrow and dh walked by and said that I was mean.

Mean? I asked.

Yep, he replied. He said every time I put something in the slow cooker when I'm away are work, I torture him because he has to smell it when he's home.

I suggested I could possibly not make things and he said that perhaps torture was too strong a word, but it does make him very hungry by the afternoon. I guess the man likes pain!

It's been an odd few days. We received our home insurance bill and it went up almost $100. I guess it is because of so many claims all over the country. In the almost 22 years we have had homeowner's insurance, we had one claim and it was to replace a small area of guttering when the ice storm had a tree hit our house.

Gas prices skyrocketed. I know that was everywhere in the U.S. What we find interesting is although the local service stations have already bought some of the gas, as soon as they catch wind of oil prices going up, they raise the price, although they haven't bought any of the new gas.

Our governor is trying to cut things everywhere. He's trying to figure out how he can cut teacher pensions. I understand that our state is in trouble, but Illinois teachers pay a huge amount of their paychecks for their pension. Unfortunately the legislature hasn't kept up their end of the bargain for years and has raised the pension plan to pay for projects they wanted. Now the governor wants to cut the health insurance. Teachers pay for their health insurance so it isn't like they get it free.

It is getting scary since I'm getting closer to retirement. I'm hoping there will be a pension plan and insurance plan when my time comes. Illinois teachers are not eligible for Social Security.

Our city has been hit with layoffs at two places this week. I know the national news says the recession is over, but our unemployment has remained high. Now with these two major employers laying more off, it is getting downright frightening.

Hope things are better where you are!

Quiche is on the menu tonight. I have an easy recipe and feel that because it easy as well as economical, it makes for a good meal.

Recipe:

1 pie crust (homemade or store bought)

3 eggs
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup shredded cheese
other optional items: spinach, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, etc.

I whip the eggs, half and half and cheese together and put it in the crust. I then add the other things -- usually what is on hand. Tonight is chopped green onions and cherry tomatoes. I put strips of foil over around the edge of the pie crust so it doesn't brown too much, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until solid.

I'm have a salad with this and this makes a fairly nutritious meal. I was telling a gal I work with about the recipe and she mentioned that using eggs is a reasonable meal. On Saturday we were talking to another gal and she brought up that you can't eat much more cheaply than having a few eggs.

Hubby loves eggs so he's a happy boy. He doesn't subscribe to the theory that real men don't eat quiche!

We went to the library and on the new arrival shelf was a book about being debt free by Gail Vaz-Oxley. One chapter talked about how our friends influence the way we spend.

I would say to a certain extent that could be true. I think it also can be said that some of us no longer bow to peer pressure. I would think that many folks on the SA site have chosen a different route.

Years ago it was tough when my friends in high school, most who had parents who had more money than mine, would tell me about this and that their parents bought them. Or the trips they were going on. I couldn't keep up with the Joneses so to speak then, and I choose not to now.

Yesterday we had a teacher inservice day and although we had an hour for lunch (unheard of for teachers), part of that time was also travel time because we came from different schools in the morning, to a larger school in the afternoon to all meet together. I packed saltines, peanut butter, apple, and a Thermos of water. Most of the folks who had to travel and set up stopped and bought sandwiches and soda.

It was interesting because one person watched me slather the peanut butter on the saltines and then said that she was jealous of my lunch...it seemed that I was getting an intrinsic joy of putting the peanut butter on the cracker in such a way.

I thought about it for a moment and realized she was right. I like saltines and peanut butter. I remember in college when my snacks were that and when I ran out of peanut butter (and money), it was just saltines. But, I also thought this little exercise gave me some control - not only of my spending and eating, but I "controlled" how I would spread the peanut butter.

Pretty weird for such a simple lunch!

Someone asked me why I brought my lunch and I just said I was trying to save money and the conversation then went to how overpriced "fast food" sandwiches were.

I don't ever think I'll be the one giving peer pressure to the spenders, but for one brief moment, I was the one they were jealous of with my simple lunch!

Bet you are wondering what "BIM SIM" represents...

A little background... DH and I both have some arthritis. As a result, it often can be painful to do things. But, most doctors and apparently medicine advertisers agree that one shouldn't stop doing things because you have arthritis. One commercial says, "a body in motion stays in motion" so I decided we needed to have a saying or slogan to remind each other. So, I thought BIM SIM (body in motion stays in motion)was something we could say to keep each other going.

My dad has been gone 14 years. The last few years of his life he was bedridden. He had arthritis and although his doctor told him to keep moving and walking, he said it hurt too much. I'm sure it was painful. On the rare occasions I did get him out and moving, he would comment the next day he felt like he could move better. But, it didn't last. It is a sad saga...he wound up with bedsores because he wouldn't get up and walk, but sat all the time. His bedsores became so bad the doctor gave him antibiotics, but unfortunately they were too strong and he became dehydrated and very ill. He was hospitalized and was making recovery as the hospital put him through physical therapy. However, he chose to quit going and as a result, he got the point he couldn't walk. It was a vicious circle in a way. He had also had a lot of mini strokes so I don't think he was really able to think through things at this point, so his judgment wasn't the best.

That being said, I don't want to have the same problems, so the reminder of getting up and moving is always good. I guess I could say it could save me money if I take care of myself. BIM SIM

Tomorrow is the big heart day. If you are a teacher, you may have a aimilar experience...elementary kids really take this day seriously. I have seen street smart sixth graders get really hurt if they didn't get a Valentine from every single one in class. I think it just shows how we all desire to be thought of.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

I have quite a collection of cookbooks. I never started out thinking I wanted to collect them, but folks have been generous in getting them to me.

Although I have so many, I have to admit I have been remiss in using too many new recipes.

So, I challenged myself to go through my cookbooks and try to locate something different. I will admit that my area in the family room looks like a bookmobile exploded with all these various cookbooks piled up. They are not the same size or shape and some are professionally bound while others are spiral, and a few are just like pamphlets with a staple holding it all together.

I stumbled on this recipe and thought I'd try it this week.

Chicken and rice casserole

1 cup uncooked rice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup (1 stick butter)
1/2 cup flour
1 (6 oz) can sliced mushrooms
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cups Half and Half
3 cups diced chicken
1/s t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 T dried cilantro

Cook the rice according to directions on package. Saute onion in butter until tender, but not brown. Remove from heat and stir in flour, drain mushrooms, saving liquid. Add enough chicken broth to mushroom liquid to make 1 1/2 cups, gradually stir into onion mixture. Slowly add Half and Half, and stir until mixture is thickened. Add cooked rice, mushroom, chicken, salt and pepper to a greased 2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with cilantro. Bake uncovered at 350 for 25 to 35 minutes. Serves 6-8.

I have the casserole ready and will heat it up later in the week. I'm thinking already how maybe I'll change it the next time.

In the meantime, I will need to keep going through all these cookbooks! Yikes!

I'm just a little bit impressed that I actually fixed a supper and did not make too much. Granted, it isn't earth shattering, but I hate to waste food. Some of my lunches have been pretty diverse because I have a little of this and a little of that because I don't like to throw stuff away.

I fixed beef short ribs, brown rice, salad, homemade rye bread, and a fruit salad. The fruit and the garden salad were easy -- just portion out what we need. But things like rice and pasta usually drive me crazy because it is either feast or famine -- I either make too much or too little. Tonight, I can call it a Goldilocks portion -- it was just right!

So, I would say I saved money by not wasting food. We had sufficient to suffice and it was very, very nice!

A few years ago, there was a commercial where the question asked, "It is soup, yet?" as someone talked about making soup and how hard it is to wait. I think it was for a canned soup and how one can get homemade taste with the convenience of opening a can and heating it.

I have been trying to stay away from canned soups as much as possible, but want to make things that are both nutritious, economical, and something we'll eat. I ran across this recipe is a magazine, but changed it because I didn't care for the original.

Sweet Potato Soup

2 onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, and cut into chunks
1 T grated fresh ginger
1 T Turmeric
1/2 cinnamon stick
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 c cream

In a 5 to 6 slow cooker, combine the onions, carrots, ginger Tumeric, cinnamon stick, salt, pepper, broth and water. Cook covered 7 or 8 hours. Puree the soup in a blender and add the cream.

I actually halved the recipe because I didn't have that many sweet potatoes and I put it in a smaller slow cooker, but it was yummy. I like the fact I could use things I had on hand and the ingredients weren't so exotic (read expensive). It made a good lunch today.

At my schools, there's a company that sells books and usually it has a couple of cookbooks. One gal said she loved cookbooks, but anymore, she doesn't buy them because she either gets people to share recipes or goes to allrecipes.com. She said her cookbooks are collecting dust on the shelf.

That lead to a discussion that is appears that many of the cookbooks have recipes that most of us aren't going to really use and how sharing recipes and getting them online is probably more economical.

And so feeding the tummy and feeding the wallet, all in one step sounds like a great idea!

When I was growing up, my folks would often encourage me not to use certain things and keep them for "good."

As my mother aged, she admitted that wasn't always the best advice. She said she crocheted and embroidered a lot of things and wouldn't use them, but instead kept them for "good," which meant she was saving them for use on a special occasion. However, as these things aged, they started to go bad. A lot of the things she worked so hard on started to fall apart. All that work and anticipated pleasure for naught because she never had the joy of using them.

I didn't inherit a lot of things from my grandmother, but I did get a tablecloth that fit a card table and 4 napkins. They are linen and have a design cut out and embroidered around the design. For years I would take them out of the cedar lined chest, wash them, iron them, and put them back. Then it dawned on me, these were my grandmother's and I never saw her use them. My mom never used them. And since I don't have children, chances are they won't get used unless I do.

So, I pulled out the tablecloth and I have it on a small table in my sunroom. I like the tablecloth and enjoy seeing it.

As for the napkins, we use them. Not for special days either. I use a lot of cloth napkins and they are in the stack to be used. Whatever placemats or tablecloth they go with, they get used.

I ironed them last night and thought that I'm getting far more enjoyment out of using them, than having them stored away.

Years ago Erma Bomback who normally wrote humorous articles did write a serious one. I believe it was when she was diagnosed with a terminal disease. She pointed out that life was for living and it was OK to use those things. I remember her saying she didn't use a rose shaped candle because it was for a special time, but wound up in a box in the garage where it melted.

A few years ago I donated my "good" China to be given away to a family that could use it. I think I used it maybe two or three times. It wasn't the most expensive, but I remember buying into the notion that when one married, they should have two sets of dishes -- every day and the fancy stuff. And, I didn't want to use the fancy stuff in case I would break a piece or chip it.

My dishes are my dishes. Some are chipped. I've broken a few through the years, but I like the pattern and feel I'm making better use of these stuff I have if I use it, instead of saving it.

I ironed a tablecloth last night. I never used to use cloth tablecloths or napkins, thinking it should only be when we have company. Well, I've decided we are worth the trouble of having a pretty tablecloth and napkins.

There isn't too much I'm keeping for "good" anymore. We don't have fancy dinner parties. I'm not a gourmet cook or chef. If folks come to eat at my house, hopefully they come for the hospitality and not the fancy dishes or flatware or napkins.

Perhaps it is part of my mind set of being content and finding pleasure in what I have.