Frugal Friday Soup

Frugal is as frugal does...sorry it was a Forest Gump moment.
It's cold enough for some homemade chicken noodle soup!
I've learned to stay away from canned soups for many reasons
1. MSG
2. Way too much sodium
3. Preservatives
4. and in my case Gluten

We grew up making our own soups at home when I was young, so I don't think twice about de-boning a chicken for the meat or the chicken broth. For some out there who have asked for details let me say let's make it easy, however just so you know up front, you will have to touch a chicken. Not to worry though, God did give us meat on this earth to eat, and it's ok to remind others of that.

Crock Pot Chicken
1. Buy one large fresh (organic) chicken. (Perhaps someone can go hunting for a fresh one :)
2. Unwrap the chicken and take out the innerds and rinse the chicken well under cold running water and place in a crock pot.
3. Rub the chicken with a small amount of oil
4. Wash your hands...no samonella here!
5. Season the chicken...I sprinkle it with dry ranch dressing mix, real salt and pepper.
6. Add one cup water to the crock pot
7. Set crock pot to low overnight (I then turn off the crok pot in the morning and by the time beakfast is done it is cool enough to handle)
8. Wash your hands, and reach right in there for the meat, it should just fall right off the bone.
9. Seperate the meat from the bones and pour off the broth.
10. Refridgerating the broth before using solidfies the fat that floats to the top and it can be scraped off before using in soups or recipes. (if you want to use the broth right away, carefully float a paper towel on top of the broth to soak up much of the fat.
11. Refridgerate the meat for use in recipes.

Why go through all this work?
a. the meat is preservative free
b. no msg
c. much more frugal and economical than luncheon meats or canned soups
d. tastes better
e. meat cooked on the bone is much more nutrient rich than most processed foods in our markets.

Chicken Noodle Soup

One cup freshly cooked chicken
Two cups broth
One cup water
2 tablespoons Braggs Liquid Aminos
2 cups fresh pealed chopped carrots
1 tablespoon dried Rosemary

2 cloves freshly chooped garlic
handful of chopped celery leaves
1 cup homestyle pasta noodles
or gluten free homemade noodles
Salt and pepper to taste
Cover and simmer until veggies are tender, about 20 minutes and serve warm with homemade bread or crackers.Enjoy knowing that your family is being served a nutrient rich meal free of all sorts of preservatives and other harmful additives.

Serving up Leftovers

Housewife in Kitchen

I can't take credit for this one but I thought it was a good one to share.

With the economy the way it is, gas prices and home heating prices on the rise, and the grocery bill ever growing larger a simple little drama unfolding in the kitchen may help.

Get that apron on mom, gather up all the leftover dishes and garnish with a splash of cheese or salsa or ketchup, and make a list.
Heat them all up in seperate dishes...one for each member of the family and with pencil and notepad in hand announce the specials of the evening.

Take orders one by one, with no arguing allowed.

Ask daddy to turn out the lights and light the candles.

Serve a warm dish to each member as well as yourself

Bow your heads and pray and let God know how thankful you are for a choice
and enjoy the leftovers.

Don't forget to announce that the waitress accepets tips, but prefers help in the dishwashing arena.

How to read a Sewing Pattern

Even if you have a sewing machine, and the desire to sew, trying to read a sewing pattern looks like a differnt language. This video has lots of info to help you get started. Won't your little one look so cute in a new dress!

Crochet

Crocheting is a wonderful way to provide extra warmth for your family in the winter, or make gifts for Christmas or birthdays. I've found an excellent link to help you get started that includes 7 videos to teach you an old fashioned skill that will keep your hands busy. "How to Crochet"
You will be amazed at what you have to show when you are done, with just a few stitches here and there throughout the year.

Embroidery

Embroidery can be used to beatuify your home, or make gifts for friends and family or bring in extra income by selling it at local gift shops or craft fairs or online. Here is video to hlep you get started.

Home Canning Help

The following link can help get you started,

and supply much more advanced help when canning

as well as many recipes.

Happy Canning!

Home Canning Help

Giving on a Frugal budget

If you are the only one in the country that hasn't seen the news this week, surprise!...the economy doesn't seem to healthy...to put it mildly. However not to worry...God is still in control!

Well this week was one of those times that frugality paid off. First off let me share that I've been saving a bit at a time to buy some gift cards over the past few months. I find they are a small way of being able to say thank you to so many in such a simple way. I also find that they are a good investment just before the holidays to have some on hand for that gift you really wanted to give someone, but couldn't get out in the snow to pick up! Well, you may not have that problem, but sometimes I do. I'm not real keen on traveling all over just to pick up gift cards with gas being more expensive than milk in some areas! But I started noticing displays in the grocery store of all sorts of gift cards. Money as a gift seems so impersonal but a gift card to somewhere that the recipient really likes seems more thoughtful. So the next time you are in the store, pick a few up, you can even add more to a previous one and build it up a bit to give an even larger amount. Or keep those smaller ones on hand to share at just the right time. Not only does it save on gas by buying a card while at the grocery store, it also saves on postage.

Frugal Friday Sept. 4, 08

Little Girl in Bonnet

Good Morning Frugal Friday Ladies,

I was cleaning up the painting mess that dearest Husband so kindly made, when I noticed the towels. (it really is kind of him as I am allergic to the paint fumes and it really needed painting)
Back to the towels...Some seemed awfully frayed and I made a mental note to share with you what I have done with them in the past.

1. If the seams are beginning to fray I mend them.
2. After the first mend begins to fray I cut the worn edges and mend again.
3. If there is a whole in the towel and it won't mend well, I will cut the towel up and make wash cloths out of it.
4. If there are large nice salvageable sections of a towel left I will cut out a piece to make a vintage "Budoir Bonnet" to keep my long hair from dripping all over the wood floor. I plan on posting some of these on my ETSY shop one of these days.
5. If all else fails, these towel or washcloth remnants become rags to clean up dear husbands paint messes.

Here are a few more recycling tips
The Sheperds House


Enjoy this glorious day, and may you shine with the love of Jesus to all you meet!

Taco Soup

Tacos, Mexican Food

Taco Soup

A simple slow cook meal that the whole family enjoys.

Put all ingredients in a slow cooker and simmer on low till done.

1 pound browned ground beef

1 can black beans

I can corn

1 can refired beans

1 can roasted tomatoes

1 jar salsa

1 small can roasted green chilies

1 cup shredded cheese

1 cup crushed corn tortilla chips

Serve hot with corn chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Yum!

Frugal Friday 8-21-08

On being frugal

1. Stay away from emotional spending. Just remember your brothers and sisters in Africa who are struggling to survive. They have no trouble with emotional spending as they don't have the extra cash to spend or the telelvision to tell them that they need to.
2. Be content with such things as you have. It's not the end of the world if you don't get that new dress or car. If it is the end of the world there is something much more important to be concerned with and that is where we will be spending eternity.
3. Use discount bakeries. If you do buy bread then take advantage of the discount bakeries in your area and freeze what you can for use in the future.
4. Prudent men choose frugal wives. The Germans can be credited with many a proverb such as this. If you are not a frugal wife than stop considering becoming one and do it.
5. Second hand clothing. Ok so that blouse on the rack may not fit you, or be your favorite color, but you could use the buttons to add to the dress that is half done in your sewing bin. I just spent $5.00 for a whole bag of clothing and picture frames on a 50% off day at the local second hand shop. Even the bargain stores have bargain days. Don't worry, it all washes.
6. Christmas: Start making things now to keep the Christmas budget down, better yet, you will be enjoying the fruits of your after Christmas Day sale from last year, or plan ahead for that after Christmas sale this year.
7. Plan your errands together: As long as you are out make a map to hit all the errands on your list to save on gas. It also helps to keep you at home for the rest of the week. If you don't have it on hand ask yourself, do I really need it?
8. Don't be frugal with your time with the Lord: If there is one area we should not be frugal that is in communion with our Father and His word. He can fill our hearts with all that we need and fill us with contentment that overflows to all areas of our lives. Make that your chaallenge for one week and see what the Lord will do!