Making chocolate Corn Flakes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt5y4Pmrhvk

Homemade Goodness!

Yes I know a loaf of white bread is only a dollar at the day old bread store, but for me and my house we will not eat that poison. When it comes to bread, nurtririon is much more important than a few dollars saved at the grocery store. In the long run we would be spending more at the docotor in the future if I saved on the bread bill.

Nutrition is just packed in these alfalfa and clover sprouts! They are easy to grow. Just soak the seed in a canning jar of warm water for a few hours then place in a shallow sprout grower. ( I suppose you can use a net with small holes like in a screen placed in a shallow pan of water) Change the water daily and keep the sprouts covered until they begin to grow. Then rinse them daily and keep uncovered until they are a few inches tall. Rinse well and store uncovered in the fridge. I love the tase of them on a sandwhich, with cream cheese, they are also good tasting in freshly juiced juices.

We had this with a cup of soup the other day. It was homemade vegetable soup. I figured the meal costs about .53 cents per serving!

Here is a link to a handy cost calculator. Book mark the link and figure out the price of your meals the next time you grocery shopping. And thanks to Donna for the link!

How to Make Cheese

Bread Making

Artisanal Breads



Ok, I have been sick for the past few days with a bad cold, and it has finally been sunny, but still very cold and I have been longing to bake some bread. So I thought I would blog about it until I am healthier.

Many people are afraid of making bread. I remember when I would just look at those pictures and recipes in my moms cook book and wish I could bake like that. Mom was never a recipe type person, so she said come on I'll show you how, and we just dug in. She just put a little of this in the bowl and a little of that, and it was supposed to be just this consistency and if not add a little more flour. if too dry add a little oil and viola...great bread. As the years went on mom would rather work out in the garden so she let me bake and cook and pretty soon I was practicing on the family with Beef Wellington, and home made bread, and cookies, and Spaetzle. Oh, and there was that one time my sister and I baked a tremendously huge batch of cookies that you could break a tooth on, but live and learn. My German mom still made the Gizzard Goulash that we all loved as kids, because we didn't know any better, she got the spices just right with just a bit of this and that. I never got the hang of that one!

Good thing because when I got married Dear Husband didn't think that would be a good meal to come home to after a hard days work, but he and our sons enjoyed the home made pizzas and cookies and breads.

I understand times are tougher now and I remember when I didn't want to try a new recipe and possibly waste all the ingredients if the dish didn't turn out. I found a nice site to help with Bread recipes including comments from others who have tried the recipe. So don't be afraid give it a try. You and your family will enjoy healthy nutritious bread with help from The Fresh Loaf

Frugal soil tip

Vegetable Garden
It's still really cold and winter like here, but my thoughts turn to spring! My dear husband has been talking about building a greenhouse so I can do some container gardening, but there is some room in the yard for outside gardening. I've come across a site with instructions on how to test your soil all by yourself with some items you have at home. So as soon as my ground is no longer frozen I'm going to try this SOIL TEST.

Frugal Friday

Good Friday morning to you all. Well this week I managed to get through some of my closet and pulled out some items that didn't look "new" anymore. Instead of tossing them, I pulled out the RIT dye I've been buying a little at a time. At the beginning and end of the winter season the darks seems a bit faded so I give them a "dye bath" in the washer with Rit dye. (liquid or powder)

I used to be afraid of using the washer with this, but it seems to work quite nicely. The darker colors requier a double batch of dye. Just follow the direction on the package or bottle, making sure you have salt and bleach on hand. Salt helps soften the water and the fabric to take the dye better and the bleach is for cleaning out the washer immediately after you color your fabric.

I did the browns this week and tossed in an olive skirt that was faded and it turned out a nice chocolate color. Cotton works best to take the color and some synthetics don't work at all.

If you've got some cotton muslin fabric you can color it before making a skirt out of it. See what a little creativity can bring to your life.

Miss Precious
Goldy women are frugal in the way they manage the household for their husbands. We spend carefully and prayerfully so that we can also extend our hand to the poor and the needy. With the economy the way it is and people hurting around us, take care not to be stingy, but frugal.

• Take time to shop the sales to help stock your church food pantry
• Bake a loaf of bread for the neighbors
• Leave a bag of groceries on the door step of a family that is in need
• Mail a grocery gift certificate to a family member
• Pray for those in need

If you find yourself on the needing end this month, look to Jesus to fill the need. And remember that 75% of the world lives in poverty compared to Western Americans. If your income is more than $1,500 A YEAR you live on more than 75% oof the world.

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. Psalm 72:12

Frugal Tips

Young Woman Attending to Her Housework with a Dust Mop
It's Frugal Friday.

I've been dealing with an allergy attack this past weekend the kind that swells the throat shut and makes it difficlut to breathe...yes, that kind. So after not feeling well this week and letting mom help the best she can...with alzheimers it makes it difficult for her...but we both managed. However the kitchen floor needed cleaning after she tried doing dishes a few times and cleaning out the fridge of some items. The last thing I wanted to do was pull out chemicals to clean the laminate wood flooring, it was pretty bad...but I pulled out my usual cleaner of vinegar and hot water and it still worked great on the messy floor! I just use a spray bottle of 1/2 hot water and 1/2 vinegar and spray the floor section by section and clean with a swiffer sweeper. For really tough jobs I wrap the swiffer sweeper with an old towel and secure with a rubber band, and it does the tougher jobs much better. Best of all no chemicals to inhale.


I'd like to share a wonderful post regarding being frugal over at Homemaking Dreams regarding 2008 Financial Lessons, and don't forget to check out her Etsy shop as she has some lovley practical items. The site also has many before and after pictures of areas in the home that needed organizing.

Another featured site for thrifty wives and moms is at Civillas Cyber Cafe. There are great tips for all areas of the home, shopping, office, and garage. Some of the tips on this post are from housewives of the 1950's and some that have gone through the Great Depression.

Thanks cyber ladies for your help with Frugal Friday!

Frugal Friday February 6th, 2009

Baby Being Fed Baby Food

When I was young and at home, there were 4 more kids that followed me into the family. When mom bought baby food she would save the jars!

1. Dad had them in the Garage on every shelf with nails and screws, and all sorts of things.
2. Mom had them in the spice cabinet filled wtih dried herbs from the garden.
3. For holidays we would paint or decorate them and place a candle inside to burn.
4. We would use the larger ones in the bathroom to store q-tips, or cotton balls, or bath salts.

I suppose today many make their own baby foods, but they do so many organic baby food jars available, that if you find it good for you to use them, they can be recycled for many other uses.

Frugal Friday Tip

I am pleased to share this bit of Frugal help as it comes from Kristin
over at the

She has shared a recipe that is sure to keep your drains and pipes clear from the sludge that builds up and assures us that draino is no longer needed. (unless of course your clog is the toy sort of clog :)

The only sludge mover I can think of for our souls is the Word of God, wash your mind with it daily, but if you are having the other sort of problem pop over to visit
Kristin-Homemaker @ Heart and take a peek.

Thanks Kristin!