The Frugal Mom

Great New Blog - Check it out!

2011-08-18T12:11:00.002-04:00

He ladies (and gents),

A friend of mine has this great new blog called Double Duty Foodie. Great recipe ideas for picky kids. Her first post is a yummy Chicken and Applesauce Meatballs. Can't wait to try them tonight! Looking forward to see you future posts Deb!

http://doubledutyfoodie.blogspot.com

Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Homemade Ice Cream in less than 20 min!

2011-07-15T14:14:00.003-04:00

How many times are you wanting a sweet ice cream treat in the evening and discover there is none left? Well someone forwarded me this adorable YouTube video of how to make ice cream. It was so simple I even let me girls make their own bag. They had a blast shaking their bags and dancing around til it was done. and of course they each got to add their own flavors so everyone was happy.

Here is the recipe and the link. Hope you have as much fun as we did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3-OAwhIvU0

things you will need:

1 quart size Ziploc bag
1 gallon size Ziploc bag
2 trays of ice cubes
6 tbsp salt
1/2 cup milk (can use whole milk, 2 %, soy milk, chocolate soy)
1 1/2 - 2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 tbsp cocoa powder*
*can experiment with flavored syrups too or sliced fruit, chocolate chips etc.

step 1:
put the milk and sugar and any other flavors in the qt size bag and seal.

step 2:
put the ice cubes and salt in the gallon bag.

step 3:
put the quart bag inside the gallon bag.

step 4:
shake vigorously for 7 - 10 minutes

step 5:
remove the quart bag with ice cream in it. cut a corner off with a scissor and squeeze into a bowl. Enjoy!

How can you thrive frugally by following simple steps?

2011-07-13T22:48:00.002-04:00

The economic situation may falter any day and if you can live frugally, you can easily go through any financial situation. You need to give importance to your needs and give less to your wants. There are some very simple steps that you can follow that’ll help you lead a frugal life that you can enjoy at the same time. You must have an affordable budget which you can follow without any obligations. That’ll help you save money as well as keep away from debts.

Ways to frugal living for a healthy financial life

If you lead your life frugally, you’ll be able to have a great life ahead. Living frugally isn’t scrimping and living cheap. You can even enjoy that life and once it becomes a habit, you’ll be happier. Take a look at how simple ways can make your life frugal and enjoyable:

A beautiful garden

This can really help you earn money as well as have healthy diet. If you can inculcate this as your hobby, you can lead a happy life. You’ll not need your television sets or anything else to pass your time. This can easily help you have a good hobby. You can borrow books on gardening from your friends and neighbors and read them when you’re free. There are a lot of libraries that can help you save money as well as acquire knowledge on gardening too.

A day care center

You can solidify your savings if you earn a bit of extra money. If you have a house, you can easily use it for your purpose in anyways you want. You can open a day care center or service at your home; you can have a good busy life too. You can start small so that you don’t have to put in much money in it. You can take care of kids and toddlers and earn well. You can start babysitting at your home and then you can grow it into a day care business. You can even start teaching school kids at your home which can also help you earn extra apart from your daily job.

Cook on your own

Cut-out completely on restaurants so that you can save that money to buy groceries and other daily items. You can cook food at home and you can even enjoy doing that. If you’re a member of a library, you can get home few of the recipe books or borrow it from your neighbors or friends so that you can try new dishes. This can also become a hobby of yours and once it becomes a habit, you can even save on catering services if you organize any sort of party at home. You can even get help from your relatives and friends when you cook something different.

So, if you follow the tips given above you can easily lead a frugal life as well as save for the future. Try out some home-made recipes to make cleaning agents so that you can save on your grocery items. If you can manage you finances well, you can have a good financial life ahead.

Samantha Spuckler is a writer for various finance related Communities including Debt Consolidation Care. She is a financial writer by profession and has specialization in dealing with financial problems and its solutions. She is well equipped to write articles on debt consolidation, savings, planning, frugality, debt settlement etc.

Soothe the Itchiest Situations with this Homemade Remedy

2011-06-02T13:26:00.005-04:00

HI ladies,

This time of year we are covered with bug bites and haunted by the itchies that come with them. Coupled with the sun and heat rashes from the sudden 90 degree humid days, whats a mom to do? Normally I would grab a packet of the soothing oatmeal bath from the bathroom cabinet and pour a nice warm soothing bath for my little girls to soak in. The other day I was faced with.......yes, you guessed it.... an empty box! So I quickly went online and looked up homemade remedies and found a recipe for a homemade oatmeal bath. Guess whats in it? OATMEAL! Since we are a family that eats oatmeal a lot, I buy it buy the case load. I had plenty on hand to spare for this experiment. So I just took a full container of old fashioned oats, put it in the blender and pureed it til it was a fine powder. I returned the powder to the original container and now keep it in my bathroom for emergency itchy evenings when my girls can't sleep for all the scratching.

Just put 1/3 cup into a bathtub of warm water and let it sit for a few minutes til it gets a milky color. then its ready to climb in. It worked great. Who knew it would be so simple.

Hope this tip helps some of you easy through this lovely spring and summer.

As always thanks for tuning in - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Adoption Online Community

2011-05-21T09:10:00.005-04:00

Wow, a Facebook, LinkedIn kind of community for Adoption. Fascinating! Here is an press release for an amazing new website called www.DirectAdoptions.com. They connect parents wanting to adopt a baby & birth mothers together. What an amazing new avenue for adoption. I hope you find this as interesting as I do. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Online Community Offers New Option for Birth mothers
Choosing Private, Open Adoption for Unwanted Pregnancies

Direct Adoptions.com™ uses a social networking platform to empower birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents by allowing them to meet directly without using an adoption agency in a process that is professional, safe, simple and affordable

www.DirectAdoptions.com™ is a new on-line community founded by adoptive parents to empower birth mothers and adoptive parents by increasing their direct access to private, affordable, open adoption. It is committed to providing a process, based on a social networking platform, that includes many of the positive attributes of traditional agency adoptions, such as professionalism and confidentiality, yet offers the further advantages of simplicity and affordability.

DirectAdoptions.com™ is endorsed by The National Adoption Foundation www.nafadopt.org which was also founded by adoptive parents who saw the need to address the fact that many prospective adoptive families and individuals with limited resources require financial support and assistance to meet the costs associated with agency adoptions.

“Finding a loving home for a child should not be deterred or become overly complicated by cost, uncertainty or complexity,” said Aaron Ghermezian, one of the founders of DirectAdoptions.com™ and an advocate for adoption reform. “The reality is that for adoptive couples and birth mothers, the adoption process can be frustrating, costly, and fraught with obstacles. Our goal is to empower birth mothers and prospective parents and encourage adoption as an option for all birth mothers, but especially for young, unwed mothers.”

The matching process offered by DirectAdoptions.com™ is straightforward: birth mothers who choose to participate register on the web site by filling out an uncomplicated confidential form. Prospective parents also register on the site, however, they provide more detailed profiles, including photos and videos that are available to the birth mothers to view. Birth mothers may review the profiles and decide if, when and how they would like to contact the prospective adoptive parents who have posted their profiles. The birth mothers remain anonymous until they agree to communicate openly and directly; birth mothers and adoptive parents communicate directly and make all decisions on going forward with the adoption process.

“DirectAdoptions.com™ allows prospective parents to adopt for less cost and meet birth mothers directly, while birth mothers can actively choose a family for their child,” said Norman Goldberg, an adoptive parent who is also a founder of DirectAdoptions.com™.

All parties are required to follow applicable state child adoption laws. DirectAdoptions.com™ provides resources and information; however, it does not provide counselling or legal advice, and more importantly, does not act as an adoption agency.

There is no cost for birth mothers to join and register with DirectAdoptions.com™. Adoptive couples and individuals are asked to pay an initial $295 membership fee, with a $59 monthly maintenance fee; they are not required to sign a contract and may discontinue at any time after the first month. DirectAdoptions.com™ also includes forums, chats, groups, profiles, friends, photo galleries and calendars as a way to establish a unified community, provide peer support, and offer information and resources.

The National Adoption Foundation was established in 1994 by adoptive parents to address the unmet needs of adoptive families for financial support and advocacy. Everything the Foundation does is driven by a clear understanding of the challenges faced by families in the adoption process and beyond. The National Adoption Foundation is the only national resource dedicated exclusively to providing financial support, information and services directly to adoptive families.

“We've created DirectAdoptions.com™ as a community for adoptive couples and individuals to meet birth mothers in a safe, secure and anonymous environment. Birth mothers are free to directly contact as many prospective adoptive parents as they like,” said Mr. Ghermezian. “Our goal is to transform what with traditional adoption can be a negative experience, into a great experience within a vibrant community full of love and support.”

Yummy Breakfast or snack treat! Oh yeah!

2011-05-19T14:20:00.003-04:00

I just came across this yummy recipe on Facebook on the 'Once Upon A Chef' website/link. She has such great ideas. And all have been tasty and simple to make. My kids will love this one! (If I don't eat them all first! LOL) Enjoy! Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Crispy Honey Nut Granola Bars

I’ve tried dozens of homemade granola bars over the years – some crunchy, some chewy, some loaded with dried fruit, some studded with chocolate chips, some with honey and some with peanut butter. This one, according to me, is the end-all, be-all. The secret ingredient (believe it or not) is Rice Krispies, which make them wonderfully light and crispy. In fact, if you can imagine what a cross between a granola bar and Rice Krispy Treat would taste like, this is it.

To make them, begin by lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil and toasting old fashioned rolled oats and nuts in the oven.

Add the unsweetened coconut about halfway through so it doesn’t burn.

In the meantime, combine honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and whisk to blend.

Combine the wet and dry mixtures along with the Rice Krispies in a large bowl and toss well.

Transfer the mixture to baking pan.

Spread evenly with a spatula, and then bake for twenty minutes.

Cool completely, then cut into rectangles.

These bars are perfect for breakfast on the go, family outings, road trips or afterschool snacks. Once you try them, you’ll never go back to the boxed stuff again. Enjoy!

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Crispy Honey Nut Granola Bars
Printable Recipe

Makes 12-16 granola bars

Ingredients

1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
½ cup sliced almonds
⅔ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (available at Whole Foods or natural food markets)
½ cup honey
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup crisp rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.

2. Spread the oats, walnuts and almonds onto prepared baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 7 minutes. Add coconut and toss well, then place back in the oven to cook about 8 minutes more. Keep an eye on it towards the end; you want the coconut to turn golden but not burn.

3. In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir with a whisk until the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and set aside.

4. Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees. Combine the the oat mixture, honey mixture and rice cereal in a large bowl and toss well. (Reserve aluminum foil.)

5. Use the reserved foil to line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Turn granola bar mixture out into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly, being careful not to press down too hard. Bake for 20 minutes (be sure heat is reduced to 300 degrees). Remove from the oven and cool completely, about 1-1½ hours. Use the foil overhang to tranfer bars to cutting board, then use a large knife to cut into rectangles. Store in a single layer in an airtight container for up to a week (do not stack the bars or they will stick together and fall apart).

*You can swap in your favorite nuts and seeds as long as you keep the proportions of dry to wet ingredients the same. You can also toss in some dried fruit. On occasion, I’ll sprinkle some chocolate chips over top for the kids (you can't mix them in or they'll melt).

**Be sure your oven is fully preheated before toasting nuts; the initial blast of heat to preheat the oven can burn them.

looking for a babysitter? childcare provider? nanny??

2011-05-18T13:29:00.005-04:00

Hi ladies,

I was listening to the radio (Froggy 101 to be exact) a few weeks ago and heard an advertisement for Care.com. Now I thought this is a great concept, but does it really work? So I thought I would try it out and see. They are a website that puts parents in touch with babysitters.

This sight is great! You are able to see childcare providers in your area, get their references, availability, and background checks are done already. You are able to correspond with them to see if it is a right match for you both. And you can also post a job if you are looking for someone to care for your child/children. They have areas for pet care providers, special needs providers, tutors. Tips on how to interview a potential sitter, healthy meal ideas, activities for kids etc.

They even have a payment calculator! You put in the zip code you live, how many children and the amount of experience the sitter has..... and it tells you what you should be paying hourly. I mean how many times have you had no idea what you should pay your sitters!

So I went on the sight and found several sitters in my area of PA. Spoke to each of them and was pleased with their experience and personalities. I used 1 of the sitters and was very happy, my kids loved her and will defiantely be calling her again soon.

This is a great tool for moms. I also do childcare in my home and a mom found me and now I am watching her daughter. Awesome. Hope this helps you too! As always I love to hear your feedback! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Eggs, Milk and Cheese…In the Freezer?

2010-12-10T13:41:00.004-05:00

HI ladies, here is an interesting article I found today that I know you will like. If you are like me you are always on the look out for good bargains in the circulars. Do you ever wonder if you can store perishables til you need them? I did. I am always coming across good deals on milk, eggs, meats, coffee creamer etc. Well now I have found the answers I have been looking for. Hope this helps some of you as well. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

If you are a careful shopper you come across dandy bargains on perishable items that are approaching their “sell by” date. You may be wondering what you can do with all of these perishables to make sure they don’t, well ... perish! The answer, of course, is to freeze them. Yes, even the eggs, milk and cheese.

BUTTER. Freeze margarine or butter for up to six months. Thaw to return to its original texture and quality.

COFFEE AND TEA. Storing coffee beans in the freezer has long been the method of choice to preserve freshness. But die-hard coffee lovers tell us to never freeze coffee because it changes the flavor from fresh to “freezer stale.” No one argues, however, that freezing leftover coffee in ice cube trays to make blended coffee drinks or iced coffee is not a great idea. Freeze leftover tea in the same manner and you’ll have “ice” for your iced tea that will not dilute the drink.

CREAM, WHIPPED. Once whipped and sweetened, cream freezes well for one to two months.

CREAM, LIQUID. Freezing cream is not recommended because it affects the quality of the product. In most cases, freezing causes changes to the fat, which can lead to poor texture.

EGGNOG. Unopened eggnog may be frozen for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator and shake well before serving, as there may be some ingredient separation during freezing.

EGGS. You can freeze eggs provided you remove them from the shell first. Do not freeze whole eggs in the shell. Raw eggs can be frozen for up to one year. Break them into an ice cube tray, one egg per “cube.” Once frozen pop them out into a large zip-type bag, close tightly and return to the freezer. Hint: Separate the whites from the yolks and freeze in small portions for easy use.

FLOUR, CORNMEAL and other baking staples including baking powder stay fresh and bug-free indefinitely in the freezer. No change of texture or taste occurs and you can ignore the expiration dates.

HARD CHEESE freezes well, but changes texture making it nearly impossible to slice. Frozen cheese is great for cooking and to grate. Hint: Grate first, and then freeze.

MEAT, FRESH. Fresh beef roasts and steaks can be frozen for up to one year if wrapped well to retard freezer burn; pork and lamb can be frozen up to six months.

MEATS PROCESSED. You can freeze bacon, hot dogs, cooked ham, luncheon meats and sausage for up to two months before these items begin to lose quality and taste.

MILK. Milk may be frozen for as long as three months provided the sealed container is frozen prior to the “best before” date. Skim and low-fat milk freezes better than whole milk. Thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator. The milk will still have the same nutrients, but it may separate. If it does, shake well and consume as soon as possible.

POULTRY, FRESH. Whole turkey, chicken, duck and goose can be frozen for up to one year. Poultry pieces, however, should be used within nine months.

**Article found in The Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt 12/10/2010

Soups and Chowders - perfect for right now....

2010-10-16T15:45:00.003-04:00

So lately I have been very into making soups. There's a chill in the air and I have less time with the end of summer & school starting. Besides its a great way to get all the necessary proteins and veggies into a one-dish meal everyone loves.

I was surprised when my daughters actually ate my soups this year! In the past they were wary of them and wouldn't even try them. I won them over with my Northern Bean Chowder and the rest was history. Now they are my biggest champions for finding new soups.

So here is my first soup recipe of the season...hope you enjoy it. check back often for my other soup recipes to come! Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Slow Cooker Northern White Bean Bacon Chowder

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups dried great Northern beans, rinsed
2 cups water
6 slices bacon
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 potato - peeled and cubed
1 teaspoon Italian-style seasoning
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 (14.5 ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup milk

Directions

Place beans in a large bowl with the water, cover, and soak overnight.
In a large skillet over medium to medium high heat, fry the bacon until crispy. Drain the bacon fat and crumble the bacon; set aside.
In a slow cooker, combine the carrot, celery, onion, potato, Italian- style seasoning (I didn't have this seasoning so I used Emiril Original Essence seasoning and it worked great), ground black pepper, reserved beans and crumbled bacon. Pour the broth over all.
Cover and cook on low setting for 7 1/2 to 9 hours, or until beans are crisp to tender.
Transfer 2 cups at a time to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Return all to slow cooker, add the milk, cover and heat on high for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through.

The chowder was the texture of pea soup. so yummy, everyone loved it. I served with some fresh crusty bread to dip. mmmmmmm.......

**Recipe found on allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Northern-White-Bean-Bacon-Chowder/Detail.aspx

What to eat when you can only eat soft things?

2010-08-20T09:52:00.007-04:00

Hi ladies,

On Monday my 4 yr old daughter Sydney had her tonsils taken out. All went well until we got home and she was STARVING!

The Doctor & Nurses had all drilled it into my head that she could not eat anything! she could drink cool clear liquids the first day. or sherbet. nothing with red, citrus or dairy either. so that ruled out ice cream shakes, orange juice, and the V8 Fusion drinks I had gotten. She was fine drinking her white grape juice on the car ride home, but as soon as we entered our door she says, "Mommy can I eat lunch now? I'm starving!". I offered her more juice and she started to cry. Poor kid, I felt her pain. Now mind you we left the house at 5am that morning and arrived home at 2:30pm. Neither of us eating anything the entire day. I dare not eat in front of my baby girl when she could not. So I understood how hungry she was. But for me, I could just grab an apple or something she could not. So it took some creative quick thinking. My kitchen looked like a laboratory by nights end with all the potions we made that she didn't like :)

Day one: I put some banana, canned pears and juice in the blender and made a smoothie. She drank a few sips of this. But that was all. too thick. so we resorted to sherbet, apple sauce & white grape juice.

Day two: We got a bit more creative as we were able to have red and dairy now. so she tried the V8 Fusion fruit/veggie drinks. didn't like them. Ice cream shakes, too cold it hurt. the winner was Creamy Wheat. I made it smoother with extra milk after it was cooked and she LOVED this. I never saw her eat so fast ever! then Jello was a winner too. and pudding. so now we had some staples she was happy to eat. She wanted some whipped cream to put on top of her pudding and jello. OK, calcium, So I made home made whipped cream. took a portion out and added peanut butter to it. great protein. I let her try it..."eeeew, gross!" I tasted it and so did her sisters...it was awesome!. So later I gave her chocolate pudding and added the peanut butter whipped cream on top for dessert. She loved it :)

Day three: More of the same...creamy wheat for breakfast and lunch. I had been scrambling around the day before trying to get her things to eat while still taking care not to neglect her 2 sisters. So now I came up with a few tips to make life easier. I had a bunch of the baby food containers that are rectangle with lids. I saved them for this very reason. the night before I had made a few flavors of instant pudding: chocolate, banana & vanilla. plus some flavors of jello: cherry, peach & lime. I portioned out pudding, jello & yogurt cups so when Sydney was hungry (which was often as the things she was eating do not fill you up for long) I was able to grab it and give her something quickly.

For dinner this night I got a bit creative as she was getting sick of what she was eating and was looking longingly at her sisters meals. I had some Pastina Stars in my cabinet so I made a chicken broth and pureed some carrots and and cooked the star on that. It was so smooth and tasty she loved it.

Helpful Tips:

1. Now as I mentioned I have 2 other children. So as not to cause any jealously issues, I had purchased some mini ice cream cones (a little bigger than a thimble!) and Dixie cups. So when Sydney got her large portions they had a smaller one. Everyone was happy :)

2. Since Sydney wasn't eating normal well balanced meals this week, I decided to grind up her chewable vitamins (multi vitamin, fruits & veggie supplement, and Vita C - all made with Organic ingredients) and mix in with her pudding for one serving each day. This way I at least knew she was getting a full days worth of nutrients that she needed to get back to her strong healthy self.

Bananas!!!!!

2010-05-12T07:40:00.002-04:00

Here is a great article I found on the 'Skinny in The City' Newsletter. I love bananas and they are a snack of choice for my kids too. Especially when they get home from school. Now I finally know all the benefits to this yummy fruit. Enjoy! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Go Bananas!

Recently, I was sent an old-fashioned e-mail blast. It wasn’t about love or friendship nor did it warn me that if I didn’t send it to 10 people I would have bad luck for the rest of my life. It was actually about the many health benefits of bananas — some of which were a bit exaggerated. I love bananas. As a child, I often baked banana bread; my favorite dessert is banana cream pie; and my meal of choice before running the NYC marathon was a peanut butter and banana sandwich. It truly is an amazing fruit chock-full of the kind of nutrition that’s bursting with energy — but no one benefits from nutrition exaggeration! So here’s my own homage to my favorite fruit — with credible info you can count on.

The top five reasons you should start eating bananas:

1. They lift your spirits. Since bananas contain tryptophan, which is a precursor for serotonin (the happy brain chemical), they can have a calming effect on our minds and bodies.

2. They can help reduce blood pressure. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, which is an electrolyte involved in muscle control, nerve function, and blood pressure. Therefore, it has the ability to restore potassium lost through sweat in athletes and prevent muscle cramping. Increased potassium intake may also help excrete sodium from our bodies, which can help reduce blood pressure. One banana contains about 440 mg of potassium — more than 20% of our daily need.

3. They help you… er… go. Bananas contain pectin, a source of soluble fiber, which can help our digestive systems and maintain normal bowel function. A medium banana contains about 27 grams of carbohydrate and 3 grams of dietary fiber.

4. They give you energy. Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6, which helps make iron more available to the body and therefore can help reduce risk of anemia. In addition, B6 is a vital component of the pathway that converts carbohydrates and fat into energy. And more energy = better mood!

5. They’re perfectly packaged. Bananas are packaged naturally by Mother Earth which makes them a convenient snack that won’t get destroyed or melt in your handbag as the warm weather arrives.

How to select bananas: Choose plump, even-colored bananas without a green tip. You can ripen bananas at home by placing them in a brown paper bag on your kitchen counter. If they become full of brown speckles, just use them to make banana bread.

My favorite ways to eat ‘em: Besides bread, pies, and sandwiches, bananas are great in smoothies, cereal, yogurt, or ice cream. You can even freeze a banana and eat it as a popsicle for longer-lasting goodness.

— Rachel Berman RD, CSR, CDN

Gourmet Sauces

2010-05-01T06:38:00.003-04:00

Hi ladies, I found this article on The Everyday CHeapskate Newsletter and I thought some of you would love these gourmet sauce recipes. I make alot of chicken and it can get boring if you don't change it up. What better way than with a new sauce! yummy! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Make Your Own Gourmet Sauces

Not long ago, I managed to land a terrific bargain on chicken breasts. As I was loading up my grocery cart, I got the idea to make Orange Chicken for dinner. I headed to the condiments aisle to find some kind of orange glaze.

Sure enough, I found a jarred Chinese orange sauce glaze. But the price nearly knocked me into the cart with the chicken: $7.29 for 12 ounces. Are you kidding? That was the day I learned how to make my own orange sauce.

Here is that recipe, plus a few of my other favorite sauces.

Orange Glaze

1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

In a medium saucepan, mix together the sugar, salt, cornstarch and flour. Then stir in the orange juice, lemon juice, ginger and water, stirring until well incorporated. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Let boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter, orange and lemon zest and stir together. Serve hot over cooked chicken or pork.

Teriyaki Sauce and Marinade

2/3 cup mirin*
1 cup soy sauce
4 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/3 cup white sugar
7 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 dash red pepper flakes
black pepper to taste

Bring mirin to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour in soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar. Season with garlic, ginger, pepper flakes, and black pepper. Simmer 5 minutes longer. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

*Mirin is Japanese sweet rice wine.

Barbecue Sauce

2 cups ketchup
2 cups tomato sauce
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 1/4 cups red wine vinegar
1/2 cup molasses
4 teaspoons hickory-flavored liquid smoke
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Pour all ingredients into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat. Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for up to 20 minutes, depending on how thick you want the sauce. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water if necessary. Brush sauce onto any kind of meat or poultry during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Low-Fat Horseradish Sauce

2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 cup nonfat sour cream

In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Serve with roast beef or as a sandwich spread.

Want more recipes? I have created a great booklet called "Dip It!," packed full of recipes for dips and sauces that are family friendly. Never undervalue a great dip to get the kids to eat just about anything!

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Quick Recipe Tip

2010-04-28T08:12:00.002-04:00

I bought a package of index cards that I have in my kitchen with a pen. I am always watching cooking shows and if I see a recipe I like I jot it down. I always include the show and channel I saw it on so I can go online and make sure I got the recipe correct.

And when I am experimenting with recipes on my own, and one turns out great I jot that down too so I can recreate it. Especially if my family likes it too.

Another thing I do it to jot down leftover recipes. Meals I make with the leftovers. And if I have a few leftover ideas for one main meal I will choose from them for later in the week. Alternating to keep variety in our meals.

So now when I write out my menu for the week I can pull out the recipes I want to use and clip them together so they are available and makes my week much easier.

Garlic...Yum!

2010-04-28T08:09:00.002-04:00

Found these yummy recipes on the Everyday Cheapskate newsletter today and they sound devine! We love, love, love garlic in my house. So I am eager to try these soon. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Four Fabulous Ways to Prepare
and Enjoy Garlic

To refer to garlic as a "stinking rose" makes me laugh, but it does clearly describe the onion-like bulb that is as delicious as it is healthy. Best of all, it's cheap!

I've tried garlic in just about every form imaginable, including garlic ice cream (it was pretty gross, as you might imagine, which explains why a recipe for it does not follow). However, the recipes that do follow have been tested thoroughly and found to be a notch above awesome, especially the cauliflower. Your kids are going to love it. Just don't tell the picky ones what it is. Enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Dip

3 heads garlic, unpeeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 tablespoon ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 300 F. Cut off the top of the head of garlic to expose the cloves, trimming about 1/4 inch off of the top of each clove. You may need to trim individual cloves along the sides of the head. Brush the cut cloves with a small amount of olive oil. Then, wrap them loosely in a piece of aluminum foil. Bake until the cloves are tender and nicely browned, about 1 hour.

Remove garlic from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cool, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins into a mixing bowl. Mash well with a wire whisk. Add the sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk until evenly blended. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve with chips, crudités or pieces of toasted baguette.

Roasted Garlic Soup

4 heads garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 leek, chopped
1 onion, chopped
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup dry sherry
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of each garlic head. Place heads in a small, shallow baking dish. Drizzle them with olive oil and bake until golden, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. Press individual garlic cloves between thumb and finger to release from skin, and then chop.

Melt butter in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, leek, and onion. Sauté until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add flour and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broth and sherry. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly. Puree soup in batches in a blender or food processor. Return soup to saucepan and add cream. Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and white pepper. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with chives. Servings: 4.

Fantastic Garlic Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon sage
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 French baguette, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Preheat oven to broil. In a medium bowl combine butter, mayonnaise, sage, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Spread mixture evenly on bread and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Place bread under broil for 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted.

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large head cauliflower, separated into florets
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Grease a large casserole dish. Place the olive oil and garlic in a large, resealable bag. Add cauliflower, and shake to mix. Pour into prepared casserole dish. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Top with Parmesan cheese and parsley, and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Quick tips: Clever Ways to Save

2010-04-28T06:51:00.003-04:00

Here are a few tips I got from the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt. I thought they were pretty clever. I'd love to hear your tips! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

GLORIOUS GARDENING. I re-use cardboard tubes from things like paper towels and toilet tissue. Cut the tube to a depth of two inches, and place the rings into a plastic saucer or tray. Fit them tightly together and fill with potting mix. Use these to start your vegetables and flowers from seed! You can plant them directly in the ground, cardboard and all, when the seedlings are strong enough and the ground is warm enough. Happy gardening! Angel P., Alabama

SOOTHING SALVE. Sooth a poison ivy rash this way: Make coffee as strong as you can. Add baking soda to make a thick paste. Apply the paste directly on the affected area, wrap it up tight and sleep with the bandage on. In the morning, take the bandage off, cleanse, and repeat if necessary the following evening. Yvonne M., Georgia

JAVA JOLT. In an effort to be green, I reuse my coffee filters. I put them in the bottom of flower pots so the soil does not wash away. I also mix the used coffee grounds in with my potting soil to use as mulch. Leslee H., California

Lamb Burgers

2010-04-19T23:20:00.003-04:00

This recipe I found on the Once Upon A Chef blog looks amazing! I think this will cure my cravings for Gyros. Just have to locate some ground lamb. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Greek-Style Lamb Burgers

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 07:36 PM PDT

If you like Greek food, you'll love these lamb burgers...Warm pitas stuffed with flavorful lamb patties, tzatziki, feta, tomatoes, red onions and shredded lettuce. For me, the flavors conjure up memories of delicious Mediterranean street food from travels past

They're perfect for entertaining – a fun, sophisticated alternative to your standard cookout fare.

You'll need ground lamb for the recipe...your regular grocery store may not carry it but you can always find it at Whole Foods.

In addition to the flavor, the great thing about these burgers is that they're incredibly tender and juicy. The secret? A panade – this is a bread and milk paste that's sometimes mixed into ground meat. You can't taste it but it guarantees perfect burgers every time, especially if you like your meat a little more well-done or if you accidentally overcook them. A little insurance never hurts, especially if you're entertaining :)

So, gather up some friends and invite them over for a Mediterranean-style cookout...

You can do most of the preparation ahead of time and get your guests to help you with the rest.

Warm weather + Greek food on the grill = FUN!

Makes 6 burgers (enough for 3-4 people)

Ingredients

For Lamb Burgers
1 slice white bread, crust removed and cut into ¼” pieces
2 tablespoons milk
¼ cup finely chopped shallots (you’ll need one or two shallots)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ pounds ground lamb (not lean)
6 pita bread rounds (see note below)

Optional Toppings
1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
6 ounces crumbled feta cheese
Tzatziki (get recipe here)

Directions

1. Be sure grill is clean and preheat to high.

2. Combine bread pieces and milk in a medium bowl. Mash with a fork until paste forms. Add shallots, garlic, mint, oregano, salt, pepper and mix well. Add lamb, then use your hand to mix ingredients together until well combined. Do not over mix. Form mixture into 6 oval-shaped patties about ½-inch thick.

3. Grease grill (dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and holding wad with tongs, carefully wipe cooking grate several times). Grill patties, covered, for 4 minutes. Turn, cover again, and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes more. Place burgers on a tray and cover with foil while you warm pita rounds on the grill. Assemble burgers and pass remaining tzatziki alongside.

*There are two types of pita bread: pita pockets and pocketless pitas. You can use either for this recipe. For pita pockets, be sure they are at least 6 inches wide. Trim off the top ¼ of each round and stuff the burgers and toppings inside. For pocketless pitas, serve burgers open-faced or, if pitas are large enough, wrap them around burgers.

*If you're entertaining, lamb patties can be made a day ahead of time. Place them on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil and cover tightly with saran wrap.Tzatziki can be made two days ahead of time.

*For kids, try serving burgers with ketchup.

Quick Tip: Cook Once Eat For The Week

2010-04-19T08:20:00.004-04:00

Hi ladies!

Yesterday while out grocery shopping I stopped in a local grocery and picked up some packages of chicken thigh & legs. They were 4 in each package for less that $2. So I picked up 4 packages. 2 I froze and 2 I cooked up.

I was making a Pot Roast, cooking in the oven on low so at the same time I placed the chicken in a pan and drizzled with olive oil and some seasoning (salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic, onion). I also had some left over chicken soup I made on Friday. Not enough for another meal so I put the broth on the bottom of the pan to keep the chicken moist. Put in the oven along side the roast for 2 hours on low. Let me tell you ladies.....it was so tender and juicy and yummy. We ended up eating the chicken for dinner last night and saved the roast for another night during the week. Now I have meals already prepared for another chicken dinner and 2 pot roast meals.

Yeah me! less cooking time this week!

Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

One Bag of Chicken, Three Meals

2010-04-19T08:03:00.003-04:00

As most of you know I am a big fan of variety and making the most out of what you have. We eat A LOT of chicken in my house so I love this next article I found on the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt. I often do this.... make a menu and then shop for the week. When I do I am able to keep my budget in check. When I don't I end up buying things I don't need and nothing goes together enough to make a decent meal. Hope you enjoy this article too. - tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

One Bag of Chicken, Three Cheap Dinners

By Jane DeLaney, founder of E-Mealz

Sometimes to get through a chaotic week, or to make it a few more days until your paycheck, a simple "mini-menu" is all you need to cover a three-day crunch. Often the temptation is to make a quick run to the grocery store to grab a few things to tide you over. The next thing you know, you've spent $75 and still don't have anything to cook for dinner!

Life can spin out of control very quickly, and it is in those times that money can easily go down the drain. Here's a simple mini-menu to serve six the next time you are in a pinch! Print it out and tuck this emergency plan in your glove compartment. Then, say, "no!" to the pitfall of drive-thru grocery shopping!

E-Mealz Mini-Menu

Do-Ahead Chicken Instructions: Place thawed chicken evenly in a 9" x 13" dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes. Finely chop all of the chicken into small pieces. Reserve 1 cup for meal #2. Divide remaining chopped chicken in 2 equal portions to use in meals #1 and #3, approximately 3 cups each.

Meal 1: Cheater's Chicken and Dumplings

3 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth, or 6 cups
1 (10-ounce) can of fat-free cream of celery soup
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
1 pound (or more) finely chopped cooked chicken, approx. 3 cups

In a soup pot, combine chicken broth, cream of celery soup, poultry seasoning and salt and cook over medium-high heat. Stir until smooth. Stack tortillas on a cutting board. Cut into 2" x 1" strips. Stir strips into broth. Bring to boil. Then, simmer 3 minutes to soften tortillas. Add cooked chicken. Remove from heat to prevent over cooking tortilla strips. Serve immediately. Serves: 6.

Side Dish: Romaine Mandarin Salad
1 heart of Romaine, rinsed and chopped
1 (5-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
Sliced green onion
Italian dressing

Meal 2: Club Quiche

1 (9-inch) deep dish frozen pie shell
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
1 cup finely chopped cooked chicken
1/3 cup real bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
5 medium eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup mayo
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Heat oven to 375 F. Bake crust for 8 minutes. Cool. Sauté onion in butter until tender. Sprinkle breadcrumbs in bottom of crust. Combine sautéed onions, bacon bits, chicken and cheese. Spoon evenly into crust. With mixer, blend eggs, milk, mayo, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Pour into crust. Bake at 375 F for 45 to 55 minutes until quiche is set and knife comes out clean when dipped into the center. Serves: 6.

Side Dishes: Steamed Broccoli and Blueberry Muffins
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets
2 (7-ounce) boxes blueberry muffin mix
Combine muffin mix with: 2 eggs and 1/2 cup milk

Meal 3: BBQ Chicken Cheddar Pita Pizzas

6 pita rounds
1 pound or more finely chopped cooked chicken, approx. 3 cups
1/3 cup real bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup sliced green onion

Preheat oven to 400 F. Trim pitas around the edges and separate each into halves, making 12 round halves. Place pitas, inside halves down, on 3 large cookie sheets. Thin barbecue sauce with water for drizzling consistency. Divide toppings evenly over pitas in this order: chicken, bacon, drizzled barbecue sauce, cheese and green onion. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 400 F, until cheese is melted.

Side Dish: Tossed Salad
1 heart of Romaine, rinsed and chopped
2 chopped hard-boiled eggs
Croutons
Ranch salad dressing

Grocery List

Store: Wal-Mart SuperCenter
Date: February 2010
ITEM PRICE*
PRODUCE
18-ounce package hearts of Romaine, 3 pack, Dandy^® 2.78
5-ounce bunch green onions, FreshN'Quick^® 1.18
DAIRY
8-ounce package shredded cheddar cheese, GV^® 1.96
1 dozen medium eggs, Sunny Meadow^® 1.26
MEATS
3-pound bag frozen boneless chicken breasts, GV^® 6.48
FROZEN FOODS
1 package deep dish frozen pie shell, GV^® 2.18
16-ounce bag broccoli florets, GV^® 1.34
PACKAGED / BOXED
12-ounce package flour tortillas, taco size, GV^® 1.84
12-ounce package 6"pita rounds, Toufayan^® 1.24
2 boxes 7-ounce blueberry muffin mix, Jiffy^® 1.06
CANNED / BOTTLED
3 cans 14-ounce chicken broth, GV^® 2.31
10-ounce can cream of celery soup, GV^® .86
6-ounce can mandarin oranges, GV^® .53
18-ounce jar barbecue sauce, GV^® 1.08
2.5-ounce package real bacon pieces, GV^® 1.46
TOTAL: approx. without tax 27.56

*Prices may vary slightly by location.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

One Cooking Day and 2 meals

2010-04-17T14:24:00.008-04:00

1 (4 to 5-pound) boneless beef bottom round roast
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
2 medium yellow onions, halved and sliced
4 cups low-sodium beef broth

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Pat the meat dry with paper towels and season well on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the roast and brown all sides, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the meat to a plate and add the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and beginning to release liquid, about 5 minutes.

Add the onions and broth and stir until combined. Nestle the roast into the vegetables, adding any juices it released to the pot. Add the beef broth, bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven to roast for 2 1/2 hours. Remove the lid, carefully flip the meat and continue cooking for 30 minutes; the meat should be fork tender and the liquid reduced.

Remove the pot from the oven, transfer the meat to a cutting board and tent with foil to keep it warm. Let the mushrooms and onions stand several minutes undisturbed to allow some of the beef fat to rise to the surface. With a large spoon, skim off the excess fat and discard. With a ladle, add about 1 1/2 cups of the mushrooms and onions with some cooking liquid to the bowl of a blender or food processor. Carefully puree the mixture until very smooth. Pour the puree back into the pot and stir very well until combined; taste and adjust seasoning.

To serve, slice the pot roast and arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle some mushroom gravy over the top and pass the extra gravy at the table.

Parsnip Potato Mash

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 pounds parsnips (about 8 small), peeled and chopped
Kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup half-and-half
Freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped chives, for garnish, optional

Directions

Put the potatoes and parsnips in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, cover with cold water and salt it generously. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium and simmer until fork tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Put the butter and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is hot.

Drain the potatoes and parsnips well and return them to the hot pan. Stir the vegetables in the pan to dry them out a bit. Add the hot butter mixture and season with salt and pepper. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped chives.

Recipe #2: Ham & Cheese Croquettes

Ingredients

1 cup leftover potatoes from Parsnip-Potato Mash recipe or plain mashed potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1/2 cup finely shredded Gruyere cheese, about 1-ounce
1/2 cup very finely diced cooked ham or country ham, about 2 ounces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil, for frying

Directions

In a bowl, mix the potatoes, 1/4 cup flour, cheese, and ham with a large rubber spatula until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and divide the mixture into 8 equal portions. Rub your hands with a small amount of flour and form the portions into small flat disks about 1/2-inch thick. Use just enough flour to keep the potatoes from sticking to your hands, but do not coat them completely.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Shallow-fry the croquettes, turning once, until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Let the croquettes cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note: This recipe doubles easily if you have enough leftover potatoes.

Recipe #3; Pot Roast and Arugula Panini

Ingredients

8 slices seven-grain bread, about 1/4-inch thick
2 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 ounces creamy Havarti, thinly sliced
2 cups (about 12 ounces) leftover shredded pot roast, at room temperature, from Sunday Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy recipe
1 cup baby arugula leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat a large well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-low heat.

Lay the bread slices on a work surface and spread about a teaspoon of mustard on each slice. Divide the sliced cheese among all 8 slices. Evenly spread the meat over 4 cheese-topped bread slices, followed by 1/4 of the arugula. Season with salt and pepper and cover with the remaining 4 slices of bread.

Working in 2 batches, if necessary, put 2 of the sandwiches into the skillet. Weight the sandwiches down with a bacon press or cover them with a sheet of parchment and set a slightly smaller skillet directly on top. Put a can of tomatoes or a brick in the top skillet to weigh the pan down. Cook until the sandwich bottoms are golden and cheese is beginning to melt, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the bacon press or top skillet, flip the sandwiches, return the press or parchment and top skillet to the pan and cook until golden brown, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with the remaining 2 sandwiches.

Slice the panini on a diagonal and arrange on a serving platter. Serve immediately.

Garden Quick Tip

2010-04-16T21:44:00.002-04:00

If you want continuous and long lasting blooms in your garden there is one simple thing you need to do: Cut the flower stem before it goes to seed. When a plant hasn't produced its seed it will try again and will keep trying until the job is done. So cut blooms that are fading away or a few new ones for the kitchen table. In the end it makes for a prettier and long blooming garden.

advice from Gracefulgardens.com (http://www.gracefulgardens.com/)

Simple Dinners.....

2010-04-16T21:39:00.001-04:00

Great tips from Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt. I hope you get some good takeaways from this one.... Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Five Ways to Keep Dinner Simple

By Jane DeLaney, founder of E-Mealz

Spring baseball season is here again, and one of the first things to fly into the outfield is family dinnertime. As a mom of four scattered, school-age kids, it is quite the feat to make dinner magically appear each night, even on the best of days. Add the drive-thru temptation, and the food budget will take a fatal hit. So here are some things I've gleaned to curtail the disappearance of dinner, no matter what the season.

1. Keep dinner simple. Meals do not have to be elaborate to be good. Stick to simple recipes with few ingredients. If it's too complicated, you set yourself up for failure.

2. Eat in. Think of eating out as an occasion, not a habit or quick-fix.

3. Have a plan.Write your own simple dinner menu, or have it done for you by E-Mealz. It does wonders to have your family's meal plan off your mind and on a piece of paper. Not having a plan will translate into money down the drain.

4. Make dinner after breakfast. Make dinner ahead of time and put it in the refrigerator. That way, dinner will be there for everyone, no matter what each person's schedule is. Grab a plate, warm it up, and a full meal magically appears!

5. Embrace the slow cooker. Did the baseball game go into overtime? Not to worry. A warm dinner will be waiting, thanks to the slow cooker. Try one my family's favorites: French Dip Sandwiches. Eat at home together and use the time to decompress, save money, and enjoy!

French Dip Sandwiches

.5 to 1 pound any cut of roast beef, fat removed (Tip: Buy the least expensive cut.)
1 (14-ounce) can beef broth
1/2 cup water
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 loaf French bread
1 (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine the beef broth, water and onion soup mix in a slow cooker. Add the roast. Cook on low for 6 hours. Remove the roast and slice into shredded pieces.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Slice the French bread in half, lengthwise. Place the open loaf on a baking sheet. On the bottom half, layer beef, then cheese. Close the sandwich tightly with the top half of the loaf. Cover loosely with foil, sealing seams tightly around the pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove and slice. Serve sliced sandwiches with individual bowls of broth from the slow cooker for dipping. Serves: 6.

Serve with chips and sliced cucumbers with Ranch dressing.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Tzatziki YUM!

2010-04-16T21:22:00.003-04:00

OMG! I was so excited to see this recipe for Tatziki! LOVE this stuff, but in North East PA we don't have it readily available...or at least not that I have seen. I import it from New York when I visit my parents :) . This recipe is so simple and delicious. (recipe found on www.onceuponachef.com). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Tzatziki (Low Fat Yogurt & Cucumber Dip)

If it's wrong to eat dip right out of the bowl with a spoon, then I'm guilty. With this classic Greek tzatziki, I simply can't help myself. One taste leads to another, and another and – well, it's healthy – so just one more...

Try it and you'll see...there's something oddly addicting about the combination of tangy-thick yogurt, crunchy grated cucumber, olive oil, garlic and aromatic fresh mint. Yes, it's all good for you but that's just an added bonus here.

Like most dips, you can buy it in a tub but nothing beats the freshness and taste of homemade, especially when it's this easy to make. Just be sure to use authentic Greek strained yogurt (it's very thick and creamy) and squeeze as much water as possible out of your grated cucumber. Use your hands to wring the liquid out...I'm talking several minutes of squeezing and re-squeezing. You won't believe how much water is in there!

As for the herbs, tzatziki is traditionally made with either mint or dill. I prefer the flavor of mint but feel free to substitute fresh dill if you like.

Serve it with store bought pita chips as an appetizer...or wait til next week and serve it as a topper for my Greek-style lamb burgers.

And get that spoon ready :)

Tzatziki (Low Fat Yogurt & Cucumber Dip)

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients

1 ½ cups plain 2% Greek yogurt (I use Fage)
1 medium seedless cucumber, coarsely grated and squeezed as dry as possible (about 1 cup)
2 small garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, good quality such as Lucini or Colavita
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint, plus a pinch more for garnish

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I add about ¼ teaspoon more salt but season to your own taste). Cover and chill until ready to serve. Garnish with a pinch of finely chopped mint if desired.

Seedless cucumbers are also called English cucumbers or hothouse cucumbers. They are typically wrapped in plastic

Organic Can Be Easy!

2010-04-16T21:15:00.004-04:00

Here is an interesting article I found on the Mamapedia website/blog (http://www.mamapedia.com/voices/organic-can-be-easy) on eating organic. She makes is seem so easy! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Photo by: Scot Rumery

Organic Can Be Easy!

April 11, 2010

by Anna Getty

37 Comments

I have been addicted to organic food for almost 10 years. I know it is better for me, my kids and better for the planet. Studies have shown organic produce to be higher in anti-oxidants; vitamins and minerals (thank you to The Organic Center for your vigilant scientific research) and organic diary, meat and eggs have fewer hormones, antibiotics and pesticide residues (yes, pesticides are found in meat because cattle are eating feed laden with them). It’s also true that organic farming is more sustainable; it uses fewer resources and encourages community. But above all else it tastes better. Try this experiment. Blindfold your kid and have him taste both a conventional and organic apple. You will see, he will pick the organic apple.

I know, I know, you say, “but organic is so expensive, so cost prohibitive, and especially in this economy. At the end of the day isn’t it all the same?” I am not sure what is more expensive: organic food that will nourish good health or illness and a lifetime of medical bills, pills and doctor’s visits? In essence I see eating organic food as preventative medicine. That being said here are some ways to cut costs and eat organically that will benefit your family’s health and pocket book.

1. Prioritize your shopping list. Decide for yourself what is not that important and what you are not willing to compromise. In my opinion staying away from the ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a good idea. These crops are the most sprayed. This list includes: apples, cherries, grapes, imported (Chile), nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes, and spinach.

I would also suggest dairy, meat, eggs and coffee to be on your “must buy organic” list.
Save money on the “it’s okay if it’s not organic” list. Exposure to pesticides will be minimal if any.” This list includes: onions, garlic, bananas, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapples, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, and cauliflower.

2. Shop at your local farmer’s market and in season. Buying direct from farmers is always cheaper when you cut out the middleman. And buying strawberries for example (a late spring and summer fruit) in December will always be more expensive then when purchasing in season. Even conventionally grown. Tip: purchase berries in season and then freeze them for the off-season, for pies, jams and smoothies.

Find your local farmer’s market at Local Harvest.org. They have a list of over 20,000 farmer’s markets nation wide.

3. Join a Coop or buying club. Purchasing food with a group of friends or like-minded individuals from a coop that is community run and sells products in bulk is a great way to save money on organic food. For a complete nationwide list go to Coop Directory.org

4. I know I am stating the obvious here but nothing is cheaper than your homegrown variety. Grow your own garden. Up until about 50-60 years ago that’s what we did. “I live in a city” you say, become a part of a community garden.

And lastly pick up my book Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic. The book helps you take the simple steps to reconnecting to your food. We all want to save money, eat good food and be healthy. I wrote this book to help moms and people everywhere do exactly those. It has lots of great green tips to have a healthier, leaner and greener kitchen and 100 recipes that are simple, healthy and tasty and encouraging you to use organic ingredients. Try not to feel overwhelmed. If you want to shop organically do so one step at a time. This is one of my favorite recipes from the book to get you started and so easy.

Simple Tomato Sauce and Spaghetti

The first thing I ever learned to cook was the pasta dish my grandmother taught me. It requires only four ingredients (not including the salt, pepper, and Parmesan). For years it was my staple recipe and I never revealed her secret: a stick of butter. Serves 4 to 6

One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
4 large fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 pound spaghetti
1 Cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the tomatoes in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Use a potato masher to mash the tomatoes into coarse pieces. Add the butter and basil and simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water with a small handful of salt tossed in until the spaghetti is al dente, still slightly firm to the bite. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti

In a large bowl, toss the spaghetti with the sauce. Add some pasta water if the sauce is too dry, but don’t make it watery; the sauce should hug the noodles. Mix in generous amounts of Parmesan and serve.

Laundry Solutions: prevent fading

2010-04-14T22:51:00.003-04:00

WOW! great tips from Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter and Mary Hunt. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Five Ways to Prevent Clothing
Colors from Fading

Dear Mary,
Do you have any tips for washing dark colors inexpensively?

Follow these steps and you can wash your dark clothes with the same laundry detergent you use for your whites and brights.

1. Inside out. Washing and drying is tough on the outside surfaces of the items, which causes dark colors to become dull and rough, so wash and dry colored items inside out. If you hang these items in the sun to dry, leave them inside out. Sun is brutal on colors.

2. Cold water. If you want to prevent fading from your colored clothing, wash them in cold water. Detergents have come a long way in the last several years, and most do as well in cold water as they do in hot or warm. The warmer the water, the more likely it is to pull color from the fibers and wash it down the drain.

3. Short cycle. You want colored laundry items to spend as little time as possible exposed to water and detergent. That means no soaking and a short wash cycle of no longer than six minutes. That is plenty long to get those dark items clean.

4. Under-dry. Over-drying can cause colors to fade. Pull them from the dryer or the line while they are still slightly damp.

5. Use vinegar. Add a cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle of your bright or dark colors to help "set" the color and to prevent premature fading.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Budget Decorating?

2010-04-14T22:43:00.002-04:00

Another great article by Everyday Cheapskate by Mary Hunt. Everyone is pinching their pennies these days. I would love to make my house look new, but I for one do not have the extra money. Our Tax refund? gone...went to past bills. So looks like I will have to find another way to give a face lift to the things I have. As always I love to hear your thoughts - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom) Enjoy!

Seven Ways to Redecorate on a Dime

The key to great decor isn't how much money you have to spend. It's seeing possibilities in what you have already. You'll be surprised at what you can do yourself for little or no cost.

1. Use what you've got. I have a friend who calls herself a professional arranger. People hire her to come to their homes and "redecorate" with the things they have. She goes through every room, cupboard and closet taking inventory of everything available for her final designs. Then, she completely clears the room and starts from scratch to furnish and decorate with only the things that she found in the home. The results are amazing.

2. Paint is cheap. Changing the color of one wall can change the entire mood and look of that room. One quart of paint is all you need. You can fool the eye with the way you use paint, making a room appear larger or smaller just by the choice of color. Cool colors and lighter tints make walls look farther apart; rich, dark colors bring walls dramatically closer, creating an intimate look in a large room.

3. Strategic placement. The furniture you use most should be farthest from the entrance. If possible, avoid positioning couches, chairs, dining tables or desks against walls. Give yourself at least three feet between the furniture and walls.

4. Pictures and art. Most people hang pictures and art too high. The focal point for a single picture or the center of a group of pictures should be at eye-level for a person who is five feet and seven inches tall.

5. Groups of pictures. How you group and hang pictures on your walls makes all the difference between a room that is boring and one that is inviting. Gather the pictures you want to hang in a particular group. Then, get a large piece of paper the size of the area where you will hang these pictures, and lay it on the floor. Arrange the frames on the paper the way you want them hung on the wall. Use a marker to draw around each item. Remove the pictures and tape the paper to the wall. Now, you can easily see where to put each nail. Once the nails are in place, carefully pull the paper away, and hang the pictures in their proper places.

6. Plants. Select plants that are right for the light available in the area where you want to display them. Some easy growers that don't require a lot of extra care include Philodendron and Boston fern.

7. Do it yourself. Whether it's making slipcovers, painting a wall or ceiling, or laying tile, you'll save a ton of money when you can do these things yourself. Search online or take a class at your local home center. Typically these are free or you pay only for the cost of materials. The parks and recreation departments of many cities also offer low-cost classes, as do community colleges and universities.

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Book Review: How to be Fabulous Even When You're Broke

2010-04-14T22:21:00.004-04:00

I can't wait to read this book! The title alone sums up ME right now! If you have read this book please send me your review. (Article found on the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt). as always I love to hear your thoughts! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Everything Michelle McKinney Hammond knows about money, she's learned the hard way. Now, she's telling all in her new book, Divanomics: How to Still Be Fabulous When You're Broke (Tyndale 2010).

It's not like Michelle was born impoverished. Quite the opposite, in fact. You might say she was born with a designer rattle in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.

With a mother from Barbados and a father from Ghana, West Africa, this international baby was born in London, educated in Barbados and finally landed in Michigan, where her mother remarried a wealthy American. Let's just say that, growing up, Michelle lacked for nothing. Her American stepfather was determined that she would have everything her heart desired. If he missed anything, her biological dad was standing at the ready to fill in the blanks. All of this generosity created in Michelle a belief that no whim should ever be denied.

Right out of college, Michelle landed in a fabulous advertising career. "I was art director, copywriter and producer extraordinaire, flitting coast to coast producing television, radio, and print advertising for top-notch clients." It didn't take long for her to elevate herself to full-on "diva" status and to become accustomed to her high-flying lifestyle. She had everything, including wonderful jewels, designer clothing and three diva dogs. If she wanted something, she found a way to get it.

Even high-stylin' divas cannot escape the ravages and reality of a recession. It hit Michelle hard. There she sat at the end of her financial road, savings gone, IRA bottomed out, creditors hounding and her life basically in tatters.

In her latest book (she's written 34), Michelle, a self-proclaimed DIVA (Divine Inspiration for Victorious Attitude), shares what she learned about her own spending, desires and needs, and how she is adjusting to life during this unpredictable economy. Divanomics is filled with money-saving tips on fashion, beauty, home decor, entertaining, diet, housing, and more.

If you're worried that living below your income level is going to turn you into a frump, you need to spend a couple of hours with Michelle in this new book. She'll give you practical tips and her favorite websites and resources for finding everything a girl would want.

More than just tips and tricks for how to be fabulous even when you're broke, Michelle, with warmth and humor, will tell you how to invest your life in things that matter and how to hold onto faith, even when it feels like God doesn't know about your needs or care about your wants. She's going to convince you that's not the case at all. She'll tell you how you can get back to top of your game no matter what's going on in the economy!

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Picky Eaters?

2010-04-06T23:18:00.004-04:00

Here is an article that all moms can relate too. Picky eaters? Oh yeah! We've got them! As always I look forward to hearing your feedback and ideas. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom) Article thanks to 'Plugged In Parents' http://www.pluggedinparents.com/

Ways to Help Your Picky Eater

Written by Dr. Hillary

Busy toddlers might not be able to sit through a meal. They may also be afraid to try new foods, or refuse to eat in order to maintain control over their environment. Here are some strategies that might make family meals more enjoyable:

Offer small and frequent meals to make sure that your child gets all the necessary nutrients, but does not feel overwhelmed by the amount of food.

Serve meals and snacks at the same time of day. Toddlers need routine, and you should expect them to cooperate.

Provide 2-3 food choices at snack and meal times to give your child a sense of control.

Let your child develop food preferences at her own pace. Research shows that some children need to be exposed to certain foods several times before they try to eat them, so be patient!

Resist the urge to prepare your child’s favorite foods most of the time, as it will only promote picky eating.

Schedule snacks between meals so that your child eats every four hours or so. That will prevent irritability due to hunger or low blood sugar.

Make meals a family time. Sit together at the table during meals. Expect your toddler to do the same. Research shows that eating meals as a family has a positive effect on the quality of a child’s diet. It also teaches the child to make good food choices in the future.

Turn off the TV! During meals, your toddler should concentrate on eating only.

Offer milk during meals and snacks for the total of 16-24 ounces a day. Between meals, offer water. Four ounces of juice can be given to your child a day, but dilute it with water. However, since juice provides mainly empty calories, water is the hydrating fluid of choice.

Don’t get frustrated. Incorporate some of these strategies and your child’s pickiness will improve with time.

Inspiring Children To Garden?

2010-04-05T19:44:00.003-04:00

So here is an article that I borrowed from the 'Life On The Balcony' Blog. I am always trying to inspire and include my daughters to garden with me. and they do love it, for the first few days.... :) I am excited to try some of these ideas this spring with them. As always I look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback. Thanks - tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom) - Enjoy!

A Container Garden for Children and The Young At Heart

by Fern on April 5, 2010

While growing vegetables is one way to teach children about nature and enchant them with gardening. It’s not the only way. If you’d like to add flowers to your children’s garden, you have come to the right post! Below you’ll find a container plan, as well as fun–and even weird–plants that kids will love.

Container Idea

The plan above is for a 48 inch planter box, though you could easily change it to fit a smaller planter box by reducing the number of plants. These plants need full sun.

S – Sunflower
P – Penstemon ‘Firecracker’
E – Eyeball Plant

Sunflowers are a great plant for kids. They grow easily from seed, bees, butterflies, and birds love them, and with any luck, the flower will create the edible seeds that kids everywhere love to munch on. Look for a short variety, like Sunspot so the flowers will be within reach of your kids.

Firecracker Penstemon will attract hummingbirds, which are always fun to watch. The plant also provides an opportunity to learn about native plants and how Native Americans used them. For example, they used Penstemon in ceremonies, and looked for its blooms as a signal to stop planting melon seeds. If it is already past your last frost date, look for the plants in nurseries. But there is still time to sow Penstemon seeds outside if your last frost date is a few weeks away.

Eyeball Plant (Spilanthes oleracea) is just plain fun. The flowers look like little eyeballs, hence the name. The seeds germinate quickly, so they’ll keep kids interest while they wait for the odd flowers to appear.

More Fun Plants to Grow With Kids

If you grow ‘Lemon Queen’ Sunflower, you can participate in the Great Sunflower Project and count the bees that you see visiting your plant. Kids can practice counting and adding (if they’re preschool or kindergarten age) and about conducting research and collecting data if they’re already in elementary school.
Chocolate Flower smells like chocolate, and will attract butterflies. Fun on both counts!
If you’d like to grow something indoors that will get your kids attention (I remember loving this plant as a kid), look for Sensitive Plant (or grow it from seed). When the leaves are touched, the plant quickly closes them up. This plant is only appropriate for children old enough to know not to eat it, as it’s poisonous if ingested.

Spring Pea & Basil Soup

2010-04-05T13:59:00.002-04:00

Here is a yummy, easy recipe I copied from the 'Once Upon A Chef ' website. I added it as a favorite on my Facebook page and get frequent updates on easy recipes. As always I would love to hear your thoughts. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom) Enjoy!

www.onceuponachef.com

The kids' cheeks are sun-kissed, the bikes are out of the garage and the pansies are in the pots...it's official, spring is finally here! It's been a long, long time coming, so this Spring Pea & Basil Soup tastes all the better. It's the perfect first course or light meal...delicate, sweet green peas simmered in vegetable broth, then puréed with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. So simple, so fresh, so good for you.

What's more? It's surprisingly easy to make. Frozen peas, vegetable broth from a carton, you get the idea...

To start, simply chop some shallots and fresh basil...

Then gently sizzle the shallots in olive oil. Add a few bags of frozen peas and vegetable broth and let it all bubble together...

Toss in your freshly chopped basil and Parmesan...

Purée with a blender, season to taste and, voilà, soup is served!

Enjoy hot or cold, as a starter or main course, for lunch or dinner. Happy Spring!

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Spring Pea & Basil Soup
Printable Recipe

Serves 6

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup roughly chopped shallots
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth (1 ½ large cartons, I use Swanson Organic)
6 cups (2 pounds) frozen peas
1 small lime
salt
freshly ground black pepper
½ cup roughly chopped fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add shallots and gently cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes.

2. Add vegetable broth, peas, ½ tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes.

3. Remove pan from heat and add basil and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Purée with a stick blender until smooth and creamy. Be patient…peas take a long time to purée and you want it as smooth as possible. (If you don’t have a stick blender, let the soup cool slightly and purée in batches in a blender. Be sure to crack the lid or remove the center cap to allow steam to escape and cover with a dish towel so it won't splatter. Rinse the pot and return the soup to pot.) Taste and adjust seasoning. I usually add about a ¼ teaspoon more salt, a sprinkling of fresh ground pepper and a squirt of lime. Ladle into bowls and serve hot, or chill and serve cold.

This soup will thicken as it cools. Simply add a bit of water to thin to desired consistency.

If you want to dress it up, add a seasoned crouton to each bowl.

How to Grow Daylilies On Your Balcony

2010-03-31T17:24:00.003-04:00

Here is an article I found interesting from the 'Life On The Balcony' newsletter. I have always loved daylilies. how wonderful would it be to grow them on your deck or balcony! to be able to witness this beauty each day this summer season. amazing! I am planning on trying this myself. As always I would love to hear your feedback and ideas. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

by Fern on March 31, 2010

Photo by gcalsa

I used to hate daylilies. The only one I knew was ‘Stella de Oro’ and it is completely over used in Southern California. Pretty much every shopping center here has a landscape full of them. But lately I’ve taken a second look. As I spend more time around all the awesome gardeners blogging about these things, I see that there is a whole world of daylilies that I didn’t know about.

But how do you grow daylilies in pots? I admit that I am a total daylily novice, so I turned to Hugh Stout, an iris and daylily hybridizer and grower, the American Hemerocallis Society, and several university extensions to find out.

When Should You Plant Daylilies?

In the North, you should buy daylilies in the Spring and plant them after your last frost. This will help your plants establish roots before winter. If you live in zone 6 or colder, your daylily will most likely die back in winter. You can either overwinter the plant in a sheltered place, like your garage, or you can mulch the pot with a layer of straw in late Autumn. Some daylilies are more sensitive to cold temperatures than others, so ask a knowledgeable nursery person or fellow gardener about specific varieties that do well in your climate.

In the South, you can plant daylilies either in the Spring or Fall. But avoid planting them when temperatures are over 90F because high temperatures can lead to rotting. I know that in Southern California, daylilies have lush foliage that does not die back in the winter, though it does look a little ragged.

Where Should You Place a Daylily Pot?

Photo by Spring Hill Nursery

Daylilies will do best in full sun, however they will tolerate partial shade, though they may not flower as abundantly. A general rule of thumb is that the lighter colors (yellow, light pinks, peaches, etc) need full sun to bring out their best colors. Though the deeper colored flowers (reds and purples) will actually do better with a bit of shade during the afternoon.

What Type of Pot and Soil Should You Use?

Buy a high quality potting soil and organic compost. Amend the potting mix with the compost before planting. Daylilies like well drained, but moist soil that has good aeration and plenty of microbial activity. The compost will help improve the potting mix to provide an ideal situation for your plant. There are some potting soils that come pre-mixed with compost, if you have access to one of those, then it should be all that you need.

If your potting mix is having a hard time staying moist, Hugh recommends a product like “Soil Moist” or one of the similar polymer crystals that absorb water and release it back into the soil. Daylilies really need moist soil to produce the most/best quality blooms.

Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter and depth for smaller varieties, and 16 or 18 inches for larger varieties. It would probably be best to use a glazed pot or plastic, as terracotta dries out really quickly.

How to Plant a Daylily in a Container

If you purchase a daylily through the internet/mailorder (as I recently did) you’ll receive a plant that is bareroot. To pot it up, make a mound of soil in the center of the pot. Set the plant in place with the roots spread on all sides of the mound. Add more potting soil until the white part at the base of the foliage is covered. Make sure that the point where foliage and roots join is no more than 1 inch below the surface of the soil. Firm the soil and water well.

If you buy a daylily that is already potted in a gallon (or larger) nursery pot, then repot it in your desired container so that the daylily is slightly above the soil line of the pot.

Caring For Your Daylily

Make sure that the soil is always moist (as wet as a wrung out sponge) during the spring and summer, when your plant is making scapes (flower stalks) and actually flowering. Too little water during this period will reduce the amount of flowers your plant will produce. Make sure to water deeply (i.e. until you see water flowing out the bottom of the pot), and try not to get water on the leaves or crown of the plant. Covering the surface of the pot with mulch can help cut down on the frequency of watering by reducing evaporation.

If you plant your daylily in Spring, you don’t need to fertilize it that first spring because most potting soils come pre-mixed with a fertilizer. Fertilize your plant for the first time during summer, when it is flowering. Look for a fertilizer that has a lower first number (nitrogen) than the second two numbers (phosphorus and potash). The following year, fertilize your plant in Spring, as the plant is starting to put out new growth, and again in summer. Go easy on the fertilizer!

If you remove spent flowers, you’ll encourage reblooming and keep your plant looking nicer. Always remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage as soon as you see it. If you see any pests on your daylily, consult this information from the American Hemerocallis Society.

Hugh’s Favorite Miniature Daylilies

How to Stop Washing Money Down the Drain

2010-03-30T22:19:00.003-04:00

The following article was borrowed from the 'Everyday Cheapskate' Newsletter by Mary Hunt. Here are some very clever tips..... enjoy - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Consider for a moment how much money you spend to replace clothing, linens and bedding that are serviceable but hopelessly stained. Add up how much you spend at the dry cleaner each month. Shocked? This week's collection of reader-submitted tips just might help you keep a lot of money in your pocket.

COLOR CARE. When my colors get mixed up in the laundry and I accidentally dye a load because the color bled, I reverse it with Rit Dye Color Remover, available wherever Rit Dye is sold. It works every time, even on red! Lou, Florida

DOWN COMFORT. I finally got my nerve up to wash my feather quilt in the washing machine. It turned out beautifully! I washed it in warm water on the gentle cycle. Then, I fluffed it in the drier with three tennis balls. The balls bounce around and keep the comforter from getting all "bunched up." Eve H., e-mail

DRAIN BRAIN. Whenever I get a mesh bag like the one citrus fruit comes in, I cut it up and thread a string through the mesh. I attach it to my washer's outtake hose to catch the lint and other debris to prevent clogging the drain. It works just as well as those lint catchers that cost up to $2 each and have to be changed often. Diane S., Ohio

CATCHING COLORS. I keep the colors in my clothing from running with Color Catchers® from Shout®. They are like dryer sheets, and I use them all the time in my colored laundry. They absorb any dye that runs in the water so that it doesn't affect the other clothing in the load. Elaine K., Nebraska

SUDS SAVER. I make sure that I get every last drop of laundry detergent out of each bottle. After I have used as much detergent as possible, I get at least two or three more loads of suds by adding water to the container to rinse it out. Kim H., e-mail

WET CLEANING. The cost of dry cleaning my suits is breaking my budget. Recently, I experimented on an older suit. The label said "Dry Clean Only" but it also said the suit and the lining were 100 percent polyester. I pretreated the soil on the collar and put it in my washer on the gentle cycle with mild detergent. I put it in the dryer on low heat for a few minutes and then hung it up to dry. To my amazement, the suit came out nicer than it did after dry cleaning. I saved at least $15. Sally P., Ohio

STAIN MAVEN. I've removed serious stains of both red wine and olive oil from clothing with Lestoil, which is a household cleaner known for cutting grease. I pre-treat the tough stains by applying the Lestoil directly to the fabric (online at Amazon.com if you are unable to find it locally). Then, I wash the items as normal. I've always had success removing challenging stains with Lestoil. Sarina, e-mail

A healthy recipe that’s easy as pie

2010-03-30T21:54:00.002-04:00

Another great recipe /article from 'Skinny in the City' Newsletter. if you were wondering what to do with all those Zucchini's from your garden? Here you go! last year a neighbor gave us a bunch of gorgeous veggies from their garden. We had more zucchini that we could grill. So this recipe would be a yummy option. Hope you enjoy this recipe & article. As always I would love to hear your feedback. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

I just got back from a trip to Israel — and while my vacations usually consist of over-eating the local cuisine and going to bed stuffed, this one was a little different. In Israel, it’s customary to have a big lunch and a light dinner (which could be anything from an omelet, to some yogurt, to a light cheese sandwich). So on this trip, every night that my head hit the pillow, my stomach wasn’t uncomfortably full.

Israelites also eat a lot of vegetarian cuisine. For good reason — studies show not eating meat just one day a week can help lower your cholesterol and your weight.
So in honor of everything I learned on my latest vacation, here’s an easy, light vegetarian dinner you can make tonight. Serve with a colorful side salad.

Zucchini Pie

Serves: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
* Nonstick cooking spray
* 4 teaspoons breadcrumbs**

* 5-6 zucchinis, peeled, and cubed small
* ½ cup 0% cottage cheese
* ½ cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
* 2 eggs
* 1 egg white
* ¼ teaspoon each: garlic powder, onion powder, pepper
* 2 tablespoons reduced fat feta cheese

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a 9x11 inch Pyrex with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Spread 2 teaspoons bread crumbs on the bottom of the Pyrex.
4. In a bowl, combine the rest of the breadcrumbs, cubed zucchini, cottage cheese, ¼ cup mozzarella cheese, eggs, egg whites, and spices. Mix all together.
5. Pour into the Pyrex. Sprinkle the feta cheese and the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
6. Bake for one hour, or until the top browns and bubbles.

**Omit breadcrumbs for a gluten-free recipe.

This can also be served with a Tzatziki sauce:

Ingredients:
* 2 cucumbers, diced
* 2 tablespoons dried mint leaves
* 8 ounces 0% Greek Yogurt
* Salt, to taste (and garlic powder — optional)

Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and serve.

Nutrition Content:
Per serving (2½-inch piece of zucchini pie with 1/2 tablespoons tzatziki): 126 calories, 4 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 8 g carbs, 1.5 g fiber, 12 g protein, 122 mg sodium, 361 mg calcium, 376 mg potassium

—Karen Kattan

Herbs to Grow for Ethnic Cuisines

2010-03-30T14:09:00.007-04:00

I found this great Blog called Life On The Balcony. actually I found it on Face Book. and it has some great tips for gardening in containers as on a balcony. I have used many of the ideas to use on my deck because I am too lazy to commit to a real garden. But they have all been very helpful & fruitful. I will be posting any articles I find interesting in the future. I have included this link on my Blog listings on the right ...http://lifeonthebalcony.com

Here is a great article posted today. I hope you get some useful tidbits like I do. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Herbs to Grow for Ethnic Cuisines

by Fern on March 30, 2010

Raise your hand if you have done this at a garden center: Strolled over to the herb section (after eyeing half a dozen flowers and a new variety of tomato that you want) and randomly picked up herbs because they looked good, or because they seemed “like a good plant to have in an herb garden.” I know my hand is up.

Unfortunately this is not a very good way to select herbs you’ll actually use in your cooking. A better way is to work backwards from the type of food you like to eat/cook and select the herbs needed in those types of dishes.

With that in mind, I thought I’d break out herbs by cuisine and create a handy cheat sheet for you guys…

Italian

No Italian herb garden would be complete without basil, rosemary, oregano, garlic, and parsley. All are easy to grow in pots. To make things interesting, look for purple or scented varieties of basil. There are also all sorts of kinds of garlic that are prettier and more flavorful than what you can get in the store.

Additional Possibilities: fennel, sage, bay, marjoram and thyme.

French

If you like to cook French style cuisine, then you no doubt have heard of the herbs that go into a “bouquet garni.” That is a little bundle that has thyme, tarragon, bay leaves, and parsley. The herb bundle can be dropped in to a pot to delicately flavor a sauce or soup, and then be retrieved after the herbs have imparted their flavors.

Additional Possibilities: chives, chervil, basil, lavender flowers, fennel, rosemary, savory, and marjoram.

Indian

Herbs used in Indian dishes might be harder to come by, and the various regions have quite diverse styles of cooking, so you might need to narrow it down a bit. But I have been seeing curry plants consistently available at my local nursery. And you can get cumin plants from Seeds of Change (who knew that cumin was the same plant as the ornamental flower “Nigella?!”). The other two herbs I mentioned above are mint (used in yogurt raitas) and cilantro/coriander. Cilantro is what the herb is called in leaf form. When you harvest the seeds, for some reason the name changes to coriander.

p.s. I know that I misspelled coriander in the image, but it’s 2am and I am too tired to change it. Please forgive me if spelling typos really irk you.

Asian

I hate to admit this, but it’s kind of culturally clueless to lump all of Asia into one cuisine. But hey, everyone else is doing it, so I might as well, with one gigantic caveat: any general list of “asian herbs” is pretty much useless. That being said, there are some things that are common in various types of Asian cuisine that are easy to grow. Garlic chives for instance, you couldn’t kill ‘em with a nuclear bomb. Well, maybe. But I forget to water mine, harvest them too often, etc and they still keep on coming back for more. Mizuna is a mustard green that you can use in salads or stir frys and is very easy to grow from seed. Oh, and ginger root is pretty versatile, you’ll use it in lots of dishes. According to this website, you can buy some at the supermarket and cut it into pieces the way you would a seed potato, and grow tons of new ginger roots (actually rhizomes).

Additional Possibilities: Thai basil (holy basil), lemongrass, shiso, and chilis.

* * * * *

It is now 2:30 in the morning my friends, and I realized that I totally forgot one of my favorite cuisines: Mexican! I know you super smarty pants readers will help me out and suggest herbs for Mexican cuisine in the comments. Cilantro, cumin, epazote…

How to Live Below Your Means

2010-03-29T20:45:00.003-04:00

Here is a great article I got out of the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter by Mary Hunt.....

I wouldn't call it a radical new idea, although a popular women's magazine declared recently that living below your means (LBYM) is the hot new trend.

It is a simple concept: spend less than you earn. Still, LBYM is seen by many as a life sentence, not the lifesaver that it is. It can take a crisis like unemployment or a sudden illness to reveal to some people just how far in over their heads they really are. That's when a lifesaver looks really good.

Your household is like a business. You have revenue and expenses. If you spend more than you bring in you will take on debt. A business that continually takes on debt will eventually fail. It is a healthy company that ends the year not just breaking even, but with money in the bank. Same at home. That's LBYM.

A commitment to LBYM should not be taken lightly. It's a big deal, particularly if you have come to see credit as an extension of your income.

If you've ever flown on a commercial jetliner, you have survived a "controlled crash," also known as landing. I'm no pilot, but I've read how much control is required to take a piece of machinery that weighs many tons going at a speed of 600 miles per hour and bring it to a full and complete stop precisely at the gate cited on that monitor inside the terminal. It's called "reverse thrust," and, depending on the length of the runway, that braking sensation can be an interesting experience. You're belted in for good reason. Thankfully, those systems work thousands of times every day.

If you struggle with living beyond your means, it's likely you've been spending at a rate of about 600 miles per hour, metaphorically speaking. Things are out of control. You need to bring your spending problem to a halt by making a serious commitment to stop living beyond your means.

For the next 30 days, track your spending. Write down everything, from that cup of coffee to your rent or mortgage payment and everything between. At first, it will feel like you've just reversed your engines, that you're about to be thrown on your head. Once you get your bearings, you'll be ready to start the important work of plugging up all the places that money is leaking out of your life.

One of the best ways to plug those money leaks is to start talking to yourself. Whenever you are faced with a desire to spend, stop long enough to ask yourself:

1. Can I afford it?
2. Do I really need it?
3. Do I need it now?
4. Do I have something like it already?
5. Can I find a cheaper substitute?
6. Is this the best deal?

If you make it through all six questions, go home and sleep on it. Tomorrow you'll probably change your mind. If not, you'll have the confidence you need to make the best decision.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did....Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Helpful Tip: MAGIC MOM.

2010-03-29T18:24:00.001-04:00

While I was preparing Easter dinner, my four-year-old daughter climbed up to the counter in her most beautiful dress, opened a bottle of bright red fingernail polish and spilled it on herself. That afternoon, I tried everything to save her dress, which I felt was doomed for the dump. Finally, I tried oven cleaner. I saturated the polish stains with Easy-Off, waited thirty seconds, rubbed the stain lightly and then rinsed it well. It worked like magic. After repeating this process twice, all the stains were gone and it did no harm to the fabric. I laundered the dress as usual and happily hung it up, as good as new. - Amanda F., Kansas

(tip borrowed from Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter)

Message from Jamie

2010-03-28T22:38:00.003-04:00

I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It's time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!

You live in an amazing country full of inspirational people and you have the power to change things. With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future.
- Jamie Oliver

As a mom, all I can say is...ITS ABOUT TIME! Where have you been Jamie?
Thanks for bringing awareness to America! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

(Quote copied from Jamie Oliver Food Revolution website: http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition?usa=1)

Individual Meatloaves

2010-01-04T16:27:00.002-05:00

Hi ladies!

Your gonna love this recipe! I am always looking to make my life easier (especially around dinner time). So when I purchased some chop meat in bulk (5 pounds) on sale and was trying to think of what to make that my family would all love, something I could freeze for later meals too. I dug through my recipe clippings from magazines and such. And came across a recipe for individual meatloaves.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 eggs
1/2 cup ketchup
3 cups chopped onions
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2.5 pounds ground beef (or turkey)

in a bowl mix olive oil, Worcester sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, eggs,
then add thyme, salt, pepper.

in a larger bowl add chop meat, breadcrumbs, onions and liquid mixture. mix together and divide into 6 portions.

I made a double batch and froze them all (12). then took out a few when needed. each loaf realistically feeds 2 adults (they are about 10 oz patties). so when I take them out I take 2, this is plenty to feed 3 adults & 3 little kids that don't eat more than a few bites, along with some sides. We had a mixed salad and baked potatoes. (Sabra hummus or Tatziki (a Greek yogurt, dill, cucumber mix) is delicious with the meatloaf too).

cooking time: 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes (until internal temp is 155-160)

Recipe from the Bare Foot Contessa (from Food Network - ), recipe was featured in the House Beautiful Magazine.
www.barefootcontessa.com or www.foodnetwork.com for more recipes.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. my whole family raved about it. you can also add peppers or chives for an alternative.

xoxo Tamra (a.k.a. the Frugal Mom)

My Latest Potty Training Experiment

2009-11-06T14:17:00.004-05:00

Every mom reading this has gone through (or will be going through) the potty training nightmare. My oldest daughter seemed to get potty trained overnight. My memory might be a bit fuzzy, but I don't remember having the difficulties I have had with my 2 nd daughter. Maybe its because she is the middle child? Or maybe its just because she is stubborn. Not sure which.

I have tried everything from special potty charts, a potty party (decorating the bathroom with balloons and streamers etc), a stamp book, special treats, letting her choose special panties from the store...but nothing has worked as successfully as I would like. We still keep having the accidents. I even got to the point where I would just put the pull-ups on her because I was so sick of changing her clothes and cleaning up messes.

Today we tried something new. And cross your fingers..it seems to have worked great! She loves to play learning games on the computer on Starfall.com. and I limit her time on there to once per day. She will ask me continuously if she can go on the computer to play again. So I decided to turn this into her reward for going potty.

This is what we did. I had my daughter help me make her new potty chart. We traced a large circle on a piece of contruction paper. Than chose another color for the background sheet. After cutting out the circle, we traced in onto the center of the second paper. Then like a pie I sectioned it into 6 pieces and cut them out. I made a little pocket under the pie chart to hold the pieces. We pinned it onto a cork board so it would be easy to remove and put on over and over again.

Now here is the premise of this chart. Every time she goes potty without an accident she gets to put a pie piece on the chart. When she puts all 6 pieces of the pie on the chart than she can use the computer for 15 minutes, (we use a timer for this so there is no arguing). We made it 1 pie piece for a successful pee-pee on the potty & 2 pie pieces for a successful poopie on the potty. But if she has an accident than 1 pie piece would be removed.

Let me tell you I have never seen my daughter so eager to sit on the potty ever! She spent all morning trying to go even when she didn't need to :).

I would love to hear your potty training success stories. Please email me at tflowers@optonline.net and I may include your story on my Blog!

Thank you - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Fraud On Your Computer .....Sometimes Sneaks In Under The Radar

2009-11-05T14:36:00.007-05:00

I thought I would share something disturbing that happened to me recently. Fraud through by computer disguised as Anti-Theft software.

I had received a pop up a few weeks ago saying I had a Trojan Virus on my computer and that I needed to purchase this anti-virus software to get rid of it. So not knowing much about this stuff, and not having my husband around at the time. I purchased it.

Then it would run these scans every few hours stating that there were several viruses that had to be deleted. When my husband saw this pop up he tried to run our MacAfee Virus scan. But it had been disabled by the new one. After some research online we discovered that this "Anti-Virus" software that I purchased was actually a virus. It posed as a Anti-virus software, even putting tiny harmless viruses on the computer so it had something to delete. We followed the instructions we found online to rid out computer of this virus and after about 10 tries, deleted it and reinstalled our MacAfee.

Now the day after we deleted this virus my bank account was getting pinged small charges that I did not make (Poker Casino charges in Ohio, and other random things). I contacted my bank as soon as I noticed this a few days later. They agreed and believed it was fraud. They said having purchased the virus software with my bank card, they now had my information. The fraud division of my bank had seen this scam several times before with different software names. Said that I was lucky I picked up on it quickly as others were not so lucky and had major identity theft.

So beware of this scheme as it comes in under the radar and seems legitimate. Knowing now that having the MacAfee was enough to thwart any viruses. I feel awfully silly for falling for this scheme. I was fortunate to receive all my money back. I hope this helps even one of you from falling prey to this.

Sorry For My Absence.....

2009-11-05T14:32:00.002-05:00

Hi ladies,

I must apologize for my absence recently from this Blog. Personal issues kept me from keeping up with my posts these past few months. I do appreciate your patience and loyalty though. I will be posting more regularly again.

I would appreciate any ideas or interests that any of you ladies would like to see.

Thank you - Tamra

June - week # 3 - Summer Sandal Blister Survival

2009-06-17T07:25:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but I really hate when I get blisters from wearing my summer shoes after the long winter. It ruins my feet for days after. Used to be I would suffer through wearing a pretty pair of sandals then have to wear compfy slip on flats til the blisters healed. And those unsightly bandaids! So I am thrilled to see that there is hope! I love my sandals and flip flops and all the pretty summerness of them all. Puts me in a great mood to put on a pair of pretty strappy sandals. Just because I am home with my kids doesn't mean I have to wear sneakers to run after them! I always say that I feel my best when I look my best. And lets face it, if I can wear a pretty pair of sandals and still run around with my girls...well thats just perfect! Don't get me wrong I still love my ballet flats, but for summer its nice to let the pedicured toes out to play too! Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Summer sandal saviors

Right, left, ouch. Right, left, ouch. Right, left… I’m throwing these shoes in the nearest trash can! Sound familiar? There’s nothing like the excruciating pain of a blister to ruin the joy of new summer footwear. I used to think early summer blisters were inevitable, but I’ve figured out a way around them.With the proper cushioning, blisters can heal quickly, if not be prevented entirely. No matter your choice of footwear — from wedges to stilettos to strappy sandals to flip-flops — we’ve got you (and your feet) covered:

For Flats: Foot Petals Heavenly Heels, $4.95, footpetals.comWide, thick pads stand up for the most violated area of the foot: that poor heel. When you’re breaking in new flats, the back of your heel is a hot-zone for blisters.

For Stilettos and Heels: Profoot Care Velvetex Moleskin, $2.85, amazon.comOh, the pinky toe. So often a victim, especially when the weight and pressure of a high heel bears down. Wrap it in moleskin and replace often.

For Strappy Shoes: Peda Bella Cushioning Strap Strips, $3.99, footsmart.comThin, adhesive — and, best of all, inconspicuous — cushions protect the foot and ankle from fashionable-yet-painful straps.

For Flip-Flops and Sandals: Kiwi Select In Between the Toe Cushions, $31.45 (for 6 pairs), shoebuy.comSure, flip-flops and other flat sandals seem like they’d be comfortable, but the space between your toes will tell you otherwise. Wrap these around the base of your sandal thong — and walk a mile in your own shoes!

*Article found in the Skinny In The City newsletter

June week # 3 - The Expense of Bringing Home Baby

2009-06-16T11:58:00.002-04:00

Welcoming a new child into the family is a joyous occasion for all, but the additional expense associated with a new bundle of joy can also be a big worry for some parents, especially in this economy. A recent survey found that the average American family spends a whopping $2,577 on baby-related items when a new baby comes home.Luckily, there are plenty of resources available to help bring down the cost of all the "things" you need for a newborn baby.

New parents, take note: online classified websites and places that offer nearly-new items for cheap or even free will serve you well. Believe it or not, the baby won't know the difference between a new crib and a gently-used one.The summer months are most common for new arrivals. That means many expectant parents are looking right now to purchase baby-related items, and need to find the space in their homes to store them. Here are a few ideas to help new parents find the items they need without spending more than they can reasonably afford.

Secondhand sites. Venture beyond the old standards like eBay.com and Craigslist.org. Posting "wanted" ads for furniture and infant accessories at FreeCycle.org could turn up treasures that are absolutely free and connect you with other young parents in your neighborhood. Also, don't overlook second-generation classified ad websites like Kijiji.com ("Kijiji" means "village" in Swahili). This is a free, local, family-friendly website that caters to over 1,000 cities and countries around the world. Kijiji's staff takes every precaution to make sure that local families have a safe place to buy, sell, trade and connect.

Mommy exchange. Purchase the items secondhand that babies grow out of quickly. Look for gently used cribs, rocking chairs, changing tables and strollers. Then, as your baby grows out of them, re-list them on the Internet for other local mothers to enjoy.Hold off on hand-me-downs. As their children graduate from strollers to tricycles, most parents decide to donate those expensive baby items or hand them down to a friend or family member. However, the items their child no longer uses could easily earn them much-needed cash. Only 7 percent of parents said they resell baby items once their child has outgrown them, which means a whopping 93 percent of parents are missing out on potential cash.

Make the most of your space. Stop house-hunting out of your price range just because you're bringing a little one home. Instead, find "hidden" storage space in your current residence. Use hooks, bookcases, shelves and ceiling racks to create extra space. Over-the-door shoe racks are also great for organizing baby's various lotions, potions and small accessories.

Re-purpose a room. Think outside of the box when considering how to use the rooms of your home. Transform your dining room, guest room or home office into a nursery, or carve out space for baby in your living room or bedroom. Hang screens, shelves, curtains or have a temporary wall built to separate each space.

*Article found in the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter

June week # 3 - low fat coconut shrimp recipe - yummy!

2009-06-15T12:17:00.004-04:00

Bake up a low-cal shrimp fest

I found this write up this morning and thought the recipe sounds so yummy! I will be trying it myself this week. Let me know how you like it! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Coconut shrimp is always a favorite seafood dish, but most recipes are breaded, fried, and loaded with calories and fat. A restaurant coconut shrimp meal can have up to 900 calories and over 30 g of fat — yikes! But you can create your own tasty, figure-friendly version at home.

Shrimp is a very healthy source of lean protein, and it’s one of the few foods that contain vitamin D — one serving has about 1/3 of your daily need. Shrimp has gotten an unfair bad rap in the past because of its cholesterol content. Though the numbers may be high, dietary cholesterol actually has a minimal effect on blood cholesterol levels; it’s trans fat and some types of saturated fat that are the biggest culprits. You’ll notice this recipe does have a few grams of saturated fat, but that comes mainly from the coconut. Recent research suggests that most of the saturated fat found in coconut (lauric acid) may actually be a cardio-protective fat. So go ahead and enjoy this coconut shrimp guilt-free! Serve it with brown rice, couscous, or a mixed green salad.

Baked Coconut Shrimp

Serves: 5

Total time: 1 hour (including marinade time)

Ingredients:
¾ cup light coconut milk
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 pound of uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined (may buy fresh or frozen)
½ cup flaked coconut
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Nonstick cooking spray (or foil)

Cooking instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F.

In a shallow bowl, combine coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, and brown sugar.

Add the shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat evenly.

Place the bowl in the refrigerator, and let the shrimp marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare a large baking pan either by coating in nonstick cooking spray or by covering in foil.

Remove bowl from refrigerator.

Take shrimp out of the marinade and place on baking tray.

Sprinkle the flaked coconut evenly onto shrimp prior to baking.

Season with the cayenne pepper.

Bake 7-8 minutes or until shrimp are pink and firm.

Nutrition content: Per serving (about 15 shrimp): 180 calories, 6 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 18 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 137 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, 296 mg potassium (6% daily need), 137 IU vitamin D (35% daily need)

*recipe found in teh Skinny In The City Newsletter

June week #2 - The Checkbook Balancing Act

2009-06-11T22:35:00.003-04:00

I came across this next question/answer segment in a newsletter I read this morning. I thought it was such a great thing to pass along as I am sure there are more of us that don't reconcile our checkbooks often enough, or even know how to. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Q - Dear Mary,I have an "embarrassing question" for you. I will soon be 70-years-old, and I have never been told how to balance a checkbook. People just assume I know. Is it too late to learn? Bobbie Y., e-mail

A - Dear Bobbie,You're not the only reader who's ever been embarrassed to ask a question about money and finance. I filled a book with these questions and my answers. A great book I would recommend is "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card? And Other Financial Questions We're Too Embarrassed to Ask!" I think you'll have fun reading it, and you'll learn a lot in the process.

You should balance your checkbook monthly to catch the bank's mistakes. There are great software programs and online tools that will do this for you. Some of them are free. Check out Wesabi.com, Mint.com and Quicken.com. Here are the basic instructions to reconcile your checkbook against the bank's statement:

Step 1: Determine if you have outstanding checks that haven't cleared your bank. Using your statement, check off your cleared checks in your checkbook register. Make sure that the amount of each cleared check is the amount you recorded.

Step 2: Verify that each deposit recorded on your bank statement is also recorded in your check register, including your direct deposits. Make sure the statement shows all deposits you made. Check off your deposits just as you did for your checks.

Step 3: For ATM withdrawals or debit-card purchases, check off each transaction on the bank statement against your check register. If your statement has items that have cleared that aren't in your checkbook register, record them now.

Step 4: Check your bank statement for bank fees, such as monthly fees or those for (gasp!) bounced checks, and record them in your register. Record any interest earned in your register, too.

Step 5: Go through your checkbook register or duplicate checks and list checks that have not cleared the bank. These will not be listed on your statement. Make note, also, of outstanding debit-card purchases or ATM withdrawals that have not cleared the bank. Total all of these items.

Step 6: List any outstanding deposits that were not included on your bank statement. Total these deposits.

Step 7: Using a piece of paper, your checkbook register, or the form on your bank statement, list the ending balance shown on your bank statement. On another line, enter the total outstanding deposits. On a third line, enter the total amount of your outstanding checks.

Step 8: Using a calculator, enter the ending balance on your statement. Add the total for outstanding deposits. Finally, subtract the total for outstanding checks. This should equal the balance shown on your checkbook register. If you have never reconciled your checkbook, this will be your new balance from which to start.

*information taken from the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter

June week # 2 - Yummy Outdoors Recipe

2009-06-10T16:28:00.003-04:00

Picnic season is officially in full swing. Here is a creative recipe that would make a simple but splashy meal to eat in the great outdoors, since it is good served hot or cold. This easy chicken dish takes little time to assemble and is impressive looking. As a bonus, it is high in fiber and low in fat, which makes it a perfectly healthy addition to your recipe repertoire. So here it is, another healthy cooking recipe from the Quick & Healthy Cookbooks:

Rolled Chicken and Asparagus

1 pound skinless
boneless chicken breasts
24 to 30 asparagus spears (tough ends removed)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
6 green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut chicken breasts into 8 or 10 strips, each about 1 inch by 5 inches long.
Wrap each chicken strip in a corkscrew fashion around 2 or 3 uncooked asparagus spears. Fasten with toothpicks. Place in a covered baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle with lemon juice, green onions, salt and pepper.
Cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove toothpicks. Serve hot or refrigerate until chilled and serve cold. Serves: 4.

Cook's Note: One serving is a good source of fiber. When preparing the asparagus, snap off the fibrous end and soak the tips in water to remove any dirt.

Nutritional Information: Carb Servings: 1/2Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat

Nutrient Analysis: calories 151, total fat 2g, saturated fat 0g, cholesterol 65mg, sodium 82mg, total carbohydrate 6g, dietary fiber 3g, sugars 2g, protein 28g

Source: Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas, 3rd Edition, © 2008 Brenda J. Ponichtera, R.D.; Published by Small Steps Press, publishing health conscious books for the general population, a division of the American Diabetes Association; retail $18.95. To order call 1-800-232-6733 or visit QuickandHealthy.net. Also available at local and online bookstores

*Recipe taken from the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter

June week # 2 - Matching Up Linens

2009-06-10T16:22:00.005-04:00

I am always scanning newsletters for great tips to pass along and this next one I have taken to use myself. It saves me time and keeps everything neat and tidy in my linen closet. no guess work involved. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

I have an easy tip for matching linens. When I take sheets out of the laundry, I fold them and stuff all the pieces of each set into one of its pillowcases. Then, when I make the bed, all I have to do is pull a pillow case out of the cabinet and everything is there, already matched up! Lauretta B., e-mail

*tip taken from the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter

June - week #1 - Is Shell Fish High in Cholesterol?

2009-06-04T08:01:00.006-04:00

As some of you know I recently had my father-in-law come to live with us after a major heart surgery. So we have had to rethink alot of what we eat and do our best to make heart healthy meals. We all love seafood in my house, so I was curious to find out if the cholesterol in shell fish was OK for him to eat. Shrimp is a staple just like chicken around here. Here is an article I found in the Skinny In the City Newsletter this morning. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

Fact or Fiction: If you have high cholesterol, you should avoid shellfish like shrimp, mussels, and clams

Verdict: False

You may have heard that shellfish is high in cholesterol. And while that’s somewhat true, it ends up that dietary cholesterol, found in shellfish and animal products, has less of an effect on the cholesterol levels in our blood than “bad” fat does. In fact, less than half the cholesterol we take in through food is absorbed. Meanwhile, saturated fat and trans fat are the biggest culprits when it comes to increasing artery-clogging cholesterol (LDL). Shellfish have no trans fat and only trace amounts of saturated fat, meaning it’s a good choice for people watching their cholesterol. On top of that, shellfish is a great source of lean protein and contains vitamin B12, niacin, iron, phosphorous, and zinc. Not to mention, it fills you up for relatively few calories. Now that we busted that myth, feel free to enjoy shellfish — shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, scallops, and clam — a few times per week!

If you’re trying to bring your cholesterol down, focus on limiting saturated fat, found mostly in animal products such as egg yolks, dairy products (except non-fat, of course), and high fat meats. Trans fat, which is found mostly in packaged snack foods like cookies, chips, candy, and cake, should also be limited. The American Heart Association recommends that we keep our daily intake of cholesterol to 300 mg a day and less than 7% of our daily calories should from saturated fat. Here’s a list of how much cholesterol and saturated fat is in certain foods:

Cholesterol and saturated fat (per 1 ounce, unless otherwise noted):

Heart healthy:
Mussels and clams: 19 mg cholesterol, .05 grams saturated fat
Shrimp: 55 mg cholesterol, .08 grams saturated fat
Scallops: 15 mg cholesterol, .04 grams saturated fat
Lobster: 21 mg cholesterol, .03 grams saturated fat

Not so heart healthy:
Whole milk: 5 mg cholesterol, .6 grams saturated fat
American cheese: 27 mg cholesterol, 5 grams saturated fat
Cream cheese: 31 mg cholesterol, 6 grams saturated fat
Butter (1 pat): 6 mg cholesterol, 1.4 grams saturated fat
Prime rib: 24 mg cholesterol, 3.5 grams saturated fat
Lamb chop: 26 mg cholesterol, 3.5 grams saturated fat

June - week #1 - Snack Ideas For When You Are In The Car

2009-06-03T14:47:00.006-04:00

Hi ladies! Me again!

Those of you who know me, know that I am always trying to think of ways to make my life easier with the kids. And snacks is always top on that list. Lately we have been in the car a lot on long trips between PA and NY. The following tip has made my life easier and the kids think its fun too.

I purchased a shoe box size bin for around $4, to put in the back of my car. And 2 really small boxes that were 2 for $2. I also purchased a box of snack size storage bags.

I purchased a bunch of full bag treats like:
pretzel sticks, Craisens (dried cranberries), Kix cereal, peanut butter crackers, trail mix* (we get the yummy kind with the nuts, chocolate, peanut butter and yogurt chips and cranberries and yellow raisins - Walmart brand flavor is 'Indulgence'), graham crackers (I get the store brand flavors honey & chocolate - then break them into 4's and put half honey and half chocolate in the snack bags).

I filled the snack bags with the treats and loaded up the plastic shoe box with them. Now before we go on our trips I let the girls take their small snack boxes and pick 3 treats for the long ride. And they know that they are not to ask for anymore. But they feel in control of their snack choices and they love it. It makes it special, like an adventure. Pop in a movie and they are set for the ride.

This has saved me many times from stopping unnecessarily during the trip. We still have our scheduled potty breaks and the places we know are the cleanest ;). But this helps stop the tantrums that can come when you stop at a place with junk food like most of the rest areas have. And it helps me stay on track with eating as well. when you are hungry on a road trip you sometimes make unwise choices to eat (fast food). I pack sandwiches if I know it will be around lunchtime. usually something easy to eat in the car like peanut butter and honey. wont slip apart like cold cut sandwiches, don't need to be in a cooler, and easy to hand back to the kids.

This also works great when you take the kids shopping. I bring each child a water bottle and they get to pick one snack from the bin before we enter the store. Great when grocery shopping. You don't hear all the begging for junk food snacks when their belly's are satisfied with a yummy treat they chose themselves.

Hope you enjoy this tip. I know I do ;) - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

*Trail mix - Just be aware that chocolate may start to melt if weather is hot. during summer I sometimes keep these treats inside an pack a cooler with snack bags of fruit (grapes, cherries, blue berries, apple slices, orange slices) for long trips and throw the trail mix in the cooler with it.
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June week #1 - Some Great Kitchen Tips

2009-06-03T10:25:00.004-04:00

Hi ladies! I just got my daily Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter and she had some great tips in her Tiptionary section. I thought I would share these creative solutions to common problems we all have :). Hope you enjoy! - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

ICE CREAM SAVER. You can eliminate freezer burn on your ice cream by storing the container upside down in your freezer. It really works! Jan C.

QUICK COMPOST. Even though we compost our kitchen waste, it takes too long to break down when we need the compost now to start our garden. So, we help ours along this way: Every night, we grind up produce peels, leftover coffee grounds and filters, and other items that compost loves, in our food processor. This gives the breakdown process a head start. V.L., Texas

BONUS TREAT. Prevent ice cream from dripping out of the bottom of a cone by pushing a marshmallow into the cone before adding the ice cream. The marshmallow stops drips and is a little extra treat after the ice cream is gone! Brenda S.

SHINY STEEL. We have stainless steel appliances in our kitchen. I always battle getting them to look nice and clean without buying expensive polishing cream. Recently, I tried rubbing olive oil on them and they look wonderful! My husband even commented on how nice the refrigerator looks. Julie J.

MEATLOAF CUPCAKE. For a new twist on meatloaf, I fill the cups in a cupcake pan with the meat mixture and bake for about half an hour. This creates perfect individual-sized servings and I freeze leftovers for quick grab-and-go-meals. Cupcake meatloaf is also a great solution for singles and kids love them, too! Mary, Maine

OUTDOOR KITCHEN. My family enjoys eating outdoors. I've found a cheap way to keep foods chilled on the table on a hot day. I was inspired by expensive trays designed hold a serving bowl over ice, but I make my own for free. I save two-piece domed plastic containers from take-out meals. To travel, I pack the food in the bottom portion of the container and cover it with the lid. I keep it in the ice chest until we're ready to eat. When I unpack the food for our meal, I take the lids off the containers and fill them with ice. Then, I set the bottom portion atop the ice-filled lid and the food stays cold. Lynn

REPAIR WONDER. I had my food processor for more than three years when I started having difficulty getting the cover off the bowl and the bowl off the base. It seemed like the plastic parts had expanded, and I was beyond my warranty period. A new bowl, cover and pusher would have cost about $90. I solved the problem by rubbing the rims of the bowl and lid with vegetable oil. It works like new again! Kris, Wisconsin

*tips taken from the Everyday Cheapskate newsletter

June week #1 - Stay-at-Home Adventures

2009-06-02T15:26:00.002-04:00

This summer, a cash shortage need not eliminate the idea of a family vacation. Clever and creative parents can turn time off work into an amazing vacation experience, without leaving town.

Make a plan. Determine the dates of your "staycation." Create a schedule and itinerary that includes activities and meals. Make a big colorful chart and allow the kids to participate in the planning.

Notification. Let everyone know the dates you'll be on vacation. In the same way you would not be available if you were flying to another country, they need to know you will not be available during your vacation.

Think like a tourist. Do an Internet search for the name of your town plus the word "tourist." You'll be amazed at what you discover. We're talking hiking trails, bike paths, community events, museums and playgrounds that you may not know exist. Look for special deals and coupons local merchants are offering.

Change the rules. This is the fun part. Decide to break all the rules during your stay-at-home vacation, within reason. Unplug the phone; sleep in late; stay up later; watch videos; play games; go on bike rides; explore places you've never been. A few days of junk food is not likely to create any serious problems.

Camp out. Kids love to camp, so haul out your basic camping gear (borrow or rent if you need to) and set it up in the backyard. Create a fire pit so you can sit around the campfire late into the night (be sure to use proper care and be mindful of local rules and guidelines). Brush up on campfire songs. Determine that you'll cook, eat and sleep outdoors during your camping vacation.

Unplug. This is the challenge for parents on staycation: Everyone has to surrender cell phones and computers to a central holding area for the duration. Sure, it will be an adjustment, but possibly the best move of all. Let the mail collect, to be opened when you return home. When you are not taking some well-deserved naps, let your kids know they have your undivided attention. That will make this a true vacation because you "vacate" the normal routines and stresses of life.

Story tapes. Check your library for audio books suitable for the whole family. If you're looking to buy, a terrific Internet source is Great Tapes for Kids at GreatTapes.com. Tapes, DVDs and CDs start at about $10 plus shipping and handling, not a bad buy if they become family favorites. I recommend "King Arthur and His Knights" and "The Three Musketeers/Robin Hood," all told by Jim Weiss who spins tales so that a five-year-old can enjoy them. Other family favorites include stories of fantasy and hope such as "The Golden Drum," and "Little Heroes" by masterful storyteller Jay O`Callahan.

Memories: Be sure to take lots of pictures and let the kids help to create a scrapbook of memories. Don't be surprised when they call it the best vacation ever!

*Ideas taken from the Everyday Cheapskate Newsletter

June week # 1 - Busy Moms Survival Guide

2009-06-02T15:13:00.006-04:00

Ever feel like you’re so busy you don’t take time for yourself?

I feel that way all the time! A new mom has a million things to do and is least likely to do something to make herself feel like an individual, rather than a feeding, diaper-changing machine. I am a mom of 3 little girls and I can defiantely appreciate the book If You Give a Mom a Martini: 100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes for Yourself by Lyss Stern and Julie Kappas.

If You Give a Mom a Martini is chock full of great ideas for moms and all women. In general, women are less likely than men to do completely selfish acts and if we do, we’re more likely to feel guilty afterward. But if you don’t take time for yourself, it’s easy to burn out — which will not only affect you, but those around you, too. By taking ten minutes daily to relax, you can actually slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduce anger, and improve concentration — in a nutshell, improve your health!

This book, with a foreword by Christie Brinkley and contributions by celebrity moms like Kelly Ripa, gives you quick ways to indulge yourself guilt-free. Check out the smartly written beauty advice, website suggestions, product reviews, and tricks to distract your kids (“Hey, look over there. It’s Elmo!”). Whether you’re giving it as a gift or keeping it for yourself, try out some of the authors’ ideas.

Every good woman should get at least 10 rejuvenating minutes per day — that’s an order!

*Book review taken from The Skinney In the City Newsletter

May week #4 - Let the Summer Grilling Begin!

2009-05-29T13:55:00.004-04:00

Turkey Burgers
1 pound ground turkey, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1 egg, 1/2 cup crushed crackers
*Preheat grill on high. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients, using your clean hands. Form into 4 patties. Place patties on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side, until well done. Serves: 4.
*Any type of cracker will work, although cheese flavored crackers will make these burgers memorable.

Ranch Burgers
2 pounds ground beef, 1 egg - slightly beaten, 3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers, 1 onion - finely chopped, 1 package dry ranch dressing mix.
*Preheat grill on high. Place all ingredients into a bowl, mix well and form into 8 hamburger patties. Place patties on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. Serves: 8.

Italian Burgers
1 pound ground beef, 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs, 1 egg, 1/4 cup steak sauce (like A-1), 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
*Preheat grill on high. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. Form 4 patties. Grill about 5 minutes each side, or until cooked as desired. Baste with additional steak sauce if desired. Serves: 4.

Blue Cheese Burgers
3 pounds ground beef, 4 ounces blue cheese - crumbled, 1/2 cup fresh chives - minced, 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, 1 & 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon dry mustard,
In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
*Preheat grill on high. Form mixture into 12 patties. Grill for about 5 minutes on each side, or until desired doneness. Serves: 12.

**Recipes found on the Everyday Cheapskate newsletter

May week 1 - Quick & Healthy Tip of the Month

2009-05-04T14:42:00.000-04:00

Stocking and organizing your pantry should be part of your spring-cleaning. So that you can easily find what you want, keep like things together such as spices, seasonings and extracts; cereals; pastas, rice and beans; canned meats; canned soups; baking products; puddings and gelatins; dressings, jams and vinegar; canned vegetables and sauces; canned fruits; fruit and vegetable juices.

A well-stocked pantry will save you time and money because you'll have foods on hand to put together a meal in a moment's notice. This will prevent needless trips to the grocery store or restaurant.

This healthy tip is provided by Quick & Healthy cookbook author, © Brenda J. Ponichtera, RD, ScaleDown Publishing, Inc.; scaledwn@gorge.net; All rights reserved. Visit QuickandHealthy.net for more recipes, menus and healthy tips.

May week 1 - Mexican Food for the Health-Conscious

2009-05-04T14:29:00.006-04:00

You might be surprised to learn that Mexican food can be quick and healthy. Here are two recipes to create one delicious meal: Baked Chimichangas with Spanish Yogurt Sauce. Round it out with a salad or fresh fruit for a dinner that is easy to prepare and will be enjoyed by all ages. You don't even have to tell the family how healthy it is!In fact, we believe that you will enjoy this meal so much that you should consider doubling the recipe and freezing leftovers for lunch or another dinner.

Chicken Chimichangas
4 (8-inch) or 8 (6-inch) whole-wheat tortillas
1 1/2 cups cooked and cubed chicken
3/4 cup salsa, thick and chunky, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated, reduced-fat cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Spanish Yogurt Sauce (optional, recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Mix chicken, 3/4 cup salsa and cheese in a medium bowl. Set aside. Warm tortillas until pliable, about 5 seconds each in the microwave or in a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Wet one side of tortilla with a small amount of water and place wet side down. Spoon filling ingredients onto dry side of tortilla. Fold tortilla around filling and lay chimichanga, seam side down, on baking dish. Repeat for each tortilla. Bake for 15 minutes. Garnish with Spanish Yogurt Sauce if desired.

Serves: 4.VARIATIONS: To make beef, pork, or turkey chimichangas, substitute ground or diced beef, pork, or turkey for chicken.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: Carb Servings: 2Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat Nutrient Analysis: calories 260, total fat 5g, saturated fat 2g, cholesterol 50mg, sodium 544mg, total carbohydrate 27g, dietary fiber 2g, sugars 5g, protein 24g

Spanish Yogurt Sauce
This goes well with Mexican food, over baked fish or over sliced tomatoes and cucumbers.

1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/2 cup salsa, thick and chunky
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro or 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Mix yogurt, salsa, parsley, cilantro and cumin together in a bowl. Refrigerate until serving.

Makes 1 1/2 cups. Serves: 6.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: One serving equals 1/4 cup
Carb Servings: 0Exchanges: 1 vegetable Nutrient Analysis: calories 27, total fat 0g, saturated fat 0g, cholesterol 1mg, sodium 129mg, total carbohydrate 4g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 4g, protein 2g

*Recipe found on Everyday Cheapskate newsletter. Source for both recipes: Quick & Healthy Recipes and Ideas, 3rd Edition, © 2008 Brenda J. Ponichtera, R.D.

April week #4 - Yellow Underarm Stains

2009-04-23T07:41:00.004-04:00

How do you get rid of those ugly yellow underarm stains in white shirts?

My teenage daughter gets yellow stains under the arms of her white uniform shirts. I have tried vinegar, ammonia, lemon and baking soda paste. We have tried different deodorants. Nothing seems to help, so I have had to buy a lot of white shirts over the last three years. Do you know how to get rid of these yellow stains? - Stephanie

Nothing is quite so unsightly as dingy yellow perspiration stains in white garments. Not only are these stains ugly, they can weaken the garment's fabric and harbor odors. Perspiration stains are organic, much like blood and grass stains, albeit more stubborn. Your best results will be with an "enzymatic" laundry product. The enzymes actually "eat" the protein in organic stains.

A laundry pretreatment product for all kinds of stains, especially those that are organic is best. Removing the stain may require some repetition.

If the stain doesn't come out, do not put the garment in the dryer because that will set it. Keep repeating until it comes out. If the stain is very old and has been heat set, you may have no choice but to throw that garment away. In the future, make sure your daughter always wear a good antiperspirant. That will help stop those stains before they get started.

You can find a great Enzyme pre-treatment on my website www.quixtar.com (IBO referral# 3345643). You will find it under categories: home, laundry, pretreatments. It is the SA8® PreWash with Enzymes Liquid Spot Treatment and it only costs $9.45 and will last your forever. I use it all the time and it works wonders. Just treat the underarms when you take the shirt off before you wash it and the stains will not even appear at all.

April week # 3 - What’s for lunch?

2009-04-20T09:15:00.004-04:00

More often than not, sandwiches are on the menu. Portable, satisfying, and fairly inexpensive, they’re a quick and easy way to refuel midday. But put the wrong stuff between the bread and the wrong bread around the stuff, and you’ll be consuming more than enough calories for the rest of the day. Check out my guide and start lunching your way slim!

Step 1: The Bread
With so many tasty but less-than-healthy options available including ciabatta (460 calories), focaccia (320 calories, 10 grams of fat), heroes (250 cal ories), and even wraps (typically over 300 calories, 8 grams of fat), it’s easy to order the wrong thing. Your best bet? Sliced whole wheat or multi-grain breads for only 80 calories and 2-3 grams of fiber per slice. If you can’t ignore your craving for a fresh roll, indulge the Skinny way, and take the top layer off the bread for an open-faced sandwich.

Step 2: The Insides
Open up a sandwich these days and you’ll rarely find a basic PB&J (don’t knock it — filled with heart healthy fat and protein, it’ll keep you full for hours). Instead, menus are full of endless tempting concoctions. A rule of thumb: When it comes to meat, the simpler the better. Choose turkey (105 calories for 3 ounces), roast beef (165 calories for 3 ounces), or grilled chicken breast (120 calories for 4 ounces) instead of tuna, egg, and chicken salads (all with more than 250 calories and 20 grams of fat per ½ cup serving). Skip the cheese (100 calories and 8 grams of fat per slice) and add lots of fresh veggies (instead of grilled veggies, which soak up fat) for a tasty crunch, plus vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Step 3: The Condiments
Sure, they add flavor to your sandwich, but spread on too much of the wrong thing and you’ll find yourself spreading out! Ditch the biggest offenders — mayo and Russian dressing (10 grams of fat per tablespoon) — and go with deli or Dijon mustard for just 5 calories per teaspoon. Not a mustard fan? Sprinkle on vinegar or shake on a touch of salt and pepper for minimal calories with tons of tangy flavor.

Step 4: The Sides
Don’t give up chips completely — I think it’s sacrilegious to eat a sandwich without some sort of crunch on the side — just choose right. A 1-ounce serving of potato chips will easily set you back 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. Go with soy chips (70 calories, 1.5 grams of fat per serving), whole grain pita chips (130 calories, 5 grams of fat per serving), baked potato chips (130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat per serving), or even a bag of baby carrots — all the crunch for just 25 calories in a ½ cup serving.

Make any of these combos yourself for about 400 calories and keep those afternoon energy slumps at bay. See ya later, vending machine!

*These tips found in the Skinny In The City Newsletter

April week # 2 - Portion Control?

2009-04-15T19:54:00.002-04:00

Rising obesity rates have us all playing the blame game. What led to the epidemic — carbohydrates? Saturated fat? High fructose corn syrup? Too much protein? Or did our ever-expanding workdays cause our ever-expanding waistlines?

While all these factors have surely played a part, there’s something simple that we often overlook: portion control. Plain and simple, we just eat too much. Twenty years ago, a typical portion of spaghetti and meatballs was 1 cup with three small meatballs. Today, it’s 2 cups with three large meatballs — that’s 500 calories versus 1,025! To burn off the extra 525 calories, you’d have to clean your house vigorously for 2½ hours or run (pretty fast) for nearly an hour. Although we’ve lost sight of real portion sizes, we can downsize our bodies without giving up the foods we love if we just refocus. Here’s your visual cheat sheet:

1 serving of fruit or vegetables = 1 cup, or the size of a tennis ball
1 serving of chicken, fish, or meat = 3 ounces, or the size of a woman’s palm or a deck of cards
1 serving of whole grains = 1/2 cup of cooked grains or 1 slice of 100% whole grain bread
1 serving of pancakes = 1 4-inch pancake, about the size of a CD
1 serving of pasta or rice = 1 cup of cooked pasta, or the size of a woman’s fist
1 serving of dressing = 1 tablespoon, or the size of your thumb, tip to the top joint (1 teaspoon is about the size of your thumbnail)
1 serving of potatoes = 1 small (3-ounce) baked potato or ½ cup mashed potatoes, about the size of a small computer mouse
1 serving of cheese = 1 ounce, or about 4 dice stacked on top of each other
1 serving of nuts = 1 ounce, or the size of child’s handful

And remember, when dishing out your food, fill half your plate with vegetables, ¼ with protein, and ¼ with a complex carbohydrate.

*Information found in the Skinny and the City Newsletter

April week # 2 - Magic Eraser?

2009-04-15T15:09:00.001-04:00

MAGIC ERASER.

Use toothpaste to remove pen or magic marker from a hard surface like stained wood, plastic, baby doll faces, walls or flooring. It works better than anything I've ever tried! Don't use whitening varieties on colored surfaces.

*Information found in the Debt Proof Living Newsletter

April week # 2 - Melted Crayons Or Gum In Your Dryer?

2009-04-15T13:36:00.003-04:00

STICKY SOLUTION.

What a mess if you ever get gum or crayons melted inside the dryer. Here's what to do: Get some old towels, pop them in the dryer and run on hot for a few minutes to soften the wax or gum. Then, make a paste of Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent and hot water. With a damp cloth, use this paste to scrub off the gum or wax. Go over the entire inside of the dryer, and make sure you rinse it off well. Run a load of old towels just to make sure it's all gone.

*Information found in Debt Proof Living Newsletter

April week # 2 - Sticky Stickers.....

2009-04-15T13:32:00.002-04:00

RESIDUE REMOVAL.

Have you ever pulled a sticker off of fabric only to find it has left residue or part of the sticker backing? Take a piece of a brown paper bag and place it over the area. Set your iron on low/medium and iron over the bag. The heat will melt the glue and the remnant of the sticker will adhere to the bag.

*Tip found in the Debt Proof Living Newsletter

April week 2 - Goodwill Online?

2009-04-15T10:38:00.002-04:00

DESIGNER DEALS.

Goodwill is no longer just a chain of walk-in thrift stores. Their website, shopgoodwill.com, is the first Internet auction site operated by a nonprofit organization. It's a great place to browse high quality donation items from across the country. You can find designer items like purses or shoes that are in great condition for a fraction of the retail price.

*Information found in the Debt Proof Living newsletter

March week # 5 - Another Great Book Recommendation

2009-03-29T19:38:00.009-04:00

Confessions Of Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Review from Amazon.com:
If you've ever paid off one credit card with another, thrown out a bill before opening it, or convinced yourself that buying at a two-for-one sale is like making money, then this silly, appealing novel is for you. In the opening pages of Confessions of a Shopaholic, recent college graduate Rebecca Bloomwood is offered a hefty line of credit by a London bank. Within a few months, Sophie Kinsella's heroine has exceeded the limits of this generous offer, and begins furtively to scan her credit-card bills at work, certain that she couldn't have spent the reported sums.
In theory anyway, the world of finance shouldn't be a mystery to Rebecca, since she writes for a magazine called Successful Saving. Struggling with her spendthrift impulses, she tries to heed the advice of an expert and appreciate life's cheaper pleasures: parks, museums, and so forth. Yet her first Saturday at the Victoria and Albert Museum strikes her as a waste. Why? There's not a price tag in sight.
It kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn't it? You wander round, just looking at things, and it all gets a bit boring after a while. Whereas if they put price tags on, you'd be far more interested. In fact, I think all museums should put prices on their exhibits. You'd look at a silver chalice or a marble statue or the Mona Lisa or whatever, and admire it for its beauty and historical importance and everything--and then you'd reach for the price tag and gasp, "Hey, look how much this one is!" It would really liven things up. Eventually, Rebecca's uncontrollable shopping and her "imaginative" solutions to her debt attract the attention not only of her bank manager but of handsome Luke Brandon--a multimillionaire PR representative for a finance group frequently covered in Successful Saving. Unlike her opposite number in Bridget Jones's Diary, however, Rebecca actually seems too scattered and spacey to reel in such a successful man. Maybe it's her Denny and George scarf.

I LOVED this book. Couldn't put it down. I was anxious for her and so wanted things to work out in her favor. Even after time and time again it didn't. I can relate to some of her circumstances from long ago. Wonderful, easy, enjoyable read. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! On my way tomorrow to get the 2nd one :). Hope you enjoy - Tamra (a.k.a. the Frugal Mom)

March week # 4 - Another Deodorizing Microwave Tip

2009-03-25T06:32:00.002-04:00

Hi Tamra,
You can also put a cup of water and either squeeze a lemon wedge or lemon juice, bring it to a boil and let it sit in the microwave for about 5-10 minutes and then wipe out the microwave.
Dawn, LI NY

Thank Dawn - can't wait to try it!
Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

March week # 4 - Deodorizing Your Microwave

2009-03-24T20:30:00.002-04:00

I reheated some seafood leftovers the other day in my microwave and was having a horrible seafood smell whenever I used the microwave after that. I wiped it down with cleanser and that only worked a little.

So I took a cup of baking soda and left it in my microwave overnight and in the morning the smell was gone! Amazing!

I would love to hear any tips you may have too. tflowers@optonline.net or post a comment to this blog post.

Thanks - Tamra

March week #4 - Pizza Stone Cleaner

2009-03-24T20:19:00.004-04:00

Hi ladies,

I wanted to share a great tip my friend (and Pampered Chef lady) Cheryl told me about. I was having trouble keeping my stoneware as clean as I would like. If you have stoneware pans you know what I mean, they get greasy and just don't feel as clean scrapping them as you do when you use soap, water and scrubby with your regular pans. I use my stone bar pans nearly everyday for cooking everything.

She suggested keeping baking soda in a cheese shaker near your sink. When cleaning your stoneware shake with the baking soda and scrub. It works great! And now that I use this handy cleaning tip I feel good using them and that they are clean after each use.

Thanks Cheryl!

March - Week #2 - Great book recommendation

2009-03-16T15:19:00.006-04:00

Review taken from Amazon.com:

Jack and Laurel Cooper are two hardworking, loving Christian pillars of the community who die in each other's arms one night in the bed-and-breakfast that they own and operate. The event calls their three grown children home for the funeral, including their youngest son, a fugitive from the law who must face an outstanding warrant for his arrest and confront his one true love, now engaged to another man. As events unfold around the funeral, the three children discover a treasure trove of family history in the form of Wednesday letters-notes that Jack wrote to his wife every single week of their married lives. As they read, the children brush across the fabric of a devoted marriage that survived a devastating event kept secret all these years. It's a lovely story: heartening, wholesome, humorous, suspenseful and redemptive. It resonates with the true meaning of family and the life-healing power of forgiveness all wrapped up in a satisfying ending.

** This book was wonderful. A quick and enjoyable read. I couldn't put it down. And being a mom with little time to myself, it was a pleasure to make the most out of it with this book.

- Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom).

March week # 1 - What do you do with all that paper!

2009-03-06T15:05:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you but I am buried under all the projects and pictures my kids finish at home or that's sent home from school with them. I didn't want to throw them out, but I found that i wasn't enjoying them anyway in piles all over my counters.

So I started a binder to keep all the best work that I want to keep, enjoy and show off. I also have a bin than I put all the finished work in to sort later. It has worked out great. I can see the progression in their talents as they grow and its a self esteem boost when they see mommy putting one of their work in the special book. I still hang up some pictures they make. But now we rotate them.

What you need: a 3 ring binder, clear page protectors, dividers. If you have multiple children make a separate section for each. Place some of the clear protectors between each section. Slip in the artwork and enjoy! Great for sharing with the grandparents too.

This is also great for school work that is sent home. You can make a new binder each year and save the most important things you want to show them as they grow. It will make everything easy to find. And your children will see how much you cared to save these projects.

*And as Dfleib commented you can use them to cut out the ABC's . Here is what we did in our playroom. Now every time I look at them I am reminded that this is my daughters art work. Thanks for the reminder Dawn.

March week # 1 - quick tip: toys everywhere!

2009-03-05T22:44:00.005-05:00

Quick tip: Get yourself a catch all

Keep a bin in your living room so at the end of a day (or if company comes a knockin') you can do a quick clean up and toss all the toys in and tuck it away. I have a pop up toy bin I picked up at Walmart for a few dollars that works great. when the kids go to bed I tidy up, toss the toys in and can carry all the toys to the playroom and put them away quickly. Then I can relax without the mess.

March week # 1 - Your at home diaper center

2009-03-01T14:00:00.007-05:00

So now that I have eliminated my changing table I had to figure where to put diapers and wipes for easy access at changing times. Luckily I had this idea from my last 2 girls. I had purchased 2 canvas shower caddies (one for upstairs and one for downstairs), you know the kind they sell for college dorms. It has a large center and multiple pockets on the sides for all your necessities like baby lotion, diaper rash cream, Aquaphor, stinky diapers trash bags (got these at the dollar store 100 pack) etc. I fill it with diapers and a package of wipes and it is small enough to store anywhere. I just refill when the diapers get low. Everything is right at my finger tips when I need it.

**This also works great in the kids bath time area. Perfect to store bath toys in the center, and baby shampoo, baby wash, conditioner etc around the sides. Helps keep everything neat and tidy. And since these are made for shower caddies they are fine to store the wet toys.

March week # 1 - A Kool craft idea for kids.

2009-03-01T13:09:00.006-05:00

I would love to take credit for this idea but alas it came from my dear friend, Ms. Betty the children's Librarian from one of her story time classes.

What you need:
several different flavors of Kool-aid drink mix packets, white paper & a spray bottle with water.

Spread out the paper, let the kids sprinkle some powdered drink mix on the paper in any design they want. A few different flavors works best. Then spray with a water mist and watch the colors emerge! Its a great art project for the kids. A really pretty effect too.

Thanks Betty!

Feb week #4 - Sliders, a better option for burgers.

2009-02-26T11:44:00.006-05:00

Hi ladies,

A good friend of mine, Ginny, had a great idea for burgers. As Americans we always expect BIG portions. Like Big burgers. Well she had recently made what she called Sliders, which are just mini burgers really.

I tried her suggestion and made these for dinner. I made enough burgers for us to have a few if we wanted. I know how my husbands appetite is much bigger than mine. We had side dishes too like salad, & sweet potato fries. But amazingly after one slider we were both full. It was surprisingly satisfying. Martins potato rolls has a small burger bun that is whole wheat, too. Besides, the slider is perfect size for kids. Get creative with the burger toppings if you want too.

Delicious. And I didn't over eat! Thanks for the great idea Ginny.

Feb week # 4 - Half Colored Coloring Books?

2009-02-24T09:30:00.004-05:00

What do you do when all your coloring books are mostly colored in?

Do you keep them or chuck them?

Here's my solution: Tear out the blank sheets and store them in a folder or box. And throw out the used books. (Don't forget to recycle!) This saves so much room! I went from having a bin full of half colored books to having one stack of blank pictures that they could easily access.

Feb week # 4 - Recycle your changing table

2009-02-23T15:15:00.005-05:00

When my daughter was born a year ago (wow has it really been that long already!) we put a changing table downstairs in our main living area to make things easier. Rather than running up to her bedroom every time that is.

Well now that she is almost a year, and not sitting still during diaper changes, the table is sitting there unused taking up space. So I had to decide to get rid of it or recycle it into something we could use. I am a big fan of organizing things. So what better use than as our kids craft center.

I removed the changing pad, add some accessories and wala it was done. My kids love to draw and color like most kids their age. So I had bins of paper, coloring books, crayons, markers etc. Everything was spread out in different places. Now I have them all in one place and accessible.

I used bins to store things like play dough and the accessories to go with it, painting things, extra paper etc. In the drawer I used plastic organizers to separate and store things like pencils, safety scissors, stickers, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners and erasers, tape. and on the top surface I used paper sorters to store my colored paper, white paper and other drawing tools. We also used plastic containers to store crayons & markers. This way the kids have easy access to the colors when they are using them and its easy clean up too.

I hope this tip has inspired you to find creative ways to reuse things in your home too.

Feb week #4 - Kids craft idea - Bird feeders

2009-02-23T13:07:00.006-05:00

My daughter Morgan came home from preschool last week with a bird feeder they had made. I was wondering why she made this so early when it is still so cold out? Well of course as soon as we got home Morgan wanted to hang it up outside. So we hung it on the tree outside our sliding glass doors so she could watch it. Expecting it to be hanging there for months til the birds came back, I was so surprised when it was covered with lots of pretty birds. We all enjoyed watching them come back all day to feed. It was so nice to see this wonderful sign of spring coming.

We made more today since the other was bare. it was so easy I thought I would share.

Take an empty toilet paper roll, punch 2 holes in it for the string, spread peanut butter all over and roll in bird seed (you can pick up a small bag at Walmart for a little over a dollar). Attach the string and hang it up.

Enjoy watching the birds come from all around. Spring is almost here!

Feb week # 3 - A Winter Bake Recipe

2009-02-20T10:39:00.003-05:00

Believe it or not, we’re nearing the end of the winter season. And while you may be excited to shed your parka, don’t forget about one of the best parts of cold weather — acorn squash. It’s still available in grocery stores, so take advantage.

This baked side dish offers a delicious twist on winter veggies. The brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg give it a sweet taste — almost like a low-fat, high-fiber dessert sharing a plate with your main course. Plenty of nutrients make an appearance, too: Say hello to vitamins A, C, and B6 as well as thiamine, magnesium, and potassium. Serve this alongside any meat, chicken, or fish, and I promise it’ll keep you warm until tank top season.

Sweet Potato, Squash, and Carrot Bake
total time : 30 min serves 6

Ingredients:
½ pound sweet potatoes
2 pounds acorn squash (about 1 large)
3 medium carrots
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Non-stick cooking spray

Cooking instructions:
Preheat oven to 375˚F. Peel sweet potatoes and squash and cut into one-inch cubes. Peel carrots and cut into one-inch slices. Take a baking pan with sides and lightly coat it with cooking spray. Place the vegetables in the pan, and sprinkle with the olive oil, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well to coat evenly. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Nutrition Facts: Per serving (½ cup): 125 calories, 27 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 2 g fat, 2 g protein

*this info was taken from Skinny and the City Newsletter 02/20/2009

Feb week # 3 - Metabolism 101

2009-02-20T10:05:00.005-05:00

Summer is coming and I am sure like me, you are thinking about getting ready to bare your winter hidden body. One thing I was wondering is how many calories I should be eating each day and how do I boost my metabolism. I know that I eat more than I should and don't exercise enough. My thought is if I could just eat less and exercise more I should be OK right? So I did a little research on how to find out your personal calorie limit. I found some interesting info on www.quackerricesnacks.com. They also have some yummy recipes for low calorie snacks.

Most calories are burned simply by basic body functions such as breathing, circulating blood and keeping cells functioning. Beyond that, anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of our daily caloric needs are determined by physical activity, which is why fitness is such an important component of our daily lives.

So here is how you can determine where your personal daily caloric intake should be:

Step #1: Take your body weight in pounds and multiply by 10 calories. Example: 150 pounds x 10 calories = 1,500 calories.
Step #2: Take half your body weight and add it to the number from Step #1 to obtain your resting metabolic rate (the amount of calories you burn every day to breathe, pump blood and hold your pen at work). Example: 150 pounds/2 = 75 1,500 calories = 1,575 calories.
Step #3: If you engage in resistance training at least 2 hours per week, add an additional 100 calories.
Step #4: For every 10 minutes of cardiovascular exercise achieved, add an additional 100 calories. Example: A 150-pound female who weight trains twice per week for an hour and does 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise needs an additional 400 calories, for a total of 1,975 calories per day

To keep your calorie-burning engine running efficiently, you should eat every 3-4 hours for a total of 4-6 small meals per day. To figure out calories per meal, divide your total calorie goal by your goal number of meals. Example: 1,475 calories / 5 meals = 295 calories per meal or snack.

Approximately 25 percent of every main meal should consist of a starchy carbohydrate, such as brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole grain cereals and breads, corn, peas and potatoes. A protein-rich food such as non-fat cottage cheese, round steak, skinless chicken breast and fish should make up another quarter. The remaining 50 percent should be colorful fruits and vegetables.

Follow these three guidelines and your metabolism will be humming for a healthy you! Lets do this together. I would love any weight loss or exercise tips you could share. I look forward to hearing from you at tflowers@optonline.net.

Good Luck! Tamra

Feb week # 3 - Stroller Tip

2009-02-19T19:22:00.003-05:00

Hi ladies,

When my oldest daughter was a baby (she's now 5), when we would go for walks with the stroller she was forever dropping her bottle or sippy cup and her snack cup too. I can't even tell you how many we lost!

Well a friend had given me a great "tip"that I had used all the time and had forgotten about til this weekend when I was at the zoo with my kids. I had my 11 month old in a stroller while my other girls ran from animal to animal. And with this new "tip" that I will share with you in a moment, we had no worries she would drop or lose her cup on the dirty floor.

OK so here it is.... you take an ordinary shoe lace (or string of any kind) and tie one end to one of those rings that connect and have one small opening. You know the ones that you can use to attach toys to a car seat. Well that end connects to the bar on the stroller and tie the other end to one of those rubber bands you get from your produce. The rubber band is perfect to slip around a bottle, sippy cup or snack cup. Make sure the string is long enough, yet short enough to not hit the floor when they throw it overboard (and you know they will ;-) ). So if they throw it over it just dangles til you are able to retrieve it. Wala! No more lost or germy cups!

I hope this tip helps you as much as it does me. Especially with spring right around the corner, we will be strollering it a lot :-).

Feb week # 2 - Organization tip

2009-02-11T14:24:00.002-05:00

Here's a tip that has saved me a lot of time in the mornings...

When putting your kids laundry away place the clothes in the drawers by outfit. This way you can just grab it and get them dressed quickly. I was organizing their clothes by shirts in one drawer, pants in another, etc, etc... And then I would have to hunt for something to match each. By organizing them by outfit it makes life so easy, especially on school days.

Feb week # 2 - Great Quote

2009-02-11T09:42:00.006-05:00

"Into each day put equal parts of Faith, Patience, Courage, Work, Hope, Fidelity, Liberality, Kindness, Rest, Prayer, Meditation, and one well-selected resolution, put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkle of play, and a capful of good humor"

(most recent Pottery barn catalog pg 90)

I just thought this was great! hope you enjoyed it too.... Tamra

Feb week # 2 - This Weeks Menu

2009-02-08T15:59:00.012-05:00

Sunday: London Broil, onions & mushrooms, baked potatoes & salad
London Broil (if cooking in oven): Let meat rest to room temp. preheat oven to 400 degrees. set rack 6-7 inches from flame. When oven reaches 400 degrees, switch to broiler. Place London Broil on a baking sheet, season meat as you prefer. I drizzle with olive oil and use Montreal Steak seasonings as a rub. Broil for 15 minutes turning once halfway. remove and let rest 5 minutes.
**Sabra Hummus is also a great accompaniment to the meat.
*left over London Broil will be used for fajitas later in week.
Onion & mushrooms meat topper: saute' onions & mushrooms with a few pats of butter and some soy sauce. yummy.
Baked Potatoes: for easy baked potatoes, poke potatoes with fork and place in microwave. Cook til soft. if you want the skin crisp, after soft, put on rack in oven. serve with your favorite toppings. (suggestions: butter, sour cream, chives, vinaigrette salad dressing or try a dollop of sour cream mixed with Savory Garlic & Herb soup mix)

Monday: Pork Chops, Fried Rice & Broiled Veggies
Pork Chops: marinate with favorite marinade. Cook under broiler til done.
Fried Rice: Get a box of Instant Brown Rice from Walmart. Cook in microwave according to directions. Takes only minutes. When rice is cooked, drizzle some olive oil in a pan & heat, pour the rice in and stir. sprinkle with onion and garlic powder. add frozen peas. add soy sauce for flavor. cook til peas are heated through.
Broiled Veggies: slice up veggies (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower) and throw in a Ziploc. Also add green onions/scallions whole or sliced in half long ways (just cut off ends and straggly green tips). sprinkle oil & soy sauce. shake to mix. put on baking sheet and sprinkle with garlic 7 onion powder. cook under broiler for 20 minutes.

Tuesday: Creamy Black Bean Soup
(sent in by Claire M. of Hawley, PA - Source: Southern Living magazine, February 2009)
Soup recipe: Ingredients: 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup), 1 garlic clove, minced, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 cups vegetable broth, 3-15 ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed, 1-14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chile's, undrained, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon lime juice
Cooking instructions: Saute onion and garlic in hot oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes or until tender. Stir in broth and next 4 ingredients, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro and lime juice. Let cool 5 minutes. Process soup, in batches, in a blender or food processor (I used a handheld stick blender in the pot instead) 30 seconds or until smooth. Return to Dutch oven, and stir until blended. Serve with desired toppings. Makes 6 cups.
Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges, tortilla chips

Wednesday: Steak fajitas
use the left over London Broil from Sunday & slice thin strips. Cut up onions & peppers & saute'. Add fajita seasoning. serve with flour tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole.

Thursday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Friday: mini meatloaf burgers
to make: chop meat, egg, onion soup mix, ketchup (this helps keep it moist and gives it a nice flavor), bread crumbs. mix and make into mini burgers. cook and eat with salad or on a roll. I like them with sauteed onions & mushrooms with melted cheese. yummy.

Saturday: Valentines Day with your kids

Heart shaped mini pizzas: Roll out the dough. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out into hearts. Place onto a pizza stone or greased cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, garlic and onion powder. Make sure they are a few inches apart as they will get bigger as they cook. Bake the heart crusts for about 5-10 minutes. keep an eye ob them so the don't get brown. take out and put sauce and cheese and favorite toppings. my favorite topping is diced canned tomatoes (Italian flavored) or brochetta, fresh basil & slices of fresh Mozzarella cheese. cook until gold and bubbly.

You will have individual heart shaped pizzas for everyone. let the kids help with their toppings.

Valentines Day with your Sweetheart - Go out to dinner! (if you can get a sitter)

Feb week #1 - Our FAV New Treat

2009-02-07T10:48:00.003-05:00

Going back to the list of snacks I posted the other day, The Frozen Graham Cracker Sandwich has become our new favorite. They taste like little ice cream sandwiches. Actually if you would prefer ice cream, go for it. you can use yogurt, ice cream (light/regular/sugar free). Its the perfect size for mini ice cream sandwiches. Break the graham crackers into 4's. You will have little rectangle treats. We make a few batches each week and store them in Ziploc bags. This way the girls can choose there favorite flavor. And for those of us who are trying to shed those unwanted pounds (ie: baby weight) its a perfect size to curb the sweet tooth. My father in law is a diabetic with a huge sweet tooth. So we make them with sugar free ice cream and he loves it.

Apple Cinnamon: take vanilla yogurt (or ice cream) mix with some cinnamon apple sauce and spread on some Cinnamon graham crackers. Freeze. This one is so yummy. try the chunky apple sauce.

Strawberry Vanilla : take vanilla yogurt (or ice cream) and spread on both sides of a graham cracker. slice thinly some strawberries and place on top. and sandwich the 2 sides together. and freeze.

Peach Vanilla: take vanilla yogurt (or ice cream) and spread on both sides of a graham cracker. slice some canned peaches thin and lay on top. sandwich the 2 sides together and freeze. (you can use canned pears too).

Chocolate pudding: take some chocolate pudding and spread that across the graham cracker make a sandwich and freeze. (for an extra yummy treat spread some whipped cream too).

I would love to hear your versions of these snacks too. Enjoy!

Feb week # 1 - Repair Don't Replace....

2009-02-04T15:23:00.006-05:00

Not all companies are starving for business these days. In fact, some are setting records for increased business. Repair businesses and thrift stores are doing well during these financially turbulent times. That makes sense. After all, it is usually cheaper to repair than to replace, and that gently-worn clothes can be found for a fraction of their new price tag.

Take a look in your local area...most have a Mommy and Me Consignment shop or something like it. Kids grow out of clothing so fast that sometimes it is such a waste to spend full retail on them. I have found that often the clothing still has tags on them. Never worn. Not only can you purchase gently-worn clothing for yourself and your kids, but you can sell yours to. And if you sell through a consignment shop you get a discount off of purchases there too.

I have boxes and boxes of children's clothing and maternity clothes in my attic. I know they will never get used again in this house, so it makes sense to sell them. It makes me some money as well as frees up space in my attic. If you are really ambitious you can take pictures and download your items onto Ebay. This takes more time and energy, but you will probably make a few dollars more this way.

Check out your local Craig's List. You can purchase items inexpensively, as well as sell items. http://www.craigslist.com/

I hope this post gives you some ideas to save money and make money - Tamra

Feb week # 1 - Limit their snacks?

2009-02-02T15:47:00.004-05:00

I don't know about your kids but mine would snack all day long if I let them. I got tired of running to the kitchen every 5 minutes and then having my girls not eat their dinner.

We came up with a snack token system. I had the girls help me make 3 tokens for each of them. I cut out large circles and wrote the word snack on them. I let them decorate their own tokens. We made 2 pockets out of paper to hold them in. Again they each were able to decorate them as they wished. One was the start pocket, and the other was the finished pocket. We taped them on the wall in the kitchen. Each time they asked me for a snack, I would let them take a token from the start pocket and place it in the finished pocket. When the start pocket was empty they could have no more snacks that day.

The first day we did this they thought it was great...until they used their tokens up before lunch. And they realized they could have no more for that day. The second day went a bit better but they still used them all up before dinner. Now they have learned to spread them out so they have 1 snack between breakfast and lunch, the second between lunch and dinner and the 3rd they save for dessert. I love this system, it saves me from running around all day and teaches them to savor what they have.

Feb week # 1 - More fun snacks for your children (and adults)

2009-02-02T14:53:00.010-05:00

As we all know, kids love dessert and snacks. Here are a few yummy snacks that will get them (and you) excited every time. You will find it hard not to partake in the snacking with them!

1. Pudding cones: give them sugar free pudding in a small ice cream cone. (make sure you have bibs and lots of baby wipes for this yummy treat! they will enjoy this one completely, but it is a bit messy. perfect for eating outside. This is one of my kids favorites rather than ice cream cones) **Don't store extra cones in the fridge with pudding in them - the cones will get soggy
2. Painting with pudding: give them a plate with pudding and a graham cracker and let them have fun finger painting with it. you can give them a bowl of berries on the side to help with their masterpiece. They can lick their fingers and make pretty pictures too.
3. Yogurt cones: serve vanilla yogurt in an ice cream cone with some fruit mixed in. Add some honey wheat germ sprinkled on top.
4. Homemade apple rice pudding: left over rice, mixed with applesauce, sprinkle of cinnamon and vanilla yogurt. top with a little jam in a smiley face design. (Or if you have older kids try making a face out of Craisens) *fill some Dixie cups with extra and put in a Tupperware that is deep enough and you will have enough to last a few days.
5. Warm soft apple slices: cut up apple slices and wrap in foil. place in toaster oven and cook for 20 minutes. They will be soft, warm and yummy. Serve with some vanilla yogurt on top or just by themselves.
6. Sweet tortilla treat #1: take a soft tortilla shell, microwave for 10 seconds. spread with peanut butter and thin sliced bananas (or try apple sauce). roll up and its perfect for little ones to hold and eat.
7. Sweet tortilla treat #2: take a soft tortilla shell, microwave for 10 seconds and spread cream cheese and jelly. roll up.
8. Quesadilla triangles: take a soft tortilla and lay flat sprinkle with cheese, and fill with left over cooked veggies, or avocado slices. fold in half and warm in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. slice into triangles. perfect size for little fingers. You can use colorful veggie varieties of tortillas for a little fun.
9. Frozen graham cracker fruit snacks: take a graham cracker break them into the small rectangles, spread with a fruit flavored yogurt, top with another cracker and freeze. This is so yummy you will help yourself to a few too!
**Freeze in a large Tupperware without a lid. After they are frozen place them into a Ziploc bag to store in freezer. I have found that the Tupperware lids crack if you open them when they are frozen.
***We bought a few different flavors of yogurt (strawberry, peach, blueberry, mixed berries) and this gives a choice. It tastes as yummy as an ice cream sandwich. If you are really ambitious you can use vanilla yogurt with thin strawberry slices, and freeze.
10. Fruit filled ice pops: take an ice pop tray (you can pick up small ones at a Dollar Store or Target for $1) fill with some of their favorite fruit (strawberries, blue berries, raspberries, pineapple, bananas...) and then top with apple juice, orange juice (or any juice you have). freeze.
11. Frozen yogurt pops: fill an ice pop tray with a fruit flavored yogurt and freeze.
12. Fruit filled jello cups: make some jello and fill some Dixie cups with fresh fruit. fill cups with the jello and let set in fridge. serve by themselves or with a spoon of vanilla yogurt or whipped cream. *If you have a Tupperware deep enough you can store them and have enough to last the week as a special treat.

Love to hear your favorite kid friendly snack ideas. Email them to me at tflowers@optonline.net. I hope your kids enjoy these as much as mine do! Tamra

Feb week #1 - this weeks menu

2009-02-01T14:01:00.008-05:00

OK ladies...we are going to make 4 easy croc pot/slow cooker meals this week. Set them up in the morning before work or after breakfast for a yummy meal you don't have to worry about much til dinnertime. Take a look at your weeks menu and anything you can prep on Sunday or the night before will help make this a quick meal week. slice up veggies needed and put them in Ziploc so you can just dump them in in the morning. I love using the slow cookers or croc pots. Makes dinners a cinch.

Superbowl Sunday - (croc pot meal #1) Sausage & Peppers with Penne Pasta or rolls
In a slow cooker/croc pot add 1 onion sliced & 1 pepper sliced and a few garlic cloves crushed on bottom. Add Italian sausage & a jar or 2 (enough to cover sausages) of your favorite tomato sauce, a cup or 2 of Marsala cooking wine (or any wine will do). let cook all day on low. set this up early in the day and let cook. Serve on rolls while watching the Superbowl or with pasta.

Monday - (croc pot meal #2) Cream of Chicken & Rice soup
cream of chicken and rice soup: saute' onions & mushrooms with a little olive oil. In a croc pot add uncooked chicken breast cut into cubes, add the sauteed onions and mushrooms. a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, 4 cups chicken stock & 1 cup Marsala wine. Let cook on low all day. cook rice according to directions on box and add to soup before serving.

Tuesday - Roast Turkey Breast, baked Sweet Potatoes & Spinach Salad
*left over turkey breast, chop 2 cups into small bits and store in Ziploc for turkey ring on Thurs.

Wednesday - (croc pot meal #3) Pulled Pork. (easiest meal all week)
pulled pork: place a pork roast into the croc pot, cover with your favorite BBQ sauce and let cook all day on low. If you like it spicy add hot sauce. It will be so tender and just pull apart. Serve this with rice and veggies or put on a roll like a pulled pork sandwich wit a salad on the side.

Thursday -Turkey Cranberry Ring, and Salad
(A Pampered Chef recipe). What you need: 2 packages (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls, 1/2 c mayo, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 2 c chopped turkey, 1/2 c chopped celery, 1/2 c dries cranberries, 4 oz shredded Swiss cheese (or 6 slices chopped up), 1/2 c walnuts. How to make: mix together in a bowl all the ingredients. On a round pizza stone lay out 1st package of crescent roll dough like a star in a circle facing out. Corners of large end of dough should touch. Then 2nd package of dough facing in. Roll or pat center ring of dough so it sticks together. Spoon mixture around the ring (some filling will be exposed), then fold dough over like a present til it meets and looks like a wreath. (If you don't have a round pan you can do the same with a rectangular) bake 25-30 min at 375 degrees. Slice and serve with a salad.

Friday - Christina's Vegetable tomato Bean Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Vegetable Bean Soup: 6 cups water, about 2 tbsp chicken stock or bouillon cubes that are enough for 6 cups. 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 bag of frozen mixed vegetables, 1 can red kidney beans and any other beans you like can be added, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, 2 bay leaves, basil or oregano if you want them. Combine first 6 ingredients into a large sauce pan. Add your seasonings to suit your taste. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally and watch often so it doesn't burn. A good alternative to the frozen vegetables and beans is the frozen Rancho vegetables.

Saturday - (croc pot meal #4) Moms Beef Stew
In croc pot add Stew meat, 1 bay leaf, 1 onion soup mix packet, potatoes peeled sliced, carrots & celery chopped, 1 onion cut up, 1 can tomato paste, water (enough to cover ingredients), beef bouillon. You can add any veggies you like to this pot. Cook on low all day. Serve with some yummy soft bread.
*If you like it with a thick gravy you may have to thicken with flour and water. Although the starch from the potatoes should thicken it.
to thicken: in a cup mix water with a few spoons of flour til no flour clumps (If you use a fork to stir it works well). Turn croc pot on high...stir in flour and water mixture slowly and it will thicken as it starts to bubble.

Jan week # 4 - Bottle and Cup Labels

2009-01-29T08:33:00.004-05:00

Just thought I would pass along a great tip for labeling your child's cups or bottles. Especially works great when there are a bunch of kids around with the same cups. (ie. play dates, daycare, multiple children of your own).

You know those thick rubber bands that keep your veggies together at the grocery store? Keep them. Turn them inside out to the blank side. Take a ball point pen and write your child's name on it. Fits around all sizes of cups and bottles.

I have 3 kids and 2 do not read or spell their name yet. So I had them each pick a shape and I wrote that on the band with their names. This way my 3 yr old could recognize which cup was hers and which was her sisters. (ie. heart, smiley face, star, flower).

If you have any organization tips you would like to share please pass them along to me at tflowers@optonline.net. I'd love to share them. Thanks - Tamra

Jan week # 4 - Healthy Snacks for Mom & Kids

2009-01-28T10:01:00.006-05:00

One thing I know is that if I am hungry, I want to eat. And that usually means I will grab what is easy and convenient.

So to help me eat healthier, I have found that if I take some time on Sunday and prep a few snacks I will have healthier options to grab when hunger strikes. I hope the following tips will help you as much as they do me.

1. I will cut up some veggies (carrots sticks, celery, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli) and put them in snack bags. I make up some dip with light sour cream and Lipton's Savory herb and Garlic soup mix. I just mix it in the sour cream container and label it. Hummus as a dip for veggies is another yummy option.

2. I also put pretzels in snack bags so I can just grab a snack size portion rather than the whole bag. Helps me control my portions size. Dip them in hummus (my favorite brand is Sabra) and you have a yummy satisfying snack that will get you through til the next meal time.

3. Also making sure you have lots of fruit on hand. fruit you like. Bananas, grapes, apples, clementines, oranges. All portable and satisfying. Wash some seedless grapes and put them in snack bags. Slice up apples and mix them with a little orange juice so they wont brown, pack them in snack bags. Slice up oranges , place them in snack bags.

4. Trail mix is another good option. You can usually buy them in large bags. if you portion them into snack size bags you wont eat too much of it, yet it is a good snack in moderation. Nuts, dried fruit. Yummy and healthy. And kids LOVE this.

Having snack size portions ready to grab will also give you easy options for your kids snacks. When you are at home or on the go. If you have school aged kids, you can just grab and put a healthy snack in their lunch box. I know my kids want to snack all day long. This way I know I will have a good snack at the ready. If we are going out I put some in my diaper bag and I know wont have to grab something off the shelf that is not good for them, and it saves me money too.

Jan week # 4 - Sunday Circulars without buying the papers!

2009-01-28T08:14:00.002-05:00

Weekly Sales Circulars & Sunday Newspaper Ads

Stop buying the newspaper just for the Sunday ads. SundaySaver is FREE & will save you time & money.

check this out. Its awsome. I used to go out just to get the weekend circulars to check out sales and coupons before I went grocery shopping each week. Now there is a website www.Sundaysaver.com that does this for you. Its amazing! You can see all the stores in your area and compare sales.

Jan week # 4 - Helpful Meal Tip for Moms with Babies & Toddlers

2009-01-25T17:13:00.008-05:00

Taking some time in the beginning of the week to prep a few things will make your life all week long a joy at meal times for your baby.

1. Cut up small bite size pieces of veggies (carrots, cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli) and cook until tender. Make enough to last the week. Place in a Tupperware and at each meal just take out what you need. It makes that "witching hour" as we call it in my house, a bit easier to deal with. And you won't be scrambling to make dinner for the baby as well as the whole family. It allows you to offer him/her a healthier option to store bought and save so much time.

2. Another quicky is to take a sweet potato, poke a few times with a fork, cook in microwave til soft. store in a Tupperware and slice off pieces for meals throughout the week.

3. Have string cheese handly. peel strips and break into bite size pieces. works great to distract your little one while you get their meal to their tray. Also great when you are going somewhere during meal time.

I hope these tips make your meal time less stressful. I know it works for me! - Tamra

Jan week # 4 - This weeks menu

2009-01-25T15:53:00.009-05:00

Sunday - Pot Roast, mashed potatoes, veggies
Pot Roast: in the morning place in a Croc Pot/slow cooker: pot roast, 2 cups brewed black coffee (believe it or not it adds a nice flavor), beef broth, 1 package onion soup mix, carrots, celery, onions. make sure liquids cover meat in pot. cook on low all day. It will be so tender around dinner time. yummy. make gravy from broth.
*store left over beef in the gravy. left overs will be used later in week for Beef Stroganoff.

Monday - Spaghetti with Meat sauce
meat sauce: cook onions & garlic in a little olive oil. then add chop meat. when brown add your favorite tomato sauce.
*brown double the meat and place half in a Tupperware for another meal later in the week.

Tuesday - Croc Pot Chicken. serve with roasted potatoes, veggies
Easy roasted potatoes: slice potatoes into chunks, place in large Ziploc bag with olive oil & shake to cover. then add onion soup mix & shake (amount of seasonings depend on amount of potatoes - don't use too much) . place on pan and cook in oven.
*See Jan week #3 'Dawns Croc Pot Chicken' for recipe. Also Henry's Chicken soup, make same day or store chicken bones etc for later. use left over chicken soup for meal later in week.

Wednesday - Beef Stroganoff w/ egg noodles & prefered veggies
*take leftover pot roast w/ gravy, cut meat into chunks, add sour cream. serve over egg noodles. with veggie of choice.

Thursday - Chili
kids option: tacos. they sell taco seasoning in a shaker container so you can use as much or little as you want. take a small bit of browned beef, add taco seasoning. Let the kids make their own tacos. you need taco shells, cheese, lettuce, any veggies they like & other toppings of choice. my kids love to make these. the messier the better!
Chili: use browned beef from earlier in the week and put in a pot w/ red kidney beans, tomato sauce & packet of chili seasoning. cook til heated through. serve with sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese & dollop of sour cream. tortilla chips on the side (use chips as your spoon and have as much fun as the kids!)

Friday - Chicken Soup
*If you made the soup already than just reheat. if not get recipe from Jan week #3 Dawns Croc Pot Chicken. See Henry's Chicken Soup recipe.

Saturday - Chicken Quesadillas
Take large flour tortillas and place on cookie sheet. sprinkle thin layer of shredded cheese, then cooked chicken slices, sauteed onions & peppers, another thin layer of cheese and top with another flour tortilla. bake til cheese melts. Slice into half then into 3rds. serve with sour cream, guacamole & salsa. great finger food.
*kids can make their own. let them choose what they want inside (chicken, favorite veggies, cheese). a better option than chicken nuggets.

Jan week # 3 - A Good Read For Mommys - Januarys Book Club Recommendation From Ms. Betty the Librarian & Mom

2009-01-24T21:40:00.013-05:00

Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Review from Amazon.com: Set in remote 19th-century China, this novel details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends Lily and Snow Flower, their imprisonment by rigid codes of conduct for women and their betrayal by pride and love. While granting immediacy to Lily's voice, See transmits historical background in graceful prose. Her in-depth research into women's ceremonies and duties in China's rural interior brings fascinating revelations about arranged marriages, women's inferior status in both their natal and married homes, and the Confucian proverbs and myriad superstitions that informed daily life. Beginning with a detailed and heartbreaking description of Lily and her sisters' foot binding ("Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you have peace"), the story widens to a vivid portrait of family and village life. As both a suspenseful and poignant story and an absorbing historical chronicle, this novel has bestseller potential and should become a reading group favorite as well.

If you read Memoirs of a Geisha - you'll love this. The historical facts are so interesting. The relationship between the 2 women is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

I loved it! Hope you enjoy it too - Betty

*I'd Love to get your reviews of this book when you read it. I couldn't put it down. - Tamra

Jan week#3 - More Peanut Butter recalls!

2009-01-21T13:56:00.002-05:00

sent in from Carina V

Costco sells the Austin Brand PB sandwich crackers in small snack size packages (I believe there are 50 in a box with mixed cookies). Please keep a look out and let your childcare providers know about the recall as well.

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kellogg201_09.html

Jan week #3 - Dawns Whole Croc Pot Chicken Recipe

2009-01-20T22:20:00.004-05:00

Sent in by Dawn L in LI, NY

Hi Tamra, I was home sick today and I was thinking of some meals for your blog. I finally went food shopping and saw at Waldbaums Americas Choice Whole Chickens for 69 cents a pound. So, I picked up a whole chicken about 3.5 lbs and paid $2.33 (or something like that) for it. Then, I got it home and didn't want to have to worry about cooking it in the oven. So, I found a recipe on line for whole crock pot chicken. I was a little concerned at first, but I went with it and it worked out great.

I changed it around a little, but the premise was the same. The good thing was the bones and left over chicken and broth was the start for a great chicken soup which can be either saved for another meal or frozen. The other nice thing was that I made the chicken and Henry made the soup.

Dawns Whole Chicken Crock Pot Recipe:
1 Whole Chicken, 3 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika, 2 tsp Old Bay Spice, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp rosemary, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 cup chopped onions, 3-4 chopped carrots, 4 garlic cloves.

In a separate bowl, mix spices (you can actually use any spices that you want, including lemon pepper) Make sure to remove giblets and thoroughly clean the chicken inside and out. Rub spice mixture into chicken (inside and out and even under the skin if you like). Place 1-2 garlic cloves inside the chicken (optional). Place chopped onion, garlic and carrots on the bottom of the crock pot. Add Chicken. No liquid needed. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, depending on the size of the chicken. It falls right off the bone and is so juicy.

Henry's Chicken Soup: At the end of the above meal, Henry takes the broth with left over onions, carrots, chicken (making sure to remove all remaining meat from the bones) and places them in a pot.Add 2 cups of water, depending on how much broth is left. Add additional vegetables, we added fresh carrots. Bring to a boil, then let it simmer. Add any additional seasonings, if necessary. We add cumin, black pepper, salt if needed. This can either be used for an additional meal later in the week, and served with rice, or frozen for a later date.

Thanks Dawn for sending in these great recipes. I will be trying this next week in my menu. Can't wait to try it! Thanks - Tamra

Jan week #3 - My Virtual Model

2009-01-20T15:30:00.004-05:00

Hi Ladies! I have found a great website called My Virtual Model. It allows you to make a virtual model of your body type. You choose your body shape (pear, top heavy or hour glass), choose your face shape, skin color, hair style & color, and you enter your weight and height. It gives you a pretty realistic vision of what you look like. It lets you virtually try on clothes to see what styles fit your body type best. Great for jeans! You find a shape that flatters your shape, than they give you the convenience of shopping by listing actually items you can purchase if you choose from stores like H&M, Bass, Sears, Lands End and many more. Or you can just use it as a tool for best styles.

It also has a weight loss simulator. You enter your current weight, then your goal weight and it will show you what you will look like when you reach your goal. Awesome.

I have listed the website link under my Great Website listing.

http://www.mvm.com/en/index.php

Jan week #3 - Full List of Peanut Butter Recalls

2009-01-20T15:02:00.005-05:00

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm?loc=interstitialskip

Hi ladies - I wanted to pass this information along to you as soon as I received it. I just received this link from Betty (or Ms. Betty as my daughter would call her) the Children's Librarian at our local library (thanks Betty). Here is a link to a full list of items recalled. Many of you have emailed about the Peanut Butter recall and were happy for the post yesterday.

Thanks for the feedback, I will do may best to continue to post important information like this. Again, if you have news like this please let me know and I will research the situation and post the updated info.

Thanks - Tamra

The Frugal Mom

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I just came across this yummy recipe on Facebook on the 'Once Upon A Chef' website/link. She has such great ideas. And all have been tasty and simple to make. My kids will love this one! (If I don't eat them all first! LOL) Enjoy! Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom)

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I was surprised when my daughters actually ate my soups this year! In the past they were wary of them and wouldn't even try them. I won them over with my Northern Bean Chowder and the rest was history. Now they are my biggest champions for finding new soups.

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Here is a yummy, easy recipe I copied from the 'Once Upon A Chef ' website. I added it as a favorite on my Facebook page and get frequent updates on easy recipes. As always I would love to hear your thoughts. - Tamra (a.k.a. The Frugal Mom) Enjoy!

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June - week # 3 - Summer Sandal Blister Survival

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June week # 3 - low fat coconut shrimp recipe - yummy!

June week #2 - The Checkbook Balancing Act

June week # 2 - Yummy Outdoors Recipe

June week # 2 - Matching Up Linens

June - week #1 - Is Shell Fish High in Cholesterol?

June - week #1 - Snack Ideas For When You Are In The Car

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May week #4 - Let the Summer Grilling Begin!

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