Posts
RE: My last blog. I never meant to say so much and I want to clarify a few things. I am not banging on those pearly gates yet (at least I don’t think so) and most of those folks who passed last year were in their 60s or 70s and had had very full lives-in fact I envy them for that. They did a lot for others and will be missed. Although sometimes I shed a few tears I am okay with it-we will all pass someday. I am sure that they are catching up with those that went before.
I will let that go now…
Re: Socks: I could probably knit lovely tube socks but I eventually want to make boot socks so the heels and toes must be nice! I am making slipper socks out of LILY’s Sugar and Cream in chocolate stripe right now so I call them the Chocolati Socks. They will be comfy but the first one needs to be ripped as I did the figure-eight cast on okay but ended up purling on the outside (?). I have another project that I am working on but I can’t discuss it yet, it’s a gift! (since I began writing this-several days ago-I managed to “ turn the heel” on the 2nd sock and I am 1/3 way through with the cuff after ripping the heel out 5x! Also, I need more of the Lilly cotton yarn.
I Don’t have a pic yet as I am without a working camera, but I will get a card reader and post the pitiful sock attempts that I have made so far!
It is a SKILL issue and I have done most of the stitches before but not in the manner that I need to do them in!
I finally figured out how to use the DPNS (double-pointed needles) so I am happy about that.
Re: Money Saving tips for food and etc.: I tried this and it worked great: I browned and drained ¾ ILB of hamburger and some minced onions, to which I added one can of pink beans, drained, pulsed in a cuisinart for 40 seconds on high, and mixed well. I added a teaspoon of chilli flavoring.
This makes a filling for burritos and cuts down on the meat needed. It was an experiment and I want to try cooking pintos, draining and doing the same thing-hopefully it’ll be dryer and more like a beef extender. I us flour tortillas but corn can be used, and sometimes I roll them up (especially the larger ones) and lay them in a glass or metal pan, drizzle tomato sauce or salsa over them, sprinkle with 4 ounces of cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
If you have no cheese on hand but cream cheese, use a little of that, just dot it on (Don’t use too much. Watch so you don’t burn the cheeses, and you can use foil to avoid that). I serve with one teaspoon of sour cream per serving and a side of Mexican rice. Lettuce can be served also. The beans add a lot of protein-which you already get from the beef and they also ad starch (so watch this) and FIBER. ALSO-rice and beans eaten within a 12-24 hour period (not necessarily the same meal) makes a COMPLETE protein!
I always look for mark down labels when I shop for meat. The meat can be frozen even if it is close to expiration and sometimes I get two meals from a package, although I might have to change my menu a bit! A few days ago I made my lentil soup (YUMMY) an yesterday I made my BEAN SOUP. I use Northern Beans because they are the highest-or just about-in protein, followed by black beans. When I make my chilli (with black beans) I get several meals and lunches from it-more about that another day.
This recipe is INEXPENSIVE and HEARTY, full of vitamins, minerals and PROTEIN!!!
Vals Busy Day Bean Soup
1 bag of Northern Beans, sorted and rinsed, boiled for two minutes and let to sit for 10 minutes covered.
6 cups of water or 5 cups of water and 1 can of any broth: vegetarian, beef, or chicken
1 onion chopped fine
½ bag of peeled baby carrots
1 stalk of celery chopped small
4-5 medium potatoes, wshed, peeled, and cut in small chunks (about 1 to 1.5 inches square)
1 hamsteak, any size, cut into pieces 1 inch square ( with kitchen shears)and rind removed
(or use 1 or two meaty smoked hamhocks)
(If you don’t have the vegetables you can use bagged or frozen stew vegetables from the grocer,
BUT still add the extra potatoes.)
About ½ teaspoon pepper
1 tsp salt
2 bay leaves
1 tsp margaram
½ tsp sage
1 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoning (lowsalt version) is optional.
In a large slow cooker add a all ingredients BUT the potatoes and stir well. Put on high for 1 hour , add potatoes, then on slow for another 3-4 unless you started late; then just use the “high” setting. If you will be gone all day, put the potatoes in right way too, but make sure you use a timer and don’t cook for more than 6 hours. I usually put my potatoes in a little latter so they don’t turn to mush. Serve with a salad although my gang really likes anice crusty bread with this soup.
This keeps for several days and after the first day it gets really thick due to starches breaking down. BTW, the amounts of seasonings and vegetables can be adjusted. Some want more or less, and some folks don’t like sage, prefer oregano, etc. MAKE SURE to use cheesecloth or fish those bay leaves OUT! FEEDS at least six people using large soup bowls and more with the smaller ones, although be prepared, folks like seconds! BTW, you can make a double recipe in the 5 quart cooker.
Yes, after all those years of no snow the Orinoco Flow and the melted Arctic cap have gotten the better of us. We have had more snow this winter than we had ALL of last winter! We beat the count by over three inches (as of January 30th)! We are not getting the BIG storms that we had last year but we get hit every 3-5 days so right now there is a big wall of snow outside of where we live. The kittens (about 8 and 9 pounds now) think they want to go outside but they have no clue…and take turns sleeping on the window ledge!
I woke up at 3:12 am several days ago and outside my bedroom the sky was a deep sapphire blue framed by a tall evergreen “bush” a few feet from my window covered in snow!
If you don’t already know this, most cleaning supplies can be replaced with vinegar and baking soda! I never buy stove cleaner, etc. as I make a solution of warm water (about a cup) and add ¼ cup soda to it. I use this to wipe down surfaces, including the stovetop and sink and use a bowl like this heated for a minute in the microwave to soften stuff left inside the microwave before wiping it down.
NOW-today is February 3rd. the previous part of my post was written five days ago, and since the we have had a good sized ice storm. I know that many of the folks to the west of us (such as Oklahoma) got a lot of snow and that Arkansas had a terrible ice storm, plus it’s STILL snowing in TEXAS, so I guess we just need to accept that winter, after a few decades of mild weather (here at least will be cold, wet, and unpredictable again, as it was in my childhood.
Everyone should have certain things on hand, especially if you have children or elderly folks in your family-or if you are elderly. It would not hurt to be prepared EVEN if you are an apartment dweller. See the FEMA site-there is a good suggested list of emergency stuff there.
My parents wanted to unload the kerosene heater that they bought several years ago “just in case” but I cautioned them against doing that. What if we had some major weather patterns and ended up without power for days or weeks? Two blocks away my BIL was without power at his home yesterday. It happens. If you have a home and a grill, you can still cook OUTSIDE. Camping stoves are good (OUTSIDE) and in the winter I always try to keep extra canned goods on hand.
I am not a dooms-dayer (as I’ve been called) at all, but I do believe in being prepared. Several gallons of water and a week’s worth of caned-dry goods is not a bad thing to have, nor is a radio and batteries, candles, and some battery operated lights.
TIP: Saving electric in winter: DISCLAIMER: USE these thoughts with caution. We evaluate our own situation and everyone needs to be safe! Theses are just thoughts and examples. In cold weather you can do damage IF YOU Are NOT careful!
We don’t heat the bedroom during the daytime Monday to Friday unless it is below twenty degrees. We are halfway underground so we don’t need to and the plumbing is away from the wall. When it’s in the 30s we don’t use any heat EXCEPT to warm up the living room for an hour in the morning; when the night comes we heat the living room only with an oil-filled radiator. The bedroom gets warmed up in the same manner after 7 pm (if needed) and once it’s warm, the heater is shut off and the door is kept almost closed. We unplug EVERY appliance that we can, even coffee makers and toasters, after each use. At night I turn our TV, etc. and pc OFF AT THE POWER STRIP and everyone knows to call our cell phones on case of emergency (our landline is connected to our pc).
By the way, I saved us nearly $100 a month by just leaving our cell phone carrier (we were no longer on a contract and of COURSE we weren’t told) and going to a track type phone. Shopping around is easy on line-we ended up with NET10 (owned by the same folks who own tracfone, etc.) and you have to see what works for you. My daughter has to have a phone since she has no landline; I only use mine for “emergencies” to say “I’m at checkout 7” or in case I have a small child with me and need a ride or help, so mine is super cheap: $300 minutes for 3 months at $30 ($10 a month) and we’ve realized that my husband and daughter can get away with 600 minutes for 60 days at $45. Yes, initially we did have to buy phones and transfer our phone numbers, but the cheapest phones (no web connection) are just $14.95 and you can buy better ones online, some refurbished, and certain ones offer you free minutes or free minute cards WITH THE PHONE PURCHASE and at times they ship for FREE. I REALLY LIKE NET10! They purchase tower use from other companies and I recently read online that sometimes you will get a signal when the more expensive ones don’t, it had something to do with this tower situation. We very seldom have a dropped call or can’t get through.
Well, I am talked out. Update on the socks when I have pics!
Talk More Later,
Valerie ; )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
