First Ever Batch of Soap
26 May 2012 4 Comments
I did it! At least, I think I did it. I made soap this morning. First of course I had to gather all the right equipment.
I got a digital scale….
I got another stick blender just for soap making…..
I found a stainless steel pot…..
Two stainless steel spoons……
A plastic pitcher just for soap making……
Lye….
And a Pringles can for a mold…….
I forgot to take pictures of the measuring process, but here are the measurements for this batch of soap…..
1 lb of Crisco or Lard
6 oz of water
2 oz of lye
I started the Crisco melting on the stove…..
Then I measured out the water and the lye and put them (water first) into the pitcher. I waited a little bit til the melted fat had cooled down a bit and the lye mixture wasn’t too hot. Then I poured the lye mixture into the melted fat. Next, I took my stick blender and started to blend.
It took about 30 minutes total to get it to trace. I would use the blender for awhile, then I would stir it with one of my spoons, then switch back. The blender was getting hot!
Once it got to trace – where I could see where I had been with the blender and drops stayed on top for a second -
I poured it into the empty, cleaned out Pringles can.
Now, I’ll let it set up for a couple days before I peel off the can and slice it up to cure. It’s already feeling hardened in the can, so I hope it turns out well. I am so excited!
I am linking up to the Barn Hop, Like A Mustard Seed, Teach Me Tuesdays, Simple Living Wednesdays, Little Natural Cottage, Our Simple Country Life
Paring Down the Food Budget
16 May 2012 Leave a Comment
It’s taken awhile, but I’m finally starting to see a lowering of my grocery bill. I’ve been buying more ingredients and fewer products, plus we’ve added more bean meals. I try to plan a nice variety of meals so the crew doesn’t balk about the additional beans. Here’s my menu for the next two weeks as an example:
African Chicken
Pork chops
Meatloaf
Salisbury steak
Split pea and potato soup
Southwest beans
Pasta fagioli
Hamburger helper lasagna (homemade)
Hamburger helper Cheeseburger Macaroni (homemade)
Hurry curry
Baked chicken
Ham casserole
Stroganoff
BBQ
I won’t be serving beans three nights in a row, that’s just how I listed everything. Here’s how the grocery list looks:
paper towels (I’m working on it)
ground meat
porkchops
navy beans
green beans
corn
peas
milk
lunch meat
spaghetti noodles
cereal
ice cream
bananas
crackers
french onion soup
beef boullion granules
chicken boullion granules
split peas
egg noodles
eggs
string cheese
brats
canned baked beans
hot dogs
steaks
baking mix
Remember, Memorial Day is coming up before my next shopping trip so I have included extra meat for a bbq. Hubby is a master on the grill. There are still a few things I need to work on as far as making myself, but I’m doing so much better. Hubby is even drinking more lemonade (2 mix packets at 12 cents each plus my one cup of sugar for a gallon) and more tea rather than so many cans of coke. Much easier on the budget.
I’m still working on it, but the budget is getting smaller. Yay!
Prepping for Breakaway
15 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Faith, Family, Food, Thrift
This weekend is our Women’s Retreat or Breakaway. And I’m in charge. Oy vey.
I’m in the midst of massive prepping to finish getting ready for it. Not only do I need to finish printing out the announcement sheets, but I need to practice my lessons and make sure all the other printables are done and in the bag ready to go. Oh, did I mention I’m teaching two lessons this year? And again….oy vey.
We like to take good care of our ladies on retreat so we have coffee and snack tables available the whole weekend. I did my fairly extensive shopping trip on Saturday to pick up everything we need for it.
However, that is not the most effective method of transporting everything up to the mountains. We are taking a truck (as usual) so I packed everything into a plastic tote. Much nicer.
yes those are marshmallows. Of course we have s’mores!
While I’m almost ready for the retreat itself, I need to make sure things on the homefront are taken care of. Yes, hubby is quite capable of taking care of himself, but I like to know he’s not subsisting on cold cereal and delivery pizza. I’ll be cooking up his favorite dish (African Chicken) for him and I will have cold cereal and frozen pizza for him so he can have a “break” as well.
When I get home on Saturday afternoon, I know I will be far too pooped to even think about dinner so I’m making dinner tonight to freeze for Saturday. I wanted something easy, something I could do in the crockpot tonight, and, bonus, a bean meal sinse we are trying to eat more beans to save on the grocery budget. This is what I came up with…..Split Pea and Potato Soup. Easy ingredients…..
A bag of split peas, about 6 potatoes diced, one onion chopped fine with 5 or 6 small cloves of garlic, and bacon. I popped the bacon into the oven while I worked on tonight’s dinner. Thank you Alton Brown and Food Network for that little trick. So much easier than standing over the stove.
Put all the ingredients into the large crockpot crumbling the bacon. Add a good sprinkle of basil and a good handful of dried thyme crushed up. No salt yet, don’t want to harden the split peas. Water to cover, give it a good stir and let it simmer away on low overnight. Tomorrow I will put it into containers for the freezer. I’ll call hubby Saturday morning to pull the containers out of the freezer and I’ll reheat it when I get home and up from my much-needed nap.
Oh, and tonight’s dinner? BBQ chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. Hubby had corn too, but I didn’t want any for me. Yum.
I’ll be doing my regular bi-weekly shopping early this week so I won’t have to cram it in on Sunday after church. Busy, busy week.
The Helping Hand For Dinner
13 May 2012 1 Comment
I’ve been collecting some DIY recipes for a little while and last night I decided to try another one. I decided to try homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna.
It starts out with your normal browning of a pound of ground meat….
Then there’s the diced tomatoes, tomato paste and egg noodles…..
Then there’s the secret. The seasoning packet. The recipe called for powdered milk, cornstarch, italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, salt. It makes a lot more than the little seasoning packet in the box, but these days you have to add fluid milk so really it’s about the same……
Throw all the ingredients together with 3 cups of hot water, bring to a bol, simmer for 12 minutes and voila!
It made a lot more than a regular box mix of hamburger helper. Was it cheaper? Not really. Did it taste better? Yes. Was it better for us? Definately. No unpronounceables in the homemade version. Plus, all the ingredients except for the ground meat can be put together ahead of time just like having the box on the shelf. This is definately something we will be doing again. Probably fairly soon.
I found the recipe at the Tip Garden.
Dishwashers, Grocery Lists, and Other Assorted Oddments
01 May 2012 2 Comments
in Family, Food, General, Thrift
Does anyone else suffer from my particular malady? No, not that I don’t have a dishwasher – I do. But, I can’t seem to load the doggone thing properly to save my self.
It’s true! I keep telling hubby and dil-to-be that they do a much better job at loading the dishwasher than I do. And it’s not just because I personally would rather UNload than LOAD a dishwasher any day. They really do a better job. I’m spatially challenged. I always end up with dishes leftover in the sink, while they never do. It’s really quite sad.
And speaking of dishwashers, I had to add dishwasher soap to my grocery list for this pay period. I always start on my list at the beginning of the week because it gives me time to make sure everything makes it on the list and I can gather any coupons needed. My list this time is out of control! This is what it looks like so far. Are you ready? Here goes in no particular order…
coffee
tuna
dog treats
sugar
baking soda
pinto beans
lentils
navy beans
green beans
corn
peas
egg noodles
spaghetti sauce
bath tissue
dawn
travel gel
hairspray
deodorant
green chilis
chicken boullion granules
ground cumin
chili powder
bacon
potatoes
spinach
snack bags
lard
peanut butter
canned chicken
milk
bread
lemonade mix
canned tomatoes
tomato sauce
dry milk
blackeyed peas
salsa
sour cream
dishwasher soap
lunchmeat ham
lunchmeat roast beef
lunchmeat pastrami
That’s it so far. See what I mean? Out of control. There’s not a lot of meat on the list this time, but it is still a huge list. I know it’s mostly staples, but good grief! And yes, I know there are things on the list that I could make myself. Please remember I work outside the home and only have a limited amount of time for making from scratch. I am working on it though. In fact, I have a dog biscuit recipe I’m planning on trying out this weekend. Those things are expensive!!! Sigh. Hopefully, I will stay in budget despite the number of items.
I had my follow up appointment with my eye specialist today. We decided to continue with the antihistimine eye drops and do warm compresses for at least six weeks. My eyes are not cured of their excessive watering, but they are definately doing much better. I’m glad he didn’t suggest surgery right away. Messing with my eyes bothers me. I read too much and do way too much on the computer to have something happen to them.
It was a long and busy day today so I’m off to do a bit of relaxing.
Making Mixes and Dog Days
28 Apr 2012 2 Comments
Today has been busy trying to fit in as much work as possible before going to Kenya Fest. I started off taking Sengi the dog to the groomer. I think he was in pretty desperate need of a grooming. What do you think?
The groomer did a great job. He looks so much better. I think he feels better too.
While I waited for the groomer to call I decided to tackle a small cleaning project. This cabinet in my laundry room was a disaster.
First I got everything out and wiped it all down.
Then I consolidated a few things, like my baking mix. Putting it in a plastic container is much nicer. Then I taped the box recipes to the side for easy use. Yes, I know, I should make my own. I’m working on it.
I put my bin of baking chips and nuts in the back of the cabinet sinse I don’t use them everyday.
The more every day things are up front. I think it looks much better and will be easier to find things and put them away properly.
I also had time to make up some ready-made mixes. Because we will be eating a lot more beans in the coming months, we will also be eating a lot more cornbread. I found a great “fake” mix for my favorite boxed brand of cornbread mix at Fake-It-Frugal. In just a few minutes I mixed up four bags of cornbread mix with directions. Now, when I come home at night I can grab a bag, add the wet ingredients and throw it in the oven. Easy-peasy.
Well, it’s off to church now for Kenya Fest. Hope you had a blessed Saturday.
I will be linking to Barn Hop.
Heart Doctor And Other Things
28 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Family, Food, Thrift Tags: beans, impossibly easy pie, Kenya Fest, wolfe-parkinson-white syndrome
I finally had my follow up appointment with my heart doctor. Back in September, I had to wear a heart monitor 24/7 for a month. Ick. But, I did it. Anyway, seems I have a condition called Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome. It’s a cute little thing where you have an extra electrical pathway in your heart that can somtimes confuse your heart into taking the wrong electrical path. Thankfully, it’s an easy fix if it needs to be fixed. In my case, it doesn’t bother me, I hardly notice anything amiss and the heart monitoring only showed one significant episode in the whole month. So, the doctor said “Call me if you need me”. Hah! Works for me! No heart catheterization, no hospitals, no nothing. Woohoo!!! So very happy.
With that out of the way, I came home and started cooking. So, what’s for dinner? Impossibly Easy Taco Pie. Yep, one of those wonderful baking mix throw-it-all-together-and-bake dinner pies. It’s relatively cheap – ground meat, onion, green chilis, taco seasoning, two eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup baking mix, salsa and sour cream. It’s very quick and very easy. And it tastes good. I also have a huge pot of beans cooking for use probably Monday. It has a good chunk of pork neck bones, half a jar of salsa, one onion, garlic, cumin and I might add some green chilis to it too. Add some cornbread and it’s dinner for another night.
So, why is the pot of beans not dinner for one day this weekend? Well, tomorrow we are all volunteering at Kenya Fest at church so we will be eating pizza for dinner there. Then Sunday is visitation for ds. Normally, hubby eats whatever he can find in the house and dil-to-be and I grab fast food after visitation that night. It’s not the cheapest way to do things, but I haven’t yet figured out a better way. I’m working on it.
Tomorrow is grooming day for Sengi the dog and project and cleaning day for me. At least as much as I can fit in before we have to leave for church. See you here tomorrow!
New Challenges
25 Apr 2012 2 Comments
in Family, Food, Gardening, Thrift Tags: garden, herbs, lentils
Well, the old car needs a new transmission. Rats. I was hoping it was something different. So, I am ramping up the austerity measures a little bit more. Hubby said he would eat more beans each week so I’m taking him at his word. In fact, tonight he is eating lentils for the very first time. I ditched my meat-based meal plans and made lentil stew instead with no meat. Now, normally Iwould cook any kind of beans with a ham hock or pork neck bones, but tonight I decided to try it vegetarian. Here’s the recipe I used:
2 cups lentils
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 onion peeled and chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can chicken broth (optional can use water)
1 can sliced carrots
salt and pepper
basil to taste
garlic powder to taste
chipotle chili powder to taste
Boil the potatoes and lentils til just tender
Saute the onion in olive oil til softened
Add the rest of the ingredients and the lentils and potatoes. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
Serves 6 – 8
With the garden pretty much in, I have come to the realization that I do not have enough room anywhere in my yard right now to grow the kinds and amounts of herbs that I want. Plus, the cost to buy enough plants for what I want is just prohibitive at this point even if I had the room. So, I have resigned myself that I will need to purchase my dried herbs for my salves, ointments and tinctures. I made out a list last night of the herbs I will want to purchase. So, sometime late summer or early fall I will do just that. Time to start saving up for it now though. Ahhh. I can’t wait for it. It’ll be fun.
I’m off to look for more bean recipes.
Still A Working Saturday
21 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in crafts, Food, Gardening, Thrift
In spite of going car shopping this morning, I still had work to do today. After we got back from getting the car I zoomed through the house cleaning and threw in some laundry so I could tackle a few other things.
Remember the jar of citrus cleaner I was making? Today I strained it out…..
And this is what I now have.
It smells heavenly. I put the old citrus peels down the disposal and my kitchen smells really good too. I’ll be using this cleaner diluted half with water for my general cleaning. I like the way this turned out so much I started two more jars of citrus peels and vinegar. This time I’m using lemons.
Next I decided it was high time to bake some brownies. Hubby loves brownies and I’m kind of partial to them as well. Remember the cake mixes and frosting tubs I bypassed yesterday? Well, today I pulled out all my simple ingredients (including my vanilla sugar I’ve had curing for a couple of weeks – yum) and actually baked from scratch.
It didn’t take any more time than using a box mix and it was definately cheaper. And while they aren’t particularly “good” for you, they are immensely better than the i-can’t-pronounce-the-ingredients box mix. Don’t they look yummy?
Here they are with the frosting setting up nicely.
I also planted marigolds and nasturtiums in some pots to put around the garden to hopefully draw the bees. We’ll see how well they work.
Dinner (Moroccan Meatballs) is simmering on the stove and I’m ready to put my feet up for a bit. Hope you’ve had a wonderful and blessed Saturday.
Shopping With A Twist
21 Apr 2012 2 Comments
in Food, Thrift Tags: groceries, NCP, shopping
Today was my normal shopping day, but I had a twist to it. I signed up with the National Consumer Panel a few weeks ago and I got my scanner this week. Now, I need to scan the barcode of every item I purchase so my shopping trips will be transmitted to the NCP each week. It made shopping a tiny bit slower, (yes I know I’m probably supposed to scan everything once I get home)but not appreciably.
I was very good on my shopping trip today. I caught myself looking at the cake mixes and frosting tubs and reminded myself I can make all those things from scratch with ingredients I already have on hand. And for a lot less money. I even ended up saving $100 from my grocery budget. Ok, I’m impressed.
It’s a good thing I’m saving so much money in one area of our lives at least, because on the way home from work the transmission gave out in our car. We are now down to one vehicle. I know for many that’s not a big deal, but for us it is. Happily, we are going car shopping tomorrow to replace the Audi that was totaled not too long ago. Sigh. Now if only the car can be fixed quickly and cheaply I will be a very happy camper. Whatever happens there, God is not surprised and He has a plan for the situation. I’ll post pictures if we actually buy something tomorrow.
