Quote of the Week

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
                                                                                        -Colin Powell

My Whole Foods Journey---Continued!

Last year I started a whole foods journey for my family.  I was buying more raw foods and less processed foods.  Then life happened and I hit rock bottom with my depression and stopped trying to improve our diets.  It was all I could do to make it to work and come home and function. I didn’t care about improving my diet—quite frankly I didn’t care if I lived or died-so our diet was no big thing to me at that time.  Well, after living under a black cloud, the sun has started to shine in my life. A med change helped bring that about…I won’t lie!

So I want to continue my whole foods journey.  I purchased a dehydrator that I have been putting to very good use and have conquered my fear of the pressure canner. With these tools I can easily “Put Up“  many whole foods for convenient future use. 

I plan on only shopping the outer aisles of the Market, using more whole wheat flour, and using up the processed foods in my stash(we cannot afford not to).  I have been making all of our jelly for the last several years and that is one item we have stopped using from the market.  My husband is addicted to his diet Coke so I am going to attempt to make tea and keep it in the frig for him so we can stop buying this. This is going to be a slow process let me tell you!  I have been buying honey from a local farmer and plan on continuing this—in addition I want to phase out using so much white sugar. I want to start substituting honey in my baking.  The muffin recipe I posted yesterday can be adapted to use honey.  I am diabetic so I have to watch my carbs but I feel using natural products in moderation is better than using artificial sweeteners.

So here are my goals for the week:

1.       Only buy fruits, veggies, meat and dairy products at the market.

2.       Plan simpler meals.

3.       Make a pitcher of Tea each night.

4.       Plan one meatless meal.

5.       Find one sale item to can or dry for my stash.

6.       Use honey or sugar in the raw for sweetener only.

Wow, let the WF journey begin……again!

Blessings,

Lisa

Basic Muffin Mix Recipe

This is a very adaptable basic muffin mix that I use for my family.  I keep the mix in a Tupperware container with the recipe on the label.

18 cups all-purpose flour
6 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups buttermilk blend or nonfat dry milk
6 tablespoons baking powder
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons salt

1 T Cinnamon and 2 T Nutmeg are optional.  I prefer mine without so I have a choice when making a batch.

Store in a large airtight container labeled with the date and contents in a cool, dry place.

Shelf life: 6 to 8 months. Makes enough for about 5 batches of 24 muffins each.

If desired, sugar can be omitted then stir in 1 cup honey for every 24 muffins as you make them.

To make 24 regular size muffins:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Spray Muffin Tins with PAM type spray or use cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, beat:

4 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract or any flavor you would like(Lemon, Almond, Rum, etc.)
2 cups water
1 cup vegetable oil

Stir in 5 1/2 cups muffin mix and any additional (2 C fruit of your choice and/or nuts) ingredients just until moistened.  We love blueberry muffins but this recipe is very versatile-use your imagination for flavor combos. Do not over mix—lumpy is good with muffins!

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.  You can sprinkle top of muffins with large sugar crystals prior to baking—yummy.

 Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown.

Muffins freeze well. To reheat a frozen muffin, microwave on HIGH for 25 seconds.

 

This is a great basic mix.  I hope you  and your family enjoy!

Blessings,

Lisa

Frugal Find of the Week

My frugal find of this week is Angel Soft Tissues.  I was able to print off 4 coupons (using 2 computers) for 75 cents off of one box. The cost of the tissues was $1.34 per box at Wal-Mart so that made them 59 cents per box!  Not a bad price at all.  Saved $3 on 4 boxes of tissues that will come in very handy this winter!  Here is the link:  http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=xighezf24603495&bt=wi&o=103582&pt=&lang=&ws=&ct=&ci=&cl=&cp=&eb=1&c=RB&p=709c7a82-1067-45c5-b3fb-dfdfe047d8cd&z=&r=&pc=&tc=

What bargains have you found this week?

Blessings,

Lisa

Extra Spice Storage

Good Morning! I just wanted to share an idea on how to be more organized in the kitchen. My spice cabinet is full to overflowing these days. So, I needed a way to get the excess off of my countertop and keep my most used spices handy. Here is my solution:

Plastic baskets(thrift store find), magnetic buttons(Walmart), and Quick Grip glue(Walmart)

Just let glue dry and place on the side of the refrigerator.

Now I don't have to duck everytime I open the spice cabinet door! Lol!! This would also be great for storing Kool-Aid packets, individual packets of oatmeal or anything small and light.  Skip the magnets and just hang in the pantry--on the side walls or the back of the door for out of sight storage.  You could also do this to small woven baskets as well. Wouldn't that be pretty! Maybe my next project!

Blessings,
Lisa

Visit my new Sweet Creations by Lisa Blog!

Hi,
Many of you know I love to bake and decorate cakes. Well, I would like to invite you to visit my new Blog--Sweet Creations by Lisa. Here is the link: http://sweetcreationsbylisa.blogspot.com/ 
Hope to have you follow me there!
Thanks so much,
Lisa

"Puttin' Up" as My Grandma Used To Say

         What happens when you are so blessedly given green beans and tomatos?  You put them Up! At least thats what my Grandma used to call it.   Yup, my Uncle H gave me 1.5 bushels of green beans( I was happy to help pick them) and 1.5 bushels of tomatos. Well,  I had never picked beans before and let me tell you it was an experience-- I was and am still so sore from bending over and picking beans.  We did use little chairs to sit on so I guess it could have been worse but my legs and back are killing me not to mention the chiggers all over my arms.   Please remember I sit at a desk 40 hours a week and am not used to picking beans!!  It's ok....you can laugh... with me that is!

  But back to Puttin' Up.  I was able to get 12 quarts and 3 pints of tomatos and 16 quarts of beans canned or Put Up this weekend. 
   I know to some of you that doesn't sound like much but it is the most I have ever accomplished in the canning department.  I mastered the pressure canner(an avocado green monstrosity from Sears and Roebuck from the 70's) that my mom gave me!  This goal has been on my list of skills to learn for over a year so that was a huge accomplishment.  I have put off learning because I was afraid--you know you have heard all of those stories about the canners blowing up. It is so easy though.

  So here are pics of my labor over Labor Day
weekend:                         

 

Oh and I dried banannas in the dehydrator. You can see the finished product in the above pic to the left of the beans on my island. Here they are in the dehydrator.

 

 

Did you know canning is addictive?  I am totally hooked.  Last night(after puttin' up beans most of the day, I was itching to can something else.  It's so fulfilling you know!  So I decided to can some of the 25lbs. of potatos I bought on sale last weekend. 

 I am addicted, I admit it freely!

So I did manage to Put Up quite a bit (for me at least).  What's canning in your kitchen?

Blessings,
Lisa

 

 

 

 

Great deals today!

   

 Today I have gotten many great deals!  Great deals on TP, banannas, and mushrooms and pork tenderloin.  Our local Meijer had a one day sale and my Mom and I got there at 6:30this morning! I was able to get angel soft TP 50% off and then I used coupons on top of that!  Can you say cheap TP?  I picked up 8 lbs. of banannas at 39 cents a lb. Cannot wait to dry most of them.  We love to snack on bananna chips! Got a lb. of mushrooms for $2. Not the best deal but I love mushrooms so I got them.
  Then went to our local County Mkt/IGA and found sliced pork tenderloin for $1.39 per pound.  I bought 7 pkgs. Yummy!!
   My son was off of work today and asked me to go yard saling with him. I found an ugly lane cedar chest filled with dress up clothes and more--Just $5! I am going to paint the chest and add new legs to it.  Cannot beat the price especially considering the Disney princess costumes inside. My Grand baby will love them!!  I have also been looking for Barbie furniture for Jordy for the Barbie house her Mommy is making her for Christmas--it is outrageously expensive on E-bay. I found several pieces in a tub of toys.  I dug them out and asked how much and the guy said I could have them for $1 if I took the whole tub.  So I did. There were 12 TY beanies and 2 newer barbie dolls plus tons of play kitchen stuff!  All  for One Dollar!
  As some of you may know, I decorate cakes.  I have the basics but have not been able to afford some of the more expensive cake decorating toys like an airbrush(which requires a small air compressor).  Guess what I found at another yard sale!  Thats right....a nice aircompressor and an airbrush!!! Only $20 Dollars and the lady gave me the airbrush colors as well.  Score!!!
  At that same yard sale, I bought a 3 piece patio bar set.  Just $20!!!! So I had my brother go pick it up for me. Such a bargain!  I'll post picks when I get everything cleaned up!

So, all in all, I had a great day shopping on the cheap. Have you found any great yard sale bargains?

Blessings,
Lisa

Drying more of your pantry stash!

   Recently there have been very severe storms here and we have lost power several times.  This has had me thinking that I have most of my food storage in freezers.  Freezers that run on electricity.  Freezers full of food that could be lost in an extended power outage. So, I decided to try to dry more food so that in an emergency we wouldn't lose as much of our stash.  I realize the dehydrator takes electric to dry the food but the freezer costs much more to store your foods.

   So, for the last few weeks I have been putting my dehydrator to good use.  I have been trying to empty out my freezers a bit to make room for meats and I had several bags of frozen peas and carrots Did you know you can dry frozen peas and carrots?   It's awesome!  No prep work needed!  Perfect for busy moms!  Drying them is the easiest thing in the world--just let them thaw and then place them on your dehydrator racks and dry on 135 degrees for 6 or so hours.    When they have cooled down, just  put in glass jars to store.  See, I told you, easy peasy!  When they go on sale at the super market. do not freeze them--dry them!!

 

Peas and carrots almost done!

I also picked up some mushrooms reduced at the market.

This is 2 small containers of sliced mushrooms.  Easy peasy as well--no prep required!

I sliced a pound of shortcut carrots I found on sale--this is what they shrunk down to!


   Drying your foods is a great way to preserve your stash.  Now it can be done with no prep needed at all.  It's a win -win! Saves time and money!

Blessings,
Lisa

 



What I've been up to lately!

Hello all,
   It's been a busy time here in our household. All four of my children were born in July, August and September so we party all summer long! In addition to my childrens B-day dinners, I have been getting way more orders for cakes.  In a way that is good--making more money, but it is stressful and takes time away from my Hubby and kids.  I have to admit, I am having fun making the cakes but as I said it is stressful!   
                              Here are the latest cakes:

                                                  This was for my Grandaughter's Birthday!

                         

                                                                    Grad cakes

                                                        Rorie's Birthday cake!

                                                  Kaitlin's Sweet 16 Cake and cupcakes!

                                                        Leah's Cake!  Love Zebra cakes!!!

                                                       Hulk cake!

                                         I made 4 of these for the local high school reunion!!!

 I have several more cakes in the next few weeks so I will post some more pics then!


Hope everyone is enjoying a great summer!

Blessings,
Lisa