Peach Cobbler

Today was a beautiful day.  The weather is warm but there is a nice breeze.  You can sense the cool of fall as the evenings temperatures get lower and the daytime temperatures are no longer scorching.   I had laughing children running about splashing and playing in the water outside.  The end of summer is drawing to a close as the children in our area are about to return to school.  Soon it will be too cool to play in the water.  While they played and had fun I was able to get an outside chore finished which is always a nice feeling.

Once inside I made dinner and baked a delicious peach cobbler for my husband.  We are still enjoying the fresh peaches from the orchard and his favorite is cobbler.  When I went out this evening I stopped at the supermarket and purchased vanilla bean ice cream to go with our cobbler.  We all enjoyed a treat of warm freshly baked cobbler and vanilla ice cream before bed.  What a great ending to a terrific day.

Color

Today we were working in the garage again, our project was to build shelving in our garage.  The garage had never been repainted since the house was built in the 50's.  So a few months ago I started painting the garage in a very subdued and calm green.  I really liked it but I ran out of paint.  Then today I found a very nice blue in the garage and had enough to paint the whole garage without purchasing more.  It was so pretty and cheerful.  I felt very uplifted.  Just from a switch in color.

That is when I started thinking, I don't know if everyone realizes the importance of color and how our minds react to the effects of color in our daily lives.  Not everyone reacts to the same colors in the same manner.  There are some that are energized by red, calmed by blue and green, and feel happy when decorating with yellows and oranges.  Pinks can be peaceful as well as other pastels and bold colors are often thought of for day care centers and primary school.

Color has always been important to me.  I am a very visual person and color affects how I feel.  If I don't like a color I really don't like it.  If I love it I feel so happy and excited about how much I like the color.  If you are wanting an easy change to your living environment the easiest least expensive change is to add color.  Many people are very afraid of paint!  It is nothing to be afraid of.  Just remember as easy as it is to put it on the wall, it's that easy to open another can of a different color and paint over what you just did.  The only requirement would be if you are a renter check with your landlord before painting.  Most actually do not have a problem with painting if you do a neat job and paint it back to the original off white before moving.  Thus a good example of how easy it is to change or "erase" trial and error.

Next time you are walking through the store and see paint samples don't be afraid.  Look at those paint samples and take a few home.  Tape the samples to the wall where you are thinking of painting and see what you think and how the colors change during the course of the day in natural light and lamp light.  Pay attention to how you feel when you look at a color.  If a color makes you feel calm and at peace that would be good in a quiet bedroom or study.  If you feel energized and excited and happy try that in the entertainment area's of your home or kitchen. However these are just suggestions.  Maybe you want to feel energized and alert when you wake up first thing in the morning.  Go with whatever works for you in your home.  That is the most important thing to remember.  You have to be happy in your own environment!  So.... I would like to  inspire and encourage those that haven't experimented with color in their living environments to give color a try!

Fall Is Upon Us

It's here.... fall has arrived at our house.  What a refreshing change.  Yesterday was the first time it was cooler outside than inside and we enjoyed opening the doors.  The air conditioner is officially off I hope for the rest of the season.  This morning I opened the windows to our cats complete delight and snapped a picture of him sunbathing and relaxing this morning.  I do admit I felt a bit of envy toward him just lying in that warm sun with a cool breeze blowing over him and the delicious smell of fall in the air today.

I must have sensed the arrival of fall nearing as I have been decluttering and cleaning my little heart out.  This past month we have decluttered and cleaned quite literally every area of our home including our garage!  We have been able to bless others with items and clothing that we haven't worn or needed that has been taking up space in our closets, being stored, and sitting around our home.  Sometimes when you walk past an item enough times you don't even notice it is there and it's those things that I stopped and looked at and decided it was time for them to bless someone else!  I cannot describe what a freeing feeling it is to release these things from our home.  When you return home now, it's so fresh and clean and relaxing.  I believe when I started focusing largely on purchasing second hand I went through a phase where I was keeping most everything out of fear that I may not find that item again second hand.  Sometimes the transition is difficult.  I have always purchased second hand but supplemented with the stores.  I do purchase if it is important and a need that cannot be put off.  However, I try very hard to find items second hand at flea markets and sales.  When I changed my way of thinking I developed a subtle fear of not finding items should I need to replace them.  Over several years I have accumulated extra things that we will not need.   However, obviously I have put my fears aside and have been able to turn loose of the things I have been keeping just in case.  I have learned a bit more patience with age!  I think that is the key, if something breaks it's not the end of the world, and yes, I can make do until I find a suitable replacement.  All is not lost.  Years ago I would have been out that moment finding a replacement.  The peace and tranquility and calm I have now I would not trade for a single item I sent to donation and friends.  I do not regret getting rid of a single thing.  I do wish I was able to do it sooner, however at the same time I'm glad that I learned something new about myself and sometimes that takes time.

Another sure sign of fall is the arrival of peaches!  Our wonderful neighbor brings back bushels of peaches from the peach groves when they go on vacation.  I will be making cobblers and jams and we will enjoy fresh peaches all week.  We are so very grateful to them for doing this since we have moved here.  I wish for everyone to be surrounded by lovely neighbors as wonderful as we have been blessed with.  You could not ask for anything more.

Crepes

Some days are destined to be the sort of day spent resting and relaxing.  From the moment you open your eyes you can just sense it.  Today was one of those days.  It felt really good to just relax and enjoy the day.   

On Sunday mornings I  usually spend time sewing with a friend.  It is a special time chatting and catching up from the week.  This Sunday however, she was unable to visit so I spent some time quietly cutting out denim circles for the quilt I'm working on.  The pile is steadily growing. Soon I will start sewing them together.  I'm excited to get the quilt to that point.

When everyone had awoke I decided it was a good morning to make a big batch of crepes.   The children have friends over this weekend so I had lots of hungry tummy's to feed. 

 

We all enjoyed Peach Crepes with a dollop of whip cream on the top.  They were delicious!  Don't be intimidated to give them a try, crepes are every bit as easy to make as pancakes. The batter is much thinner and pours easily.  I prefer mine in butter which when left a light bit longer in the pan has a nice buttery crunch on the edges.  They are just excellent!  I have included the recipe below for you to try.  You can use any filling you choose inside.  I usually use either peaches or bananas.  Whichever I have on hand works just fine.  I hope you too are enjoying a nice relaxing Sunday!

Crepes:

1 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
1c. milk
2 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt

Beat eggs together in a bowl using a whisk, add milk and whisk together.  Add flour slowly working in with whisk, then add sugar.  After mixed together add vanilla and salt.  Batter will be thin and runny.  In a hot skillet melt several pats of butter.  Pour batter into skillet.  Cook for 2-3 min on each side until set.  I choose to slightly brown mine for a nice buttery crunch.

Filling:
Melt 3-4TBSP of butter in a pan, cut up banana slices (or peaches) into the pan and allow to saute' for a while.  Add in 1/3 c. brown sugar.  This will heat up together and start to caramelize.  Lower heat to warm and use a small spoon full of topping in a line in the middle of the crepe.  Fold crepe over filling and roll up.  Place seam side down on serving plate and put a dollop of whip cream on the top. Yields 5-6 servings.  Enjoy!

Simple Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti in our house is a perfect meal to put together when guests drop in.  Most children love it and it is so simple to make.  I never panic or feel antsy when it is meal time and I have unexpected  guests.  I invite them to stay for supper and put on a big pot of spaghetti.  No it's not elaborate but that's not the point.  Sharing a delicious tasting meal and enjoying the company of good friends is the point.  Spaghetti it is!  I can easily add as little or as much ingredients to feed everyone that happens to be in our home at meal time.  Usually the ingredients I need for a meal I have on hand.  Mmmm, I can smell the sauce simmering away on the stove right now, the hint of garlic in the air, and I can see the golden color of the noodles in the boiling water.  The kids come in one by one saying "Yum! What's for dinner?"

Simple Spaghetti Sauce

1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 TBSP. each of Oregano, Basil, Rosemary ground *
1 onion minced
1 TBSP. very thinly diced garlic
1 lb. ground beef

In a large sauce pan, brown ground beef, drain if necessary.  Add onion and garlic.  Saute' for a few minutes until onions start to become clear.  Add freshly ground spices and sauce.  Simmer in pan for 5-10 min. Giving the flavors a chance to meld.  Enjoy!

* I use dried herbs.  Then I put them in an electric coffee grinder just before using them in my recipe's.  It releases the flavor so much more and is very finely ground.  I use this grinder only for this purpose.

Recycled Jean Quilt

I love jeans.  To me there is nothing more comfortable than my favorite pair of jeans.  They fit just right and I feel so relaxed.  However when they start to wear out it is so hard for me to just "toss" them.  I saved jeans up for a while several years back and made a square patch work style denim quilt out of them.  I really liked it but it lacked a bit in design.  I thought about using dark and light denim to create a Trip Around The World effect with them using square patches.  However, I decided that I wanted something totally different than using squares this time.  So I started searching online for a denim quilt that had a design element to it.  That is when I found Blue Jeans Quilt Gallery.  The pattern is called Circle Blue Jeans Quilt from Doreen in Bismark, North Dakota.  Here is the address www.equilters.com/library/jeans/jeans_gallbaros.html .  I am not going to re-invent the wheel and explain how to make this quilt.  Please visit the link and read all about it and view the finished quilt picture she has there.  Her directions are excellent and well thought out. It's surprisingly easy to assemble and the finished results are beautiful!

circles cut from the denim

I was very excited to find this pattern.  It reminds me of the quilt pattern Attic Window.  In the photo above you can see the variation of color from different jeans I have used.  My kids are excited as well because there is denim from our whole family that will make this quilt.

If you want a project that you can involve little ones in, this is a great quilt for that.  My children have both helped trace the circles, as well as cut them out.  It is a very simple process.  I will warn you that you do not get a lot of circles from a pair of jeans.  I might get 12 circles from an adult pair and only 6-8 from a childrens pair.  Denim skirts would yield more because you most likely won't have as many seams.

After I have cut circles out from the jeans I try to get as many squares from the remaining fabric as I can.  I use the square template.  I am thinking of making a border with these pieces if I don't decide to use them in some of the circles for the center.  My daughter's have favorite jeans that have embroidery on them and so I have tried to cut some of these patterns out of their jeans to incorporate into the quilt for them.

This is a close up of the stack of circles I have sitting on my treadle in the dining room.  I try to cut circles for a while each night and have enjoyed watching the stack climb higher and higher and  really like seeing the variation of blue's.  Eventually I hope to have enough cut to make a quilt big enough for our family of four to use for outdoor events.  Happy sewing!

Reducing Clutter

We have to work very hard around here to keep clutter to a minimum.  Currently I'm accepting a clutter challenge on a forum I belong to.  I've been dragging my feet about it all summer long.  With school about to start and chaos consuming the kids rooms I cannot put it off any longer!  There are a few things that really help when I am on a decluttering mission.  I have found that when I am cleaning a room and trying to clear clutter I keep a bag for trash, a bag to donate and one for clothing.  We donate clothing and misc. to two different places.  I wait about a week and go through that same room again.  When I am working on a room the first time through sometimes because I am removing so much I get soft or just worn out and don't get rid of as much as I should.  This is particularly when I am working in the kids rooms.  I am able to go back through and fine tune the room again the next week and get it worked down to a bare minimum.  I have found that if I skip the second round in a room, it collects clutter faster than if I just clean it once.  The other major thing that helps reduce clutter in our home is to not bring it in!  Simple I know but I have to ignore the impulse in me that thinks we might be able to use an object somewhere. After the last few garage sales I have realized that a lot of what I bring in I am turning around and selling or donating it because I really don't have a place for it anyway.  I also tend to stick to the same decorating style I have had for years.  So when I see things that don't "fit" my home I leave it there.  I also have no more room for anything else so if I bring it home I have to get rid of something else.  Guess what?  I have decided that I like everything I have and have stopped bringing more home!   It has to be really special to add to our home.

Lately I have realized and don't really want to know, just how many years of my time I have spent picking up and cleaning the same things over and over and over.  I don't even like a lot of these things.  It's time for them to go.  I have also stopped attaching sentiment to things.  Sure I have special pieces of furniture passed down, and other special things but not everything is special!  Yes, we have had items  since the kids were little but I can't possibly keep everything that we purchased for them since they were born.  Who am I keeping it for anyway?  I certainly wouldn't have wanted everything my mom had purchased for me.  So here's to you and yours as you go about your cleaning routines and those of you working on reducing clutter around your homes.  I hope a few of the things that have helped me are of help to you.  The biggest help will be the peace and calm you have when you walk through your newly decluttered home and feel the stress melt away.  I enjoy nothing more than the soothing feeling of a clean home.

My Journey Back to Being a Homemaker

Choosing to stay at home is a topic very near and dear to my heart.  After returning to school last semester to finish my college education I realized very clearly how much I missed being here.  I wasn't the only one!  My family struggled as well.  While I was busy studying they tried hard to adapt and did an excellent job.  I worked very hard on my schooling and received high marks which assured me that if I did indeed find myself in future years wanting to return to school I would be successful.  However, I knew that my heart  belonged at home.  So just as I had geared up to be away from home, I am gearing down to return to the peacefulness of taking care of my family.

Cooking, sewing, mending, the list goes on.  It all went out the window while I was gone most days and studying during every other moment.  My family missed all the things that I was able to do for them while I was home.  I was exhausted and we all missed the peace, calm, and routines that kept our house running smoothly.  I felt like a weight was on my chest all summer long anxious over returning once again to school this fall.  I discussed this many nights with my husband who was supportive of whatever choice I wanted to make.  He knew how I felt about finishing my education and having a career that allowed me to be home in the summers with our children. He also knew how important it was to me to nurture and support and take care of our home and family.  I had endured years of peer pressure both intentional and unintentional from friends and family to work outside of our home.  I can remember being asked soon after our oldest daughter was born when I was going to work.  I felt saddened and guilty that maybe I should also be making a wage.  I was raised by a stay at home mom and knew that being at home to take care of my family was important.   I had originally planned on returning to work before our daughters birth but knew as soon as she was born I could not.  I was fully supported in this decision by my husband.  We were willing to make any sacrifice that we needed to, to make sure that I could be at home with our children.   Over the years and after both of our children were in school I continued to get questions about working.  I have worked part time various times through the years but only took part time jobs that allowed for the children to be home with my husband while I was at work.  When they started school I didn't mind working a few days while they were in school.  I thought it would be fun and a great way to earn extra earnings.  However, I gradually started needing someone to watch them more and more as my hours increased when he was not home.  I did not like this and stopped working so that I could be here with them.  No amount of extra earnings was worth having a babysitter stay with my children when I could and wanted to be home with them instead.

 I thought I had a solution for being home and helping earn a wage.  My passion was education and being a teacher would be a career I would love.  It would also allow me to spend my summers and vacation with the children.  I would also feel better about not earning a wage, and I would be helping provide for our family and the expenses.  However soon after I starting school I realized no matter how much I thought I had prepared for being so occupied with school, I didn't realize to what extent it would effect all of our lives.  I began to feel worse than ever knowing that I was preparing to have a career that would take me away from being at home until I retired.  Even if I was home during the summers.  That is when I sought the guidance of my husband.  He knows me better than anyone and listened to my concerns.  He was comforting,  yet still wanted to let me make a decision on my own.  He wanted to make sure I decided what was best for me so that I was happy with my decision. He was supportive either way.   He did however ease my guilt.   No matter what I decided I was not to worry about feeling guilty from others.   I was finally able to let go of the guilt  that I have been feeling all these years! This is where I feel I belong and made the decision to return home.  I have peace in that decision and am blessed to have such a wonderful and supportive spouse.  I am excited to be able to fully turn my attention once again to all things home.

 
I have left it all behind and look forward with anticipation to the years ahead of me.  All the weight I felt on my chest is gone!  There is a lot to catch up on around here but with time I will catch up, and get back into my routines and the enjoyment I get from working around my home.  I'm not in a hurry, I'm not going anywhere and I can avoid the stress of rushing around now.  I find great satisfaction from baking breads, cleaning my home, hanging the laundry to dry on the line, sewing goods for our home, and cleaning the floors.  I do all of these things out of love for my family and keep my home tidy with joy. Even though I was only gone a semester, it was a window for me into a world that I have no desire to be part of.  I also realize that some may have a choice but have the same feelings of guilt to earn a wage as I did. I want to encourage anyone that would like to be at home and you are able to, to return home and be strong against the guilt you might be feeling.  There is so much  joy and satisfaction from being at home.  Do not let those that make remarks from their own dissatisfaction and unhappiness in their own lives determine how you live your own.

I am so very grateful that I did not continue toward a career and spend the next years until retirement at work when I have the choice to be at home.  I know this is where I am supposed to be and have the blessing of a spouse that is fully supportive of my choice to nurture and support my family at home.  These are very special days while the children are still young, and I am so thankful that I will not  be spending them in frustration and eager for time to myself so I  can study.  Instead I look forward to them returning home from school, listening patiently about their day, and devoting time to them and I have no where else to be than here, being a mom and wife and totally loving it!

Saving the Good China

Our black set of table service, did just that served us well for many years.   My mother in law warned me of the scratches and marks a black set would get but I didn't care.  I knew I wanted black.

Here they are all stacked up ready for our upcoming sale.

 We loved the sleek black color and I could never imagine using any other color for our table service.  I accent with black throughout our home and always find a way to tuck a splash of black in here and there.  To me it's a soothing calm color.  Some argue it's the absence of color that is what is calming to the eye.  It  gives your eyes a place to rest.  Well just as the color gives the eye's a rest.  The dishes will be also going to rest, in another cabinet!

 Those that know me well, know how much I strive to release clutter and try very diligently to asses things in our home to keep from filling our home to the gills with "stuff".  So how you might ask, could I possibly part with something that has been a part of our lives for so many years when it seems that I'm so attached to them?  Lest you think I'm being hasty, in my quest for reducing "stuff" let me share with you a little story.

While shopping the rummage sales a year or so ago.  I stopped at a friends sale and she had this beautiful set at a very handsome price.

A beautiful Currier & Ives service.  I couldn't leave them there.  I purchased them to use at Christmas and promptly stored them carefully in the pantry.  Christmas came and I didn't want to fuss with getting them down since it was just the four of us.  While preparing for our upcoming sale I remembered the dishes in the top of the pantry.  I had been saving them for a Christmas Dinner when we have visitors.  We seldom have visitors on Christmas Day so I made the decision to sell them so someone else could use the good china for their Christmas meal, and I would have more pantry space in the process.  I didn't feel I needed a set of dishes that never left the pantry no matter how much I liked them!  My youngest daughter scaled the shelves of the pantry and handed down the dishes a plate at a time.  I in turn handed them to my oldest to place on the kitchen island.

 I began to hear ooh's and ahh's from the youngest and squeal's of delight as she realized that each dish piece had a different picture.  I heard from my oldest daughter as she excitedly asked me if I had saw the picture on "this" one.  It was then that I myself realized that I had not noticed that each piece had a different depiction of scenery on it.

The more I looked at the dishes the more the wheels started turning.  About that time my youngest was asking if we could eat off of "these" dishes.  I told her that I had purchased them for Christmas.  However, I was already feeling that cozy feeling when you realize you have stumbled across something that was meant to be.  She was still pulling down dishes and excitedly telling me about them as she handed me more.  I looked up and asked her if she would like to use these dishes instead of our black set.  "Yes!" she replied.  I turned to ask her sister what she thought, who gave me a big smile and a thumbs up.  She was studying a plate I had earlier handed to her.

We left the final vote for my husband when he returned home from work.  When he came in the door the girls bounded to him and pulled him excitedly to see the "new" dishes.  They bubbled with excitement as they told him of the plan.  He came to examine them and said he also liked them.  I like the girls were also excited about all the different designs and pictures. 

I had another reason to be excited as well.  What I thought was a set of winter scene dishes that I purchased to use with company, actually was a seasonal display of a collection of beautiful depictions.  What was originally intended to be used for a special occasion is finally being used for just that.  Dinner every night with the most cherished and special people of all.  My beautiful little family of four.  There they were, carefully tucked away being saved for a special occasion when the time was right and my eyes were open.  The good china.

Packaging Ground Beef

When I purchase meat from the supermarket I always repackage it.  I try to purchase it for the best price I can find then buy up a large amount and repackage it into smaller amounts.  There are several advantages to repackaging.  The first one for me is that it allows me to use a smaller quantity as I need it without having to thaw a large chunk of ground meat and quickly use it.  Once meat has been thawed you should not freeze it again.  It also makes the meat last longer in the freezer when it is packaged in freezer bags so it will not get freezer burnt or spoiling so quickly.  Lastly it takes the guesswork out of the amount of meat in the package.  I simply open the freezer and take out a bag of meat and know immediately how much I have in my hand.  For those that would like to try this it is an excellent way of saving money because you do not have waste from unused portions of meat in the tray going bad in the refrigerator.

There are times when I purchase meat from the butcher when it is available and at a good price.  Other times I purchase from the supermarket.  When you get meat from the butcher you can specify how many lbs of ground you would like per package. 

To package meat from the supermarket on trays, I get a large bowl and stack all  of the meat trays up beside the bowl, then place the trash next to me.  I wash my hands and open the first tray, throw the plastic wrap in the trash, and dump the ground meat into the bowl, then place the Styrofoam tray in the sink.  I continue this until I have opened all the trays.  I wash my hands, rinse off all the trays and run a sink full of hot soapy water for them to soak in.  Wash my hands again.... and set out sandwich size plastic seal able bags.  I set one on the kitchen scale and fill it with ground meat until it weights .75 lb.  I continue filling bags like this until all the meat is used.  Then I wash my hands again.... I squeeze the air out of the bags and then seal them and flatten them down so they will store in the freezer flat.  Next I clean up the counters with hot soapy water, wash the large bowl well, and wash the trays well.  The trays make excellent paint trays for kids or crafts.  I have found that I do not notice the difference between using a 1 lb. of meat vs. .75 of a lb.  If it is a dish that needs a lot of meat like meatloaf I will use two packages.

Here are the clean trays and bowl, and finished ground ready for the freezer along with the kitchen scale I used.  I bought almost 13.25 lbs of meat and was able to pkg 17, .75lb packages!

Six 1/2 Meals vs. One Month

It is very easy to grab a quick meal and not think about the cost when you are in a hurry.  In the summer months especially we eat out more than any other time of the year for a variety of reasons.  In the scope of things I am much more frugal than I have ever been in my adult life, but I still have plenty of room for improvement.  As I have posted previously, my food system keeps me on budget and I will spend much less on food than eating out for sure. 

With the new school year quickly approaching, and our household schedule about to go from the lazy days of summer to chaotic, it's time for me to stop loafing around and buckle down and get my menu on track.  I had become sidetracked this past month due to summer traveling.

To get back on track, I started by making a menu, checked the pantry for the items I needed and made my shopping list.  I visited a market this week that I don't usually shop in.  I was comparing prices which I like to do occasionally to touch base with what other supermarkets have to offer.  I did not find them to my liking and went to my normal market to finish my shopping.  Between the two markets this is what I purchased for my menu for the month.

I will be purchasing additional milk and bread and a couple dozen eggs from another market.  There are trays of ground beef not pictured, and *gasp* yes, those are boxed dinners you see!   On nights when I am studying and things are crazy my dh or I can make a box dinner.  It's still much more economical than eating fast food.  I used to think that serving a box meal to my family after being a stay at home mom was horrible.  Surely I could find the time somehow to make every meal from scratch...  I have since stopped worrying about trying to juggle it all and let June Cleaver go back to TV Land.  Trying to be "perfect" was wearing me out. Simply concentrate on doing the best I can with the crazy schedules we have and put dinner on the table is what matters right now.  In a perfect world every single meal would be home cooked with love.  Well, this is for all of you that struggle with this too.  It may not be made from scratch, but it is cooked at home, with love for anyone dining with us!  It is what I can do and... we are sticking to our budget and not eating out yet another budget breaking meal.  

So how many meals can I get from the food I purchased plus what I had in the pantry, and what did I spend????  Lets do a breakdown;  I spent $150.93 on food and plan to spend an approximately $20.00 more for eggs, milk and bread. I will spend approximately  170.93 on food this month. From the menu alone  I will be able to make the following meals and serve these dishes for our family of four two adults, and two children with left overs.  The number in front of the dish is how many times our family will be able to eat this meal.  The boxed dinner's are not listed.  They are for nights when I am not cooking unexpectedly.  The average per meal is approximately $5.03 purely from what I spent divided by 30.  This is intentionally a very rough estimate to illustrate a point.

On the way home from the market I stopped to purchase fast food for the four of us since it was near a meal time.  The total for the four of us for ONE meal was 26.44.  One entree each, and two large drinks and two med. sides to share.  With the items in my pantry from past bargain shopping and pantry stocking I am making 30 main meals this month not including the breakfast, snack, and lunch supplies I have on hand as well.

If we ate the meal I stopped and bought for $26.44 roughly 6 1/2 times it would equal the cost of our grocery bill that I am spending this month!  If that doesn't make you stop and think....  When I  am finding myself starting to get off track I will remember this and keep myself in line!

I planned these meals:

2-Spinach Manicotti
2-Hungry Man Crock pot
3-Fred's Favorite Meatloaf
2-Crock  Pot Chuck Roast
2-Quiche
2-Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole
2-Prospector Stew
2-Cajun Rice and Sausage
1-Chicken Quesadillas
1-Tomato Pie
3-Goulash
2-Stuffed Green Peppers
1-Spaghetti with meat sauce
2-Hungry Man Crock pot
3-Chicken Noodle Soup with mashed potatoes

3 Keys To A Successful Food System

There are numerous ways to stretch your hard earned dollars but today I'm going to focus on one easy method.  Food.  There are several key components to successfully cooking at home to help you apply your money to either paying down bills or putting that money into savings.

1. Pantry
2. Menu Planning
3. Stocking up

1.  My pantry is vital to my menu planning.

The pantry we have in our house is a closet that my husband built sturdy shelving on to hold heavy canned goods and jars.  I have canned goods, bake goods, my jelly's and things I have canned are hidden from the light behind the canned goods to keep them longer.  On the floor are bakers tubs that hold rice, beans, and wheat berries for baking.  I also have paper goods that looks untidy on top of the tubs at the floor level.  The thing that helps me above all else is that I have things organized in sections like you would a supermarket.  I can open the doors and at a glance know if I have what I need for a recipe.  We try to write down when we have used the last of something or are low.  My husband is really good about letting me know that we are low as he knows I count on my pantry for my  meal planning.  Your pantry doesn't have to be like mine.  ANY space that you have will work.  Start small, when you find that you need more space see what you can move around in your home to create more storage.  You can use a folding table with tubs underneath with food, throw some fabric on the top and you have a hidden pantry that serves as a buffet table!  Try recycled bookshelves.  You can place this in your dinning room as it is or if you don't like seeing the items use fabric as a "door" to your shelving.  There are many options.  Think outside the box, don't limit yourself.  Your pantry is saving you money and letting you put that money in other places and savings!  Don't be shy about it.  I started with very clumsy metal shelving out in the open.  The shelves tended to sag but it worked and we were able to store a lot of food on those shelves.

2. Menu Planning.  This is just as important as the other two key's to saving money on food.  When I don't have a menu, I have a failed system.  I get into trouble when it's dinner time and I don't have a plan.  If we are in town that's when we eat out.  Or if we are home that's when we start scrambling for "something" to eat.  This is not detailed, I can devote an entire post to menu planning later.  I gather my recipes and pick several  out that I want to make for the month.  Then I check the pantry and kitchen cabinets and make a grocery list for the remaining ingredients I do not have.  I plan on leftovers so I do not need to make meals each and every day.  I am planning for my main meals when making my menu.  I usually have simple food on hand for lunches or we eat leftovers at lunch or a sandwich or something.

3. Stocking Up.  There is more to having a pantry than simply purchasing a bunch of food and putting it in your shelves to overflowing.  Yes, it's nice to have plenty in case of emergency, guests, and not having to run to town to go to the supermarket for forgotten items.  However, watching for sales will make the most of your pantry.  Watch the prices in the supermarket you frequent.  Visit other markets in your area.  You might be surprised to learn another market has better prices and by driving a little further it is worth your while.  At any rate.  Watch the prices on items you frequently purchase.  When you see those things go on sale and you feel it warrants stocking up on to save you money in the future that is when you would purchase in bulk and your pantry will come in handy!  Over time you will add more and more items that you have purchased in bulk and stocked  up on for later when there is no sale.  Some people choose to use coupons instead of sales.  They wait until they have coupons and stock up on items.  With careful planning you may even be able to use a coupon during a sale for additional savings.  Whatever method works best for you and your family that helps you save money at the supermarket is the method you should use.

These three key components help me save money on food, and provide a nourishing meal at home.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

In the excitement of a good buy on peanut butter, I decided to make Chocolate No-Bake Cookies.  I soon discovered that I was out of milk and decided to improvise by using condensed milk.  I have never tried using condensed milk in place of milk in a recipe and the combination of being up late and other measurements going on my measurement of liquids quadrupled the batch of No-Bakes!

I was a bit nervous as I have never made this quantity in this pan.  Slowly but surely I got the oats worked in and thankfully turned out a delicious batch of cookies....

Eight dozen actually!  This batch I experimented by adding a splash of almond extract and it gives it a very pleasant flavor.  I was delighted with the results and of course everything taste's better when you share with a friend!  I had plenty to store for later, for my family, and as a treat for my guest coming over in the morning.  In the spirit of sharing here is the recipe for Chocolate No-Bake Cookies that I use in our home;

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

2c. sugar

6 Tbsp. Cocoa (powdered)

1 Stick butter

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

pinch of salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 c. dry oatmeal

pinch cinnamon (optional)

Roll out either aluminum foil or wax paper onto a clean surface.

Pre-measure the peanut butter, salt, vanilla, and oatmeal to add to pan after bringing ingredients to a boil.

Bring the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk to a rolling boil.  Boil for 1 full minute.  After 1 minute add pre-measured ingredients and stir into pot.  Remove from heat and with a spoon, spoon large drops of cookie mixture onto foil or wax paper.  Allow to cool and enjoy!

note: For some this recipe is hard to master.  Don't get discouraged!  You have to get the cooking time just right.  When it is winter here I have a harder time and cook my mixture slightly longer so they set up correctly.  Be careful though, too long and they will be crumbly, however this makes for delicious ice cream crumb toppings!