4-30-10

Last night I browsed through about 5 of
my garden library books. I feel like I am
studying for a test! AHHHH! So much to learn,
brain going into overload.

__________________________________________________

Just back from yard saling which sucked
as there weren't very many.

2 yard sticks .10 cents each



boot & shoe scraper .75 cents
looks like a porcupine with bristles
on top. Use to brush mud off shoes outside.



Sign that says,
"take off your shoes or scrub the floor" .50 cents
I'm starting to collect these cute and quirky signs.
Need to put this by the porcupine boot brush thing!
These sign go for $8 on up at Bob Evans.




Child wire shoe rack.
Holds 4 pairs of shoes plus
has 2 wire baskets underneath. $1.00



Train steam engine radio $2.00
For Christopher.
Looks like this one HERE.




A large plastic bag of yarn, twine & string $1.00
running out of twine for garden area so am stocking up!




HUGE basket $2.00
Want to line with plastic, fill with dirt
and put flowers in it for the outside
flower bed in the middle of the yard.




Trans Am ball cap .50 cents




__________________________________________________

12:30pm

Gonna get a nap in before the weekend starts.
Tonight we'll be scrapping. Tony collects
metals at work and we take them to be scrapped
to make a few extra bucks. We've got
3 air conditioners along with brass and copper
to cut up. You make more money per pound if
you clean up the metals of sauder and other
bolts and adapters that may be attached to them.

One summer we tore apart 850 to 880 furnaces.
Lot of work and it was a very hot summer in the
high 90's to 100's!! But we reaped the rewards
as the copper was price high per pound,
about $2.00 plus. So making $700 to $1,100
on the side per week that Summer for about
3 months was SO GREAT!!! So never frown upon
a scrapper that rolls by with what appears to
be junk in his truck. Sometimes that scrapper
is making big bucks! Probably more than you're
bringing home in 2 or 3 paychecks!!
Sure do miss that money. But we couldn't do
anything else to have fun. We worked hard at it
everyday. If you left stuff lingering another
scrapper was nearby ready to swoop it out from
underneath you, stealing your stash!

Current prices per pound from
Recycling Exchange North, Inc.

Item $ per #

Aluminum Cans 0.60
Steel Cans .00
Red Brass 1.40
Yellow Brass 1.10
Copper
Bare Bright 2.75
Copper #1 2.60
Copper #2 2.45
Copper #3 2.25
Insulated
Copper Wire #1 1.40
Insulated
Copper Wire #2 1.00
Auto Radiator 1.20
Aluminum Radiator 0.45
Aluminum/Copper
Radiator 1.25
Aluminum Mix 0.44
Aluminum Extrusion 0.48 - 0.62
Aluminum Siding 0.60
Aluminum Clip 0.55
Aluminum Cast 0.45
Alum Cast Wheels 0.60
Stainless 0.50
Steel & Iron 0.00
Catalytic Converters 5.00 - 40.00
Newspaper 0.00
Litho Printing Plates 0.60
Corrugated Cardboard 0.00
__________________________________________________

I like to put recipes I find of interest on here.
If I write them down they seem to disappear.
So it may seem like a lot of recipes but I guess
it's for my own reference when I want to search
for it again and it's easy to find.

I'm trying really hard to make from scratch where
I can. When it comes to sugar free food those
seem to cost lots more in the stores so why
not make it yourself for much cheaper.

SUGAR FREE FREEZER JAM

2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. water
2 c. fresh strawberries, or fruit of your choice, washed & diced
Sugar substitute to equal 1 c. sugar
1 env. unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch

Combine lemon juice, water, gelatin and cornstarch in a saucepan. Heat slowly, stirring constantly, until gelatin and cornstarch dissolves. Add fruit to gelatin mixture. Heat to boiling point over low heat, stirring constantly. Boil berries 3 minutes. (Other fruit may take longer.) Remove from heat and add sugar substitute. Pour into heat proof jars and cover. Let set at room temperature until cooled. Store in refrigerator or freeze.

-------------------------

Single-Serve Diabetic Marmalade
# Oranges.

Oranges.
Ingredients:

2 navel oranges
2 lemons
1 pt. water
½ oz. powdered gelatin
¼ cup Splenda

Cut the rind from both the oranges and lemons. Make sure to remove the entire white part. Cut the rind and pulp into small pieces. Place them in a pan with 1 pt. of water and boil gently for about 30 minutes. Cook longer if the pulp and rind are not yet tender. Add the Splenda and gelatin. Remove the pot from heat. While hot, put into a glass jar.

-----------------------

Microwaveable, Sugar-Free Orange Marmalade
# Orange Marmalade

Orange Marmalade
4 large oranges
4 cups Splenda

Yield 4 pt.

Prepare the oranges by removing the peel. Make sure to cut the white part away from the peel. Cut orange into chunks, remove the seeds. Place peels and orange chunks into a food processor and pulse until the pieces are small and uniform in size. Add Splenda and pulse again.

Place the mixture into a microwave-safe glass bowl and cook on high for two minutes. Stir, and return to the microwave. Cook again for another 2 minutes. Stir again. Repeat this process for a total of four times. Do not let the marmalade overflow. Transfer it to glass jars and seal them. Store in the refrigerator.

----------------------

Sugar Free Strawberry Jiffy Jam Recipe

Ingredients

* 2 CUP STRAWBERRIES
* 1 CUP COLD WATER
* 1 3-OZ PKG STRAWBERRY GELATIN - SUGAR - FREE


Directions

1. IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN CRUSH BERRIES
2. ADD WATER AND GELATIN ,MIX WELL OVER MED HEAT
3. BRING MIX TO A BOIL,STIRRING CONTANLY
4. REDUCE HEAT TO LOW AND SIMMER FOR 2 MINS
5. POUR INTO JARS AND ALLOW TO COOL AND THEN COVER
6. CANBE STORED UP TO 2 WEEKS OR FROZEN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS

-----------------------------------

EASY ICE CREAM (SUGAR FREE)

12-18 packets Equal
5 eggs
1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla
2 pkg. instant sugar free pudding
1 can evaporated milk

Depending on how sweet you like your ice cream.

Mix together all ingredients and freeze. Change flavors of pudding for different flavors of ice cream.

___________________________________________________

Didn't do the scrapping thang tonight.
Tony got a call out for emergency
maintenance and afterwards we were too pooped to pop.
Might head to bed and grab a few more books
to browse through.

There's never enough hours in a day
to get everything done.

4-19-10

Went over to Khol's this morning to use
the last $10 off $10 or more coupon
before it expired on the first.
I got mom a necklace for mother's day.
It was originally $24 marked down to 14.75
then minus the $10 coupon made it $4.75.
I saved $20!

I stopped in Big Lots in search of some
flower seeds. I know I saw they had seeds
earlier this year but I'll be darned if
I could find them today.

11:00am

Just got home. Threw ingredients in the
bread machine to make some rolls and
hamburger/hot dog buns. I love my
bread machine since it does all the
work for you. But lately I just let
it mix, knead and rise the dough then
remove it to bake in the oven.

Here is the recipe I used:

* 1-1/2 cups water
* 1/4 cup oil (.10 cents)
* 2 tablespoons Honey or brown sugar (.02 cents)
* 2 teaspoons salt (.01 cent)
* 4 cups unbleached bread flour or whole wheat flour (.32 cents)
* 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (.10 cents)

TOTAL COST TO MAKE: .55 cents

Layer the ingredients into the bread machine pan in the order given. Set the bread machine onto the Dough Cycle. Press Start. When the dough is done mixing and rising, divide it into 16 equal pieces. Roll the pieces of dough into balls and flatten slightly. Arrange them on an oiled cookie sheet sprayed. Let them rise for about 30 minutes, or until doubled in size. Bake at 400° for about 20 minutes. Serve hot, or allow to cool and use as burger buns. I usually brush the tops of the buns with a little oil, to keep them soft. These are Fred’s absolutely favorite rolls in the whole wide world. Very soft, and very good. By using this recipe to make your own burger buns, you save at least $2 per batch. Add the quality, improved flavor, and convenience of not having to go to the store, and you’ve got a real winner of a recipe. Makes 16 rolls.

_________________________________________________

Tonight's supper will be stuffing,
mashed potatoes topped with chicken & gravy.
Corn on the cob and buttered rolls.

$1.29 Chicken breast
.50 cents Stuffing
.50 cents mashed Potatoes
.79 cents canned gravy
.48 cents 2 corn of the cob
.15 cents rolls

TOTAL COST: $3.93
serves 5 @ .78 cents a serving

After topping the
pizza yesterday with the chicken I still managed
to get a gallon zip bag full of chicken for
other meals. It's so nice to have meats cooked
ahead of time. Just take out of the freezer
and thaw.

___________________________________________________

Well it's almost 11:30am
I think I might get started on reupholstering
a couple more chairs.

-------------------------------

12:3opm

I got 2 more chairs done.
Only 3 more to go, but that will
be another day!

I'm loving this fabric! It takes
these chair from being formal, which
we are not, to fun and playful
with the bold colors.
Plus I don't think dirt will show up
as much on this fabric compared
to the cream colored fabric.

TOTAL COST FOR DINING SET MAKEOVER...
a whopping .25 cents, a whole QUARTER!





___________________________________________________

1pm

The dough is done.
I divided it up into 12 rolls
and 5 hamburger buns.
They are currently sitting on the counter
with a towel over them allowing them
to rise more.
I will bake them this evening.


___________________________________________________

4:00pm

The dough has finished rising.
Getting ready to start supper and pop
these rolls and hamburger buns in the oven.
Will freeze the leftover rolls and buns.
I want to make sloppy joes or pulled pork
sandwiches next week.




___________________________________________________




Today while at Khol's mom wanted me to pick
out something for mother's day. I just can't
stand to get something at stores at full price!
I just cringe. I told her tomorrow is yard sale
day so I'll just pick something up at the sales
instead.

These below are ones I found in the
Northland News.

RUMMAGE & BAKE SALE
May 6,7,8
thurs & Fri 9-5
Sat. 10-2

Christ International Church
382 E. Weber Rd.
Use rear entrance

-----------------------------------------

GARAGE SALE
6445 Karl Rd.
Fri & Sat. 8-4

__________________________________________________

After supper I started working on making
the strawberry jam. I have one problem, Tony
wants some and that means finding a way to
make it sugar-free.

So here is a recipe I'm gonna try.
I have read that jello jams consistancy
isn't the same as regular jam.
But I gotta do what I gotta do and will
let you know how it turns out.
Notice this jam is only good 1 week
compared to a regular jam at 3 weeks in the
fridge. So I suggest making it in smaller
containers when you freeze it if you don't
plan to go through that much in a weeks time.

Sugar Free Strawberry Jam

(makes about 3 cups)

My friend's mother-in-law gave me this recipe and a small container of the jam. It tastes like fresh strawberries and will be wonderful to take out of the freezer one cold winter day to spread on morning toast.
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 cup cold water
1 0.3 ounce package sugar free strawberry flavored gelatin

1. In a large saucepan, crush the berries and combine with the water and gelatin. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes.
2. Pour into sterilized 1-cup freezer containers or jars. Allow to cool and cover. Store in refrigerator for 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Per 1-tablespoon serving:
3 calories (0% calories from fat),
0 protein, 0 total fat (0 saturated fat),
1 g carbohydrate,
0 dietary fiber,
0 cholesterol,
4 mg sodium,
12 mg potassium
Diabetic exchanges: FREE

___________________________________________________

I just wanted to add that we had the rolls
with supper. They turned out wonderful!!
They were big like something from a restaraunt
not something you buy from the stores all
smushed together in a small package!

ROLL


HAMBURGER BUNS


___________________________________________________

What goes better with strawberry jam than
some english muffins! Sound yummy.
So my next recipe I want to make is....

ENGLISH MUFFINS IN A LOAF
(Fleischmann's recipe)

Looks like a loaf of bread.
Just slice and toast.
Has all the nooks and crannies.

2 packs active dry yeast
6 cups flour
1 T. sugar
2 tsps. salt
2 cups milk
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup water
cornmeal

Combine 3 cups flour, yeast, sugar, salt,
and soda. Heat liquids until very warm
(120-130 degrees). Add dry mixture;
beat well. Stir in rest of flour to make
a stiff batter. Spoon into two
1 1/2" x 4 1/2-inch pans that have been
greased and sprinkled with cornmeal.
Cover; let rise in warm place for 45 minutes.
Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
Remove from pans immediately and cool.

__________________________________________________

Well my legs are gonna hurt tomorrow from
all the squatting I did this evening!
I don't feel pain at the moment but
they sure are quivering.

I went out in the garden and measured
out every foot along the border and put in
screws or nails.

Then I started to run
twine to section everything off.
I have two 1 foot rows separated by 2 foot
rows to allow for walking without disturbing
roots.

I just measured the entire garden
and it's 25 feet by 11 feet
or 275 square feet total.




While stringing up the garden I had Tony
stop by the library for me. I love having
the library a street, or about 2 blocks away!
I thought I had 2 reserves come in but when
Tony returned it ended up being 10.
They are all about vegetable gardening,
canning and freezing food.
Thinking about heading to bed early
tonight due to my legs. Might
bring along my stack of books and get
started with reading them and taking
notes. This is really my first year
of having an official garden in the ground.
I want all to go well because it sure
is ALOT of work to get it started!!



Well I am off to bed to chill for the evening.
Can't wait til tomorrow. GARAGE SALES!
Woo Hoo! I love Fridays and yard saling!!

Oh yeah I need to stop by facebook and
do some farmin first and harvest my crops.
What's funny is that when tilling the garden
Jonathan says are we Farmvillin'? LMAO!!
Yeah right, give me a mouse to click
to plow, plant and harvest this thing!!
I hurt every dang time I go out there to
do something. Ever need some exercise?
Go plant a garden!

4-28-10

Went to Meijers with mom this morning.
I found:
.50 cents head of cauliflower (.15 cents a pound)
.50 cents head of cauliflower
.50 cents head of lettuce (.27 cents a pound)
$6.81 for 7.15 pounds Pork Shoulder Blade Ribs
(.95 cents per pound)
$8.06 for 8.47 pounds Pork Shoulder Blade Ribs
(.95 cents per pound)
.96 cents 1/2 gallon Orange Juice
.96 cents 1/2 gallon Tangerine Juice






_________________________________________________

I threw 5 chicken breasts in the crock
once home from Meijers.
I bought a 5 pound package
of split chicken breasts for $6.46.
This should make at least if not more
than 5 meals.
About $1.29 a chicken breast.
I added water and the leftover chicken
seasoning packet from a package of
ramen noodles that I used last night.
I skinned all the chicken first.
I plan to use a little chicken on
our pizzas tonight then put the
rest in zip bags and put in the freezer.




__________________________________________________

I don't know if y'all saw the news last night
saying the price of meat is going up, up and up.
The reason being is farmer's are reducing
their livestock and planting more corn
fields for ethanol.

So if you can find meat for around a
$1.00 to $1.50
or less a pound marked down better snatch
it up before someone else does!

_________________________________________________

I made my own chocolate syrup this morning
for either ice cream or chocolate milk.
I tripled the recipe but cut way back
on the sugar! I taste tested it along
the way to test for sweetness.

1 1/2 cups cocoa (.75 cents, manager special)
3 - 3.5 cups water
2 to 2.5 cups sugar (.50 cents)
(to triple the recipe would have been 6 cups sugar!)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla (.02 cents)

see recipe directions from yesterday.
It made about 5 cups.

TOTAL COST $1.27 for 5 cups
or .25 cents a cup.

Kroger choc. syrup is about $1.29 for 2.5 cups
or .51 cents a cup.

Hersheys choc. syrup is about $2.79 for 2.5 cups
or $1.11 a cup.



__________________________________________________

I was tinkering with my chairs today.
I figured out how to remove the seat
and and cut a piece of fabric and draped
over it to see what it would look like.
Now I'm wondering what way the stripes should
go, across or front to back? I kind of like
the front to back.
Oh and of course I had my furry helper
rummaging on and under my fabric!



I'm not going to get much done at this rate.
Looks like she's got the right idea....
NAP TIME!!!





___________________________________________________

Go HERE and sign up to receive
2 FREE Fluorescent (CFL) Lightbulbs!

I personally get my fluorescent bulbs free
and here's how. When my husband punches
out an apartment (that means to get
an apartment ready for a move in),
they are required to remove any fluorescent
bulbs the resident have left behind
and put in regular bulbs. I have him
bring home all those bulbs to put in
my collection :0)
That alone saves us bundles on light bulbs
and the electric bill by using them!

_________________________________________________

IT'S NOT DELIVERY, IT'S HOMEMADE

Here's my homemade pizza's I made
for supper tonight.

pizza #1 chicken, bacon
pizza #2 chicken, bacon, onion & mushrooms

Both have a combination of these cheeses on them:
mozzarella, smoke flavored provolone,
romano, parmesan, montery jack, queso quesadilla
and asadero cheeses.

both homemade pizza crusts from the bread machine.




_________________________________________________



SAVE-A-LOT

Invite your friends to join the Smart Shopper Club and get a $5.00 coupon for each friend that joins! (maximum of 5 referrals per Smart Shopper).

We want you to tell your friends and family about Save-A-Lot's Smart Shopper Club! Starting today, you can receive a $5 off $25 purchase coupon for each person who you get to sign-up as a Smart Shopper (you can sign up a maximum of 5 of your friends and family).

And the greatest thing...your friend will receive another $5 coupon just for signing up!

__________________________________________________

Well I got one chair reupholstered.
I went with the stripes going front to back.
It took a lil longer than normal because
me and the staple gun weren't getting along.
I showed it who was boss!
Only 5 more to go. That'll be tomorrow
and/or Friday though.

I would like to find a chocolate or rusty
brown colored rug for the dining area.
I'll be patient and wait it out to
find the best deal.





_________________________________________________

I've been wanting to make some jelly or jam
but every recipe I read has soooo much sugar
in it. I found a recipe I clipped from
the Good Housekeeping magazine 2009.
It has less than half the sugar that other
recipes call for. It can be refrigerated
for up to 3 weeks or frozen for up to
a year.
I've been saving plastic peanut butter
jars to put my jam or jellies in.
They seem to be just the right size.

JAM (raspberry makes 2 1/4 cups or strawberry makes 2 1/2 cups)

3 cups raspberries (or 16 ounces strawberries)
1 T. lemon juice (2 T. lemon juice for strawberries)
5 tsp. pectin (2 T. for strawberries)
1/2 tsp. margarine or butter
1 1/4 cup sugar

1. In 12 inch skillet, combine raspberries,
lemon juice, pectin and margarine. Heat to boiling
on high, blending and mashing with potato masher
or back of spoon; boil 1 minute. Stir in sugar;
return to boiling. Boil jam 2 minutes longer,
until syrupy, stirring occasionally. Remove
from heat. Cool at room temperature for 15 minutes.

2. Pour into 2 or 3 (depending on jam made)
clean 1/2 pint jars with tight fitting lids.
Cover and refrigerate until jam is set and cold,
about 8 hours. (jam will thicken as it chills)
Keep jam refrigerated and use within 3 weeks.

For fresh fruit jam year-round, pack into
freezer-safe containers, leaving 1 inch of
headspace, and freeze up to 1 year.

Raspberry Jam
1 Tablespoon
35 calories
0g protein
8g carbohydrate
0g total fat
1g fiber
0mg cholesterol
1mg sodium

Strawberry Jam
1 Tablespoon
20 calories
0g protein
5g carbohydrates
0g total fat
1g fiber
1mg cholesterol
1mg sodium

--------------------------------------------------

I have also made Ball's no cook freezer jam.
Here is a video of how to make it.
You need to use Ball's Freezer Jam Pectin
to make this recipe.

-------------------------------------------------

Here is a freezer jam made with Jello.
I have read that the consistancy might
be a little looser than regular jam.

Freezer Jam with Jello

* 3 cups sugar
* 4 cups strawberries
*1-3oz. box of strawberry Jello

Stir together:

Ingredients

* 3 cups sugar
* 4 cups strawberries

Directions

Stir the strawberries and sugar over a low medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

Turn the heat up to medium and boil the mixture for 10 minutes.

Remove it from the heat and stir in the jello powder, stirring until the jello dissolves.

Let the strawberry jello jam cool and pour it into containers.

Freeze it until you are ready to use it, then thaw it and keep it refrigerated.

(Makes 3 Jars)

4-27-10

So far I don't have much planned for today
other than maybe a trip to Kroger to
get some pop and things to make some
pizza dough in the bread machine.

I might also stop by the library
to pick up a reserve that came in.

My body still aches so it's slow moving.
Still have one more tray of seeds to plant.
Good thing I have the greenhouse as
they are calling for possible freeze warnings.
It stays pretty warm in there and it currently
looks like a steam house with condensation
all over the sides.

Well time to get the kids motivated and
ready for school. At least the sun
is trying to poke through the clouds.
That always makes for a better day
when you have a lil sunshine.

___________________________________________________

MONEY SAVING TIP

Buy store brand and compare weight or serving sizes.

Today I needed some yeast to make bread or
pizza dough. I saw some in small packages
and also saw some in jars. I wanted to know
what was the best deal so started comparing.

Kroger 3 pack of yeast on sale for $1.50
3 packs combined equals 7.5 teaspoons
6 packs combined equals 15 teaspoons for $3.00

4 ounce jar of Kroger bread machine yeast $2.59
this is equal to 46.5 teaspoons and is the better deal!

Fleischman's yeast for a 4 ounce jar of
bread machine yeast was $7.99!!!

So if you can, buy store brand to save money.

___________________________________________________

Getting some plants in the greenhouse.
While it is chilly outside in the 50's,
it sure felt good going in the greenhouse
where it was much warmer.
I got the second tray of 72 count seedlings started.
I got some flowers started also,
Flying Saucer Morning Glories, to put
up on the iron panels along the driveway.
I would like to get more flower seeds,
love the Zinnia's as they last such
a long time. And maybe try growing
some wave petunias for the flower baskets.


Flying Saucer Morning Glories.
They get up to 6" across.


Wave Petunias



ZINNIA
These are easy to grow and tolerate heat and drought!




My greenhouse







___________________________________________________

TONIGHT'S SUPPER

Smoked Sausage Teriyaki Stir Fry
I added in these extras:
1 ramen noodles without seasoning packet
2 large fresh mushroom sliced




__________________________________________________

5:40pm

Just pulled the pizza crust dough from
the bread machine and all looks well.

My first home made pizza dough
that didn't come from a can or pouch!

I tried to figure cost to make:
.10 cents for 2 teaspoons yeast
1.25 cups water
.02 cents 1 T oil
.01 cent 1 tsp salt
.08 cents a cup x's 4 is .32 cents for flour
(my flour was a manager special price)

So total price for 2 crusts about .45 cents
or .22 cents each!!

Now compare that to Pillsbury canned
crust at about $2-$3 for 1 crust!!



Now I want to put all the chicken breasts
in the crock. I like to cook bulk meat
all at once. Then use or freeze it.
Makes fixing supper go lots quicker
when the meat has already been cooked.

Might do chicken & bacon pizza tomorrow
night with fresh sliced mushroom.

.45 cents for 2 pizza crusts
.20 cents spaghetti sauce
.50 cents 4 large fresh mushrooms
.90 cents 1/2 pound bacon
$1.50 2 cups shredded cheese
.50 cents cut up chicken breasts about 1/2 pound

TOTAL COST FOR 2 HOMEMADE PIZZAS with 3 toppings $4.05
or $2.02 a pizza

Pizza Hut or Papa Johns wants $10 a pizza with their sales.
Frozen Kroger Rising Crust pizza is about $5 each


___________________________________________________

A few more easy and money saving recipes.

GRAPE JUICE JELLY

* 3 cups grape juice (Prepared from frozen concentrate is fine)
* 1 package powdered pectin
* 4 cups sugar

In a large saucepan combine the prepared grape juice and the powdered pectin. Stir it up to eliminate all of the lumps. Bring the mixture to a full boil over medium heat, stirring some as necessary. Add the sugar and return the mixture to a boil. Boil for a full minute and remove from heat. Ladle the jelly into clean sterilized jars and seal with bands and lids. Process in a boiling water bath for about 10 minutes to seal. Remove the jars and allow to cool before storing on the pantry shelf. Makes about 5 cups.

Usually when I make this recipe I use juice I have prepared from frozen concentrate, diluting it with 3 cans of water, according to the package directions. When the jelly is done, I ladle it into a clean quart size jar, and a clean pint size jar. Then I put both into the fridge for storage. We go through it pretty quickly for PB&J sandwiches, and breakfast toast so it's a poor use of my time to process and seal the containers, when I can store them in the fridge just as easily. When I make this recipe for gift giving in the winter, I do process the jars, so they will keep on the recipient's shelf for as long as a year.

--------------------------------------------------

SEASONED TOMATO SAUCE
for spaghetti, pizza sauce, etc

* 2 tablespoons oil
* 2 tablespoons dry onion
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 12 oz can tomato paste
* 2 cans filled with water
* 1 teaspoon basil
* 1/4 teaspoon oregano (optional)
* 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
* 1 teaspoon salt

This sauce is so easy, so cheap and so good, you won’t believe it. Heat the oil in a 2 quart size saucepan. Add the dried onion and garlic. Stir the onion and garlic around in the oil for about 30 seconds, or until they start to smell good. Add the tomato paste. Now fill the empty can with fresh water and add it to the pot. Do it again, so two cans of water have been added. Stir it all up until the sauce is smooth and thick. Add the seasonings. Cover and simmer for about 5 or 10 minutes depending on your time and fuel situation. After the flavors have mingled long enough to know each other better, you are done.

The uses for this sauce are endless. I use it anywhere I would usually use canned or jarred spaghetti sauce. For instance, on spaghetti, as the sauce for pizza, over leftover grains, in lasagna etc. This is a very versatile marianara sauce. If desired it can be prepared ahead of time, and refrigerated until needed. It keeps in the fridge for a week. For variety you can add a can of mushrooms, a spoonful of dry celery or green pepper, and even a can of chopped tomatoes or zucchini in tomato sauce, for chunky goodness. Use your imagination, this recipe is really just a starting point. Where you go with it, is up to you.

--------------------------------------------------

RANCH DRESSING

* 1 cup mayonnaise
* 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt (dry buttermilk is fine)
* 2 teaspoons parsley
* 1 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Dash of dill weed
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Get out a medium sized bowl. Measure the mayonnaise into it. Gradually whisk in the buttermilk or yogurt. If you use powdered buttermilk, whisk in the powder first, and then slowly add a cup of water. Then add the seasonings. Whisk again. Or you can make it in the blender by putting everything into the blender and whirling until smooth. The mixture will be a little thin, but it will thicken on standing. Store in a pint size jar, makes 2-cups. Keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Tastes really good with yogurt by the way. This is my favorite way of making it. It tastes good with powdered buttermilk too, but the consistency is thinner than with yogurt.

Note: If desired, you may add a tablespoon of Parmesan Cheese and/or a tablespoon of lemon juice to the dressing in addition to the seasonings above.

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CHOCOLATE SYRUP

* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
* 1 cup tap water
* 2 cups sugar
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Find a 2 quart saucepan. In it, mix the cocoa and water with a wire whisk or fork. Heat the chocolate water over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar and continue to stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and boil for a full 3 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat.

Add the salt and vanilla, stirring to blend. Pour the syrup into a clean pint sized canning jar, or a clean catsup container. Put a good lid on the jar and store it in the fridge.

Use this chocolate syrup to make chocolate milk, or serve it over ice-cream. This is remarkably similar to Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup in the can.

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TARTER SAUCE

* 1 cup mayonnaise
* 1/4 cup sweet pickles, chopped
* 2 tablespoons chopped onion
* 2 tablespoons pickle juice


Mix everything together and serve with fish. Makes about 1-1/3 cups.

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and here is the recipe I am making
in the bread machine now for pizza crust.
I don't have what's called a dough cycle.
Mine says pizza dough.

I don't buy pizza sauce.
I use a can of tomato soup
or I buy a $1.00 jar of spaghetti sauce.
Any leftover sauce goes into another meal.

* 1-1/4 cups water (plus 1 or 2 more tablespoons if necessary)
* 3 tablespoons olive or other vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 4 cups bread flour or all purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Measure the ingredients into the bread pan in the order listed. Make a well in the flour and sprinkle the yeast into it. Set the machine to it’s Dough Cycle. After the dough has mixed a few minutes add a spoonful or two of water if the dough seems very dry. On my machine the Dough Cycle lasts 1-1/2 hours. The dough will be risen and puffy in the bread pan when it is done kneading and rising. Punch it down (with out hurting your fist on the paddle); and remove it from the pan. Knead it a few times to get it deflated properly. Divide the dough in half. Divide the dough in half. Let the dough halves rest for about 10 minutes to relax the gluten, making it easier to roll out. Press the dough into 2 - 14″ or 16″ pizza pans. I oil the pans a little first, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Top the dough with your favorite sauce and pizza toppings. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes. Cut each pan into 12 slices of pizza. Serve hot.

4-26-10

Yucky, rainy weather today!
My body hurts from shoveling manure
in the garden yesterday!

In a couple days when the rain lets
up then I'll be back in the garden
again stringing twine and marking
a grid for plants later on.
Right now I am trying to get an
idea of what to plant and where
with companion planting.
While some plants get along with
other plants there are some you
don't want to plant near them.
Was going to stop at the library
and see about getting some books
on it but I guess they don't open
til 10am. So for now I'll just find
and reserve some books online that are
available. These should be ready
for pick up in 3-5 days. It's
hard finding gardening books this
time of year as they have all been
checked out or have a reserve list.
***The worst books to try and reserve right now
is Square Foot Gardening. They can have anywhere
from 15 to 22 people on the waiting list!!!

__________________________________________________

I got one tray of 72 plants planted.
That was all I could handle for now.
I have carpal tunnel and dealing with
tiny seeds makes my hands go numb.



__________________________________________________

11:30am

Working on getting some lunch in my belly
and getting a menu done up for the week.
Total cost for 7 supper meals $22.42.
Here's what I have planned:

1. Chicken Parmesan
-breaded chicken patty topped with cheese
and served with spaghetti & sauce.
PLUS 3 Bowl cakes.
Now up to 7 Bowl Cakes out of one cake mix.
Still have more cake mix left.



$1.67 breaded chicken patties
$1.20 Spaghetti Sauce
.50 cents Spaghetti
.25 cents Velveeta Cheese
-----------
TOTAL $3.62
SERVES 6 @ .60 cents a serving

2. Teriyaki Stir Fry with Smoked Sausage
-noodles, broccoli, sugar snap peas, mushrooms,
baby cob corn & red bell peppers.

$4.00 bag of stir fry vegetables, noodles & sauce
.75 cents 2 smoked sausages
-----------
TOTAL $4.75
SERVES 6 @ .79 cents a serving

3. Sweet & Sour Chicken
-Rice with pineapple, red bell peppers & chicken
in a sweet & sour sauce.

$1.00 box of La Choy Sweet & Sour Chicken Meal
$1.00 1/2 chicken breast
----------
TOTAL $2.00
SERVES 5 @ .40 cents a serving

4. Cream Chipped Beef over Mashed Potatoes

$1.00 2 packages chipped beef
.50 cents -flour,milk & butter to make sauce
.50 cents Velveeta Cheese
$1.00 boxed mashed potatoes
----------
TOTAL $3.00
SERVES 5 @ .60 cents a serving

5. Tuna & Noodles Creamy Parmesan with Bread & Butter

.50 cents Betty Crocker Creamy Parmesan Tuna Helper
free- box of spiral noodles
.50 can of cream of mushroom soup
$1.00 2 cans of tuna fish
.25 cents 5 slices of bread with butter
.25 cents Velveeta Cheese
.05 cents bread crumbs for topping
----------
TOTAL $2.55
SERVES 8 @ .31 cents a serving

6. Turkey with gravy & Stuffing & Corn

free Turkey- leftover in freezer
.50 cents Stuffing mix
.50 cents canned gravy
.50 cents frozen boxed corn
----------
TOTAL $1.50
SERVES 5 @ .30 cents a serving


7. Broccoli, Potato, Cheese & Sage Sausage Soup

$1.00 5 potatoes
.50 cents frozen boxed broccoli
.50 cents Velveeta cheese
.50 cents milk, butter & flour
$2.00 roll sausage
.50 cents cream of celery soup
-----------
TOTAL $5.00
SERVES 8 @ .62 cents a serving

___________________________________________________

I've been thinking about hauling out the
bread machine and making some pizza dough
for the freezer. Can make bread sticks,
sweet sticks or cinnapies.

You let the machine do the work with all the
kneading then remove before it goes into the
bake cycle.

BREAD MACHINE PIZZA DOUGH

Ingredients:

* 1 cup water
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* dash garlic powder
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons softened butter
* 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Preparation:
Add ingredients to the bread machine following manufacturer's suggested order. Choose the dough cycle and start.

When the dough is finished, turn out onto a floured surface. Roll out to fit your pizza pan (approximately 12 to 16 inches, depending on the size of the pan and thickness of crust). Fit into the pan and cover with a clean dish towel; let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes. Spread with sauce, toppings, and cheeses of your choice. Bake at 400° for about 25 minutes, or until nicely browned and cheese and toppings are melted and bubbly.







Other bread machine recipes

BREAD MACHINE PIZZA DOUGH

1 pizza dough


Ingredients

* 1 cup flat beer
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Directions

1. Put beer, butter, sugar, salt, flour, and yeast in a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting, and press Start.
2. Remove dough from bread machine when cycle is complete. Roll or press dough to cover a prepared pizza pan. Brush lightly with olive oil. Cover and let stand 15 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Spread sauce and toppings on top of dough. Bake until crust is lightly brown and crispy on the outside, about 24 minutes.

Amount Per Serving Calories: 262 | Total Fat: 4.4g | Cholesterol: 10mg
---------------------------------------------------

BREAD MACHINE BANANA NUT BREAD


Ingredients

* 1/2 cup margarine, softened (or applesauce)
* 2/3 cup milk
* 2 eggs
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup white sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2/3 cup mashed bananas
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Spray bread machine pan with vegetable oil spray.
2. Premix ingredients in order listed. Place mixture in bread machine pan.
3. Select the Quick Bread/Cake cycle. Press Start. Check after 1 minute to see if mixture is well blended.
4. Cook until cake cycle stops. Remove pan, and cool completely before removing bread from pan.

Amount Per Serving Calories: 349 | Total Fat: 14.7g | Cholesterol: 44mg

---------------------------------------------------

BREAD MACHINE AMISH BREAD


Ingredients

* 2 3/4 cups bread flour
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select White Bread cycle; press Start.
2. When the dough has raised once and second cycle of kneading begins, turn machine off. Reset by pressing Start once again. This gives the dough two full raising cycles before the final raising cycle prior to baking.

Amount Per Serving Calories: 172 | Total Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: 0mg

----------------------------------------------------

BREAD MACHINE SOFT GIANT PRETZELS

makes 8

Ingredients

* 1 1/8 cups water (70 to 80 degrees F)
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
* 2 quarts water
* 1/2 cup baking soda
* coarse salt

Directions

1. In bread machine pan, place the first four ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).
2. When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into eight balls. Roll each into a 20-in. rope; form into pretzel shape. In a saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzels into boiling water, two at a time; boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
3. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Spritz or lightly brush with water. Sprinkle with salt.

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CINNAMON DESSERT PIZZA

* Pizza Dough:

use store-bought or homemade dough rolled out onto oiled pizza pan.

Streusel:

* 1 cup flour

* ½ cup light brown sugar, packed

* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

* 6 tablespoons butter or margarine (NOT light!)

Sugar Glaze:

* 1 cup powdered sugar

* 1-2 tablespoons water or milk


Mix flour, sugar and cinnamon in bowl.

Dice up CHILLED butter/margarine and add to dry mix.

Mix with hands until you can form a sort of "snow ball" with mixture.

Crumble mixture, leaving crumbles big, and spread over pizza dough.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes until dough bottom is golden.

Combine powdered sugar & milk to make a glaze. Drizzle glaze on cooked pizza when fresh from the oven.

Let sit for 5 minutes, then cut & serve warm.

---------------------------------------------------

BUTTERY BREAD MACHINE ROLLS

makes 24 rolls


Ingredients

* 1 cup warm milk (70 to 80 degrees F.)
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 4 cups bread flour
* 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1.

In bread machine pan, put all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer.
2.

Select dough setting.
3.

When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
4.

Divide dough into 24 portions.
5.

Shape dough into balls.
6.

Place in a greased 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan.
7.

Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
8.

Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.


___________________________________________________

Gone the whole day with clouds and rain.
5pm rolls around and we get the first ray
of sunshine. I'm hoping this crap
is moving out!



___________________________________________________

Money saving tip...

BARTERING

If you have specific talents or trades
and your friend or family have some
of their own, that's when you can work
a deal without paying money to trade
for others work for some of your own.

Here is an example which will help us out
a lot!

We have an ongoing transmission leak
on our Trans Am. Anything we do
to repair it does not stop the leak.

Transmission work is not cheap and
we all know that!

We have a friend, or Tony does,
that does transmission work and has
had his own transmission shop.
In return to fix the transmission leak
Tony will do drywall work for him.

Everyone saves money this way!

I'm am so glad they worked it out like
this because in my mind I saw hundreds of
dollars to fix this problem!!

___________________________________________________

Sitting here taking it easy. My whole
body is aching so bad! I am waiting for
some Ibuprofen to kick in.
My legs and arms hurt and now my back
feels it should join in with some spasms.
I wouldn't want it to feel neglected, grrr.

Everyone's outside and enjoying the little
bit of sun before it starts going down.
So I'm sitting here watching the squirrels
in the neighbors trees. They have made
a nest in a rotted out hole in one of the
branches. They are so cute to watch especially
in the morning. I think they all decided which
squirrel should go out of the nest first. He'll
run out and around the branch a few times then
return back to the hole. This goes on about
4-5 times before the rest start to peek their
heads out. It's like he told them the coast is
clear. Gotta watch out for that nasty hawk
that likes to visit the neighborhood!
You'll have to enlarge the pic in order to
see the squirrel by the hole.



Oh yeah I didn't tell ya I got the surround working.
It's only taken about a week!
I just started pressing buttons and connecting
and unplugging cables until something worked.
I sure as heck couldn't understand some of the
directions that's for sure. About like the
greenhouse. And do you think the surround would
come with some cables? Heck no, they need to make
even more money off ya by having you have to
go back to the store to buy them. HDMI cables
aren't cheap starting at $17 on up.



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