5-1-10

10am

Rain, rain, go away.


10:30 to 11:am

Made up a jar of sugar-free strawberry jam.




Got some pork ribs with hickory brown sugar BBQ sauce
in the crock. Will be having pulled BBQ pork
sandwiches on homemade buns for a later supper tonight.
Also made some homemade coleslaw for a side.






Got the rest of the packages of pork ribs
packaged up for the freezer.



Put a leftover lunch for Tony in the freezer.
It is the weekend so leftovers have
to go in the freezer til Monday to keep fresh
til he goes back to work.

Here is an example of what he takes to work
with him for lunch every day.
This is mashed potatoes topped with
chicken and gravy, sides: stuffing,
corn on the cob and a roll.

Try buying this at a fast food joint
for around $1.00.
This is the reason for leftover lunches to save money!




__________________________________________________

3:00pm

Busy day so far.
Just got back from scrappin the air conditioners
at Tony's work.
The kids jumped right in with helping
and seemed to know exactly what needed done.














We then headed over to Kroger to
get a prescription for Tony.
While there I found a bunch of loaves
of bread for .39 cents. I think I got
about 10 loaves. I gave 6 of them to mom.
Also found $5 rolls of Bob Evans maple
sausage marked down to $1.49!
Ohhh those are my favorite.
I snatched up 6 rolls.
We also had to buy gifts for a birthday
party the kids are attending this afternoon.
They will be gone for 3 hours. Wooo Hooo
break time for mom and dad!

Me and Tony might head out to find
some potting soil and more seeds and/or plants.
I am wanting some flower seeds, especially
some marigolds that I will be able to plant around
the garden area.

Well it's almost time to take the kids to
the party. Had to throw down some quick
grub for lunch and pop each kid in the shower.
Gotta run to quickly wrap these gifts.


___________________________________________________

4pm - 5pm

Not much time for mom and dad to hang out and
do things. We went to Marcs and bought
2 banana pepper plants ($1.00 each)
and 4 bags black mulch ($2.50 each).
Left there and headed to Wally World to
look for some seeds.
Their seed selection sucked. We didn't
get any but did get a bag of topsoil
for about $1.80.

Shortly after Walmart the page decided to
go off so off to Tony's work we went.
He had about 3 calls to take care of.
That was 5-6:30pm.

Had to race back to pick the boys up from
their party by 7pm. Seems like we no sooner got
home and Tony got paged out again.
Jonathan went along with him this time.
Me and Christopher stayed home.

I took the ribs out of the crock
and shredded the meat up and added
a little more sauce.
Then I took the homemade hamburger buns
and spread a lil butter on them then
added sea salt and garlic from the grinder
and grilled them in a skillet. YUMMMMMMY!!
I'd have to rank this up there with
City Barbecue!




___________________________________________________

Almost 8pm and the day is winding down somewhat.
Just finished supper and have some waiting for
the other boys when they return home.

Now time to get breakfast started for tomorrow.
I'm going to make stuffed French toast in a
casserole dish and let it sit overnight in the
fridge. Then I can just pop it in the oven
when we get up.


Here is how I threw it altogether:

Place 4 pieces of Texas toast
in the bottom of a casserole dish.




4 ounces cream cheese, softened
mixed with 3 Tablespoons Splenda.



Spread cream cheese mixture
among the 4 pieces of bread.



Spoon jam over top the cream cheese.
I used the sugar-free homemade strawberry jam I made.




Place 4 more pieces of Texas toast on top.



In a small mixing whisk together the following:
(I just reused the mixing bowl that had
the cream cheese mixture in it. That's
why you see tid bits of cream cheese on top.)

3 eggs,
1 cup milk,
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used sugar-free)
1 Tablespoon Splenda
2-3 teaspoon cinnamon

Pour this mixture over top everything.



Cover with aluminum foil and place
in fridge overnight.




The next morning, preheat the oven to 350, and bake, covered, for 55 minutes.

Remove tinfoil, and bake uncovered for 5-7 more minutes

(optional) Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar

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)