How To Use Sausage Links Instead Of Hamburger

The price of hamburger is so expensive anymore. What do I do when I have no hamburger??? Well, I am able to find sausage links at Sam's Club for reduced for quick sale. The price ends up being much lower than hamburger per pound.

What I do is just place the sausage in the pan and break it up into tiny pieces. I use the sausage in spaghetti sauce, potato bake, cornmeal quiche, add to scrambled eggs and many more meals. My family enjoys all the meals that I make with using sausage instead of hamburger.

In encourage you to become creative in how you cook. By researching the internet for recipes that have hamburger. You never know how yummy they can be by replacing the hamburger with sausage. Use what you have on hand. Substitution can be a good thing.

Happy cooking in your kitchens. Think outside the box. Cooking can be fun and healthy.

Blessings,

Carol

Fixed My Pressure Cooker

A while back (the last time I used my pressure cooker), I noticed it was not working quite right. The seal on the inside of the lid was not neatly tucked in the lid groove how it should be. So, fast forward to today. Well, I took part of the seal out of the groove and cleaned the seal and groove. What do you know! It totally worked!! I made 2 1/2 cups pinto beans.

I really did not want to purchase another seal online. We are saving money like crazy and looking for another home to purchase. My personal expenses are just food for the family. I am not purchasing anything for myself unless it is a much needed item. No eating out. Last month we ate home the entire month. Even my husband has been fine with that.

I have not done any crafts in a while. Too busy with homeschooling my children. It is that time of year for us. Even a stay at home, homeschool mom is busy.

Hoping your day is wonderful.

Blessings,

Carol

Proverbs 3:5-6

Stretching Your Food Budget

Since 2009 I have really learned how to make by food budget stretch as far as it will go. Many recipes I have found on the internet, and from really vintage cookbooks or create my own. I usually change the recipe to what there is on hand in my pantry, freezer and refrigerator.

We usually spend less than $400.00 per month. Many months is is around $200.00. It all depends what is on sale. Shopping for items such as meats only on sale is a very important tip. Otherwise we could not afford to purchase meat. I will not pay over $2.50 a pound for meats. For example, once to twice a year we will splurge on hamburger at Sam's Club. I can find different cuts of pork for less than $1.99 and much less during the year. Chicken is a big staple for our home. On average I pay between .79 and .99 cents per pound.  Search the grocery store ads and see what they have on sale near your home.

The last couple of weeks I have made some yummy dinner dishes. Enjoy the photos.

Masa Cakes (Instead of tamales)

Pork Verde with Veggies poured over the masa cakes. They were quite tasty.

What will you make this week that only costs a few cents per serving? Give it a try and see what you can come up with.

Have a wonderful day in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Carol

Praising God In All The Details

Sometimes I tend forget to Thank God for all the little blessings in my life. For example, having a roof over our head, more than enough food on our table and so many other things. Last week, I seemed to not be thanking my Lord for those little blessings. Needless to say, I was becoming grouchy in many areas of my day. Praise God his mercies and forgiveness are new everyday.

Grocery shopping can get myself and the children tired and grouchy too. Thursday we went grocery shopping. We actually stopped at 5 places!!! Post office, thrift store, KIA garage, Winco and Sams Club. Phew! That was alot of stops. Well, the three of us rejoiced that we had the money to purchase our groceries, vintage fabric, postage stamps to mail or letters, and the car was fixed for free (small recall issue). Much to be thankful to the Lord for. Our day was very tiring BUT, we were joyful, thankful and so glad we had food to eat. Try being thankful to God in the little details and He can do much in your life.


Again, I stretched our food to created some really tasty meals for just pennies. Oh yes, they were healthy dishes too. In doing this, I can big shop about once every 5 weeks or so.

I just love it when I find vintage fabrics or any good fabric for that matter. The price was right in my book.

• Pork ribs, potatoes, salad, fruit
• Taco soup (with the left over chicken I had baked)
• Sausage, potato, zucchini bake (made from left over breakfast meal)
• Breakfast, sausage, eggs, potatoes
• Fend for yourself night (whatever was in the fridge)
• Left over pork ribs with rice bake.

It's Hot In Northern California

As I write this, it has been extremely hot here where we live. Monday was 106. Triple digits!! A bit melting for our family. My husband has to work in this weather (he is a building contractor). So, when the weather is this way, our family huddles inside and tries to do other activities.

I let my kids watch a few more movies than normal, do crafts, read books, and such. I also, don't cook on the stove top or oven. We do cook in the microwave, make cold sandwiches, and eat salads. Anything to keep the cottage from heating up. It was a good thing Monday morning, I had put a chicken in the crockpot. It was completely cooked before the power went off.

This week I did make a skirt for my daughter and a slip. For myself and very pretty skirt.

Regarding using my time more wisely, just staying off the computer. Making sure that I read my bible in the morning before doing activities in the house. So far so good.

I hope your 4th of July was wonderful.

A pair of earrings I made for my daughters Awana leader. They were clip on earrings. Yes, vintage all the way. These earrings have character.

My kids and I made fans on Monday for the power went off. Due to a fire  near an electrical substation in town. It was really hot that  day.

The items I ordered from Wawak sewing supplies. The shipping is very low, ship fast, prices are excellent. I used a coupon code for $20.00 off purchases $40.00 or more. It's good till September 30, 2013. Type in this code upon checking out  THREADS913. Next month or August I may order something else. We will see what they happen to have on sale.

• Spinach strawberry pecan salad
• Crockpot chicken
• Chicken, sausage, tomato sauce and rice mix (left overs)
• Pork chops, mashed potatoes and green beans
• Yummy BBQ for the 4th of July at our friends home on the 4th

My Accomplishments From Last Week

Busy week it has been. We started our Summer homeschooling again, after a long break of house selling. Things did have to be pushed to the side for a while. The Lord was really gracious to us during that time. It feels good to be back on track and getting things accomplished around the rental cottage. I have even put some photos up of the cute cards I made with my kids this week. We enjoy making the cards and having them ready in a box to send when one is needed. So much better than purchasing a card.

Lately, I have been thinking about how I am using my time wisely. Honestly lately it has been a bit crazy with the move and getting settled. My heart wants to glorify God in how my time is spent. I will keep you updated on what steps have been taken in order to accomplish this important change in my life.

Super Delicious Gluten Free Banana Nut Muffins

Perfect Gluten Free Oatmeal Millet Bread

The cards my children and I made. We used my embossing machine from Sizzix and fun templates from Cuttlebug.

• I made homemade chicken pot pie, used up phyllo dough sheets I have had in the freezer since last November.
• I made a double batch of gluten free millet oatmeal bread, and pumpkin muffins. Family loves these
• Made a spaghetti with italian sauce, then ate leftovers another day.
• Really focused on how my time is spent. I find that my accomplishments this last week were were more than they had been in quite a while.
• We had homemade vegetarian chili from dried beans in my bulk buckets. The best way to re-hydrate beans is in the pressure cooker. I just cook them for 15 minutes and they are pretty soft.
• Took a few more things out of boxes from the garage.

Have a wonderful day!!

Blessings,

Carol

The Cottage

Busy is the word for our household last week. Things began to get back to regular schedule since our home had been put up for sale. We had to sign final papers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday escrow closed and getting settled in our rental cottage. The Lord has been very good to us during this time of stretching in our faith. Selling a home is a huge undertaking.

The cottage is out from town about 15 minutes or so. The trips I take into town are few now. I am so glad that the last few years purchasing food in bulk, cooking from scratch and  stocking up the pantry has been done in my household. Not having to run to the store for something has been great. Last week I made some great meals from items we had in the freezer, and pantry. Here is a list of some of the things we have eaten last week.

Turkey spam sandwiches
Black bean chili with rice
Pork chops with left over black bean chili with rice
Left over pork, black bean chili, rice tacos
Lots of wonderful green salads
Ham (that was already cooked)and baked potatoes
Potato zucchini pancakes with salad and fruit

I did make a large pitcher of mint water. Our landlords planted several things for us in the garden on the property. The mint water was very refreshing. My daughter asked if I could make some more. Very free indeed. My main goal is to make everything stretch as far as possible. Making sure the meals are healthy and tasty.