We have reached that point of no return. We are far enough away from the last payday to have forgotten what money looks like and not near enough the next one to get reacquainted with cash again. We basically have five pounds of flour and the knowledge that the water bill is paid and we will not die of thirst. How will we survive those last few days until payday?
Unless we can afford a winning lottery ticket, we will have to depend on th what is left in the refrigerator and freezer. My family almost enjoys these extremely strict budget periods. The meals start getting very creative.
On the weekends we have a surplus of cash ( surplus being entirely in the mind of the beholder), I tend to purchase items in bulk that have lasting power. In spite of the tears of my anti-carrot son, I usually purchase ten pounds of carrots. If all the other vegetables run out, we always have carrots. Carrots make salad, they stretch soups and stews and can be juiced with an orange for a beverage. I have also been known to coarsely grind up carrots and pass them off as ground beef in lasagna. I have not always been completely successful but I still have circumstances come up where I have to try it again.
Whenever I trim the fat from steaks or roasts or have a left over pork chop, I freeze them for a between payday crisis. I simmer them all day long with whatever old vegetables have survived the week and obtain broth for soup.
If you have flour and eggs between paychecks, you are indeed rich. You can easily make noodles or dumplings for that broth. Breakfast for dinner is also a possibility as you have the makings for pancakes.
Small amounts of leftover chicken or beef can be stirred fried with lots of whatever vegetables you have on hand. If you want to elaborate on the Chinese theme, it only takes oil, water and flour to make interesting Chinese pancakes to go with a main meal. My family doesn’t feel they are eating Chinese unless they have those crispy Chinese noodles to accompany the main course. I have found that left over, boiled spaghetti deep fries nicely into a crunchy, Asian side dish.
If you are looking for something sweet, you can boil almost any shaped noodle, deep fry them and toss them with cinnamon and sugar. They don’t soak up the grease and the children like them. Your flour, eggs and milk come in handy again, too. Mixing them into a very thin batter, you can make fragile pancakes and roll them around fresh or canned fruit. Your family will start to think their mom has turned gourmet!
And if you are entirely at a loss, make a dough of flour, salt, yeast and water, let it rise and bake bread. Any family coming in to the smell of baking bread will be thrilled with whatever the rest of the meal turns out to be.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Seems to fit the mind set of today . . .
“The human race has always had a tendency to hate God. It crucified Him, after all. Now it is trying to convince itself that He does not exist or that, if He does, he is indulgent to and indeed identifies with its every whim, even the most sinful.”
Serpent on the Rock by Alice Thomas Ellis.
Serpent on the Rock by Alice Thomas Ellis.
What is wrong with people!
I just heard on the radio that Abercrombie & Fitch (or whatever their name is!) is bringing out a line of padded bikini swimsuit tops for . . . eight to fourteen year olds. First, not that many eight years olds have enough to warrant a padded, push-up top swimsuit. Second, what mother would want to put her little girl out there for perverts to lust after? There are way too many mothers allowing or encouraging their daughters to dress way above their age group. You just have to wonder what is in it for the mother? Is she that anxious to get her daughter's childhood over and done with so soon?
I was shopping, one day, and overhead a mother encouraging her little girl, who looked about eight years old, to buy thong underwear! A grandfather was treating his granddaughters to a clothing-buying spree and when one of the little girls came up with a pair of faux leather jeans, the grandfather actually exclaime, "Oh, get them, honey! You will look SO hot in them!" I was wondering where to turn in 'funny' grandfathers.
It seems to me in my antiquated opinion that morals and modesty make growing up so much easier. I raised my daughters with the same values and they dress nicely but modestly. One of their friends, who was about twelve years old at the time, was told she needed to loosen up in her outfits. She dressed modestly. The elderly man said the way she dressed, she probably sat at home all week reading the Bible!
Now, our parents were raised with a moral mind set so it is very disturbing when you observe and hear such as the above.
A news report said that there are several countries in the world today that do not believe in God at all. Seems reasonable as so many wayward mothers are wiping any thought of God out of their minds with the skimpy bits of clothing they put on their little girls.
I was shopping, one day, and overhead a mother encouraging her little girl, who looked about eight years old, to buy thong underwear! A grandfather was treating his granddaughters to a clothing-buying spree and when one of the little girls came up with a pair of faux leather jeans, the grandfather actually exclaime, "Oh, get them, honey! You will look SO hot in them!" I was wondering where to turn in 'funny' grandfathers.
It seems to me in my antiquated opinion that morals and modesty make growing up so much easier. I raised my daughters with the same values and they dress nicely but modestly. One of their friends, who was about twelve years old at the time, was told she needed to loosen up in her outfits. She dressed modestly. The elderly man said the way she dressed, she probably sat at home all week reading the Bible!
Now, our parents were raised with a moral mind set so it is very disturbing when you observe and hear such as the above.
A news report said that there are several countries in the world today that do not believe in God at all. Seems reasonable as so many wayward mothers are wiping any thought of God out of their minds with the skimpy bits of clothing they put on their little girls.
Rainy Day and Quilting?
It has been a busy week and the one thing to suffer is getting much quilting done. Can you believe my family wants dinner EVERY day of the week? I did get a quilt top pieced and almost ready for quilting and hope to advance on that today. Interesting scrap quilt (my favorite kind!) in that once I had all the blocks sewn together, I just didn't like the way it looked. I know, how picky can you be when there is no rhyme or reason to a totally scrap quilt using every color fabric in your scrap collection. When I'm not happy about how something looks, I can't seem to get any energy to continue on it. I have the pieces laid out on the table and keep looking and looking at it. Finally, I start wondering what would happen if I were to cut each pieced square in half and then resew them differently. I figured I didn't have much to lose trying this with one square. I was amazed, it changed the whole ebb and flow of the organized confusion of the scrap quilt and thoroughly changed the dynamic. Now, I wish I had taken a before and after picture of it.
Aside from braving the rain for Mass this morning, I'm thinking a wet day is a good one for staying home and close to the warmth of my sewing machine!
Aside from braving the rain for Mass this morning, I'm thinking a wet day is a good one for staying home and close to the warmth of my sewing machine!
Family Favorite to Share . . .
For some reason, I've been blessed with one of my children liking eggplant! Doesn't happen often unless you are born into an Italian family! I have a couple of ways of making eggplant dishes, but this has become a family favorite and considered a treat by my teen. The ingredients are general as it depends on how many you are cooking for that day.
Eggplant Italian
Eggplant (how many depends on how many mouths to feed!
Provolone Cheese, sliced
Grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese
Mozzarella, grated
Fresh parsley, chopped
Half spaghetti sauce/half canned, diced tomatoes
Italian spices (mix or use basil, oregano, and chili flakes)
Large, fresh tomatoes
Eggs, well beaten
Flour
Bread crumbs, fresh work best
Oil to fry
Tomato sauce
Combine the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian spices as well as salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for a few minutes and add the freshly chopped parsley.
Slice the eggplant into thin (about a quarter of an inch or so) rounds. Dust each slice with flour, dip into eggs, and then into bread crumbs. Fry each slice of eggplant until golden brown on each side. Place them on a greased baking sheet.
When all the eggplant is done, assemble as follows:
Arrange the eggplant, one deep on the baking pan. Put on a slice of Provolone cheese, a thin slice of fresh tomato, and a spoonful of tomato/diced tomato mixture. Sprinkle with grated Romano and top with another slice of eggplant. Top with more tomato mixture and a generous amount of Mozzarella. Continue until all the eggplant slices are paired up. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or until browning on top and bubbling.
*If you like onion, a thin slice of red or purple onion can be added on top of the fresh tomato slice.
Eggplant Italian
Eggplant (how many depends on how many mouths to feed!
Provolone Cheese, sliced
Grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese
Mozzarella, grated
Fresh parsley, chopped
Half spaghetti sauce/half canned, diced tomatoes
Italian spices (mix or use basil, oregano, and chili flakes)
Large, fresh tomatoes
Eggs, well beaten
Flour
Bread crumbs, fresh work best
Oil to fry
Tomato sauce
Combine the spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian spices as well as salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for a few minutes and add the freshly chopped parsley.
Slice the eggplant into thin (about a quarter of an inch or so) rounds. Dust each slice with flour, dip into eggs, and then into bread crumbs. Fry each slice of eggplant until golden brown on each side. Place them on a greased baking sheet.
When all the eggplant is done, assemble as follows:
Arrange the eggplant, one deep on the baking pan. Put on a slice of Provolone cheese, a thin slice of fresh tomato, and a spoonful of tomato/diced tomato mixture. Sprinkle with grated Romano and top with another slice of eggplant. Top with more tomato mixture and a generous amount of Mozzarella. Continue until all the eggplant slices are paired up. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or until browning on top and bubbling.
*If you like onion, a thin slice of red or purple onion can be added on top of the fresh tomato slice.
Time AND money-saving idea - a win/win solution!
I have found that premixing packages of baking mixes saves time in the long run and last-minute trips to the store. The concept is simple, you mix up the necessary dry ingredients for your recipe, seal it in a bag along with a stapled on note card with what you will need to finish it. Start simply. Make up one supply, try doing it a week later and see how it works into your schedule. You increase your supplies as you begin to include them into your family’s requirements.
A good, nutritious breakfast or lunch bread is easy to have on hand.
QUICK FRUIT-NUT BREAD
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt (Can be reduced if you are watching salt intake)
4 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups rolled oats
4 cups raisins (or a mixture of your favorite dried fruit, coarsely chopped)
2 cups coarsely chopped nuts, your choice
Sift together the flour, salt and soda and divide into 4 strong plastic bags or air-tight containers. Add one cup of the oats, one cup of the fruit and ½ cup of the nuts to each container and shake well to mix. Store in refrigerator or freezer until needed.
Additional Ingredients required for baking one loaf:
½ cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Beat the sugar and egg until fluffy. Stir the lemon juice into the milk and set aside to sour. Add the soured milk to the sugar and egg and beat until smooth. Add the contents of one bag of your baking mix to the milk-sugar mixture and stir gently to combine. Stir in the oil. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake in 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, slice and serve.
The best part of having a homemade baking mix on hand is your ability to whip up another loaf of bread immediately since your first one is sure to disappear within seconds of leaving the pan.
Many of the recipes we make from scratch can be broken down in the same manner as the above bread mix. The trick is combining the dry ingredients ahead of time and attaching a note of what you will need when you want to bake. Think about the cake mixes I know many of us use. We bring home a box of flour, baking powder, spices and flavoring at a cost of over a dollar. And when we come home, we have to add our eggs, water and oil. We can drop the fancy box and the brand name and start using the house brand---our own!
Frugality is a handsome income. (Erasmus: Colloquia 16th century)
A good, nutritious breakfast or lunch bread is easy to have on hand.
QUICK FRUIT-NUT BREAD
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons salt (Can be reduced if you are watching salt intake)
4 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups rolled oats
4 cups raisins (or a mixture of your favorite dried fruit, coarsely chopped)
2 cups coarsely chopped nuts, your choice
Sift together the flour, salt and soda and divide into 4 strong plastic bags or air-tight containers. Add one cup of the oats, one cup of the fruit and ½ cup of the nuts to each container and shake well to mix. Store in refrigerator or freezer until needed.
Additional Ingredients required for baking one loaf:
½ cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Beat the sugar and egg until fluffy. Stir the lemon juice into the milk and set aside to sour. Add the soured milk to the sugar and egg and beat until smooth. Add the contents of one bag of your baking mix to the milk-sugar mixture and stir gently to combine. Stir in the oil. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake in 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, slice and serve.
The best part of having a homemade baking mix on hand is your ability to whip up another loaf of bread immediately since your first one is sure to disappear within seconds of leaving the pan.
Many of the recipes we make from scratch can be broken down in the same manner as the above bread mix. The trick is combining the dry ingredients ahead of time and attaching a note of what you will need when you want to bake. Think about the cake mixes I know many of us use. We bring home a box of flour, baking powder, spices and flavoring at a cost of over a dollar. And when we come home, we have to add our eggs, water and oil. We can drop the fancy box and the brand name and start using the house brand---our own!
Frugality is a handsome income. (Erasmus: Colloquia 16th century)
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