Stretching the Dollar

 This past week I've been working on a quilt for my newest Great-Grand due in March.  Seems like when I am sitting in front of a sewing machine with nothing but fabric pieces to look at, my mind tends to wander.  Lately, what with grocery prices still headed skyward, I try to think of ways to still eat three meals a day without wrecking the budget.

Thinking back to my childhood, some of the ways my mother cooked meals are beginning to make sense.  After all, my family wasn't exactly living high on the hog, so to speak.  Due to Mother's ever worsening arthritis, there were doctor bills and hospital bills in addition to the normal family expenditures.  

My family had one meat and potato meal per week, and that was on Sunday.  Dad was lucky enough to be able to rent out the ten-acre field that was part of our property to a neighbor who paid in beef instead of dollars.  That's where the roast beef for dinner came from.

I wondered for years why Mother always made a pot of rice to go with the chili.  It finally dawned on me that the rice stretched the meal to feed all five of us.  

Bread was always homemade.  Bread made at home cost a lot less than a loaf of bread from the store.

Casseroles were a common meal.  Or, if you live in Minnesota, they are hot dishes.  Goulash, tuna noodle hot dish, chicken and rice hot dish.  You get the idea.

We canned and froze all the food we could lay our hands on. 

I find myself looking at recipes for the kinds of meals Mother made and at the home canned and dehydrated food on my shelves for meals.  Thankfully, I have stockpiled pasta, rice and lots of flour and sugar.  I live on a fixed income.  My cost-of-living increase for Social Security this year was a whopping $44.  Frugality is necessary.

Until inflation is under control, if it ever is, seems to me that a frugal approach is the smart way to go.  Those of us who have been stacking it high over the years find ourselves in a much better place than do those who haven't yet figured out that prices aren't apt to go down any time soon.  It took several years to put us in this mess.  Going to take time to fix it.

Check Grandma's cookbooks for cheap meals.  Continue stacking it high when you find a decent sale.  And pray.  A lot.  We need all the help we can get.

Memories

 While waiting for my groceries be delivered this morning, I have been cleaning up my kitchen.  I seem to have a talent for messing it up.  While working on that, a couple of things occurred to me.

While washing dishes I came upon a set of measuring spoons.  Made of maybe aluminum.  Connected by a metal ring.  The same measuring spoons I used at age 11 when my mother taught me how to bake cookies and cakes and bread.  

There is an aluminum coffee pot sitting on my stove.  One of those that comes apart.  Pot on the bottom, basket for coffee grounds next, container for hot water next and the lid.  This coffee pot is older than I am, and that is saying a lot!  It was the first coffee pot my parents had after they married in 1945.  Dad gave it to me when my handy dandy Mr. Coffee machine went belly-up.  Still makes really good coffee!

There is a Singer sewing machine in a small cabinet sitting in a corner.  Sadly, there is some rust on it due to being stored in a damp basement for a number of years.  I need to have it restored.  There is one part that I want to leave as is.  The piece on top that held a spool of thread broke off.  My Dad, ever frugal, replaced that part with a good-sized nail.  Works just fine.  This sewing machine was purchased in the mid 1950's.  Mother taught me how to sew on this machine.

I'm pretty sure these items mean nothing to the younger set in my family.  Nobody uses what Dad called a "drip-o-later' coffee pot anymore.  And who sews their own clothes now days.  

It isn't the items.  It's the memories and the stories connected to the items.  Measuring spoons used by me when Mother's hands became too crippled with arthritis to knead bread anymore.  The spoons remind me of making loaves and buns and cinnamon rolls, all while standing on a chair at the kitchen counter so I could reach the bread dough.  

Sipping a cup of the best coffee ever, made in that old pot.  Remembering that while in their home, there was always a cup of coffee within reach.  Or teasing them about having a coffee addiction when they couldn't drive 20 miles from home without a thermos of coffee in the back seat.

Learning to sew on that Singer sewing machine and winning a blue ribbon for a skirt and blouse entered at the 4-H building at the County Fair.  Or the wool plaid skirt Mother made for me.  Or the little dresses I sewed on that machine for my own daughters.

Maybe these things and the stories are only important to this old lady, but still, I would hope that someday they might be of interest to those I will leave behind.  Someday.  Not any time soon, but someday. 

Temper Tantrums

 When my children were toddler age, every now and then one of them would decide the best way to get what they wanted was to stomp their feet and yell and carry on like a spoiled brat.  Thankfully, there were no spoiled brats within my crew, so tantrums didn't work.  I found that if I just turned my back on the tantrum thrower and paid no attention, the stomping of feet and yelling ceased almost immediately.

I have been watching some of our left leaning congress critters and bureaucrats throwing tantrums like three-year-olds.  Standing in front of the Department of Education building, demanding to be let in.  Really?  How well did that work for them.

I hear all the dirt they are tossing at Trump and Musk.  Sounds to me like Elementary School second grader's playground insults.  

There is only one reason I can think of for this kind of behavior from adults.  They are afraid their "get rich on the taxpayer's dime" schemes are being exposed.  

It is refreshing to see someone actually exposing the waste in government.  The only thing that could make me happier is to see some of those who have been cheating us over the years looking at the world from behind bars, wearing orange jumpsuits.

Homemade Seasoned Rice

 In response to a request, over the weekend I tested recipes for Beef Rice Sides and Chicken Rice Sides.  I found these recipes online, but can't recall the author, so I can't give credit where credit is due.  

I keep the commercially made on hand as they are nice to have for a quick meal.  But because of the price hikes and the additions of chemicals with unpronounceable names in the commercial product, I thought the homemade version might be the answer.  I like them both, so I put together a dozen packets of each, using small Ziploc bags for each packet.  

 Beef Rice Sides

1 cup  rice                               1 tablespoon dry onion                    

1 tablespoon dry parsley         1 tablespoon powdered beef bouillon

Combine the rice and all of the other ingredients in a resealable plastic container. I like to use zip-lock bags. Label and seal the container. Store on the pantry shelf. This is enough for 1 package of mix. Make several at a time for the most convenience.

To Prepare:

2 tablespoons margarine                 1 package of Beef Rice Sides

3 cups water                                    1 tablespoon soy sauce

In a 2-quart saucepan combine the margarine, Rice Mix, soy sauce and water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Place a lid on the pot. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible flame. Simmer, covered until done or for about 20 minutes. Serve hot.

Chicken Rice Sides

1 cup rice                                  1 tablespoon dry onion

1 teaspoon garlic powder       1 teaspoon thyme

1 tablespoon dry parsley           1 tablespoon powdered chicken bouillon

Combine the rice and all of the other ingredients in a resealable plastic container. I like to use zip-lock bags. Label and seal the container. Store on the pantry shelf. This is enough for 1 package of mix. Make several at a time for the most convenience.

To Prepare:

2 tablespoons margarine                1 package of Chicken Rice Sides

3 cups water

In a 2-quart saucepan combine the margarine, Rice Mix and water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Place a lid on the pot. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible flame. Simmer, covered until done or for about 20 minutes. Serve hot.

I'm thinking that with the addition of a small can or a half pint jar of canned meat and maybe a cup of frozen veggies might make this a meal on its own.  I have done that with the commercial sides with good results.

I don't know as it would make any difference, but my dry onion powder is made by grinding dehydrated onions in a small coffee grinder I use for that purpose.  And in my experiments, I am not fussy about using level product in the teaspoons or tablespoons.  I go for rounded. 

Hope this helps.  As always, keep stacking and keep praying.

Recipes

 As promised, here are some recipes for make-it-yourself foods.  As grocery prices continue to move skyward, the more I am looking into recipes for foods I can make at home.  

Today my grocery order was delivered.  Who knew that a 15 oz. can of apricots, store brand, would cost $2.79.  Or that a small bottle of Karo syrup would have a price tag of $4.29.  Really?  Won't be ordering either of those again any time soon.

The following are recipes for items I use on a regular basis.  Thanks to Diane who in the comments of the last post asked about sandwich meat and SJ who remembered when I didn't, both recipes for Salami and Summer Sausage that are included.  Hope these will be useful.

SALAMI

2 lbs. lean hamburger                    1/2 Cup water

1 tsp. pepper                                  1/4 tsp. mustard seed

3 Tbsp. Tender Quick                    1/8 tsp. garlic salt

Mix all ingredients very well.  Shape into three rolls and wrap in foil.  (Three rolls fit nicely into a Dutch Oven.)  Refrigerate for 24 hours.  Cover with water and boil for 1 hour.

SUMMER SAUSAGE

2 lbs. hamburger                            3/4 Cup water

2 tsp. liquid smoke                        1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. onion powder                    1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. mustard seed                        3 Tbsp. Tender Quick

Mix ingredients together very well.  Shape into rolls and wrap in foil.  Refrigerate 24 hours.  Punch holes in the bottom of each roll with a fork.  Place rolls on a rack in a baking pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 35 minutes.

HOT COCOA MIX 

Note:  Most of the other recipes for cocoa mix I have seen call for Nestle's Quick.  Because that product has increased in price, I use this recipe, which tastes much like the Cocoa my mother made when I was a child.

5 cups nonfat dry powdered milk            About 3 cups powdered sugar to taste

1 1/2 cups dry cocoa                                1 cup nondairy coffee creamer

pinch of salt

Mix powdered milk, creamer, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Sift in cocoa and powdered sugar. Mix well. Store in an airtight container.  When ready to use, add approximately 1/3 cup to a mug of boiling water. Stir until cool enough to drink.

You might want to try some of these variations. The recipe is very flexible.

* crushed peppermint sticks

* cinnamon

* malted milk powder

HOMEMADE BEEF GRAVY MIX

Makes about 2-2/3 cups mix

1-1/3 cups powdered milk                            3/4 cup flour

3 tablespoons beef bouillon granules            1/8 teaspoon thyme or celery powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder                1/8 teaspoon sage or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix well and store in an airtight container.

TO USE: Pour 1 cup cold water in saucepan, using a whisk to blend, stir in 1/2 cup mix.  Stir constantly over medium heat until gravy is smooth and slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Makes 1 cup gravy.

You have options to use whatever seasonings you like or try all of them, adjusting the amounts to your taste.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN GRAVY MIX

Makes about 2 cups of mix.

1-1/3 cups powdered milk                                    3/4 cup flour

3 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules             1/4 teaspoon sage or poultry seasoning

1/8 teaspoon thyme or 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon pepper or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 1/8 teaspoon paprika

Mix well and store in an airtight container.

TO USE: Pour 1 cup cold water in saucepan, using a whisk to blend, stir in 1/2 cup mix.  Stir constantly over medium heat until gravy is smooth and slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.  Makes 1 cup gravy.

You have options to use whatever seasonings you like or try all of them, adjusting the amounts to your taste.

There are other recipes I want to try.  All have been found by using a Google search.  I didn't include them here as I haven't tried them as yet.  But I think I will take a couple of days to put some of them together and test the results.  Included are:

A mix to replace cream of whatever soup.

A seasoning mix to use with a can of crushed tomatoes for spaghetti sauce.

Taco seasoning mix.

Seasoned rice mixes to use in place of the Knorr Rice Sides packets.

I hope to find others that I can make at home.  Guess this is my way of using what I have on hand and to avoid spending crazy amounts of money on groceries.

Keep on keeping on, friends.  Pray.  

Aren't we glad that we prepare?

 Many of you know that due to medical issues, I don't go to the grocery store.  There is a really good volunteer service that shops and delivers groceries where needed.

I make my grocery list ahead of time to have it all ready when the order taker calls every other Monday.  I generally browse the online sale ads for the store the service uses.

Prices have become so outlandish that I found only one item in the ads I was interested in or could afford.  Family size boxes of Little Debbie Nutty Bars for $1.99 each.  And because I have an unquenchable sweet tooth and because I know that life is good if one has Little Debbie Nutty Bars, I ordered 3 boxes!

Little Debbie Nutty Bars aside, I find myself changing the way I order my groceries.  

I have been in the prepping world for a number of years and have stashed the required rice, beans, etc.  There are shelves holding home canned foods and shelves holding dehydrated foods.  There are boxes holding powdered milk and flour and sugar and as many other staples as I could think of.

My rent has increased along with other bills.  Perhaps now is the time to use some of my food storage.

I spent some time this morning looking through my recipe file for items I can make at home rather than buying at the grocery store.  The only ones I have tried are hot chocolate mix and a couple of gravy mixes.  But because I cook for only one, I'm thinking maybe some of the seasoned rice mixes might be good.

Just for fun I took a look at the ingredients list on a bag of Knorr Rice Sides.  No surprise to find at least half a dozen ingredients with names I can't pronounce.  I am not a health nut as attested to by my love of all things 'Little Debbie,' but I think I would rather make my own convenience mixes where I know what's in them.  A Google search brought up several websites for homemade mixes.  Pretty sure I can find some that will fill the bill.

This morning, I also set up my bread machine.  These arthritic hands don't do well anymore, kneading bread dough.  The last loaf of bread - the cheap stuff - cost me about $4.  I can make my own bread for pennies.  And it tastes better.  And I can use the machine to stir up and knead dough for cinnamon rolls or burger buns or whatever else appeals to me.  Take that, miserable inflation!!

We are preppers.  We find ways around the high prices.  Some farm.  Some garden.  Some raise livestock.  And for those of us who are past our prime and simply cannot work like that anymore, we figure out how to do what needs doing any way we can.

Especially now - stack when you can.  Pray always.

Routines

 I have a morning routine.  So do many of us.  Mine includes coffee.  I admit to being kind of cranky until I am well caffeinated.  I have long suspected that my kids don't call me until I have had time to consume at least two cups.  :)

While getting my caffeine intake up to acceptable levels, I generally turn on the computer and scan the news headlines.   And this is where the lesson in how to lie and politicize begins.

I am old enough to remember when news reports actually contained real news.  Today...not so much.  Seems like mainstream media is incapable of honesty.  Wouldn't recognize the truth if it bit them on the bum.

And have you noticed that it doesn't matter what happens in our world, it is the fault of the current administration?  I am convinced that if the current president found the cure for cancer, the left leaning news outlets would spin that into something awful.

I'm not saying that our side never stretches the truth.  It does.  All too frequently.  But anyone keeping score knows which way the news outlets lean.

What really chaps my hide is that those who believe themselves to be better than we are actually believe that we are so stupid that we believe everything we are told.  Apparently, the recent election didn't teach them anything.

When my kids were young, there was a house rule.  That was if they did something bad, there were consequences.  If they lied to me about it, the consequences doubled.

Too bad that rule can't be applied to news outlets or to politicians.