Tuesday Tidbits and Stuff

 While the sun is out, it really is not as warm as previous days, and of course snow will be coming. 

I spent most of today after tasks working on my projects. The rug is ready to be sewn, but I am making some knitted sides as the stripes are not matching up quite the way I would like and so the sewing together will be slightly different than I had hoped. 

My embroidered blocks are done and ready to be fashioned into a flimsy sometime very soon. 

I next got all the parts, except for the interfacing, ready to sew the totes together.

I will need to sew some of the pieces of interfacing together in order to use up the smaller bits of interfacing. There are 4 totes to be fashioned over the next few days. 

I never shared what I purchased for the pantry this past week. Mainly because my darn phone is not allowing me to upload the photos to my gallery on the computer. Meaning I had to find the old digital camera and get it up and running once again. 

This time I picked up some cans of pineapple and 2 bottles of sauce. One bottle is plum sauce and the other is honey garlic. 

Harvey has put together his grow lights, and is working on the shelving unit. Today we got our new doorbell, and that is installed now as well. 

Me, well I have been checking out Amazon for a wagon. I think I just might have found the one I will purchase. It is a bit expensive, but will carry enough from the grocery store that I would purchase. The only problem I can foresee is that one place I shop at is quite a distance away. But perhaps I can arrange it so that on that occasion I drive once a month to pick up all that I need. 

I have also been checking out a new mini computer for the television as the one I have on there now can not be updated any longer, and the software on it is not supported. Soon I may not be able to use it at all. Probably order this item first as there is still ice and snow on the ground, and then Kris can install it for me once he gets home for Easter. I will use the money in my savings envelope for this purpose as there is still time to save for our trip and for the family reunion. 

My fridge freezer is emptying nicely. However what with the pork roast this Sunday I will be adding to it once again. Most of what is in there now are carcasses for bone broth, a couple of stuffed chicken for a meal, two pieces of salmon fillets, a package of frozen brisket and some frozen chopped veggies. There are lots of frozen veggie packages as well. I would enjoy getting it totally empty and by the end of the next couple of weeks that will be within reach. 

Now I just need to remember to use things up in there in good order. The same can be said for the meals in the chest freezer as well. Having ready made meals is great and very frugal, but if you don't use them it can be a problem.

Now I am off to start supper where I will be using up some leftovers from the fridge. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new month has arrived and it has brought with it very cold weather. Time to have tummy warming meals a bit more often, even if I am trying to use up the many packages and containers of leftovers in the fridge freezer and the chest freezer. 

Monday

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn. I might rip up what remains of the salad and have just a salad made of lettuce and sweet peppers.

Tuesday

Leftover Ham made into a casserole along with what is left of the lettuce mixture and carrots.

Wednesday

Leftover meatloaf, fried leftover mashed potatoes with onion, and peas.

Thursday

Leftover ham casserole, and a salad.

Friday

Scrambled eggs on toast. Perhaps some hash brown patties if I can find a good sale.

Saturday

Soup and sandwiches. Probably the Mexican soup that I have a few containers of. Sandwich wise, not too sure as of yet.

Sunday

Chicken Parma, mashed turnip/rutabaga, and a salad.

This should help clear out the freezer just a bit more. Trying to make room for any leftovers once the boys are home for Christmas.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Saturday Roundup

 

Not much in the way of projects completed, the pictures of those things will have to wait until next week. I did get a few things almost completed though so that is a plus.

This week was spent getting little things completed, like my calendars for next years monthly menu plans, and a few food items made to be used over the next weeks. Plus of course that big shopping trip and the processing of all the meat. 

I guess it is nothing to shrug ones shoulders at and say pfft nothing was really accomplished.

I got my yogurt made for the upcoming week. Love my yogurt maker as my instant pot is old and does not have a yogurt button. 

I peeled the apples and made apple pie filling. Only one container, but at least the bruised and softened apples did not go to waste.

That is something I am working on, no waste of food.

I also got some hummus made. Actually quite a bit of hummus, and some is in the fridge freezer to be used in later weeks.

I am very happy with how this batch turned out. So much smoother than the first batch I ever bad and the taste is awesome. So much better than store bought. 

Baked bread as well this week and will probably get more done tomorrow as well as make some Naan or another type of flat bread. 

Of course I worked on my various projects for Christmas and the house organization. 

Harvey bought some wine kits and then today he went and purchased the water he will need to use in the making of the wine. The place he bought the water (this is the only time we purchase bottled water) had some free items for those who spent in the store. He got a free iced tea and a free bottle of BBQ sauce. There was also a trip made by him to the Dairy Queen here in town with a coupon. He bought a box of Dilly Bars and got one for free. As those novelty items are fairly expensive and we love us some ice cream coated in chocolate these are a welcome addition to our supplies.

 

Spent some time on line looking up recipes to use up the leftover smoked brisket. Tomorrow I will be making a "Mexican Soup" and perhaps with the second pack I will make another of the recipes I found. Pretty sure there will be leftovers of the soup to be used up as well. In the freezer the leftovers will go. Building things up so as to take the time to visit with our sons when they are home for Christmas, or just when I don't feel like cooking.

As I have half a brisket left to cook, I spent time looking up recipes to do so with my slow cooker. They all look so yummy and all take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours to be cooked. So a fix it and forget it meal coming up eventually. And of course even more leftovers to decide on what to do with. 

Considering the cost of food I am really working on making the most of what we have by using leftovers to make new meals, or planning what to do with the leftovers I already have. Planning ahead helps keep items used and made the most of. I just have to remember what needs to be used and what I have in stock. 

While life is getting simpler, the lead up to that seems to be a touch more complicated. Still I can feel myself relaxing more and enjoying what treasures each day imparts. Life is good, if a bit more expensive.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

I spent some time going over the menus for the next bit of the month. I am trying to clear out some items so as to make room for other items that will more than likely end up being collected.

Monday

Sweet and Sour Ribs from the fridge freezer. Served with salad and noodles.

Tuesday

Leftover chicken from Sunday. Not sure what I will do with it. I kind of think some of it will be used to make soup, and the rest will be made into a Chicken Tetrazzini (what is left will be frozen to use for another meal). I do plan on making soup tomorrow as it is supposed to be a rainy day. I will serve the casserole with sliced cucumbers, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes with a dip.

Wednesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce. Served with a salad, most likely coleslaw as I have some cabbage and a couple of carrots to clear out.

Thursday

I will make baked spaghetti and freeze half for later on. Served with the remains of the coleslaw.

Friday

We will be gone, but I plan on taking some smoked sausage up to Kris's place. It will be a quick meal with what ever he has to go along with it. The men will be going to the football game so something quick and easy is very appropriate.

Saturday

Kris can supply the meal for this day or perhaps I will take what remains of the stuffed chicken to use that up as well. He could supply the sides. Just need to figure out if that would work out. 

Sunday 

We will be home and there is a package of ham yet in the fridge freezer so I will do something with that. Probably served with peas and carrots. Perhaps some potatoes made in the air fryer (I have some small potatoes to use up).

While I will have cleared out a few things, I will have added to the freezer as well. Still the menu for the following week will see us clearing out a few more items and making a bit more room in the fridge freezer. 

Off to get some of the supper started and then I will spend some time visiting. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal  

It has actually been a lovely week here on the old homestead. That is if you don't count my stove going kaput, and Harvey's truck running into problems today. Both mean more money could be spent over the next while than was planned. If I quit baking I suppose I could go without an oven for a bit longer. I just can't see me baking one tray of 6 cookies at a time. That would not be good use of my time or very frugal. 

So what frugal things have been happening this week on the old homestead.

1.  I purchased on sale pork loins and a roast which I cut into cubes to be used in various recipes. 

2.  Used up all leftovers for our lunches over the week.

3.  Cut out the coat using fabric from my stash. Still have the lining to cut out, but that is in my stash as well.

4.  Using some of the reclaimed cotton yarn to weave the dish towels with.

5.  Bought mostly on sale items this week when grocery shopping and saved $40.18 total. Still the bills were pretty high due to rising prices.

6.  Cut scraps of fabric into squares to be used for quilts later on.

7.  Walked a couple of times to pick up the mail. Good exercise and a savings on gas.

8.  Shoveled off the front deck and steps. More free exercise.

9.  Saved small plastic bags to use when Kris brings Eiko to visit for kitty litter scrapings.

Not really that bad a week all told for being frugal and thrifty. I have also been using my appliances to cook with as well. It will be interesting to see if there is a big savings come the bill next month.

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Another week has arrived and I plan on using more appliances for cooking this week as well. Mostly the toaster oven and bread machine. I will however need to use the oven at least one day this week. 

Monday

A ready meal of meat loaf from the freezer. Served with mashed potatoes, and cooked frozen green beans from the freezer.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches. I pulled a container of pea soup from the freezer and will make egg salad sandwiches to go with.

Wednesday

Leftover roast beef. I figure on making pulled beef in BBQ sauce served on buns. I will serve a salad with this.

Thursday

Leftover pork made into a stir fry. Served with rice.

Friday

Salmon patties, leftover rice, and cooked frozen corn. Probably with leftover salad.

Saturday

Leftovers from Wednesday. The side will be cooked frozen mixed veggies.

Sunday

Leftovers from Thursday. Served with noodles this time.

This should keep my fridge fairly empty which is what I am striving to do. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

A new week of menus happening on the old homestead. Lots of using up what is in the fridge, which is always good. This is especially welcome when things are busy. No real stopping to cook much of anything. Just heat things up and make some sides.

Monday

Leftover Butter Chicken on leftover flatbreads. I will slice some cucumber and wash some grape tomatoes for the side with this meal. 

Tuesday

Leftover Sausage casserole and crusty bread.

Wednesday

This could be stew and crusty French bread from the fridge freezer (should be enough leftover for another meal this week). I plan on throwing this into my slow cooker to cook and getting other tasks done.

Thursday

The container of Beef barley soup from the fridge freezer and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Friday

Fish fillets, rice, and mixed veggies.

Saturday

Leftover stew and dumplings.

Sunday

Beef roast, roasted potatoes, and mixed veggies.

Hearty meals for the cold weather, as well as being easy to get ready and enable me to do other things while cooking.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

The Christmas rush is on now. Lots of little things that need to be done, so I am thankful that we have lots of leftovers and ready meals.

Monday

Leftover Baked Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and the leftover salad.

Tuesday

Pulling a ready made Ham Casserole from the fridge. I will make a salad to go along with it.

Wednesday

Leftover chicken from Sunday warmed up and served on thick slices of bread with gravy. I will make peas and carrots to go with.

Thursday

Fridge Smorg, meaning anything leftover from Tuesday and Wednesday. Serving with leftover salad.

Friday

Lazy Perogies (I have some lasagna noodles that need using). Serving with some coleslaw.

Saturday

Hamburgers and all the fixings. 

Sunday

Sausage casserole. There is lots of veggies in this so I won't have to make a side or two.

The meals I will need to make are quick so I can spend time finishing up other things.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

 

Time for another weekly menu, and this week I am doing a clean out the fridge and fridge freezer week of cooking. As is usual, things seem to build up in those hidden corners and I have become pretty darn lax at getting them gone. 

Monday

A bag of frozen leftover roast beef made into Beef Stroganoff. I will fry up the leftover potatoes from last night, and set out the leftover cucumber slices and grape tomatoes.

Tuesday

I will be using up a bag of leftover pork roast from the freezer. I think Pork Hash will be the menu item. Served with peas as the second veggie.

Wednesday

Leftover stroganoff served over noodles. Probably mixed veggies as the side.

Thursday

Leftover pork hash, this time with corn as the veggie and perhaps some green beans.

Friday

Perogies and sour cream.

Saturday

Pulling out the other container of leftover Chicken Casserole (will be adding some more tomatoes to it).

Sunday

Beef roast, roasted potatoes, gravy and roasted carrots. I will have done the weekly shop so salad will also be on the menu.

I should make a pumpkin pie and perhaps another pumpkin cake which I will slice and freeze.

I will probably make a few changes to next weeks menu those days we are home in order to clear some more room, in the dreaded drawers. Perhaps I should actually continue the clear out the fridge freezer for as long as I can. I will need to see what is left after this week and do a bit of planning.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.