He's trying...really he is.

Murphy is generally a good, make that GREAT dog. He's not too hyper, 99.9% potty trained, likes his space, is ALWAYS up for a road trip, and is super cute. If I say so myself. He has lived in an apartment for almost a year. It's the end of a 5-plex, so it's not so different from his former house. He has a chair by the window so he can watch people outside. He mimics the ambulance/firetruck sirens, like in his old neighborhood. He still feels the need to give a menacing growl-turned-bark when he doesn't like the looks of whoever is walking past. This habit is annoying, and I'd like to break him of it for my sake as well as the neighbor's.
My main method is to squirt him with the water bottle while saying "No!" in a firm voice. I can do this from pretty much anywhere in the room. I'm not sure it's that effective. Sometimes he raises an eyebrow in annoyance. Sometimes he shakes his head and body as if he were a female lifeguard on "Baywatch" fresh from the salty ocean. At some point he always wants to sit by (or ON) me after this. And he always smells like a wet dog. I seem to be at the short end of this discipline deal and I wonder, is it safe to Febreeze a dog?

Tasty Tuesday

This recipe is both simple and frugal. As Hannah Montana would say, it's the best of both worlds! In case you didn't know it by now. . . I am a dork. I own it. Love it or leave it.
My sister and I first learned how to make these cookies in G.A.'s, back in the day. I still use this recipe (with a modification or two) any time I need to make peanut butter cookies. And I'm using the word "need" loosely.

So Simple Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup of peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1 cup of sugar
1 egg

Blend together. I usually add a spoon or two of flour to help them hold together better. A pinch of salt, maybe some vanilla. This is why I don't bake, even THIS recipe is to constrictive for me.

Spoon, roll, use a cookie scoop, drop onto a cookie sheet, dip a fork in a shallow bowl of sugar and press into each dough ball, making a criss-cross pattern.

Bake at 350, approximately 8-10 minutes.
Sometimes I double the recipe, add another 1/3 cup of p.b. to the dough and a bag of chocolate chips, and press into my rectangular baking stone. This bakes for about 12-15 minutes, then let cool before slicing into cookie bars.

Sorry there are no pictures. To do that I would have to do some dishes and then actually bake these tonight. I'm baking them tomorrow. Use your imagination.

Coupon-a-rama

Two posts in one day, I know! The joy. . .
I have been testing the waters of the couponing world. There are some great sites out there, and I'm learning a lot. So far, I really just focus on Dillon's, but this week our Price Cutter had a "Buy one get one free" sale, so I took some coupons there and. . . I really needed to stock up on pretty much any/everything (amazing what cleaning out the fridge will do for you), so I was just looking for deals and less boxed meals/more whole foods. The total was 48.00, with a savings of about 53%. The cereal was buy one get one free, and I had some $1/3 coupons. I bought a LOT b/c I could, and in hindsight I probably should have just bought about 1/2 the amount of cereal I did. Live and learn. The eggs were the special of the day, .69/dozen, limit 2. Grands were 4/$4, plus I had $1/3. I didn't realize Price Cutter would double coupons, so that was cool. Then, I had Cellfire coupons that were going to expire, so I headed over to Dillons. . .

The total here was about 14.00, total savings about 55%. Snack mixes were about .97/each after double coupons and Cellfire. Everything else had a coupon except for the kielbasa sausage and tortilla chips. There's more snack/frozen food in this one, but the coupons made for great and convenient deals, and if being able to pop a breakfast Lean Pocket in the microwave keeps me from a quick run through a drive through, then I call that well worth it.
I am definitely stocked up for a month or more, minus some more fresh fruit, veggies, and milk (HA!). I am still pretty new to this, and I don't know yet how big a part of my life and budget couponing will become, but I have to say, every little bit helps and I am at the very least glad I've experienced some success.

Home Sweet Home....FINALLY!

A year ago (well, 11 months) I was packing up my house and preparing to move to an apartment. The circumstances that led me to leaving the 100+ year old house that I loved, the old house with the huge windows and REAL hardwood floors, with the front porch AND front stoop, the house with all the potential and some of the dreams...those circumstances that were leading me to leave one chapter were opening a new one. This one would be called "Stability." Not "Here are all the answers" or "Everything will now fall magically into place," just "Stability." That one thing was so important to me, I needed it for so long, long before I even knew I was missing it. And so I moved. Some of my circumstances came with me (I'll talk about this soon. . . maybe), and some of them didn't. My new apartment was truly a godsend. Affordable. Old neighborhood (almost as old as the one I was leaving). Character. Big windows. Hardwood (pergo?) floors. Small enough to feel cozy and big enough to be a home (like my house).
This past year has brought more questions for me than answers. I wish I had a long-term plan and could tell people I know for sure what will happen. I don't and I can't. What I can do is give a status report. I have lived in the same place for (about) a year. I am no longer going from job to job as we move from town to town. I am in school again (answer to lots of prayers, I know). I live a simple life. I go to work, I come home. I spend time with my family. I go to church (if you don't count the holidays). My goals are simple. Continue to do what I'm doing until God tells me something different.
Off and on this past year I have thought about moving. I have ALWAYS been an apartment/house seeker. What's out there? New and shiny? Old and charming? (Old and charming always wins with me) And up until the past week, I really thought I would move to a different, quieter, location when my lease is up. That feeling has been growing dimmer. This home that I've created is not big on fancy furniture or the latest gadgets, but it has become a haven for me, a calm, consistent place to do what I have to do, to put my life back together, to prepare for what may come, to get to the point where I can be excited about things again, to look forward to things, to enjoy whatever there is to enjoy.
Before the inspirational music starts to roll. . . let me just say that the odds are high that if you are reading this, then you already know part or most of my story. And that means that you have been part of what has been so good for me this past year, the growing relationships, the support, the prayers, the movie going partner and chips and salsa partaker. So thank you. Feel free to stop by sometime, I'll make you dinner or a glass of sweet tea.

Frugal Friday and a Blizzard

This is going to be what you might call a "low-maintenance" post.

It's Frugal Friday, so I used a coupon to get 99 cents off a DQ Blizzard. Did I NEED a Blizzard? Did I need to spend the couple of bucks on the creamy, cold ice cream swirled with tiny bits of chocolate covered toffee? IS THIS POST CALLED FITNESS FRIDAY or FRUGAL FRIDAY...

Coupons rock. I have just been sucked into the world of couponing. I don't know yet whether I'm here to stay or just for a visit. Organization has never been my strength, so I have yet to figure out how to keep them all organized while I wait for just the right sale that's going to get me a cart full of groceries for mere pennies. I think this week I will take a look at a couple of stores and compare how my regular grocery list totals at each store, without coupons.

Which stores do you shop at for the best bargains? Do you use coupons? A lot or a little?

Do you go to one store for certain items and another store for others? Don't you wish you had a Blizzard like me??

Tasty Tuesday. . .er...Wednesday...whatever, it's tasty time.

If this tells you anything about how my week is going, I just now realized that "Tasty Tuesday" posting opportunities had past. Even though I am fully aware that today is Wednesday. And that Wednesday almost always comes after Tuesday. Really, I blame the 3 day weekend. And reduced sleep. And I had dinner with Dear Old Dad (it's what he calls himself) last night, so I blame Japan-time, even though we had dinner right here in the U.S. But now that I think about it, we DID have pancakes. That's probably why when my alarms went off (yes, alarmS) this morning I laid (lay, lie. . .lain...)...I stayed in bed, trying to figure out WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON??? Was it night? Was it a weekend? For some reason I thought it was about 8:30 p.m. and I needed to get up and get ready for bed.
So, that's my week. And I could have skipped "Tasty Tuesday" all together, but I figured that I didn't want to disappoint the hundreds of you...ok the ONE of you who might have read last week's first ever T.T. (heh heh) and been waiting patiently for the second installment.
This week, I am introducing you to the first recipe that I really "experimented" with. Some kids experiment with drugs, with hairstyles and colors, with. . .other choices. I experimented in the kitchen. Once, when my parents and brothers were out of town on a mission trip, I made dinner for my sisters and (very indulgent) grandparents. We had "pizzas" on canned biscuit crusts and I'm pretty sure there was sliced cheese involved. And a chocolate cake with blue lemon-flavored frosting for dessert.
Did I say this was the first recipe I experimented with? What I mean was this was the first recipe that I consistently thought about, tried out (on many, many people)and tweaked until I was completely satisfied with it. I've grown so comfortable with it that now I enjoy coming up with variations. (It's SALSA by the way...yummy saucy salsa!) Last summer I was at the farmer's market, corner produce stand, and local orchard every time I had the chance. I won't go into all that (because this has lasted long enough already), but let's just say that every sunday our community group classroom smelled like the heaven that is onions and garlic and jalapenos, because I would bring it by the bucket for people to take home and try out. And I LOVED it!
Also, you might want to buy some gum, this stuff is BOLD. and p.s. I LOVE CILANTRO.
This makes a HUGE batch.


Cilantro Addiction Salsa

2 large cans (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2-3 large cans diced tomatoes.
1-1.5 cups of vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
1 T salt

Dump these in a bowl, stir around, let them sit while you do the other stuff. Also, if you like smoother salsa, exchange the diced tomatoes for more crushed. This is the winter version, in summer, use fresh tomatoes that have been seeded.

4-6 jalapeno peppers, fresh
4-6 cloves of garlic
1 large white onion, or 2 medium/small
1 large bunch of cilantro, washed and dried on paper towels

Onion-chop roughly. Throw into a food processor/chopper. Pulse until fine. There will be some chunkier pieces, this is ok. Pour in with tomatoes, stir.
Garlic-peel, and place whole or after a chop or two, put in food chopper. Cut the stems of jalapenos, cut open and scrape out seeds (leave them if you like heat). Chop into a couple of pieces, put in food chopper. Pulse the garlic and jalapenos until it forms a frothy green liquid. Keep some kleenex nearby as this will probably jalapeno-ize your house. Add that mixture to the tomatoes. Cilantro-pull off any brown or soggy/over wilted leaves. Chop roughly and place in food chopper. I use stems and all, I don't know if that's proper or not but who gives a rip. Pulse until very finely chopped. Add to the tomato mixture. Stir very well to mix all ingredients. Taste, add more salt if necessary. More lime juice if needed. Whatever else, if needed.
This batch makes plenty to share and freeze. I don't usually can (ok I don't EVER) b/c I don't like the way the heat makes this mushier. But you can certainly try if you'd like. It should keep in the fridge for a week or so. If it tastes like moonshine, throw it out.
Enjoy!

Sam's Club = Great Entertainment

I'm going to tell you a short and funny story about a trip I took today. It's not mind blowing literature or a philosophical meditation. It's an excuse to try out a new feature in this little baby of a blog.
BS (baby sister) came to town today for some fun Valentine Day hijinx. hijincks. hi-jinks. For some fun VD (hahaha yes I know how bad that looks) adventures. I welcomed her to the city with a fresh grilled cheese sandwhich (with my secret ingredient). Then we were off to Sam's club. She recently joined because, as a single adult with no kids or pets or other people to provide for, she sees the need to be able to buy toilet paper by the year and butter by the bucket. Not that I judge her, she scored me a free membership as well.
Now when I run in on my lunch break for some cheap and fabulous pizza, I no longer have to point to the concession area and yell loudly for the senior McWorker checking I.D.'s that day, I can just flash them my membership card and hope they have cataracts to keep them from noticing my hair's impersonation of Weird Al/Kenny G. identity crisis in the tiny grainy photo, and head to the pizza line.
Did somebody dangle a shiny object in front of me, because I KNOW that's not the story I started out to tell.
OK, we're at Sam's Club with approximately 68% of the tri-county area, she's returned her jeans and we're taking the Sample Loop. Salmon, cheese cake, cream puffs, and some kind of weird pancake with jelly in it that I would never EVER buy a 6 month supply of. We are heading to the front of the store when I get side tracked by the cookware. Oh Paula Deen, why must your skillets be so pretty? In that same aisle are some furniture pieces.
Baby Sister whispers to me, "Look at that guy trying out those chairs." In a furniture store this would be no problem. But at Sam's the furniture is simply on the bottom shelf/floor under the huge towers of Must Have Items In Bulk Amounts.
I say to BS, "Oh yes, that's so interesting. . . see the pretty shiny skillet...oooh so shiny,"
and the next thing we know we hear "Help help heellllllllllp!!!"
I look to where the man had been sitting in the chair and I see neither man nor chair. I see the under workings of the chair and I see his feet dangling in the air, attempting to kick himself back over. His wife is pushing down on his feet to push him upright. BS and I are laughing our heads off while walking over to assist. We're not evil, the man and his wife are also laughing while he continues to yell "Help help help" in a pre-hysterical manner. I offer him my hand while his wife pushes the chair down. . . he tries to regain his dignity and walks off with her (she never stopped laughing) and BS and I turn our own way still laughing. In the next aisle a man is trying another chair (this one's a massage one, oh boy) and as we pass I say to him, "Whatever you do, do NOT try the recliner the next aisle over." And for the rest of the day my sister would say "Help help Heellllllp" in the same voice as the man. Because we are very sympathetic. And find the humor in EVERYTHING. At least today we were not in church so we didn't have to do the silent laughter that is expressed through body shaking that bounces the entire pew. Not that that isn't fun as well.
Lesson of the day: Always remember to put your camera back in your purse.



P.S. Tell me if you can guess what the new feature was that I tried out today.

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

. . . . .what she said . . . . . .

Signs of the times...and the first Frugal Friday

I thought I might start a "Frugal Friday" routine. To help get in the habit of blogging more regularly. Frugal seems to be in right now, during These Hard Economic Times. And since it is not likely that any of my near and dear will directly benefit from the Bail Out, I will do my part to share the frugal tips, tricks, and practices I have come across.
What are my qualifications, you ask? Well, not only did I grow up in a large family, I have been a college student, worked for non-profit companies most of my adult life, and have basically been just like any other average American. There you go, it's not like I'm performing brain surgery or revamping your financial life-plan.
So, for our very first Frugal Friday together I will simply make a Deep and Philosophical observation about how I can measure the economic times in my own life.
First, I am not a "high maintenance" girl. I don't own a flat iron, I've had the same three bottles of nail polish for about 4 years, and my idea of great clothes shopping is to find a shirt I like and buy it (on sale) in several colors. However, I am still a girl. And one thing I do DO is get my eyebrows waxed. I started doing this in high school and have experienced waxing in various price ranges. I've been to the fancier salon. I've been to the Wal-Mart Hack Em' Up salon. I've been to the Missouri College of Cosmetology. Wax is wax. Ripping hair out by the roots is ripping hair out by the roots. So, 9 times out of 10, I go to MoCo of Cosm. (I made that abbreviation up myself). It's 5 bucks. The students there are so intent and learning their craft and living their dream that they do a great job.
However, when things get busy or the budget gets tight, I tend to postpone the trip "for another week." It rarely rises to urgent status on my priority list because I always know I'll get to it when I get to it. Except lately. Between These Economic Times, and some annoying health issues, I have been home bound more than normal. Not in an elderly bring me a meal kind of way, but still. And because of that, I've missed some days at work. Which means I've missed some of my dollar friends on my paycheck. See where I'm going with this? So putting it off and putting it off has compounded to the point where I FEEL like I have one great big grandaddy long brow. I know this is not entirely so (and aren't you grateful I'm posting ZERO pictures on this post??), and I know if I got really desperate, I could tweeze (TORTURE). But I haven't, so I won't.
I think I had a point somewhere here, other than revealing embarrassing hygiene information about myself. . . oh yes. When times get tight, we cut out the extra stuff. I'm also rationing my Diet Pepsi to last me through the next pay day, but that's another exciting discussion.
What do you cut back on first when the budget crunch comes? What one thing do you HAVE to have, that is the last to go? I want to know!
Meanwhile, if you see me around in the next week or so, try not to stare at my eyebrow.
Have a Frugal Friday,
Grandaddy Long Brow

Tasty Tuesday

Pardon me while I get my blog bearings. Just because I haven't written...doesn't mean I haven't had things to write about. So many choices. To write about everything at once, to separate out by subject matter. To realize I am not nearly that advanced in my blog-ness yet. So tonight I bring to you . . . . (drum roll?). . . a typical Tuesday night.

This week seems to be all about the social food gatherings. We have our once a month "Food Day" at work tomorrow, my cohort has decided to start bringing snacks every week (Thursday), and Friday we are having our bake sale and silent auction at work to benefit the American Heart Association. Last weekend, when I was planning my week and groceries, I thought I'd make it simple and make the same thing for each event. Banana cake. I tried it recently, with much success. And then today I began having doubts. Not doubts, so much as the laziness of not wanting to go to the store to pick up the remaining ingredients.

Only, I call laziness my good sense and frugality, why not use something I already had everything for? OR--why not skip the whole mess? Eventually I decided on mashed potatoes. Fancy, I know. Probably won't win our "Golden Spoon" competition, but will be a good, solid stomach coater for all of the hot wings, meatballs, little smokies, queso, etc. . . that will be present tomorrow. So, without further blabbing, I give you.....

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1/2 a bag of your basic russet (?) potatoes. Scrubbed, chopped, skin on. Big ol' pot of water, slowly bring to a boil. Worry that the potatoes on the bottom will burn. Stir a lot. Boil, then simmer for about 20-25 minutes. Use your good sense. Test one with a fork.

This is roasted garlic. Better known as "a little clove of heaven." There are several ways to roast it. I wrap it in foil (don't close the foil), either cut the ends off or not, in the oven for 15-20 minutes at about 325-ish.

These are the bananas I am going to use later in the week. They are about 3 days past when I would eat them myself, and their ripe smell is grossing me out while I make the potatoes. I can't wait until tomorrow when I have to deal with their mushy disgusting-ness.

Sometimes I like to make fancy potatoes. I almost always use a little milk or sour cream if there's no milk on hand. Today, I used what I had on hand. And half-way through I added some condensed milk. Oh, by the way, I have a 1/2 gallon of milk in my fridge. But guess what. It's spoiled. Surprise surprise. I'm not even using real butter in these! And that broth? Dollar Tree, no joke. For the sake of time and not killing you with boredom...I am not including the pictures showing how to drain potatoes, how to put a couple spoons of butter in the bowl and pour the potatoes on top. If you have questions about this process, I can email you the pics. These are the potatoes after just beginning to mix with the mixer. Salted and peppered. A couple of glugs of broth. No measurements, use your judgement. This is also the point that I was glad I had a can of condensed milk in the cabinet b/c I needed more liquid, but did not want to keep adding chicken broth.

Here are the final results. They are a little creamier than I would normally make, but they have to be in a crock pot all day and my hope is to prevent crust-o potatoes. Here's hoping. I love that you can see bits of potato skin in there. And see that little yellow lump towards the right? That's a roasted garlic clove that did not get smushed to smithereens by the mixer. Hopefully, whoever gets that bite tomorrow will also have some gum on hand. Or not sit near me.

Oh, and this is Murphy on a typical Tuesday night. He won't come in the kitchen b/c he's scared of the child gate, even when it's not up. But he must keep an eye on me at ALL times, no matter how much he'd rather be napping.

I think that I will try to post something every Tuesday related to cooking. I love cooking, experimenting, making people test my results. . . so, see you next Tuesday.