My Saturday Sighting Becomes A Milestone Moment...

Out and about at yet more yard sales this AM - I spotted this...

I hurried past thinking I'll get some of that 25 cents-an-ear

 corn on my way back... just enough for lunch.

Upon stopping I noticed the sign said 25 cents a dozen!  What?

 

A quick chat with the owner & I soon learned there was nothing amiss.  

She was simply well supplied and wanted someone else to benefit

 from her 'leftovers'.  Oh my!  Now anyone else who has no corn in

 their freezer would have surely taken most all that was there at this price.  

But you see - at 53 years old - I have never 'done up' corn by myself.  

My story in brief... 

I have a rare neuro arm disease that started when I was 16. 

There have been many things over the years that I haven't and

couldn't do.   Definitely not corn.  We have simply done without

 except what people have given us at times.  But my arms have improved 

in the last while and today I found myself wondering if I might now 

be well enough to give corn a whirl.  My Love assured he'd help if needed.

So I got a few dozen and we husked, cooked, cooled...

dried...

and the hard part for me... cut corn.  About 3 1/2 dozen.

Let's just say I cried some happy tears today. I did corn!  

And I did it all myself - except for help with husking.

 Granted - I didn't do a lot... but enough that now if I want to make

  baked corn - I'll actually have something to make it with.  

Cause we all know - baked corn with store bought corn just isn't the same.  

I'm just a little giddy and think I smiled through the whole process.

  I've been offering prayers of thanksgiving for sure.

Thanks for rejoicing with me!  ~Joyce

How to Use a Cookbook for Budget Meals - Thrifty Thursday...

Thrifty cooking and meal planning begins at the grocery store.  

I've shared about that in this post.

Today I'm sharing an easy way to do that planning...  

its all about the style of cookbooks you use.

Now of course - you can do Pinterest and web searches for what I'm 

about to show you.   But I've discovered that those searches alone 

cause me to miss out on a lot of recipes.  And... I need less screen time.

So... Are you familiar with the Taste of Home or Quick Cooking magazines?  

Then you're probably also aware that every year they make a

 hardback compilation book of recipes.  These sell new for about $25.  

BUT... they are plentiful at thrift shops and yard sales for $2 & under.  

Just pick some up when you see them.  I have several.

In the back of the book - you can search by main ingredient -

such as 'sausage'.    Here's what I did for planning tonight's supper...

I started with a search in the back of a book for 'sausage' - 

as that is a bargain meat that I have on hand right now.

I was looking for a main dish - and found several that will work

 with the sausage and ingredients I have.

I happen to also have a pack of turkey bacon open - 

so I zeroed in on

 'Zesty Sausage and Beans' (or a version thereof).

And here's a link for the recipe online (now that I know the name).

Done!  I find this planning method to be quick & simple.

I did it last night in my 'quiet time' before bed without a 'screen'.

  Love it when a meal comes together!  Of course there are other

 cookbooks that offer similar elements.  But these are readily

 available for cheap and I love the pretty pictures.  

Now I'm off to get my thrifty supper in the crock pot!  ~Joyce

A Money Saving Oven Tip - Thrifty Thursday...

My thrifty tip for this week?  Get a toaster oven!

And for the best bang for your buck - get one from a thrift shop or a yard sale. 

 They are not hard to find.  We found ours in 'like new' 

condition at a yard sale for $3!  And it's sizable!

 Toaster ovens are great for heating up slices of pizza, leftovers,

 baking fries, etc.  Tastes much better than reheating in a microwave.  

And its more economical to heat up this small oven than a full size oven.  

Rolls of biscuits?  In the toaster oven they can go!

Storage is often a concern - so here are a few ideas...  

1. Kitchen island shelf (ours is on our Stenstorp island from IKEA)

2. Nearby pantry or closet shelf

3. Basement step shelf

4. In your regular oven

5. On your counter top 

6. In a kitchen cabinet (not my favorite - found it cumbersome to get out)

Certainly - if you find you dislike 'getting it out' - you won't use it. 

 So get creative.  These can be cute right on your kitchen counter - 

just place a pretty doily and faux herb on top and you're good to go.

I'm not one for kitchen appliances.  I have as few as I can get away with.  

But I do like my little oven! 

Would love to hear if you use one and where you store it.  

Stay Thrifty!  ~Joyce
Linking to Home Sweet Home

Domino Sugar and A Toy Stove Display...

Recently - I sold a little sample box of Domino Sugar...

The happy buyer was Kim in North Carolina.  Her plan?  

To include it in her child's vintage stove display in her kitchen .

It fits right in!  That's one sweet 'Little Lady'!

I love it when customers follow up regarding a purchase.  

Makes my day!

And there's still one more little sample box left...

Gerber Oatmeal Sample sized box available here

Anybody have a kitchen display that needs a box of baby cereal?

Hope you're having an awesome day!  ~Joyce

A 'Girlie Things' Advertising Recipe Booklet...

Did you ever take Lydia Pinkham tablets?  They are touted to cure

 just about every 'girlie' issue out there.  i.e. getting pregnant,

 difficult 'monthlys', hot flashes, you name it - Lydia could fix you up.

Source

 Lydia was a local herbalist in the 1800's who served her neighbors well.   

In the midst of financial difficulties - her son suggested she 'sell' her 

concoction - and a business was born.  And what a thriving business it was... is!  

You can still buy Lydia Pinkham tablets - just check out Amazon!

  (Looks like today's variety has been altered a little... 

the original compound had 18% alcohol!) 

I happened upon a Lydia Pinkham advertising recipe booklet.

 This is one of several she published and the inside content is so charming. 

'Summer Time' consists mostly of sandwich and drink recipes.

Available here

The booklet is also loaded with testimonials about her product.  

I love the sweet flapper girl graphics...

 Allow me to leave you with one of the recipes -Sweet Sandwiches.  

Essentially - this sounds like a mocha frosting (with opt. coconut) that is served between graham crackers. 

Oh yum!!!

It'll be a few months yet till summer arrives - but these goodies

 would taste just as wonderful by the fireplace with hot chocolate!

Let me know if you tried it!~Joyce

Linking to Let's Talk Vintage

Canning and Painting...

Life is full lately - isn't it always?  

But I've been able to sneak in a few projects.

 Love this old tool chest that's been sitting in my garage for years... (shame on me) 

...waiting on a makeover.  

I wasn't liking the brown paint and the drawers needed repair.

My makeover fix was simply a coat of creamy white paint and some distressing.  

Sometimes simple is best.

Love those handles!  And did you see how the top lifts up? (1st pic.)

Love that!

  

And while Susie Homemaker I am not... I planted some hot peppers this year - 

just so I could make salsa.  So salsa I made...

...and canned in my jars that I've been hoarding for years.

Every little 'pop' just makes my day.  All jars have sealed.  Success!

Next project?  There are many on my list... 

but really,  my home just desperately needs cleaned and dusted.  

Does that count as a project?  Tomorrow...

Simple Spring Centerpiece...

Company's coming tonight!  

I looked around for something - anything springy and

  found these silk geraniums on my back porch. 

(You guessed it - never put away from last year!)  I plopped them into some aqua 

Mason jars and added water (gives the illusion that they're real).

I have to have candles - so a few small votives and tea lights will work.  

The jars are wrapped with twine and that's it...

We're having chili (stains expected!) -  so....   

It's paper napkins and this $2 tablecloth I picked up

 years ago from a restaurant (they were updating).

I don't have appropriate chargers or placemats - so 

a piece of sheet music will do the trick.

 Pulled out my trusty yard sale tulip plates that never

 sold in my booth - and I'm calling it 'good enough'.

My Menu 

(which includes enough items to accommodate my diet needs at the moment)

Corn Muffins - Butter and Raspberry/Rhubarb Jelly

Vegetarian Chili (crockpot!)

Baked Potatoes

Green Beans w/ Almonds

Tossed Salad (French dressing for them - Honey, Mustard & Lemon Juice for me)

Assorted Homemade Cookies (pulled from my freezer)

Fruit Parfaits (just fruit for me)

Menu Monday - Tortilla Pie...

Ever do something everyone else thought was crazy because you 

just felt it was the right thing for you to do?  

A few weeks ago I put myself on this diet.  

It is a plant based diet of no meat, no dairy, no eggs and no added oils.   

It's not the easiest diet (especially since I eat gluten free too!) - but

 I'm finding some good recipes.  Tonight's supper? 

Tortilla Pie!

 (shoulda taken these photos earlier in the process - but just trust me - it is good!!)

This dish is like eating hot nachos and will warm you all the way to your toes.

I made half of the recipe and it was about 4 servings.

5-6 medium no oil corn tortillas
2-3 15 oz. cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
2 16 oz. jars salsa
1 16 oz. pkg. frozen corn (I used canned)
1 c. chopped onion (I used less)
1 c. peppers chopped (I used less)
1 c. tomatoes chopped (I used diced canned tomatoes)

Line bottom of large baking dish w/ half of tortillas.  (tear as needed).  Spread beans over tortillas.  Then add half of salsa, all of the corn, onions, peppers, tomatos and remaining salsa.  Top w/ remaining tortillas.  Bake at 350 degrees for 60 min.  OR - I did mine in the crockpot on Low for 4 hours.

I've been on this diet about 4 weeks - and can definitely 

say I'm starting to feel better.  I'm not sure how long or how strict 

I will keep to this diet - but  am so thankful to have found it!

10 Frugal Kitchen Tips...

As I was preparing a bit of food today - I thought about 

all the little things I do that fall into the 'frugal' category.   

So let me share some of my 'tips' that were part of

 today's routine as I was making Rice Lasagna...

1.  Shop discount grocery stores - if you're not shopping at these - you're missing out!  We have several in our area - some chains and some privately owned.  (Do a web search!)  My most recent great bargain find was 8 oz. shredded colby jack cheese - 2/$1!  It was the day the truck came (try to find out when that is!) - so they were moving out the old inventory to make way for the new. 

2.  Make frugal recipes.  Regular lasagna is wonderful - but we eat gluten free.  Gluten free pasta is expensive.  Rice is not!  And rice lasagna is delicious.

3.  Use less hamburger (meat) -  I almost always use less than the amount of meat called for.  My habit is to buy hamburger in bulk amounts.  Once at home - I package it into 3/4 lb. portions - placing each portion into a sandwich bags.  I place those bags into a larger ziplock bag and put it in the freezer.  

4.  Shred your own cheese - I buy whole 1 lb. blocks and shred it with my Kitchen Aid shredder attachment.  I measure 1 c. per bag and freeze it the same way I do the hamburger.   Again - you can often use less than a recipe calls for.

5.  Use a warm surface for thawing.  To thaw my frozen mozzarella cheese - I simply sat it in the microwave which was still warm from making my rice.  

6.  Reuse containers - (see the Temp Tee cream cheese container above.)  

7.  Buy larger cans of food when on special.  When it's time to open them - freeze what you don't use into smaller portions.  (that would be my refried beans in the Temp Tee container above.)

8.  Bake several things in the oven at 1 time.  Today I baked some refried bean dip (for weekend snacking)  at the same time my lasagna was baking.

yes, my oven needs cleaned!

 9.  Shop thrift shops and yard sales for kitchen gadgets, dishes, etc.  I paid only $2 or $3 for my 9X13 glass dish!  In fact - I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything for my kitchen from a 'regular' store.  It's amazing what people get rid of.

10.  Make your own hot pads.  When my daughter was little - she had a pot holder maker (the kind with the loops) and made a bunch of them.  I still use them!

There ya go - 10 thrifty ideas!

Canning Pickled Beets...

We have a teeny garden.  And this year - my red beets 

didn't produce much.  But not to be deterred - I pickled 

and canned them anyhow.  Here's how...

1.  Scrub beets and cut off greens and roots - letting 2" of the 
top greens in place (so they don't bleed out their color).

2.  Boil till soft

3.  Remove remaining stems and rub off skins

4.  Slice beets into pan and add pickling syrup.
Syrup consists of equal parts sugar, water and white vinegar.  
For my little 1 pint jar (yep - just 1 pint...) - I used 1/2 cup of each.

5.  Bring beets & syrup to boil

6.  (Sealing Jars)
While beets are boiling - place canning inner lids into water 
in a separate pan (enough water to cover lids) and bring to boil.

7.  Spoon boiling beets & juice into clean jar.  (use canning funnel)  Wipe top of jar clean and top w/ lid 

right out of the boiling water and a canning ring (not boiled)..... 

Do one jar at a time.

8.  Set aside & listen for the sound of popping lids to let 

you know the jars have sealed.

And next year - hope for more beets!

Delivering A Meal...

My brother is having a difficult health time 

right now.  This morning I quickly made a bit of 

food to help out (less cooking for his wife).  

Since they love antiques and live in an authentic 

log house - I packaged the items accordingly.  

Freshly made Hearty Pork Rice Soup (because 

my bro. doesn't like chicken) went into some 

blue Mason jars...

Made a double batch so we can have some too.

 Freshly made potato salad (his special request) 

went into a vintage blue enamel dish...

Those are donut holes and chocolate candy on top.

 

 With a vintage towel lining a old market basket - 

it was a cute, if quick, delivery for today.   

I added an inspirational post card and will try

to take them more goodies from time to time. 

It doesn't take much to show a little

love and care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just Listed in my Etsy Shop

W. Haskell Coffin Pin Keeper

Cooking With Mulberries...

We have lots of mulberry trees bordering our backyard.  

They can be a pain (mulberries in the grass make a mess!) 

But they can also be a blessing. 

I like to use my 'free' fruit in baked oatmeal.

(Thank you my daughter for climbing up on the garage roof and picking them for me!)

One of the mulberry trees

 

 

Cleaned and ready to be stemmed.

From tree to table - yum!!  How do you use mulberries?