How to Eat Groceries - The Flavors of Life: Herbs and Spices

I think every bride in my era received one:  A cheap wooden rack filled with strange and exotic sounding herbs and spices.  Some were used but most were unknown and were pushed to the back regions of the cupboard and tossed about twenty years down the line.  Oh what I missed! 

Things are a little different today for most of us, even the so called plain cooks.  For one things herbs and spices are far more available and reasonable to purchase.  We tend to have a blend of cuisines that we cook in our homes in this multi-cultural world we live in.  There's the Food Channel and the Cooking Channel to tease us into using herbs and spices.  We can buy fresh or freeze dried, plants or handpicked herbs in most all groceries these days.  Unlike those musty dusty smelling bottles of dried herbs and spices I was given too many years ago to remark upon.

In my poorer days, using what I had was about the biggest boost I could give my food budget.  I had in my possession a Betty Crocker Cookbook (c) 1970 which came with a handy chart inside the covers.  Choose a herb or spice and follow down the chart to see what dishes were best suited to it's use.  I pulled out  the musty dusty bottles and used them, old as they were and found a whole new world of flavor opened up in my heretofore basic foods kitchen.  Over the years I've experiemented with all sorts of things that are perfectly common now and were less common at the time.  I don't buy loads of spices and herbs.  I favor certain ones and tend to stick to them. 

I thought this would be a good spot in the series to introduce flavor into our groceries...

Here's the thing: don't buy loads of something you're not sure you'll like.  Tone's has tiny little canisters of herbs and spices you may buy (look online for stores, I find them locally at a discount grocery), which hold perhaps 1/2 ounce.  I can also buy from the Mennonite Country Store in the next county and often do.  They buy in bulk and repackage in weights ranging from a full ounce to a pound.  I buy according to how often I'll typically use them.  And if it so happens you have one of the gorgeous stainless steel spice racks filled with bottles, then USE them.  Experiment.  Toss what you don't like.

First let's recognize that some flavors are associated with certain cuisines.  Fresh garlic is about universal and appears in just about every cuisine: Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, French.  If all you've ever used is the bitter powdered garlic or the too salty garlic salt, then let me urge you to try fresh garlic just once.  Buy a whole head of garlic (which contains many cloves of garlic).  Peel and mince finely or slice or dice depending upon how much of the flavor you want in your dish.  The finer the pieces the more flavor will permeate the food.  I no longer buy cloves because I find it handy to buy the pre minced jars packed in citric acid water at the grocery.  And yes, I'm compromising a certain loss of flavor in using it but I persist all the same.  It's relatively inexpensive, less than $2 for a small jar, well under $4 for a big jar (about 3 cups).

Garlic is well suited to just about every savory dish made.  It's a wonderful enhancer of beef.  I grew up eating steaks that were infused with garlic before grilling and couldn't understand why anyone would choose to use just salt and pepper and call it enough!  Garlic is terrific in stews and soups and tomato based dishes.  You can add to olive oil and spread over bread.   

Garlic is not the only seasoning to cross international lines.  Oregano is popular in Italian, Middle Eastern and Hispanic cuisines.  Cinnamon pretty much is a common flavoring for everyone, much like garlic.  Coriander (aka Cilantro) is standard to Hispanic and Asian dishes.  This is not at all odd when you consider that the seas were travelled by men who feared them in pursuit, not of gold, but of spices and herbs.

Here is a quick listing based upon the Betty Crocker chart:
Allspice:  suited to Ham and Beef (I often dust powdered allspice into the flour used when I have beef to brown for stewing or pot roasts), pumpkin pie, sweet rolls and coffeecakes, potato soup or oyster stew, squash dishes (that would be winter squashes by the way).

Basil: spaghetti sauce or tomato based dishes, yellow summer squash (you MUST try that!), salad dressings, omelets. (I've used a few fresh leaves after growing it here last summer.  Tomato sandwiches with a fresh leaf or two are another story entirely!)

Chili powder:  chili, of course; cheese sauce; shrimp or chickenm beefm corn, cauliflower;biscuits.

Cinnamon:  Beef stew; dusted into flour when frying chicken; Ham and pork chops; carrots, spinach, winter squash, sweet potates; any fruit; chocolate and rice pudding, apple desserts, cookies; breads and sweet rolls.

Dill:  green beans, potatoes, cabbage, cucumber;  seafood and fish;  deviled eggs and cottage cheese.

Ginger (powder but also grated root):  Bean or onion soup; Poultry: Baked beans; beef roast and steak; carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash; dressing for fruit salad; pears; cookies and nut breads.

Nutmeg:  Oyster stew, mushroom sauces;  meatballs, meatloaf and pot roasts; cauliflower, carrots, onions; applie pie, custard, pumpkin pie and vanilla ice cream;  sweet rolls, nut breads.

Oregano:  Soups and stews, including mushroom; chicken; Spaghetti sauce, pizza; broccoli, mushrooms, tomatoes.

Sage:  Chicken soups, tomato soup, cheese sauce;  fish, chicken; pork or lamb;  brussels sprouts; cornbread, stuffing, tea.

Thyme:  Clam chowder; poultry and stuffing; beef roasts; carrots, green beans, mushrooms, peas; tossed in green salad, tomatoes; custards; egg dishes, biscuits.

Chives:cream cheese or sour cream; breads; potatoes; scrambled eggs.

Bay leaves:  soups and stews.

Rosemary:  onions, carrots, potaotes; excellent with any meat or poultry.

Cilantro (leaves):  taco meat; salsa, guacamole; black beans or bean soup.

Cumin: corn, cabbage; citrus based meat marinades; guacamole; yogurt to serve with curry; bean and rice dishes.

These are the herbs, spices and seasonings most frequently found in my own kitchen, along with salt and pepper.  Occasionally I might have others but I find these the most versatile for the way I cook.  With the herbs, I do try fresh, but more often will use dried (except cilantro and rosemary) for the convenience.  I have rosemary growing at my back door step, where I can snip a few fronds and strip them right into dishes as they are prepared.  Cilantro is bought cheaply at the grocery in a huge bunch.  Often I'll use a bit fresh and then strip the remaining stems of leaves and dry on a papertowel on the counter.  Overnight is usually enough to thoroughly dry out the leaves.

Coffee Chat - A Beautiful Spring Day

Come on in...Coffee's made and there's a Banana Pound cake to soothe that sweet tooth.  It's a BEE-YOO-T-FULL day today, absolutely gorgeous.  Did you notice the flowers coming up and blooming about the back door?

Just look:

 The petunias from last year dropped seeds...I decided to leave the pot alone and it looks like all but one of the openings will have petunias in it.  I can't wait to see what color they turn out to be.

That little brown twig to the left in the pot is the dead part of the rose stem I pushed into the pot mid-winter.  I'd just trimmed the rose bushes and picked up twigs to poke into the pot.  I put 7 twigs in and this is the only one that took root and has put out leaves.  I can't wait to see which rose rooted since I had some of all four roses in there.  Don't you just love mystery plants?

The Yellow Knockout rose.  I didn't prune it last year and it was pretty enough but this year, I decided to be brave and I cut it back pretty hard.  Isn't it gorgeous?  And just look at all the buds on the thing:

 Like all the knockout roses this will bloom all summer long.  I thought the yellow was unusual when I found it two years ago and if I recall right, bought it for $5 as a manager's special at the grocery.

You'll just have to ignore the dead canes in these two photos.  I need to do some flower bed housekeeping and kept putting it off while the pollen count was crazy high.  This is an antique French rose.  It blooms only once a year, and the plant is leggy and tall, never grows like a bush even after pruning.  I must have a dozen blooms this year.  Because this is an old rose it has the most wonderful scent.  And the roots send up a new shoot or two each year so the rose sort of multiplies.

The coral rose is loaded with buds too.  This is

just the first bloom on it.  I have no clue what the name of this rose is, because it's the bush that took such a beating for ten long years until I moved it here. (Now it has to be moved again because it is entirely too close to the house and tears my window screen each year).  It's hardy, blooms all throughout summer and fall, smells good and is the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen in a brown transfer ware creamer.  It takes the breath away, truly it does.  And by the way, I like roses with a really good strong aroma.  Angel Face is a lavender colored rose I want to add to my collection because of the aroma ( I could take or leave the color).  I also plan to find a white rose and a Mr. Lincoln this year.

Here's Maddie coming up the yard just as I took a photo to show off all the lovely GREEN of the world about us.  It's so beautiful that I kept commenting to Chance about it this morning as I went about opening windows. "Just look how GREEN it is!" I kept saying until he finally just gave me one of THOSE looks and said "It's green."  Oh okay, as long you noticed, lol.

And it's BLUE.  When we got up it was kinda gray and cloudy but the wind has blown (wind advisory today for gusting winds) and the sky has been beautiful, too.  SIGH.  It's the sort of day you could spend lying upon your back watching those fluffy clouds floating about, day dreaming of green and blue and flowers galore, or just drowsing while a bee hums lullabies nearby.

I can't believe that this year, I've had three different colors iris bloom.  First was the purple and then the white and now these TALL golden beauties.  The very last time I visited Grandmama's I decided I'd bring home an iris to enjoy.  I was just going to break off the flower but when I pulled the stalk, a whole rhizome came up with the stalk.  I brought it home to plant and now I have this gorgeous stand here at the back door step.  Since iris don't require deep planting I put them where the water and electric and phone lines all run under the ground and to the house.  I put a few of the iris under the Sweet Gum in the backyard last year.  Those are blooming to. 

You can see the Spiderwort there in the background.  I like spiderwort because it makes the bees happy.  It can be pretty invasive however.  I've found it coming up all over the yard since planting it in just two or three spots.  However, I like it well enough to keep it and just dig up and throw away what I don't want of it.

I thought, since I'm showing off pictures anyway, you might like to see my new haircut.

It's been a great style because I am wearing earrings every single day now!  The tiniest earrings are pretty with a short style like this but I really love wearing long dangly types too, like the gorgeous red beaded chandeliers that Merlene sent me for our RED swap in February. 

Kay came in Friday night and has been here pretty much ever since.  I am a bit amused by her because she thinks nothing at all of hopping in the car and driving 30 miles away to visit her friend Jen or to the Hobby store for watercolors and a sketchbook, or running over to get a cup of coffee house coffee.  Sometimes she makes two trips a day.  And here I often will put off going anywhere more than once or twice a WEEK when I'm alone!  But that is youth for you.  And since she's paying for her own gasoline she surely doesn't need me to nag her about her little trips. 

It's been awfully nice having her here.  This visit is much better than her last one.  She seems to be handling her husband's deployment far better.  I'm glad of that.  I know it must have taken quite some getting used to.

Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure of Mama stopping in just as Kay left to go to a soap box derby race.  Mama came in to tell me that she'd begun clearing out Granny's house.  This has been a major emotional hurdle for er but it's necessary and I'm glad she's ready to do it at last.  When she bemoaned how little she'd gotten done (just clearing the china cabinet which was fully packed) I remarked to her that I'd often found it was enough to work only a couple of hours in a small concentrated area when I was clearing Grandmama's home.  "Otherwise I found I got overwhelmed looking at all of it.  You've got all the time you need to take to do this, so go slow and don't hurry through it."  I believe she's planning to tackle the freezer and fridge this week.

When Mama came in I'd been painting.  I've been thinking for the longest time that I'd like to spray the unglazed ceramic pheasants I have in my living room.  I am a tactile sort of person and I really disliked the way it felt to touch those two birds.  I'd seen where someone on a blog (ooohh can't remember which, I read too many!) had painted some bird figures in Heritage White...Well, I never did get around to picking up spray paint but as I was busy Sunday dusting I suddenly thought of the cream enamel paint I'd used on my bathroom cabinets...Bingo!  The pheasants now have a lovely glossy cream coat of paint and they feel so much better to TOUCH when I must move them.  While I had the paint out, I put another coat on the bathroom sink mirror frame, since I'd noticed in the strong afternoon sunlight that paint appeared a bit thin in places. 

I went to rinse out my brush after Mama left and then dialed up Alan's number to ask him to do a favor for Chance and I heard a tap at the backdoor.  And there was Alan come to visit.  He really had wanted to see Kay who apparently wanted to see him as well because she texted him just as he walked in the door asking where he was...She told him she'd hurry home as soon as the race was over and he and I settled to talk a bit. 

There was, as it happened, quite a lot for us to talk about.  His future, his summer, my plans for the yard, the siblings and all the news from all fronts there, and of course, recipes and such.  We talked a good hour and half before Kay called to say she was on her way home and was bringing Subway sandwiches.  I passed on the sandwich because I had leftovers aplenty here (did you see Menu Monday?), but the two kids ate a sandwich while they chatted and talked.

I picked up Jennifer Weiner's book In Her Shoes  last weekend thinking it might be a good read since the movie was so good.  Well the book is even better than the movie!  I couldn't put it down and that was my treat all Sunday and yesterday and even this morning, between spells of working.  It's been quite some time since I got so lost reading that I literally couldn't hear the world around me.   I took the book with me when we left home to do errands and get Chance a haircut on Monday.  I read in the salon and was stunned when he touched my arm to tell me it was time to go.  I hadn't even realized he was in the chair!  Then we stopped by our friends' home and I read and sipped coffee while the guys chatted (Sue was at work) and just zoned out completely for well over an hour.  It was pure hunger that made me nudge Chance and tell him we needed to go home.    I read all yesterday afternoon after lunch and between dinner and then after dinner and well into the wee hours of this morning and then this morning as soon as I was ready for a break and then I was done.  The book was over.  I felt almost grieved at it ending.  I've read some good books of late (and have read quite a few of late, too, that dry spell is definitely ended) but this book was absolutely the best. 

We were all home for supper last night and Kay went into the guest room and shut the door and crafted and drew and would periodically pop out to show me what she was doing.  I think really it was a very contented household last night.  It felt like deja vu having her in her old room with the door shut all over again.  But it's different, too.  "Home," she says often.  "At home, I have.."  "When I'm home I..."  "The weather feels like home..."  This is no longer home to her and I do understand that perfectly and oddly enough it doesn't feel to me as though she's come 'home' anymore but that she is visiting.  I realized with a shock this morning that Chance and I have gotten quite used to having the whole of the house to ourselves and we are enjoying our life as a couple.  It took a period of adjustment for all of us to reach the point but it's all worked out and rather nicely at that.

This past week has been an unusually busy busy off week for Chance.  No opportunity really to have that 'weekend' feeling we like to try to enjoy on Wednesday.  However, he assured me last night that we had nothing to do today.  Well he can speak for himself there.  I had plenty to do and I actually did get some of it done.  I

You see Mama made me think quite a bit about the task of clearing out the things we gather over a lifetime.  I came to a realization when cleaning Grandmama's after she and my uncle had passed away, that often the things we keep have little or no meaning for the ones who will come behind us.  I doubt seriously Grandmama would have been aware of which of her things I sought out: an old cutting board and a tattered Crisco cookbook that I remembered from earlier childhood came home with me.  A few things that were useful (a micro grater and a set of plain white ironstone dishes) and  a couple of vintage tablecloths I just plain liked and use often.  That was it.  

Every now and then I catch myself here saying "Oh I'll save that I might need it someday."  Often this leads to a clutter of things that begin to irritate me and then I must clear them out and wonder at myself for holding on to all that stuff in the first place.  I thought about what was in my cupboards and drawers and breathed a deep sigh of relief that I long ago decided I'd NEVER store anything under my beds (though I do have two small plastic bins filled with fabric and scrap paper under the guest bed at present but only in an effort to make the room look nice for Kay). Mama and Granny both have had things packed under the beds of their homes for years now and it bothers me no end...

Anyway.  I sat about thinking about what is behind cupboard doors and cabinets and under sinks and in closets and such and really I've been through nearly all of them in the past few months but there's one area that has really gotten under my skin of late: my dresser.  It's a big old antique dresser with deep deep drawers five feet wide and crammed full.  The top drawer is not so deep, but divided into two sections and has a little valet shelf at the front of the drawer where one might take off rings and watches and hair pins and cuff links. 

So this morning I pulled up a chair to the dresser, sat down, and began to systematically go through and clean each section.  Underthings first.  Do tell me why I still have knee high hose when I've not worn them in three years or more?  And why I kept them knowing they had runs?  OUT!  When the undies and gowns and socks were all nice and neat, I moved to the opposite side of the drawer where I keep my costume jewelry. 

Tangled necklaces and earrings missing and bracelets here there everywhere.  I sorted through them all.   Broken pieces that had sentimental value went into a box for repairs.  Broken pieces that really had some value in parts or beads went into a box for the craft room.  Everything else was organized and matched (earrings especially were matched to mates) and neatly returned to the drawer.  In the interest of further decluttering, I've offered Kay the opportunity to go through my drawer and choose a few pieces for herself.  I did explain that I might say no to a few things but she could look and see what suited her at present if she wanted.

The 'at home' drawer of clothing was straightened and neatened.  I tossed a pair of pants I caught myself feeling embarrassed to be found wearing.  Hmmm...That left me with NONE to wear this summer, so I shall have to either buy some inexpensive ones or repurpose a few from the closet. I also found some things I didn't even realize were in that drawer: a camera case, a cell phone user's manual I'd been looking for, the picture hanging kit (WHY did I put that in there?  And when?!)... And finally I sorted through the drawer full of sweaters.  Moved a couple to the 'at home' drawer for next winter, put a few in the donation pile. 

Chance came in when I was about half way through the work of the first drawer and lay across the bed.  I think he meant to talk but he was soon fast asleep.  I went on with my work then moved on to the kitchen where I unloaded dishes and gathered ingredients for lunch and cleared away breakfast things.  I guess I worked a good hour and a half before Chance woke again.  He's gotten up very early all week long and with the extra busy week I am sure he needed that restorative time.  He complained that I'd left him alone, but he wasn't really serious and he looked so much more rested afterward. 

Well gracious!  The time has slipped right away from me.  I must go begin prepping our simple supper, get Chance's lunch packed for his work tomorrow, feed the pets, clear the kitchen one last time after the meals are made and this day will officially be over.  Hard to believe when I look out the window at the bright sun, the blue sky, the waving branches filled with shiny new leaves that this is late afternoon and evening is coming so near.  Oh there's hours of daylight left yet, but regardless of sunlight I am ruled by the hour hand on the clock.  Hope you enjoyed the visit...Do come again!

Menu Monday - A week of Leftovers

Here we are.  The weather outdoors is just a bit more mild today than it was all through the weekend, but it's looking like a definite trend towards warmer weather is here to stay.  Kay is home and meals have been kind of funny lately.  My fridge is filled to the rim at the moment with leftovers because suddenly we've just all kinds of foods on hand.  This week will be about using up these leftovers in creative ways.

Monday:  Tuna Pasta salad, Saltines, Pears
I bought four pears last week.  Two perfectly ripe and two that were very firm.  Well now everything is ripe!  I had one in my breakfast cereal yesterday and I'll slice half a one over my peanut butter toast tomorrow morning, but the rest were eaten today for lunch.  I made the pasta salad before the weekend thinking we'd have it for a meal then, but no there were too many other choices, some brought in and some made here.  No matter.  It was awfully nice to come in today after a morning of errands and visit with a friend and just pull dinner right from the fridge. 

Tuesday:  Cheesey Potato Soup, Turkey Ham Sandwiches, Apple wedges with Caramel Sauce
The twice baked potatoes planned for last week became Cheesy Mashed Potatoes...and I had leftovers, plus leftovers of cooked sliced potatoes.  All go into the soup pot today to be reheated in chicken broth(from the freezer) and some powdered milk to make our soup.  I bought the turkey ham to slice for sandwiches for lunches, might as well eat some for dinner since it's being sliced this morning.

Wednesday:  Steak Salads, Crescent Rolls, Strawberry Shortcakes
Our local berries are ripe and ready to purchase.  I shall be making individual shortcakes for dessert, a proper shortcake, too.  We had leftover steak which will go beautifully over a big salad and homemade blue cheese dressing.  I'll use the last of the crescent rolls from the freezer.  I'll make up another batch of those after we're through Passover week.

Thursday:  Chicken Fried Rice, Eggrolls, Coconut Macaroons
I thought I'd make up macaroons to have on hand for next week, while we're celebrating Passover.  The fried rice and eggrolls are coming out of the freezer where I pushed them last week when I had so very many leftovers in the fridge.

Friday:  BBQ'd Chicken, Steamed White Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Biscuits
Kay asked for a squash casserole last week and I'd planned to make Chicken Parmesan.  Well the chicken became BBQ chicken and of course, there were leftovers, lol.  It seems we had nothing but leftovers from nearly every meal.  I'll slice the chicken and heat and serve chicken with any sauce generated over a bed of rice. 

Saturday:  Mexican restaurant
If Kay is still here, I thought we'd go out to eat lunch...and if she's not, I'll go out and eat all by myself.  After a week of leftovers I'm ready to let someone else cook for me and do the clearing up after.

Sunday:  Pigs in Blankets, Coleslaw, Chips
I'll make up enough biscuit dough on Friday to set aside in the fridge for my 'blankets' over the all beef hot dogs from the freezer.  This meal will be an easy one to share with Chance in his work lunch.  I'll be very busy this day.  A visit to Granny is planned, typically I start my week of housework on Sunday and I'll be clearing pantry/freezer of products with yeast for our Passover week.  I can prepare the meal pretty much ahead and simply put in the oven to heat when I'm ready to eat.

How To Eat Groceries: A Baker's Dozen

Flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, granulated sugar, confectioner's sugar, brown sugar, eggs, milk, spices, dried fruit, butter...

Are we all agreed that these are pantry basics?  And not nearly all of the baking related items either, but just a good assortment. 

Years ago, when I was fairly new to marriage, I went to visit a lovely older woman whom I'd known since childhood.  She was entertaining her granddaughter when we went to visit.  We women sat about discussing recipes and suddenly the grandchild piped up,"Ya'll talk recipes all the time but I like things bought at the store that you can't make!"  "For instance?" asked her grandmother.  "Well lollipops," she said.  "I could make a lollipop for you with what's in the cabinet now."  'Not marshmallows though, you couldn't make marshmallows!'  I assured her I'd just been looking through my cookbook and indeed marshmallows could be made with ingredients in the kitchens of cooks I knew well.  The child retreated only to pop out now and then with questions, "What about crackers?  Can you make crackers at home?" among others.  I'm afraid she was pushed hard that day because there was nothing she could think of that she wasn't assured could be homemade!

Today let's talk about baking.  I believe every homemaker should have a few good basic all around recipes which may be just slightly altered to make dozens more.  A basic muffin recipe, a basic bread dough recipe, a recipe for a basic yellow cake, a basic cookie dough recipe, a basic biscuit recipe. 

Muffins may be plain and are very good just as they are, but what fun it is to add in fresh berries or fruits, top with streusel, etc to make breakfast treats.  When the children were home, I found muffins to be a versatile recipe for leftovers of breakfast muffins often became snacks once home from school.  Kay was such a picky breakfast eater that I once asked what items she'd like to have to eat.  Muffins was on her list.  She enjoyed blueberry muffins and chocolate chip muffins. 

All you need truly is a good basic plain muffin recipe.  Adding fruit or chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or berries will scarecely alter the recipe.  You can even take that plain muffin batter, make up a batch of streusel topping and create an 9 inch square coffee cake.  Diced apples/peaches/pears, fresh berries of any type including cranberry, etc may be added to the batter.  You can even layer batter with a cocoa streusel (just add some cocoa powder to the basic brown sugar streusel topping, you may need to increase butter just a little).  I occasionally will add leftover rice, or uncooked oatmeal to the batter as well, both of which bulk up the muffins a little but do no harm to the taste or texture.

Basic bread dough obviously will make bread, but you can fashion all sorts of rolls from the dough as well.  An old fashioned good cookbook will usually have illustrations of various means of shaping dough into rolls: cloverleaf, parker house, fantails, crescents, etc.  You can also make your own hot dog and hamburger buns, cinnamon rolls, or cinnamon swirl bread.  I find that Rhonda's Grandpa's bread is a good all around basic dough and very adaptable, as well as forgiving of mistakes.  It consistently makes good bread and doesn't need any special handling.

With one good recipe for a yellow cake the sky is the limit.  You can quickly make a spice cake of it by adding your favorite spice, or chocolate cake by adding in either melted baking chocolate or cocoa powder (you'll perhaps want to increase the fat in your cake slightly).  Leave out the egg yolks and you've just found yourself with a white cake batter.  From this basic batter you can make cupcakes, cake layers or sheet cakes without a bit of trouble. 

There are various types of cookie doughs.  Roll type, drop, pressed/formed.  A good sugar cookie dough may be used both as drop or rolled cookies, depending on whether you choose to refrigerate the dough.  Here again the addition of other items will change the cookie.  A little cocoa will make a chocolate sugar cookies, a particular favorite of mine as a child.  Roll the cookie dough into balls and rolls in sugar, cinnamon sugar or dried coconut and you've another two cookies from that basic dough.  Press a thumb into the ball of dough and add 1/4 tsp jam or preserves to the indentation and you've made lovely little jewel topped cookies for a fancy tea.  I often make up a triple batch of sugar cookie dough at Christmas to make three or four types of cookies.  Once you've mastered the sugar cookie, there's no limit to the cookies you'll try to make from scratch.

Biscuit dough is also versatile.  A tender well risen biscuit, split and buttered for breakfast is heaven on a cold morning, especially if you top with a spoonful of summer preserves such as strawberry or black berry, and just as tasty is rich apple butter.  Biscuits make a great bread for most meals whether you choose to butter or split and serve with gravy or fill with meats (sausage, chicken, bacon, eggs) to serve for lunchboxes.  As well a good biscuit dough makes a great base for homemade pizza (if you've not yet mastered yeast doughs) and may be filled and rolled as for cinnamon rolls, dusted with sugar and served as shortcakes, have dried fruit added and patted into a round to make Irish soda bread or scones for the tea table.   You can add grated cheese, mashed sweet potatoes, a handful of oatmeal to change the taste of the bread altogether.  Biscuits may top pot pie dishes or be patted out to thin rounds and filled with fruit to make a turnover or a fried pie (that's a Southern treat). 

All of this is possible with a baker's dozen of ingredients from the pantry...Isn't that amazing?  And these are just a few of the items one might even consider making.  There's pie crust, and shortbread, pancakes and waffles, and lots more that use the same ingredients and are just as versatile in their mixing.  

Frugal Friday/Living Well

Frugal Friday

I can't believe this week has gone by so quickly!  I have lots to share but that shall have to wait until a little later, I think.  For now, let's focus on the savings this week brought about.

Saturday:  After synagogue, I took myself out to lunch and then off on a thrift store/flea market jaunt.  Doesn't sound like a savings?  Well let me tell  you what I did...I took along my camera and took pictures of all those things that tempted me but weren't really in my spending budget.  And in the end, I spent less than my usual monthly allowance for thrift store shopping, even with lunch added in, because I opted for the child's plate at the restaurant.  I felt pampered and enjoyed my afternoon thoroughly and didn't feel in the least that I was broke or had been too spendy.

I worried over what to make for Chance's lunch and my supper but I'd forgotten all about that extra chicken breast I'd cooked.  That and two slices of turkey bacon, a tomato that was beginning to look a little careworn, some shredded lettuce, and a few radishes and carrots made a lovely salad for us both. I used up the last of the homemade Ranch dressing on my salad so it wouldn't stay in the fridge to spoil.

I opened windows when I got home, for just a little while, since there wasn't much of a breeze.  I left them open long enough to cool off the inside of the house and then shut the windows a couple of hours later.  They were open just long enough to eliminate the need of using the AC to lower the indoor temperature.

Sunday:  Ready for a change for Spring...so right away I got busy cleaning and clearing and painting the front door a lovely shade of red called "Apple a Day".  That so inspired me that I went about looking for other areas to spruce up.  I have just loads of ideas.  I settled for the easiest solutions though, cleaning (it's amazing how much soap,water and elbow grease can transform) and refreshing areas by rearranging items. 

My favorite find the day before at the flea market was a pair of all cotton pillowslips with a cross stitch pattern floral design.  The perfect touch to lighten up that guest bedroom.  Now I shall have to change out the curtains for a lighter, prettier pair...and I'm thinking that might well be crisp white cotton with ribbon trim. Of course, they will be twin white sheets, the best bargain around for curtains at just $4 per sheet.

For dinner this day I made up a recipe I found in one of my vintage magazines.  It's called Rouladen and is German or Slavic in origin.  I'd seen the recipe years ago in my favorite cookbook but having it right at hand and realizing I had two pieces of thawed round steak in the fridge, a single dill pickle spear on hand, I decided to give the recipe a try.  It was simple as could be.  Salt and pepper the meat and then lay thinly sliced pieces of onion atop and 1 dill pickle spear (I cut mine in half since I had only the one and the meat was not wide).  Then roll as you would a jelly roll and secure with twine or skewers.  Brown on all sides, add more sliced onion to the pan and water to just the top of the rolls and simmer slowly for a few hours.  I served mine with cabbage slaw and pierogi.  I made only enough for two servings so I put the leftovers in the fridge for Tuesday to have as my supper that day.  I was proud to use up that pickle spear and must say that it didn't taste sour but simply tart after cooking...I'm not fond of dill pickles. 

I'd bought bananas earlier in the week to make banana cream pie but they were so green that it was the weekend before I could begin to think of using them.  I made my own graham cracker crust from scratch (honestly it's easy as... well, pie! and tastes so much better than those store bought rock hard ones) and a box of instant vanilla pudding to which I added banana extract.  Layered the pudding and bananas in the pie shell and chilled well.  Now again, I made a small amount.  I have a pie plate that is just about 5 inches in diameter and find that a 4 serving box of pudding mix and 2 bananas filled it up.  We got six servings of banana cream pie from that little pie.

I washed a mixed load of clothes: sheets and towels.  I dried the towels first, since they take the longest and then used the dryer for half the usual drying time to dry the sheets.  It worked perfectly and saved a bit of electricity.

Monday:  I set bread dough to rise right away this morning.  I divided the risen dough into three portions.  I got a 'short' loaf of bread (one that didn't rise quite so high in the pan) a regular loaf of bread and not quite a dozen cinnamon rolls from the batch of dough.  I figured while I had out the flour and oil and yeast and sugar I might as well make up the pizza dough for the next day's dinner as well.



I had leftover fried rice.  I packed up a bowl for Chance's work lunch and then packed the rest into a bowl to reheat this weekend for a fast meal.

Put the pizza crust in to bake while I heated the oven for bread and cinnamon rolls.

Decided to go over my shopping list and scratch off those items that weren't really needed. I also pulled coupons for those items that were going to become loss leader worthy with the sale/double coupon combo.

It was Harvest night in our home and we paid bills, set aside money for our usual categories.  This week we decided to write out a little extra to pay even  more on that load we took out for the car.  We broke a major barrier in that loan this past month and are anxious to hurry through the next one.

Chance informed me he'd been told he had to take days off in May.  I encouraged him to settle upon the dates and we'd go away for a few days of retreat.  "We can't," he said.  "Oh yes, we can, because we've set aside enough for our room."  I didn't tell him I'd also reserved a portion of gift money I was given at Christmas to pay for our second retreat this year if we find it tough going to save through the summer months.

Tuesday:  Grocery day.  Not only do we pray about the grocery list Harvest night, I pray before I leave the house and again upon pulling into the first parking lot.  I truly believe this is what helps me keep focused on our needs and to see unexpected bargains. 

Best buys this day:  Eggland Eggs.  Usually they are more expensive than other brands but this week one store offered them up 2/$4.  I happened to have lots of coupons that would double to $1.  I calculated the space in my fridge and checked expiration dates carefully before stocking up.  I bought six dozen.  $1 a dozen for large eggs is a very good price these days.

I needed vitamins and there are rotating sales on the brand I prefer, buy one get one free.  I found I had two coupons good for $3 off two of the vitamins I needed.  I ended up getting PAID to buy two bottles.

I've begun making it my habit to always scan shelves to look for similar products to the ones I prefer to see if I can find a sale priced item.  Though my homemade bread is very good, Chance prefers I have a loaf or two of store bought bread on hand as well.  He likes a certain whole grain bread and so do I...but it's about $4 a loaf.  Looking about I found a store brand whole grain that looked exactly like that $4 brand and the store brand was less than $2.  Guess which one went into the buggy?

When I packed Chance's lunch I put some of the homemade blueberry yogurt in his lunchbox.  I wasn't sure if he'd like it as well as I do or not, so bought two containers of store brand blueberry yogurt.  I decided I'd really ought to buy more frozen blueberries as well just in case he did like the homemade.  I discovered in this day of continually rising prices, blueberries are now almost $2 a pound cheaper.  Hooray!  I happily bought the frozen blueberries. (Chance did like the homemade yogurt very well, so in future I'll opt to keep some homemade on hand for him).

Chance came home bearing gifts Tuesday evening:  a jar of strawberry jam from his co-worker, Coke points from cases used to refill their stock at work.

I was so careful with my spending this day that I didn't pick up sweets.  I frosted a few cinnamon rolls and set out that evening for snacking.  Chance however, had in mind something chocolate.  I had to direct him to my stash of chocolate chips since the house was lacking otherwise.

I had to have gasoline for my car and opted to buy it two towns over where I did my grocery shopping.  This saved me nearly $.20/gal over our local prices.

I had the dishwasher fully loaded at day's end and so set it to wash on the shortest cycle just before we went to bed. 

Wednesday:  Chance had plans for the day and I'd planned to tend to housework.  My husband, however, asked me to go with him.  He urged me to come along, saying he'd buy me lunch.  Well I'm awfully glad I went.  We went with friends to attend to an errand for synagogue concerning audio needs and then down to a popular chain restaurant.  The special of the day was Chicken Pot Pie, which was to be had for a lesser price...Now we all know that my two favorite main dishes are Chicken Pot Pie and Meatloaf so it was certainly no hardship to me to order the daily special.

Sue and I poked about the gift shop and I found a quilt I really liked for my bed.  It was marked down by 25% and wasn't badly priced but I decided to think about it a bit longer.  They had plenty of the quilt in stock, so I felt no concern at not buying right away.  I may return next week and look at it once more to see if it's still as appealing as I first found it.

An unexpected bonus of this new hairstyle has been the return to wearing earrings.  I have plenty of earrings on hand but often didn't bother to wear them because they weren't visible with my previous hairstyle.  Now I'm 'using what I have' and loving feeling girly.

After our meal out, Chance wanted a light supper.  I knew just the things: the last of the homemade egg salad, on homemade bread.  Oh those sandwiches were so good!

One of my purchases at the grocery were canisters of salty snack items (corn chips and cheesy curls) for just $1 each.  Chance questioned the wisdom of buying canisters over the bags.  I pointed out that the 4.5 ounce canisters cost less than a 5 ounce bag (about $1.99). 

Remembering his longing for chocolate the night before I felt it would be wise to make up a batch of cookies for the cookie jar.  It took only moments to make the bar cookies and I used the last of the graham crumbs I used to make our pie crust over the weekend.  Bonus of homemade cookies?  The delicious smell of the baking wafting through the house.  That's free, lol!

Thursday:  I had three bananas left after making our pies and they were fully ripened.  I decided to make my banana pound cake recipe.  Since I now use loaf pans that would net me two cakes, one for now and one to freeze for later use.  I had all those sale priced eggs and I'd been mindful of the price of butter (and a coupon to combine with sale price) and so had plenty of butter on hand as well as FREE sugar (a coupon/sale combo) and sale priced flour (bought on Tuesday.  I got twenty five pounds for $10).   It seemed a thrifty dessert to make.

I didn't buy flowers this week but fortunately I had some very real looking faux forsythia that I could use instead.  That's the key to silk flowers: they should be in real colors, and look so close to real that you're tempted to water them.  It's worthwhile to pay a bit more for them and then they may be used over and over again.  I bought a single stem two years ago at Michaels' end of clearance sale and paid $4. I have no problem cutting a huge stem into smaller stems either, also more realistic looking. for arrangements.

Living Well

The week has flown past and it's been a busier than usual one.  However, I gave in to Chance's urgings Wednesday morning and agreed to go along on what was meant to be a 'guy day'.   I hate to appear to be tagging along.  My husband very much wanted me to go so he urged me hard.  And I gave in.

I'm so glad I did!  The day wasn't a guy day at all, as my friend Sue came along as well and we ended up having a 'couples' day.  It was such a lovely way to spend time, laughing and eating with friends.  With girl talk and guy talk and couples talk.  With guys looking at audio stuff while girls stayed in the car and chatted about everything and then guys staying in the car while we girls nosed around a shop filled with antiques. 

We drove back roads to the city and back roads back home and saw more of the Middle Georgia area than I think I've seen in twenty odd years.  The woods were filled with dogwoods, there were spring flowers blooming along the roadside.  The sun shone and the breeze blew soft and sweet.

Though the day was long, by the time Chance and I had dropped off our guests and were headed home we couldn't help but exclaim over how pleasant the day had been, how much we'd enjoyed it.  "It feels almost like a holiday." I declared, and Chance agreed.  He looked so rested despite the long and very busy day that I could see he did indeed agree.  The day had been like a holiday for us both.

Menu Monday: Pantry Freezer Challenge Part IV

I always find it interesting that no matter how I plan to have meals each week things seldom go as planned.  I was just looking over last week's menu plan because I hate to repeat meals too soon after we've had them.  I thought it would be fun this week however, to tell you first what we did have before I tell you what I've planned for the coming week.

For the week of March 27-April 3
Planned:                                                                     Had:
Vegetable Beef Soup                                                 Vegetable Beef Soup
Swiss Steak                                                                Take out chicken tenders and potato logs
Teriyaki Chicken Wings/Rice                                    Leftover Soup
Oven Baked Corn Dogs                                             Teriyaki Chicken wings, rice, eggrolls
Mac and Cheese                                                         Leftover Teriyaki wings and eggrolls
Leftover wings and rice                                             Fish Fillets and Fries
Roast Beef with Vegetables                                       Steak Rouladen with Pierogi
Banana Cream Pie/Lemon Sugar Cookies                 Banana Cream Pie
As you can tell, some of the meats planned do get used, some of the meals planned get used and some fly right out the window!  So occasionally you might think, "Boy she must really like Macaroni and Cheese!"  when in actuality, I just haven't gotten around to making it at all, but keep planning to make it, lol.

Well on to the current meal plan.

Monday: Chicken Fried Rice, Roll, Banana Cream Pie 
Leftover Rice, Shredded chicken from freezer, and odds and ends of vegetables in the fridge filled this fried dish with loads of vegetables.  I made bread this morning and that roll was actually a cinnamon roll wihtout any cinnamon or sugar.   It was a bit off th eend and so it baked up plain and I ate it, plain.

Tuesday:  Sausage Pizza with Vegetables
 I'll be out shopping and I thought this would be an easy meal to come home to.  The crust is partially baked and cooling on the counter.  I have even chopped my vegetables.  All I need do is spread crust with tomato sauce, top and bake briefly.  It will be a welcome quick meal after a busy day.

Wednesday:  Tuna Mac Salad, Saltines,
The weather is meant to be warm and if today is any indication we shall most certainly be warm.And should it turn off cool, which is always possible in April, I think a bowl of tomato soup would go along just fine.  This is Chance's favorite dish and I love the economy of it.  It's filling and delicious and light enough for warm weather.

Thursday:  Chicken Parmesan, Pasta, Salad, Biscuits
I love Chicken Parmesan...  This meal is  no trouble at all to make and I'll use the leftover sauce from the jar I open for the pizza.  I'll make biscuits for our breakfast and we'll eat the leftovers for our dinner.

Friday:  Leftovers Day
I am sure we shall have plenty of leftovers and today would be just the day to clear out the fridge before the weekend fully arrives.

Saturday:  Steak, Twice Baked Potato, Salad
I bought sirloin on sale last weekend and I shall thaw it while we are gone for the day.  The potatoes I will bake on Friday and stuff and I'll make the salad then as well.

Sunday:  Chicken and Dumplings, Slaw, Pears
I've a whole chicken in the freezer and I think I shall boil it, perhaps on Friday (it seems it shall be quite a kitchen day doesn't it?).  I haven't made chicken and dumplings for Chance in quite some time and I think he might enjoy them.

Weekend Highlights

The dogwood are blooming and beautiful in the woods here.  I went out Friday to get a haircut (I have a new cut for the warmer weather!) and then to run a few errands.  On my way home, I took lovely little back roads so I could get a good view of the wildflowers but no photos because those normally deserted backroads were a hive of activity.  Traffic abounded and I couldn't stop and just pull off and take photos as I'd planned.  However, I did have a chance to take this photo of one of my favorite daydreams:

These sorts of little abandoned homes tug at my heartstrings and I could spend hours on end sitting and imagining the dreams and hopes and heartaches that might have gone on indoors and out.  Spring has softened the features of this house and I admit to complete cowardice and not getting out of the car to peer into those open windows though I did long to do so!

Yesterday I treated myself to a dine-in lunch at a fast food fish place.  The food was hot and delicious but I found it even better because of the excellent service.  The staff were friendly, busy, and super courteous.  I hate to say it but these days it's hard to get both good food and good service in one experience so I was especially pleased and thanked them all before I left.

On my way home I decided to go into the local 'antiques' place.  I use the word loosely.  There are antiques in the place but mostly there are lots and lots of things in rough groupings and most of it is hardly worth the bother of looking through.  I went in solely because I'd read this week's ad in our local paper and there was a word that caught my eye, "books".  Enough said, right?  I found three books that I thought should make their home with me.  One I bought solely for silly sentimentality.  The book bore the inscribed name of a young lady and the date, 1918.  As well, she'd pasted her bookplate in the front of the book.  There's also a lovely colorplate rendition of the heroine of the book inside the cover.  The publisher's date is 1918 and the book bears an Atlanta bookstore's label.  I am sure this book must have been bought on a trip to Atlanta by the former owner, and she perhaps rode home on the train which ran between towns at that time.  I can just see her getting off at one of the small local depots, which are truly lovely buildings (our own is now the public library and the next town over houses the offices of a tire repair/construction office.  The book is by Mrs. Humphry Ward and is titled Elizabeth's Campaign.

A second book in not such good shape but by a favored author and being a title I've never read was picked up as well:  Faith Baldwin's Office Wife.   And a third book in better shape by a favorite author and a favorite title as well, D. E. Stevenson's  Miss Buncle's Book.

 I am truly not so keen on this shop because of the absolute clutter within but I love the man's ads in the local paper.  He writes funny little things about different items.  For instance, he has a huge selection of jukeboxes (which he repairs) and a recent ad stated, "Great jukebox.  Only played on Sundays by a little old lady, after church."  I laugh over his ads every single week. 

I wandered down the street to his wife's shop, which is dubbed "The Flea Market" but is on the same order as the typical Antiques Mall so popular now where sellers rent space and offer up their items.  I saw lots of interesting things.  Like these:

I'm sure this little rocker was far older than it's caning.  It had a hand carved look to it.  Shame it was missing one arm...

Primitive items, aka hand-made, seemed to abound in the flea market.  Aren't these two milking stools cute?  Square headed nails on the larger one and the wee one has legs carved from a branch.

I'm seriously thinking I may go back and see if this mixer is in working order.  It was marked just $22 and has the two original bowls with it. 

This little pitcher has been in the store for quite awhile.  I am contemplating it, too...I seem to be leaning towards brown transferware these days.

 Doggone it!  This one came out a bit blurry but I think what we have here is some vintage Pyrex.  Hmmmm.....Who do I know who loves vintage Pyrex? 

This old Dutch oven caught my eye because it's a true fireplace cookery piece.  There are three legs on the bottom of the pan and I just bet this is a real antique.  I didn't even look at the price, because I didn't think I needed it.

Isn't this set of American Tourister luggage just the most fab thing?  I used to want a nice set of luggage such as this when I was growing up.  It seemed to me the epitome of glamour girl chic.  I adore that round train case.  Sigh.  I am telling you this luggage was a hard thing to walk away from!

Those are the things I looked at.  What did I buy?  Two more books, modern day things.  One by Mameve Medwed and the other by Jennifer Weiner.  And these lovely pillowslips which were just $1:

Do you see how well they go with my comforter?  I was so excited when I found them.  I knew immediately they were just what I wanted to make that room more summery and fresh. 

Today I've been a bit busy within the house.  First thing this morning, I stripped my bed and loaded up those and the towels to wash.  And then, before I even had my second cup of coffee or my breakfast, I began this project:

That was just a couple of coats of paint.  The color is called "Apple a Day" and the finished product is a lovely deep tone of red, sort of like a Red Delicious apple.  I've had the paint forever.  I put another couple of coats of paint on it after I took the photo.  Truth time:  I'll have to put on another coat or two as well, but I wanted to let it have time to dry all afternoon long so we can close it tonight.

In between coats of paint, I washed and dried bed linens and towels, made up an old fashioned German dish called Remoulade which is a braised round steak rolled up with dill pickle, sliced onion and bacon (I used turkey bacon) and then simmered over low heat.  While that simmered I made a banana cream pie.  I've been hungry for banana cream pie for a month. 

And there were other odd jobs, fun ones and work ones, to be taken care of today as well.  Now I'm calling this day done.  I have been busy for hours.  I want to be relaxed when Chance comes in from work.  I think a cup of coffee is the perfect way to end this weekend, don't you?