SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

Good early weekend morning everyone! How are you doing today? I am super excited as I am going out with my mom today! Not sure what kind of adventures she has in store for us today, but I can tell you whether we are sitting at home (either her's or mine) just talking or cooking or whatever, or we are running the roads, etc. we always have a blast! Summer has come and gone, summer band ended last night with a fantastic squad competition and super fun pool party, and I have just 48 hours til the most wonderful time of the year! WOOHOO! LOL...



Remember I said I was gonna get some sewing done yesterday? Well this was the first thing I made. Remember a few days back when I brought you the Heat Halter Top craft made from a men's shirt? Then I said I was decluttering the clothes and grabbed this old shirt of DH's to try the craft? Well I changed it up a bit and made it for my DD! I chopped off the curves at the bottom and added a hem. On that, I added some pretty white and gold lace. I added belt loops on the sides, elastic on the top, as well as a ribbon to act as a drawstring (which I inadvertantly picked a yellow with gold music notes LOL), and straps with lace edging on the top. I think it turned out super cute and am excited for Madison to wear it when we go out today!



Here you see another kitchen set. Yet one more gift done in the Christmas Countdown! Like the other one, it has a specialty cookbook designed for the recipient, 2 embellished towels, 2 pot holders, 2 oven mitts, and a grocery bag holder. It will be gathered with a sparkly black and sheer wired ribbon with silver glitter on it. I think this person will really like it! I have a little bit of the fabric left, and I am thinking of adding some small items like a cell pouch, makeup bag, etc. Or I might stick with the kitchen stuff and make a "patchwork" apron and some other stuff... not sure yet. I'm liking the apron idea, but how many people really wear aprons nowadays? I know I don't, even though I probably should at times LMAO! I dunno yet... what do you think? BTW, how is YOUR Christmas Countdown Challenge coming along?



Then we have the "Booty for Boobies" bag LMAO! It is a Denim jeans purse decorated with breast cancer fabric and colors! I thought it was so cute that I filled it with my junk and plan to use it as we go out today! Woohoo! Can you see the faces of the people wherever mom surprises me and takes us? Betcha you won't find another one like this... that's for sure!

Ok now for your frugal moment of today, I found you yet another set of tips. Its tips to assure you are being super frugal and ways to acheive it if you're not. Everybody needs a friendly reminder from time to time, and if you are new to the whole frugal thing, then its even more helpful! So check it out!

Do You Have These Frugal Living Habits?

Frugal living requires skills and ways of looking at things that help you take advantage of the money-saving opportunities in life. The truly frugal person makes these into habits. Six of these habits are outlined below. These are techniques that can be learned in a matter of a day or two, and made into new habits a few weeks. Then they will save money for you for the rest of your life.

1. Frugal living requires a knowledge of values. How can you get a great deal on a car if you don’t know what a great deal is. Get in the habit of educating yourself on prices, especially before you’re ready to buy anything that costs a lot. It takes a few hours of looking at listings for sale, for example, to know what homes are selling for in an area, but this is knowledge that can save you thousands.

2. Learn from other people. Most of us know someone who always gets the best deal on cars, boats, homes, or even groceries. Why not ask him or her how they do it! One person will tell you that the cheapest coffee in town is $3 per cup, while another will say 50 cents. Ask the latter about coffee shops. People near you are living a good life on half of what you make. Investigate that. See how others do things, and you’ll know your options.

3. Frugal living means always looking for alternatives. You might have just as much fun taking a discount trip to Mexico as you would going to Jamaica. Maybe you happen to enjoy pizza more than fine French dining. If so, why not skip the expensive restaurant and call Dominoes. This isn’t about sacrificing, but about getting even more of what you really enjoy by paying less for cheaper alternatives that work just as well.

4. Pay cash. What happens when everything you buy costs an additional 20% because of the interest you pay over the years? You can’t buy as much! Everything is cheaper when paid for in cash instead of credit. If you want that new patio set, divide the price by the number of weeks you can wait to get it. Set aside that much each week, and buy it for cash when you have the money. Not only do you save on interest, but you’ll often get a better price when you pay cash.

5. Learn to do the math. Did you really save $400 on that car if it costs you $500 more in gas each year? Did you know that some stores are cashing in on shopper’s assumptions that larger is cheaper? It’s true. That gallon of pickles might actually cost more than four quart jars. Make it a habit to do the math if you want to save money.

6. Tell people what you need. Mention it in conversations. Many people get free or cheap things, just because they talk. For example, a neighbor wanted to upgrade her living room debt, and was thrilled that I would take her three-month-old couch off her hands for $30. I sure am glad that I mentioned I was looking for one. You need to make this little trick a part of your frugal living habits.

About the Author – Steve Gillman has studied unusual ways to make money for thirty years.

Well kids, its time to get crafty! And let me tell you, this would make a super cool gift for any doctor or nurse in your life. Make a few of these in just a fractional amount of time and bunch them as a gift! So they always have one on the scope and one to wash, etc. These cool covers will increase the life of their job hardware as well as probably put smiles on the patients faces, depending on the types of fabrics you use. So you might not only be gifting to a selected person, but tons of strangers who need a smile at that time in their lives. How cool is that? Sew, scroll on down and get yourself rockin on some cool covers!



Craft Idea of the Day: Stethoscope Cover

Materials:

34 inch x 6.5 inches (86cm x 16.5 cm) of Fabric
1 inch square of Velcro or a press stud
2.5 inches (6cm)of Elastic

Directions:

Start by taking your length of fabric. Hem the 2 smaller edges for a neat finish.

Fold it in half so that it is inside out ( the print is facing inwards).

Following the steps in the image below, sew along the edge to close the strip to form a tube.

Take the elastic and sew it into place at end "A" by sewing it into place around 1/2 (1.5cm) inch from the edge.

Using glue or sewing machine secure your Velcro into place by stitching one side of the Velcro to each side of the tube. This will stop the fabric from sliding down the stethoscope.

You could also substitute the Velcro for a press stud if you wish it depends on your sewing skills as to how you wish to tackle this project.

Once you have finished turn it the right way around so that the print is facing out then thread it over your stethoscope with the elastic at the bottom and the press stud at the top.



Ok, its time for another installment of BODACIOUS BANANAS week. Today I want to talk about making "Stuffed" foods. It was once thought that foods that were stuffed were for the powerful, royal, rich, etc. (dishes like Chicken Cordon Bleu, etc. gave the distinction of upper class) (BTW Like my Louis Vitton banana LMAO!). But the truth remains that it is not known when stuffings were first used and were probably used by persons of all classes. The earliest documentary evidence is the Roman cookbook, Apicius' "De Re Coquinaria", which contains recipes for stuffed chicken, hare, pig, and dormouse. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, and spelt (a type of wheat/grain), and frequently contain chopped liver, brains, and other organ meat. In the Middle Ages, stuffing was known as farce (from the French); the root of the word 'forcemeat'. The term 'stuffing' is first attested in 1538. After about 1880, the term stuffing was replaced by dressing in Victorian English. But today, rest easy... we are not stuffing with any of those things. We are stuffing with our weekly ingredient! You could also top this with yesterday's curry sauce recipe as well! Anyway, here's to the banana! Eat & Enjoy!



Banana Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:

4 Boneless skinless chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Small Bananas; peeled and halved
2 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons Minced garlic
1 tablespoon Minced shallots
1 Granny Smith apple; peeled and diced
1 tablespoon Curry powder
3 tablespoons Flour
2 1/2 cups Chicken broth
1/4 cup Flour for dredging
1 Egg, beaten (see note on next line)
2 tablespoons milk (beat with the egg)
1/2 cup Dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
1/4 cup Light cream; optional
2 cups Cooked long grain rice
4 Cilantro sprigs for garnish

Directions:

Cut the chicken breast halves almost in half again and open them up like a book so you form a butterfly shape. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken and, using a heavy skillet or mallet, pound them to even out their thickness and make them thin. Lightly salt and pepper each chicken breast. Enclose a piece of banana by folding up the ends and sides around the banana and rolling up the chicken. Wrap each stuffed chicken piece in plastic and refrigerate for an hour or more.

In a saucepan, heat the butter and sauté the garlic and shallots for a minute or until soft. Stirring with a wooden spoon, add the apple, curry powder and flour and cook for a minute. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly dredge the chicken in the flour, beaten egg and bread crumbs, making sure each chicken piece is entirely coated with bread crumbs.

Heat the oil in an oven-proof skillet and sauté the chicken on all sides to brown. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until the chicken is just cooked through.

While the chicken is cooking, puree the sauce in a food processor or blender until smooth. Pass it through a sieve and transfer it to a small saucepan. Add the cream if you wish, and simmer, over low heat until hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Mound some cooked rice in the middle of each plate. Slice the chicken into 3/4?inch slices and set the slices around the rice. Ladle the sauce around the chicken. Garnish each plate with a sprig of cilantro.

Ok folks, time for me to get the gang dressed and head on out of here to have a day of adventures with my mommy. LOL... I am so glad you stopped by today and hope that I will see you again tomorrow for more fun, food, and creative crafting! Be safe, have fun, and stay frugal baby! Until tomorrow... HUGS!