PRE-SCHOOL EXCITEMENT

Good morning and welcome to this steamy Sunday edition of the Frugal Mom! How are you this super sunny morning? I'm alright... it was my last day to sleep in and believe me, I took FULL advantage of it! Super excited about school tomorrow! YAY! Today is "put the final touches on everything" and cook and sew day! For me, that's exciting! What do you have planned for today?

I must take a moment to address my mom and her comment yesterday LOL! See, sometimes we should leave well enough alone LOL! Dormouses are best left unknown LOL! As for DD not wearing the shirt, she claimed she did not have the proper undergarments to wear with it... I think she just wanted to wear her squad shirt LOL! Its ok, there are other days to be wearing it LOL. And as for the gift recipient... I don't think she will come to see it. ain't gonna elaborate on that one, but you know what I think LOL! remember only 5 years LOL! Man am I old! As for your yarn and stuff... I'm gonna get it for you tomorrow! LOL... I will go in there since DD didn't!

Alright I found a poll online on Shine from Glamour Magazine and I wanted to bring it here, because I think its very interesting and would LOVE to hear your answers!

Are You Happier When Your Calendar Is Packed or Free? Guess Which Is Better for Health
by Sarah Jio, Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine, on Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:42am PDT

Is your life pretty jam-packed these days--running from one meeting or appointment to the next? That's me! Sometimes I long for the days when I had more time, less commitments. Have you ever wondered if being busy is bad for your health? Researchers have answers ...

On a recent evening after I put the kids to bed, I sat at my desk and looked around. All of my deadlines were complete. I'd already gone for a jog. The laundry was done, the errands were too. I'd grocery shopped, called my friends, even brushed and flossed. It was a rare moment when ... I had nothing to do. Guess what? I didn't like it!

Truth be told, I like being one step behind my to-do list. As much as I complain about my crazy schedule, I secretly love it. That's why I found the latest happiness news really interesting: Turns out, we're happier when our schedules are packed, BlissTree reports.

According to a study published in the journal Psychological Science, full schedules give people a "sense of accomplishment"--not to mention the fact that having a lot do do is stimulating, which can flood the brain with energy and endorphins. Is this busy-happy connection true in your life?

Tell me, are you super busy or less so? Are you happier when you're busy or when your calendar is free?



Isn't this such a thought provoking question? I can answer that... kind of. My calender fluctuates from busy starting in August, to rather slow in January, to stagnant during June and July! While it frustrates me to no end that I am "living on the road", etc. I like being busy. The author, I think, is right. You get a sense of accomplishment when you complete things off a list. And I like that! I live by lists, day planners, etc. I have a dry erase board on the wall by the front door so everyone knows where they and everyone else is going to be, for how long, etc. When you manage a house with 2 ADHD teens, an ADD dad, and an ADHD mom... yea writing everything down is almost a requirement! LOL! Ask my mom, when she was over here helping me declutter and I actually got something DONE... I was very happy and somewhat proud too! I also find that when I have really "nothing" to do, I find things to do to busy myself... be it cooking, sewing, cleaning, window shopping, etc. So yea, I guess I like being busy! LOL... what about you?

Ok so in the spirit of SCHOOL (oh how I love that word LOL), I wanted to bring you a craft today that makes a cute little teacher's gift and is fairly easy to make. Its a cute country decoration the kids can make and give to their favorite teacher to say "Glad to be back", "Thanks for all you do", etc. You could also make this craft using colored felt, foam, or fabric as well... all would be super adorable!



Craft Idea of the Day: Class Act Teacher's Apple

Materials:

brown grocery bag
acrylic paint in brown, barnyard red, and buttermilk
toothbrush
paintbrush
fine tip black marker
pinking shears (or other decorative scissors)
gingham material scrap
decorative buttons with classroom motif (ruler, pencil sharpener, pencil, etc.)
barnyard red medium button
cotton batting (Fiberfil)
white craft glue
craft wire
pencil
raffia

Directions:

Here's a fun and easy Teacher Appreciation gift to make with your child. Their teacher will hang this gift in their classroom with pride!

Lay brown paper bag on flat work surface. Cut out two large sections from the front and back of the bag. Stack those sections, one on top of the other, then cut out and trace around the pattern onto the bags. Cut it out with the pinking shears.

Beginning at the bottom of the apple, use tacky glue to connect the two layers at the seams, stuffing the apple as you go with cotton batting (Fiberfil). Work your way around the edges, carefully stuffing (but not too much!) until apple is completely closed.




When the glue is dry, paint the decorative edges and the stem with brown and the apple with barnyard red (see photo). When dry, dip the bristle tips of a toothbrush into the buttermilk paint. Test your splattering ability on a piece of scrap paper before doing this on your apple. Hold toothbrush horizontally and drag your thumb across the bristles, causing the paint to splatter spots wherever you aim it. When you are comfortable with this method, go ahead and splatter some buttermilk paint on your apple.

When the buttermilk paint is dry, use the fine tip craft pen or marker to write the words "CLASS ACT!" in the center of the apple. Using white craft glue, adhere a square of gingham fabric to the upper right hand corner of the apple. Glue a couple of decorative school themed buttons to the lower left and lower center of the apple.

Cut a piece of craft wire long enough to wrap completely around your apple. This should be enough for your hanger. Find the middle of craft wire, wrap the middle section of the wire around a pencil about 6 or 7 times. Pull the pencil out to create the curl at the top of your hanger. Curve the wire into a hanger shape and poke each end carefully through the sides of the apple as shown in the photo. Use the skinny end of a small paintbrush to curl the ends of the wire that you poked through.

Tie a piece of raffia into a bow out onto the craft wire just before where the top curls begin. Hot glue the barnyard red button to the center of the raffia bow.

Note: It is not necessary to paint the back of the apple, though you may if you like.

Primary colors: If you prefer to use primary colors for your apple, use red for the apple, leave the decorative edges plain, use yellow decorative fabric, and primary colored decorative buttons. Use a white craft pen to write "CLASS ACT!" on your apple.

Alright, now its time to wrap up a delicious week of BODACIOUS BANANAS. Now I know that my mother has been raggin on me that I am gonna put her into a coma with all the sugar in this week's recipes. And I know that I have more diabetic readers out there than just my mother, DB's GF, Dad, basically my whole family LMAO. So today, for us, and for all of you I am closing the week out with some recipes aimed specifically at Diabetics! Yes, today is all about sugar substitutes and super flavors! So even if you aren't diabetic, try them out. Lord knows we could all use a little less in our lives after grabbing that syrupy soda with that fast food combo on our lunch break, or those few sugary sweet donuts in the break room first thing in the morning... you get the idea! So try it out... Eat & Enjoy!



DIABETIC BANANA BREAD

1/4 c. shortening
Sugar substitute equivalent to 1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 bananas, mashed

Cream shortening, sugar substitute and egg. Add flour, soda, salt, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Add bananas. Mix well.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes in lightly sprayed or greased pans.



Diabetic Strawberry/Banana Milkshake

Yield: 2 Servings

1 c Frozen whole strawberries
1 Ripe banana
1 c Milk (skim and low fat work fine)
4 pk Sugar substitute (or more to taste)
1/2 ts Vanilla

Place all ingredients in a blender and run the blender on the highest setting. The shake will take longer in the blender than most people will expect because of the frozen strawberries. However, the frozen berries along with the banana provide the smooth thickness of this drink. Remember, this recipe is not a scientific formula. The quantities of each ingredient are very flexible, experiment until you find your favorite.



Oatmeal-Banana Muffins Recipe

Oatmeal-Banana Muffins Recipe from the diabetic recipe collection at InformationAboutDiabetes.com

Ingredients:

3 cup Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 cup Rolled Oats
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 tbsp Sugar
1 Egg
2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 cup Lowfat Milk
1 small Banana, cubed
1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds, toasted

Preparation:

Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and blend.

Spoon into oiled muffin tins or paper muffin cups.

Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Makes 12

One Muffin = Calories: 180 Carbohydrates: 29 Protein: 5 Fat: 5
Sodium: 91 Potassium: 221 Cholesterol: 23

Source: Holiday Cookbook, American Diabetes Association, ISBN 0-13-024894-0, by Betty Wedman, M.S.,R.D.



Diabetic Banana Split Pie

Yield: 1 Pie
Ingredients

1 graham cracker crust
1 (4 oz.) pkg. sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 c. low-fat milk
2 bananas, sliced
1 (15 oz.) can crushed pineapple
1 c. Cool Whip
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. pecans, chopped

Instructions

Mix pudding with milk and beat until thick, pour into crust
Put bananas over pudding
Squeeze pineapple to remove all juice
Sprinkle on top of bananas
Cover with Cool Whip, sprinkle pecans on top
Chill well

Well everybody, that's it. I am so incredibly out of here! I have tons of last minute things to do before the best day of the year (aside from Christmas) LOL gets here tomorrow! Thanks for joining me and I hope you will come back again tomorrow to see what is in store for the first day of school, a new food theme, and lots of more fun and excitement. So until tomorrow... HUGS!

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!

FIBER FRIDAY

Early Friday morning everyone! How are you doing this end of the week? I'm ok... still somewhat unmotivated from yesterday's emotionally draining trauma... but fear not! I shall try to pick myself up by the boot straps and put on a happy face and dance a jig! For you see... SCHOOL STARTS MONDAY!! YAY!!!!!! Bright and early at 7am, my lovely little leeches will be gone and I will have about 7 hours of sheer silent bliss! OMG who could ask for anything more!? Must remember to set the alarm with that lovely Andy Williams song... The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! LMAO! (I really do love my kids but sometimes, you just need a break ya know? Makes you appreciate them more LMAO!)

Ok, the $5 Dinner mom was offering a Kellogg's fiber gift package yesterday as a contest and I entered of course... I like free stuff LOL. And then this morning I find an article about things you can do to add fiber to your diet. Guess fiber focus is a big deal lately. So I thought I would bring you this article about a few things you can do to add fiber to your life.



Start Roughing It
By Matthew Kadey, R.D., Prevention
Tue, Jul 22, 0010

It's no secret that fiber is essential, possibly reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as helping us keep our appetites—and waistlines—in check. The mystery seems to be how to get enough of it. Most women consume only half the recommended 21 to 25 g daily. Try these six options for something jazzier than brown rice.

SPIKE SMOOTHIES WITH CHOCOLATE
A tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder has 2 g of fiber, plus it contains less saturated fat than dark chocolate bars and none of the added sugars.

TOSS MUSHROOMS INTO SOUP
Rehydrate dried shiitakes in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, then chop and add to your favorite soup for 3 g of fiber per ounce, plus lentinan, a compound that may have anticancer properties.

ADD EDAMAME TO STIR-FRIES
Brimming with folate, a B vitamin that may protect women from pancreatic cancer, and 4 g of fiber per ½ cup, boiled soybeans complement any Asian flavor.

MIX OATS INTO MEAT LOAF
Instead of nutritionally inferior bread crumbs, use 2/3 cup rolled oats per pound of meat as a binding agent. In addition to 5.5 g of fiber, they contain magnesium, a mineral that may slash diabetes risk.

MAKE PUMPKIN-PIE OATMEAL
Combine 1/3 cup canned pumpkin, 1 cup oatmeal, 1 to 2 teaspoons brown sugar, and spices of your choice, like cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice. The pumpkin adds nearly 2.5 g of fiber and loads of immunity-boosting vitamin A.

SPRINKLE WHEAT GERM INTO PANCAKES
Rich in selenium, which could cut skin cancer incidence by about 60%, ½ cup of wheat germ packs 4 g of fiber. Add it to any batter recipe.

Alright, it's time to talk crafts. Kalleen over at another blogspot page called At Second Street has a great tutorial which I am bringing you today! Its recycling at its finest... clothing tags! Yes, this creative mom of 4 made this super spiffy wallet out of old clothing tags and when I saw it I was just like "Oh that is SO gonna be on the site"! I think this would make a great gift for yourself or anyone you know! Hop on over for great step by step instructionals and photos!



Craft Idea of the Day: Clothing Tag Wallet

What you need:

-4 pieces of 8-1/2 x 11 handmade paper
(the handmade paper looks like paper fiber pressed together, it's stronger and has more flexibility than card stock).
-lots of clothing tags in preferred colors ( I used about 40, but it will vary depending on their size)
- colored ribbon- optional (I didn't have enough tags and wanted to add more green so I used three strips of green ribbon)
-fray check
-a glue stick
-thread (I used 4 different shades)
-a piece of poster board
- a Dritz snap and pliers
- one button



Well here it is... Friday... day 5 of BODACIOUS BANANAS week. Are you going bonkers for bananas yet? LOL I know my mom is! My intent is not to frustrate but educate LOL. I always like showing you how versatile each ingredient can be with just a few ingredients and a lot of imagination! If you are like most people, you probably do not give a second thought to the sweet banana, one of the few fruits available year-round. If you're ever stranded on a desert island, just hope and pray it contains a banana tree bearing the world's most perfect fruit. Although it has a long pedigree, the sweet yellow banana is a mutant strain which developed from original red and green cooking bananas most often called plantains. Although primarily eaten out of hand or in desserts, sweet bananas can also be used as an accent in savory dishes.

Some banana trees continue producing up to one hundred years, although most banana plantations renew their stock every ten to twenty-five years. The tree itself also has uses. The leaves are used as wrappers to steam foods in Latin, Caribbean, and Asian cultures. The banana flower is also edible, but if you eat the flower, you obviously won't get any fruit. The banana is a distant cousin to ginger, turmeric, and cardamom, and is botanically classified as a berry. There are over four hundred varieties of bananas with the yellow Cavendish being the most favored in America.

Americans consume an annual average of twenty-five pounds of bananas per person. Bananas are the world's best-selling fruit, outranking the apple and orange. So to tempt your taste buds today, as I bring a couple of "ethnically enhancing" recipes to the table for you. Eat & Enjoy!



Curried Banana Sauce
(This goes well over fish, chicken, or even rice!)

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon olive oil
2 small ripe bananas, quartered
1 shallot, quartered
1 clove garlic, halved
1/4 cup chopped sweet onion (such as Vidalia®)
1 3/4 teaspoons curry powder, or to taste
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 pinch salt

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bananas, shallot, garlic, and onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in curry powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the chicken chicken broth and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pour the curry mixture, rice vinegar, honey, and salt into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the curry moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the curry right in the cooking pot.



Teriyaki Pork Chops with Grilled Bananas

Ingredients

1/4 cup dry sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound boneless pork chops (3 to 4)
2 large firm DOLE® Bananas, peeled
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 cups hot cooked rice
2 tablespoons sliced DOLE Green Onion
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed

Directions

Combine sherry, soy sauce, brown sugar and oil in small bowl. Remove 2 tablespoons sherry mixture and brush on pork chops and bananas.

Grill pork 8 to 10 minutes on each side until cooked through.

Grill bananas 2 to 3 minutes on each side until heated through. Cut each into 1-inch pieces.

Combine remaining sherry mixture and cornstarch in small saucepan; cook, stirring until thickened.

Arrange pork and bananas over rice on serving plate; drizzle with sauce. Sprinkle with green onion and sesame seed.

Well folks, that's all for today. I think I am gonna go sit and stitch my little fingers nuts today. And maybe on breaks sit and organize some things from the paperwork in my living room. I am so glad you stopped by to see me this morning and hope you will take a moment to come back by tomorrow for more fun and fabulous times here on The Frugal Mom! Until tomorrow friends... HUGS!

THRIFT STORE TUESDAY

Well good morning everyone! How are you doing this terrific Tuesday? I'm good, thanks. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY NATIONAL THRIFT STORE DAY!! LOL yes you read that right. Today is a day to say thanks to all those bountiful thrift stores which hold treasures galore! So I encourage you all to drop by at least one thrift store and lend them a helping hand by looking around and finding something to help them... even if its just a shirt! LOL.

Yes... I found you yet another article claiming to help with frugality and so I am bringing it to you. Who couldn't use a spare $500? I know I sure could! Now there are a couple I am not agreeing with or doing (like the section about pets... totally kiss my butt there authors I WILL have my animals!) but some could be rather useful. So check them out and you be the judge!

10 easy ways to save $500 or more

From installing a TV antenna to adjusting the thermostat, you'll barely feel the pinch with these smart tips for economizing.

By Bankrate.com

Raises are hard to come by at many jobs, so don't wait for the boss to be struck by the sudden realization that you're valuable. Give yourself a raise by spending less of your hard-earned cash.

Following any one of these tips can save you as much as $500 per year. Some of them can save you more. If you do all 10, you'll save at least $5,000 a year. That's a heck of a lot more than the measly 3 percent increase that your employer is likely to hand out. And the best part about it is that you don't have to smile and say "thank you."

Drive less
With gas hovering around $4 per gallon, you don't have to cut back on much mileage to save $500 in a year. You'll save that much in gas alone if you drive a car that gets 15 miles per gallon just 36 fewer miles per week. When you divide it by 50 weeks, 1,872 miles in a year isn't much. If you have a 40-mile round-trip commute, persuading the boss to allow telecommuting one day a week, or squeezing 40 hours of work into four days, will definitely put you ahead about $500 per year.

If that doesn't work for you, there are other options. The cutback doesn't have to be extreme. Trimming a couple of unnecessary short hops out of your routine is enough to hit the target. Encouraging the kids to take the school bus instead of schlepping them in the car, or consolidating three trips to the grocery store into one weekly excursion may do the trick. Vacationing at the lake instead of driving the family to Florida will certainly hit the goal.

Bring your own stimulant
Stop buying coffee at the chichi coffee joint down the street from work. Either bringing coffee from home in a thermos or brewing it in the break room will actually improve the quality of your morning shot of energy, as well as cut its cost dramatically. You can get 40 cups of coffee from a pound of beans. Even the gourmet ones can be purchased for $4 per pound. If you're spending $2 per day on coffee -- easy to do in most workplaces -- you'll go from spending $500 a year to about $25 by making your own.

Save even more by taking cans of soda or bottled water to work instead of buying them out of the vending machine. Bottled water sells for around 30 cents a bottle at a big-box grocery stores. Compare that to the 75 cents or more that you'll spend at the machine, and it's a no-brainer. You can go even further by cleaning your small plastic water bottles and replenishing them with drinking water from a gallon jug. (It's an environmentally friendly move, too.)

Conserve energy
Dad was right. Turn off the TV when you leave the room. Using less energy is a painless way to save. Heat and air conditioning are the largest home-energy hogs. The U.S. Department of Energy points out that during each 24-hour period, you will save about 3 percent on your energy bill for every 1 degree you lower the thermostat setting (or, conversely, raise it when air conditioning is the big cost).

For example, let's say you normally keep your thermostat set at 73 degrees in summer. If you raise it to 76 degrees, you will save about 9 percent (3 degrees times 3 percent) or 9 cents for every dollar you spend on air conditioning costs. If you're spending $2,000 per year, that small change will save you $180. Buy a programmable thermostat and turn the system up 10 degrees during the day when no one's home and you'll save much more.

Here are some other quick fixes for savings that add up to an additional $400: Switch to U.S. Energy Star-approved light bulbs and save $60 a year. Running a 32-inch TV four hours a day costs $3 per month, but many families use the TV for background noise, letting it play 24/7. You can save more than $200 a year just by turning off the TV when nobody's watching it. Washing clothes in cold water is good for another $60 a year and powering down your computer at night can save $70.

Dig gardening
Gardening doesn't just burn a lot of calories; a nice yard also adds value to the house. If you do it all yourself, it's pure profit. Assuming a modest savings of $300 per summer for mowing your own grass and another $200 for such related expenses as applying your own weed killer and fertilizer, a $500 savings is easily attained.
Bonus idea: Assign jobs like shoveling, raking and car washing to Junior, who's always good for hitting you up for money. While you might shell out $200 for him to do these chores, it's a savings, considering that you were going to give him the money whether he worked for it or not.

Go small or stay pet-free
Fido and Tabby are lovable, but they can cost a bundle. If you're considering a pet, keep the cost of their upkeep in mind. Pawprints and Purrs, an animal adoption agency based in Keithville, La., tells its clients to expect to pay these annual costs of pet ownership: cat, $640; small dog, $780; medium dog, $1,115; large dog, $1,500. Obviously, smaller is cheaper. The difference between a large dog and a small one is $720 per year -- that's a lot of kibble.

Don't flush money down the commode
No-name-brand toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, paper cups, plastic wrap, plastic bags, etc., are all available at half the price of similar name-brand products when you buy them in bulk.

You don't even have to wait for a sale. Such stores as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Costco and Sam's Club offer these items all the time at bulk rates.

For instance, you can buy 15,000 sheets of toilet paper for about $13, compared to the 4,224 sheets of the "squeezably soft" variety that routinely sells for $9 in a 12-pack. Big-name plastic wrap can be 10 times more expensive than the big-box variety.

Of course, bulk buying requires having some cash on hand, transportation to carry large quantities and big enough storage space for these items. If you can manage those basic requirements, buying big can be a tremendous deal and easily cut costs by $500 per year. But remember, putting these purchases on your credit card defeats the purpose.

Limit media
A cost that didn't exist at all for most people a decade ago has morphed into a major expense. The average monthly cable bill, excluding Internet access and other extras, now runs about $52, according to SNL Kagan Research, which monitors the broadcasting industry. Look hard at what you are spending for television, phone and Internet. If you are like the rest of us, cutting $50 a month out of this category is a slam dunk.

Who watches 300 channels anyway? The easiest way to cut costs: Just take a deep breath and cancel everything but the basic plan. Most cable companies have a very limited plan for $10 or $15 per month that offers local channels and a few other networks. If you have satellite, the basic plan, including local channels, will cost you about $30. If you want to watch a movie or an HBO series now and then, rent it -- you'll still come out way ahead.

If you have greater than average do-it-yourself skills, consider installing an antenna and capturing high-definition television signals over the air. An antenna isn't your father's rabbit ears -- you get no snow and reception that's probably clearer than your cable or satellite provides. And best of all, it's free. A page on the National Association of Broadcasters' Web site lists the stations you can expect to receive. In most cities, that's all the networks plus PBS. In rural areas, you might get less, but that's changing quickly. CNET offers a great set of instructions for setting it up and calls it a three-hour project.

Next, examine your phone service -- particularly your cell. What kind of user are you? If your phone's for short calls only -- "I'm on my way home now, dear" -- consider a pay-as-you-go plan like ones offered by Virgin Mobile. It has cool phones, and, for a total of $80 per year, you can make those kinds of calls and have peace of mind. It's a big bargain.

Family plans are another possibility. Four people on the same plan will cost about $25 each. Calls at night and during weekends are usually free, so the small prime-time minute allocation goes a long way. You just can't chat endlessly during regular business hours with these plans.

If you are paying more for home phone service than about $50 per month for both unlimited local and long-distance, you're missing the boat.

For those with high-speed Internet service, the cheapest phone option is probably an Internet-based phone service such as Vonage or others offered by cable or phone companies. These aren't subject to the same taxes that wired phone lines are, so for less than $20 a month, you can get 500 minutes of service with lots of features, including voice mail.

There are drawbacks. One is that if your Internet is down, so is your phone.

Sign up for tax-advantaged plans at work
The possibilities include education, health, transportation and child-care savings accounts. If you're in the 25-percent tax bracket, you'll be $500 ahead once you spend $2,000 in pretax dollars on these necessities. If your company doesn't offer these plans, ask for them to be added. It's a cost-free benefit that even the smallest and most cash-strapped employer can offer.

Eat in
Replace one $20 eat-in restaurant meal per week with a large $7 carryout pizza from any of the billions of cheap pizza places in every city. Better yet, buy pizza at the grocery store.

Don't bank on it
Pay credit card bills in full as soon as possible, and take advantage of free bill pay.

The real savings can be had by avoiding credit card debt and paying off what you've accumulated as quickly as possible. For instance, if you owe $4,000 on a card charging you 18 percent interest, and you pay three times the minimum payment every month, or $300, you'll pay off the card in 15 months and spend about $500 in interest. If you spread the cost out and pay $200 per month -- still twice the minimum payment -- you'll pay off the bill in 24 months and pay out $4,800 in total -- $800 in interest. If you can bite the bullet and pay as much as $400 each month, the debt will be gone in less than a year and you'll save between $100 and $700 in interest over the other options.

Saving money doesn't have to take an ugly bite out of your lifestyle. Once you put these strategies in place, you won't feel pinched, because you're not giving up much at all.

This story was reported and written by Jennie L. Phipps for Bankrate.com.

OK now, one of the things my mother is helping me do is declutter some areas of the house that are an "emotional problem" for me. While I was searching for some creative and inexpensive ways to organize, I found this project and instantly fell in love! I was like OMG SUCH CUTENESS! Its a craft that could be done for any room in the house, any age range, any purpose! It's super wonderful! Destri from The Mother Huddle has the GREAT tutorial on today's craft idea! So jump on over there and get sewing on some lovely little baskets!



Craft Idea of the Day: Fabric Basket Organizers

Supplies:

all your sewing stuff
cafe rod, or curtain rod
brackets to hang rod
three 8 x 10 Plexiglas sheets, I bought mine at Home Depot for about $4 a piece, by the window section

Materials:

each basket takes 1 yard of fabric, so I used three for this project.
each basket needs a yard of interfacing, again I used three yards. I used pellon 809 decor bond, but craft bond would work as well.
Fabric Cuts:

From your fabric cut six 18½ x 28 inch pieces, and three 4 x 10 ½ inch pieces. You will then iron them onto you interfacing per it's instructions, and then cut out. Trust me, it's easier than cutting out the pellon and then ironing! As a side note, the ironing is the longest part of this project...if I had a teenager I would have paid top dollar to have them do it, just sayin'!



Well are you ready to start the day right? I think we need to have some BODACIOUS BANANAS for breakfast! That's right! They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and so why not make it healthier when possible. Whether its a grab & go item or a sit down at the table kind of deal... breakfast is the fuel for your day! Just like putting gas in your car... you are fueling up your body for whatever life holds for you, so make it the high octane fuel! LOL! Ya can't trade in for a new one like you can a car (trust me, if ya could I would SO be on a "new every 2 PLAN LMAO)! So here are some more super fun facts about bananas and some great recipes for you to try! Eat & Enjoy!

Here are some more facts about one of the world's most popular fruits:

India is the #1 banana producer in the world.

The most popular banana cultivar in the world is the Cavendish. This is the banana most often seen in U.S. and European markets.

Before Cavendish, Gros Michel was the main banana cultivar exported on a mass, commercial scale. In the mid-20th century, Gros Michel was ravaged by Panama disease and is no longer sold commercially.

Panama disease, or Fusarium wilt, is a fungus that attacks banana plants. It was reported in Australia in the 19th century.

It is believed that the Cavendish, like the Gros Michel, will be devastated by Panama disease within 20 years and will no longer be able to be produced commercially. This would be a difficult blow to the banana industry.

Scientists are trying to develop a hybrid, disease-resistant banana.

Chiquita was initially called the United Fruit Company. In the 20th century, they played a controversial role in the politics of Central America, where they had vast holdings. The company earned the nickname of "The Octopus" in the region because they had their hands in so many political pots.

The CIA-sponsored 1954 coup that overthrew the democratically-elected Guatemalan government headed by Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán is believed to be a direct result of influence by the United Fruit Company, which had an antagonistic relationship with the Arbenz government.

In Uganda, bananas are such a big part of the diet that the same word, matooke, is used for both "food" and "banana."

The pejorative term "banana republic" was coined by American writer O. Henry. He used it in reference to Honduras, but the term became widely used in reference to any Latin American, Caribbean, or African country that was politically unstable, relied heavily on basic agriculture, and was not technologically advanced.

The banana split was invented in 1904 by 23-year-old David Evans Strickler, an employee at the Tassel Pharmacy soda fountain in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

The song "Yes, We Have No Bananas" was released in 1923 and became a huge hit. It refers to the banana shortage at the time.

In 2001, Britain recorded 300 incidents of injuries related to bananas. The majority of these involved people slipping on banana peels.



Dole Fruity Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients

2 (8-inch) flour tortillas
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons strawberry jam
2 medium DOLE® Bananas

Directions

Place tortillas on baking sheet. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon evenly over tortillas.
Broil tortillas 1 minute or until hot and lightly browned.
Spread jam down center of tortillas. Place one banana over center of each tortilla; roll up tortillas.

Benefits
Low Fat, Cholesterol Free, Good Source of Fiber, Good Source of Potassium, Good Source of Vitamin C



Dole Banana Raspberry Smoothie

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups DOLE® Pineapple Juice
1 cup vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt
1 cup DOLE Fresh Raspberries
2 ripe, medium DOLE Bananas, peeled

Directions

Combine pineapple juice, yogurt, raspberries and bananas in blender or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth. Garnish with raspberry and banana slices, if desired. Enjoy!

Benefits
Rich in Fiber, Rich in Potassium, Rich in Vitamin C, Good Source of Calcium



Dole Sunrise Pizza

Ingredients

2 DOLE® Bananas, peeled
4 frozen whole wheat waffles
1/4 cup low fat whipped cream cheese
1 can (11 oz.) DOLE Mandarin Oranges, drained
2 teaspoons honey
Dash ground cinnamon
Fresh raspberries or blueberries (optional)

Directions

Thinly slice bananas on diagonal.

Prepare waffles according to package directions.

Spread waffles with cream cheese. Arrange banana slices on top, overlapping. Arrange mandarin oranges in center of each pizza. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Garnish with raspberries, if desired.

Benefits
Low Cholesterol, Good Source of Fiber, Good Source of Vitamin A, Rich in Vitamin C

Well folks, I have to get off of here and get ready for my parents to come over. They have been kind enough to help with some projects around the house. You know me and my projects LMAO! And I have to check out the DD's foot... she hurt herself real bad at band practice and now she is limping and all bruised up. Never a dull moment in this house, that's for sure. Hopefully after that I can get some sewing in before DP's arrive! So have fun, be safe, and don't do nothin' I wouldn't do! LMAO... until tomorrow... HUGS!

BLAZING BRUNCH

Good Sunday morning everyone! How are you doing this beautiful Sunday morning? I am doing well... quite tired and somewhat sore but excited to wake up to the sun shining and the fresh air in my lungs! The DN left this morning and its time for cleaning, organinzing, and some super cool craftiness! Why don't ya grab yourself a cup of coffee and have a seat and let's chat!

First off, its time for more frugal advise and today is a topic very close to my heart... AIR CONDITIONING LOL! Living in Texas where it seems a constant heat advisory, the air conditioners running can be heard and felt everywhere you go. I know I am in love with my AC units LOL! To the tune of some skyrocket electric bills... but I don't care! I must remain cool! LOL. Well I found some tips and frugal advise to try to control those expensive bills and I thought I would share with you!

How to Reduce Air-Conditioning Costs With These Money-Saving Tips

There are ways that you can reduce your electric bills quite significantly if you have central air conditioning or a window unit. This article will attempt to show how to reduce air-conditioning costs, even in very warm climates during the summer months.

Consider the size of the room and base your air conditioning on that when buying a unit as more does not mean better in every case. Other factors to consider are in respect of what will affect the room temperature such as number of windows, direction it faces etc. If you buy a unit that is too large for the room, it will need to work much harder and end up costing you more money.

When in the market for a central air conditioning system, always check that the SEER number (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is above thirteen (fourteen for warmer climates). Less efficient systems’ running costs will be more and so for room air conditioners, look for an energy efficiency ratio of eleven or above. High efficiency units will cost you more on the initial purchase but, particularly if you live in a hot climate, the extra cost will more than be recovered over a few years from lower electricity bills.

Make sure that you maintain your air conditioning unit and regularly check and replace the filter (every month) during the cooling season and have it professionally serviced every year at the start of the cooling season.

Cooling systems are renowned for being the largest consumers of energy in the home. Depending on your location, it will probably only be outdone in the energy sapping stakes by your heating system. If your system is aged with a SEER rating below eight, it may be worth consideration to replace it with a more energy efficient system.

You may also want to consider installing a thermostat that you can program in order to vary the temperature according to the times when you are actually at home. A setting around seventy eight degrees Fahrenheit is okay for when you are present. If you are away from your home for more than a few hours, it may be apt to set the temperature higher (around eighty five degrees) for the time that you are away.

The location of your condenser is another important consideration. Make sure that it is in the shade and has enough room to dispose of the hot air that it removes from your home. Do not place shrubs or plants around it – enable it to breathe. You can, however, plant shade trees and plants around the house to assist in reducing the heat from the sun, particularly on western and southern sides to your home. This could result in a reduction of up to thirty per cent on your cooling costs.

Close all curtains and blinds on the sunniest side of your house to prevent the heat coming into your home and wherever possible, install awnings on the windows. Sealing any air leaks in your home will reduce costs of your air conditioning as well as your heating costs and remember to check that all seals around drying vents, plumbing are closed. Fill in any gaps that there may be around places like chimneys and weather tape any doors or windows that cause drafts.

You may wish to consider putting in ceiling fans into rooms and running them on hot days. If it is too warm for you, use the fan without air conditioning but if t is hot enough for it, using both together will allow the temperature to rise by five degrees, therefore reducing costs. Only use ceiling fans when you are in the room as running it alone doe not actually lower temperatures – it is the movement of air increasing skin evaporation that causes coolness.

The colour of the exterior of your home will also make a difference. The darker it is, the more heat it will take in so bear this in mind when building, repainting, buying property in the future. Choose light colours for the outside of your home.

Did you know that thirty per cent of heat in homes is absorbed through the roof? Ensure that any attics are ventilated sufficiently. Vents in the eaves will allow for cooler air to enter. A ridge vent or even an attic fan can reduce cooling costs significantly.

Any heat that is generated within the home will need to be removed by your system of cooling so avoid it whenever you can. Try grilling or barbecuing food outdoors or if you have to cook inside use the microwave or a crock-pot.

Following just some of these tips on how to reduce air conditioning costs will help your wallet and also make your life that little more comfortable during those long summer seasons.

• Turning down the thermostat even a few degrees helps a lot.

• Moist air feels warmer. Make sure you maintain adequate humidity during the more dry winter months. Open the dishwasher to dry dishes and release steam and hanging clothes to dry will not only cut down on your electric bill but also add humidity.

• Wash laundry in cold water only. This is very cost effective and most clothes wash just fine in cold water only.

• Do you have naturally warm areas in your home? Make them work for you. My warm rooms are the kitchen and the furnace room. I keep the furnace room door open with a small fan blowing out into my family room. The heat gleaned just from that is enough to keep the family room warm. When I do a big baking day, I also run a fan that blow the warm air out into the remainder of the home.

• On a good blustery day, get down on your hands and knees and feel around. A stick of burning incense helps to find drafty areas, but even just feeling for cold areas with your hands will help. Cutting down on those drafts will go a long way in cutting down on your heating bill! A trip to the local hardware store will help you find a bevy of cost cutting products, but simple, inexpensive things like homemade draft dodgers, towels, and window quilts will be effective as well.

• Turn down your hot water.

• Do you have a fireplace? Most people don’t realize that modern fireplaces with deeper fire boxes, are not effective heat sources and the reality is, they suck air from your home. You actually LOSE heat when you run your fire place unless you have fireplace doors that you keep closed (basically going just for the ambience) or you can close off that room and minimize the flue draft. If you really want your fireplace to work for you, consider fireplace inserts, inset stoves and that sort of thing.

• Put on an extra layer of clothes if you’re always cold. Adding a layer on top such as a sweater or sweatshirt OR a layer underneath, like silk long underwear help a lot.

• Wear a hat to bed. The human body loses a huge amount of heat through the top of the head. Keep your head warm and you’ll be warmer. If you’re a bit chilled crawling into bed, make a microwave cozie to warm it up first!

• Keep a lap quilt for those times when you’re sitting down and reading a good book and getting cold versus turning up the heat. Sticking that microwave cozie under the quilt with you is pretty nice, too.

• Consider major home improvements. We have our garage under one end of our home and that end of the house was always cold. The old wooden doors had almost no insulation value (R-value), let in snow and cold air from underneath and barely kept the garage above freezing. We invested about $1800 to have modern, well insulated doors installed and the results were amazing! The average garage temp is now about 45 degrees, that end of the house is much warmer and we have averaged about $400 LESS in heating expenses per year. Major things like new windows and doors can be a bit more costly and take more planning and saving, but will be worth it in the long run.

Tammy Paquin is the owner and publisher of frugal-families.com. You can reprint this article with an active link back to Frugal-Families.com

And now its time to craft... sewing, which also uses some electricity LOL, to me is a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Now when my mother was helping me declutter the other day, one thing we did is went through clothing and bagged it up for donating, freecycling, etc. I had my DH join in on the fun LMAO! Well he was going to get rid of some button down shirts he no longer fits and I snagged one out of his hands to put in the "sewing and crafts" pile. And I did that because I recently ran across another crafter's ingenious idea for making summer clothing for women by upcycling/recycling MENS button down shirts! I want to try this, so since I wear my DH's shirts ANYWAY, I figured it was worth a shot! And I bring this idea to you because I think its a wonderful project and wanted to spread the word! Make sure to go to the website for beautiful step-by-step instructions and photos!



Craft Idea of the Day: Heat Wave Halter

Materials Needed:

upcycled man's shirt (short-sleeved is fine...I used a size XL.) Note: this size fit me perfectly when I was done, and I have a small frame. If you think you might need a larger size when you're done, start with a 2XL or 3XL. There are plenty of those out there, too, and it's better to guestimate on the larger side from the get go, rather than go through all of your steps and find out that your final product is too small)
1/4" elastic, in a length 3" smaller than your upper bust measurement (the measurement right above your breasts, almost around your torso under your underarms, where a halter top would rest)
cording, long t-shirt scrap or crocheted chain, to use as a tie
safety pin
coordinating thread
elastic thread
sewing machine
serger (optional, but nice)

Alright... Welcome to the final day of HOPPIN JALAPENO WEEK and to finalize this heat wave, I am providing you with a virtual buffet of happy hotness LOL! From start to finish... appetizer to dessert. Cocktails included! I'm glad to hear that all of you had fun with this week and got lots of inspiration. You can search the internet for thousands of recipes that involve jalapenos. Here is one that I brought you many of this weeks recipes... its called Jalapeno Madness and you really need to check it out for more great hoppin jalapeno dishes! So here's your Sunday Supper... Eat & Enjoy!



Jalapeño Rolls

6 Fresh jalapeño peppers
Stick Cheese
6 corn tortillas

Stuff fresh jalapeños with stick cheese (works good cause you can just stuff it in).

Heat corn tortillas till soft ( use toothpicks to hold them together).

Wrap around jalapeño.

Freeze for about an hour.

Deep fry until crispy. Tastes great when dipped in Jalapeño Toad

Jalapeño Toad

1 pound jalapeño peppers
2 cans cocount milk
2 tbsp lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Take about a pound of green jalapeños and remove the stems. Puree in a processor until smooth. Add coconut milk, lime juice, and cilantro. Blend. Simmer over low heat for however for 10-12 minutes (or so.) Chill. Tastes great on anything. Really!!



Cream of Jalapeno Pepper Soup

This Cream of Jalapeno Pepper Soup recipe is sure to kick start an evening of pure jalapeno bliss. For a stronger pepper flavor, include more peppers. For more heat, keep the seeds in the recipe. Serve as an appetizer, or in a bread bowl with a side salad as a lighter main course

.Ingredients:

6-8 jalapeno peppers, minced
8 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoons butter
1 cup white onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 small avocado, peeled and diced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon fresh basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cooking Directions

Heat butter over medium heat in a large saucepan

Add minced jalapenos, onion and garlic. Sauté until soft.

Set sautéed vegetables aside and stir in avocado, tomatoes, and heavy cream.

Return mixture to the saucepan and reduce heat to simmer.

Simmer approximately 15 minutes.

Stir slowly and frequently.

Stir in fresh basil, then simmer an additional 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve.

Serves 6-8.



Jalapeno Flank Steak Sandwiches

This recipe makes a delious dinner. The jalapeno pepper spiciness complements the deep flavor of the flank steak. Don't forget the fresh jalapeno spears at the end for the additional kick.

Ingredients

4 jalapeño peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced into long spears
1 1/2 lb. beef flank steak
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons brown mustard
12 slices white bread, toasted
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 small onion, sliced
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste

Cooking Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine together garlic, jalapeño peppers, olive oil, lime juice, mustard, and salt. Whisk firmly. This is your marinade.

Trim fat from steak and tenderize with a meat tenderizer. If you don't have a tenderizer, score the steaks with a knife on each side.

Marinate steaks in refrigerator with above marinade 6-12 hours, or overnight if you wish

Drain meat and cook 12-16 minutes over medium heat cooking to medium doneness, or as desired.

Slice steak into thin slices.

Spread toasted white bread mayo and sprinkle with chili powder.

Add sliced steak, onion, and cheese.

Top with remaining toast and serve with jalapeno spears.



Jalapeno Cornbread

Cornbread is typically served as a side dish and can often be a little dry if not prepared properly. This recipe turned out extremely moist and deliciously flakey. And absolutely nice and spicy! We made this up for a little dessert, but it's perfect as a side dish as well.

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 small jalapeno peppers, diced

Cooking Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Lightly spray a baking pan


In a large bowl combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder and mix

In a separate bowl combine egg, milk and olive oil and beat

Combine both bowls and mix well

Add jalapeno peppers and mix well

Pour into baking dish

Bake 20-30 minutes (depending on how thick your pour) or until cornbread is done in the middle



JALAPENO CHOCOLATE DESSERT COOKIES

If you love chocolate for dessert and jalapeno peppers, this is the recipe for you!
Recipes galore!

Ingredients:

1 large jalapeno pepper, minced
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons cocoa
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal

Instructions:

Bring sugar, milk, and cocoa to a rolling boil. Stir contantly.

Addn butter and peanut butter. Stir until melted.

Remove from heat.

Stir in oatmeal and jalapeno peppers. Mix well.

Spoon mixture onto an oiled cookie sheet in small globs.

Refrigerate and let sit until firm, about 3-4 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Bake cookies 12-14 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
Serve warm!



Three-Alarm Midnight Madness - A Spicy Drink Recipe

Your lips will feel this drink for a while after you drink it. Of course the heat level will vary depending on the hot sauce chosen, but do not forget to include the spicy jalapeno peppers, which will happily include the extra kick you need for your midnight drink. Yes, we do recommend you drink this at midnight, chinging glasses with your friends. See who backs down first! It does have a distinctive tequila flavor, and works great as a marinade.

Ingredients

1 jalapeno pepper, sliced
2 ounces Effen Vodka
2 ounces Patron Silver Tequila
8 ounces light beer of choice
5 splashes hot sauce of choice
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Ice cubes!

Mixing Directions

To a beer glass, add jalapeno peppers, soy sauce, hot sauce and 3 ice cubes.
Add vodka, tequila and beer.

Stir with a large spoon and serve!

Comments: You can use a martini shaker to strain out the seeds and serve it in a martini glass. Or, lose the soy sauce to lighten the color.

Alright folks, I'm wrapping it up for the day. DN is on the way to church with his mom, so I am baby free for the next 3 days. I got lots of cleaning to do and "recon" if you will. Plus I am gonna get a major amount of sewing done I hope... got some more mending to do and some projects from rescued clothing to do! Keeping my word and killing some clutter! I wish you fun and happiness today and remember to smile... its good exercise LMAO! Until tomorrow... HUGS!

CHAOS AND CRAZINESS

Hello everyone. How are you doing this crazy Thursday morning? Please excuse my tardiness as its been a crazy day in our house! Had to go on a rescue mission this morning and then of course kids and cats and all kinds of chaos. 'Tis my world, this land of commotion LOL!

Today I found some super spiffy frugal information for you about saving water. Why do I bring this to you? For the simple fact that I was staring at an outragous water bill in yesterday's mail and said OMG there has GOT to be a better way to save! So without further ado...

Frugal Tips to Water Conservation

There are lots of simple things you can do to cut your household water use. It all starts with awareness. If you know some of the ways people tend to waste water, you’ll be better positioned to conserve.

The bathroom

Here are some common ways in which people waste water – hot or cold – in the bathroom.

Leaving the tap running the whole time you brush your teeth. Try putting the plug in the bathroom sink while you do this, and notice how quickly the sink fills up. Shutting off the water until you’re ready to rinse can easily cut 2-3 gallons a day of water use per person.

Using hot water to brush your teeth. Some people don’t like having really cold tap water in their mouth during the final rinse. In cold climates or in water supply systems fed from the bottoms of lakes (such as parts of the Great Lakes Region in the US and Canada), the water supply can be pretty chilly for the cooler months, and sometimes even in the summer. Instead of running the hot water so you don’t have to rinse your mouth out in freezing cold water, always fill your bathroom water cup when you’re done brushing, so the water has time to warm up for the next time you brush.

Using a flush toilet as a waste disposal device. I’ve seen people who blow their nose with a tissue, then throw it in the toilet and flush it down. This is not a very good use of 2-5 gallons of water! Using a toilet as a waste disposal may be convenient but it’s extremely wasteful.

Using a regular toilet instead of a low-flush or dual-flush toilet. Decades ago, toilets typically had 5 gallon tanks. More than a decade ago standards in North America changed and 3 gallon (13 liter) tanks were the new standard. Recently manufacturers have come out with 1.5 gallon (6 liter) tanks, sometimes in response to tightened building code standards. And there are dual-flush toilets that can flush liquids and toilet tissue with as little as 1 liter or quart of water, while solids still take 4-6 liters (1 to 1.5 gallons). If you have an old toilet, you can replace it with a low-flush model, or simply install a conversion kit; see the resources section for details. Another free way to save water on your toilet is to avoid flushing it when it’s not strictly necessary. For example, in my house when the alarm clock goes on, everyone gets up and has their morning visit to the bathroom; only the last person flushes.

Leaving the shower running when you’re not in it. Sometimes you want the shower to warm up before you hop in. So you might turn on the shower, close the curtain or shower door, and work on some other grooming (brush your hair or teeth, shave…) while you wait for the shower water to heat up. Unfortunately people often lose track of the time, and a minute or more of hot water may wind up just pouring down the drain. One easy solution to this is a water-saving shower valve, which cuts the flow of water to a trickle as soon as the water reaches 95F or 35F. You hop into the shower and pull a cord or flip a lever, and the hot water comes out full force. This keeps the water hot for you without wasting much water while you’re doing other things in the bathroom.

Taking a really long shower. This is a favorite teenager move: drain the hot water tank right before Mom has her shower. There’s really no good reason to spend 10 or 15 or 20 minutes in the shower. A shower is said to use less water than a bath, but that’s not the case when you’re in there 20 minutes. I’ve heard some people say they keep their house cool to save on heating, and so they have to take a long hot shower to get warm. Don’t forget it takes a lot more energy to heat a liter of water than a liter of air – and when that hot water goes down the drain, the heat is basically lost!

If you’re serious about saving water in the bathroom, try putting the plug in your bathroom sink when you brush your teeth, just to see how much water one person’s tooth brushing takes. Or put a plug in the shower or bathtub when you shower, to see how much water a shower uses. Or try filling the toilet tank with a measuring cup, one cup at a time, and then track how many times the toilet gets flushed in a day. You might be surprised to see how much water you use.

The kitchen

You might think the biggest water waster in the kitchen is the dishwasher. In fact, modern dishwashers are far better at conserving water and energy than all but the most diligent, energy-conscious human dish washer. And the worst of us are extremely wasteful. Common practices that waste a lot of water are:

Not putting the plug in the sink when you do dishes – just running the water continuously. This typically requires you to add more dish soap to your scrub brush or sponge after every few dishes, because you keep washing the soap down the sink. Try putting the plug in the sink the next time you try to do dishes this way. You’ll discover the sink fills up pretty quickly – it might even overflow! You can almost always do an entire set of dishes with just a half sink of water, and remember, your dishwasher can do even better.

Prerinsing dishes that go in the dishwasher. Remember, modern dishwashers are designed to wash dirty, unrinsed dishes. There should be no need to prerinse. If you find that your dishes don’t come clean unless you prerinse, you either have a dishwasher that is 10+ years old, or there’s something malfunctioning. The pump may be weak, the filter may be blocked with leftovers (we found about 30 olive pits in ours a couple of years ago), or one of the connections to the rotating arms may be blocked or leaking. If you do have to prerinse, an easy way to do so without wasting water is to leave water in the sink after you wash the pots and pans or after rinsing produce, and just scrub the dishes in that water.

Using a sink waste disposal unit. It’s much better to compost your kitchen food scraps than to grind them up and send them down the drain. For one thing, it takes water to wash all that food down the sink. For another, you’re wasting a precious commodity that can be turned into great garden soil. Waste disposal units have been banned in some municipalities because they overload the sewage system and increase water usage.

Not using a faucet aerator. Most modern kitchen faucets come with an aerator installed in the end of the faucet, that draws air in and fills the water with tiny bubbles. These aerators save water by allowing a smaller amount of water to do the job of rinsing dishes or washing hands or fruits and vegetables. Aerators can get clogged up – especially if you have hard water – so if you find you’re not getting a good volume of air in your water, try unscrewing the end of the tap, removing the wire mesh aerator, and cleaning it out. Once you reassemble the faucet you’ll use far less water to wash and rinse.

The laundry

The top loading washing machine is one of the most water-wasting devices in your home. There have been front-loading washers for decades that use as little as a third the water of a typical top loader. But for some reason North Americans are still using top-loaders, and even still buying them. There are a number of very good reasons for switching to a front-loading washer:

* They use half to a third the water of a front loader
* They use half to a third the detergent of a front loader (and you don’t actually need to buy the “HE” detergent – just buy regular detergent and use a lot less)
* They adjust the volume of water based on how much laundry they detect in the drum. For a small load they use much less than for a large load.
* They are more gentle on your clothes, so your clothes last longer
* Their spin cycle is much faster than a top loader spin cycle. Your clothes come out with less water, so you use less energy in the dryer (if you use one), or the clothes take less time to dry on the line or drying rack.

The other ways in which people waste water on laundry are:

Washing clothes that aren’t actually dirty. You don’t have to throw things in the laundry just because you wore them for one day – especially pants and shirts, which will wear out sooner if you wash them too often.

Washing instead of putting away – using the laundry hamper as a way to avoid putting your clothes away. Kids are especially prone to this. My son would sooner throw his clothes in the laundry than fold them and put them in his dresser, because it’s less work for him. Make your kids do the laundry folding and they’ll be less prone to pull this trick.

Separating whites, lights, and colors. Most clothes are color-fast. Of course it pays to check individual garments when new, but chances are almost all your clothes can be washed together in cold water. If you currently do three loads of different colors, try splitting the brights between the darks and whites and cut back to two.

The first step to saving water

Once you understand the ways in which water is commonly wasted in North American homes, it becomes easier to identify where you yourself might be using more water than necessary, and to cut waste. Remember that keeping a weekly measure of your water usage, by writing down the reading on your water meter, will help you stay on task. When you know how much you’re using, you’ll be more conscious of waste, and more motivated to save. In some areas you’ll realize big financial savings by cutting back; in others, where water is still quite cheap, the savings may seem irrelevant from a financial point of view, but you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping conserve a precious natural resource.

Robin Green runs Green Energy Efficient Homes, a website dedicated to efficient use of natural resources, especially relating to household energy use. For some specific water saving tips see his articles on shower head valves, dual flush toilet kits, and energy saving washers.



Today in talking about the Christmas Challenge, I want to aim the craft ideas for today at us mom's with little kids and crafts you can do with them. For some odd reason, nobody I have ever met has ever had anything negative to say about a handmade gift from a child. What I don't get is why some adults change when it comes to gifts like this from other adults. But anyway, doing crafts with your kids is a great way to stimulate creativity, keep them occupied so they don't get "bored", and create wonderful memories. My mom did it with us, and I did/do it with my kids, and hopefully one day (a LONGGGG time from now LOL) my kids will do the same with their kids! So today's crafts are some cute and somewhat simple crafts for you and your kids.



Craft Stick Trinket Box

Materials
Glue
Some craft sticks
Trinkets or seasonal decorations to personalize the box with

This is how you make the craft stick trinket box

First take 2 craft sticks and set them about 3 inches apart. Then glue 10 sticks across them.

Now flip over the base and begin gluing on craft sticks for the walls, alternating between the sides. Continue this till the walls are as high as you like.

To make the removable lid, set 2 sticks alongside the last 2 wall sticks and add a line of glue along each one.

Now lay 10 craft sticks across them.

To personalize it, glue a small toy, a seasonal decoration or a trinket to the top.



Emoticon Magnets

Materials

A computer and a printer
Different colored markers
A pair of scissors
Clear and flat decorative gems
Some glue
A few small, round self-adhesive magnets

This is how you make the emoticon magnets

Create a variety of emoticons slightly smaller than the gems using a computer.
After taking a printout of the emoticons, use colored markers to decorate and color the faces.

Now cut out the faces, trimming them neatly into circles or ovals slightly smaller than the gems.

Glue each cutout to the back of the pebble glass and then fix a magnet to it.

Wrap up the gifts only after the glue dries completely.

Printed Memo Blocks

Materials

Some colored duct tape
A pair of scissors
A memo pad, memo filler sheets or scrap paper that has been cut into small squares
Foamies craft foam or ink stamps
Double-sided tape and plastic bottle caps
An inkpad

This is how you make the printed memo blocks

First cut a strip of duct tape measuring 2 inches longer that the height of the stack of papers you plan to use.

Then lay the tape sticky side up on the table.

Now grasp the stack and tap the sides against a flat surface. Then hold on its end and press one edge down onto the center of the tape.

Neatly wrap the tape ends over the top and the bottom of the stack, all the while pressing firmly down to bind the paper. If required, use more tape.

Once that is done, lift the top sheet of paper and cut the tape just above the second sheet so that the binding is level with the top of the pad.

Use an ink stamp or a fun shape cut out of foamies craft foam to print a design on the three untapped sides of the block. Use double tape to stick the craft foam to a bottle cap.



CD Coasters

Materials

A few CD’s (preferably plain gold or silver in color)
Some white cotton lace
Some glue

This is how you make CD coasters

Take the CD and spread some glue all along its periphery.

Next take one end of the lace and start sticking it onto the edge, making pleats all the while.

When you have finished doing that, cut the lace and your CD coaster is ready! (you can use any other material you like to personalize the coaster too)



Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Handprint

Materials

A pencil
Brown craft foam or card stock
A black marker
Red glitter glue
Some gold sequins
Glue
Googly eyes
A red pompom
A brown pipe cleaner
A few paper clips or clothespins

This is how you make a Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer handprint

First use a pencil to trace your child’s hand onto a piece of brown craft foam or card stock.

Then cut out the shape and add black marker hooves to the fingertips.

Now add red glitter glue collar using the gold sequins for bells. That done, glue on the googly eye and a red pompom for the nose. For the tail, use one cut out from brown craft foam or card stock.

Cut a brown pipe cleaner in half for the reindeer antlers. Curl the ends and bend each pipe cleaner in two. Glue the pipe cleaners together, holding them in place with a clothespin or a paper clip until the glue dries.

Using glue put the antlers in place on the reindeer.

Today for thirsty Thursday, we are doing drinks. DRINKS? Yes I said drinks! LOL There are quite a few interesting jalapeno drinks out there and I am gonna bring you a few today to wet your whistle. The last one is kinda complicated for those of you who may engage in the habit of home brewing. Jalapenos are known for providing that ‘kick’ in food. The ‘kick’ comes from the seeds and the rib of the skin so many people remove both these parts if they want just the flavour and not the heat!! The heat or spice comes from a group of 5 chemicals that are called Capsaicinoids. Each chemical in the family has a slightly different affect. The hottest one out of the five is the capsaicin which produces the fire sensation or burning in the mouth.

Capsaicin has no taste or smell and is produced by the glands in the placenta of the jalapeno which is located at the top of the pepper just below the stem. It is interesting that the placenta creates sixteen times more heat than the rest of the pepper. Despite the heat, jalapenos are extremely popular, probably due to their versatility. They can be added to almost anything and everything from soups to drinks to pasta to meats. They are most often eaten with nachos, potato chips, hot sauce, lemonade, vodka and many people actually make cookies, bagels and jams out of them.

It is interesting that the word for Chili in the Mexican Indian language is Nahuatl which actually means chilli In terms of variety, it is Mexico that produces the largest variety of chilli peppers in the region of about 140. Many people make the mistake of drinking water when they find the pepper too hot. This actually exacerbates the problem further as the capsaicin is not soluble in water, hence it encourages the water to spread around the mouth and therefore, spread the heat. The best solution for eradicating the burning sensation in the mouth, is to take a little sugar or milk.

Nutritional Values of a Jalapeno Pepper

Serving size 1 pepper (45g)
Calories 20
Total Fat 0g
Sodium 10mg
Total Carbohydrate 3g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Protein 1g

The Jalapeno pepper is also low in fat (actually there is none in it!!) as well as in Carbs and Protein. Therefore it is suitable for people on all the different diets that exist in the market, be it Low Fat or Low Carb!!

Interesting Facts

The following is a hotness ranking of peppers from mild to hottest.

El Paso (Very mild)
Anaheim
Jalapeno
Hidalgo
Serrano
Cayenne
Tabasco
Red Chile
Chiltecpin
Tabiche
Bahamian
Kumataka
Habanero (30 to 50 times hotter than a jalapeno)



Watermelon Jalapeno Caipirinha

Here’s a spicy drink you’re sure to love. Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil. Get a taste of South America with this wonderful jalapeno drink.

Ingredients

2 small jalapeno peppers, sliced into spears
2 ounces Leblon Cachaca
1 ounce lime juice
Dash of simple syrup
1 cup chopped watermelon
1 stem of cilantro
Cooking Directions
Mix 1 jalapeno pepper, cilantro, watermelon and simple syrup.
Shake hard with Leblon and remaining ingredients.
Strain over ice into a highball glass.
Garnish with a stem of cilantro, jalapeno spears, and two watermelon balls.



Jalapeno Passion Margarita

Ingredients
1 ounce jalapeño syrup (see below)
2 ounces tequila
1 ounce passion fruit juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
Sugar and salt the rim of a cocktail glass.

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
Shake and strain into your favorite glass.
Garnish with lime.

Jalapeno Syrup

You'll need 1 jalapeno pepper, diced, 1/4 cup suger, and 1/4 cup water.
In a small pan, combine the jalapenos, sugar, and water. Boil, then reduce heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Strain the syrup.
Only 186 calories

Here's a nice, spicy drink! Enjoy a cocktail with some jalapeno kick. You can't go wrong with jalapeno peppers. Ever.



Jalapeno Beer: Jalapeno Wheat 50
Shout out to Ted on Facebook for this recipe! Thanks, Ted!

Ingredients/Brewing Instructions
9 pounds Monton DME Wheat Extract (3 – 3lb. bags)
4.5 oz. Malto-Dextrin
2 oz. Hallertau Mittlefrueh hop pellets 2.8% AA/oz. (any low alpha hops will do or use less hops for higher alpha hops)
Bring 6 gallons of filtered water to a boil, add all of above. Boil for 45 minutes, then add:
1 tsp. Irish Moss
Continue boiling for 10 minutes, then add:
50 split jalapenos (or any amount, at least 20)
Continue boiling for final 5 minutes, then turn off heat and let sit for additional 5 minutes.
Chill to about 70F.
Stir vigorously and then pour into plastic fermentor bucket, get the peppers in the fermentor too.
Pour into bucket to provide additional aeration.
Pitch a tube of Wyeast 1056 American ale yeast. Set up blow off tube.
O.G. 1.070
F.G. 1.016
Yield 1 quart and approx 42 bottles various sizes

Ok kids, I am gonna get off here and find something to do. I have tons of things I NEED to do and even more that I WANT to do but I just don't have any idea on what to do LOL! Maybe I will get inspired on one specific path if I just stand there for a bit. Either way, DN goes home tonight so I think we should maybe play with him today too. Oh so many choices LOL. Either way, I wish you well and safety wherever life takes you today and I will see you back here tomorrow. HUGS!