Peg wants to make small batch jam or jelly with strawberries. You
can spin out a
small quantity of the basic fruit by adding rhubarb to it.
This works with pies as well as jams. Here is a recipe for:
Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam (no cook)
Makes 4 cups.
1 1/4 cups crushed strawberries
1/2 cup rhubarb
4 cups white sugar
1 pouch of Certo liquid pectin
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Hull and thoroughly crush strawberries, one layer at a time (in a
flat pan).
Finely chop unpeeled rhubarb. In a large mixing bowl stir together
prepared fruit
and sugar. Let stand 10 minutes. Add Certo and lemon juice and stir
for three
minutes. Put into clean containers to within 1/4 inch of top. Cover
with lids.
Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours until set. May be stored
in
refrigerator for up to three weeks, or in freezer for 6 to 8 months.
Note: Certo liquid packages contain an instruction sheet for cooked
and uncooked
jams and jellies. They are a standby in our family.
Jack Poulter On an Island in the Pacific
jpoulter@islandnet.com
|
For Juanita, starting a Wednesday Night Dinner ministry at her
church:
I made Sloppy Joe's for 100
people. Here's what we did:
19 pounds ground beef
4 lbs onions, chopped
1/2 gal catsup
1/2 gal BBQ sauce
1/3 cp dry mustard
1/3 cp brown sugar
2 cps vinegar
4 cps water
100 buns
Cook beef, stirring so it's crumbly and no longer pink. Drain or
skim off excess
fat. Combine onions, catsup, mustard, salt, brown sugar, vinegar,
and water. Add
to beef. Cover; simmer 35 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent
scorching.
Use about 1/2 cup per sandwich. (You can cook this ahead and freeze
it too!)
Glenda
toglenda@comcast.net
|
Re: Eating
Cheaper
I found this article online about eating cheaper- I thought I would
share it with
you all:
Be creative! Toss pasta with a little vegetable oil, tomato or broth
for a simple
sauce. Try a no-cook sauce by marinating
tomatoes, chopped fresh mozzarella and fresh
basil leaves in a little oil. Toss with hot pasta for a quick,
delicious meal.
Instead of meat, try adding vegetables to a light tomato sauce for a
plenty of
flavor and crunch.
Add leftover pasta to your favorite soup. If you use dry pasta,
simmer the soup
for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
Top pasta with leftovers - cooked vegetables, ground meat, chicken,
or even a
small amount of vegetable soup. Or combine with a low-fat salad
dressings or
spoonful yogurt.
Double your favorite recipes, and freeze the extra servings for
later use. This
works especially well with sauces and baked pasta dishes like
lasagna.
Keep leftover cooked pasta in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When it's
time to reheat, simply put it in a colander an then place it
directly into
boiling water for one minute.
For egg noodles and short goods, like elbow macaroni, shells,
spirals, wagon
wheels, mostaccioli, ziti, etc., 2 ounces uncooked is 1/2 cup dry
and just over
1/2 cup cooked.
For long goods such as spaghetti, angel hair, vermicelli, linguine,
etc., 2
ounces uncooked equals 1/2 inch bunch dry and 1cup cooked.
To make a single portion of pasta use approximately 1/2 cup dry
pasta or measure
1/2 inch diameter of dry long pasta (1 cup or 2 grain servings
cooked). Freeze
1/2 cup portions of favorite sauces to defrost and use as needed.
Use only small amounts of vegetable oils, margarine and vegetable
cooking spray
when preparing pasta dishes.
Amy
(email withheld by request)
|
100 Ways to Save
Money
These are things to save money,
but I'd love to find more:
1. Use fluorescent bulbs.
2. Keep heat at lowest temperature you can
stand or highest- depending on season.
(heating/cooling)
3. Keep drapes open for solar heat in winter, draw drapes in summer.
4. Reverse ceiling fans in winter.
5. Insulate outlets.
6. Use a draft stopper on window sills.
7. Turn off lights in rooms you are not using.
8. Unplug appliances not in use - even when off they suck energy.
9. Close off rooms not in use.
10. Use heavy insulated drapes to save on heating and air
conditioning.
11. Switch to a prepaid cell phone if you normally use less than the
max of your
free minutes on a contract plan.
12. Buy more (in bulk) cell minutes at a
time if it means cheaper rates, and buy
minutes at discount places online like CheapPhoneCards.com .
13. Use Basic (lowest cost) hardline phone
and cable services only.
14. Use a dial-up ISP.
15.Get off the retail grid... shop thrifts, freecycle, craigslist,
estate
auctions, and yard sales for gently used
items.
16. Don't use dealerships to repair and service your cars. Find a
good reliable
privately owned local shop.
17. Learn to do your own vehicle oil changes and routine
maintenance.
18. Service your car frequently to keep in in good shape... practice
proactive
car care, not reactionary care.
19. Drive more slowly and evenly, it saves a lot of gas.
20. Make up a monthly list and plan your trips using the least
amount of miles...
double up on things to do when you have a group of errands in the
same general
vicinity. Planning saves gas.
21. Use coupons and savings programs. Check prices online, many
times online
deals are better than brick and mortar store deals. Triple up on
deals - use
online coupons through discount savings sites with a discounted gift
certificate.
See sidebar for discount saving sites.
22. Don't forget to use your association and union discounts.
23. Use community resources for fun and recreation.
24. Buy yearly passes to museums, zoos and other cultural centers of
interest if
you plan to go regularly. Sometimes going twice will be same price
as a yearly
membership for a family. You could break even going at least two
times a year.
25. Use the public library for books, music and movies.
26. Drink water, not soda. Use a Brita gallon pitcher to make your
own bottled
water.
27. Buy frozen orange juice and water it down to last longer.
28. Cook from scratch with basic ingredients.
29. Take care of your health and teeth. Floss your teeth daily. Get
regular check
ups and dental cleanings. It will save on medical bills in the
future.
30. Get in shape, eat well... saves on medical bills and lost wages
due to
illness. Free exercise alternatives to a paid gym membership.
31. Buy a car that will last 10+ years with very little maintenance.
32. Cut your own hair... buy a used how-to book on Amazon,
Ebay, or
purchase a Flo-be.
32. Price compare Ebay and Amazon before buying at online retail
stores.
33. Replace disposable with cloth: napkins, diapers, wipes, paper
towels, etc.
34. Replace appliances with the newer energy star appliances,
especially washers
and dryers with heat and moisture sensors.
35. In the winter, open your vents downstairs because heat rises.
Close off your
vents upstairs. Reverse this in the summer.
36. Use inexpensive multi-use cleaning products. For instance, buy
Ajax to clean
everything but the floors. Use some liquid dish soap, vinegar or
detergent to
clean floors. Use a bleach solution on the tiles
& countertops.
37. Use basic cleaning supplies, like a cotton string mop, a sponge,
a scrub
brush and a bucket. Use a slightly damp rag to dust, or reuse your
dryer sheets
as a dust cloth. Avoid cleaning supplies that require expensive
replacements in
exchange for convenience. Try microfiber cleaning cloths.
38. Keep your HVAC serviced, and change your filters regularly.
39. Food storage: Use plastic storage containers with tops rather
than plastic
wrap or foil. Buy glass bakeware with matching plastic lids.
40. Eat leftovers before you cook another meal. Make soups or stews
out of small
portions or unused (overage) food in the
refrigerator that would otherwise be
forgotten and thrown away. You can mix many different things
together for soup...
it will still taste good with a little seasoning.
41. Don't buy prepared snack foods. Make your own popcorn on the
stove with raw
kernels. Have cheese, nuts, fruit and crudites handy for snacks.
Make your own
cookies and sweet breads.
42. Shop discount stores for beauty products. Family Dollar and
Dollar General
often have deeply discounted prices, and with coupons you can really
save.
43. Reconsider your need for expensive beauty products. Suave and
store brands
work just as well as salon products. There isn't
any
difference in
their performance...
or make your own... or rebate with Rite Aid or
Walgreens.
44. Buy store brands and compare cost per units for best deals.
Usually buying a
larger quantity will save you money.
45. Buy large lots of same kind coupons on Ebay, and take advantage
of bigger
saving. This is especially true if something is already on sale.
46. Sign up for savings programs with your grocery store.
47. Automate or pay your bills online to save on stamps, envelopes
and checks.
48. Take advantage of your money back credit and debit cards. This
is only good
if you know you can pay off your balance every month, otherwise you
waste your
savings on finance charges.
50. Buy a heavy duty vacuum which is multipurpose.
51. Don't go to the movie theater or rent movies; join Netflix.com
for a set
monthly fee, and get all the movies you want with no late fees.
52. Learn to sew. You can make repairs, alter clothing and make
things for the
home. Quilts and curtains can be made from sheets.
54. Have a yard sale, or rent a table at
the flea market, or at the next church
bazaar. This is a good way to re-coup some of the money you spent on
your items.
55. Recycle your stuff at a scrap yard or recycling center and get
paid. We took
our old gutters in and got back around $40.00 when we replaced them.
56. When you landscape or garden use plants which do not need extra
watering. Use
extra mulch to keep plants moist and keep away weeds.
57. Instead of using lawn chemicals, improve the health of your lawn
by mulching
instead of bagging. We use a mulching mower and never bag anything.
The lawn is
so green and thick. Mulched materials are natural fertilizer.
58. Get used coffee grounds (free) from
Starbucks to fertilize.
59. Get free mulch (chips) from tree
companies.
60. Buy plants from Ebay; shrubs and trees are often less expensive.
Check local
deals first though. You can get plant starts from
friends & family too.
61. Get free trees and shrubs by joining the National Arbor
Foundation.
62. Plant fruit trees and grow your own garden.
63. Learn about local & state resources you & your family may be
eligible for and
apply for them. Often people can get help with food, housing,
education,
childcare, medical care, etc. and are not aware they are eligible.
Doing this now
can help you become more self-sufficient in years to come.
64. Use the blank side of junk mail letters in your printer, or cut
it up for
scrap paper.
65. Collect free promotional pencils and pens at state fairs.
66. Recycle and reuse junk mail envelopes by turning them inside
out.
67. Recycle mailers and reuse packing boxes. Buy inexpensive packing
tape at
Dollar General or Family Dollar.
68. Sell your used books on Amazon, Half.com, or
Ebay.
69. Buy tube socks for children... they won't outgrown them as fast
as socks with
a heel.
70. Buy rechargeable batteries.
71. Record television shows for children instead of buying DVDs or
tapes. You
could get an entire season of Power Rangers or Barney on a few DVD
for the cost
of a few recordable tapes or DVDs. Not for resale of course, just
for yourself.
72. Make your own entertainment center or bookshelves from rough
pine boards
spaced apart.
73. Do your own home repair and remodeling. Buy a guide at Lowes or
Home Depot,
or attend their free classes.
74. Be your own contractor when you do a remodeling job. It's a lot
of work, but
it's much less inexpensive if you get bids and do the hiring
yourself.
75. Try to keep you kitchen cabinets by painting them and adding new
hardware. The
same can be done in the
bathrooms. Just lightly sand and paint them.
76. Use online banks as they usually have better interest rates.
77. Make your own coffee in the morning.
78. If you work outside the home, bring your own lunch from home.
Leftovers work well.
79. Use a private accountant for your taxes. It's amazing what how
much you don't
know can cost you! If you have a specialized profession like public
safety for
instance, there are accountants who do all the public safety
officers taxes at a
discount, ask around. This will save you quite a bit.
80. Keep all your receipts and warranty information on items you
purchase... you
will save money if you need a replacement. Our faucet broke after 2
years, and we
were able to get a free replacement with the lifetime guarantee.
81. Buy Sun brand laundry detergent in the giant pails. We have very
clean
clothes; it works fine. For stains use Sun brand Oxyclean, or use
a laundry
booster like Borax. This brand is 50% less expensive than top name
brand
detergents. Purex and store brands are often great also.
82. Use Powdered Milk. Okay for teens and adults, but isn't good for
young
children. Most powdered milk is fat free... children need the whole
milk. Also
is Wonderful in cooking and baking.
83. When you go out to eat, order no dessert and no drinks, just
water.
84. If you go out to eat, order just Hors D'oeuvres or soup.
Sometimes it's just
nice to get out. Much less expensive than a full meal for four
people. Going for
lunch rather than dinner also can save- or sharing a plate (can be
intimate and
fun too!)
85. Wear clothes more than one day before you wash them.
Some people now use
the three day rule for his
clothes. All outer
wear goes in the hamper on day three unless
smelly or dirty.
86. Buy store brand dishwasher detergent. Buy liquid dish soap at
Family Dollar
or Dollar General.
87. If you have prescriptions, try Drugstore.com or other online
pharmacy
programs. I got a good deal on my contact lenses online.
Drugstore.com and
amazon.com are good places to buy organic snack foods and beauty
products. With
sales and free shipping. Save even more by clicking through an online
savings
program like Bigcrumbs.com. Also, Wal-Mart has a low priced generic
prescription
service now.
88. Periodically transfer your prescriptions among pharmacies using
those $20.00
gift certificates for transfers. They appear in the paper or in the
store
circulars every so often. Ebay often has multiple coupon auctions
for
prescription transfers. Costco also has Awesome
prescription rates!
89. Use plastic grocery bags as garbage can liners in the bathrooms.
In the
kitchen, use non-name brand liners from Dollar General or Family
Dollar. They
are very inexpensive, come in large rolls, and last a long time.
90. Visit All
Things Frugal
http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/
91. Read The Tightwad Gazette!
http://www.tightwad.com/e-zine.htm
91. Make your money work for you; save and invest at least 10% of
your income.
Don't let your money sit in a low interest account at a local bank.
Check online
banks to see different investment options.
92. Eat more poultry and beans, it's less expensive than beef. Eat
more veggies,
even less expensive.
93. If you have a tree cut down, have them leave the stump. Rot the
stump down
the old fashioned way by adding lots of wet green things on top of
it like grass
clippings, free coffee grounds from Starbucks, leaves, etc. Cover it
with dirt
and keep it wet. It may take half the year, but at some point,
you'll be able to
ax it up into little pieces. Save more money by cutting up the trunk
yourself,
and selling the fire wood the next year. Keep any mulch that is made
from the
tree limbs.
92. Buy furniture that lasts. Older or antique furniture is often
less expensive
than newer less well made furniture. Buy hardwood furniture and look
for
dovetails in the drawers. Older hardwood furniture can last many
lifetimes, and
can always be refurbished easily with a little sanding and stain.
You can't do
this with furniture that is particle board or has peeling veneer.
(Yard sales are
great places to find this!)
93. Plant shade trees where you get the most searing heat in the
hotter months.
This is usually the southwestern part of the house. Plant tall
evergreen trees to
break cold north winds.
94. Look into solar power.
95. Move to an area where homes are less expensive.
96. Homeschool instead of private school (when you have the option
& education).
97. Look into online degree programs for college, a fraction of
on-campus price.
Study for CLEP tests , and potentially CLEP out of 30 hours of
college credit.
Get experience by interning/volunteering in order to build your
resume and slide
into job more quickly.
98. Use preprinted forms for wills, and other easy legal matters.
99. Research medical problems online before going to a doctor. Write
up an
outline of your history, problems and possible diagnosis. Believe it
or not, as
busy as doctors are these days, they will appreciate this. They can
go down your
list and address your concerns. This helps doctors give a
better diagnosis
since most doctors don't take the time to read your history! This
will save on
unnecessary tests and assumptions on the doctors part. If the doctor
minds, get a
new one. Information is power... you should know what is going on
with your body.
100. Find specialists for serious medical issues. A specialist will
be more
efficient with a diagnosis and save you money, time, and your
health.
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