At the Cottage ~ November 4, 2023

    Cool weather is finally here in South Texas!  I know I have said it before, but fall is my favorite season.  It is such a respite from the brutal heat of our summers.  I am a little surprised at how early in the year it has come, though.  It is not unusual for us to still be sweating well into December.

    We have not had a freeze yet, but it did get close a couple nights.  I'm relieved because my garden is still going strong.  My zucchini plants are huge and I am getting zucchini from them!

    John's zinnias are beautiful- the star of the show.  We have been cutting them for bouquets to adorn the house.  John is so pleased.

    I had been worried that many of the seeds I had planted weren't viable.  Turns out that they just needed a little cold snap to germinate.  I have carrots coming up.

    And cabbage.

    My little chicks aren't chicks anymore!  I've introduced them to the big girls and they all seem to be getting along.

    Inside, I have been doing a lot of baking.  It is such a cozy feeling to have something delicious in the oven or on the stove when it is cold outside.  The coffee pot is used multiple times a day.  

    I made apple cake for when we had company one evening.

    Blueberry muffins with streusel topping...

    Caramel pecan cookies...

    And finally something healthy: soup!  I love soup and that is going to be my game plan for healthy meal prep during the fall and winter months.  This one was sausage, potato, and kale.

    I know that planning and having something convenient to grab when I am hungry can make or break any efforts towards my dietary goals.  One morning I made a large batch of sausage, egg, and cheese "muffins" for something quick during the week.  They are not pretty but they taste good!

    I have not done much crafting, but I did manage to finish the cleaning cloths I had started.  I ended up with fifteen.  

    I am doing what I can to switch to more reusable things, both for economical and preparedness reasons.

    I am also working towards opening my Etsy shop back up!  I had been praying about it, and then out of the blue, I had a returning customer contact me to tell me how much she loved my work and ask if she could buy some more cards from me.  My shop has not been open in over two years, so this was amazing!  I have some things made- it is just a matter of getting them listed and sorting out some tax things.  To give you a sneak peak, these are the cards she wants...

    What have you been up to?  

    I hope everyone has a good, productive week building up their homes and caring for their loved ones. 💕

Grocery Savings ~ Packaging

    I am back with another grocery savings post!  This is where I pick apart the local grocery store ads to see if the offers are actually deals, or if I can save more money by finding alternatives.  I am seeing more and more that the offers are for junk food, convenience food, or food that I can simply do without.  Sometimes I look at the sales and think, "Who are they kidding?"  Other times, things look enticing at first glance but not so much when I break down the numbers or consider other options.  (You can see my other grocery savings posts here and here.)

    I am pulling from a past ad for today's critique, but it is a good example of what I am seeing, and the principles can be applied to similar offers.  This was from a sales flyer geared towards back-to-school lunches:

Buy a 24 pack of juice bottles (10 oz each) for $16.98, get a FREE multipack of chips (10- 1 oz bags, value of $4.98)

    I think a $5 savings looks pretty good- and others must have, too, because the apple juice bottles were sold out during that sale- but I also know that things in smaller packages and single serves are usually more expensive.  I wanted to see if this would still be the case with the coupon factored in, so I compared these individually packaged items to their bulk-packaged counterparts.

    Individual, single-serve packages-

    24 pack of apple juice (240 oz total): $16.98
    10 pack of chips (10 oz total): FREE
    Total: $16.98

    Bulk (regular size) packages-

    4 jugs (64 oz for $1.98 ea/256 oz total) of apple juice: $7.92  

    14oz bag of chips (crisps): $3.98
    Total: $11.90

    Savings: $5.08

    Buying the larger packages gets you more groceries for less money, even with a coupon!  Imagine the savings if the convenience packages were regular price, or if the larger packages were on sale.  That would easily allow for a one-time investment in a reusable canteen if you are looking at packing lunches.  If you already have one, that $5.08 could go towards more lunch box items, like a large canister of raisins ($4.28), a 16 oz block of cheese ($4.29), a large box of Ritz crackers ($4.68), or a pack of carrots ($1.68) and dip ($2.17) to go with them and the chips you bought!  

    Now let's consider the coupon in comparison with "real food" alternatives.  I would swap out the apple juice for bottles or jugs water (assuming you don't just use water from your tap at home) and whole, fresh apples.  Most of us know we should be drinking more water, and whole fruits are going to be healthier and more filling than juice because of the fiber.  As for the chips, those are made out of potatoes, so we are simply going to look at a bag of whole potatoes.  If we break down the cost:

    Real food alternatives- 

    2, gallon jugs of water ($1.34 each): $2.68
    3lb bag of apples: $3.46
    5lb bag of potatoes: $3.14
    Total: $9.28

    Not only is that still a savings over the bulk packages, that is a savings of $7.70 over the individually packaged groceries, and you get so much more food!  We are looking at 8 pounds (128oz) vs 10 ounces for LESS money!

    I am going to start adding in another option for my grocery savings posts that is from a preparedness/pantry stable perspective.  It is so important that we keep a supply of food on hand in case of emergencies, and I don't think that should be neglected in our grocery shopping!  So for preparedness purposes in our example, I would still buy the jugs of water, but I would substitute the fresh apples for jars of applesauce.  The bag of fresh potatoes can be swapped for instant, shelf-stable mashed potatoes.  Let's see how much we are able to buy if we are spending close to the original cost of $16.98 with the juice and chip coupon:

    Preparedness Items-

    2 gallon jugs of water ($1.34 ea): $2.68
    2 jars (46 oz each/$3.28) of applesauce: $6.56
    3 boxes (13.75 oz ea/$2.56) of instant mashed potatoes: $7.68
    Total = $16.92

    That is a decent amount of food for simply resisting the chips and juice!  Now I want to create a hypothetical grocery list, just for fun, that combines some of our options.  The totals will be similar, but I want you to look at the amount of food you would get for close to the same price.

    Our original option-

    24 pack of apple juice (240 oz): $16.98
    10 pack of chips (10 oz): FREE
    Total: $16.98

    Our frugal, pantry building option-

    3 gallon jugs of water (384 oz): $4.02
    3lb bag of apples: $3.46
    5lb bag of potatoes: $3.14
    1 jar of applesauce (46 oz): $3.28
    1 box (13.75 oz) of instant mashed potatoes: $2.56
    Total: $16.46

    Clearly we get way more groceries for less money, and the pantry has been added to with the second list!  Not to mention that our cheaper option offers more flexibility.  There are so many ways to prepare potatoes:

~Baked: whole, served with butter and cheese as a side or loaded for a main dish. Add seasoned ground beef with beans and top with cheese, sour cream, and green onions for a Mexican style potato and serve with a side salad.  Potatoes can also be cut into wedges, tossed in olive oil and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and rosemary are good options), and baked for homemade "oven fries".  Potatoes can be prepared this way cut into thin rounds also, or baked into potatoes au gratin.

~Boiled: drain, mash/whip, and add milk, butter, salt, and pepper.  Garlic powder, chives, bacon bits, and cream cheese or sour cream can be added if you want your mashed potatoes to be fancy.  To use up leftover mashed potatoes, add an egg and shape into patties before coating in flour and frying. Boiled potatoes can also be left in chunks to be served with melted butter or cream sauce poured over them.

~Fried: cut potatoes into wedges and fry in a skillet for homemade French fries.  It requires some extra steps, but you can even make homemade potato chips!  I have used a tutorial identical to this one and they came out delicious.  Potatoes can also be shredded and fried as hash browns.  I like to add thinly sliced chunks of potatoes to the pan while I am frying bacon or ground sausage for breakfast.  After draining most of the grease, I pour scrambled eggs over the top to cook into a breakfast hash.  Sometimes I add shredded cheese.  Eat it alone or put it in a tortilla for a breakfast taco.

~Potatoes can also be added to soups and casseroles to add bulk.  Or they can be made into potato soup or potato salad!  There are so many possibilities.

    There are options for apples, too:

~Eat them fresh, either alone or with peanut or almond butter.  Lately, I have been topping mine with crushed up Heath candies from the freezer as a treat (I have to use them up somehow 😉).  I make them special for the boys by adding sprinkles instead of Heath pieces.

~Apples can be seasoned with cinnamon and baked, or sliced and sautéed for a dessert.  

~Shredded or chopped apples can be cooked and added to oatmeal or pancakes.  They can also be the feature ingredient in cakes, muffins, and pies.

~To make applesauce, core and slice apples and add them to a pot with just enough water to cover.  (Cores can be set aside for making apple cider vinegar or jelly.)  Simmer until soft.  Drain the liquid, but don't throw it away!  Pour it into a jar and drink it like apple juice, diluting with water or sweetening to taste if necessary.  Put the cooked apple slices into a blender to puree, pouring some of the cooking liquid back in to get the desired consistency if needed.  Sweeten and add cinnamon, or enjoy plain.

~

    Can you believe all of that came from a juice and potato chip coupon?  With inflation being sky-high, we have to think outside the box to save money.  We have to be smarter than the system in order to stretch our dollars, but it can still be done.  Be critical.  Don't assume coupons are going to save you money, and don't buy a certain product just because you always have.  I know so many people who are frustrated with the rising prices, but their response is to just not even look anymore because there is nothing they can do about it.  Boy, do I understand the frustration, but this is not the mindset that will get us ahead.  I admit that looking at the flyers and going to the store can be disheartening, but in me, at least, it stirs up just enough productive anger for me to want to fight it that much harder.  (I believe there are sinister forces at play, and that this is part of a bigger plan, but that is another topic.)  To quote Pride and Prejudice, as I often do:

"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others.  My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me."

-Elizabeth Bennet

    Ladies, take courage.  We can win at this.  Pray for wisdom, consider carefully, save where you can, and prepare, prepare, prepare.  I hope this post can help you do that in some way.  Please share any grocery tips and encouragement you may have in the comments-  we can all learn!

At the Cottage ~ August 18, 2023

    This week flew by so quickly that I didn't once pause to write things down!  Colton started back at his school job, so we have been adjusting to the new routines.  So far, all is going well. 

    I took a trip to our local thrift store to make a donation and, of course, I looked around while I was there.  The boys went with me and took some of their spending money.  Colton's dad gives them pocket change occasionally, and James has been itching to "go buy sumpin'" so I let him take his little coffee can of coins to pick something out.  He settled on two toy trucks for $0.50.  I let John take $3 from his own coffee can (we have very sophisticated piggy banks, don't we?) so that he could pick something out too.  He bought a puzzle, a book, and a caddy for some of his art supplies.  I am thankful that our thrift store has not gone up on their prices as most places.

    I found some things, too:

    The green velvet fabric underneath my finds was also a purchase from the same trip.  It looks to be about a yard and a half of material.  My plan is to sew some throw pillow covers with it.  

    There is a larger Fido jar not pictured, as well as a few books, and a lamp.  I have been looking for a lamp for nearly a year and I finally found one I like for $10.  I plan to make over the shade once I find some fabric I like.  Waiting for just the right thing to come along means I am a slow decorator, but I end up with things I truly like and I save money in the process.

    We also took a big trip to the city for Tax Free Weekend, as planned.  I packed all our food for the day so that we wouldn't have to buy any. 

 

    This was a concoction using what I had on hand that was diet-compliant for me and Colton.  It is sort of a combo of egg, turkey, and pea salads using homemade mayonnaise.  We ate it on a bed of lettuce and it ended up being very tasty, with the correct balance of protein, fats, non-starchy vegetables, and carbs.  We liked it so well that I repeated it later in the week!  I also packed strawberries for snacks, and sandwiches, appleasauce, pretzels, and cookies for the boys.  Our travel cups plus an extra thermos of ice water kept us all hydrated.

    The stores were not nearly as crowded as I had expected, but it was clear that the rush had happened the day before (Friday), as things were pretty disheveled and picked over.  We were still able to find what we needed.  Colton was able to get work slacks, jeans, and dress shirts in his new size.  He also got a new belt and a new pair of boots.  The boys got some new clothes, too.  It was all tax free and combined with sales, so the day was a success.

    I feel like much of my week was getting everything washed, ironed, and squirreled away in its new home.  I cleaned, culled, and organized as I went.  I started working on my own closet, too, but I still have a way to go.  I do hope to write about it soon, as it has been on my heart lately to prioritize dressing up at home and looking nice for my family.  The desire is there, but putting outfits together does not come naturally for me, so it is a work in progress.

    I finally got something planted in the garden: squash!  We were unexpectedly blessed with rain on Wednesday, so Thursday when the ground was soft, I went out at first light (the only time it isn't a million degrees) and made some rows in the garden.  I got one row of yellow squash and one row of zucchini planted.

    We are low on wood chips and our wood chipper is in for repairs (is it normal for a wood chipper, a washing machine, a water heater, a well pump, and an A/C to all go out in the span of two months, right after having to replace the tires on both vehicles???), so I used what little we had left to top the rows.

    I noticed that my sister-in-law, who is our neighbor, has a big pile of old hay near her house that the animals will no longer eat.   I asked her if I could have some and she said I could take all I wanted.

    The boys and I drove over and loaded up what I could haul and I put that in between my rows.  This will keep the ground from drying out and baking.

    My little chicks are getting bigger.  They are in that awkward stage of getting their feathers and not looking so cute.  I still have six, but half were camera shy.

    My bigger chickens during the morning feeding frenzy:

    Can you spot the two guineas?

    We got ahead in many ways this week, but I think that with the shopping and unexpected expenses we've had over the last couple months, it is going to very much be a "use what you have and make do" period as we replenish what has been spent.  I am fine with this, as I am happy and content to stay busy at home.  I certainly have plenty to do!

    I hope everyone has a lovely weekend...

Grocery Savings ~ Buying and Storing Produce for Homemade Salads

    We all know that food waste is detrimental to the grocery budget, but sometimes it can be difficult to use up produce before it goes bad.  Learning how to prepare it and store it properly can both extend its life and ensure that we are more likely to use it.

    Today we are looking at some common salad ingredients, starting with lettuce.  I usually opt for romaine, as opposed to something like iceberg, because of its higher nutrient content.  Buying it already cut comes with a hefty price tag, so I buy whole romaine hearts and prep them myself.  I've been using this method for years with great success. 

    First, I cut up the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.

    Then I put it in a wash pan filled with water and a splash of vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes to make sure any dirt, bugs, or any type of pesticide or other residue is washed off.

    I rinse it in a colander and run it through my salad spinner.  

    To get any extra moisture out, I empty the lettuce onto a towel and toss and scrunch it gently.  It is important to get the lettuce as dry as you can.

    Finally, I transfer it to a Mason jar and store it in the fridge (shown below is a half gallon jar).  This keeps the lettuce fresh and easy to use.  

    You can see that I put a paper towel in the bottom of my jar above.  This is to absorb any extra moisture.  I've also packed the lettuce in fairly tight.  The less air and moisture, the better.

    If I have a lot of lettuce, or I know I won't use it quickly, I use the jar attachment on my vacuum sealer to remove all the air before storing.  I've had prepped lettuce last weeks and weeks this way!

    Now for the cost comparison, based on prices at my local grocery store:

    A bag of 3, whole romaine hearts (18oz) = $2.74, or $0.15/ounce

    A bag of pre-cut, chopped romaine hearts (10oz) = $2.98, or $0.30/ounce.  That's twice the cost of the whole hearts!  

    Granted, you do remove some of the weight when you cut off the bases, but not much.  With that kind of price difference, you still come out ahead when you buy the lettuce in its whole form.  You also get the benefit of versatility.  Save some leaves whole for sandwiches, burgers, or wraps.  

    Did you know you can plant the bases and grow more lettuce from them?  I tried it years ago and it worked!  I tried it again when I cut up the lettuce for this post, and it worked again.  I just put the bottoms in a little dish of water and set it on my kitchen windowsill.  This is how much it grew after just 3 days!

    Now for another common salad ingredient: carrots.  I usually buy a big bag of whole carrots and they last a long time in the refrigerator without any special steps, but for convenience I sometimes take a few out and prepare them so that they are ready to eat or cook right away.  I wash and peel them, then trim off the ends and cut them to the desired size.  Then I transfer them to a leak-proof container, cover them with water, and store them in the fridge, changing out the water every few days.  This keeps the carrots good and crisp.  The same method works for celery and cucumbers.  

{Daisy Creek Farms on YouTube has a video that shows even more vegetables that can be stored this way, as well as how to use the water that they are kept in so that nothing goes to waste!  He has a video on storing fruit and another, more extensive one on storing vegetables.}

    For the cost comparison on carrots:

    2lb bag of whole carrots = $1.68, or $0.05/ounce

    2, 1lb bags of mini cut carrots = $1.96 ($0.98 each), or $0.06/ounce

    Savings: $0.28

    I will admit that that's not much of a savings and you do end up sacrificing some of the weight when you peel and trim the whole carrots.  However, that extra $0.28 in savings is enough to upgrade to a 2lb bag of organic, whole carrots at my grocery store.  Some of the other varieties of pre-cut, chopped, and shredded carrots were WAY more expensive, like 3.5 ounces of chopped carrots for $1.98.  That's $0.57/ounce vs. $0.05/ounce for the bag of whole carrots!

    As with the lettuce, buying the whole carrots also has the advantage of versatility.  The mini cut carrots would be much harder to shred or grate, for example.  As for the peels and trimmings, those can go into a bag in the freezer for making broth (another savings which we will explore in a future post).  For that, I definitely prefer the organic.

    Now we look at pre-bagged salads.  The cheapest one I could find with romaine lettuce also contained shredded carrots and red cabbage slivers.  It was a 10oz bag for $3.28, or $0.33/ounce.  Since we already know our lettuce and carrot prices, let's look at the price of cabbage:

    An 8oz bag of pre-shredded cabbage (red and green mixed) = $1.68, or $0.21/ounce.  

    In comparison:

    A whole green cabbage (appx 2.75lbs) = $1.87, or $0.04/ounce.

    A whole red cabbage (appx 2.95lbs) = $2.89, or $0.07/ounce.

    The whole green and red cabbages are about 1/5th and 1/3rd of the cost of the bags of shredded cabbage, respectively.  That is a HUGE difference!  It would take over 5 bags of shredded cabbage ($8.40) to equal one head of green cabbage ($1.87).  That is a savings of $6.53, which is enough to buy a small jar of mayonnaise and a 2lb bag of carrots to put towards a batch of coleslaw.  Or a pound of ground beef and a pound of rice to put towards stuffed cabbage rolls.

    If we made our own salad with the whole ingredients that we prepped ourselves:

    8oz romaine lettuce: $1.20

    1oz carrots: $0.05

    1oz red cabbage: $0.07

    Total: $1.32 

    Compared to the (10oz) pre-mixed bag of romaine, cabbage, and carrots for $3.28, that is a savings of $1.96.  That would buy extra toppings like tomatoes, celery, or an avocado.  It would also buy a dozen eggs, which you could hard-boil and add to the salad for extra protein.  

    Because the prices and sizes of the packages vary so widely, I put together two hypothetical grocery lists- based on the ingredients we've covered- in which the total costs come out about the same.  This is so you can see how much food you get for almost the same amount of money.

    Convenience:

    2, 10oz bags of salad mix: $6.56

    2, 8oz bags of shredded cabbage: $3.36

   

    Total: $9.92 for 2.25lbs of food

    Prep it Yourself:

    3 heads romaine (18oz): $2.74

    2lb bag organic carrots: $1.96

    1 head green cabbage (2.75lbs): $1.87

    1 head red cabbage (2.95lbs): $2.89

    Total: $9.46 for 8.8lbs of food

    That is a lot of food!!! You could make lots of salads, wraps, coleslaw, and cabbage rolls with all of that.   

    Ideas for salad toppings to buy with your savings:

• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Cheeses
• Onions
• Peppers (fresh or pickled)
• Olives
• Avocados
• Fresh broccoli
• Black or pinto beans
• Corn
• Eggs, to hard-boil
• Bacon
• Chicken, grilled or fried
• Canned tuna or salmon
• Ground beef, seasoned like chili meat
• Fajitas 
• Oil and vinegar
• Dressings (or make your own!)
• Croutons (or make your own!)

    All sorts of combinations can be made from these ingredients: cobb salad, Caesar salad, taco salad, grilled chicken salad, etc.  Or make tuna salad, chicken salad, or egg salad and serve over a bed of lettuce instead of on bread for a low carb, gluten-free option.  

    You can get creative with dressings, too.  I usually just use olive oil and sea salt to top my salads, but below I made my own dressing using Greek yogurt, thinned with a little milk and seasoned with garlic, salt, and lemon juice.  It paired nicely with the canned salmon I put on top of the lettuce.  I've also made my own ranch dressing, which can double as a dip for fresh veggies.

    One of the restaurants we used to go to had a cilantro lime dressing, which I want to try to replicate.  It was served on a salad made of lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, corn, shredded cheddar, chili-seasoned ground beef, and avocado.  A side of sour cream and salsa made it a delicious meal.  I've made honey mustard to go on a salad topped with leftover chicken.  Whatever your favorite is- I bet you can find a copycat recipe and replicate it for less.   

     As a side or turned into a main dish, salads can be a frugal option when you take a few extra steps to prepare them yourself.  What is your favorite salad/dressing/topping?  Have you ever tried a copycat recipe that you liked?

My Bluebirds on the Ground Report

    Hello and happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!  

    I just wanted to share that Annabel kindly invited me to write a guest post on her blog, The Bluebirds are Nesting on the Farm.  She has readers from all over the world, and some have been giving reports of what is going on in their area, as well as preparedness measures they have been taking to stay ahead.  I feel so honored to be able to contribute!  I hope you'll visit her blog and look around.  It is such a wonderful source of homemaking and preparedness encouragement, and I really think Annabel has the ability to turn everything she touches into something beautiful!  

    My post is here.

    I have also added a subscription service to my blog on the sidebar (it can only be seen when viewing "web version") should you like to receive an email alert when I publish a post.  Otherwise, you can follow along through Blogger (also on the sidebar), or you can simply bookmark my blog and visit whenever you like.  All of these options are free for those who want to follow along.  I do appreciate all of my readers and your lovely comments, so thank you!

Finding the Good

    What do eggs, avocados, spinach, mushrooms, and cauliflower have in common? What about peanuts, cashews, almonds, cinnamon, and black pepper?  Turkey and chicken?  These are all the nutrient-dense, incredibly healthy foods that I have been relying on to help me manage my PCOS.  Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and bananas in moderation became my occasional sweet treats.  

    Want to know what else all of these foods have in common?

     I'm allergic to every. single. one.

    Oh, yes.  The plot thickens.

    Despite feeling much better after changing to healthier eating habits, I was continuing to suffer what I had thought were panic attacks.  Sometimes, out of nowhere, I'd feel like passing out and then my heart would start racing dangerously fast.  It wasn't until I realized those episodes only happened after I had eaten that I suspected it might be a food allergy, but I couldn't seem to pinpoint which food was causing it, as each meal was different.  And I had eaten those foods all my life without a problem.  Maybe it was all in my mind?

    So last week I made an appointment with an allergist, and sure enough, those "panic attacks" were actually an allergic reaction.  The one that sent me to the ER last year was actually anaphylaxis!  By God's mercy, it didn't kill me.  That would explain why breakfasts like the one pictured above, followed by a cup or two of cinnamon tea, were giving me issues.

    This news was both a big relief and a huge blow.  On the one hand, I now know which foods to avoid, thus avoiding any more dangerous episodes.  On the other hand, it means that a lot of foods that had become staples in my diet (and that I had really come to enjoy) have to be eliminated completely.  This is in addition to the sugar and carbs that I have already cut due to PCOS.  So, my diet has suddenly become even more restricted. 

    Dealing with this and coming up with things to eat has been very difficult.  Besides knowing I can never safely enjoy some of my favorite foods again, there is also the social aspect of not being able to enjoy those same foods with others, having to prepare separate meals for myself and my family, and not being able to dine out or partake in a lot of foods at others' homes.  There is a lot that I will have to learn to navigate.  

    But this seems to be the way life goes, and I can either despair and collapse in a puddle of tears, or I can choose to find the good in it and get to work.  I've already done the former and it hasn't really worked, so now we try the latter.  

    There really is quite a bit of good when I stop and count my blessings:

1.  Man doesn't live by bread alone, and I am so thankful to be able to feast on the Bread of Life any time, day or night, that I need or desire.

2.  I can eat.  Period.  I have the physical ability to eat, and I have access to food- any food I might need to fit into a new dietary plan.  Many people don't have that luxury, especially these days.  My ancestors didn't even have the luxury that I have, even with my "restricted" diet!

3. I won't have any more dangerous attacks!

4.  I will be healthier and stronger and better able to care for my family.

5.  I can still delight in preparing my family's favorite foods.  Even though I can't partake in eating those foods, I still enjoy the process of cooking it and seeing my family enjoy it.  I'm thankful that physical contact with my allergens doesn't seem to cause a problem.

6.  I have a very supportive husband who is doing everything he can to help me heal and to provide my earthly needs.

7.  I don't have cancer.  When they told me last year that I might have cancer, I was willing to do anything, follow any diet, avoid any foods, do any and every exercise possible that would mean even the slightest chance of healing.  Compared to that, this is very minor.  These dietary changes will provide at least some healing, all without a cancer diagnosis.

8.  I can still eat beef, pork, and fish.  Fish is especially healthy.  

9.  I can still eat chocolate!  It has to be without sugar, but I have found that it isn't necessarily the sugar I crave any more- it's the chocolate.  I have found a bar by Lindt that is 100% cacao (no sugar), and two or three little squares of that after a meal satisfies my craving.

10.  We will get to grow much of what we eat in the garden.  This is a dream we've always had, and here's the push that will get us there. 

11.  We will save money by not eating out!

    Even though I need to make even more changes than I had originally planned this year in regards to my diet, my pantry, and my garden, it isn't all bad.  Yes, I will miss some things, but maybe I will find some new favorites.  Feeling better is going to be a new favorite, at least!

    I don't intend for this to become a health food blog (I highly recommend the cowboy cookies I have posted here!), but I think documenting my progress every once in a while is going to help motivate me.  Those posts will be geared towards pantry stocking, eating frugally, gardening, and cooking for my family- many of the things this blog already focuses on- but with a slight twist.  I hope you'll bear with me.

A Healthier Pantry Plan {and a Deal Alert!}

    My pantry is ever evolving based on the needs of our family, and it has seen many changes over the years.  With some new health challenges that have arisen, this year it will be changing yet again.

    I have already made some changes to my diet which have helped immensely.  For me, this has to be a lifestyle change as opposed to a temporary diet, so I am taking baby steps as I learn about which foods nourish my body and which foods are harmful.  This means that what I stock in my pantry is going to look a little different from here on out, and that's ok! We've always wanted to eat healthier as a family, and this is that push that will get us there.  

    As I keep a deep pantry, I still have many of the foods that don't fit into the "healthy" category for me, but I have come up with a plan.  Right now, I am slowly working through those items and incorporating them into my menu, and as they run out, I replace them with healthier alternatives.  

    In my monthly planner, there is a spot for pantry/freezer/refrigerator inventory.  I write down the things that I need to use up (whether for health reasons or because they are nearing expiration) and I come up with my menu based on that.  Yes, it means I am still cooking some of the "off limits" foods, but I am careful to moderate how much of those things I eat.  I find that baby steps are much less overwhelming when it comes to overhauling something like this!

     At the same time, I am working through my freezers.  We have plans to renovate the room that we have our freezers in in a few months, so I am trying to make them easier to move by emptying them out a bit.

    One of the benefits of doing this is that I'm not buying much at the grocery store right now, aside from perishable things like milk and fresh fruits and vegetables and bargains if I find any.  (I'm not going to pass up a bargain, especially if my stock is dwindling!)  It's also showing me just how far the foods I have stocked will get me.  How many weeks or months worth of this or that do I have?  How much will I need to keep on hand once I find alternatives?

    I know that most of the time, healthier foods are more expensive.  This will add a new element of challenge to shopping on a budget.  But I tell myself that buying healthy food is still going to be cheaper than all those doctor bills!  I also believe that health, especially in light of all that I experienced last year, is well worth investing in.  For me, that means better food, as there is a direct link between our health and what we eat.  I've always know it, but now it's a priority (and a necessity.)

    One of the things that is going to help me will be getting the garden going.  We didn't have one last year, and I really miss it.  It hurts me to pay $7 for a bunch of kale when it is one of the easiest things for me to grow!  Woe is me if some of it goes bad in the refrigerator before I can use it!  This week I need to go through my seeds and look at my planting chart and start making my plan. 

    This is going to be a learning (and relearning) process for me.  I will share as I go in hopes that it might help someone else make some healthier changes.  Sometimes we just need a little motivation and encouragement.  Sometimes we need ideas.  If you have ever done a healthy pantry overhaul, please share any tips you have in the comments.  

     And now for the bargain alert that I have to share!  As I said, I am not really buying much at the store at this point.  That is unless I find a deal that fits into my healthier lifestyle plan.  The other day when I was at Dollar Tree, I almost didn't check the food section as I doubted I would find anything good.  But I just can't pass up an opportunity for bargain shopping for the pantry and I'm so glad I looked!  This is what I found:

    Pink Himalayan salt!  A while back, maybe a year ago, they carried this but by the time I found out about it, my Dollar Tree had sold out.  They didn't restock since it was just one of their temporary products.  But now they have it again!

    For a price comparison, I checked my local grocery store. The cheapest Himalayan pink salt they had was their store brand for .24 per ounce.  The salt at Dollar Tree comes to just a fraction of that at .08 per ounce!  (A one pound bag is $1.25.)

    I am not sure if this is at all Dollar Trees or if it was just mine, but I think it's worth a look.  Let us know if you find any where you are!

    Happy pantry building!

  

Eliminating Food Waste

  With bare grocery store shelves around the world, it is time to pay close attention to how we manage the food supply in our homes.  In order to stretch things and make what we have last, we need to be wise and industrious like the woman in Proverbs 31.  It will take a new measure of strength for us to navigate this current situation, but I believe God has equipped us to do it. 

"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

~Proverbs 31:17-18, 27

   As things get more and more serious, I am really doing my best to avoid wasting anything in the kitchen.  This takes planning and being mindful of how I do things.  I thought I would share some examples of what I am doing in the event it might help someone else.

  Colton and I are coffee drinkers, but we generally don't have more than two cups each per day.  We have cut back to one and this is honestly plenty for us.  I make them individually using a pour over system and this ensures that no coffee is left over or wasted.  Doing it this way actually makes a gourmet cup of coffee, so it feels like a luxury instead of a sacrifice!  I use a reusable Gold Tone filter that I bought earlier in the year ($6 on Amazon) so we no longer have to buy paper filters.  The used coffee grounds will start going in the compost pile for my garden.

Pour-over Coffee Method

 Other than coffee, we generally just drink water.  We did have some juice that we purchased on sale, and Colton stretched it by diluting it with a little water.  We are not used to things being super sweet so we don't mind this.  Now that it is heating up in our part of the country, I will start making iced tea on occasion, but I will save it for when Colton is home and able to enjoy it with me.  I have spearmint growing in a pot, and this is good for adding to water and tea for flavor.

  Breakfast time has been pushed back to about 10am, and supper has been moved up to 5pm.  We started doing this when Colton wanted to try intermittent fasting (supposed to be great for health and weight loss) and it worked well for us.  This way we eat two big meals and a light snack mid afternoon, instead of three meals per day.  This also allows us to get to work in the garden before it starts getting too hot.  Colton and I have our coffee and John has his milk first thing and then we can get started with our day.  The exception to this is that I will give something to John to hold him over until breakfast if he is hungry, but generally he is just ready to go outside!

  For breakfast, eggs are obviously the top choice since we have chickens.  But the other day I realized that it is also important how I cook them.  For example, frying them takes more oil than scrambling them, so scrambling them it is.  If I use a cast iron or non-stick skillet, I do not have to use my scouring powder like I would with my stainless steel pans when I wash them.  When I fry bacon, I always save the grease to pour into a jar that I keep in the fridge.  I use just a small pat of this in the pan when I scramble my eggs.  It also makes the best biscuits you've ever tasted if you substitute it for the shortening in your recipe! 

  I have also started saving the egg shells.  After rinsing and drying them, I put them in a jar.  These can be crushed and given back to my chickens as a calcium supplement or added to the garden.  I have also seen instructions for turning them into calcium powder for human consumption so I will be looking into that.  Nothing is being thrown away!

  Bread is a great filler and can really stretch a meal, so I have been baking it in some form or another almost daily.  I made biscuits for breakfast one morning to go with our eggs, but we did not eat the whole pan like we normally do!  (Yes, we really like biscuits.)  We had a couple each for breakfast and the rest were saved to be warmed for supper.  We put jam on our biscuits but not butter like we usually do, and they were still delicious. 

  That is another thing.  As these are not plenteous times, we have to pace ourselves.  We are used to always having an abundance of food in front of us, which is a blessing, but I think this sometimes tempts us to keep eating even when we are no longer hungry!  To combat this, I have started fixing (dishing up) everyone's plates before we sit down to eat.  Another option would be to set food aside for leftovers before even putting it on the table.  I can assure you that I am giving generous portions, everyone gets a balanced meal, and no one is leaving the table hungry, so please don't think I'm withholding food from my family!  My family's health, nourishment, and well-being are of the utmost importance to me and this is just one way I am making what we have last.  

  Meal planning is probably the biggest way to eliminate waste.  Use fresh items first before they go bad, and check the dates on your canned goods to make sure you are using up the oldest food and rotating it properly.  If milk is a little past its 'use by' date, use it to make biscuits or pancakes, or freeze it to do so later.  Leftovers can be turned into other meals, or parts of other meals.  If there is not enough of something for everyone, it can still be saved and we can have a choose-your-own-leftovers night.  The homemade herb bread above was served one night with spaghetti, and the rest of the loaf was used the next day for grilled cheese sandwiches.  One side of the sandwich was spread with butter, as usual, but the other side was spread with bacon grease reserved from breakfast.  It was delicious.

  The crumbs from the cutting board were not brushed into the trash, but into a bowl I am keeping in the refrigerator for the chickens.  This is where the scraps go, although with very little waste, there are consequently very few scraps! 

  And some scraps I am keeping for us.  For example, I keep a Ziploc bag in the freezer for vegetable scraps.  Peels, trimmings, etc. go into this bag for when I make bone broth.  It adds extra nutrients and flavor.  When I thinned my carrots the other day, the chickens got a few of the tops, but most of them were washed and added to my bone broth bag.  Yes, carrot tops are edible!  They taste a lot like the carrots themselves and can be chopped and added to soups or salads.  I dehydrated a bunch last year for this purpose.

  I am keeping another bag in the freezer for making soup.  This is where that one leftover spoonful of peas goes, or the tomato sauce that I rinsed from the jar gets dumped.  When I decide to make soup, this bag will be added to the pot.

  Before I toss something, I just ask myself if there is anything I can do with it.  Potato water (the water that potatoes are boiled in), for instance, can be used in bread or cooled and poured onto plants.  If you aren't sure about something, just Google it!  I also save my butter wrappers and use those to grease pans before baking.

  I hope this gives you some ideas.  It really does take a different mindset and we have to get creative.  If you have any more tips, please share them in the comments!  We are all trying to get through this strange and difficult time.  

  

Variations of a Frugal Breakfast Staple

  Oatmeal is enjoyed several mornings a week here at the cottage.  I usually cook a country-style breakfast of bacon, eggs from our chickens, and potatoes when Colton is home, as it is his favorite meal of the day. But when it is just me and John, a simple bowl of oatmeal is on the menu.

'Carrot Cake' inspired oatmeal

  Oatmeal is full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, so I can feel good about giving it to John as I know he's getting a nourishing breakfast.  Mom bonus: it only dirties one pot and takes about 10 minutes.

   It's also a very budget-friendly choice.  I did a cost breakdown at the request of a friend, based on a 1/2 cup serving size for each brand.  The cost was calculated from the prices at our nearest Walmart, without coupons, sales, and rebates:

• Great Value (generic store brand) Old Fashioned Oats, 42 oz canister: .09/serving

• Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, 42 oz canister: .11/serving

• Bob's Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Oats, 32 oz bag: .26/serving

                                                                                                                                                                   

  Even Bob's Red Mill, the most expensive option, is still a very frugal choice, especially if you can purchase it with coupons and rebates.  At full price, the cost works out to be the same as instant oatmeal packets, except it's organic and doesn't contain all of the artificial flavors and fillers.  We have eaten the generic brand (usually HEB, not Great Value), Quaker, and Bob's Red Mill.  It really just depends on what the best price is at the time of our shopping!

  Now, I do realize oatmeal can be a little...boring.  Because we eat it regularly, I've come up with a list of toppings and add-ins to create different, tasty variations.  (Toppings will, of course, affect the cost per serving depending on what you choose.)

Sweeteners

Maple Syrup

Honey

Raw/White/Brown Sugar

Applesauce

Add-ins and Toppings

Berries, fresh or frozen and thawed
Bananas
Cooked apples (I chop them up and cook them along with the oatmeal)
Shredded Coconut
Chopped Nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds)
Peanut/Almond Butter
Chia Seeds
Flaxmeal
Shredded Carrots (again, cooked along with the oatmeal)
Raisins/Craisins
Coconut Oil/Butter/Cream
Cinnamon and/or other spices such as cloves or nutmeg

Cooked apple, cinnamon, and a light drizzle of honey

  Because we try to moderate the consumption of sugar in our home for health reasons, I will generally use less sweetener or omit it altogether if I add fruit to our oatmeal, especially bananas, since they are already sweet. When John was a baby, I would grind his oatmeal before cooking it so that it would be smooth, and then I would serve it (cooked) with applesauce and a touch of cinnamon mixed into it.  He loved it!  That is why I added applesauce to the sweetener section.  It all just depends on personal preference.  I would also add that the chia and flaxmeal can be added to any combination to boost the health benefits without greatly altering the taste.

Here are a few combinations that you might enjoy:

• Raisins, cinnamon, brown sugar 
• Blueberries, bananas, cinnamon, honey
• Shredded carrots (cooked right in the pot with the oatmeal, they finish at the same time), cinnamon, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, brown sugar- This carrot cake inspired combination is a good way to get a few veggies in!
• Diced apples (again, cooked right in the pot with the oats), honey, cinnamon, cloves 
• Bananas, shredded coconut, chopped pecans, sweetener of choice
• Almond/peanut butter, bananas, honey 

  While I have not personally tried it, my father-in-law prefers a savory oatmeal and mixes a bit of cooked sausage in with his.  Another that I didn't add to the list would be chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and pecans.  Now this would be more like a dessert and obviously not very healthy!  I think it could be an occasional treat, but I won't do it because I know John would be asking for "wah-wah-mip" (chocolate chips) every morning.  So it's a try-at-your-own-risk combo!  

  If you are accustomed to buying the flavored packets of instant oatmeal, draw inspiration from there and try to recreate the flavors you like at home.  It will be better for your health and your budget.

  What is your favorite way to eat oatmeal?  Let us know if you have any ideas for this frugal breakfast staple!