Books read in 2023...

 

Twenty twenty-three was not a banner year for my reading.  I've had a hard time since retirement with time management...getting a layout to my days that keep me productive.  Way too much time spent mindlessly on phone apps.

The images above are the 23 books that I read this year.  When I do make time to read, I am not concentrating.  About eight of the books pictured above were not really to my liking, so I would let them lie for several days or a week without picking them back up.  

I remember when a former co-worker announced that she would no longer continue reading books that she didn't enjoy, she would just stop reading them, because life was too short to read bad books.  I think she was about my current age when she decided that, and I'm about ready to follow her example.

One thing I did this year was read the Bible through chronologically (by order in which the recorded events occurred).  I had planned to read the One Year Bible again as I have done several times before.  Then a friend mentioned in late 2022 that her cousin was just finishing up reading the Bible chronologically.  I found a reading plan on line, and we discussed it a bit.  Then, thankfully, my friend agreed to commit to also do the daily readings.  We both say we wouldn't have kept at it without the other.  It seemed very difficult for some reason.  I'm glad to have done it, but I'm also glad to have it done.

Frugal Friday File 2023, December 29...

 

1.  Here we are at the last Friday of 2023.  Oh, my!  Over November and December we have spent money on new furniture and rug for the living room.  I can't remember how much of this I have mentioned, so forgive me if I repeat myself.  I sincerely hate shopping with its traffic, stops and starts, browsing, salespeople.  Hate it.  So I searched furniture styles online pretty exhaustively, then once options pared down went to a few stores for test drives.  We purchased the sofa in the city and had it delivered and set up.  Since it is made up of sectional components and has power recliners at each end, I wanted to make sure that it was set up correctly.  

     The chairs, rug, end tables, and floor lamps were all ordered online after much research and price comparisons.  They were all ordered without paying extra for assembly, so we saved a decent amount by assembling them ourselves.  We are very happy with the room now.  We are still waiting for the delivery of the area rug.  After it arrives I will take photos of the room and post.

2.  All furniture and Christmas spending has been paid without incurring interest on cards.

3.  I worked two days this week.  Money in.

4.  Carey went to visit his mom and be on hand in case of emergency while his sister was out of town for Christmas.  He stayed at sister and b-i-l's house while they were gone, so no hotel bill's this time.  (When I go we always stay at a hotel since I have back pain and headaches when sleeping on too-firm-for-me mattresses that s-i-l and b-i-l prefer.)

5.  A little late, but I did mail out a number of Christmas cards.  I found a box that I had purchased on sale after Christmas in a previous year, so no outlay for cards.  I plan on making and sending out a few more New Year cards in the next week or so.  The postage was purchased months ago.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  homecooked freezer meal

Sunday:  Christmas supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  homecooked freezer meal

Tuesday:  Campbell's soup

Wednesday:  takeout

Thursday:  Southwest Quinoa and Bean Salad

Friday:  Dublin Coddle

2024 New Year's bucket list...

 

I follow the BetterFoodGuru on Instagram.  Everything she makes looks so good; and I'm not even vegan!

Today I made this Southwest Quinoa & Bean Salad and loved it.  The dressing is heavy on cilantro, so if you hate it (did you know that there is actually a gene that makes it taste repellent to some people?) I think this would also be great with something like a Honey Mustard dressing instead.  

But I digress.  Recently the BetterFoodGuru (Sara) mentioned that instead of making New Year resolutions, to make a New Year bucket list instead.  I liked that.  It reminded me of Juhli (at The Boomer Girl's Guide) and her list of 2024 Hopes...such a good list!

So here's my own 2024 Bucket List of Hopes:

1.  Eat meatless twice a month...if we can do once a week, so much the better.

2.  Find a volunteer opportunity.

3.  Send 52 letters in 52 weeks.

4.  Read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and perhaps work on the daily journaling.

5.  Visit at least one friend I haven't seen in years.

Merry Christmas 2023...

Merry Christmas, friends!  We had a wonderful family gathering at Kasey and Beau's  yesterday (Christmas Eve).  

Our tree has given me a lot of joy this year.  Retirement gave me more time to decorate than I've had for awhile.  And the new living room furniture, that we've been acquiring and arranging over the past month or so, makes things feel light and free.  (Not that IT was free, hence the absence of Frugal Friday's lately.  😂)

The top photo shows the 'C' and 'K' (our initials) that I made for our very first Christmas tree in 1976.  There are a lot of handmade ornaments on the tree, and the other ornaments are full of memories.  There's a helicopter to commemorate when Carey was back to working on land again, and never had to make another offshore trip in helicopters.  There's a shamrock teapot from a trip to Ireland.  

The disco ball is always on for my little disco baby (Kasey, born in 1977) and the drummer is always on for Jared since he played in the drumline.  Lots of candy and sweets are represented (visions of sugar-plums).

And now that the grandkids are mostly grown and into places of their own, I'm starting to make ornaments for them to hang on their own trees.  

 Carey was cleaning up some trees in the yard and trimming branches last year.  I asked him if he could cut some of the larger ones into disks and drill a hole for hanging them.  A few days ago I used a wood burner to  add Christmas-y designs, and I burned our names and the year onto the back.  Later I wrote the kids' names on them, and they served as their package tags.

I wish I could send one to each person who reads this!  Wishing you all the best!

Brandied fruit anyone...

 

I found this recipe for Friendship Fruit Cake (plus Starter Recipe) from South Your Mouth awhile back.  My mother used to make it in the very jar shown in photo above.  (You don't want it in a jar with tight seal, as it needs to be able to breathe while it ferments.)  I never had the recipe though.  Mom received a starter from our neighbor, Dorothy, who called it Brandied Fruit.  

(Can I just insert here that I grew up in the best neighborhood ever?  All the neighbors were like aunts and great-aunts, and my best friend lived right across the street.  My parents bought the house before I was born, and I ended up having to sell it after they passed.  Not many people spend their entire growing up in one house anymore, my own kids included.)

Maybe my mom never had the recipe either.  Maybe she only continued making it while she had a starter and verbal instructions from Dorothy.  I don't remember Mom ever making cake with it, we always ate it as a topping on vanilla ice cream or Mom's fabulous from scratch  pound cake.

Anyway, the spirit moved me to give it a try.  The recipe is a little confusing as in one section it tells you to drain all the fruit and add all of it plus the 1 1/4 cup sugar and 1 1/4 cup brandy to the jar at one time, and stir it 2 to 3 times a week with no hint when it is ready.

The next instruction tells you to place the starter liquid in a jar, add 1 a can of peaches WITH the juice and 2 cups of sugar, cover the jar loosely, and stir daily for 10 days.  Only then do you add a can of pineapple chunks WITH juice and 2 MORE cups of sugar, and stir daily for 10 more days.  After that 10 days you add a jar of Maraschino cherries and 2 MORE cups of sugar and stir for 10 more days.  Then it is apparently ready to use.  (And though the ingredient list includes canned apricots, it never mentions when those are supposed to be added.)

Well I don't remember this jar ever having a ton of liquid in it, so I thought I'd start with the version where you dump the drained fruit with 1 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 1/4 cup of brandy in and stir 2 or 3 times a week.  (Oh, I also didn't have brandy, but I did have bourbon so I used it.)

So we'll see how it goes, and I'll keep you posted.

Frugal Friday File 2023, Nov 17...

1.  I filled in one day at my old branch.

2.  I'm preparing our grocery order for curbside pick up.  No way I'm stepping inside our grocery store right now.  Not only are the normal holiday crowds there already, but our store is undergoing an update.  They are adding among other things a furniture department and a clothing department.  Codes don't allow for enlarging the footprint of the existing building, so all of the aisle shelving is being squeezed closer together.  I may never set foot inside the physical store again.

   As I was preparing my order, I included two boxes of Stove Top Stuffing.  Not for the holiday meal, but for the pantry since they are on sale right now, and I use it in a casserole recipe occasionally.  A 6-ounce box is on sale for $2.06 down from the regular price of $2.58.  Then I noticed that a 12-ounce 'canister' of the same Stove Top product is also on sale for $2.06 down from the regular price of $2.58.  So I removed the smaller boxes and went with the larger canister.  Saved $2.06, and was reminded to pay attention to price per serving while shopping.

3.  We were visiting my mother-in-law last week.  We looked at several apartment complexes and got prices, but decided it just didn't make sense as we aren't planning to be there full time (not to mention the hassle of getting utilities, having to move furniture, etc).  There is a long-stay hotel where we can take Rudy with us which will be easier and more affordable, and they have kitchen, so we won't have the expense of eating out all the time (plus they offer free hotel breakfast every day).  And we also looked at a couple of RV parks both with dog parks and one with cement parking slabs for all RVs to make leveling etc easier.  Kasey & Beau have an RV trailer and a pickup to haul it that they are willing to let us borrow sometimes.  It feels good to have more information and decisions made.

4.   Still working on Christmas gift accumulation.  Carey never wants anything, but I have thought of and purchased a great and frugal gift for him that he is guaranteed to enjoy.

5.  The day I worked this week, my boss asked if we had ever had Marco's pizza.  I said, no, we haven't.  They hadn't either, but were wondering as they had been invited over to eat with friends who informed them they would be ordering pizza from there as they had a buy-1/ get-1-free deal going on.  Say no more!  I placed an online order to be picked up at 5:30 p.m.  We were pleasantly surprised at the quality.  The second pizza I placed on a baking sheet,  covered with foil, and it is in the freezer for the future.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Potato soup

Sunday:  supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  Chili

Tuesday:  Pizza

Wednesday:  Chicken Spaghetti from the freezer

Thursday:  breakfast for dinner (waffles, bacon, eggs)

Friday:  Potato Soup

The Frugal Friday File 2023, November 3...

 

I've missed a few weeks.  Sigh.

1.  I filled in a day at my old branch while the financial advisor and my replacement had a company meeting to attend in a neighboring town.

2.  Still trying to make progress on Christmas gifts.  Carey has so little he wants.  I did alert him that the library had a book from a series he's been reading, and I checked it out for him.  Then when he left the room, I peeked at his list on which he keeps track of which ones he's read.  I went on Amazon, and took note that he has been working from an old list.  I was able to find used copies of several new books that are in the series, that he doesn't even know exist.  I will wrap those babies up and pop them under the tree.  He will not care in the least that they are used, and he will donate them to the library when he finishes reading them for their used-book sale. Winter is his reading season, as he does not enjoy being outside in cooler temperatures.

3.  Baseball is done for the season, and Carey's favorite team won the World Series.  Go Rangers!  Carey and Jared went to one of the playoff games, and spent a pretty penny for those tickets.  They didn't even think about going to a World Series game (thank goodness), and now I think I need to start a new line item in the budget just for baseball and start saving for next season.   Attending games is his sole retirement goal...of course he would like to see a game in each major league park, so it's a pretty lofty goal.  Carey attended four...or was it five...games this year.  Factor in the gasoline for the four-hour drive each way, the parking, the concessions, and it can add up quickly.  And those are just home games.  Yikes! 

4.  Received a notice from our prescription coverage company.  The premiums are going up a little, but the deductible and prescription prices are going down.  I'll count that as good news till I see differently.

5.  We read up on the Texas Constitutional Amendments that are up for vote.  That took some research to try to get the real gist of them.  Ugh!  We went to the library for early voting, so that is our duty done.  I wish they would let us vote on the laws they pass, as they have made some real stinkers lately in my opinion.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  takeout fried chicken

Sunday:  Sunday supper with Kasey & Beau

Monday:  Chili & Tamales

Tuesday:  Chicken A La King (from freezer)

Wednesday:  Chicken Burgers and fries

Thursday:  Easy enchilada casserole and guacamole

Friday:  takout burgers

October 14, 2023 annular eclipse...

Here in central Texas, we had optimal viewing of the eclipse today.  Carey punched a hole in the top right-hand corner of a sheet of paper to view its shadow

 But I loved the view of it all around us as it showed its progress through the leaves overhead...on the patio...

...on the house...

...on the stepping stones...

...and even on Rudy!

Here he is a moving target, and it looks like he has fish scales.  :)

2023 Frugal Friday File, Oct 13...

1.  Oddly, right after I wrote last week's Frugal Friday File about paying less for books by waiting and searching different borrow or purchase options, I received an email notice of Kindle Daily Deals that included a book I had placed on my 'wish list' about two years ago...regular Kindle price $20.99, Daily Deal price $1.99...even so, I checked the library website again (it wasn't there) before clicking 'buy now.'  Delayed gratification can be hard, but it feels SO good in the end!

2.  I washed the bath mats.  After washing, I set up our portable hanging clothes rack and hung the mats over the two hanging rods to dry.  Saved on running the dryer, and also protected the non-slip backing on the mats.

3.  Comparison:  rotisserie chicken (at store) vs stewed chicken (at home).  This week's grocery shop included one of each. Rotisserie chicken $8.31.  Whole uncooked chicken $8.70 (which I stewed in slow cooker with water, celery, onion, and a bay leaf).  I deboned each, and each gave virtually the same amount of meat (though I didn't measure precisely).  More was spent on the chicken prepared at home (added vegetables, electricity to cook), but it did produce over two quarts of tasty broth in addition to the meat.  The store rotisserie version listed 490 mg of sodium per serving.   An internet search found that home cooked version probably had a similar sodium content.

     Conclusion:  I'm not going to beat myself up over buying store rotisserie chicken occasionally.

4.  Frugal fail, or was it?  I purchased 5 identical metal pans (about 8" x 10") having snap-on lids with silicone seal.  This was after struggling with homecooked frozen meals in various and sundry glass casseroles covered with foil.  The new pans should be stackable and more stable in the freezer.  This week I produced five (5!) meals for freezer by cooking-once-to-eat-twice.

5.  Christmas gift shopping has begun.  That expense is easier when it's spread over a longer period of time.  And starting early helps avoid desperate impulse purchases as the holidays loom.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  takeout Schlotzky's sandwiches

Sunday:  15 bean soup (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)

Monday:  Quiche

Tuesday:  Chicken a la King casserole (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)

Wednesday:  Chili (leftovers made enchilada casserole for the freezer)

Thursday:  Pork Chops, squash casserole, green beans (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)

Friday:  Chicken Spaghetti (+ 2nd meal for the freezer)

2023 Frugal Friday File, October 6...

 

1.  I on-called at another branch yesterday, and completed my annual training.  Yay!  Oh, yeah, and there's the 'money in' aspect.  ;)

2.  I'm not sure I've even been inside my preferred grocery store since before the pandemic.  My husband goes every week or so to pick up milk or bread or his lunch preferences.  But as far as menu planning and shopping lists, I do it all online and pick it up.  My daughter, who lives by her spreadsheets, says that it saves money since there are no impulse purchases.  I can believe that.  We only have two grocery options locally, so shopping at different stores and sales isn't really an affordable option as it would involve a lot of gasoline which would eat up any savings.  

3.  I have been using lots of postage lately sending cards to family and friends.  I went to the post office website to see if they had any new designs.  They have a new snow globe Christmas stamp that I like, so I bought two books.  It is getting to be time to think about mailing Christmas cards, and I thought I'd get some while they were still in stock.  I also bought one book of a new Pinata stamp.  I had other stamps in my cart, but I decided I could live without them for the immediate future, and reigned in my impulses.

4.  According to the library, I have saved over $300 this year by checking out books rather than buying them.  I rarely buy books at full price.  I always try the library first.  If they don't have what I'm looking for I check out used book sources.  If all else fails, I just add the book to my Amazon wish list so I don't forget about it, and I watch the Kindle special offers to see if it might be offered at a discounted price.  If I'm still interested after waiting for awhile, I start the process over by re-checking the library and used book sources.  I'm pretty good at delayed gratification.

5.  Speaking of delayed gratification, I've been shopping online for sofas.  I'm narrowing down style and need preferences.  Now I'm just waiting for the right time for us and/or a good sale price.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  (I can't remember)

Sunday:  supper at Kasey and Beau's; I took brownies

Monday:  homemade Reuben sandwiches w/ chips

Tuesday:  2 different homecooked single-serving meals from freezer

Wednesday:  subscription meal that has been in the freezer

Thursday:  Spanish Rice

Friday:  Roast, potatoes, carrots from freezer (homecooked cook-once-eat-twice option)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food

by Chris Van Tulleken

My friend, the other Kathleen, was telling me about this one when we were visiting her in July.  I have checked it out from the library, twice now.  The first time I just couldn't process (pardon the pun) all the information.  I'm past Chapter 1 now.  

Chenneville by Paulete Jiles

This is a new one by a Texas author that I really like.  She also wrote News of the World (which was made into a movie starring Tom Hanks, and I love Tom Hanks, but the book was better) along with several others.  This one is about a Union officer who received a severe head injury in the Civil War, and when he comes to himself, he is in a Union Hospital in Virginia and the war is over.  I'm in Chapter 3 of this one.

I picked up both of these at the library yesterday, and I'm allowing myself to switch between the two since one is a novel and the other is science and a lot to absorb.

I've also been making a lot of cards lately, so not a lot of time spent on reading.

Frugal Friday File 2023, September 29...

 

1.  Reborrowed a library book that I did not get read last time I had it checked out.  I had to get back on the reserve list till my turn came round again.  I am determined to read it this time.  I will start tomorrow.  :)

2.  Watching a lot of PBS documentaries on YouTube (and also ones that I've had recorded forever, and need to watch so I can delete from the queue).  I've learned a lot about Ireland (The Famine and the Troubles), Frida Kahlo,  Edna St Vincent Millay, Oscar Wilde, Frank Baum. Has anyone else noticed how much more frequent the ads on YouTube are?  

3.  I received another check reimbursing part of chiropractic care.  That should be the last one (I think) as I haven't been back for more care since we got back from vacation.  Now I will start receiving 'explanation of benefits' for the hospital and surgeon, and probably bills for what wasn't covered, but I hope those won't be too high.

4.  Didn't do too terribly this week in the kitchen.  We did eat out tonight since I've been up since 3 a.m. and worked all day.  I am ready for soup weather!  I think next week we are supposed to have highs in the mid 80s.  I'll take it.  At least it shouldn't be over 100°.  Could those 100° days be over for the year?  Please?

5.  On-called today at my old office and knocked out the majority of my annual training.  I work next on 10/6, so fingers crossed I can finish the rest up then.  Due date is 11/1, 

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  frozen meal from freezer

Sunday:  supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  leftovers

Tuesday:  meatloaf, baked potatoes, cabbage

Wednesday:  homecooked meal from freezer

Thursday:  leftovers from Tuesday

Friday:  *barbecue baked potatoes w/ sliced brisket

Tonight's dessert was a hit...

Spiced Apple Custard and Cake Pie from Marie at The English Kitchen

I was trying to feel a little bit of the autumn cheer that friends have been voicing...it's so hard when it is still 100° F here.  But I needed a dessert idea for Sunday family supper at Kasey and Beau's, so I thought I could fight my no-fall-yet funk by searching for recipes that might be autumn friendly.  I came across this recipe while browsing around Marie's blog, The English Kitchen.  It struck my fancy, and I was really eager to try it.

Everybody loved it!  The recipe can be found by clicking the link at the top of this post to take you to The English Kitchen.  I will just say that it is achieved by starting with an unbaked pie crust, pouring in the cake batter, then evenly pouring the custard over the top of the cake batter and baking.  In the oven the custard sinks to the bottom, and the cake rises to the top.  Then while it's still warm you spoon over a glaze made from strong coffee and confectioners sugar.  It turns out just scrumptious!  I'll be keeping this recipe in the rotation.

 

Not Very Frugal Friday File 2023, September 22...

1.  Care package to college student.  Contents of nominal value:  snack crackers, sharpie, highlighter tape, a funny pin "Math: the only class that counts" (she's taking Calculus this semester), a pack of gum, a handmade card.  Postage expense:  $$$

     I saved a box that I had received something in a couple of months ago, because it was sturdy, without exterior printing, and of a size that was handy for mailing a gift (somewhat shoebox size, but not as long); it was perfect for mailing this care package.  I found an airtight storage container in my cupboard that exactly fit the box and held most of the batch of snack crackers I made on the weekend, and had enough room to slide in the other contents around the edges.  Two sheets of reused tissue paper were all the padding necessary.

2.  I have a rule about no ordering online between the hours of midnight and 8:00 a.m.  It works most of the time.  Earlier this week I woke up about 3:00 a.m. and decided it was time to order two chairs for the living room that I have been online researching recently.  Of course, I hadn't known that I was going to click "BUY" so I hadn't discussed it with Carey...I had a few ruffled feathers to smooth when I broke it to him when he woke up...and rightly so.  Ruffled feathers were quickly smoothed.  The chairs arrived within two days with free shipping, and Carey has one of them put together.  💕  (I felt okay about ordering without doing an in-person comfort test, because my sister-in-law has this same chair, and I fell in love with its style and comfort when we were there recently.  And with research I found them for 1/3 of the price the store sis purchased at advertises.)  

3.  I'd been holding off on depositing checks until I had other errands in the area of the credit union.  Sunday I received email that a book I had reserved at the library was ready to be picked up, right nextdoor to the credit union.  I immediately ordered prescription refills so I could pick those up in the same trip. And I ran across the street to Home Depot to pick up some magnetic sheets I needed.    I felt so good getting all those done in less than an hour and in just one trip!  It's 14 miles roundtrip to that part of town, so I like to batch errands.

4.  So much running around for medical appointments this week.  Monday had to go to neighboring town for a doctor appointment after a blood vessel burst in my eye.  Doesn't hurt, but looks pretty gross.  Just had to verify that it wouldn't risk procedure later in week.

     Wednesday had to go have pre-op bloodwork done.

     Thursday my portacath was replaced in outpatient surgery.  Ouch.

5.  I have four meals in the freezer from one-meal-to-eat/one-meal-to-freeze cooking in the last couple of weeks.  It will be appreciated by my sore-incision self in the next few days.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  Roast, Potatoes, Carrots (2nd in freezer)

Sunday:  Sunday supper at Kasey & Beau's

Monday:  *Takeout burgers

Tuesday:  Mexican Cornbread Casserole (2nd in freezer)

Wednesday:  Ruben sandwiches

Thursday:  *Takeout

Friday:  Homecooked meal from the freezer

Snack Cracker Recipe reboot...

Following is a repost of one of my previously run blog entries.

I'm including it since I just made this recipe again to include in a care package to our college student.

***************

Here's a quick blog post and a quick recipe.  I'm giving mostly gift cards and gift certificates for Christmas, so I want to include them along with a little something else for the kids & grandkids to open.  This year there are no quilts like last Christmas!

But there will be some snacks and goodies, and here is one that is both super easy and super delicious!

Okay, these photos show the ingredients for 2 batches; one made with Cheez-Its and one made with Club Minis crackers (you can use regular saltines, but I couldn't find the small saltines, so I bought the Club Minis).  The recipe that follows is for 1 batch.  

Snack Crackers

In a bowl, whisk together:

   1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

   1 packet of Zesty Italian salad dressing mix

   1 packet of Ranch salad dressing mix

   1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or 1 Tablespoons if you like the heat)

Place 2  12.4 ounce boxes of crackers of your choice into a large airtight container.  Pour the oil/dressing  over the crackers, and turn to mix the oil throughout the crackers.  Turn the container every 30 minutes for 4 hours.

That's it!

I like to use my glass gallon jars, because two boxes of crackers fit in one jar easily, and the jars roll easily across the counter top, which makes mixing the oil throughout the crackers a snap.  After mixing periodically for 4 hours, I will pour the finished crackers into a gifting container (because my gallon jars are keepers...yeah...I AM selfish with them!)

Quiche and Pie Crust recipes...

I had a commenter ask about making my pie crust for quiche.  It is so, SO easy, and I thought I would post it here for anyone else interested.

My mother made pie crusts this way forever, and it's the one I use for every pie I make.  Tastes so much better than store bought!  A glass pie plate is required for this crust to turn out well.

I prepare the quiche filling ingredients before making the pie crust, so that the crust doesn't shrink before the filling is ready to go in.  

EASY PIE CRUST

In a 9" glass pie plate place:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup vegetable oil (I have used olive oil for quiche or other savory pie, but use vegetable oil for dessert pies)

1/4 cup water

1/4 tsp salt

Use your hands to mix the crust ingredients together in the pie plate, and when it is mixed, press it out to cover the plate and rim.

BASIC QUICHE RECIPE

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 cup cream or milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/3 to 1/2 cup of grated or sliced cheese (Cheddar, Provolone, Swiss...whatever you have on hand)

1/3 to 1/2 cup of cooked bacon, sausage, or ham crumbled or diced

1 onion, diced or thinly sliced

1 bell pepper, diced or thinly sliced

Directions:

Saute the onion & green pepper in a little butter or bacon grease till almost tender.

Mix the eggs, cream, salt & pepper

Place cheese over the bottom of the pie crust.

Sprinkle the meat over the cheese.

Place onion & green pepper evenly over the meat layer.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over all.

Bake in a 400 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Let rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Be creative with whatever you have on hand.  I've used salmon, squash, broccoli, etc.  Serve with a salad or vegetable.

I have other recipes at What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere.  The link is always in the right-side column -->

Just for fun and a catch up...

 

A friend texted the above image to me this morning.  She sent some others that were also amusing, but this is my favorite.  I hope I'm not breaking any trademark rule by sharing here. I did look for online images, but couldn't find this exact one to see if it was licensed.  I love a good chalk drawing. 

I am STILL reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks.  I am really enjoying it, but there have just been other priorities, so I am making slow progress.  

Sadly the condo purchase by sister- and brother-in-law didn't work out.  They had no problem working with the seller, but the HOA was just proving very difficult to work with.  I am more than happy that they got out now, as I do not wish red-tape misery on anyone...especially when it could've been a thorn in their side for the entire period of condo ownership.  We are on the hunt for another solution.

This morning I made a menu and grocery order for the next week or so, which I picked up this afternoon.  Tonight I made a double batch of Honey Garlic Chicken & Broccoli in the slow cooker.  The unserved half is now cooling before going into the freezer for another dinner in a couple of weeks.  Man do I appreciate myself when I have home-cooked meals in the freezer ready to heat and serve!

We are enjoying a little break from the record-breaking heat of the summer.  Today's high was only 91°, but was seriously appreciated.  We had sixty-four days this summer that were over 100°, and almost a quarter of those days were over 105°!  I have never liked the extreme Texas heat...and like it less and less as I get older.

Frugal Friday File 2023, September 8 & 15...

 

1.  The grocery bill was a bit higher this week than I was hoping for, but then I remind myself that several meals on the menu are for cook-once-eat-twice batches which stretches the cost and effort over a longer period.

2.  I received notice that the vendor's outgoing shipment of an order I placed was delayed.  Since I was having buyers remorse on several items, I was extremely happy to see that I would be able to go in and cancel those items saving a tidy $50.  Lucked out there!

3.  Attended my quilting group at the library.  I didn't take my sewing machine; I worked on a crewel project that had been started previously that may be a Christmas gift if I can complete it by then.  I am passing on the fall quilt retreat this year, and also on the bus trip to the Houston International Quilt Show.  Foregoing those two trips alone save me about $200, not to mention what I might spend if I went and shopped at the HIQS.

4.  I threw together a batch of Baked Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal this morning.  After it cooled, I packaged in individual servings, and put them in the freezer for breakfasts as wanted.

5.  I received another check from Medicare to reimburse me for chiropractic care paid out of pocket.  This one was for over $80.  

On the menu this week(s):

Saturday:  Carey had a sandwich, I was out of town

Sunday:  takeout pizza

Monday:  Green Salsa Chicken, rice, beans

Tuesday:  Meatloaf & twice-baked potatoes (from freezer)

Wednesday:  Carey had baseball park $1 dog; I had leftovers

Thursday:  dinner out - sushi!

Friday:  supper at Kasey & Beau's

Saturday:  Pork Chops & Squash Casserole (from freezer) + vegetable

Sunday:  takeout sandwich/pizza

Monday:  Quiche (fridge vegetable clean out)

Tuesday:  dinner out

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken w/ Broccoli

Thursday:  Taco Salad

Friday:  Pork Chops, Potatoes Au Gratin, Fresh (and garlic-y) Green Beans

Frugal Friday File 2023, Sept 1...

 

1.  We've been talking about getting an apartment near my mother-in-law so that we can be more available.  She's 93 and in an assisted living facility about six hours away from us.  We would all like to see more of each other, and Carey and I would like to be on hand so that his sister and brother-in-law, who live in the same town as m-i-l and have been carrying the entire load for a long time, can have more flexibility to see their kids, travel, and/or just have time for themselves.

     We aren't ready to sell our current home, as we still want to be near our kids and grandkids as well.  So we've been trying to figure out how to do something affordable.  

     One evening this week Carey's sister & b-i-l were walking in their neighborhood, which they had just moved into after downsizing.  During the walk, they ran into an older couple who own a condo a block or so from them which was on the market.  Within 24 hours sister & b-i-l had seen the condo, talked about it, prayed about it, put in an offer, and had the offer accepted.  They should close in mid October.

     My amazing s-i-l and b-i-l are buying a condo near them so that we can stay for extended periods, during which we will make a contribution toward the new property which will be more affordable than a completely independent rental, and way, WAY more frugal than the gas, hotel, and meals out that we spend on each trip.  They also made sure that it was dog friendly, so we can have Rudy with us.  When we are not staying in the condo, they will make it available to other siblings (on both her side and his) and to their children during visits.

     This is blowing my mind.  It may seem crazy to go into something like this when Carey's mom is 93.  Her family has amazing longevity.  The older she gets, the more precious the time we get to spend with her.

2.  Again I've done well on cooking at home all week.  Not sure what we are having tonight.  I boned the leftover chicken from Wednesday, and I know I have celery, green onions, and dried cranberries, so I may make chicken salad.  That would be cool and quick, and it sounds really yummy.  

It WAS really yummy!

3.  I had a medical test last week...zero out of pocket...YAY!  Turns out that my port, which is eleven years old, needs to be replaced.  I'm not scheduling the surgery yet.  I've relayed questions and answers with my hematologist, but I have an annual check up with my primary care physician next week, and want to discuss it with her as well.  So I'm kicking the can down the road a little.

4.  Also had an off-schedule appointment with the optometrist.  My right eye has been blurry off and on, and feels like there is something in it.  She has amazing technology equipment, so she could point out exactly what she was seeing to me.  Apparently it is two unrelated issues.  She thinks the feeling of something in my eye is from the incredibly dry weather (drought) we have been having, so she gave me an eye drop sample.  The blurry vision is due to a new floater, which is quite large and located near the center of my eye.  As it floats around, I can see it which registers as blur.  What is frugal about this?  The issue fell under a medical exam rather than a vision exam, so Medicare covered...zero due.

5.  Carey's birthday was this week.  It was a big one.  He almost always prefers home cooking to going out, so we stayed in, and I baked him his favorite Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie for which I had all the ingredients.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  leftovers

Sunday:  supper with Kasey & Beau

Monday:  turnips & greens with bacon, and cornbread

Tuesday:  Fried Rice

Wednesday:  No-Peek Chicken

Thursday:  homemade hamburgers w sweet potato fries

Friday:  Chicken Salad Sandwiches w/ chips

BONUS:  I used dark meat chicken, celery, spring (green) onions, sweet pickle, dried cranberries, tarragon seed, and mayonnaise in my chicken salad.  

BONUS QUESTION: What do YOU put in YOUR chicken salad?

Frugal Friday File 2023, August 25...

Use it up.  Wear it out.  Make it do, or do without.

1.  Sometimes I'm really fed up with the "make it do" part of the old adage above.  Our living room furniture is wearing on my last nerve.  The sofa was one I found on Craigs list over ten years ago.  We bought it because it was in great condition, a neutral and classic style, and, if I remember correctly, because my mother-in-law was coming for an extended visit and our previous sofa was very deep and hard to rise from.  But the shallow seat depth and the very-firm frame makes it not too comfy to curl up on to watch a movie.  It still looks fine, so we continue to 'make do.'

2.  The recliner was given to us by Kasey, because she didn't like the recliner look.  She takes after her mother, because I don't like the look either.  But at the time I was having some surgeries that the recliner made it easier to get comfortable.  Now it has developed a large hole on the back.  I recently resorted to finding a similar shade of duct tape and mended it (if you are familiar with The Red Green Show).  It matched better than I hoped, but it is what it is.  And we continue to 'make do.'

3.  Carey came in this afternoon holding his left hand with a towel to staunch blood.  The man is a walking accident.  He said he had punctured his palm with a screw driver and two of his fingers were numb.  !!!  I was geared up for an ER visit, but he cleaned it thoroughly and irrigated it with hydrogen peroxide.  The feeling is back in his fingers, so ER expense averted.  (Don't worry, he is up to date on his Tetanus shots.)  It is a little alarming to me that the wound transects his life line, but his concern is nil.

4.  Did really well on the home-cooking front this week, and cooking once to eat twice put duplicate meals in the freezer to avert some takeouts in the future.

5.  Reading library books, trying to conserve water in this drought (so well doesn't go dry) & electricity (to try to avoid the power company needing to institute brown outs), and not using much gasoline as we are staying home to avoid the heat.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  pork chops, squash casserole, green beans --one for Saturday/one for freezer.  (This was supposed to be Friday's supper, but i fell asleep, so had to do something quick that night instead.  Luckily I had added a quick-fix sub to the grocery order.)

Sunday:  Smoked/grilled ribs, potato salad, beans (Kasey's A/C is out, so she brought supper to us that Beau had grilled/smoked)

Monday:  Meatloaf, twice-baked potatoes, leftover squash casserole--one for Monday/one for freezer

Tuesday:  Taco Salad

Wednesday:  Jambalaya 

Thursday:  takeout pizza

Friday:  Beef Stroganoff

What I'm reading Wednesday...

 

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

This is what I'm reading at the moment.  Really enjoying it so far.  I do love a good horse story.  Two of my previous favorites are Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand and The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss

Somehow, I have forgotten to be posting what I've been reading.  I don't want to go back and list what I've been reading here on the main page, but if you are ever interested in what I've been reading or what I thought of it after I finished it, please visit my Reading List page under the blog title photo above.  I list my reads as I finish them, and include a rating and a short opinion.

Quote of the day...

If we only love the neighbor who looks and thinks like us, then we really only love ourselves.                                                                                                              Unknown

Frugal Friday File 2023, Aug 18...

 

1.  One hundred nine degrees Fahrenheit.  Staying home with curtains drawn is the only sensible thing to do.  They say it will be this way through the middle of next week.  Sincerely hoping the power grid isn't overwhelmed; if there's one thing worse than the power going off in a freak winter ice storm, it is the power going off in an extreme heat event of Texas summer. 

2.  This week was horrible on the menu front.  Too hot to cook.  Too hot to think about cooking.  I finally made a menu and grocery order on Thursday.  So the order has been picked up, and the kitchen is now restocked.  

3. When I did cook, I planned ahead.  Making chili for Chili Frito Pie, meant leftover chili with which to make enchilada casserole.  This grocery order and menu plan leans toward meal prep will be cook once/eat twice by putting 2nd meal in freezer for future.

4.  Last year at this time, I had still not met my medical insurance (employer's group) deductible.  Next week I have a medical test that has to be done at a hospital.  It's a pretty easy test (just an hour or so), but I had no idea how much it might cost.  The hospital just called to let me know that the out-of-pocket portion of the cost will be $19.  Such a difference from last year's coverage...YAY!

5.  I cancelled a couple of subscriptions that have been underused now that I'm not working.

On the menu this week:

Saturday:  takeout burgers

Sunday:  takeout Tex-Mex

Monday:  takeout chicken

Tuesday:  Chili Frito Pie

Wednesday:  takeout BBQ sandwiches

Thursday:  Enchilada Casserole

Friday:  hot dogs

Making it Monday...sewing kit...

Here's what I worked on today.  Pardon the poor crewel work, but the thumb on my right hand is hurting today.  This is a small needle book for my little Chloe Bee.  I was going for a very primitive look...yeah...that's it.  ;)  

The inside is also "primitive".  I glued tiny magnets to keep it closed.  Today was all about getting it done, not fancy needlework.

Both Chloe's and Caitlyn's needle books were made using the felt I purchased last week.  I was going to put all of the sewing kit contents in an altoid tin, but I saw these that are the same size, and the button print just said "sewing kit" to me.  

The needle books just fit inside the sewing kit box.

The contents of each sewing kit were 4 bobbins with various thread colors, folding scissors, a mini seam ripper, a thimble, various sizes of safety pins, and the needle book.  This should help out in wardrobe emergencies.

As per my usual, I forgot to take photo of Caitlyn's needle book and sewing kit.  Her needle book had a simpler design on front; just a threaded needle done in a backstitch.  I was in a rush to get it done before she left for school.  I may make her another one with a ladybug on the cover...but not today.