Month: August 2017

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As Summer Ends

Summer is winding down and I am getting the urge to bake and make warm comfort food for dinner. It hits me at this time each year. Yesterday I was looking on Pinterest to find a bread I could make with my rather bountiful supply of applesauce. I came up with the following recipe and it is yummo!

Recipe

Applesauce Bread (keelymcquire.com)

1/2 cup of softened butter
1 large egg
1 1/2 t baking soda
3/4 t nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t kosher salt
1 1/2 cups of applesauce
1 t of pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, first blend together the butter, egg, & sugar.
Then add the flour, baking soda, spices, & salt.
After it starts to from a crumbly dough, pour in the applesauce and mix together.

I used two loaf pans which I had sprayed with cooking spray. You could also use parchment paper if you would prefer that. The loaves were baked for 40 minutes and came out perfectly. The bread is moist and doesn’t need butter unless you want it. Great with a cup of tea!!

Note: The loaves aren’t very high. I think the next time I make it I will double the batch and still divide it into two pans so that I get  higher loaves. That, of course, would change the baking time and I will need to check for doneness a few times.

Techy Stuff

I have discovered an app for my smartphone called Tasty. It is the app that has all those neat videos of recipes that are always being shared on Facebook. It is super cool and I love checking out the Recipe of the Day, Courses, Cooking Skills, Recipes and Lifestyle sections. All the videos are really well done and informative. Check it out!

My place for prescriptions has always been Rite Aid. It is convenient and the people are friendly. I recently downloaded their app for my phone. I was checking out the different features and thought I would try to order a refill on a medication that I needed. Before I knew it I was done ordering it and received the message that it would be available for pick up at my local pharmacy after 4pm. All I did was scan the bar code on the label. Zip, zap and just like that an Rx is ordered! Wow! I checked CVS and they have the same feature. I imagine that you would find an app for your pharmacy too.

Money Savers

  • Did you know that many workplaces and organizations such as unions have agreements with cell phone providers to give a discount on service to employees or members of the organizations? Yep, I have been saving 19% on my Verizon service for years through my employer. It is worth checking. You can do it online. You submit the name and address of your workplace or organization and they will get back to you and let you know if it is a participating member. Let’s figure this out. If I saved $19 per month for a year that would mean that I saved $228 over the year. That is a considerable savings.
  • I recently received my flu shot at Rite Aid pharmacy. (No I am not getting a kickback from Rite Aid for mentioning them twice but I wouldn’t mind that. Hint, hint Rite Aid!) They had a promotion where you received a $4 coupon off  a purchase of at least $20. That is a full 1/5 off of your purchase! That coupled with the Plenti points that I have accumulated (search earlier posts for info on Plenti points if you don’t know about them) is quite a savings. Right now I have 974 Plenti points built up which translates to $9.74 I could get off of my purchase. So if I buy $20 worth of merchandise right away I am only paying $6.26! Now, I just might have coupons I could use too. You know me, I probably do and could save even more!
  • I mentioned in one of my first posts that you should sign up for loyalty clubs wherever you might shop or eat. They always send you something for your birthday. My birthday is around the corner so I have started receiving my little goodies. Department stores send you a $10 gift card which is good for $10 off a $10 purchase. Now they’re hoping that you will spend a lot more and that by them giving you $10 which wholesale is a third of that in cost for them that you’ll spend a lot more money. The trick here is to head right for the 75 to 80% off rack and find something even if it’s for the season that is just ending. You can wear it next year or layer it. Get something that costs maybe $12 and you only end up paying $2. You also could get something like a pair of earrings as a gift for a friend’s birthday. You just have to be smart and not fall into their trap. Now, restaurants differ a  little bit in that Denny’s for instance gives you a free grand slam and Ruby Tuesday’s gives you a free Garden salad or a burger. For me it’s not that much of a problem just to stick to that because that’s all I can eat anyway but if you’re in a group and a lot of other people buy appetizers or desserts then they are making extra money off of you. Just for me though it works.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Projects

I have finished my French shopping cart!

As you saw from last week’s post it was originally green. My friend Geri that I got it from loves green. However, me not so much. Therefore, I used Berry Pink Rust-Oleum paint and spray-painted the cart. As a nod to Geri, I saved a green spot where the manufacturers label was.

Now, in the summer on the deck or the front porch I have a lot of ideas for using this little pink baby. During the winter I am thinking about uses inside. Possibly books. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let me know.

See you next week and in the meantime enjoy!!!

 

 

 

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Going Through the Day On A Post With No Name

Hello! Happy Wednesday! Now, if you read the title of this post, you know you’re in my generation if America’s A Horse With No Name” ran through your head for just a little nano-second! Honestly, I couldn’t come up with a name this week and this popped into my head. I said, “Self, this is good. Do it!” and so there it is.

It’s The Little Things!

You know all those fragrance samples that come in magazines? I used to get slightly irritated when they fell out but then I found a use for them and now I snag every one I find.

In each of my clothes drawers and linen drawers I put an opened one of these samples. It is just a pleasant burst of fragrance when you open the drawer. It kind of takes you by surprise because each one is different and if you’re like me you have forgotten you put one in there.

I am for anything that puts a smile on my face or floats a happy thought around this brain of mine!

Recipe

Sooner rather than later it will be apple harvest time. We are big on local apples here in Western New York.

I have made homemade applesauce since my children were little. I have found an easy way to make it in my crock-pot and want to share it with you.

Crock-Pot Applesauce

12 of your favorite apples

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of water

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Peel and core your apples. Cut them into quarters and place into crock-pot. Put the lemon juice on the apples and toss to coat them. Then add your sugar, water and cinnamon and stir to coat all the apples.

Set your crock-pot on high and cook the mixture for 3 to 4 hours. You want the apples softened with very little mashing needed, if at all.

Eat right away or store in refrigerator in a glass container.

Notes – I added more cinnamon than was called for because I like my applesauce extra cinnamony (Is that a word? No? Well, it is now!).

Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club

You know by now that I like to save money, create things, be rewarded in some way and learn new stuff. Dollar Tree (where everything really is a dollar) has a Value Seekers Club that fills the bill for me. You just join by creating a username (your email) and a password. There is a blog with ideas on do-it-yourself things, decor, crafting, recipes, etc. You get ideas of the month (they also have previous months archived for you) and you’re the first to know about new products online and in the store. There are also member exclusives. Check it out and join by clicking on the link below.

https://valueseekersclub.dollartree.com/

Emergency Tip

A few years ago I was on a trip through the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas with a friend. I don’t know why I was getting sick but my stomach felt awful and I was rushing to the bathroom a LOT which is a pain, not to mention difficult, when you’re on a road trip!

My friend, Deana, mentioned that she always carried peppermint pills with her when she was on a trip for just this sort of thing. She did have some with her and gave them to me. I took one and she instructed me to take another the next time I went to the bathroom. I did as she said and those two pills did the trick! I felt tremendous when I woke up the next morning. I took another one just for good measure but that was all.

If you look them up online you will find that they are taken for abdominal pain and diarrhea.

In the time since then I ordered my own bottle from Amazon and keep them at my house and pack them when I travel. I love simple, little things like this that really work!

Disclaimer! You should always check with your pharmacist or your doctor to make sure that a peppermint supplement won’t be a problem with any medication you are on. This should be done with any herbal or vitamin supplement you wish to take.

Money Savers

– If you have a local vocational school, as we do in our area, check to see what services the various programs offer the public to allow the students to practice their skills. For instance, our local vocational school has a cosmetology program. Students that are at a certain skill level are allowed to do haircuts for members of the public on certain days. We also have a small animal science class at our local school and you can bring your pets in for toenail clipping and other grooming services. There is an auto body class as well and you could be lucky enough to get your car in there for body services. It never hurts to check.

-Always remember to add digital coupons to your grocery store loyalty card. They really can save you some cash! Get the app for your store on your smart phone or load coupons onto your card using your computer at home and you are ready to save!

-Become a YouTube handy person. I was having trouble getting a battery for my weed wacker to charge. I looked it up online and there was a video on YouTube that demonstrated how to fix the problem. No new battery for me!

– Hard breaking and speeding can lower your gas mileage by 30% to 40%. So be chill behind the wheel and make your gas last longer.

– I f you’re traveling by air pick your flights carefully. Experts say that the best days to fly are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For instance, you would want to travel on a Saturday to a Wednesday to save some serious bucks!

– Are you looking for cheap entertainment? Check out where your local open mic nights are hosted and when. They are usually free and you can see some very talented people. (My son plays professionally and he started out at open mic nights and met a lot of fellow musicians there.)

Have a stupendous week! Let me hear from you if you have something you would like to share or have tried any of my tips, suggestions or recipes.

Remember to tell a friend about my blog!!!! I appreciate all 904 of you!

 

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Smack Dab in the Middle of August

Hello! I hope your Summer is going the way you want it to. Mine has been filled with a lot of visiting with friends, some travel and summer food.

Luckily I enjoy Fall a great deal so the fact that Summer is coming to a close shortly doesn’t bother me. Fall is the lovely combination of warm days and cooler nights. The season provides for some great decorating and getting re-acquainted with warm comfort foods. It really isn’t a bad deal at all!

Before I leap way ahead of myself into Fall, let’s jump right in to what I have for you this week. Remember to let me know if you try any suggestions or recipes. I would love to know. You can do this by commenting on the post or email through the link provided.

Recipes

The following recipe was one of my Grandma Shearer’s. She was born in 1898 and died in 1967. Grandma was a teacher in a one room school-house prior to marrying Grandpa. When I was little we lived in a little house beside them and I would go over to get pickles from her. She had thought her grandchildren would come for cookies but I wanted pickles! This recipe isn’t for her pickles but instead for a delicious sandwich spread.  We are entering the time of year when there are green tomatoes on our plants so this is perfect timing!

Mom’s Green Tomato Sandwich Spread

12 large green tomatoes

6 sweet green peppers

6 sweet red peppers

4 large onions

Grind all four ingredients (think of the size and consistency of ham for ham salad) and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon of salt.

Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Drain. Then add the following ingredients.

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup flour to thicken

Boil the mixture for 15 minutes.

Finally you add the next two ingredients and combine thoroughly

1 cup mustard

2 cups salad dressing

Grandma’s directions say to can immediately. I put in jars and refrigerate.

This makes a large batch and I always give some away. You could cut the recipe in half or even smaller so that you don’t have any waste.

Fruit Skewers

Recently a friend and I went to a girls’ summer party. Linda found this recipe online and we made them to take with us for the potluck.

You could use any fruits that you like and think would look pretty on a skewer. We purchased a cantaloupe, a honey-dew melon, strawberries and blueberries. The combinations are really endless depending on what fruits you like and of course the cost.

We cut the melons into bite size pieces and cored and halved the strawberries and we were ready to assemble.

The skewers we used to the small wooden ones that you can find in the grocery store or Walmart. The object was just to make the fruit look attractive when we put it on the skewer. Linda handled that job.

I melted white chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips (separately, of course).

Once the skewers were assembled and the chocolates melted we just drizzled the chocolate in a random manner on the skewers.

Our treat was well received at the party and we thought they were easy to do and the cost to make them was not bad. We bought the fruit for $7.98 total.

Charity

Has anyone ever heard of Amazon Smile? Apparently this program was developed in 2013 for charitable giving. If you go to the homepage for Smile which is smile.amazon.com  and do your Amazon shopping there .5% of your total of eligible products will be donated to the charity of your choice. If your charity is not listed on the site you can add yours. I did this as I wanted any moneys to go to Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue. You can learn more about this at https://org.amazon.com/

Money Savers

  • Routinely call your cable company, internet provider, TV service, etc. to see what they will do to keep you loyal. I just did this and I am going to save big!
  • Celebrate your birthday with free eats. thrillist.com has a list of major food chains that offer free items on your birthday. Check them out! I usually go to Denny’s for my free grand slam for breakfast on my birthday.
  • Online banks and some traditional banks will reimburse you for fees that you incur when you use another bank’s ATM. You have to ask. They don’t volunteer the information. The worst they can do is say they don’t do that.
  • If you drive your car less than 5,000 miles a year you may be able to get a low mileage discount from your insurance company. This is another case of you have to ask about it.
  • Prolong the life of your fruits and vegetables. Wrap them in a paper towel and put them into a container or plastic bag. The towel will absorb the water that causes rot.

Kitchen Hack

Yesterday I made some egg salad and realized that maybe not everyone does what I do to chop the eggs. I learned this trick from my Mom. Simply get out your pastry cutter and chop the eggs up in a bowl. The shape of the pastry cutter works well for chopping in a bowl and it goes supper fast. You just chop until the eggs have reached uniformly the size you desire.

Re-Purpose Project

By now you must have learned that I always have a project or two (or three) going. The following project is the latest endeavor of mine. I bought a vintage French shopping cart from my friend, Geri.  I am cleaning off the relatively loose rust with wire brushes and then I am going to cover the tires and spray paint the cart. French shopping carts had wire baskets on the top shelf and on the bottom. I am going to purchase a basket or box to do my own little riff on the original. For the nice weather this will probably be on my porch or deck when finished. I haven’t decided yet if or how I could use it in the house during the Winter. More to come …………………………

      

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to tell your friends. I still want to reach my initial goal of 100 followers. It might seem an ambitious goal but I am sure I can get there.

Have a wonderful week!!

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I’m Back!

Hi everyone!

I’m responsible for the exhibit building at our local county fair and have been absent from this blog too long! However, 12 hour days for 10 days straight didn’t leave me enough time to post.

Handy Tip

I thought I would share something I learned while getting ready for the flower department in the exhibit building. We usually ask a local florist to donate flower preservative and I put it off so long that we were getting ready for entry day and I still didn’t have any. My friend, June, suggested that we could make our own.  I looked it up and sure enough you can! We had to make a large quantity but to preserve your occasional bouquet at home you could make a much smaller batch. It seemed to work quite well for us. The “recipe” is below.

Flower Preservative

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon household bleach

2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice

1 quart warm water

Stir together all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.

Recipe

We are heading rapidly toward the harvest season in our neck of the woods. Here’s a neat little recipe that you can use with all those cucumbers, green peppers and onions.

This is something that my mother used to make. I imagine she learned it from her mother being that the term icebox is in the title and people haven’t used an icebox in many decades. My oldest daughter, Melanie, could just sit and eat these right out of the jar! I am sure that she will carry on the tradition of making them with her daughter, Sierra.

Icebox Pickles

7 cups unpeeled cucumbers sliced thin

1 cup sliced onion

1 cup sliced green bell peppers

1 Tablespoon salt

1 cup white vinegar

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon celery seed

Mix cucumbers, onions, green peppers and salt. Set aside.

Put vinegar, sugar, celery and mustard seeds in a pot and bring to a boil. Allow this mixture to cool for at least an hour.

When cooled pour the mixture over the cucumbers. Put the pickles in glass jars and place in refrigerator. They will keep for at least 2 months.

*When I am without celery seed  I use just celery salt in its place.

Money Savers

When I look at saving money I take a global approach. One little money saving tactic might not save you that much but if you take advantage of several it adds up to quite the savings over a month. If you look at what you save over a year it is truly rewarding!

-Ask your pharmacist about the retail price of your medication. It might be cheaper than the co-pay when using your prescription plan.

-If you have homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance and haven’t had a claim in 10 years some companies will give you a discount on your rate. You have to ask because they won’t volunteer the information. It doesn’t hurt to ask. The worst that could happen is that they would say they don’t do that.

-When traveling by air the security check will let you pass with an empty water bottle. Take one with you and fill it once you’re through the check point at a water fountain. It beats paying up to $5 for a bottle in a gift shop.

-Before eating out look for coupons that might be available. You can do this on Google or at restaurant.com.

-Don’t pay for Microsoft Office. You can get a free download of Apache Open Office or LibreOffice. My youngest son used the Open Office Suite all through college. It has everything you need.

-If your car is paid off cancel the collision portion of your insurance. It will save you roughly $300 a year. You are required by most states’ laws to carry liability but not collision.

-If you have a teen driver and they have good grades in school it is possible to get a discount on your car insurance. Ask your insurer! You could save over $200 a year.

Homemade

I made a charcuterie board for myself and one for a friend. Charcuterie is a French term meaning cooked meats or a shop that sells them.  It has come to be used as a term for more than just cooked meats when talking of a charcuterie board. As you can see from the image below, all manner of

hors d’oeuvres can be served on one.

.

You can literally put anything for your guests on a charcuterie board. You are only limited by your imagination.  I created one for my family that was both colorful and tasty. I neglected to take a picture until they had devoured 2/3 of the goodies so I had to use a royalty free stock picture. My board held black and green olives, cheese, pepperoni, crackers, pickles, veggies and dip, etc.

When I was looking into making one the recommendation was to make it the length of your table. It was suggested to be that size so that guests could reach what they wanted from any place at the table.

I made mine 4 foot long and it worked out just fine. I felt that storing a longer one would have been difficult for me. You can decide on the size that is best for you and your entertaining needs.

I purchased  a 1 inch thick and 8 inch wide board. It came in an 8 foot length. Before I left Home Depot I asked the gentleman to cut it in half for me. That made it easier to transport and I was also one step closer to making two charcuterie boards! Before I left the store I also purchased Howard food grade cutting board oil and butcher block conditioner.

I have an electric sander. I used it to make the board as soft and “smooth as a baby’s bottom”. I also rounded off the corners  with the sander. When I was happy with the feel of the board I conditioned it twice with the butcher block conditioner. In between uses of the board I am cleaning it with a clean, warm, damp cloth and using the cutting board oil to treat it. That keeps the board from drying out and cracking.

The charcuterie board has been a wonderful addition to my kitchen! I know my friend has enjoyed her’s too.

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