Pork Chops - How to use up the leftovers!

Over at my other blog I posted how I made soup, fried rice and BBQ pork all from 5 leftover pork chops.
Very yummy, very frugal, very green and very cheap. Does it get much better than that? I don't think so!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Granola - Homemade Yummy-ness!

I was inspired by a recipe I found in Bob Greene's "Get with the Program! Guide to Good Eating" Let me tell you I Y Granola!

I tweeked it some, taking into account that I didn't want to buy anything - my plan was to use up some things I had on hand.

Here is the original with my tweeks highlighted.

Homemade Granola


3 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup oat bran (I omitted)
1/2 cup whole raw almonds ( I used some raw mixed nuts I had instead)
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate (I used OJ concentrate)
1/2 cup honey (local and organic)
1 tsp cinnamon (I used more)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins or currants (I used golden raisins)

Preheat oven to 350F Spread oats on a large nonstick baking pan and toast, stirring often for 30 minutes. Cool. Reduce the oven heat to 275F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, oat bran if you are using it, nuts, juice concentrate, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Add the sugar and beat 1 minute more. Combine the oat mixture with the egg whites and spread evenly on a nonstick baking sheet. Toast for 30 minutes, stirring often, until evenly browned. When cool, add raisins. Store in an airtight container.

This is so good! I eat it straight, or my favorite way is with yogurt and fresh fruit. Scrumptious!!

easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Flies Flies Everywhere

Over at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy I posted about making your own flystrips. Riveting reading if you ask me. You didn't? Well I promise it is worth a click if you want to get rid of all those pesky flies and don't want to buy the flystrips full of chemicals. I'm just saying!

Makigami

Over on my other blog I wrote a post about Makigami. Makigami is an innovative new way to produce many things that are currently being made from plastic. Makigami is made from recycled paper and water. You don't get much greener than that!
It is worth checking out the link - and be sure to watch the youtube video also!

So I was just thinking...

So I was just thinking - why am I a closet earthy crunchy enviromentalist?? Do I believe in global warming - heck no. Do I think any animal, plant or ecosystem deserves more protection than unborn babies (or live ones for that matter) NO. Do I care about my carbon inprint - a tad.

So why am I an earthy crunchy person?

• Because it is right.
• Because it is good.
• Because it is part of being a good steward of this earth we have been given.
• It often supports my local economy -which I care a lot about.
• To reduce, reuse and recycle is also using the gifts God has given me wisely.
• And I love how often being green and living frugally overlap - which I Really Really like!

I wanna be green, but only after I have acted in accordance to my Christian beliefs.

God Bless,
Christy

Baby Wipes Piggy Bank

Empty baby wipes make a great piggy bank. The hole in the middle is perfect for dropping coins into. It is sturdy, it can hold $75.00 worth of coins. One of the best parts is that my kids would never think to look in an old baby wipe container and so my coins are safe from little pilferers!
Thanks to Womens Day for this great tip!

Do you really need another phone book

OK, I know it is the wrong time of year but do you really need a NEW phone book each year? With access to the Internet and the online phone directories which are very up to date you could certainly call your phone company and cancel your phone book. Or if you get more than one (why do they do that anyhow?) and still feel the need for one be sure to call and ask for only one. That is my plan. And don't forget to recylce your old ones.
God Bless,
Christy

(saving the world one phone book at a time)

Buy Local and in Season

One of the frugal and green hints that almost all blogs, lists and books bring out is to buy local and in season. Rarely did they tell me what was in season where I live. I know I *should* know what is in season but I don't. I found this site and now I know! Hurray!

God Bless,
Christy

The 80's had Reagonomics we have Reconomics

Reconomics? Yes, if you have ever bought something used - book, car, or house you are a reconomist.

The Reconomy is good economy. Good for the planet, good for the pocket book. Recycle, resell, reuse, rehab. Buying, selling, donating and sharing "gently used" items rather than always going for the brand spankin' new gizmo or gadget.

The Reconomy also promotes simplicity. By getting rid of the stuff you don't want or need anymore through selling, donating or sharing your life becomes simpler.

Not only does each item that is reused, recycled, rehabbed and or resold help both parties it one less thing that needs energy to be produced, it reduces the size of your personal environmental footprint and one less thing landing in the landfill. I love reconomics!

This week I was a reconomist in the following way:

• gave my sister all my leftover diapers for her babies
• bought Christmas flannel sheets from the Salvation Army to make into gift bags
• purchased a red hat lady book from a rummage sale for a 40th BD gift for a friend
• found 3 bags worth of stuff to donate to the Goodwill
• bought Ellie a pair of army pants from a rummage sale
• refilled and refrigerated numerous water bottles from the tap
• took the leftover broth from my mom's beef and noodles home to make soup (there was a half gallon of delicious broth which she was going to pitch.)

How about you?

The reconomy is economically frugal, environmentally friendly and really rather fun!

God Bless,

Christy

Freecylce Yardsale

I was meandering around the frugal sites and happened upon a post about having a Freecyle Yardsale. Brilliant I say. I do not have the time, energy or umpf to post often to freecyle but I have tons of stuff to get rid of. This lovely lady suggests posting to all local freecyle groups that you are having a freecyle yardsale and then after having ruthlessly gone through your house haul it out to the driveway and wait and watch as people come. Once you have gotten rid of a lot of your excess it is easier to be frugal when your house isn't cluttered.

God Bless,

Christy

A little here, a little there

A little here a little there, that is a great mantra for so many things.

• Reuse plastic baggies.
• Instead of buying video games that your kids will beat in 2 days, borrow from the library.
• When shopping, just say no to one item that is frivolous.
• Drink water with your meals, at home and out - better for your health and save bundles.
• Drive less, take public transportation if possible, bike, walk - better for your health, the environment and your pocket book.
• Buy clippers and cut your husband and boys hair, your daughters' too if you dare.
• Squeeze every fiber out of clothing that is stained and not donate-able. Cut it up, use it for cleaning cloths or for personal care cloths. When it is nothing more than shreds, compost it.
• Unplug things, lots of things, like your microwave when not in use or the lamps in the living room and especially your cell phone charger.
• Keep your lights off in the day time.
• Buy in bulk - less packaging and usually cheaper.
• Bring your own bag to the store. Saves the environment and you get some use out of those bags you have hanging around.
• Pack your lunch. Even you - you know the sahm's - you save a fortune, calories, the environment AND if you bought your food locally you are supporting your local economy.
• Park in the shade. Not only is it more comfortable to get back into it also decreases the amount of fuel you lose to evaporation AND requires less a/c when you get back in - saving you $$.

I have literally hundreds of these tips. Maybe I will organize them into some sort of useful post. Or I won't. We'll see.

God Bless,

Christy

Frugal Hacker

So, I signed up to be on the Frugal Hacker Blogroll. I have never done this before ... I admit I am a little nervous that this site is not frugal looking enough. We shall see. I think that it should be based on the fact that we are a family of 10, living on 1 income and always have. My posts give others a little look into our world. We'll see. I also pledge, ( does that sound good) to post more frugal posts. Pledge, hmm is that too much? How about if I promise real nicely?

Here is my tip for tonight: reuse all your bags. Not just the obvious ziploc kind. I mean your bread bags, pretzel bags, cereal liners - anything that HAD food in it will be safe for short term food storage. I have to admit my kids think I am nuts - I have bags hanging all over the place because I rinse them out and hang them around. This not only save the environment a little but it also saves on purchasing ziploc baggies. What do I put in them you may ask - snacks for the road, leftover tomatoe halves, sandwiches to go, really anything that isn't going to leak.

God Bless,
Christy

Bags from shirts - baggy-shirt.com

I found the most amazing idea - bags from used shirts. These are super simple looking and if you had even the tiniest amount of sewing ability it would work. Check out Baggy-shirts.com .
According to the website they:

Purchase recycled men's shirts obtained from warehouses of surplus goods collected from charitable organizations - no petroleum-based materials.
Use the entire shirt - absolutely no waste.
Prevent clothing and tens of thousands of paper and plastic bags from going to the landfill each year.
Employ LOCAL artisans to fabricate bags at home, slashing carbon emissions by 80% to 90%. No overseas manufacturing.
Pay our fabricators a livable wage that is above average for the industry.
Operate with the least possible amount of negative environmental impact – we ship Internet orders in recycled and recyclable materials.
Donate a portion of our proceeds to organizations that work to stop global warming.

God Bless,
Christy

Sushi - yummy!

Here is a picture of the rice seasoning and a sushi rolling mat in case you wanted to see them. I got them at Woo's Oriental Store but I bet you can find them at your local Asian store.

I could live on Japanese food - sushi, sashimi, maki rolls,dons - yum yum yum. My kids also love rolls. (all but Josh and Sylvia but they will eat katsu or teriaki chicken so they love going to sushi) What is a cheap meal for 1 or 2 becomes a little salty for 10 so I taught myself to roll California Rolls - that is right I can make maki rolls but can't hem - hmmm - things that make you say hmmm.

Anyhow, I was thinking a little maki sounded good but didn't have all the ingredients for a california roll but had fresh asparagus, cucumbers and leftover sticky rice. The makings for a delicious roll. I can't explain how to roll but go here and they have good directions.

I will however tell you my ingredients.

1 bowl leftover sticky rice - put a little rice vinegar in - you can add a pinch of sugar but I didn't

Big shake of Wasabi fumi furikake rice seasoning stir into warm rice

1 steamed in the microwave asparagus spear

1/8 cucumber sliver with seeds cut out and skin removed if it is waxy

1 sheet of nori (shiny side down)

oh, and don't forget the wasabi and the soy sauce (g/f of course)

I have always made this with a bamboo sushi rolling mat which you can buy in the oriental section of Walmart by the teriaki sauce.

Lay nori down, top with rice mixture, asparagus, cucumber and roll up. Cut with sharp wet knife, serve with wasabi and soy sauce. Yum!

Happy Eating!

God Bless,

Christy

Sew yourself a morsbag and save the world

OK that might be exaggerating a bit, but I don't know. Don't all us earthy crunchy types love to do these things? FYI, I cannot sew. I have a lovely machine I got for Christmas 18 years ago and have only made 1 pair of toddler pants. I just don't get it. I have taken lessons 3 - yes 3 times and still cannot hem a pair of pants. Yes, I am 5 foot tall, thankfully clothes are made now for short people. It wasn't so easy in the olden days not to be able to hem. Yes, my name is Christy and I cannot sew.
HOWEVER, I think I could do this. It is just a bunch of straight lines. I am going to try. I will post a picture if it turns out - or if it doesn't you all can see how craft impaired I am. I am hoping to make a bunch to use as Christmas gift bags. Just need to find some material at a garage sale and I am set!
Go here for a tutorial - pdf, or word do or even an animation of how to make a morsbag.
God Bless,
Christy

South Side Farmers Market

I did it, I ventured forth to a rather scary part of the Fort this morning. Why? Because I wanna be green. And the best way it seems is to buy local, organic food. The Amish don't have much yet and besides I was in the mood for an adventure. What fun! This place has been here since oh I don't know before my dad was born. It seemed like a cross between a farmers market and a flea market. I love flea markets so it was like a double bonus. Did I get any great deals - no. Definatly not unless you count the 2 Valentines plates I bought for my plate collection. Was the selection good - fair not good.,but I think this will improve as the summer moves on. Were the people friendly - absolutely. Will I be going back??? You bet! I wouldn't miss it for the world!

South Side Market is on Warsaw Street between Rudisill and Pontiac. The hours are from 7am -1am on Saturdays in the summer.

There is also several amish places much closer to home, Schmuckers on Doty Rd. (quite large with a great selection. Everything isn't "theirs" but they let you know if it is. As you drive around in the Woodburn, Harlan, Grabill area you will run into many more. I am grateful for the choices. I hadn't thought of these Amish stores as 'farmers markets' but duh! Of course they are! Just not as fun as South Side!

The moral to the story - get out there and hunt for your local stores and markets. It is like I tell my family: I am saving the world one organic strawberry at a time. or reused ziploc baggie, or not using paper plates etc, it is how I am saving the world ONE thing at a time! What next? Public Transportation. I have to drive 6 miles to catch a bus to the other side of the Fort. Is it worth it? I wish I had a reason to go now just to try it out. Wish me luck - I am a total wimp.

God Bless,

Christy

Not Quite as Green as I wanna be ....but how high could I really score with 10 people in my house?

Green, crunchy and altogether earthy

At least that is what I would like to be. I love to read blogs like No Impact Man or Crunchy Chicken. To see what all the earthy crunchy, tree huggers are up to. And truth be told I am one - just in the closet. How far in the closet? Well you would never know if you came to my house but let me give you a few examples. Please keep in mind that there are 10 people living in my house. And a husband who makes a living recycling concrete but doesn't have another tree huggin' bone in his body.
1. We use plates. Real plates - maybe 3x a year I buy paper for daily use. Oh, and real cups that are used more than once.
2. I do not buy bottled water. We refill other containers with water from the tap and keep them in the fridge.
3. I cook with beans - dried beans several times a month.
4. I recycle gift bags over and over and over.
5. I buy with packaging in mind whenever possible.
6. I keep our house cold as I dare - I turn it down and someone who will not 'fess up turns it up. Not as cold as others do but definatly nippy.
7. Shop the Thrift stores and garage sales -
8. Clothing - those of us who can or are willing - myself, the littles boys, dd#4 and #5 wear our clothing over and over until it is dirty. I change my uw daily but who knows about the 10 and 11 yearold boys???
9. Towels - same one all week.
There are more but you get the idea.

Things I plan on doing or would like to do if the ick factor wasn't there.
1. I would love to use the Keeper and just might someday.
2. Keeping the temp lower - 65 in the day and 60 at night - but "I" am not the only one who lives here - just ask around .
3. Cloth wipes - for all. This has an incredible ick factor with 10 people but maybe I could myself. Hmmm.
4. Reusable grocery bags. This would be possible, just annoying as I buy lots of groceries because I only go ever 2.5 or 3 weeks.
5. Low water showers and washer etc.
6. I would love to hang my wash on the line but most of us have enviromental allergies and this just aggrevates them to no end.
7. Be a vegetarian - more because I don't really care for meat than because of its earthy crunchyness but that has some merit.
8. oh, and freecycle I would love to do this.

Just a few of my earthy crunchy hopes and dreams. I know that I cannot "save our planet" alone but do feel that being wasteful is a sin. I love it when earthy crunchy crosses with frugal living - it makes me so happy all over!

Here's to all the Republican earthy crunchy, in the closet, conservatives that I know are out there!!