5/29/10

Frugal Salad Recipe Contest

Now that it is fully summer, I am in need of some new ideas for dinner. I am really trying to not turn on the AC this year. It is starting to become difficult when it is reaching almost 90 degress already this year. So I need recipes that can be used for dinner either a main dish or side dish. I will be making all recipes submitted and the family favorite will win... a $25.00 barnes and noble gift card to buy a great summer read with. Just put your recipe in the comments section of this post. GOOD LUCK!!!! Deadline is June 10 2010. Winner will be announced by July 4 2010.

5/25/10

Craigslist

Today, I became fed up with all the clutter in my house. I have been trying for the last month to have a garage sale, but life has just gotten in the way. So this morning I put quite a few listings on craigslist. This is a free site to sell your wares on. Very frugal. I will be posting items today and tomorrow. Hopefully, I will sell some stuff and clean out the house. Most of the items I am posting are Children's clothes in wonderful condition and a few toys.

Frugal Tip of the day: Use a site such as Craigslist to sell your stuff. Don't try to sell it in one day!

5/24/10

In full bloom



Spring is in full bloom around here. I love roses and have three rose bushes. I have this wonderfull purple heirloom rose bush that I love. It smells so wonderful. The scent wafts into my house when I have the windows open. So, when buying a rose bush I spend $15.99. This is a large price, but when you buy roses in the store you spend at least that. Let's take a look at the photo. There are about 50 buds on this plant. I think that is well over my money's worth. I also cut some an placed in a vase on my kitchen table. I am not much of a flower arranger, but I love to have fresh cut flowers. I just don't like paying for them in the store. That is why I have a garden of beautiful flowers I can cut and bring into the house.


Lesson for today: You don't have to go broke when wanting to have lovely items in your house.

5/23/10

MMMMMMMM RIBS

Today it is supposed to be in the mid 80's, seems like a great day to make some bbq ribs. This is my husband's specialty. He loves to cook on the outside grills. Today, however it will be the smoker that prevails. To go with these ribs, I am making a homemade bbq sauce and also homemade potato salad. Yes, the potato salad may be a recipe that ends up going to the fair. The basic version is good, but I need to make some adjustments to it. I will give you my basic version. If you like old fashioned creamy potato salad, you will love this.


Old Fashioned Potato Salad

1 pickle chopped
1 tbsp pickle juice
3/4 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. mustard
salt and pepper to taste
1 chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
Paprika for color
3 eggs hard boiled and chopped
3 lbs potatoes boiled and skins removed, chopped in bite sized pieces

mix together pickle, juice, mayo, sour cream, mustard, and cider vinegar in a large bowl. Add onion, celery, egg, and potatoes. Mix well and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

5/21/10

IOWA STATE FAIR





UH OH!!!! The Iowa State Fair is only a few weeks away. I sent in my entry form this morning. I can't wait for the fair. It is my two weeks of baking and cooking to validate my inner love for the culinary world. I will try to post pictures of my endeavors. I also will be entering pies. This is my specialty. I wasn't sure it would work out in my schedule this year, but it did. Where there's a will there's a way. The first recipe I will be trying is for a french silk pie. I need to find my recipe from last year and try to tweak it a bit. That is my project for today.

5/12/10

Rainy Spring Day

Oh what to do on a rainy spring day? Today is Wednesday so that would be my sewing day. I am cleaning out my closet and with all the t-shirts I find, I am making shorts for my children using a very helpful tutorial from sewlil They look so cute. My daughter will love some of these to wear to dance lessons. There is nothing like being frugal!!!