Recipes and Remains

No Money March is coming to an end.  We are heading into some interesting meals.   Our strangest meal has been our “Finish off the Appetizers” night. It included mozzarella bites, smoked salmon on crackers with cream cheese, and deviled eggs.  The only thing left in our freezer now is two Klondike bars, ice cubes, and a fourth of a bag of frozen blueberries.  It was packed so tight before I don’t think we even realized we had Klondike bars!

Planning out our menu at the beginning of the month was the best method.  Even with menu, I miscounted the number of canned chicken we had, so we might be a few meals short.  Digging through our remains, I was very tempted to buy some turkey.  In the far back of the pantry I found a can of turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, and the last can of green beans.  Looks like we’ll have an “unturkey” meal for Easter dinner!

The most exciting thing about this month has been that I have used my beautiful cookbooks.  They have not just been a decorative stack on my shelf, but a resource for meals with limited ingredients.  I have found Quiche is the easiest, what-ever-you-have, go-to meal.  I have used a large supply of Bisquick for everything from piecrusts and pizza dough, to pancakes and biscuits.  I wish I had more in my stockpile.    I made a homemade substitute but it did not perform as well when baked. 

Last but definitely not least, here is a list of the ingredients I will keep in good supply in my pantry: Bisquick, pasta, rice, canned chicken, sugar, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, chicken and beef bouillon, and canned tomatoes.  It is amazing what you can make with these ingredients and a few spices.

Well, I am off to plan our meal for tonight.  Looks like a cheese and bacon quiche is on the menu!  Do you have a go-to meal?  How do you reuse your left overs or use simply what’s left in the freezer?

Time Warp Wednesday

While mid-month approaches on our No Money March Madness, I have been learning and remembering.  We still have plenty of food and are enjoying new recipes.  I have learned to make Quiche, Eggplant, and homemade Pizza Dough.

I have also found myself remembering habits of my grandmothers and my husband’s grandmother.  Well, not just remembering more like resembling.  Yes, I will admit it.  I washed freezer bags that I just couldn’t bring myself to throw away after one use!  The one thing I wish I had stocked up on and stashed away?  Freezer bags!

I have been using freezer bags for leftovers.  I made plans for those little bits of meat and veggies for future meals.  With half the month to go, I realized, I will run out of freezer bags.  Since the object of No Money March is to spend as little money as possible, I washed my freezer bags this week. Our grandmothers truly knew how to save money!  They also knew they could depend on their neighbors.

I learned I could depend on my neighbors too!  I was given an “extra” eggplant and taught how to cook it.  I had to “borrow” some cornstarch for homemade fajita mix.  I was also given some extra dog shampoo from a family who is moving back to the states.  All of these became examples of my time warp.

I felt I had gone back in time to an era, where neighbors shared their gardens, borrowed staple ingredients, and gave to others.  I could picture our grandmothers’ dish drainers stacked with plastic baggies after they had been washed.  I thought of the stacks of fresh vegetables and fruits dropped off at their doorsteps.  Through this adventure, I am beginning to resemble a past era of saving and giving.  Perhaps this will be the greatest lesson of the month or maybe just a lasting memory for our children.  Either way, saving and giving are important habits for every generation.

Planning is the Name of the Game...

           We are six days into No Money March.  I looked into my pantry and freezer.  Then I decided I better find some low cost recipes.  I already plan out our week’s worth of meals.  I try to buy groceries on sale, but also have my staples.  I occasionally try new recipes.  However, I never thought that spending less would give me the opportunity to tackle new dinner recipes! 

            I began looking at cheaper living websites like www.frugalvillage.com and www.frugalliving.about.com for inexpensive dinner recipes.  Then I hit the panic button.  They all began their conversations with how they plan the month’s menu.  I really hadn’t planned at all.  I was just thinking, sure, we’ll eat everything we have in the pantry.  During recent discussions with neighbors and friends, the conversation raised the questions, “What if there were a disaster? How long would our food last?”  Then, I began to plan.

            On Friday, I made two apple pies; usually I cut off the edges of my crust.  I either let my kids play with the dough, or I toss it.  Not this time!  I saved it, and will be use it tonight as the bottom layer of our quiche.  Quiche sounds fancy, but really it’s egg with a toss of other ingredients.  I realized that I have spinach about to go bad.  At this point, to throw out anything would be sacrilege.  We’ll be having a ham, cheese, and spinach quiche. 

            I also made baked potato slices with cheese and bacon on Friday.  Normally I would have tossed the ends of the potatoes I had cut off.  Not this time! I plan to use the ends for another meal.  Baked potato skins will become a nice side dish to a later meal.  Finally, my last example, we had Roast last night.  I saved the left over roast and will use it for Vegetable Beef Soup later this month. 

            Anyway, you get the picture.  I planned our entire month’s menu using what we had in the pantry.  I counted every can of beans, chicken, and corn.  I aligned the boxes of rice and pasta.  Right now, I think we can make it until the 29^th without having any strange meals.  Sure we’re going to have some meatless meals, and our meals may have less meat than usual.  Maybe it will be better for us in the long run.  It will definitely be better for our wallets!  

No Money March Madness

Nearly half of every American makes New Year's Resolutions.  In last year's post, I mentioned losing weight or getting healthy.  That is typically the number one resolution.  Other resolutions on the top of the list are getting organized and saving money and/or spending less.  This year, my family decided to make our resolution to save money and spend less.  We had been reading about different ways families worked to keep this resolution. One idea appealed to everyone.  The idea involved choosing one month where we spend as little money as possible.  We chose March.  So, here we go on our No Money March Madness!

Why did we choose March?  It's a long month!  It's the last of the winter months.  With our eyes on spring and Spring Break, what were we thinking?  We were thinking of Spring Break and the trip we will be taking.  We were thinking about having a little extra money for tours and souvenirs.  We were thinking extra fantastic meals and truly not worrying about the cost when we return from our trip.

We usually consider the cost of everything.  We are frugal family.  Anyone who knows us, is nodding their head vigorously at that statement. I'm smiling.  I watch our budget when I shop.  I love good deals,  especially the clearance rack at Target.  However, living overseas has caused a little strain in our budget.  Since the sequestration and current hiring freeze, I am out of a teaching job.  So that leads us to No Money March.

What are our rules for this month of not spending and saving more?  First, be more conscious of turning off lights, and running water.  Second, run our errands grouped together, drive less, and save gas money.  The next rule will be a difficult one, no traveling.  We live overseas, and will be here for only a short time.  We are trying to travel as much as we can.  Finally, the biggest task to tackle will be to eat all the food in our house before buying more.

This will lead to some interesting meals, I am sure.  I am thinking of myself looking at a few last ingredients and feeling like I am on an episode of the FoodNetwork show "Chopped".  What can I make out of breadcrumbs, the last few granola bars, a can of baked beans, and the last can of chicken?
I plan to involve our whole family on the meal planning so that everyone has ownership in those last few creative meals.  Of course, we will buy milk, eggs, and some fresh fruit along the way.  The idea is to be resourceful while using as little money as possible.

Ultimately it will be a challenge for all of us.  It will also be a unique learning experience of self-control, and needs vs. wants.  It has already lead to good discussions about how to budget.  I'll keep updating as the month progresses.

So, how do you save money? Would you or your family take this challenge?  What do you think you would miss the most when it runs out?

I'm already thinking about how to ration my coffee and my favorite creamer...

The turtle may finish slow, but he finishes!

I was checking my Facebook page, and I saw a picture posted by a friend.  It came from I <3 running's Facebook photo album.    It said "No Matter How Slow you go, You are still lapping everybody on the couch." Under the picture it said "Whether it's a 14 minute mile or a 6 minute mile, it's still a mile."   Here's the link to the page if you want to see it!  http://on.fb.me/xtH6j8

I love this, mostly because I am not a fast runner.  I would love to be faster and continuously work on my speed.  Often, I think speed is the most intimidating factor when running.  As we walk everyday for thirty minutes, what speed are you going?  Fast or Slow, all that really matters is that you go!

Have you been walking for awhile and think running is out of your league?  Why not just try a little more speed?  Speaking of lapping everyone around the couch...Did you know that the Couch-to-5k app, and podcasts are free?  It's a simple download from iTunes.  Listen to as you walk/run.  I think it's an easy transition from walking.  The speaker gives you advice as your start walking, and lets you know when it's time to run and pick up your pace.  The nine week program helps you gradually increase your run time, while still walking in between.  This gradual increase is also great for after an injury or time off from running.  Even if we are ready mentally to run 5 miles, our bodies may not be.

Having a fairly recent surgery, I am working on coming back to running, and this program is just what I needed.  It reminds me to take it slow.  Taking it slow, may not always be the first to the finish line, but moving your body for good health is always a win!

Balance is the key to Life

Recently we've had a lot of snow in the Great Northwest.  My family in Kentucky even heard the snow was coming on their local news.  So with the snow came great adventures: sledding, shoveling, snowballs, shoveling, snowmen, shoveling.  You see the pattern here?  It made me think about my life.  If my life were like a snow day, I would have equal amounts of play, work, and exercise.  However all too often, my life is more work, a little exercise and even less true play.

In honor of this seeking of balance, my family and I have found that Washington rocks, which are round and flat, stack nicely.  We have begun to collect them from the beach or while hiking places.  We have them set up around the house, and my husband even has them in his office.  It has become our symbol of balance.  If one rock becomes overbearing or tips the others, the rocks fall and then everything is off-balance.

To have balance is difficult.  Each piece must be carefully placed on the other, and yet it depends on the other piece to hold it in place.  I love this picture of our snow covered stacking rocks.  My reminder to keep  balance in my life

This week, reflect on your days.  Are they all work and no play?  Are they all work and no exercise? What will you create as a reminder to find the balance you need?

When you First Think About It...

This poster hangs in my closet.  It's old.  I stress an OLD, Nike ad.  I've had it for years and I tape to my closet door.  It has made many moves across the country.  It may be old, but it's still motivating, and so true.  If only I had just put on my running shoes, when I first thought of it!

Motivation is key to obtaining any goal.  It keeps you persevering even when you are ready to quit.  So to keep you on track for moving 3-6-5, here are few ideas for motivation:

1) Cut out your favorite sayings, quotes, or images that motive you and make a quick collage for your closet door.
2) Sign up for free workout music from shape.com and workoutmusic.com.  Here's the link where you can enter your email to receive workout songs this month.  http://bit.ly/wEpdwN 
What's better than free motivating music?
3) Tell a friend your goals and use each other to keep you on track.  Being accountable to someone gives you extra motivation to stick to it.
4) Keep coming back to this blog for more ideas how to keep moving everyday for better health!

Have you been walking this week?  What will help motivate you to move everyday?