Washing Dishes By Hand

I tried a little experiment this past month with our electric bill. I haven't been as good as I would like to be with the laundry hanging outside to dry so I'm still using my dryer most of the time but I decided to only wash dishes by hand for a month to see if we would save any money. Guess what!?!?! We saved 100 dollars off our electric bill!!! And 20 bucks on our water bill. Obviously our dishwasher isn't as energy efficient as I thought and instead of running out and spending money on a newer model I think I'll be washing by hand for a little while longer. The added bonus is I use a large bowl to catch the rinsed water and then carry that outside to dump on the garden. So no water is wasted. Try your own experiment to see if your dishwasher is as bad as mine :)

Mini-Measuring Cup

I'm not sure if this really qualifies as a kitchen "gadget" as it is super low-tech, but I am still bestowing it with the title 'My Current Favorite Kitchen Gadget'.

To the untrained eye this may look like an run-of-the-mill shot glass. In fact, I included one in Gretchen's recent birthday package and when she fished it out of the gift bag she questioned, "Ah, it looks like a shot glass."

"Ah... but it is so much cooler than that." I responded.
To be fair, we are getting a bit old to be giving each other souvenir shot glasses.

Anyway, if you cook even a little bit, you must be familiar with the standard set of dry measuring spoons. These little sets always cause a bit of kitchen havoc for me. The first problem is: if you only use one spoon, for say, a tablespoon of flour - do you wash to whole set? Another issue is that if you separate those little buggers - forget about ever finding the 1/8 teaspoon ever again! Finally, if you are baking, it is a pain in the butt to use the 1/4 teaspoon for salt after you just used it for vanilla.

That's why the mini-measuring cup is a genius invention. Labeled on various sides with different increments of measurements (tablespoons, teaspoons, and ounces) it is the perfect tool for all of your small liquid measuring. I love it for soy sauce, olive oil, water, and even honey.

They generally run under $5.00. Look for it where kitchen supplies and/or bar tending supplies are sold.

It's a Cocktail Mom's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear GRETCHEN! Happy Birthday to you. Hope you have a fantastic year!

Sesame Carrot Salad

This recipe is from Everyday Food. With the price of groceries constantly growing, I 've been trying to find cheap side dishes to make. Organic carrots are usually the same price, or only pennies more, than regular carrots which make this an great dish to make that is affordable yet still organic.

Sesame Carrot Salad
5-6 carrots peeled, then sliced into ribbons with a veggie peeler
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1-2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 piece (1 inch) finely chopped ginger

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.

I served this dish at room temperature the first time I made it, but I think I liked it even better refrigerated the next day for lunch.

Back to being a Tightwad

There was a time, not too long ago, when my husband and I were raising a child (just 1 @ that time) on 27 thousand dollars a year. And because of our frugal ways we were able to buy and afford our 1st house. My husband now makes a lot more money and we have slacked a bit on our frugal ways. A trap that I think many people fall into when you get a raise or salary increase. For example we have eaten out @ restaurants more in 2008 than we did in the year before and after buying our 1st house.
Well I am pulling in the reins. We are going back to our frugal ways so that we can beef up our savings account. I'd like to try and see if we can live off 27 thousand again but with the cost of food now I highly doubt it. But I'm going to try and come close.

Watch out frugal- tightwad posts will be appearing on the blog soon!

Update on Scrapbook Yard Sale

Well I just had to share a picture of my treasures I got on Sunday. I spent a total of 40 bucks...yup you read that right everything on this table cost me 40 bucks. And some you can't really see cause I had to do a stack of stickers at the top in order to make it all fit for the picture. Some really awesome deals, for example the vellum quote books have 1 page out of 48 missing in each book!! I paid $2.50 for both and they retail for 6 bucks a pop. I'm so excited to finish some pages now.

Current Chinese Tibetan Conflict

I've grown sadder and sadder within the past weeks as I have watched the current conflicts between the people of Tibet and the government of China. I have felt helpless and useless. Sure, I could go online and find some organization to donate nominal amount of money to support Tibetan refugees or write letters to our government asking them to urge the Chinese Government to meet with the Dali Lama, but these actions will not alleviate the heart sickness I've been experiencing over the situation.

In case you've been too bombarded by the plethora of other horrifying news headlines (recession, war, etc.) that are continually developing in our 24-hour news cycle, here are a few of links that have helped me to understand the circumstances currently occurring in Tibet:

The cover story of Time Magazine a few weeks ago was 'A Monk's Struggle'. The story focus's on the Dali Lama's non-violent quest to convince the Chinese Government that he is not behind the separatist movement; however, the Chinese government continually viciously accuses him of being the leader. The Dali Lama is on public record as only wanting autonomy and religious freedom for the people of Tibet. Although there are many Tibetans that do want full-fledged independence, the Dali Lama's firm stance is now, and has always been, that he is willing to work with the China's leaders to develop a state-like autonomy for the Tibetan region that does not require the area to become its own nation.

Recently, The Jim Lehrer News Hour featured the story: Deep-rooted Tensions Surface in Tibet Unrest. The story, which you can watch by following the above link, summarizes the current conflicts and then has several experts discuss the possible outcomes. Perhaps the most disturbing part of this discussion is the fact that all of the guests in the discussion agreed that protesting the Olympic Torch as it is carried or boycotting the opening ceremonies of the games will only cause the Chinese government to punish the Tibetan people.

Democracy Now, a liberal daily new show that you can easily podcast at democracynow.org, recently interview noted Tibetan scholar and personal friend of the Dali Lama, Robert Thurman. Listen to the interview from this link. This interview, like the PBS link, does a good job of covering the recent conflicts but also gives Mr. Thurman's personal view of the situation which is very informative due to his close relationship with the Dali Lama.

Finally, the news of today. Today's New York Time's front page story, "Olympic Torch Goes Out, Briefly, in Paris" covers the recent protest in London and Paris. In both places the path of the Olympic Torch has been lined with protesters that feel the honor of the Olympic Games should not be given to a government that is trying to destroyed the ethnic and religious beliefs on a large population in their country. There is no doubt that there will be more protest tomorrow when the torch is scheduled to travel through San Francisco the only U.S. stop on the torch's journey to Beijing.

In conclusion, I have decided that the best action I can take is to meditate consistently each day dedicating my practice to a peaceful resolution for the people of Tibet. I've tried off and on to stick to a meditation routine for the last three or four years, but I have always been willing to skip a session for the flimsiest of excuses. Skipping one day leads to skipping two and then I'm off the Zafu for weeks. Currently, I am 2 weeks strong meditating everyday. My goal is to have an unbroken practice through the Olympic games in August. Perhaps, by creating the space in myself that meditation fosters, I will find a way to be at peace with the dreadful reality that faces one of the most peaceful groups of people alive on the planet today.

Gardening on the Cheap

When we moved into this house last July the backyard was covered in ivy. I have spent hours clearing out the ivy and digging up the roots. I swear that stuff is like cancer, spreading and suffocating a healthy plant. After I cleared it all away I'm not left with much, but I also am anxious to see what comes out of the ground this year. Already we have some lovely daffodils, ornamental grass and a plant I have no idea what it is but it's appeared in a few places in the backyard. We are at a point where we are watching the funds and picking and choosing what areas of the house get our attention. We laid a flagstone patio so we can have cookouts but we aren't budgeting plant money into the equation this year. So how do I create a pleasing to look at backyard without breaking the bank? I ask my friends and neighbors if they need to thin out any of their plants. I then offer to dig them up and plant them in my yard. I just picked up some garden phlox from a church friend. She is as relieved to get rid of them as I am excited to have free plants! It's a win-win situation.

Freecycle Moderator

I am a HUGE fan of Freecycle. I can't say enough good things about it. Well I have a reached a new level in my freecycle journey, I am now a moderator for the Greenbelt, MD group. What does that mean exactly? Well I help approve "offer", "taken" and "wanted" posts and approve memberships. It's interesting to be on the other side of things now. I have a whole new appreciation for all the freecycle moderators who volunteer their time because they believe in a greener tomorrow.

Mending A Sock

I never thought I would ever do this and maybe it's because my son got a hole in a brand new pair of socks or maybe I am now an extreme environmentalist or just a total tight wad.

But today I sat and mended a hole in a sock.

With the talk of a recession and many newscasters talking of the Depression it's made me think a lot about the extremes that people had to go to in order to get by during that time. It's made me appreciate the many luxuries I do have. It's so interesting the habits people hold onto that lived through the depression.

I hold a special place in my heart for one of our elderly neighbors when I was a kid who when I would visit her house served lemon meringue pie (made from scratch) and while we chatted she would mend socks. And now here I sit, needle in hand ready for the next hole.

Pizza from scratch!

OK this is the first time that I've ever made pizza dough and I can't believe how freakin' easy it is. Why have I been buying frozen crap for so long??

Here is the recipe I used from www.Cooks.com:

1 pkg. Quik Rise dry yeast (Red Star)
1 c. lukewarm water
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. honey
2 1/2 c. flour (I used white flour that says on the packaging "great for breads")
1/2 tsp. garlic powder (no salt)
1/2 tsp. onion powder (no salt)

Mix yeast in water in glass bowl. Add other ingredients. Mix well by hand. Let sit in bowl 5-10 minutes, covered by towel. Flatten on greased pan. Add your own topping. Bake at 450 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Grease hands for nonstick mixing.

My $2 buck dinner that feeds 4!

Tonight I made a dish that I have never made before; Hominy Corn Chowder. My goal was to make a dish that didn't cost a lot and produced barely any waste and I accomplished it!!! And guess what...it even tasted good! Luckily for me the hominy was "reduced for quick sale" and cost me only 50 cents for the entire bag and the sausage was part of a buy 10 for 10 buck deal at my grocery store.
Here is what you need to recreate this inexpensive meal.
1/2 lb Dry Hominy Corn
1 package of sausage formed into small balls
1 small onion chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 stalk of celery
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups of milk
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Soak the hominy in cold water overnight. Drain and rinse. Combine 4 cups of water and the hominy in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. In a medium skillet, cook sausage until browned, drain; set aside. Cook onion and potatoes and celery until tender in a skillet with a tablespoon of oil. Combine hominy, sausage, onion/potato mixture together. Stir in the bouillon cubes, pepper and the milk. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes more and then add the cheese and continue to stir until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!

Computer cable mess- conquered!

I can't stand the messy look of cables behind a desk or TV stand. It drives me nuts! During the office makeover I came up with a really inexpensive way to organize them. Buy plastic tubing from your local home improvement center. I used 1 " black washing machine discharge tubing left over from the remodel. I cut it the size I needed and then using a razor slit it open down one side. The cords all fit nicely in the tube and are no longer an eye sore.

Star Wars Amigurami

Go to Geek Central Station to check out the bloggers amazing Amigurami. There are several free crochet patterns on the blog, including various Lord of the Rings Amiguramis.

I like to pretend that I will make Amiguramis someday but the truth is I just love to look and admire them.

Another truly amazing artist in the Amiguami field is Beth Doherty. You can see here work at Gourment Amiguami. Left is one of my favorite creations of hers.

Schedule Chart for Autism

My oldest son is on the spectrum and his teacher suggested we make a schedule chart for our home to help Logan deal with the transitions from one event to the next during the weekend. I imagine that not only would it be good for autistic kids but neuro-typical kids as well to keep them on track of the family schedule. It may even cut back on whining for a particular item or event if they already know the schedule for the day. I made our chart out of upholstery fabric, but the chart can easily be made by cutting cardboard and using a manila envelope taped to the bottom to hold the cards. The cards are simple images that suggest the event. I got the images from google and laminated the cards so they survive constant handling from a kid.