It is insanely green here. Normally, by late July, the landscape turns to tan, punctuated by a green bush or two. Not so this summer...even the hillsides are green, green, green and wildflowers are blooming like crazy. I've rarely seen our trees and flowers so healthy-looking.
But it is hot. Wipe-your-brow and fall-down-panting HOT. I'm headed out to mow the lawn. Pray for me.
Hope your weekend is filled with a cool breeze or two...
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff
WHOOSH...it's some kinda hot around here. The fan's going, the boys sprawled underneath it to use every centimeter of cool linoleum underneath. If I had a permanent fur coat on, I'd be taking advantage of it, too...
Moolany has a great post on making your lifestyle a homemade one, including detergent and other helpful products...some really good ideas here.
Tiger Woods did NOT make the cut on the British Open! (Poor guy.)
Get a free novel for summer reading from Random House. Your choice of 3 books...all you've gotta do is fill out a short form!
And the Rockies taco special is still good at Taco Bell, if you live in Colorado. Whenever the Rocks score 7 or more, you can get 4 tacos for a buck, provided you order a drink, too. The Rocks won last night, with a score of 10. Guess who's munching on tacos tonight?? (But the special is only good from 4-6 p.m.)
Speaking of munching, giant squid seem to be starting to get interested in People Food: "Scientists are not sure why the squid are swarming off the Southern California coast, but they are concerned." Yeah, me too.
And also in its own special place on the food chain, one of the best Mac & Cheese recipes ever. Cooks in a crockpot and is one of the creamiest versions we've tucked into. Frugal Upstate, bless her heart, gave me the original recipe, but I've changed it a bit.
ALL DAY MAC AND CHEESE
16 ounces cooked pasta (until barely al dente)
4 cups cheese (I use cheddar, plus whatever's leftover in the fridge)
1 can evaporated milk**
1 1/2 cups milk (2 cups make it slightly more liquid)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry or jarred mustard
salt and pepper
**if you don't have evaporated milk, substitute this -- 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 cup powdered milk, 1-2 tablespoons butter. Heat until butter is melted, mix, then use or store.
Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Dump the ingredients in, mix. Cook on 'low' setting 2-3 hours. (Frugal said 2-5 hours, but ours got too brown around the edges after 4 hours.) Stir and serve. That's it!
Frugal Upstate will throw in a bit of wheat germ; a few tablespoons of sour cream, stirred in just before serving, are a good addition, too. If you're gone all day, try setting the crockpot on 'warm' instead of 'low' -- it should weather a 5-7 hour period nicely.
Yum. And doesn't heat up the kitchen too badly, either. Have a great weekend!
Moolany has a great post on making your lifestyle a homemade one, including detergent and other helpful products...some really good ideas here.
Tiger Woods did NOT make the cut on the British Open! (Poor guy.)
Get a free novel for summer reading from Random House. Your choice of 3 books...all you've gotta do is fill out a short form!
And the Rockies taco special is still good at Taco Bell, if you live in Colorado. Whenever the Rocks score 7 or more, you can get 4 tacos for a buck, provided you order a drink, too. The Rocks won last night, with a score of 10. Guess who's munching on tacos tonight?? (But the special is only good from 4-6 p.m.)
Speaking of munching, giant squid seem to be starting to get interested in People Food: "Scientists are not sure why the squid are swarming off the Southern California coast, but they are concerned." Yeah, me too.
And also in its own special place on the food chain, one of the best Mac & Cheese recipes ever. Cooks in a crockpot and is one of the creamiest versions we've tucked into. Frugal Upstate, bless her heart, gave me the original recipe, but I've changed it a bit.
ALL DAY MAC AND CHEESE
16 ounces cooked pasta (until barely al dente)
4 cups cheese (I use cheddar, plus whatever's leftover in the fridge)
1 can evaporated milk**
1 1/2 cups milk (2 cups make it slightly more liquid)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry or jarred mustard
salt and pepper
**if you don't have evaporated milk, substitute this -- 1 1/2 cups warm water, 1 cup powdered milk, 1-2 tablespoons butter. Heat until butter is melted, mix, then use or store.
Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Dump the ingredients in, mix. Cook on 'low' setting 2-3 hours. (Frugal said 2-5 hours, but ours got too brown around the edges after 4 hours.) Stir and serve. That's it!
Frugal Upstate will throw in a bit of wheat germ; a few tablespoons of sour cream, stirred in just before serving, are a good addition, too. If you're gone all day, try setting the crockpot on 'warm' instead of 'low' -- it should weather a 5-7 hour period nicely.
Yum. And doesn't heat up the kitchen too badly, either. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Win A Summer Read! (Or CD or DVD)
Want to win a $10 Amazon card? Saving Cents in the City is celebrating her one-year blogging anniversary, and giving one away. You'll find the blog enjoyable, too....
I'm Melting...
Got a kid going (or going back) to college? These tips from a mother-and-son duo may be of help. (They won't hurt for high school students, either.)
And some everyday tips from a "bargain stalker."
Once again, it is hot hot HOT. Thank God for smoothies, a cooler breeze and a waterhose.
And some everyday tips from a "bargain stalker."
Once again, it is hot hot HOT. Thank God for smoothies, a cooler breeze and a waterhose.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
So What's Good on a Frugal Weekend?
Picking fresh vegetables out of your garden...or getting them at a farmer's market.
(Our wonderful neighbors just gave us a sackful of peas and onions...stirfry for supper tonight!)
Smoothies made with fresh fruit.
(Especially Michigan strawberries and Western Slope peaches.)
Sleeping in! (Pure luxury)
Homemade pancakes and waffles...to make it extra nice, pure maple syrup on top.
Beef stew or chili, slowly simmering in the crockpot all day.
(And knowing all that's needed for supper is crackers and cheese.)
Watching a Five-Buck-Club movie at the nearest Kerasote theater.
($5 for first-run movies, once you've got the free club card! Go here for yours.)
Swimming at a friend's pool. Or spending the afternoon at one of the town pools.
A vase of flowers on the dining room table, courtesy of your garden. (Or nearby meadow.)
A Really Good Old Movie, enjoyed with homemade popcorn (the dogs begging for snacks), snuggled next to Husband.
A Really Good Book, like The Glass Castle (an amazing frugal memoir), plus a hammock...and a few hours of uninterrupted time. (Best enjoyed after you do something strenuous, like mow the lawn.)
Ah, summer....
(Our wonderful neighbors just gave us a sackful of peas and onions...stirfry for supper tonight!)
Smoothies made with fresh fruit.
(Especially Michigan strawberries and Western Slope peaches.)
Sleeping in! (Pure luxury)
Homemade pancakes and waffles...to make it extra nice, pure maple syrup on top.
Beef stew or chili, slowly simmering in the crockpot all day.
(And knowing all that's needed for supper is crackers and cheese.)
Watching a Five-Buck-Club movie at the nearest Kerasote theater.
($5 for first-run movies, once you've got the free club card! Go here for yours.)
Swimming at a friend's pool. Or spending the afternoon at one of the town pools.
A vase of flowers on the dining room table, courtesy of your garden. (Or nearby meadow.)
A Really Good Old Movie, enjoyed with homemade popcorn (the dogs begging for snacks), snuggled next to Husband.
A Really Good Book, like The Glass Castle (an amazing frugal memoir), plus a hammock...and a few hours of uninterrupted time. (Best enjoyed after you do something strenuous, like mow the lawn.)
Ah, summer....
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Giant Creatures Slide Show
These are wayyyy cool, including a shark and tarantulas I wouldn't want to meet up with in a dark alley. Go here.
How Americans Spend
...at least based on a 2007 survey.
This seems woefully out of date, but here's JD's post on it, in case you're interested.
And a closer look at the 'official' diagram.
We don't seem to fit much of anywhere on this puppy. We don't smoke, don't spend anywhere near what the 'average' is on alcohol, probably do about 2% of our income on clothing. (Mostly Husband's taste for expensive shoes -- though he even buys those on clearance, and wears them to death.
Maybe you're closer to the mark. But I doubt it.
This seems woefully out of date, but here's JD's post on it, in case you're interested.
And a closer look at the 'official' diagram.
We don't seem to fit much of anywhere on this puppy. We don't smoke, don't spend anywhere near what the 'average' is on alcohol, probably do about 2% of our income on clothing. (Mostly Husband's taste for expensive shoes -- though he even buys those on clearance, and wears them to death.
Maybe you're closer to the mark. But I doubt it.
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