Slow Going

It's been over a month since I have really changed the way I had been cooking. I'm making progress! We have tried several new recipes and I still have a couple to post on here. There's a sweet and sour pork dish that is really good. For the most part, we have went to all brown rice, whole wheat bread, wheat pasta, wheat tortillas, bagels, and English muffins. I am not making many things with creamed soups and most of our cheese is 2%. Since these changes, I have lost 5 pounds! I do not feel like I have deprived myself of anything. I have ate a few things that weren't very healthy, but we have made significant changes in our diets. Since I have it in my mind that I am helping the family be healthier, it's been easier to change our habits.

I am going to try something else though and it's NOT healthy by no means. Our ladies ministry meets once per month and of course we eat at those meetings. I thought I would make a dessert that I have never made before each time. I have a picture of the chocolate nut pound cake that I made for tomorrow. I will post it later. The recipes will come out of an old southern heritage book that I love. I can hardly wait to try some layer cakes! Hope I can keep my fingers off the desserts!!

Where has the time gone?

This week I visited a few old friends in Ladson. This is Veronica pictured with me. I met her in 1989 and became close friends quickly. I would visit her and a few other friends once or twice a month back in 1990. We would laugh like crazy and just act dumb. I can really let my hair down with her and can tell her anything. She always would confide in me also. Well, as life would have it, things happened and I lost touch with Veronica and a few others. Through the years I would send a card and every so often I would call. I even saw her in 2004 when she celebrated her life (she had a kidney transplant and her husband was the donor). I can't believe it's been 20 years since I have just hung out with her. 20 years is wayyyy to long. This past Christmas I also got in touch with a long lost friend who was in my wedding. I guess this is the year for searching out those that have meant a lot to me through the years and getting back in touch with them. I must say, I am so blessed to have long term friends and time has not erased the special bond between us. When I walked in her door, it's like I had never been gone. I love Veronica and her family very much. She has a great husband, great children (grown), and wonderful friends. Veronica has had a lot of health problems, but that has not changed her sense of humor. I think it's only made her stronger and a better person. I hope I do a better job with keeping in touch the next 20 years!!

Melanie happenings

So much has been happening with Melanie in the past few weeks. She got her ears pierced for Christmas, lost her first tooth (and then another), got her hair cut really short and read The Little Red Hen all by herself! I am so proud of Melanie for reading so well. She is doing a great job in school. Keep it up girlfriend!

Madison loves her books

Madison loves to read and for Christmas she got some Amish books for kids. Today she made a shoo fly pie all by herself from a recipe that was in one of the books. She informed us that the name of the pie is from when the Amish would put the pies outside to cool and they would have to shoo the flies away. Great job Madison!

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

This soup is really tasty. It didn't take long at all to fix and of course inexpensive too. I served this with salad (2 bags from Aldi spinach and garden mix $2.98) bread (low fat grain with flax seed $1.69). I did buy a garlic bread also ($1.69). This served 7 people and we also had enough for leftovers.

1/2 cups miched onion
16 oz frozen broccoli (2 bunches fresh $3.58 at Aldi)
29 oz canned fat free chicken broth (2 containers $3.58 at Aldi)
4 oz Velveeta light reduced fat cheese (already had but I think Aldi has their brand for about $3.00)
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp garlic
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cornstarch

Boil onion and fresh broccoli in a little water drain, then add the chicken broth. Reduce heat to low, add cheese and stir until it melts. Stir in milk and garlic powder. Whisk together water and cornstarch. Add mixture to pan and simmer 2 minutes until thick. Serve hot.
Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

I think next time I won't add milk.

Three Bean and Pork Slow Cooker Chili 20 servings for just $7.03

Ok, here's a big ol' bowl of the chili. It was a hit with the family and seems to tastes better the next day! Below is the recipe and the cost. This is definitely a do over.

1 medium onion chopped ( used 2 $.50)

2 medium garlic cloves, minced (used 4$.25)

1 cup carrots, chopped (2 cups $.75)

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp dried oregano, crushed

1 small jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 pounds lean pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat and cut into 1 inch chunks ($2.58)

15 oz canned black beans, drained and rinsed (2 cans $1.18)

15 oz canned kidney beans, drainined and rinsed (2 cans $1.18)

15 oz cannded pinto beans, drained and rinsed (1 can $.59 plus had a container in freezer)

1 cup canned tomato puree (already had free from Publix)

29 oz canned diced tomatoes with green pepper, celery, and onion, undrained (4 cans of tomatoes$1.96)

6 oz canned tomato paste (already had)

Combine onion, garlic, carrots, chili powder, oregano, jalapeno, salt and pepper in a 5qt or larger slow cooker; stir. Add remaining ingredients; stir again.

Cover and cook on HIGH setting for 6-8 hours. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

This is a weight watchers recipe and the points for it is: 1 cup=5 points

I paid about $7.03 for a huge pot of chili (I doubled the recipe). I had bought the pork from Food Lion for $.86 pound and the rest came from Alidi. The only thing I would do different is buy dry beans, cook them, and have them in the freezer. I left out the jalapeno, but added crushed red pepper. I used about 3 pounds of boston butt instead of tenderoin.

The kids enjoyed this with 2% cheese, light sour cream, and baked tostidos. I did eat a few chips one night with it. We had this 2 different nights and Phillip was also able to take some for lunch.

Something New

Well, I fell off the frugal train the month of December and seem to have not been able to get back on it yet. I have looked at the sales at different stores, but I really haven't seen anything that I have wanted to make the effort to get. Well, today is a new day and I am going to go grocery shopping and get what we NEED at Aldi. I was able to get a Boston Butt from Food Lion that was $.86lb and a chicken that was reduced for quick sale. I will get several meals from the pork and 2 from the chicken. I have 1 pound of hamburger and a pound of sausage that I will make meals out of.

My real challenge is making wonderful tasting HEALTHY and low calorie meals on the cheap. I really do think this will be a challenge, but I'm up to the task. I thought I would post 1 or 2 new recipes each week that we actually made and how much it costs us. I will also post if we liked it or if it was YUCK! I am hoping I will have about a month's worth of new healthy recipes to use again and again. Check back soon for the recipe and review of Three Bean and Pork Slow Cooker Chili. :-)

Heaven's Gain

I usually don't watch the news and I only read the newspaper about once a week. It gets me down listening and reading about all the sadness in the world. Sometimes though, sadness hits you right in the face and you have to deal with it. There's no way around it, but with Christ you can find peace, love, hope, and joy in the midst of a trial. I have seen people being comforted by the Lord more this year (2009) than any other. I was blessed to be able to go caroling during Christmas. Many of these people we visited are dying, even knowing this, they have a peace that I can not describe. A peace one only can find in the Lord. The families of these people also have a peace about them. They know what is looming before them, but with Christ it makes it bearable. We visited one home when we went caroling and on Jan. 2 this young man went on the be with the Lord. He had been battling cancer for almost 5 years. In my worldly eyes, I only see a family losing a husband, father, friend, and son. How difficult that must be. But knowing the Lord, I see a person who is completely healed now and heaven has gained one more child of God that is free of pain. It's been amazing to see family and friends that have rallied around him and his family. Most of these family and friends know God as their personal Savior. They have prayed and supported him and supported each other with the strength of the Lord. What a difference it makes to know the Lord in the midst of trouble. You can go to Him and cast your burdens. He will carry you when it feels like you can't take another step. I'm so glad I know my Heavenly Father. He will always be there to help, bringing the comfort that I need.

John 16:33 These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.