A gift I am giving

I found a perfect gift to give this year.  After an earlier post about the cost of gift giving and such, I am happy to post about a gift I am giving and it only cost $15.  This is one of those gifts that fit the budget and will also be a gift that the recipient will really enjoy and it is very useful.

One of the ladies at our church had a Janet basket and she carried everything in it she needed for church.  She had her Bible, her lessons for the Sunday School class she taught and many other items stored in it.  I really liked it. 

So I went to good ole Amazon and found one.  Here is what a Janet Basket looks like:

These baskets come in all sorts of pretty designs.  There are two sizes:  large and small.  I purchased the small Janet basket on Amazon about 1 month ago for $15 and at the time the vendor was offering free shipping.  The dimensions are 9 inches by 16 inches and it is about 10 inches in depth.  The frame is aluminum and the fabric is a very sturdy canvas.

Who will receive this gift?  My mother in law.  I know that this will be a gift that she will enjoy.  It can be used on Sundays to carry her Bible and other items to church or she can put her work related items in it and use it in her car.  It could double as a perfect craft carrier or could be used to take to the grocery store for light shopping trips.  There is a zipper pouch on the outside which is quite handy and the entire basket folds flat. 

So, I got a bargain gift that I know my mother-in-law will really like.  Now, if only I could receive the same thing. 

Sewing a Pretty Hospital Gown for a Mom to Be

Here is a great gift idea for a mom to be.  Make her a pretty hospital gown to wear in the hospital.  I never thought of doing this but my DIL is making a couple of these right now for two friends.

Michael Miller Floral

From Ladybutton Fabrics

She bought fabric that has an almost 1970's retro flower look to it similar to the above print by Michael Miller and she found the pattern at this website. 

Simply download the pattern, print it off, lay it out and sew it.  I remember back to the pictures of me in the hospital holding our newborn sons, and there I am in this ugly hospital gown.  It would have been so nice to wear a gown that was really more stylish and pretty, especially for pictures.  You could purchase a delicate flower print or you could go bold.  She will be adding some trim to the sleeves.  Another suggestion is to pick a more delicate print and add a little lace to the sleeves.

This pattern has velcro in the shoulders so that the shoulders can simply open up just like all hospital gowns.  This is also perfect for nursing moms. 

I just had to share this with those of you that need an idea for a gift for a mom to be or someone else who will be going in the hospital. 

I'm Back -- Took a little break

I had a couple of busy days, mainly cleaning and sprucing up the house, so I haven't blogged for a few days.  Actually I intended to post something Saturday night, but I fell asleep.  Then yesterday we had church programs and an orchestra/choir concert to attend.  By the time we got home we settled in and watched the Survivor Finale episode. 

So here I am .... with 5 days to Christmas and I am just beginning my Christmas baking.  Yep.  I never bake until the week of Christmas.  Well, I shouldn't say never, as I actually started this tradition about 10 years ago.  I used to bake the first week of December and I would freeze the cookies.  Well, they were usually gone by Christmas day, which was a bummer.  I always like to serve Christmas cookies as the dessert for our Christmas meal. 

I can say something else about baking the week of Christmas, it makes the week of Christmas seem more special.  After all, it was only a couple of generations ago when the Christmas tree didn't even get put up until Christmas Eve and the baking was done a few days ahead of Christmas day.  Christmas seemed a lot more special whereas now we start putting up lights right after Halloween.  By the time Christmas arrives, I was getting a little too much Christmas.  That is why I started the Christmas baking the week of Christmas.  It works great for our family. 

Thankfully, it is freezing outside so I can store all of my cookies in tins on the back porch and they will keep well without having to make room in my freezer (which we all know doesn't have much extra room right now anyway).

Today I will begin the baking.  This year I am going to bake cookies to give away to my neighbors.  I have never done this before and I am ashamed to say that I don't know my neighbors or in many cases know them, but not very well.  I have decided to bake simple cookies along with a couple of Christmas type cookies. 

At the grocery store I snagged a great deal on Friday.  Here they are: 

These are Holiday Limited Edition Ziploc Containers.  They were on sale for only $1.25 for a package of two and I had coupons for $1.50 off two packages.  I only paid 50 cents per package or 25 cents per container.  I purchased 10 packages.  These will make great containers for the cookies I will be giving to my neighbors. 

Here is what I will be baking for our neighbors:

Tripple Chipper cookies - oatmeal cookie recipe with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and white chips
Thumbprint cookies - I posted about those here.
Butterscotch bars - a simple brown sugar chewey cookie bar
Oatmeal Chocolate Caramel bars - these have a bottom layer of an oatmeal cookie crust, middle layer of caramel sauce and milk chocolate topped with additional oatmeal cookie dough
Snickerdoodles - a nice sugar, cinnamon cookie
Chocolate crinkles - a chocolatey cookie dough formed into balls and rolled in powdered sugar prior to baking
Brickle Bits Cookies - Heath toffee brickle bits stirred into a chocolate chip type cookie dough
White Chocolate, Macadamia/Cashew cookies - again, a chocolate chip type cookie dough with white chocolate chips and normally macadamia nuts but since I have both macadamia and cashew nuts that I need to use up, I will be putting both in the dough. 

I will have all of these finished by Wednesday and then I will package them up and deliver them on Thursday. 

On Tuesday evening, with my daughter in law's help, I will be making my semi-famous pretzel rods that have been dipped in caramel, then almond bark or chocolate, rolled in crushed M & M's candies and then drizzled with more almond bark or chocolate.

On Thursday I will be baking cut out sugar cookies and peanut butter blossom cookies for my family along with a cereal mix that is covered in almond bark and has pretzels and M & M's candies in it. 

I will definitely take pictures of everything when I am done and will post them. 

But - - I couldn't finish this post without a few of my recipes.  Here they are:

Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars

2 1/4 cups flour, divided
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups cold butter or margarine (yes, 3 sticks of butter)
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 - 12 oz. jar - caramel ice cream topping (such as Smuckers)

In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Set half aside for topping.  Press the remaining crumb mixture into a greased 9" x 13" baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with the chocolate chips.  Whisk the caramel topping and remaining 1/4 cup flour until smooth; drizzle over the chocolate chips.  Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture.  Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack for 2 hours before cutting.  Yield:  4 1/2 dozen.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies 

( I only make this cookie for a very special occasion due to the cost of the nuts.  I am always on the lookout for any sales and when I see macadamia nuts, cashews or pecans on sale, I will buy them and store them in my freezer.  This is truly a cookie that I will only make at Christmas time or to give as a gift to a new mom.)

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (yes, 3 sticks of unsalted butter)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 oz. white chocolate chips
6 oz. macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Cream butter and the sugars.  Add the eggs, one at a time.  Mix in the vanilla extract.  In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Stir into the creamed mixture and fold in the white chocolate and nuts by hand.  Drop by tablespoons - about 8 to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 10 minutes, just until cookies turn golden.  Don't overbake.  Cool on the cookie sheet for 3 minutes and transfer to wire rack. 

Variations:  Can use pecans or cashews in place of the macadamia nuts.

Apple Butter and Applesauce

I finally was able to process all of those apples I bought a couple of weeks ago.  Those apples have been taking up a considerable amount of space in my refrigerator.  I made a total of 21 half pints of apple butter and 9 pints of chunky applesauce.  I want to make more applesauce and I will keep my eyes out for any reduced in price apples.  Besides using apple butter and applesauce for my family, I love to give apple butter away for gifts at Christmas time.

As for what I am going to do with the apple butter and applesauce - well, we love apple butter on toast and biscuits, but it is good for so many more uses.  Apple butter is good spread on yeast dough as a filling for cinnamon-apple rolls.  Also, I use it as a filling for coffee cake and I stir it into quick bread batter for an apple cinnamon bread.  It is equally good in a plain muffin recipe where you fill the muffin cups 1/2 full, dollop in the center some apple butter and top with more batter.  It is very versatile as is the chunky appleasauce.

My recipe for Apple Butter

10 to 12 apples, peeled, cored and chopped (Usually I just cut up a bunch of apples to fill my 4 quart pot)
2 cups sugar
2 to 3 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 to 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Place everything in your cooking pot and let it come to a boil and then reduce the heat.  Be careful not to let the mixture boil over.  Then just cook it down.  When the apples are soft but still hold their shape I take a stick blender and start to puree the mixture.  Keep cooking it down and puree it until it is nice and thick.

In the meantime, have your canning jars washed and in an oven (250 degrees) so as they remain hot.  Put the lids and rings in a saucepan and add water and keep at a simmer so that they remain hot.  Take a canner and fill with water (make sure there is at least 2 inches of water that will cover your canning jars) and set it on the stove to boil.  I do all of this prior to cooking the apples as I know the jars will be hot along with the lids and rings when I am ready to fill them and the canner water will be boiling when I need it.

When the apple butter is at the thickness you desire, fill the jars one at a time, wipe the rims and top with the lids and rings.  Be sure the rings are tight.  Then place the jars in the canner of boiling water and process 10 minutes for half pint jars and 20 minutes for pint jars.  I usually start the timer when the water in the canner has returned to a boil.  Remove the jars from the canner and allow to cool on the counter. Make sure the lids have sealed.  I love the sound that the lids make when they seal.

My Chunky Applesauce Recipe

Apples that have been peeled, cored and chopped (Usually I just cut up a bunch of apples to fill my 4 quart cooking pot)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup brown sugar or more if desired
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon  (add a small amount first and then cook the sauce and add more if desired)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (same as with the cinnamon, taste first and add more if desired)

Cook the apples down until they are soft, mash down with a potato masher leaving small chunks and then continue to cook until the entire mixture is soft and at the desire consistency.  You can puree the entire mixture if you don't like chunky applesauce.  Process as for the apple butter.

I love a chunky applesauce versus the pureed version.  Yes, I add quite a bit of cinnamon and some nutmeg to my applesauce along with a little brown sugar to taste.  Besides serving the applesauce alone as a side dish/dessert, I use it as a filling in coffee cakes and in tarts.  For the tarts I take leftover pie crust and roll it into a large circle. I spread a thick amount of applesauce in the center of the tart and then I take the edges and pull them over the top of the tart.  I bake the tart until it is bubbly and brown and drizzle a little powdered sugar glaze on top.  This makes a super easy dessert as I always have homemade pie crust in the freezer. 

My family loves dessert pizza.  I take my pizza dough and I press the dough onto the greased pizza sheet and let it rise for 15 minutes.  I spread the applesauce on top and then I sprinkle with a streusel mixture.  The streusel mixture is made of some butter, some flour, brown sugar, quick oats and cinnamon that I mix together with my fingers to form a crumbly streusel mixture.  Sprinkle over the top of the applesauce and bake the dessert pizza at 375 degrees til brown and bubbly.  When it comes out of the oven drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze and serve.

Apple Butter and Chunky Applesauce tend to be homemade convenience foods in our home.

I have a Kindle!!

Back in April my DH received a Kindle for his birthday.  He loves it. Recently my MIL called to tell me that she and my FIL wanted to buy me a Kindle.  I was so surprised.  They insisted.  I now own a Kindle. 

In my quest to reduce my spending, a Kindle could really get me sidetracked if I'm not careful.  My MIL told me not to worry as there are many free books you can download and there are books for only 99 cents. 

I have had on my wish list all of Jane Austen's books for a very long time.  Now I have them all on my Kindle and they were free.  I am in heaven.  When we go on vacation I will have a lot to read and if I want more, I can wirelessly download a book from anywhere.

The average price of Kindle books is $9.99 and fortunately with the Kindle you are allowed to preview these books. A lot of the previews are almost one chapter in length which gives me plenty to read in order to make a decision as to whether I want the book or not.  Many books that I thought I would want to read, I have taken off my list after reading the previews. 

But wait there is more.... My MIL told me to order the Kindle and a cover for it and then she would reimburse me.  I ordered the Kindle prior to the price reduction, but when the price was reduced a few weeks after I purchased the Kindle I was given a refund of the difference - $70.00!  I called my MIL to tell her that I would be sending her a check for the refund and she told me to keep it.  I took the $70.00 and applied it to a bill.  That wouldn't have happened before. 

I'm enjoying my gift and I am so lucky to have a MIL and a FIL that love me so much that they wanted to surprise me and give me such an extravagant gift.

Is Kindle a Frugal alternative?

My DH and I buy a lot of books.  By far he is the biggest purchaser of books in our family.  Some are used, some are new bought at a discount and on occasion we have paid full price for a new release.  Last year we bought another book shelf as our book shelves were getting quite full.  That same book shelf is now full and overflowing.

My DH enjoys reading.  After working at a high pressured job, he comes home at night and usually reads for an hour. If he has a day off from work, he spends a few hours reading.  He makes the time for this as it is very gratifying to him and his way to relax.

As soon as he is done reading a book, there are close to 6 to 8 books on his dresser to choose from for his next read.  I in turn tend to buy a few books and set them aside for vacation reading or I try to set aside an evening a week to read. 

In the last couple of weeks my DH has talked about the possibility of buying a Kindle from Amazon.  My thoughts turned to money.  It costs around $260, which is a lot of money to spend right now.  We replaced our washing machine two weeks ago and last week we had to call a plumber to fix a leak in our pipes in our downstairs bathroom.  Somehow $260 seemed like an extravagance, on the surface, until I started to think about it. 

Number One - we have too many books on our bookshelves right now and we have already donated many of our books. 

Number Two - he reads a lot of books in a year. 

Number Three - books downloaded on a Kindle are cheaper and don't take up space on a book shelf

After pondering this one I have come to the conclusion that a Kindle may be a more frugal alternative for him.  Not adding books to a bookshelf is a big plus to me.  Right now I am in a "get rid of stuff" kind of mood, so that is quite an advantage.  Also reading is very important to him, so it is not just a fleeting past time. He is a serious, advid reader. 

For someone that reads a lot of books, a Kindle could be a good investment. 

My DH's birthday is in April and I have managed to save an extra $40 this month from wise grocery shopping.  I know I should be able to save an additional $60 by the time his birthday rolls around.  So $100 will be a good start towards buying the Kindle. I'm certain he will receive some money for his birthday from other family members as well.

In years past I would have pulled out my credit card and ordered the Kindle and paid a small amount until it was paid off.  We don't operate that way anymore and it is a good feeling to save and wait. 

Lastly, if my DH wants to buy a Kindle, he can go ahead and buy it without my approval.  He does not have to ask me permission to spend money.  It is his decision, but since we are living on less we tend to run things by each other. 

I am getting a great deal of gratification of finding ways to cut back and save so that I can give him a gift of money for his birthday.  He will never be expecting this from me and I can hardly wait for him to open his birthday card and find $100 in it. 

In his situation, I do think that the Kindle would be a more frugal alternative.  Oh and BTW - he is on facebook and he twitters. He is so "with it."

Great Deals from Christine "The Menu Mom"

Christine, "The Menu Mom," has a great deal going on her beautiful aprons and Kid Approved Meals Binders that she wants to unload quickly.

She writes "The aprons are made out of boutique high end materials. They are beautiful! They would be perfect for Easter, Mother's Day or Birthday presents. I am selling them at my cost - $17 for women's & $15 for kids which includes shipping & tax. (They retail for $30 plus shipping & tax, so you are getting them 1/2 off). I only have a few of each pattern, so it's first come, first serve."

"For Kid Approved Meals, this is the e-book I sell at www.KidApprovedMeals.com (and some of you may already have) I just revised it last week, so this is the new and improved version. It includes 13 weeks of breakfast & lunch menus with grocery shopping lists, as well as 27 pages of snack ideas. The fun part is that I had custom binders printed to hold the book. These are a limited edition item, as I probably will not get any more binders printed. The price is $20 which includes shipping & tax. The ebook on the website is $14.95. So for $5 more you get 117 pages printed (You can hardly print it at home for that price) plus you get the cute binder & it shipped to you! It's a great deal! Once again, I am just recouping my cost, not making a profit. I just need these out of my house. :) And as I said before it is first come, first serve until we run out."

You can see pictures & shop here:

I purchased the red apron with some money I received for my birthday.  This fits in with my retro kitchen decor perfectly and I couldn't make one for that price. 

These items would make wonderful gifts and they do fall into my frugal category of being a great product and a great deal.  So wander on over to Christine's blog "Dine without Whine" and snatch up some great gifts.

Making Apple Butter

I had intended to post an update by this morning on my coupon and grocery savings for the month but I hit upon a sale at a local grocery store when I went to pick up milk.  They were selling slightly bruised apples for 25 cents a lb.  So today I am making apple butter.  I have already made several jars of apple butter for Christmas gifts to our Sunday School class but I would like to make more for our family's use. 

So today I will be spending time cooking down apples and enjoying the aroma of cinnamon, cloves and apples.