Countrified Hicks

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Homemade "TV" Dinners

Today I am going to share with you another one of my frugal tips on what to do with your leftovers. I often do freezer meals and do them in a large cake pan. Our family does not eat like it used to and often, we may have over a half of a cake pan leftover. Sure, we may grab a bit for a late night snack or eat it for lunch the next day but that is it. Instead of wasting it, I put it in a divided container with some vegetables and freeze it for a homemade "TV" type dinner.

This works out great. If you have one or two pieces of chicken left-over or just a bit of meatloaf, put it in the tray, add a side dish and freeze. Now if you ever need it, there are nutritional, single-sized meals that just need to be microwaved. So much cheaper and better than the TV dinners you can buy and there is no waste. Another idea is pack one in your husband's lunch instead of a sandwich!

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Friday, January 11, 2013

How to save money

Recently, I received an email from a follower who needed some money saving ideas. Many of them I have posted before but came up with some more and decided to post here for everyone. If you have an idea that is not here, please leave a comment. Let's help each other save some money.

Try to limit your driving. Your hubby driving to work is a necessity but if you need to drop off mail, go to the library, pay a bill, or go to the grocery store, have him do these things on the way to work or on the way home to limit your gas usage.
Also, NEVER buy from a convenience store. Plan ahead so you don't have to buy overpriced items there.
If you or your hubby buy fountain drinks, coffee, etc. stop. Pack a thermos. Buy a 2 liter of soda and fill up a cup with ice and pop from home. If you can, cut soda out of your diet. Drink iced tea, coffee, etc. A lot cheaper.
For snacks, instead of microwave popcorn, buy a bag of unpopped popcorn and cook it on the stove. A bag is a dollar and can make TONS of popcorn with it.
Try to go to the grocery store once a month or every 2 weeks. The more you go to the grocery store, the more you end up buying. Make a list and stick to the list. Don't splurge shop. Eat before you go and look only for items on your list.
Instead of buying cookies, buy some chocolate chips or peanut butter and make your own.
If you really are struggling, cut off the cable and cell phones. Get a straighttalk phone and plan from wal-mart. $30 for 1000 minutes or $45 a month for unlimited.
To lower your water bills, drink from the same glass all day long and wash it only at night (instead of using a different one all day). Some families only flush after a bowel movement and close the lid at all times.
Wash clothes only when they are truly dirty. If they are a bit musty, throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet for 15 minutes to freshen them. Or in the warmer months, wash your laundry outside and hang on the line to dry like we do here.
Check your dryer often. Don't overdry the clothes and waste electricity.
If you use a dishwasher, turn it off before the end heat cycle and let the dishes dry naturally to save electricity.
Make your own dishwasher soap, fabric softener and laundry soap. This saves a LOT of money.
Instead of buying boxed mac and cheese, rice-a-roni, etc. Buy rice or pasta and make it yourself. You get a lot more for your money and it tastes better too.
Make your own bread and pizza's instead of ordering out or buying frozen. Tastes so much better!
Use freecyle. If you need a dresser, clothes, or whatever, post to freecycle what you need and see if you can get it free first. You'd be surprised.
If you have stuff to sale, take it to a consignment store or even better, post it online on Facebook at your local "garage sale" page. For example, for my area "Talihina yard sale page, or Leflore Country yard sale page". You can sell about anything. Your jeans that don't fit anymore and you get more than you would at a consignment shop or garage sale generally.
Buy generic. Check labels and if it is the same, buy it cheaper. Check wal-mart's 88 cent aisle for cheap meds. They have alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, cold meds, etc. for 88 cents. Ask pharmacy people to direct you to them.
Instead of your hubby buying lunch, send him a lunch to work. It doesn't have to be just a sandwich. Get creative. Most employers have a refrigerator and microwave so you can send just about anything. Add a little love note in with it to really brighten his day!
Buy bagged potatoes and use for side dishes instead of box items. Make french fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, etc. It is more work but you get a lot more for your money. Also, if potatoes or onions are on sale, put them in panty hose and put them in your closet. They can save like that for up to 9 months.

That is how you do the onions and potatoes. Tie a knot between each one and cut off one when you need it. I tie 3-4 potatoes together though instead of individually. Also, if you buy a green pepper or onion and you don't use it all, dice it up and freeze it in a baggie for next time so you have no waste.
Cutting down on sodas and eating out will save you the most. Before you buy anything, ask yourself if you really need it or if you have to eat out, do you need a $8 meal or can you buy a $1 burger from McD's to hold you over until you get home. Or hey, your kids want a bag of Doritos. They cost $4.00. Is it worth $4 or say "hey, let's buy a bag potatoes (for french fries) and a pound of hamburger meat and we can have hamburgers and french fries for the same cost". When I am out and think about buying a fountain soda, I always ask myself, what else could I use that $2 for? Makes you really reconsider purchases.
As far as clothes, shoes, etc. buy used when you can or get it free from freecycle. Shop 2nd hand stores, etc.

Here are a few more posts to help you:

Frugal Living: How to Waste NOT

Free samples and Rewards programs

Leftovers

How to live off of $1300 a month

Cheap, fun activity

Making your own instant oatmeal packets

How to make your own play-doh

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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

French Toast Casserole

One of my hubby's all time breakfast favorites is my French Toast Casserole. He absolutely loves it. It is simple to make and really tastes great. I made it for him recently and decided to share with you all how I make it.

French Toast Casserole

12 slices of bread

4 eggs

1 1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 T. butter

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Melt your butter and pour it into a cake pan to coat the bottom. Line the bottom of the pan with the slices of bread.

Now, in a large bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla. Lay 6 pieces of bread in the bottom of the pan. Pour over the bread and let sit about 5 minutes to soak in. Then lay 6 more pieces of bread on top and pour the rest of the milk mixture on top.

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Finally, sprinkle the cinnamon and nutmeg over the top. Bake for 40 minutes.

Perfection!

This French Toast Casserole goes great with a cup of Countrified French Vanilla Coffee!

Be sure to top these pancakes with some Easy & Delicious Homemade Pancake Syrup. Everything it takes to make the syrup are already in your pantry.

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Take a Walk with Me...

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in SE Oklahoma and the boys and I decided to take a little walk around the property. I took the camera with me and took pictures of things that interested me. Hope you enjoy them.

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Sunset through the trees

Black birds circling above

My 14 year old and this big Cedar tree. It would make a gorgeous Christmas tree. Perhaps we should try to decorate it next year.

Just another pretty view

Yes, this is just a picture of dead leaves but isn't it calming to look at?!

Yes, it was this warm yesterday here in SE Oklahoma in December. This is a view of part of our private road leading to our home.

Our beautiful watch dog Sheera. She is so great with our family but very protective of us and our property.

Sheera again.

Yes, Sheera again. I can't help it, we think she is so pretty and we love her so much!

Another view of the sunset.

Another Cedar tree. This one is much taller than the other one but not as "fluffy". :-)

I love how these trees are "merged" together.

The view off of my front porch looking over the shed.

I know it shows a lot of bare trees but I think trees in the winter months have beauty in them also. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I appreciate you all.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Homemade Reeses

This is one of my favorite candies to make. My husband who despises real "Reeses" and can't stand peanut butter and chocolate together actually loves these too. They are soooo good.

Homemade Reeses

2 sticks butter
1/3 box of graham crackers

1 lb. powdered sugar
1 c. peanut butter

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

First melt the margarine in the microwave.

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Open up the box of graham crackers and remove one package from the box.

Crush up the package of graham cracker into really small crumbs. I usually do this before opening up the plastic. Pour the crushed package into the bowl of melted margarine.

Now get the peanut butter and measure out 1 cup and add it to the mixture.

I used creamy peanut butter this time but it is equally as good with crunchy peanut butter.

Now stir in the powdered sugar. Here is what it looked like after adding it in.

But since we have to pat it down by hand, we added a bit more until it looked like this:

Now, get out a cookie sheet and pour the mixture into it. Wash and dry your hands and begin patting it down firmly like so....

My husband patting it down...

In a clean and DRY bowl, pour in the chocolate chips.

Melt the chips in the microwave in 30 second bursts for the first minute and then for 15 second intervals. Stir in between times with a clean and DRY spoon. Once they are all melted, pour on top of the graham cracker mixture and smooth it out with a spatula.

Set it in the refrigerator or freezer to harden. We stick ours in the freezer for 30 minutes because it hardens faster which means we can eat it sooner. :-) Once the top has harden, cut into serving pieces and enjoy.

The finished product.

Any pieces not eaten right away, place in the refrigerator to enjoy later.

Be sure to try my Old Fashioned Potato Candy, Root Beer Float Fudge and my Chocolate Billionaires too!