Crochet Stash Bag

This is my stash bag that I created based off a pattern I found on the net the changes I made where small I made it larger and created longer handles as I usually find handles on most things are not right length for me..This bag took a LONG time for me..2 weeks...working here and there....

Crockpot Yogurt

MAKE SURE YOU SET A TIMER...THEN UNPLUG FOR 3 HOURS SET TIMER AGAIN THIS ALLOWS THE THE MILK TO COOL TO AROUND 110*F BEFORE YOU ADD IN YOUR YOGURT CULTURE..



REMOVE 2 CUPS OF THE WARM MILK AND MIX TOGETHER WITH THE YOGURT CULTURE TO TEMPER THE MIX AS TO NO KILL THE ACTIVE CULTURES BEFORE ADDING IT TO THE WHOLE CROCKPOT OF WARM MILK.

I USED MY WHISK TO MIX IT WELL HOWEVER I SHOULD HAVE JUST STIRRED IT AS IT CREATED LOTS OF AIR AND BUBBLES...














LOVE THIS YOGURT I WILL BE MAKING A LOT MORE IN THE FUTURE.. COST FOR ME WAS JUST THE CULTURE $1.00 SINCE I ALREADY HAD THE POWDERED MILK IN THE CABINET. NEXT TIME I WILL TRY WITH FRESH MILK AS WELL SO FOR $1.79 FOR A GALLON I CAN GET 4 QTS OF YOGURT FOR MY SMOOTHIES...

Baking Mats

I have been purchasing parchment paper for $5.00 a roll and usually using about maybe one cookie sheet worth maybe a week....and foil $1.00 for a roll using about 1/2 a roll a week maybe....WHY?????? When for $10 each I could purchase baking mats that are reusable and washable...:O) So I saved my $$ and bought them... I will also be using the pre-sized foil since I have a toaster oven that I use daily and use those for quick clean up..

Update: Been testing out LOVE it best thing I have bought in a long time...I will be getting these for my mom along with 2 new cookie sheets( trust me her's are REALLY bad/dark old)

July Spending Part 2

July 11 Update..Total Spent $93.93 savings $48.77 :O)

Safeway Spent $26.39 saved $39.68 purchasing clearance items/in store sales/coupons on products in store..(didn't bring any coupons with us)

• 1 Bailey's coffee creamer $2.99 1/2 off clearance sticker paid $1.49
• 2 mountain High yogurt $2.68 each 1/2 off clearance sticker paid $2.68 total for 64 oz of yogurt!!
• 5 package of Ground Turkey =Sales $3.99 each plus 1/2 off clearance sticker plus $1.00 off each package coupon $9.95
• 4 package of eggrolls $1.99= total price was $7.96 other stores charge $2.99 each
• 4 package of strawberries 96 cents each paid $3.84

Costco spent $9.96 and $36.16

• 2 huge bottle of Pandra Express Orange sauce for DD $4.98 each
• 2 Bakers Splat Mat's for me $19.99 these are for huge baking sheets
• 1 ALL metal ice cream scoop $2.39 ( the plastic & metal one I had bent in half...)
• 1 large can of tomato paste $3.59 will freeze in ziplock for use later in recipes
• 1 large jar of Minced garlic $3.99
• 1 large container of taco Seasoning $3.89 this will last over a year :O)

Fry's spent $21.42 saved $7.10 plus vip card $1.99

• 1 jar mustard $1.00
  
• 3 containers of whole grain rice milk on clearance .89 cents each was $1.79 each saved $2.70
  
• 1 container of yogurt $1.79
• 1 soy creamer 99 cents clearance was $3.89 saved $2.90
  
• 1 soy half and half $1.49 was $2.99 saved $1.50
  
• 1 jar pickles $1.49
• 1 apple juice $1.65
• 2 cases of soda $10.00

July Spending Part 1

Budget/Shopping for July $34.17-$7.00-$20..

• 5 lbs of Shredded cheese to repackaged into 2-1 gallon bags (froze 1)$13
• 2 containers of sour cream $$3.00
  
• 1 package of tortilla $2.59
  
• 2 packages of wonton wraps $5.00
• 2 bunches of green onions .58 cents
• 5 seedless watermelon-1 laundry tub-$10 (for work potluck)
  
• 2 containers of ice cream $3.99 get one free with purchase
• 1 container of milk clearance 84 cents
• 1 container of glycerin $2.50
• 2 containers of strawberries $2.00
• 2 sodas-$10
• 2 loaves french bread $ 3.00
  
• 1 bag of Reeses for dd $2.00
• 1 Frozen Yogurt $ 2.50
• 1 bag of ice $1.50
• 
  

Homemade Potato Wontons

I had lots of potatoes sitting around the house and recently I had some potato pierogies from a box that usually cost about $3.00 a box for say 10 of them..I thought I can make them cheaper, get more and mix and match fillings for quick summer time meals plus right now use up 10 pounds of potatoes..

Break down of the cost of several meals... $5.00

Time to prep food & bake under 1 hour
Potatoes in the pantry FREE
Butter from the frig FREE
Sour Cream from frig FREE
Shredded chicken from freezer FREE
Shredded Cheese from frig FREE
Wonton Wrappers $5.00

DD wanted shredded chicken and cheese as she is not a mashed potato person...

Crocheted Beach Style Bag

These are 2 crocheted beach size bags I made for someone I like the idea of the draw string since it will allow you to HOLD whatever you place in the bag even if it's larger then then bag with out falling out of the bag...plus the bag expanse to fit the size of your items...

Deals

In the weekly ads in the mail came a coupon for a free bottle of coke at Target as they were advertising that the local store was now selling more foods/produce/meats like a neighborhood market..:O)
So I got the free bottle of coke while shopping for a few other things I was told about a few more deals from an employee :O) Score.. they got their containers of mushroom shipment but it was the wrong size too big so they needed to sale/move them asap 46 cents a for 16 oz grabbed 2 :O) then I was also able to grab for 46 cents as well coleslaw mix :O0 perfect for wraps for me...

While I was at Safeway today as well I grabbed another 1/2 gallon of Lactose milk for dd $4.79 regular price 50% off $2.39 found a $1.00 off coupon got it for $1.39 :O) score into the freezer into mason jar it went...

Clearance Deals and What Knot

Stopped by my local Safeway to grab some milk I saw on sale in the weekly flyer $1.59 per gallon since I was out.. While bopping around the isle in the cold area I came across a few deals...

• 2 half gallons of Lactose Free Milk for dd $1.79 each 50 % off I quickly grabbed 2.

Went to Walmart and grabbed a case of quart size mason jars for the milk to be froze in the freezer for use later...$8.60..plus they are reusable so super score LOVE MASON JARS

• 1 half gallon of 2 % milk for me for 88 cents

• 2- 32 oz bags of Asian Stir Fry veggies $8.49 each but was 50 % off
• 8 containers of individual yogurt $69 cents each 50 % off tossed this in the freezer for making shakes later :O)

Other Store deals

44 oz of Arm and Hammer Laundry Soap was $5.99 Buy on get 2nd free plus I had $1.00 off coupon so got 2 for $4.99

Wheathin Crackers $1.88 but they had a coupon for free Ritz snack crackers on them so I bought 3 boxes and got 3 boxes for free crackers :O)

Once A Month Meals Day 3

Ground Turkey was the meat challenge as well as trying to locate the meat on sale....
Well I got super lucky....I was able to pick up 16 lbs of ground turkey plastic tubes for 92 cents each..:O) Yippie......Off to cooking I went...

• 11 Baked Ziti in mini bread loaf pans (2 servings)

• 12 Taco Wontons wraps

• 7 mini bread loaf package of Meatloaf (2 servings)

• Enchilada sauce to freeze for quick meal prep
  

Drawstring Produce Bag

I have been using re-usable grocery bags for months LOVE THEM...The reasons way...

• No Breaking issues- got tired of having to double or triple bag items
  
• Easier to bag and carry
  
• Less plastic bags taking up my house-I do get some for the kitty litter :O)
• Less bags needed I have 6 bags and that is usually all I need :O)

But on a recent trip to the produce to department I grabbed a few plastic-thin bags to get produce and things keep falling out of the bag so yet again I had to double and triple and I remembered seeing crocheted produce bags online.. I figured I could find a pattern and give it a whirl and this is what I got.........



Update: 5-14-2011

After crocheting the first orange bag I decide to create one more with a bowl/hat like style bottom due to I wanted to prevent produce like grapes from falling threw the large bottom holes so by doing the bowl effect and the holes on the top it allows for both :O) very happy with this pattern I created... I will also hold 4 balls of 2.5 oz crochet yarn as well lol.. I didn't have any fruits or veggies to put in it for a picture....

Once A Month Meals Day 2

I have 2 crock pots cooking 4 huge packages of chicken breast to make the following meals...

24 Chicken Cheese Enchiladas
9 (16oz ) containers Chicken Lentil Chili
7 (16 oz ) containers of Chicken Pot Pie
2 more meals of just chicken breasts

Spending June 11

Fry's-Spent $31.94 Saved=$14.15
Fry's-Spent $15.91 Saved= $1.07
Fry's- Spent $33.22 Saved= $1.19
Fry's- Spent $5.45 Saved= $1.60

Trader Joe's Spent $17.91
Smart and Final Spent $12.76
Smart and Final Spent $7.87
Walmart Spent $9.89
Bakery Outlet Spent $4.56
Sprouts Spent $ 24.18
Lee Lee Oriental Market Spent $5.77
Dollar Store Spent $ 24.00


Total Spent $193.46

Update 5-14-11

Walmart Spent $17.88 & $20.89
Trader Joe's Spent 20.23 &12.65
Smart and Final Spent $4.08
Ranch Market Spent $2.37
Basha's Spent $4.44
Fresh and Easy Spent $10.35

Total for this week----$92.89


Update June 20th,11

Safeway Spent $3.97 and $31.11 but got $8.97 back in refund
Walmart Spent $8.60
Safeway Spent $15.90
Sprouts Spent $16.84

Total for this week $ 41.34



Totals $327.69

Once A Month Meals

Well my story starts with a small disaster my full size freezer accidentally was unplugged....Lost my bulk meals/meat supply/ extra freezer items....I figure around $300 or so plus time and lots of energy... What did I do to fix this mess.. Broke out my Dinner meal planner I created 2 weeks ago that listed all the meals we like I got close to 30 I was very surprised....since I usually can't figure out what I what for dinner...

Step 1 Figure out which meals could be made cheap and freeze well plus use what I have in the pantry as well.....

Step 2 First Cooking Session as small due to I did the shopping and the cooking all in day one...( that is was pushing it but had to be done)

• 6 bread loaf size Lasagna
• 6 1 cup portion Chicken Sloppy Joe's
• 30 Southwestern egg rolls
• 11 baggies of shredded chicken for wraps
• 2 meals of chicken breasts
• 3 quarts of Chicken Noodle Soup

1 quart baggie of shredded carrots &1 quart baggie of celery
for another batch of soup later next month....

I went shopping for the above items and still have more planned to make tomorrow just my brain is tired and so am I.....

Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

I am sure you have empty liquid soap container laying around the house but no extra liquid soap to fill them up. I have read on the net about making homemade liquid soap my first thoughts were as follow...Why make it? Will it work the same? How hard is it to make it? Is it worth it?


I read that you use about 1 cup of soap shaving and about 3 cups of water so I filled the bottles with water ( I had 2 empty) twice then poured that into stainless steal.

I had a very small soap sliver of Glycerin left and shredded it with a small hand grater that I had.

I boiled the water then dropped the grater soap slivers into the hot boiling water for 1 min then turned it off to allow to cool.

Allowed to cool to room temp you will notice the difference in both color as well as it is thicker like pudding..

I was able to slowly pour it into the 2 bottles it was VERY THICK and Goopy yet to use it I just added a little more water into the bottle and pushed and it worked Perfectly and the cost was just Time...I will need to check the recipe in the AM and see if I needed to add more water to the bottles.


Update 6-1-11 The Goopy stuff got to be VERY VERY Thick to thick to get out of bottle via the pump so I have emptied it into another container and ALOT more water seems to be alot better...