Frugal Recipes

Wow, this might be a record for me; three posts in three days!  I've had these posts in mind for ages it's just been a matter of finding the time to sit down and put them together. 

One thing that I always seem to struggle with is the grocery bill.  We don't eat processed foods very often (more as an occasional treat) so it's very hard to find coupons for what I do buy - which is a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.  One thing I have been trying to do is find some good, frugal recipes that are also healthy.  One challenge is that we have some dietary restrictions to deal with.  Anyway, I recently came across these two recipes and they were both a hit so I thought I'd share.  I did make a few modifications (which I've noted below).  I also have included a recipe for "cream sauce without the cream" that works beautifully as a substitute for a white sauce.  It's non-dairy so a great way to enjoy many favorites without having to deal with digestion/allergy issues.

Creamy Tuna Stuffed Shells
For this recipe I left out the milk, increased the broth to 2 1/2 cups and let simmer a bit longer to thicken.  You could also use the "cream sauce" ,that I mentioned above, in place of the milk and flour but I didn't have any on hand and didn't have the time to make it.  I used frozen spinach in this and it worked beautifully.

Potato Leek Soup
This soup is great as it's non-dairy but because of the pureed potatoes is very creamy.  I left out the marjoram (didn't have any) and added in some garlic powder.

Cream Sauce without the Cream
I use brown rice in this and just let it simmer for 45-50 minutes.  This recipe makes about 6 cups and freezes beautifully.  I freeze in 2C amounts and just thaw before using.  It will separate a bit but as you reheat it just stir good and it comes back together fine.

Enjoy!

Postscript to a poem

Yesterday I shared the poem titled "The Rose".  I love the message behind the words...only God can perfectly orchestrate the events in our lives.  In truth though, more often than not I struggle with this.  I fight against God.  I ask why and I mourn the loss of what I had dreamed.

I know in my head that God's way is perfect, that he has known me since before all time - knows me better than I know myself - yet I still fight.  The illusion of control is strong and I want to plan everything, control everything.  It's hard to trust!  I trust people and they disappoint me, hurt me.  The trouble is I tend to put God on this same level,  will he hurt me?  disappoint me?  He takes my plans & dreams and turns them upside down.  Can I really trust enough to say "Yes" and wait for Him to reveal how everything has been for my best (even if I have to wait until Heaven?).  It's tough to "let go and let God" it's tough to realize that all my "perfect" plans have been thrown out the window and ultimately to realize, once again, that control is just an illusion.  I was reading a book recently and came across this quote.

"Lament is a cry of belief in a good God, a God who has His ear to our hearts,

a God who transfigures the ugly into beauty.  Complaint is the bitter howl

of unbelief in any benevolent God in this moment, a distrust in the love-beat

of the Father's heart." ~Ann Voskamp

It was a great reminder to me that my complaints are unbelief in God's goodness and a distrust in His love for me.  This lead to another thought; if I'm distrusting God who am I trusting in...ultimately myself, my plans...how prideful!  

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is in Ezekiel.  The Israelites have chosen to worship other gods and God is speaking to them about all He has done for them.  How He loves them and why their unfaithfulness is so hurtful to Him.  It has been a challenge to me that when I serve the gods of self & pride -when I think I can do a better job with my life - I am hurting the one who loved me so much that He sacrificed His Son so He could spend eternity with me. (I John 4:10)  This passage is also such an encouragement; I've read the following passage many times when I just need to hear that He loves me even when I'm unlovely, that He accepts me, finds me beautiful, cares for every detail of my life and heals every hurt I face.  Yes, life is hard.  I will have times of fighting God but I pray those times become less as I realize that while I can lament the ugly/unpleasant things in my life I can always trust that God is good and that He loves me...always!

Ezekiel 16:4-14

And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. ⁵ No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born.

⁶ “And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ ⁷ I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.
⁸ “When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. ⁹ Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk^{, 11} And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. ¹² And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. ¹⁴ And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.

A poem to share

Several years ago I found this poem and ever since have kept it in the cover to my Bible.  There is no author listed and I don't even remember where I found the poem.

When I first saw this poem I thought it was a great reminder.  As life has gone on, tragedies have struck, life has taken twists and turns that I never expected and there have been many hurts.  Along with these there has been the clear guiding hand of God and I have seen many blessings and growth not just in myself but in others facing difficult or unexpected circumstances.  The words of Isaiah ring so true

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 

 

The Rose

It is only a tiny rosebud -

A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals

With these clumsy hands of mine

The secret of unfolding flowers

Is not known to such as I - 

The flower God opens so swetly

In my hands would fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud

The flower of God's design,

Then how can I think I have wisdom

to unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading

Each moment of every day,

And I'll look to Him for His guidance

Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me

My Heavenly Father knows -

I'll trust Him to unfold the moments 

Just as He unfolds the rose.

Update on Goals and a few recipes to share.

I've finished some of my goals already so I thought I would update what is done.  I also wanted to share two of my standby recipes.  First, the goal update.


Goals:
1) Finish reading "Crazy Love" - DONE
2) Read 2 presidential biographies (Garfield & Harding books are on the way) - finished one still reading the Harding book
3) Continue attending More for Moms & Mom's Night Out - Done so far
4) Continue running for as long as possible - Still running 4-5 times a week
5) Use Prenatal Fitness Fix DVD regularly - Not regularly but do this sometimes when I don't run.
6) Finish crocheting Keira's blanket - DONE
7) Crochet blanket for baby (once we find out gender) - still waiting to find out gender
8) Set up daily schedules (had forgotten about this but need to do this) - I don't do this every day but usually in the morning I make a list of what needs to be done that day.
9) Declutter kid's rooms - Not yet
10) Find and complete a Bible study of 1 John - Still need to find one.


And now for the recipes....
One thing that I have done for awhile now is make our own bread.  It saves quite a bit of money and I'm able to control the ingredients.  As life has gotten busier & busier I'm always looking for ways to simplify tasks.  A few months ago I came across a recipe for one hour sandwich bread.  Including baking time it takes just an hour.   Then, several weeks ago I came across another recipe for 30 minute rolls.  While I do find these take a bit longer than 30 minutes they are still quick. I've also shaped these to use as hamburger buns & that works well also .

One Hour Sandwich Bread:
http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/2010/04/17/one-hour-sandwich-bread/
**I have successfully substituted 1/2 of the flour with white whole wheat flour.  I also usually add 2 TB of flax seed.  I cook this is greased loaf pans and do not use the pan of water in the oven.

30 minute yeast rolls:
 http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/30-minute-rolls/
**I shape into 15 rolls (which are plenty big enough) and bake for 13-15 minutes.  To make burger buns I shape into 12 flatter rolls and place on cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with corn meal.  Bake the same as the rolls.