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I have mentioned before that there are several ways to enjoy yourself without paying for anything. I will list some of these things that Cappy and I do on our date nights and days...Try to have a date night with your hubby once a week to keep your relationship in check and romance alive in your hearts.... During the summer there are lots of free concerts, whether they are on your village square or in a park. Take the day, bring a picnic lunch and a blanket and enjoy free music all day long while relaxing, playing with the kids and enjoying yourselves. Parks usually have swings and pools for swimming that have free admission if you can't afford it. Sit around the pool and sunbathe, let the kids go off to the pool to swim on and off all day...have them check in with you every so often. Many a lifeguard wears waterproof watches and are happy to accomodate the kids and parents this way... End your evening with some star gazing with your honey after you put the kids down for the night. On rainy days during the summer take the kids to the library and rent movies and books for them and yourselves. Have a movie night once a week with the kids by renting a movie from the library ( free of charge) and make your home into a family movie night theater once a week by making popcorn and koolaid slushies for the kids and yourselves. Pop in the movie and enjoy. Volunteer at the opera, symphony, theater and other public events and get to see concerts& plays for free. You get your kids and hubby into these venues for free and usually these places have receptions with goodies to chow on and soda for free. This is a great way to get entertained without spending any money or money on your family entertainment. This is a great thing to do especially around the Christmas Holidays and the kids will love these types of concerts. Look for freebies that your city is giving to its residents. This weekend our local state university had a " come out and meet your neighbors Barbecue for the residents of the city. The students provided all the food and entertainment for free and they do this every year... Its a nice start to spring. Over Easter Holiday our city has easter egg hunts in the public parks and various companies donate candies, cookies and other refreshments . They also do this on Halloween with a kids costume parade, donut and cider and other refreshments and games to win prizes and free big bags of candy. It keeps the kids safety free especially with the candy as parents know where it came from. The police department has a Free Day Camp during the summer for kids. They have crafts and swimming and horsebackriding and free breakfasts and lunches. The YMCA AND YWCA also has similar camps but these camps take the kids on a week summer vacation to theme parks and historical sites... all for free. There is alot of free stuff in your community but you have to look for it. We also have Free read which has free brand new books and used good conditioned books for kids and adults to give away. I got the latest Harry Potter for free as they had several. 4H has free things going on There are Girl and Boy Scouts that are free if you can't afford the fees. Christian Camps are great. We have a Horseback riding Christian Camp ( They do all sorts of things there) in the area and I sent my daughter to it from the time she was 8. Its a week long stay with a big rodeo for parents at the end of the week. Our churches have funds for those who can't afford the fee, and we are glad to send our kids to this kind of camp because they not only have a great time but are exposed to Christian Principals. Our citys have Fun in the Parks during the summer for kids too. The kids can go all summer and swim, do crafts, go places all day during the summer. Also there are soft ball leagues that are free for kids during the summer which is put on by our parks and recreation.

Budgeting on a Low Income - Money Tips by Laraine Anne Barker In Laraine's last entry for this Budgeting on a Low Income series, she lists several additional money-saving tips that will help get your budget in order. * * * MONEY TIPS 1. Don't keep money in your purse/wallet if you can help it. 2 Use your cash card (NOT your credit card) for all purchases and keep careful account of how much you spend and what you spend it on. 3. Use your credit card only when you already have the money (or at least most of it) for the item you want. Nothing puts people on low incomes into debt as easily as incorrect use of a credit card. You need to be able to pay off the debt WITHOUT PAYING ANY INTEREST, which means the whole amount needs to be paid as soon as it's due. If you have problems using a credit card so that you don't pay any interest on it, the only solution might be to cut it up and throw it away. MISCELLANEOUS TIPS 1. Preferably cut out long-distance phone calls and ask family and friends to ring YOU. If you can't, at least cut down on the number you make. Try to make all such calls one after another when your phone company has a special "bulk" deal that you know you can afford. 2. Don't gamble, even on weekly lottery tickets. If you spend $5 a week on your country's big lottery, that amounts to $260 a year. You're unlikely to recoup this in the small wins that are all you can expect. If you have serious trouble doing without your weekly flutter, you need help. Try Gamblers Anonymous. 3. If you smoke, make a determined (and this time successful!) effort to give it up. This is very hard but it's well worth the trouble: you'll feel better for it and you'll start being able to taste your food again. There's a lot of help available. Seek it if you need it. 4. Cut out alcohol. If this is any sort of problem for you, you're in real trouble because it means you're addicted. Seek immediate help from Alcoholics Anonymous. 5. Concerts, plays, films, video rentals, etc, are also off budget. Remember, if it's not necessary to survival... I do hope at least some of these tips help you. They may even lead you to some ideas of your own to save money. Finally, good luck with both your new budget and your search for a better job.

How To Organize Bill Paying In 3 Easy Steps by Kathy Gates Paying bills is not a task that many of us enjoy. But it doesn't have to be a total drag if you set up a system to do most of the work for you. Once you get into a routine, bill paying is easy, and will generally only require a few minutes of your time. With these 3 rules, you'll set yourself up for ease and success, instead of stress and failure. * * * 1. One Place - This first step is to choose a place where you will feel most comfortable paying bills. This is different for each person. My dad always paid bills at the kitchen table. I prefer a desk. I have a friend who pays them while sitting in her bed. It's entirely up to you as long as you are consistent. Important - be consistent. Decide at this point also if you will be using a computer billing system, or writing checks and balancing your checkbook by hand. That could determine where you will set up your bill paying station. The idea is not to waste time by having to search for things in several locations. ONE PLACE. Whatever the location, you will need a place where you can store the bill paying necessities - the bills themselves, as well as a checkbook and register, pens, calculator, stamps, envelopes, mailing labels, etc. This might be a fancy file cabinet, a drawer, or even a shoebox. As each new bill comes in, put the whole envelope into that folder until you are ready to pay it. 2. One Day - The second step is to always pay bills on the same day each week It doesn't matter what day of the week that happens to be - the day best for you. Just Be Consistent. Without a weekly day to review and pay bills, it's easy to procrastinate and "end up" doing it at an inconvenient time. The idea is to not let the bill paying make your decisions for you. You choose your own day of the week, and avoid being pushed into doing the chore when you don't want to do it, or when you don't have the time to do it. That's operating on someone else's agenda instead of your own. ONE DAY. You choose the time, and stay in control of both your time and your bills. 3. One Time - The third step is to choose a particular time of the day. For example, assuming that you have chosen Sundays as your best day to pay bills, now choose a time of day. The idea is that without a specific time in mind, you will end up at bedtime realizing that you put it off all day. ONE TIME. Pick a time when you are not rushed and not interrupted. Whatever day and time you choose, schedule it, prioritize it, and protect it. I have a friend who arrives 30 minutes early at her job on Wednesday morning, and pays her bills then. I personally pay mine on Sunday evenings. Do whatever works best for you. Once you are set up, the job should take only about 15 minutes on a regular basis, with an extra 15-30 minutes on days that you need to balance the checkbook. Really! The idea is to make an unpleasant task operate as smoothly, efficiently, and quickly as possible.

Money Spending Danger Zone by Michelle Jones This has been one of the busiest, most packed-full summers I've ever had in my life. Even though the school-year ended for 3 of our children in June, things didn't really start to slow down until sometime in July, and before we knew it, we were celebrating 3 more birthdays and getting ready for BACK to school all within a few weeks. I'm sure many of you can relate, especially if you have young children still at home or are working two or more jobs. But I've learned several more things about money over the summer and I'd like to share one of them with you this month... * * * I guess you could call it a money spending danger zone. While experiencing this in my own life over the summer, I realized that just as the way many people over-eat when they are stressed or tired, they (we) also tend to over-spend their budget. I want you to think about this for a moment and see if it applies to you and/or your family members. Of course we know that everyone is different, and there are people who's spending is completely unaffected by stress, emotions and circumstances, just as their diet may remain unaffected as well. But for the rest of us dear emotional souls -- stress, emotions and exhaustion spells, among other things, money trouble. What kind of money troubles am I talking about? Just to name a few -- eating out more often, buying groceries you don't really need, gifts you can't afford because you're too tired to make a special homemade one, spending $12 on a birthday cake from the bakery instead of a taking a couple hours to mix, bake and frost one from a $2 box. (At least that's one area I've got under control, even during the most stressful 4-kids-birthdays in a row for our family! I even took a free online class in the Spring for basic cake decorating so I could make them LOOK like $12 cakes, and they just about do. By the way, did I mention our BABY just turned 3!) These are just a FEW of the ways we can overspend our budget, and it happens so easily if we don't remain alert and focused on managing our money wisely, every month. How about paying bills late, running up higher long distance phone calls, taking longer hot showers (which depending on your area, could be increasing your electric and water bills), and even splurging too much on entertainment costs because you're so stressed or tired, surely you 'deserve it.' The Real Danger Zone - More importantly, when you're tired or stressed, you may lose proper perception of the difference between real needs and wants. A foundation of every good budget. I wish we were in a room together so I could see your heads nodding in agreement and know for sure that I'm on to something here! But the main thing is, whatever the reasons we sometimes overspend might be, what do we do about it? We can try to avoid stress and get more sleep, but especially for working moms with family to also care for at home, and for everyone - the anniversary of 9/11 - this won't be easy. But the truth is, if you can just keep your bills and your BUDGET organized each month it will help tremendously! Here's a few critical steps to follow... * Have your budget in place and review it monthly for updates. * Have a set day every week to pay the bills. Even if you don't have any bills that are due for a particular bill, you will continue to keep your budget in focus throughout the month. * Make a grocery list each week and stick to it. * Plan out your menus for the week and stretch the meals into two when you can, this will avoid those last minute runs for take-out. * Take small breaks during the day just for you. Read a book! * A 10-20 minute walk every morning or afternoon will not only keep you fit, but it will energize you and help you get through the rest of the day. * Enlist family members to help around the house, make up a chore schedule if necessary. * Make sure your budget includes money for lunches, groceries, gifts, vacations, everything you've spent money on in the past (as we've talked about many times here on the site). Discover how much is okay to spend, and how much is too much. If you spend on these items without a budget in place, especially when you're stressed and exhausted, you're very likely to spend... TOO MUCH. * And, remember to pray for guidance every day. When you do that, all of the above will usually fall into place.

Checklists to Organize Your Life, Time, and Sanity by Karen Kuebler During the last year I have made one of the simplest discoveries to help keep my sanity, and in the spirit of sharing for the holidays – this will be my gift to you! In fact, you’ll be able to use this idea to make your life easier and your mind clearer during the holiday season. * * * I’ve started making checklists for those things I do on a repetitive basis and I can’t believe how much frustration this relieves from certain processes. Some processes I may only repeat once a year, such as planning and preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Other things occur much more frequently, like traveling and having houseguests. I first made the simple discovery of creating a checklist when I found myself going crazy packing for trips. We were going out of town at least once a month or more, and I started to realize how much I dreaded the packing process. I would procrastinate getting ready for a trip because it was so distasteful and frustrating. Once I stopped long enough to examine why I was procrastinating and realized that it was because everything about getting ready for the trip felt so out of control. How could I bring some control to the process? Make a checklist! I created the trip preparation and packing checklist and ‘tweaked’ it over time. It was amazing to feel the panic and frustration of preparing for a trip literally drain from my body. I included items on the list that I would need to do in advance such as stopping the newspaper, holding the mail, giving necessary information to our neighbor, and other arrangements that needed to be handled. Next I developed the packing portion of the list. The final part of the list includes anything we need to check as we are leaving such as adjusting the thermostat, turning off the water heater, checking all windows and doors, checking the tires and oil, etc. It might sound like a daunting task to create the checklist, but it actually goes quickly once you get started. The amazing result was how I felt afterward. I no longer had anxiety about preparing for the trip. Sometimes I could pack the morning we were leaving because I had everything already “thought out” on paper! Not only did I stop stressing about preparing, but it also made it easier to share the list with my husband. Everything we needed to do was in black and white and we could share the responsibilities. Sometimes the matter of delegating feels impossible to do because we can’t organize our thoughts or plans clearly enough to entrust someone else to do the tasks. Once I discovered the ease of carrying out a repetitive process with an organized checklist, I started making checklists for other processes. A great place to start in the creating process is to identify those things that you find frustrating, disorganized, overwhelming or stressful. I realized that I would often become stressed when we were expecting houseguests. I enjoyed the company, but I would feel overwhelmed even when thinking about guests coming to visit. I worried about meals, activities, logistics of having everything in order for their arrival, and other things. I created a list of what I wanted to accomplish before they arrived -- meals I could prepare in advance, food to have on hand so they could get their own breakfasts and lunches, preparation of beds, towels, bathroom necessities, etc. I put together a basket with shampoo, soap, lotions, q-tips, toothpaste, shower caps, and other items. I assembled a bucket in the fridge with all of the makings for sandwiches. When guests arrive I show them where everything is located that they will need in the kitchen, pantry, fridge, bedrooms and bathroom. We discuss any needs they might have and let them be involved in the planning of activities, meal preparation, coordinating times for conflicting events, etc. Again, it is all in black and white on a checklist so I won’t worry about forgetting something important. This has really made the difference of looking forward to having company as opposed to worrying and stressing over it. I’ve created many checklists to help organize my life and activities. Since I do a lot of training I have a list of what I need to do in preparing a program and all of the logistics involved to ensure a successful program. I can share this list with others when I’m enlisting their assistance in the preparations. I have a monthly list of special days including birthdays and anniversaries. At the beginning of each month, or even a couple of months in advance, I check to see what gifts I need to buy, what cards and presents need to be mailed, and what phone calls need to be made. I schedule all of these into my daily planner on days that I will have time to fit them in. I schedule phone calls for special dates at the beginning of each month in my planner. Then I can relax and forget about it until I come to that task on the particular day it is scheduled. Our home is located on the border of a National Forest. We face the possibility of forest fires as a natural disaster. Everybody faces some form of a natural disaster where they live. I created an Emergency Evacuation Checklist that I keep posted on the door of our coat closet. We did a practice run to see how quickly we could follow the list. I know that if we are faced with this situation, I will not be in any frame of mind to think straight. Hopefully I will never need to use this list, but if I do, we will be able to evacuate within 15 minutes. I developed an annual home maintenance checklist divided into months. I look at the schedule a couple of months in advance to see what maintenance people I need to schedule and what specific tasks we need to do. I can schedule these items into my planner, alleviating the stress or worry of forgetting important pieces. I have a list of everybody I need to buy gifts for during the year and at holidays, along with special ideas and notes for each person. I have a list that organizes the holidays – beginning with preparing for Thanksgiving and taking me step by step through the Christmas holidays. For me, New Year’s is a quiet and relaxing holiday. That is just the way I like to start the coming year. But many people have a lot of events and activities planned around the New Year’s holiday. If you enjoy doing this, it’s a perfect opportunity to create a checklist! Although the idea of creating the checklists might seem overwhelming at first, like any project you start – take it one step at a time, one list at a time. When you feel overloaded by an upcoming event, take thirty minutes to create a checklist to help you plan for it. One list doesn’t take very long to develop. You can modify the lists over time as you use them. You won’t think of every detail the first time you create a list. Start now by creating a list of what you need to do to prepare for the holidays. Computers have many advantages – and if you are reading this article, you must have a computer! You can brainstorm a list and then move things around to get them in the proper order afterward. Make a special binder to house your checklists. You will find this simple method of organizing can bring a new level of order and sanity to your life that will help you to create the balance you are craving. When life is more balanced, everything just works better. You can stop worrying and start enjoying life more.

I want to point out that there is no easy way to get out of debt especially if you wracked up alot of bills that add up to more than your income. The First thing to do to get out of debt is cut up those charge cards. I always say if you can't pay cash for a purchase then its not needed. Make up envelopes and lable them. ex: Rent or Mortgage Food Electric and Gas Phone Cable Clothing Medical Other ( Church) Give what you could and if you can't thats ok too. Savings. ( even if its only 5.00 a paycheck) Pay what you can on charge card bills and extra debt, even if its only a couple of dollars. ( at least you will be making an effort to pay them) Each month pay youself and your spouse first by giving yourself 5 to 10 dollars a paycheck before any money is spent. Then divvy up the rest of your money in the envelopes to take care of your bills and personal expenses.

A SCALLOP OF CHICKEN WITH CELERY for chicken leftovers. Cook one cup of celery, cut in inch pieces, in boiling slightly salted water, until tender. Save the water to make sauce. There should be one cup. Slice thin two cups of cold chicken, discarding all skin, season with salt and pepper, and moisten with a little left-over gravy. Melt two tablespoonfuls of butter, stir in two tablespoons of flour, and when bubbling add slowly one cup of celery water, one-half cup of milk, one-quarter teaspoon of salt, and a little pepper. When thickened and smooth, stir in the cooked celery. Put a few buttered crumbs in a baking-dish and arrange the chicken and sauce in alternate layers. Cover with well-buttered crumbs. Brown in a hot oven.

Dinner will be of lighter fare tonight. Sloppy Joes on whole wheat rolls Steamed broccoli Cantalope and Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies for dessert. I think I will make some fresh squeezed Lemonaide too

Braciole ( Bracioli ) Recipe Description: "Italian beef rolls" Cuisine: "Italian" Recipe By :James T. Ehler Servings : 4 Yield: "8 Pieces" DIRECTIONS: 8 2 Oz Slices Top Round (or Top Sirloin) 1 1/2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley -- chopped 1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil -- chopped 2 Tablespoons Pine Nut 1/4 Cup Raisins -- soaked in warm water 1/2 Teaspoon Granulated Garlic 1/2 Teaspoon Sage -- rubbed 1 Teaspoon Thyme 4 Ounces Prosciutto -- chopped 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese -- grated Salt and Pepper -- to taste 8 Slices Mozzarella Cheese -- thinly sliced 1/4 Cup Olive Oil 3 Cups Marinara Sauce -- see recipe DIRECTIONS: Slice Top Round or Top sirloin butt, try to get one slice (2 oz) for each braciole. Combine filling ingredients (except Mozzarella) and mix together. Spread ingredients on meat slices, top with Mozzarella slice and roll them up, secure with string or a toothpick. Brown beef rolls on all sides in oil. Add Marinara sauce (see recipe) cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or bake covered in 350° F oven. Serving Ideas : Serve with Rigatoni. Serve Rigatoni, then Bracioli.

Egg-cake made with milk recipe Apicius (1st century AD) Take four eggs, a half-pint of milk, a cup of oil, and so mix them that they make one body. Throw a little oil into a thin pan, make it boil, and pour in your preparation. When it has cooked on one side, turn it onto a dish, moisten with honey, sprinkle with pepper, and serve.

APPLE CIDER, APPLE JUICE Apple cider in the U.S. is the same as apple juice. Some companies will use the term cider to refer to apple juice with no preservatives, and apple juice to juice that has been pasteurized. Fermented apple juice which is alcoholic, is called 'hard cider' in the U.S. Unfermented apple juice is called 'apple juice' in most other countries, and the term 'cider' refers to 'hard cider', it has been fermented and is an alcoholic beverage.

Recipes for Appetizers and Snacks...enjoy HOT BUFFALO WINGS Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 1 to 2 hours Ingredients: CHICKEN WINGS 1 BOTTLE CHRYSTAL HOT SAUCE 1 TABLESPOON WORCHSTERSHIRE SAUCE 1 CUBE BUTTER Instructions: BAKE CHICKEN WINGS ON RACKS IN OVEN AT 400 DEGREES WITH CAJUN SEASONINGS. TURN TO MAKE SURE CRISP. IN THE MEANTIME MELT BUTTER IN LARGE POT, ADD WORCHSTERSHIRE SAUCE AND COMBINE. WHEN CHICKEN IS DONE ADD TO THE SAUCE. VERY GOOD DIPPED IN HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING. CAN ALSO BE SERVED ALONG WITH CELERY. Hummus Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 1 can (15-16 oz.) garbanzo beans, drained and 1/3 c. liquid reserved 3 T. lemon juice 1/2 sesame seed 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 t. salt Chopped fresh parsley Pita bread wedges Instructions: Place beans, reserved liquid, lemon juice, sesame seed, garlic and salt in blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high speed, stopping occasionally to scrape sides if necessary, until desired consistency. Spoon into serving dish and sprinkle with fresh parsly. Serve with Pita wedges. Bacon Wrap Hors d'Oeuvres Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 5oz. can of water chestnuts (drained) 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 package of bacon Instructions: marinate water chestnuts in soy sauce. roll water chestnuts in sugar cut bacon strips into halves or thirds and wrap around chestnuts secure with a toothpick bake on cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 20 minutes Creamy Fruit Dip Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 1 pkg. cream cheese, softened 3 T. orange juice concentrate 1 jar marshmallow creme Fresh whole strawberries Sliced kiwi Instructions: In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and concentrate until smooth. Fold in marshmallow creme. Serve with fruit. Delicious!!!! Shrimp-In-A-Pickle Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: More than 3 hours Ingredients: 7 1/2 cups water 2 1/2 lbs. unpeeled fresh shrimp 3 medium onions, sliced 2 1/2 Tbsp. capers with juice 1 cup canola oil 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup tarragon vinegar juice of 1/2 lemon 2 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 8 bay leaves, broken up 1 tsp. hot sauce Instructions: Bring water to a boil; add shrimp, and cook just until pink, no longer. Drain well with cold water in colander. Peel and devein shrimp. Layer shrimp and onion in an airtight container. Combine remaining ingrediants, mixing well with a wire whisk. Pour over shrimp and onion. Cover and chill 24 hours, stirring occasionally. Better after 2 or 3 days but will not last that long! 10 to 12 appetizer servings. Baked Pot Stickers Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Moderate Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: 1 T. carrot finely grated 1/2 lb. sliced deli turkey breast 1 garlic clove, pressed 2 t. peeled fresh ginger root, pressed 3 T. sour cream 3 egg whites, divided 1/4 c. thinly sliced green onions with tops 1 T. soy sauce 24 wonton wrappers Dipping Sauce 1 t. peeled fresh ginger root, pressed 3/4 c. sour cream 3 T. soy sauce 1 T. white wine vinegar 2 t. thinly sliced green onions 1 1/2 t. sugar Instructions: Preheat oven to 400. Fnely grate carrot and chop turkey. Mix garlic, ginger root, carrots, turkey, sour cream, 2 of the egg whites, green onion and soy sauce. Place wonton wrappers on smooth surface and brush lightly with remaining egg white. Place teaspoon of filling in the center of each wonton wrapper. Fold wonton wrappers over filling forming a triangle and matching edges. You can keep the pot stickers in a trangle or put two back to back and seal with a glass or cookie cutter. Place on greased baking stone or cookie sheet. Bake 20 min. or until top edges of wrappers are well browned and bottoms are golden. Chicken Won Tons Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 bunch green onions 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese 1 package Won Ton wrappers garlic-salt and pepper to taste 2 cups vegetable oil for frying Instructions: Boil chicken until thoroughly cooked. Chop chicken into small pieces, chop green onions (the white part with partial green) and mix with cream cheese and seasonings. Separate Won Ton wrappers and put a heaping teaspoon of the chicken mixture into the center of wrapper. Fold all four corners together and pinch tightly. Fry Won Tons in hot oil until lightly browned. Place on paper towel after frying. Best served immediately. Stuffed Bacon Rolls Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: 2 cups soft bread crumbs ( about 3 slices bread) 1 cup finely chopped cooking apple 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion 1 Tbsp. snipped parsley 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper 1/4 cup milk 1 beaten egg 10 or 11 slices bacon Instructions: In a mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs, chopped apple, chopped onions, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add milk and egg mixture, mix well. Cut each slice of bacon in half crosswise. Shape crumb mixture into balls, using one rounded tablespoon for each. Wrap each ball in half a bacon slice; secure with a metal or wooden pick. Place bacon wraps on a wire rack set on a cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes or till bacon is brown. Serve immediately. Makes 20 to 22 appetizers. Delish!!!!! Dried Tomato Mini Quiches Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 90 Mini Pastry shells 3 eggs 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup finely chopped dried tomatoes 4 scallions finely chopped 3 oz. Fontina cheese, grated Black or white pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 dgrees. Place pastry shells on a baking sheet. In a bowl mix eggs and cream until well blended. Add tomatoes, green onion and cheese. Season to taste with pepper. Spoon into shells, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until filling is puffed and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. You can't bake these fast enough!!! Tex-Mex Won Tons Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: 1/2 pound ground beef 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 Tbsp. chopped green pepper 1/2 of a 15 oz. can refried beans 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 Tbsp. catsup 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/4 tsp. ground cumin 4 dozen won ton skins Cooking oil or shortening for frying Taco sauce Instructions: For Filling: In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and green pepper till meat is brown and vegetables are tender. Drain off fat. Stir beans, cheese, catsup, chili powder and cumin into meat mixture, mix well. Place a won ton skin with one point toward you. Spoon a generous teaspoon of meat mixture onto center of skin. Fold bottom point of skin over filling; tuck point under filling. Fold side corners over, forming an envelope shape. Roll up toward remaining corner; moisten point and press to seal. Repeat with remaining skins and filling. Fry a few at a time, in deep hot fat (375 degrees) about 1 minute per side. Use a slotted spoon to remove won tons. Drain. Serve warm with taco sauce. Makes 48. Be careful....people love em, you might have to make more. Spinach Puffs Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 2 10oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach 2 c. crushed herb seasoned stuffing mix 1 c. grated parmesan cheese 1/4 t. nutmeg 6 eggs, beaten 3/4 c. butter, softened Instructions: Thaw spinach, drain and squeeze. Mix spinach with remaining ingredients. Shape mixture into balls. Refrigerate for one hour or more. Bake 10-15 min. at 350. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels. Mississippi Sin Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 1 to 2 hours Ingredients: 2 cups (8oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese 1 8oz. pkg. softened cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sour cream 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham 1 can (4oz.) chopped green chiles 1/3 cup chopped green onions 1/8 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 (1.lb.) loaf round Hawaiian-style bread Instructions: Combine all ingrediants except bread. Cut a thin slice from top of bread with a serrated knife, set aside. Using a gentle sawing motion, cut vertically to, but not through, bottom of loaf, 1/2-inch from edge. Lift out center of loaf; cut into i-inch cubes and set aside. Fill hollowed loaf with cheese mixture; cover with top slice of bread. Wrap in aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve with reserved bread cubes, crackers and chips. Heavenly Zucchini Bites Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: 1 envelope golden onion soup mix 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini 1 cup shredded swiss cheese 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 2 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese 4 eggs 3/4 tsp. basil Instructions: Pre-heat oven to 325. In large bowl comgine all indredients. Mix well. Spoon into well greased mini muffin pans. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Makes 24. Yum!!! Baked Drummies Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 1 to 2 hours Ingredients: 3lbs of Chicken Drummies-thawed 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 2 Tablespoons Dried Chopped Parsley 1 Tablespoon Oregano 2 Teaspoons Paprika 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon fresh ground Pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter or margarine. Mix together cheese, parsley, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper. Dip Chicken in butter or margarine and then into dry mix. Place on foil lined jellyroll pan that is sprayed with nonstick spray. Drizzle remaining mix over chicken. Bake for 1 hour. Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Egg and Mint Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 1 T. unsalted butter 2 large hard boiled eggs 2 T. creme fraiche 1/2 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked and finely chopped Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced 4 slices of extra thin white bread Instructions: Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Set aside. In a small bowl combine eggs, creme fraiche, and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Spread egg mixture 1/4 inch thick on 2 slices of bread. Top with sliced cucumber, and cover with remaining slices of bread. Remove crusts, cut each sandwich into 3 equal fingers timbled mushrooms Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: 30 min to 1 hour Ingredients: Mushrooms Brandy Whipping cream Dry white wine Mixed herbs Carrot Courgette Instructions: Leaving the stalks attached to the mushrooms, thinly slice and simmer in a pan containing 3 tablespoons of olive oil along with the mixed herbs and salt / pepper until they have reduced. Turn the heat on full and add the white wine, turn heat down and simmer for 20 minutes. Add Brandy and whipping cream to pan and simmer further to reduce the mushrooms to a thick consistency. Get one ramekin dish and layer alternatively with wafer think slices of carrot and courgette, making sure you leave the ends hanging outside the ramekin dish, get your finished mushroom and place one to two spoons of the mixture into the ramekin dish, then, close of the carrot and courgette to make a mushroom parcel within the ramekin dish. When you are ready to serve, place ramekin dish into a microwave and zap on full for around 40 seconds. To serve place ramekin dish on plate (upside down) and tap, and there you have it a nice tumbled mushroom parcel for either a starter or main course, very nice served with lamb Madera. Baked Crab Dip Type: Appetizer or Snack Skill Level: Easy Time from prep to ready to serve: Less than 30 min Ingredients: 1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese 1 6 1/2oz. can crabmeat 2 T. finely chopped onion 1/2 t. prepared horseradish 3 T. mayonnaise salt and pepper to taste dash worcestershire sauce dash of tabasco dash of white wine 1/4 c. toasted slivered almonds Instructions: Mix all ingredients together, except almonds. Place in oven proof baking bowl. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake at 375 for 25 min. or until bubbly and golden brown. Serve with crustini or crackers

Cappy is doing the cooking today so its: T-bones on the grill- A RARE TREAT FOR US! I don't usually spend what I did for these 2 steaks so they better be good. veggies on skewers on the grill Baked Potatoes on the grill Strawberry Shortcake... Gals this Cappy of mine hardly knew anything about cooking except oepning a can or two, until I hooked him and showed him how to cook. He sure knows how to make a mean omelet though. Nice and fluffy.

Choosing Potatoes Potatoes can be divided into two general categories: mealy and waxy. Brown-skinned russets are the mealy type while white, red and new potatoes are waxy. Mealy potatoes cook up light and fluffy and are good for baking, mashing and frying. Waxy potatoes hold their shape during cooking, when sliced, diced and boiled whole. Knowing this will help you choose the right potato.

Experimenting With Sugar And Artificial Sweeteners Most people enjoy sweets. We satisfy our sweet tooth with fruits and honey, and with extracts of grains, herbs, vegetables, tree sap, and grasses. All of these products contain sugar in different forms. As if these choices were not enough, chemists have created artificial sweeteners to meet the demand for sweet alternatives to sugar. In recent years, refined sugar, also known as white sugar or granulated sugar, has become the preferred sweetener. Not only is it unhealthy to skew the diet to one ingredient, but it also severely restricts the palate. But just what are the options, and how do we substitute them in our favorite recipes? Refined sugar has many functions in food other than providing sweetness. In small amounts, added sugar helps yeast begin producing gas for raising yeast dough. Sugar tenderizes doughs and batters, helps brown baked goods, and makes the crumb of these products moist. It aids in the structure of cakes. It is the white sugar in cookie dough that helps spreading to occur during baking. For these reasons, we suggest replacing only one half of the refined sugar in a recipe with another type of sugar. You can increase or decrease the amount replaced incrementally to achieve the results you want. If you simply want to reduce the amount of sugar you are consuming, many recipes can be modified to decrease the amount of sugar simply by reducing the sugar by one third. Sugar by Any Name Refined sugar is 99 percent pure sucrose, a simple carbohydrate. All of the sweeteners listed here are also simple carbohydrates. Each has a unique flavor, and each brings different qualities to baked goods. Refined fructose is sweeter than granulated sugar. It can be substituted in baking recipes with little trouble. Simply add one third less. Fructose attracts more water than sucrose, therefore fructose sweetened products tend to be moist. Baked products made with fructose will be darker than if they were made with white sugar. Honey is a liquid sugar made by bees, and consists of several components: fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose. It is sweeter than sugar, and has a distinctive flavor. Baked goods made with honey are moist and dense, and tend to brown faster than those made with granulated sugar. Use 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey in place of 1 cup sugar, and reduce the other liquid ingredients by 2 tablespoons. Unless the recipe includes sour cream or buttermilk, add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize the acidity. Molasses is a byproduct of refined sugar production. It is made up of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and also contains small amounts of B vitamins, calcium, and iron. Molasses imparts a dark color and strong flavor to baked foods, but is not as sweet as sugar. When substituting molasses for sugar, use 1 1/3 cups molasses for 1 cup sugar, and reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by 5 tablespoons. Molasses is also more acidic than sugar; add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of molasses used in substitution for sugar. Replace no more than 1/2 the sugar called for in a recipe with molasses. Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple trees, and is a combination of sucrose and glucose. The sap is boiled down into the sweet, delectable syrup we pour over our pancakes and waffles. It is also very good in cookies, pies, and cakes. There are several grades of syrup available. Grade A maple syrup is golden brown and has a light flavor. Grade B is heavier, darker, and has more of that mapley flavor. Like honey, it's very sweet; use 3/4 cup for every cup of white sugar. Decrease the amount of liquid by 3 tablespoons. Brown rice malt syrup consists of maltose, glucose, and complex carbohydrates. It is an amber hued syrup resembling honey, but it is not as sweet as honey. It can be substituted cup per cup for granulated sugar, but the liquid ingredients should be reduced by 1/4 cup per cup of rice syrup. Enzyme treated syrup, as opposed to malted syrup, will tend to liquefy the batter of a baked product. Use the malted syrup for best results. Fruit juice concentrates, such as apple juice concentrate, orange juice concentrate, or white grape juice concentrate, are wonderful substitutes for sugar. Juice concentrates are made up of fructose and glucose. Use 3/4 cup for every cup of white sugar, and decrease the amount of liquid by 3 tablespoons. Artificial Sweeteners The following artificial sweeteners have been approved by the FDA and are available for home use. They provide sweetness, but lack the browning, tenderizing, and moisture retaining properties of granulated sugar. There is no need to substitute artificial sweeteners for the small amount of sugar used for proofing the yeast in breads. Instead, use milk or potato water for the liquid: the sugar found in either of these is enough to jump start the yeast. Saccharine is 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar. It can be used in baked goods. However, the manufacturer recommends substituting it for only half of the sugar in a recipe. Substitute 6 (1 gram) packets for each 1/4 cup sugar. It is sold under the name Sweet and Low®. Aspartame is 160 to 220 times sweeter than granulated sugar. This sweetener is heat sensitive, it loses its sweetening power when heated, and can not be used for cookies or cakes. The manufacturer does recommend adding it to pie fillings for no-bake pies, and to puddings after they have been removed from the heat. Substitute 6 (1 gram) packets for each 1/4 cup of sugar. It is sold under the names Equal® and Nutrasweet®. Acesulfame potassium is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is heat stable so it can be used in baking and cooking. Use acesulfame K in combination with granulated sugar when baking. Substitute 6 (1 gram) packets for each 1/4 cup sugar. It is sold under the brand names Sunette® and Sweet One®. Sucrolose is made from sugar, but is 66 times sweeter than sugar. Granular sucrolose is the form used when baking. Substitute 1 cup granular sucrolose for each cup of sugar called for in the recipe. Recipes made with this product tend to bake faster than usual. It is sold under the Splenda® brand name. Remember, these substitution guidelines are just that - guidelines. You can tailor your recipes for your tastes by adding more or less sweetener to your recipes. Also, you may not get exactly what you were looking for. It might be better! Live a little; experimentation is fun!

Sunday-27-03 recipe of the day. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Authentic Mexican Tortilla's Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 3/4 cup shortening 3/4 cup hot water Directions 1 Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Either by hand or with a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening till the mixture is crumbly. If the mixture looks more floury than crumbly, be sure to add just one or two more tablespoons of shortening till it is crumbly. Add about 3/4 cup hot water to the mixture, or just enough to make the ingredients look moist. 2 With your hand or a large fork, knead the mixture making sure to rub the dough against the sides of the large mixing bowl to gather any clinging dough. If the dough still sticks to the side of the bowl, add a couple more tablespoons of flour until the dough forms a soft round shape. The dough is ready to roll out now, but it is best to let it rest. Cover it with a dish towel, and let it sit for about an hour or so. 3 Take the dough, and pull it apart into 10 to 12 balls. Lightly flour your rolling area, and roll each ball with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness. 4 Place each tortilla on a medium hot cast iron skillet. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla does not look doughy.

Irish Pork Roast with Potato Stuffing Ingredients: 2 lb pork tenderloin - or 6 to 8 1 boneless 1 lean pork chops 2 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoon apple cider - hard cider or 1 apple 1 wine or water 1 salt and pepper Stuffing 4 1/2 cup potatoes - coarsely mashed 1/4 cup butter 1 onion 2 large apples - chopped 1 handful 1 chopped 1 salt and pepper 1 fresh sage and thyme Directions: Make stuffing. (See below) Rub meat with salt, pepper and butter. Pour cider or water into 3 -quart casserole dish. Place meat along edges of dish. Add stuffing mixture on the inside of the casserole dish. Cover loosely with foil and bake 1 hour at 350 F. Right before you take it out of the oven take the foil off and bake 15 more minutes to brown the stuffing. Stuffing: To potatoes, add butter, onion, apples, herbs, salt and pepper. Mix well. Serving Size: Makes 6 servings Fridays recipe of the day!

Monday: Turkey Goulash- use 1/2 pound of ground turkey breast, 1 lb of elbow macaroni and 1 jar of tomato sauce- ( peppers and onions are optional in this dish) Green Beans- 1 can to 4 people Fruited Jello- 1 can of fruit cocktail drained and 1 box of jello Tuesday: Hot Dogs on bread or rolls Pickles Cabbage Salad Watermellon Chunks chilled Wednesday: Chicken and home made Biscuits with fat free gravy Asparagus or steamed carrots Ice cream sundaes with bananas and whipped topping Thursday: Tuna Patties On Cheap hamburger rolls, 2 cans of Tuna and 2 packages of ritz like crackers crushed, 1 egg and salt and pepper to taste. Make into patties and bake in the oven at 350 for 15 min or until browned. Add Lettuce, Tomato Slices, low fat mayo and onion slices to the burgers Corn on the cob or canned corn Sweet potato oven baked fries Cantalope slices Friday: Spaghetti with meat sauce Lettuce and Cuke Salad with Italian dressing Hot garlic bread or toast home made Chocolate pudding with left over whipped cream from the sundaes Saturday: Barbequed Chicken Onion roasted potatoes Yellow Squash and Peppers- sauteed in low fat spray and a teaspoon of water- add 1 tsp of margarine when steamed Peaches in lite juice Sunday: Beef, Rice and Broccoli Casserole Make this with 1/2 lb of Ground Beef browned, 2 to three cups of Lowfat Mushroom Gravy Brown rice can be substituted for white rice 1 cup add to casserole dish 1 package of frozen broccoli pieces add. Mix all together in casserole dish and bake at 350 for half an hour. Roasted glazed carrots with lowfat low sugar glaze Lower Fat Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting Snacks for the week Popcorn oatmeal cookies Apples Bananas

Death by Chocolate is mine!

Sears appliance repair: A BIG THUMBS DOWN! They really get you in the wallet. I found out you can get repair information over the phone on your product and it will tell you how you can repair the appliance yourself.. after I paid an arm and a leg to have my appliance fixed!

Tootsie Rolls- one of America's favorite chocolate treats for kids and big kids...THUMBS UP! If you want to cure your daily chocolate fix have a few of these tasty treats to munch on. They are great!

Baked Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream Chips-THUMBS DOWN! Too Salty if your trying to watch your salt intake!

Pringles Salt and Vinegar Chips- THUMBS UP! These chips are the closest chips you can get to English Chips. Very good!

The New Pillsbury Flaky Grands Biscuits- THUMBS DOWN! These are too greasy for my palete. Homemade is better!

To get the best deals on major purchases, smart shoppers prioritize their shopping needs, balance quality against price and seek superior service from merchants and manufacturers. Before you make your major purchase, review this list of the top ten major purchase shopping mistakes: 1. Failing to ask questions 2. Asking yes and no questions 3. Stopping after one question 4. Failing to ask yourself questions 5. Neglecting to do research 6. Paying for the latest technology 7. Failing to read guarantees and warranties 8. Practicing misguided brand loyalty 9. Not factoring in the value of service 10. Relaxing your judgment while traveling