Chicken Broth

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Today I finished making the homemade chicken broth (see blog below), and finished cooking small red beans in the crockpot.

For supper I had half a bag of salad in a big serving-size bowl (large salad), with cold diced chicken breast (reserved from making the broth) and chopped boiled egg and sunflower seeds on top, 2 TBSP dressing which wasn't enough, plus added balsamic vinegar, yum yum yum. The addl vinegar does the trick without the calories.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MORTICIAADDAMS 5/15/2010 4:10PM

Yum!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SHUTRBUG1 5/14/2010 12:48AM

I make my own chicken and vegetable broth because I don't want all the sodium in commercial broth. I love the suggestion for tossing a salad in tupperware to make the dressing go further. Report Inappropriate Comment

TIBURONA 5/14/2010 12:39AM

A little lemon juice (instead of vinegar) on your salad adds a peppy zest with a little vitamin C, too. Your salad sounds delish...never tried sunflower seeds except out of the shell, have to give 'em a try on a salad. Report Inappropriate Comment

DEBWILLBFREE 5/14/2010 12:22AM

I've just started adding vinegar to my salad dressing to make it stretch, too. I like it--but I'm going to try the tupperware idea as well. Thanks for sharing, you guys! :D Deb Report Inappropriate Comment

MAMAFEELGOOD 5/13/2010 11:55PM

If you put your salad in a tupperware container, put the dressing on, and shake...you'll have enough dressing for your salad. Guaranteed! Report Inappropriate Comment

My Grocery Bargains & Recipes

Monday, May 10, 2010

Yesterday I had a very unusual day, especially for Sunday. I don't buy groceries (or anything else) on Sunday usually.

I worked on my weekly menu and weekly planning and administration as I normally do on Sunday. Since March I have been focusing on using up things I have on hand*. My Menu:
MON *tacos, guacamole, chicken-stuffed jalapeno boats
TUE *lasagna & salad
WED broccoli *beef over *brown rice
THU chicken *enchiladas (or fajitas) & guacamole
FRI *salmon patties, cheese *rotini, *kale
SAT *homemade pizza, salad, roasted *potato wedges
SUN make-ahead *manicotti & salad

Last night I made the whole house smell good with Apple Cranberry Cinnamon Crisp. Yum yum!! I cored and peeled the apples while I watched TV on the computer, so it seemed effortless. It turned out delicious; even better today. It also used up some *apples and *cranberries & *oatmeal . . .

When it came out of the oven I moved the plants indoors for the night (too cold last night) & then did errands.

I got air in my tires they needed it bad. They didn't look bad but I could tell because gas mileage was poor.


Then I went to some grocery stores.


Food Lion had split chicken breasts for $ .99 lb, and strawberries for $1.67 a carton, and I was out of salsa so used a raincheck to get Taco Bell salsa in a jar for $1.50; a better price than generic!

Went to Superfresh because I had a $2 coupon with a May 9th expiration date for Wisk laundry deterg, so had to go yesterday it was the last day; and Superfresh had a sale for $3.50, so I got the Wisk for $1.50!

They also had an in-store coup for Minute Maid OJ for $1.49. Alot of people must have stopped drinking juice like I have, because of the sugar, for the price to be so low?? I eat whole fruit instead. I got the kind with calcium and vitamin D, and will be careful to drink 4oz or less at a time.


Also Superfresh had an in-store coupon for ground beef $1.49 lb, a 4-lb bag of oranges for $1.49, and a whole chicken for $ .89 lb, and Sunday newspapers with coupons.

Salad was another thing I was out of. I didn't have time to go into the neighboring town I usually go to, I make my own salad from whole heads of Romaine and green leaf and red leaf. However, Superfresh had bags of salad on sale for $1.25 ea; and the date was tomorrow, so in addition there were dollar-off manager's special coups on the bags! So I got bags of salad for 25 cents can you believe it. Still don't have tomatoes and celery and onions and other "produce run" things I need from my regular stores, but, I do have cukes and carrots so that's enough and I'll make do.

Superfresh also had Sargento shredded cheese for $2 on sale - all varieties. Normally I would not buy it, Sargento brand is too high and I would wait til another brand is on sale in a dif week to buy cheese; but I had a coupon for a dollar off one, reduced sodium. So I got 8oz bags of Sargento reduced sodium cheese for a dollar ea! AND it's reduced sodium, which usually costs more.

The $1.49 lb ground beef at Superfresh was even cheaper than my Giant raincheck price of $1.99 lb. By making lasagna I'll use up the ricotta cheese in my fridge, the lasagna noodles in my pantry, and the ground beef and Sargento cheese. I have fresh garlic but am out of onion; I prefer fresh but I'll use onion powder instead. In the freezer, I have homemade crockpot Italian sauce to use, for the lasagna, as well.

I looked up internet recipes last night for homemade chicken broth. It is cheaper and healthier, and better tasting!, to make it instead of buy it, and I have the chicken from the sales. So I'm going to make homemade chicken broth today with the split breasts.

localfoods.about.com/od/basics/r/chi
cken_broth.htm

www.eatingwell.com/recipes/homemade_
chicken_broth.html

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/daisy-ma
rtinez/homemade-chicken-broth-recipe/i
ndex.html

allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Chick
en-Broth/Detail.aspx

www.goodhousekeeping.com/food/cookin
g/homemade-chicken-broth

I'll use dried spices instead of the fresh some of the above recipes call for, since that's what I have on hand. I'll use the meat for soup, chicken enchiladas, shredded chicken on green salad, quesadillas, in stuffed jalapenos, and freeze the rest.

I also have a butternut, acorn, and a mystery squash to use up, so I also looked up soup recipes last night.

Will make butternut soup using the homemade chicken broth. I'm going to look at SparkRecipes, and this recipe below, which is curried:
www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipe/soups
/curried-butternut-squash-soup/
And then will create my own cinnamon tumeric butternut squash soup recipe. I'm not into curry but tumeric (which is an ingredient in curry, but doesn't taste completely like curry) is a very healthy spice for cancer and inflammation, and cinnamon is very healthy too for blood sugar, so I'll use them both in the recipe I create. I always enjoy the color contrast of butternut soup in a white bowl, so that's how I'll serve it, just like the picture.

My final stop last night was I went to Safeway to use their in-store coupon for eggs, 18ct for $1.49, and to get milk on sale for $2.50 so I can use up the cereal I have on hand so I don't have to move with the cereal or throw it out (another instock pantry item). The cereal was on sale for 99 cents a box last summer so I know it needs to be used up, though the dates are still good and will be for awhile. Cold cereal in hot summer is good. Also I am having problems eating breakfast again and I know how important breakfast is, especially to keep my gallbladder!, and for weight loss, so I thought I'd get milk which I usually never buy or eat and then use up the cereal, two birds with one stone.

While I was at Safeway for eggs and milk, I found a Kosher turkey for $ .49 lb. Wooo hooo! It's an unadvertised special and there was only one, so the date must have been close. What a super, super, SUPER bargain (this the Empire brand Kosher turkey that is usually $2.49 lb). I usually read the labels and ingredients especially in turkeys because of the crap they put in them, read the fine print including the stars, follow the stars to locate more fine print on the label in a different location to see what they injected it with - it was so wonderful to be able to just put the turkey in my cart!! I went to Safeway as my last stop deliberately because of the eggs and milk; if I had known about the turkey I'd find there, I would not have bought the whole chicken. However, the turkey will take 4+ days to thaw out in the bottom of the fridge, so it won't be available to use this week anyway. No problemo.

Are you hungry yet? Come on over and I'll feed you.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NHAAV6 5/13/2010 1:21PM

loved your views! I too am extremely careful when shopping and cooking(I have 4 teenagers), we must stretch our budget carefully! My husband always tells me it is the "thrill of the hunt" for me! Congrats, you did well and it was very productive as well as healthy!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MORTICIAADDAMS 5/12/2010 3:58PM

Very interesting. Loved to see you plan, shop, save, and create. Report Inappropriate Comment

MRSGIXXER 5/11/2010 8:19PM

My mom cooks whole chickens and then makes her own broth and soup. It's so yummy!!! And like you said, much better for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNNY332 5/11/2010 8:32AM

I love butternut soup. Sounds like you had a very productive day. Sunny Report Inappropriate Comment

WARMSPRINGDAY 5/10/2010 7:53PM

I'd be interested in knowing more about your butternut soup and how it turns out, and how you made it. We love butternut, but I've never made soup. Neither my husband or I care much for curry either. Report Inappropriate Comment

KAT-MOMMY-TO-2 5/10/2010 5:03PM

Good Job! It makes me proud to find good deals. Or put together a week of meals that are under budget but, taste like a million bucks. I also like hearing about good deals that others get! So thanks for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIGFROST 5/10/2010 3:53PM

Job...Most of the time I don't cook...Hubby does.. it's His thing...I call him chef tell... Report Inappropriate Comment

YW84FRIDAY 5/10/2010 3:31PM

Good job! If you want to save even MORE money, go to Pocketyourdollars.com and check it out. The website gives you an overview of different stores like Target, Kmart, Walgreen's, CVS Drugs, Walmart, etc and what their coupon policies are and how to use them to your advantage. It also posts a weekly list of sales along with suggested local newspaper/magazine coupons to get the cheapest deals. My friend, who feeds 4 boys and a husband, showed me the site. She regularly buys several hundred dollars worth of food for almost half the price. She often comes home with a couple bags of free stuff (after the coupons and rebates). I tried it for the first time last week and got $96 worth of stuff for $64 PLUS a $10 gift card for the next time I go back to the store! AWESOME!! You can be sure, I'll be doing that again. Have a great day! p.s. You've also inspired me to plan ahead on meals (which I'm really bad at...) Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

IHEARTK 5/10/2010 3:21PM

Don't you just love it when it all comes together so perfectly?... :) Report Inappropriate Comment

SHERRY257 5/10/2010 3:21PM

Good buys! Good menu! Good recipes! Yummy! Report Inappropriate Comment

A Diamond

Sunday, May 09, 2010

abcnews.go.com/GMA/Recipes/inspiring
-housekeeper-wins-emerils-mothers-day-
breakfast-bed/story?id=10579164

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ROX2013 5/9/2010 2:51PM

Thanks for sharing!! It is such a great reminder of what makes mothers so important and special! Report Inappropriate Comment

PINDOC 5/9/2010 11:30AM

Wow, I need several tissues. Thank you for sharing this! Report Inappropriate Comment

CMORISAK 5/9/2010 9:43AM

Thanks for sharing...the pictures are beautiful Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNNY332 5/9/2010 9:13AM

Where was your "tissue warning"? What a great video and what an awesome Mother. Thank you so much - she defnitely lives up to the meaning of her name - Diamond. Sunny Report Inappropriate Comment

Consistency & Mother's Day

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

Today is the 128th day of the year, there are 337 left.



Word of the day: CONSISTENCY

Pronunciation con•sis•ten•cy : (kən sis′tən sē)
Function: noun
plural con•sis•ten•cies

Firmness or degree of firmness of material substance (density, viscosity, resistance to movement or separation of constituent particles); or firmness of constitution or character : PERSISTENCY

Agreement with what has already been done or expressed; conformity with previous practice. Agreement; harmony; logical connection: agreement or logical coherence among things or parts. Agreement or harmony of parts or features to one another or a whole: harmony of conduct or practice with profession:

CORRESPONDENCE; specifically : ability to be asserted together without contradiction. Correspondence among related aspects; compatibility: questioned the consistency of the administration's actions with its stated policy.

Reliability or uniformity of successive results or events: pitched with remarkable consistency throughout the season.

Condition of adhering together; the condition of holding together; firmness or thickness, as of a liquid.

SPARKARTICLES ABOUT CONSISTENCY:
3 Simple Ways to Build Consistency
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivat
ion_articles.asp?id=759

SparkPeople Consistency Quotes:
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/quotes_
category.asp?type=3

Exercise Consistency:
www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/stage_di
et_strategies.asp?diet_stage=2&strateg
y_num=3

Stay Consistent With the Go-To Meal
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutriti
on_articles.asp?id=224

Give Your Workout a SparkStart
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
_articles.asp?id=393

Reference Guide to Strength Training
"Without consistent strength training, muscle size and strength decline with age. An inactive person loses half a pound of muscle every year after age 20. After age 60, this rate of loss doubles. But, muscle loss is not inevitable. With regular strength training, muscle mass can be preserved throughout the lifespan, and the muscle lost can also be rebuilt."
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
_articles.asp?id=1033

An Exercise in Self-Esteem
"To be a little more precise, the best way to increase your self-esteem is to actively and effectively engage in something that is both good for you and CONSISTENT with your expressed goals. Both of these are key elements. If your goal isn't good for you, because it's unrealistic or strongly based on what you think other people want or expect from you (like trying to look like a model when your body can’t naturally achieve or maintain that), then you are going to face problems feeling good about yourself. Nothing you do will ever be good enough."

"You’ll have the same problem if your actions aren’t CONSISTENT with your goals, like going on an unhealthy crash diet to achieve a healthy weight. To feel good about yourself, you have to treat yourself as if you are already someone worthy of respect and good treatment. If that means “faking it until you make it,” then that is where you need to start."
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellnes
s_articles.asp?id=591



Tomorrow is Mother's Day. In today's world there are many of us who unfortunately didn't have a good mother, or who no longer have their mother with them, or for whom Mother's Day brings much sadness. My challenge to you, and to myself is: be like our Saviour, who redeems renews and restores everything He touches by His grace. Imitate Him, and tomorrow can be a grace-filled day for you. Tomorrow is not about your past, and tomorrow is not about your present childlessness or motherlessness; in fact tomorrow is not about you at all. Tomorrow is about the awesome women in your life in the present, that you can express gratitude to and for. If you have a mother, find something good she did, find SOMETHING SHE DID RIGHT, and say thank you, such as giving you or your spouse life, instead of having an abortion. If she has passed on, thank God for her, for giving you life. But don't stop there. There are many ways to be a mother; God put mothering in us and it just comes out of us. So find a woman either in your life, or in your community or neighborhood or congregation, and whether she has children or not, look at her life and see the mothering gift that has come out of it, see the mothering gift that has been expressed through her life, and then sincerely express to her the value you see and express to her your appreciation for her being in the world, and being who she is, and seeing the value of her life and her non-traditional mothering gift. You might move her to tears. This is your opportunity to put aside your pain and memories and loss and lack, and go bless someone else. Serve someone else tomorrow, wash someone else's feet tomorrow; tomorrow is not about you. None of us are so scarred or wounded that we can't be grateful, and be thankful. Be like our Saviour, and redeem the day, and serve someone. It may NOT have been about love, with you; that is the unfortunate truth for some of us, yes. But you have the power to MAKE it be about love, tomorrow, for someone else. Never miss an opportunity to show love. Including on Mother's Day. Redeem it!



I recently took a day and a half off SP and all other media sources for National Day of Prayer, which I believe is Christians' call to personal repentance. I had some interesting results, including (of all things!) about exercise. I'll write about that tomorrow.

Acts 26:20 says, " . . . we should and must repent and turn to God, and do works, perform deeds, and live lives CONSISTENT with and worthy of our repentance".

Remember, He does not command us to do what we are unable to do.



If you need some last minute ideas for Mother's Day gifts, FlyLady keeps a list of clutter-free gift ideas for women (i.e. not a sorry knick-knack dust-catcher that looks like you couldn't think of anything else) on her website. This is not a gift list that is specific to Mother's Day, but rather is for all occasions and holidays where gifts to women are given. It is very helpful for brainstorming purposes, as well. www.flylady.net/pages/ClutterFreeGif
tsW.asp

Also remember a sincere letter written to someone, is oftentimes cherished above any gift. Also tomorrow is a good day to visit old folks' homes in your community. Imitate Him and redeem the day!

When did I visit you, Lord? When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto Me.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MRSGIXXER 5/11/2010 8:21PM

Great blog with lots of good ideas!! Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNNY332 5/9/2010 8:24AM

Beautiful Blog today. Thanks so much! Happy Mother's Day to you, my friend. Hugs, Sunny Report Inappropriate Comment

PINDOC 5/8/2010 9:23PM

This is a wonderful Mother's Day blog. Thanks for the encouragement to be consistent and persistent. Report Inappropriate Comment

National Day of Prayer, a Call for Christians' Personal Repentance

Thursday, May 06, 2010

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.



2 Chronicles 7:14 calls the house of God to personal repentance, and to prayer for their nation. It does NOT ask anyone else to repent or pray. God even repeats Himself to say WHOM is responsible; now why do you think that might be, hmmm?


(1st time) If MY people
(2nd time) That are called by MY name

Notice the verse does NOT say the thief, the rapist, the murderer, the liar, the felon is to repent and turn theirselves in to police headquarters. No it says MY people who are called by MY name, are to humble themselves, search their heart, repent OF THEIR OWN EVIL, do penance for it, seek God and crave Him, and return to Him with ALL their hearts; no corner reserved or held back.

I never hear that preached, even when 2 Chronicles 7:14 is preached. Instead it's "God will heal this nation full of evil people and wickedness", from a skewed viewpoint of "if the good Christians will pray, God will get rid of the evil people and heal their land". Do you know the Bible says self-righteousness as expressed in that attitude, stinks and is putrid and abhorrent to God? Do you know God loves those "evil people" just as much as He loves you? Do you know that our self-righteousness is AS FILTHY RAGS? No, God said The Believers are to repent of THEIR OWN evil, and THEN He will heal the land. Peter was repeating the Old Testament when he said, "Judgement begins at the house of God".

This is a call to National Repentance BY BELIEVERS, by "the good people", NOT by others.



So if you're a Believer, if you are His and if you are called by His name, this one's FOR YOU, personally.

I'm a Believer, I am His and I am called by His name, so this one's FOR ME, personally.



Now meditate on these words, having a proper framework of personal responsibility, personal repentance, personal evil:

New International Version
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

New Living Translation
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

English Standard Version
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

New American Standard Bible
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

GOD'S WORD Translation
However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear [their prayer] from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.

King James Bible
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

American King James Version
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

American Standard Version
if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Bible in Basic English
If my people, on whom my name is named, make themselves low and come to me in prayer, searching for me and turning from their evil ways; then I will give ear from heaven, overlooking their sin, and will give life again to their land.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sine and will heal their land.

English Revised Version
if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Webster's Bible Translation
If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

World English Bible
if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


We do have a new, and better!, covenant; not just the covering of the sin, but washing it away. However we must all still repent and return to Him, and humbly approach the throne of grace, showing penance and repentance, showing that we have turned; no NOT the evil people; begin the sentence with personal responsibility, begin the sentence with "I". I must still repent and return to Him, and then yes He will end our captivity, and He will heal our land. It is up to us, the Believer, His people, that are called by His name; it is we who are to occupy til He comes. Even if you have no area of captivity in your life, we The Believers are still required to humble ourselves, search our hearts, and DO 2 Chronicles 7:14.



I don't know about you, but I am not ashamed of the Name of Jesus, or to be called by His Name, Jesus Christ, a Christian; yes I AM "called by His name", yes I AM "His people". Therefore my assignment is clear. I will be on a SparkBreak until late Friday, with no media, internet, radio, TV, email, or phones.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JEANAJO 5/7/2010 6:24PM

Thanks for sharing your blog...and your faith! Report Inappropriate Comment

WARMSPRINGDAY 5/7/2010 5:17PM

I'm a Believer, I am His and I am called by His name, so this one's FOR ME, personally. Amen and amen! Thank you. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROX2013 5/6/2010 2:39PM

Amen! I believe we all will face him on judgement day responsible for our own choices and sins. Each person is responsible for repenting thier own sins and transgressions not someoneelse's. This is a great blog to pass around!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

QCESCADA 5/6/2010 12:50PM

Amen. My church definitely preaches it this way - we are called to be holy as He is holy - it is our responsibility to obey Him in all things including prayer. We are called to pray for our leaders - even if we don't agree with them, we must pray for them. Report Inappropriate Comment

_RACHEL 5/6/2010 12:33PM

Thank you for this post. I knew it was National Day of Prayer but God used this blog. I've been personally convicted. I'm His, I'm called by His Name, I'm taking His Word and repent. Thank you dear sister. Report Inappropriate Comment

PSALM34V7 5/6/2010 11:47AM

Fantastic! Praise the Lord that you were bold enough to post this. We are in such need of prayer as well as repentance. Would that we all turn back and seek the Lord! I'm with you on this. Praise God for your post! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNNY332 5/6/2010 9:48AM

PRAISE THE LORD I do believe that God is calling us to pray as we have never prayed before for the state of affairs our nation is in. We do need to humble ourselves and seek his healing upon our land. Thanks for a great post today. Hugs, Sunny Report Inappropriate Comment

BOBBIENORTHERN 5/6/2010 9:30AM

Amen sister, you are right on. You should be on TV and in churches preaching this Holy Spirit revealed message that has been given to you and you are being obedient to reach out and spread it. Thats what our Father wants, is obedience not sacrifice. You go girl. I am so glad I read this, this is such a blessing this message. Have a great prayerful day. Report Inappropriate Comment