Monday, February 3, 2020

Monday Message


"In Argentina, Relief Society leaders are trying to teach the importance of food storage. They wrote: “Unfortunately, most of the sisters [here] cannot afford to buy an extra kilo of sugar, or flour, or an extra liter of oil. However, they have been encouraged to save, even just a spoonful at a time." (Elaine L. Jack) 

I think this sets a good example for us. Even the littlest amount adds up. However, one thing is required...just do it. If you don't do it, it won't get done.

Make it a habit. Remember rotation.

Try to store basic items that many things can be made from. For example, I store powdered milk because I use that. I don't store evaporated milk and I don't have to worry about recipes that call for cream. I just use the powdered milk in more of a concentrated form.

Evaporated milk - use one and a half cups water to a half cup plus one tablespoon of milk powder and you have what would equal one can of evaporated milk.

A lot of people turn their nose up at powdered milk but it might not be what you are used to.

I use non instant powdered milk as it stores way longer than the instant but I have used plenty of instant as well. 

Either way, use it or lose it and by that I mean use it daily or it goes to waste...

I keep a jar on the counter for easy use.

As you go about fixing food pay attention to how many times a recipe calls for a few tablespoons of milk or a half a cup, even a cup. This is easier to do than you might think to get used to using powdered milk for all cooking. If it is easier, have a quart jar mixed up and in your refrigerator but I find over the years that I just automatically mix it when I need it. Also, you can put the dry milk powder in with the dry ingredients and the water in with the wet ingredients. I don't think you will notice a taste difference so this would be a good place to start.  

Store the basic ingredients, you can make your own items rather then running out to the store... 

I was in the middle of making enchiladas when all of the sudden my sleeve snagged the open can of enchilada sauce and it fell and spilled. What was I to do? Well, I made this recipe - https://www.livingonadime.com/enchilada-sauce/ 

I was worried it would not taste the same but it did and I was so amazed. I did not put the green pepper in as I was in a hurry and it was quite a bit cheaper than the can I usually got and I had everything on hand.


My husband built this spice rack for me based on these jars.

When building your storage add spices.

https://www.budget101.com/recipes/516-complete-mix-recipe-index/ - this site has much we could use.

https://www.budget101.com/recipes/544-taco-seasoning-mix/ - look at the recipe, can you make this without going to the store?

https://www.budget101.com/recipes/448-convenience-mixes-2/ - try recipes, save the ones you like in your binder. Neat thing is you don't need the chemicals.



http://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2016/02/monday-message_29.html - you can see some of the bread mixes I make up here. I don't do them long term, just for ease. I put the water in the bread machine then add the mix. I could also do by hand using this mix...

http://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2019/08/monday-message.html  - scroll down till you see the turquoise booklet, Liza's recipes follow. This is the recipe we put in jars. I do mine with regular flour and add one tsp. vital wheat gluten for each cup of flour, this makes bread flour too.

http://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/07/monday-message.html  this has lots of bread info.


Try to store ingredients for the recipes that you make then you can just fix from scratch what you need.

https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2017/08/homemaker-series-basic-homemaking.html - this is a very good read.



Frugality is different for everyone. I may have had to do frugal because of hardships but if I had not learned I could not have bettered our lives. You may feel like I concentrate a lot on the same things, it is because these things have helped me the most. Try to learn those things now when you are not pressed to by harder times.


I am a huge believer of hard copies. You can learn much from books. I know we live in this age of internet and believe me, I have learned a lot from it too but having books in hard copy has its place too.



8 comments:

  1. Hi Becky,

    I always look forward to your Monday post. I love your spice rack and the jars and tag labels. Your fireplace and mantle with the children's chairs are adorable. I've read "The Tightwad Gazette" books many times and it really has taught me how to be frugal, it really changed my mindset. I, of course, love your kitty!
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you the spices are in half pint jars the shelf was built so i could use the jars i keep gallon jars on a shelf

      Delete
  2. QUE SORPRESA BECKY, HAS ESCRITO DE MI PAIS, ES CIERTO AQUI LAS COSAS ESTAN TERRIBLEMENTE CARAS Y NO PODEMOS COMPRAR MAS DE LO QUE QUISIERAMOS, TODO TODO ES CARO, NO HAY DINERO QUE ALCANZE PARA SATISFACER NUESTRAS NECESIDADES, TRATAMOS DE SER LO MAS FRUGAL QUE PODEMOS, A VECES NO SE QUE DAR DE COMER YA QUE CONTAMOS CON POCO DINERO Y PODEMOS COMPRAR POCOS ALIMENTOS, SIEMPRE ME LAS ARREGLO PARA HACER COMIDAS QUE LLENEN LA PANZA DE LOS NIÑOS, TAMBIEN USO MUCHO LA LECHE EN POLVO, LA USO PARA VARIAS PREPARACIONES, YA QUE LA LECHE ESTA MUY CARA, OPTAMOS POR ESTA. NO SE ADONDE NOS QUIEREN LLEVAR, LA POLITICA DEL NUEVO GOBIERNO NO SABE QUE CAMINO SEGUIR, Y ESO HACE QUE MUCHAS Y MUCHAS FAMILIAS VIVAN EN ESCASES, MUCHOS PERDIERON SUS EMPLEOS, LOS SERVICIOS DE AGUA, ELECTRICIDAD, GAS ESTAN POR LAS NUBES, REALMENTE ES AGOTADOR PODER SALIR ADELANTE, SOLO NOS QUEDA CONFIAR EN DIOS, ORANDO DIARIAMENTE PARA VIVIR POR SU MISERICORDIA. ME GUSTA MUCHO SU BLOG, LEO SOBRE SUS PUBLICACIONES DE AÑOS ANTERIORES, AYUDAN Y MUCHO, AMO TEJER AL CROCHET Y CON 2 AHUJAS, AMO COSER, HACER MANUALIDADES PARA DECORAR MI HOGAR USANDO RESTOS DE TELAS, O CUANDO HAY UNA CAMISA PARA TIRAR, APROVECHO Y RECORTO ALGUNA PARTE QUE ESTE EN BUEN ESTADO Y LA GUARDO PARA HACER ALGO EN EL FUTURO, TODO SIRVE. GRACIAS POR PUBLICAR TUS IDEAS SOBRE ALMACENAMIENTO, PREPARASRSE PARA POSIBLES DESASTRES O COSAS QUE LA BIBLIA MENCIONA. BENDICIONES.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi yes the quote was in the past set back what can be done it is to get harder but we are inspired by you.i am glad you like the blog yes prices too high here too but I think they will keep going up we just have to do what we can. Do you garden?

      Delete
  3. NO TENGO HUERTA, HE PLANTADO TOMATES, PIMIENTOS, ACELGA, LIMONES PERO SIN RESULTADOS POSITIVOS, PARECE QUE LA TIERRA NO ES BUENA, LA HEMOS ABONADO CON MI ESPOSO, PERO SE NIEGA A DARNOS FRUTOS, ASI QUE TENGO QUE GASTAR EN EL MERCADO Y LOS PRECIOS SON EXHORBITANTES. TE PIDO TUS FIELES ORACIONES A NUESTRO FAVOR, PERSONALMENTE ESTOY PASANDO UNA ETAPA DE TRISTEZA, YA QUE SE HAN SEPARADO MI HIJA DE SU ESPOSO Y MI HIJO DE SU ESPOSA Y ESO ES MUY DIFICIL PARA MI Y PARA MI ESPOSO DE ACEPTAR, COMO CRISTIANOS SABEMOS QUE DIOS ESTA EN CONTRA DEL DIVOROCIO O SEPARACION, NOSOTROS HACE 41 AÑOS QUE ESTAMOS CASADOS Y SIEMPRE HEMOS ESTADO JUNTOS, EN LAS BUENAS Y EN LAS MALAS, LOS JOVENES HOY EN DIA NO TIENEN PACIENCIA, LA SOLUCION SEGUN ELLOS ES SEPARARSE, MUY TRISTE. BENDICIONES BECKY.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sorry you all have our prayers I hope things do get better

      Delete
  4. Hi Becky, Thank you for the encouragement. It is really saying something that if we cant put anything away even a few spoons of something until you achieve a jar and so on is still something. You encourage me each week! Love Annabel.xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words I know life is hard for so many

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...