Taxes

Apparently there are new restrictions for those of us who itemize deductions. We can't file until after February 14th. See www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2011-01-20-irs-tax-filing-delay_N.htm for more details. So much for rewarding those paying most of the government's bills. It'll be nice if they change that. I like the money back as soon as possible - January is always nice. I bet a lot of frugal people will be changing their with holdings this next year.

Back to Basics

I found a good overall article for those just looking into what to do. Many of us have our own preferences as to what we should be tightening and relaxing financially. We've read a lot and many people have come to ask what is most important. Besides the wise counsel I'm sure you'll give, consider having them look at this article. It's a good basic "I can start from here" description for those who want to tighten up financially. Go to www.beprepared.com/article.asp?ai=42&sid=LDSLA&bhcd2=1295559277
It is from Emergency Essentials, but you don't have to buy any products to enjoy their articles!

Great Hummus - Christmas Gift

Idea from a friend:

I thought I'd give a healthier option to neighbors and friends this Christmas for our "treat" AND use up some food storage too.
I made hummus from scratch - using a bunch of cans of garbanzo beans I had in my storage.
Recipe:
1 can (15-16 oz) garbanzo beans (rinsed drained)
2 T lemon juice
2 T tahini paste (or creamy peanut butter)
2 tsp olive oil (or veg. oil)
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp salt
Mix all ingredients in a small food processor.

I put quart sized ziplocks full of red green tortilla chips with a small disposable tupperware container in red cellophane and it makes a really cute gift.

This is good hummus! - WM

Oats class

Check out Patty's Pantry for some good information on Oats. There's handouts and recipes too. See www.pattysfoodpantry.blogspot.com for the 9-11-10 comment.

One thing I do to help everyone enjoy oatmeal is to mix one packet of the processed, already flavored packets in with two servings of rolled oats. Cook on 5 power (50%) for 6 min in the microwave and you've got 3 servings. That way, it's tasty and good for you. I find the instant oatmeal more processed (like quick oatmeal) and prefer the whole grain texture of the rolled oats- better fiber and better for you.

Another way to enjoy your oatmeal more is to have a few mix-ins (either in a bunch of small ziplocks or tupperware for easy access). These may be brown sugar, cinnamon & sugar, coconut, chopped nuts, raisins, dried fruit, etc. Make a batch of oatmeal that is plain and have your family add what they want.

Fiber Rich Foods - easy on the waistline and budget

For those of you who are looking for healthy and less expensive ways to improve your diet, here are some high fiber foods- from best fiber (9.5 g) to okay fiber (2 g): 

one-half cup of each- 

cooked navy beans (9.5), 

baked beans, canned (9), 

cooked lentils (7.8), 

black beans (7.5), 

dates (7.1), 

cooked kidney beans (6.5), 

cooked lima beans (6.7), 

canned tomato paste (5.9), 

cooked garbanzo beans (6.2), 

bean with ham soup (5.6), 

frozen red raspberries (5.5), 

cooked artichoke (4.5), 

frozen peas - cooked (4.4), 

cooked frozen mixed veggies (4), 

raw blackberries (3.6), 

canned pumpkin (3.5), 

whole wheat spaghetti - cooked (3.4); 

others- 1 c. raisin bran cereal (7), 

one medium bran muffin (5), 

one-half asian pear (5), 

1 c oatmeal (4), 

24 almonds (3.3), 

one apple with skin (3.3), 

one cup broccoli (2.4), 

one red sweet pepper (2.4), 

one nectarine (2.3), 

28 peanuts (2.3), 

one slice whole grain bread (2), 

15 walnut halves (2). 

Enjoy!!

Artisan Bread in 5 min. Review

I really enjoyed the book, Artisan Bread in 5 min. and tried a few of the recipes. With the heat on, I've stopped baking as much as possible, but will put the ideas back to good use this fall. I found a good large container at Wal-Mart for less than $10 and have room for it in the fridge. If there's any downside to the operation, it's finding the room in your fridge for the dough.
Basically, you make a large batch of dough once or twice a week and then take what you need for that day, shape it and let it rise for less than 30 min and bake. The five minutes is the time you take the day you bake to prepare the pan and shape it. By using a pan of water under your flat pan for the bread, you get a distinct snappy crust. One of my children takes the crust off of most breads, but not this one. A neighbor who has also started using the ideas in this book has a similar picky child who also does not take this bread's crust off. For those who want fresh bread daily, this is your method.

Emergency foods

Check out http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/the-top-foods-you-should-keep-in-case-of-an-emergencgy-2046609/ for the list of what foods would be best to have during an emergency. Not surprisingly, they are what you and I already have. There are a couple of tweaks I may make, though. The whole wheat cracker twist is a good one for me to incorporate. What's nice is that those who don't have as much storage room as they'd like can look at this list and prioritize what you already have. Enjoy!