goddess of thrift

From a Christian Perspective -- God and our Lunch Money

     They stretch out before us, as we picture them in our minds:  a seemingly endless line of the needy, the hungry and the broken . . . women, men and children who are crying to us for help.  "There are so many of them, and their need is so great," we tell ourselves.  "What difference can one person possibly make?" 

     Moving back in time hundreds of years, we stand on a grassy hillside.  A young Jewish teacher and his followers are confronting a great need.  There is a vast crowd before them, restless and hungry, who have come to hear the Teacher's message.  But his followers know that the needs of the masses have to be addressed . . . and soon.  They say to the teacher:  "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late.  Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."  But the teacher -- Jesus -- replies:  "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:15-16 NIV)

     They respond (and can you hear the panic in their voices?):  "That would take eight months of a man's wages!  Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"  "How many loaves do you have?"  he asks.  "Go and see." (Mark 6:37-38 NIV - emphasis mine)

     Another of his disciples, Andrew . . . speaks up:  "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (John 6:8 NIV)

     "Bring them here to me," he [Jesus] says.  (Matthew 14:18 NIV)  We know what happens next.  Jesus blesses and multiplies the bread and fish,  and five thousand men, and perhaps as many women and children, eat until they are full . . . and there are leftovers!  Lots and lots of leftovers.

     We don't, any one of us, have the resources -- money, time or energy -- to meet all of the needs in the world.  But how often do we let ourselves conclude that we haven't enough bread (pun intended) to begin to meet the needs of so many . . . and therefore, do nothing?  But what did Jesus ask His disciples, and what is He asking us?  "How many do you have?  Go and see."  We can take an honest look at the abundance with which God has blessed us. . .take inventory.  But then comes the hard part, and this time, it isn't a question, but a command:  "Bring them here to me."  The boy may not have wanted to give up his lunch, and may not have really had a choice.  But when the available resources were surrendered to Jesus, everyone, including the boy, had enough.  God doesn't ask us to meet every need, and in fact, God doesn't ask us to meet any need without His help.  But He may be asking us to give Him our lunch -- or lunch money -- for Him to use to meet the needs of others.

     I come away from reading this account with two thoughts.  First, it was Jesus, not his disciples, who took what was offered and turned it into enough.   The disciples were simply asked to contribute what they could . . . we give, and God multiplies.  Also, I wonder about the boy who had given up his bread and fish.  What happened in his heart that day, as a result of seeing what Jesus did?  Did he become one of Jesus' followers?  Did he sit and tell his grandchildren, years later:  "I gave my lunch to Jesus, and He used it to feed a huge crowd"?  Did he know in his heart, from that day on, that if he offered what he had to God, God was faithful to meet his needs as well?

     May we be willing to give up our lunch -- or lunch money -- if God asks for it.  May we be a people who will surrender what we have to God, without deciding that it's too little to make a difference, trusting that He is faithful to use it to satisfy the hunger of others. . . and, in doing so, to satisfy our hunger as well. 

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

On the Power of Money . . .

     "When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart."

--John Wesley

Thrift and the Garden -- How My Garden Grows in May

     My garden has taken off in May, and by now I have a pretty good idea about what's growing well this year, and what plants seem to be struggling.  (I don't suppose the plants that have died can still fall under the category of "struggling".)  Some seedlings have been eaten by cutworms, birds or marauding rabbits (pepper and tomato plants, this spring.) Others appear to have mutated into some super-healthy plant form and are growing like crazy . . . the lettuces, chard, potatoes, onions and sugar-snap peas look wonderful.  TV garden show propaganda aside, this is, in my experience, what is the normal process for a garden . . . some things grow well, some not so well.  Given this natural ebb and flow of gardening, there are still cost-effective things gardeners can do to increase success.  Some methods and approaches I typically use:

Mulching:  No, not the expensive, "Black Gold", bagged landscaping mulch, but a readily available, inexpensive weed barrier.  Laying down layers of dampened newspaper between plants, and covering them with a layer of grass clippings will help suppress a large variety of weeds, and the mulch will break down into organic matter to build the soil.  A layer of mulch also helps to conserve soil moisture, cutting down on the need for watering.

Growing intensively:  By faithfully enriching the soil, plants can be grown at closer-than-recommended spacing, which means more yield for the space, and fewer open areas for weed seeds to germinate and grow.  Books on  "Square Foot" gardening or "French Intensive" gardening describe this method in detail.

Composting:  I'm sure you know about this, but leaves, soft plant clippings (not woody ones), grass clippings, and food scraps can all be composted, as well as manure from many farm animals.  Pile in a bin and leave it until next season, or turn it with a pitchfork occasionally to speed up the process.  Avoid:  meat scraps and bones (fish are fine), grease, dog or cat droppings, weed seeds and taproots, and too thick a layer of anything.  When compost looks like rich, crumbly soil, it's ready to use to enrich the soil in your garden.

Direct sowing annuals from seed:  Many of the old standby flowers grow easily from seed, and often inexpensive "drugstore" seeds produce good results.  Zinnias, marigolds, poppies and cleome are just a few which may be direct-sown in the garden.  By learning which annuals self-sow in your garden, you can plant varieties which will also produce seedlings for next year. (Of course, this means you can't deadhead -- remove all the spent flower heads -- late in the season.)  My garden typically has calendula, bachelor's buttons and a bronze variety of coleus which self-sow readily.  These are helpful to transplant to bare spots created by premature plant death.

Growing open-pollinated varieties:  Non-hybrid plants that produce viable seed which can be saved and grown next year are considered "open pollinated" types, and include many of the old standbys, like Grand Rapids leaf lettuce and Brandywine tomatoes.  If I'm not too tidy at the end of the season, these plants also frequently will self-sow in my garden.  (These self-sown plants are euphemistically referred to as "volunteers".)  Often these volunteers will have a head start on the seedlings I started indoors, and will be hardier in the long run.

Growing sturdy perennials:  The types vary by region, but many perennials return reliably, year after year, and also spread to create lush garden beds.  These plants always reward me with a lot of flowers for little work, and include daylillies, peonies, lysmachia, lamb's ears, loostrife, coneflowers, columbine, sedums, yarrow, shasta daisies and shrub roses.  By growing varieties which thrive in my location and soil type, I do far less work (and spend less money replacing plants) than when I grow varieties I have to coddle. 

     My garden isn't perfect, but it is lovely, and full of vegetables, herbs and flowers by Memorial Day.  By using mulch and compost, intensive growing methods, easily available seed, self-sown plants and well-adapted plants, I get the biggest rewards for my efforts.  These strategies also help to free my time, which I can then spend to dig up the black walnut tree seedlings which were planted for me last fall in my vegetable beds by "helpful" neighborhood squirrels. 

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Thrift and Rediscovering "Special"

     Typically, the roads were gentle hills with the occasional sharper curve, and outside the windows of the blue, Ford Falcon station wagon we would see corn and barns and red-winged blackbirds.  It wasn't unusual, particularly in the summer, for our family to pile into the car on a Sunday afternoon and go for a 'ride in the country'.  Sometimes, one of my parents would sing a song like "I See the Moon" or "Red River Valley", and most times, my sister and I would be fighting motion sickness in the backseat.  Part of what made Sunday rides anticipated, though, was the possibility -- if we were well-behaved -- of stopping afterward at Baskin-Robbins for a single-dip ice cream cone.  We didn't go for rides every Sunday, and we didn't stop for ice cream every time we went for a ride.  But sometimes, we got to stop, and make our own selection of flavor, (I remember trying "Bubblegum" -- it was pink) and savor the cold sweetness of that special treat.

     As a kid, "special" was something which, by definition, didn't happen very often.  It was a reward for merit or good behavior, or an event, like attending the circus, which might occur just once during childhood.  We were a middle-class family, but my parents were children of the Depression, and treats were exactly that -- they were special -- they were uncommon.

     Somehow my generation, and the rest of our culture, seems to have lost the concept of special.  Now, we live with a "whatever we want, whenever we want it" mentality . . . so much so, that it's not unusual to hear people complain about luxuries which would be unheard of in other countries.  "That sushi wasn't as good as the sushi we had Tuesday". . . "I'm tired of having pizza -- can we get something else?" . . . "These shoes are okay, but I really wish I had gotten the other ones" . . . "Yes, it's a nice car, but it doesn't have a moon roof."  The more we have, the less what we have seems to satisfy us, and the more it seems to take for us to experience something as "special."

     So, what if we went back in time?  What if, instead of buying a new pair of shoes every paycheck, we bought a new pair once or twice a year?  What if we ate at a restaurant once a month (or less) instead of four or more times a week?  What if we delayed gratification long enough for things to become special again?  What if, instead of spending more and more money for less and less enjoyment, we waited long enough to do or acquire something that we could appreciate it in a new way?

     Most of us in this country are blessed with abundance, to the extent that we have taken for granted how often we can enjoy almost endless options of food, clothing, entertainment, and stuff.  But by continuing to acquire so much so frequently, we not only spend on ourselves money which could help others, but we lessen the value of each item or experience to ourselves, because it becomes lost in the blur of continual acquisition.

     So, let's restore "special" as a word which has real meaning in our vocabularies.  By spending less on ourselves, and spending less frequently, we will discover we have plenty for ourselves already, plenty to share with others, and we may even be able to revisit that rare, almost forgotten time, where the simple, occasional treats can become special once again.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

On Money and Bank Failures . . .

     "Bank failures are caused by depositors who don't deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement."

--Dan Quayle

Thrift 101 -- Fine Tuning (Lesson 5)

     Congratulations!  You have listed and prioritized your financial dreams, tracked your spending and put together a monthly spending plan.  Let's look now at how you can fine-tune that plan to make it work on an on-going basis.

     First, every month is different.  Therefore, while a "master" budget can be a guideline, it is just that -- a plan which you adjust to monthly variables.  You have to spend your specific take home pay for each month, not a total of what you make for one year, divided by 12.  If you have bonuses, overtime, irregular income or a bi-weekly pay schedule, you won't be working with the same amount every month.  If you tend to run short in certain areas, like Christmas or vacation savings, plan now to use those occasional "surplus" amounts you receive to keep you from spending more than you make.  Our 3-paycheck months (2 per year) provide for Christmas gifts, vacation, and the never-ending category at our house, home repairs.

     Second, pay as little interest as possible, preferably none.  By saving ahead for purchases, rather than charging them, you may have to wait a little longer for some items.  On the other hand, you will have more of your income to spend if you're not paying interest on previous purchases.  It is possible to live debt-free if you are willing to make spending choices and delay gratification.  What!!!  In AMERICA???  Although we are marketed the "buy now, pay later" method, we often end up paying way too much later for what we are buying now.  Is that really where you want your money to go?  It's your choice.  As Milton Berle said:  "It's amazing how fast later comes when you buy now!"

     Third, put any budget item which occurs occasionally, but not monthly, on the monthly budget, dividing the annual total by 12.  Keep a running total of what you save for each category.  Then, when the quarterly water bill or annual homeowner's insurance premium comes due, it won't be a surprise and you will have the money.

     Forth, start aggressively paring down spending in B and C categories in your original plan.  Research ideas on how to spend less; use common sense and be creative.  For example, if you love your home, but are stretched by your housing costs, consider the following ideas:

     --Share/rent space:  find a roommate; rent half of your garage for boat or RV storage; carve an unused upstairs into rental space for a college student; board pets for friends when they travel; rent garden space to a friend or neighbor.  These changes don't have to be forever, but they can make a difference while you get your financial house in order.

     --Get rid of excess stuff and cancel your lease on your self-storage unit.  With the money you save not paying the rental fee, you could probably replace whatever you are paying to store.  Stop spending extra money to store stuff you don't need.

     --Refinance:  shop interest rates and closing costs, and calculate payback time.  If you plan to stay in your home for several years, and the break-even time on your closing costs is 10 months, (costs divided by monthly savings) it's probably worth doing.

     --Build Equity:  Do the low-dollar/high reward maintenance things, like painting, landscaping and keeping up with repairs, which give you top-dollar appraisal value for your property.  (I realize that some repairs are more expensive than others, but often, the longer you wait to fix it, the more the repair will cost.)  This increase in equity might enable you to drop Personal Mortgage Insurance (PMI) when you re-finance by moving your equity position above 20%, lowering your monthly payment.  It will also allow you to get the most for your home when you do sell.  Just be careful not to over-improve for your neighborhood. 

     --Do the little things, over time, to lower energy costs.  You know most of them already:  unplug electrical items with phantom loads; line-dry rather than machine-dry at least some of your laundry; shut off heating/cooling to unused rooms; take shorter showers; weatherproof your house; install a programmable thermostat.  This is not an exhaustive list, just a starting place.

     These are just a few ways to cut housing costs.  As with housing, there are multiple strategies for trimming costs in every area of your budget.  Fine-tuning your spending means, ultimately, examining every spending category and, over time, adjusting your spending for maximum savings.  Every category has potential savings, if you are willing to look.  As you discover ways to cut costs, you will have more money available to pay off debt and to build savings toward both your short- and long-term goals.  What a great feeling!

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Thrifty Stovetop Crumb Cookies

     Okay, even I will admit that the name isn't that appetizing, but these cookies are really good.  I seem to regularly have stale graham crackers, animal crackers and/or vanilla wafer-type cookies around, and I hate to just throw them away, so I crush them in a Ziploc-type bag with a rolling pin.  This is another use for them (besides making a crumb crust for a cream pie):

Combine and bring to a rolling boil in a large saucepan:

1/4 c  butter

1/4 c  milk

1 1/2 c  sugar

1/2 c  corn syrup

1/4 c  cocoa

1 t  grated orange peel (fresh or dried)

Boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in until combined:

1 1/2 c  cookie or graham cracker crumbs

1 1/4 c  rolled oats

1/2 c  dried apple pieces (or substitute other dried fruit for the apples or cranberries)

1/2 c  sweetened, dried cranberry pieces

1/2 c  unsalted sunflower seeds (or substitute pecans or walnuts)

1/2 c  chocolate chips

1/2 c  butterscotch chips

Drop cookie batter by rounded teaspoonfuls on wax paper.  Cool to harden.  

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry location.  Makes 36.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

On handouts . . .

     " When people ask me if I have any spare change, I tell them I have it at home in my spare wallet."

--Nick Arnette

Thrift and the Garden -- Benign Neglect

     We've seen the programs on the home-and-garden channels:  they show meticulously landscaped yards, weedless gardens, abundant produce in strictly regimented rows, and never an indication that a dog has been on the lawn.  Flipping through gardening magazines gives us the same impression:  lush, perfect plants and beautiful, blemish-free vegetables are displayed page after page.  If we let ourselves, we can believe that this is how all (meaning "our") gardens should look, and, based on the effort that we know must be involved to attain that level of perfection, we can conclude that gardening is just too much work.

     What we have to remind ourselves (and I as much as anyone else) is that the various forms of media are mostly about marketing.  Magazines exist to sell stuff.  TV programs, even those on public TV, have sponsors who want to sell stuff.  The blemish-free gardens in the media (and the blemish-free people, by the way) aren't real.  Few of us have the staff of gardeners which works on the average garden show.  While a lovely environment is a nice thing, weeds are a part of life. . .and real life isn't a photo shoot.

     A garden can be extremely labor-intensive if we expect to uphold garden-show standards, or, in the real world, it can be beautiful and very productive without being perfect.  To allow time constraints to keep us from enjoying the benefits and savings of gardening is to miss out on the colors, flavors and wonder of the garden.  To find the balance between productivity and perfection, I advocate applying what I call "benign neglect".  This is simply selective maintenance:  that which prevents the need for enormous effort later, and that which produces the highest yield for the amount of time spent.

     Benign neglect means doing the important stuff -- planting, watering, some weeding and some trimming -- without stressing over the rest.  Case in point:  last year, I wanted to, but didn't get a chance to prune my grape vines.  While they may not have looked as "manicured" as some, at the end of the season we had an abundance of grapes . . . many more than we could use.  The summer I didn't bother to remove the "suckers" from my tomato plants, I had my largest tomato harvest ever.  When I had weeds in the strawberry bed which I couldn't pull out by the root without disturbing the berry plants, I cut the weeds off at ground level before they went to seed.  The bachelor's buttons which self-sowed from last season didn't get thinned to "recommended" spacing, but they look beautiful and lush, are blooming like crazy, and there isn't a square inch available in the bed for a weed seed to germinate!

     The key to benign neglect is knowing -- or learning -- what maintenance is essential and what can slide.  If I fail to keep my plants watered, especially during a drought, they'll die.  So regular, deep watering is essential to a healthy garden when there isn't adequate rainfall.  With weeding, however, I find it's often easier to pull weeds a few inches tall, rather than trying to get them when they first appear.  Soil preparation is very important early in the season, especially in intensively planted beds, but often thinning certain direct-seeded plants, like lettuce, isn't really that important.  By reading, observing, talking to other gardeners, and learning from mistakes, I learn how necessary it is to perform each task.  With that information, I'm able to prioritize how I spend my time in the garden, especially when I'm short on time.

     One of the wonderful things about gardens is that they are forgiving.  As we employ "wise economy in the use of resources" -- my favorite definition of thrift -- we need to find a middle ground to an all-or-nothing approach to money saving strategies.  By employing wise economy when using our time and energy in the garden, we can have herbs, flowers, produce and beauty without a massive time commitment.  Unfortunately, I haven't really found a way to employ the same "benign neglect" strategy when it comes to cleaning bathrooms.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Tasty Thrifty Sloppy Joes

     It really bothers me (no surprise here) to spend a dollar or more on a can of glorified tomato sauce to make sloppy joes.  When I tried recipes in cookbooks, I didn't really find one I liked, so through trial and error I developed this one.  I like to make it in large batches and freeze it in containers for future meals. (As I mentioned in an earlier post, I make rice ahead of time in large batches and freeze it in 1-cup portions for future recipes.)

Cook and drain:

1 lb. ground turkey, beef or venison, or a combination

Combine in large, microwave-safe bowl:

1 T  oil or butter

1/2 c  diced bell peppers

1/2 c  diced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

Microwave, covered, on High 2 - 3 minutes.  Add to bowl:

1 8-oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 c  ketchup

1/4 c  packed brown sugar

1/4 t  ground pepper

1 t  prepared mustard

1 c  cooked rice

crumbled, cooked ground meat

Microwave on High setting, covered, 5 - 6 minutes.  (My microwave is only 500 watts -- if yours is larger, reduce cooking time accordingly.)  Serve on toasted buns.  Makes 12 sandwiches.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

From a Christian Perspective -- Thrift and Self-Denial

     When I read a passage from the bible, I try to ask God how it applies to my life.  When the words are those of Jesus, I want to pay special attention, and a passage of scripture -- words spoken by Jesus -- has been pressing in on my heart and mind lately.  In Luke 9:23-25 (NLT) Jesus says:  "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"  The New International Version, in place of the words "turn from your selfish ways", uses the phrase "must deny himself".  Apparently the gospel writers considered this an important teaching of Jesus:  the same passage appears in Matthew 16:24-26 and Mark 8:34-36.  Only the gospel of Luke, however, contains that single, gripping word:  daily.

     So what does it mean for me to deny myself -- to turn from my selfish ways -- daily?  Again, I have to turn to the word surrender. . .to the acknowledgment that, apart from Jesus and the intervention of His Spirit, I can do nothing.  Before I can even consider self-denial, I have to receive the grace from Him to desire self-denial. Then, with that desire, I can yield to him every resource I have:  my time, my talents, my money, my service and (here is where it gets tough) my comfort.  Each day, then, my prayer becomes:  "Lord, here I am.  Everything I am and I have is yours.  How would you have me use my resources today?"

     The definition of thrift I really like is:  "wise economy in the management of money and other resources."  (Answers.com)  As a Christian, wisdom in the management of my resources must be God-directed.  As He guides me in the use of my time, money and talents, He will automatically lead me to "act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly" with my God (Micah 6:8 NIV).  In this context, self-denial becomes joy, because I am living, spending and serving in accordance with His will. 

     Now, obviously, I am not doing this perfectly: this surrender-thing . . . this self-denial thing.  It is a continual battle against the voice of selfishness and the voice of our culture (which may be one and the same voice):  the whining question in my head which asks "but what about ME???"  Yet, as I surrender to God's leading and His will, I find that I desire to feed the hungry, to quench the thirst of those who have no clean drinking water, to share the resources I have with those who need to see the love of Christ in action in order to know that His love is real.

     May you and I, daily, surrender to His will, that our resources may be used with wise economy, for the good of others, to His glory.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

 

On Money and Love . . .

     "I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you.  I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love."

--John Lennon/Paul McCartney

From a Christian Perspective -- Spending and the Blind Spot

     Driving at dusk, you notice that the cars in the oncoming lane have their headlights on, and reach over to flip the switch.  Glancing in the mirror, you simultaneously flick your turn signal and begin a lane change, when the sudden blare of a horn startles you and you swerve back into your previous lane.  The driver of the black Toyota glares at you as he zooms past, and although you are not that good at lip reading, you are pretty sure you know what he's saying.

     The blind spot.  We learned about it in Driver's Ed years ago:  that area next to your car where you momentarily lose sight of traffic behind you.   We all learned how to avoid hitting someone in the blind spot:  head check.  A simple turn of the head can assure us that there is not car coming up in the lane next to us, and that it's safe to move over.  But do we always head check before changing lanes?  Perhaps some do, but I suspect that many of us (and I am one) often just glance in the mirror and assume everything is okay.  We are confident about what we know, and maybe a little careless about what we don't know.

     Many of us have financial blind spots as well.  We assume that there is plenty of money to go out to dinner, buy concert tickets, or purchase new running shoes.  We have a general idea of our financial status, and know that the bills are paid (or will be,) but we haven't really looked to verify our assumptions.  Sometimes our assumptions are correct, and we can spend easily, without visible consequence.  Other times we end up creating financial "accidents" -- overdrawn checking accounts, or late fees on bills on which we delay  payment -- or end up shaving money from a long-term goal, like retirement savings, or from a worthwhile category, like charitable giving. 

     What is it about us that causes us to not look?  When I'm driving, if I'm honest, it's either laziness, or the assumption that I know more than I actually do, which keeps me from turning my head to check when I change lanes.  It is also, if I'm even more honest, a disregard for the needs or safety of others.   Financially, it can also be laziness, or the mistaken assumption that the money is mine to do with as I please . . . which is also, in a way, a disregard for the needs of others. 

     The problem with this way of thinking, this disregard for others, is that our responsibility as drivers is to consider the safety of others.  In the same way, as Christians, everything we own comes from God and is to be used as He directs, which often means using the money He provides to us to help meet the needs of others.  When we don't look at where our money is going, and ask God to direct the use of each and every dollar, we can end up spending carelessly, selfishly . . . and often, excessively.

     This doesn't mean that we can't spend anything on ourselves.  God is not a cosmic killjoy, but the giver of all good gifts, and He provides graciously for His children.  What it does mean is that we need to choose to look to God when we spend, asking Him to direct us to use our resources in the best possible way, and to show us when the money we might spend on ourselves would be better spent on others.  Not only will life be a more enjoyable journey when we do this, but we will have the opportunity to some day stand before Him and hear Him say:  "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat . . ."  (Matthew 25:34-35 NIV)

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

    

Bulghur - Rice Salad

     This salad is best made ahead of time, and chilled 24 hours before serving for flavors to combine.  If you like things a little spicier, use the larger amounts of curry powder and cinnamon.

In a large bowl, combine:

1 c  bulghur wheat

1 3/4 c  boiling water

Cover and let stand one hour.  Meanwhile cook together in covered saucepan:

1 c  brown rice

2 c  water

Bring rice to a boil, turn down to simmer, cover and cook 40 - 45 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Drain any excess water from wheat when cool, fluff and combine in same bowl with rice.

Mix together in 2 c  measure:

1/4 c  lemon juice

1/4 c  orange juice

Add to juices, stirring to coat:

2 c  cored, diced apple, skins on (Granny Smith or another crisp variety)

Drain apple, reserving juices.  Add apple to wheat and rice along with:

2 c  garbanzo beans, cooked and drained (canned are fine)

1 c  carrots, chopped fine

1 c  celery, chopped fine

1/2 c  sweetened, dried cranberries

For dressing, add to reserved juices and combine:

1/2 c  light olive oil

1 - 2  T curry powder

1 - 2  t  ground cinnamon

1 t  salt

Add dressing to salad and toss well, stirring to coat.  Refrigerate 24 hours.  Before serving, stir in:

1/2  c  dry roasted peanuts

Makes 12 to 14  1-cup servings

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

On the Cost of Living . . .

     "What some people mistake for the high cost of living is really the cost of high living."

--Doug Larson

Thrifty Fruity Lemonade

     We drink this lemonade year round -- I typically have a gallon or two of it in the fridge.  It tastes great without being overly sugary, and the lemon juice adds some Vitamin C.

In 2 quarts boiling water, brew for 15 minutes:

4  Celestial Seasonings fruit flavored herbal tea bags.  (This is one of the few grocery items for which I use coupons, and I watch for sales and stock up.)  The flavors we especially like are:

   --Tropic of Strawberry,  Country Peach Passion,  Raspberry Zinger  and  True Blueberry.  I usually use all one flavor tea, although you can mix them;  2 peach & 2 strawberry is a good combination.

Remove tea bags, squeezing between spoons.  Cool tea to lukewarm.  Add to tea in 1 Gallon pitcher:

1+1/2  c  sugar, stirring well to dissolve

3/4 c  lemon juice  (bottled, or fresh if you have an inexpensive source for lemons.)

Fill with cold water to make 1 Gallon.

Chill and serve.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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