Beer Bread - Broke Food

Beer bread is an excellent quick bread that has just a few ingredients.  Bake it, allow it to cool, and it is great to have with sandwiches or make an egg batter and turn it into French toast.  We like this as just a bread to snack on with real butter and honey.  It also is a great budget stretcher if you're coming up on the end of the week and need bread to go with meals or make sandwiches. 

The recipe calls for Bisquick, but you can also use a substitute for that, which I will list below.  There are only 3 ingredients (my favorite kind!), and it's easy to whip up a batch and have it ready for your next meal.  

Beer Bread 

4 cups Bisquick (this equals one 20 oz. box)*

4 teaspoons sugar 

1 12 oz. can of beer

*If you do not have Bisquick, use 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt.  

Mix ingredients in a  mixing bowl until it forms a sticky batter. 

Pour into a loaf pan and allow to set for approximately 30 minutes.  This may or may not rise.  Your mileage may vary.  

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30-40 minutes or until loaf has risen and turned a golden brown.   

Allow to cool for approximately 10-15 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely before slicing. 

Tuna Croquettes - Broke Food

While tuna croquettes are listed as today's broke food, they are secretly one of my favorite things to eat.  Most people know salmon croquettes, but if you're really trying to save, croquettes made with tuna are just the ticket.  

I learned this recipe from my late mother-in-law, Judy, and it's been a favorite of ours ever since.  Most people have tuna in their cupboards, and oftentimes if you match coupons with sales, you can get tuna for a great price.  It keeps well, and it's versatile.  

These also make great mock filet-o-fish sandwiches.  Save a patty, and the next day heat in the microwave and serve with lettuce and tartar sauce as a sandwich. 

The recipe below is for 1-2 people.  If you need to feed more people, double or triple the recipe to suit your needs.  Now, on with the recipe! 

Tuna Croquettes (Makes 2-3)

One 2.6 oz. pouch of tuna (or an equivalent size can), drained 

1/2 cup crushed saltine crackers or bread crumbs

1 egg, beaten 

1-2 tablespoons finely minced onion or 1-2 teaspoons dried minced onion 

Salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients.  Allow to rest for about 10 minutes so the crumbs soften a bit.  Form into patties and fry in oil over medium-high heat.  Serve with tartar sauce or cocktail sauce (recipes below). This will make 2 large patties, 3 medium patties, or 4 very small patties.

Homemade Tartar Sauce: 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1 tablespoon sweet or dill relish

Dash onion powder 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Combine all ingredients and serve with fish.  My very first job was in a local fish house restaurant, and this was how they made their tartar sauce and their cocktail sauce.

Homemade Cocktail Sauce

1 cup ketchup

1/2 to 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (to taste)

dash of garlic powder 

dash of Tabasco hot sauce

Mix all ingredients and chill before serving. 

Recycle Used Wax Melts/Tarts into a Candle

If you've joined the craze for the wax warmers such as Scentsy or Pink Zebra or even the ones they have at Walmart, you have probably found scents you love.  However, after the wax scent dissipates, you want to change out the wax, but it seems a waste to just toss it out. 

This is an easy way to reuse the wax, and, believe it or not, the scent is still very much there once it burns.  The great thing about making these candles is that you get a slightly different scent as each layer burns through, and oftentimes it makes interesting scent combinations in the process.

I have different jars started for different scents.  I have one jar that is for the woodsy/spicy/kitchen scents such as Mountain Lodge, pumpkin pie, cinnamon spice, etc., and another that is for flowery/citrusy scents such as lavender, fresh cut grass, lemon, etc.  You can make as many or as few as you want, or even just have one jar into which everything gets dumped.  Whatever you choose, it's a great way to reuse the wax!

To make these you will need:

1 empty jar that is relatively heat safe (a Mason jar is perfect)

1 premade wick with base (I got mine at Hobby Lobby $2.99 for 5 click HERE to see)

Some type of adhesive, such as E6000, Super Glue, etc.

Melted wax

Pen, pencil, or dowel to hold the wick in place and steady while the jar is being filled.

Clean the jar and make sure it is dried.  Put a dab of adhesive on the bottom of the metal premade wick and poke it down into the jar, centering it, and then use a long object to press it to the bottom of the jar to make sure it's adhered.  

Once the wick has set, take the dowel, pencil, or pen, and wind the wick around it a couple of times until the dowel sits flush on top of the jar.  This will hold the wick centered until the jar is filled.  Next, begin pouring the melted wax.  

It's not necessary to do this all at once.  You can stick the jar in an out of the way spot and add to it whenever you change out wax in your warmer or if you've come to the end of a candle and need to pour off the remaining melted wax.  Add to this layer by layer.  

When the wax is to approximately the bottom of the threads on the jar, cut the wick off and trim to approximately 1/2 inch in length.  Now it's ready to use! (The photo below is of another candle made this way with darker wax.)

DIY Ruffled Scarf - Simple Gifts

I love scarves, particularly the ones that that are dressy/frilly.  I also love infinity scarves.  No worrying about how to do some fancy tie, or what do you do with the ends, etc.  

I was in Hobby Lobby recently and saw this ruffled fabric.  I knew I wanted to use it to make scarves.  It is a pre-ruffled fabric that is light and airy.  They had white, black, turquoise, yellow, and hot pink.  I bought 1 yard each of the black and hot pink.  The fabric was 58 inches wide.  If you are lucky, you may be able to find it in a wider width.  The wider the better!  Also, how you make your scarf will depend on the direction in which the ruffles run.  For the fabric I bought, the ruffles ran across the width of the fabric.  Had the ruffles run the length of the fabric, I would have had to adjust how much I bought. 

For the first scarf, I decided to make it an infinity or circle scarf. I decided to make it 12 inches wide, with the length being 58 inches.  I used a cutting board and rotary cutter, as I found that it was necessary to use something very sharp to cut the fabric.  It tends to slip.  Using 12 inches per scarf, I was able to cut three scarves.  

Trim any weird edges or severed ruffles.  Because this is a knit fabric, it is not necessary to hem it or finish the edges. You'll want to watch as you cut so that you can flip the ruffles back away from the cutting edge. 

Once I had the scarf cut that I was going to use for an infinity scarf, I put the short ends together and pinned them face-to-face. I then sewed across these edges in a straight line. 

That's it!  Turn the scarf right side out.  You now have an infinity or circle scarf that is approximately 57 inches in length and can be worn long or doubled for more of a cowl look.  It can also be pulled up over your head as a hood or headscarf in case of bad weather. 

Don't like infinity scarves?  Not to worry.  The selvage edge of the fabric has finished ends for the ruffles.  You can leave the fabric as is, trim up the long edges, and wear it as a tie type scarf! 

Very easy, very chic, and very afforable!  The fabric I purchased was $10.99, and I had a 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby.  So the cost was approximately $2.20 cents per scarf!

Broke Food - Fried Rice

It's the night before payday, and the pickin's are looking pretty slim in the fridge.  It's time for another episode of broke food!  Fried rice is one of my favorite broke foods because you can whip it up in a few minutes and clean your fridge out in the process!  The additions are what make this an especially great dish. 

You can eat this alone as a tasty and filling meal, or if you have several people to feed, pair it with egg drop soup (coming in a later post) to stretch it further.  Also, the great thing about fried rice is that it's actually the items that have been sitting in the fridge a while that work the best.  Day-old leftover rice is perfect for making fried rice!

I'll put my method below.  There are a million different ways to make this, with various spices and additions.  Once you get the hang of making this, use what you like and what appeals to you for flavors.  In the photo above, I used:  corn, peas, carrots, sliced green onions, and diced leftover pork chop from when we grilled out a couple of nights ago. 

Here are the basic components.  I'll get into detail below this post.

FRIED RICE:

1-2 tablespoons cooking oil of choice

Spices and seasonings of choice 

Vegetables

Protein* (Meat or eggs should be cooked beforehand and set aside.)

About 1 cup rice (adjust to your liking)

Sauce 

In large skillet, heat oil until drop of water flicked on surface sizzles.  Add your spices (not sauces) to the oil and stir for approximately 20 seconds to distribute the flavors in the oil.  Add any uncooked veggies and stir, coating with oil, then allow to cook for a minute or two. Add any already cooked vegetables. Add cooked meat or protein.  Allow to heat through.  Add rice and sauce.  Stir thoroughly to heat through and coat with sauce and spices.  Serve immediately. 

Now we'll talk about what you can put into this wondrous concoction!

Additions: 

Veggies:  Nothing is taboo.  Carrots, onions, bell peppers, celery, medallions of yellow squash, hulled peas, snow peas, broccoli, corn, green beans ... any of it will be great in fried rice.  Also consider adding leftover cooked vegetables from prior meals.  These are great in fried rice. 

Protein:  Diced up scrambled eggs, diced deli meat, Spam, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, garbanzo beans, or tofu are all excellent protein items that can be added to this.  You don't have to have a protein, but in my opinion it makes the dish a little heavier, filling, more satisfying, and provides a more complete meal, especially if you're only eating the fried rice. 

Spices:   You can add any spices you like during cooking.  Ginger, red pepper, sugar, salt, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, cinnamon... anything that you can think of can make awesome additions to the fried rice.  If you prefer a sweeter taste, consider ginger, sugar, a dash of red pepper, and garlic.  I prefer a hotter, spicier sauce, so for the photo above I used oregano, basil, fresh minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. 

Sauce:  Simple soy sauce added at the end of cooking the rice can be all you need.  However, if you want something a little different, consider a small bit of Hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce, or add fruit juices such as pineapple or orange juice to the soy sauce before adding it to the fried rice.  When using sauce, keep in mind what spices you've used so far.  

Rice:  Any type of cooked rice will do.  If you have leftover Minute Rice, use that.  Steamed or cooked long-grain white rice is awesome for this, especially if it's at least a day old.  Even brown or Basmati rice will work in a pinch.  There's also nothing wrong with making the rice in preparation for cooking this. 

Oil:  Really, again any oil will do.  I used olive oil, but plain cooking oil or even melted Crisco will work.  Sesame oil can be used for flavor if you have it on hand.  

Don't be intimidated if what you have on hand doesn't seem to go together.  Use what you have, try it, add some sauce, and you may find that you have discovered a new favorite dish.  Ad libbing the ingredients is half the fun! 

Homemade Decorated Mugs - Simple Gifts

Homemade decorated Sharpie mugs are so much fun!  I made this one while I was waiting for my coffee to brew.  Mustaches are popular right now, and they make for a whimsical design added to a coffee mug.  Everyone looks more debonair with a mustache, right? 

To make this you will need: 

1 white coffee mug (I got mine at Dollar Tree)

Sharpie markers in your choice of colors

Cookie Sheet 

Oven temperature and time:  350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Draw your design on your mug.  If you are not steady handed, there are numerous printable templates that you can cut out and tape onto the mug, then color in.  I did my design free-handed.  It's a little lop sided, but sometimes mustaches are, too.  

Place mug(s) on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven.  Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  I leave my mugs in the oven and allow them to cool down with the oven.  Remember these mugs will be VERY hot and will be very sensitive to temperature changes, so it's best to let them cool completely before handling them. 

Once baked and cooled, the designs will become colorfast.   It is recommended to hand wash the mug, rather than putting it in a dishwasher, as most dishwasher soap contains a mild abrasive and can eventually erode the design. 

I have seen so many cute designs for these mugs.  One was a his and her that had half of a heart on one mug and the other half of the heart on the other mug.  You can write poetry, bible verses, or other inspirational sayings on your mugs.  I saw another where a funny nose shape was drawn on the bottom of the mug so that it looked like a plain white mug, but then turned up for a drink, the funny nose showed. 

Because Sharpies come in numerous colors, your designs can go from simple to elaborate.  HERE is a blog post from Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up showing more elaborate designs.  I've seen some that were goofy to some that were artistically elaborate.  For a truly elaborate design see post HERE from the official Sharpie Marker blog. 

Once your mug is designed, baked, and cooled, you can now either give it as an individual gift or fill it with goodies, wrap it in clear plastic, and tie with a bow.  Sharpie marker painted cups are a simple, unique gift that the receiver can appreciate every time they pour themselves a cup of coffee or enjoy a cup of tea. 

Oh no, I'm out of dryer sheets!

Have you ever uttered that phrase?  Especially during a marathon laundry session?  White vinegar and an aluminum foil ball are all you need to achieve soft, static-free laundry. 

I use about 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the rinse water for a top-load machine.  Use 1/4 cup for HE machines.  For both machines, place the vinegar in the liquid fabric softener dispenser for your machine.  Your clothes may or may not come out with a vinegary smell to them, but that will disappear in the dryer.  

If your clothes have static, this is where the aluminum foil ball comes in.  Tear off an approximately cookie sheet size piece of foil and roll it into a ball.  I wait until the clothes are dry or nearly dry to see if they are sticking together.  Then I throw in 1-2 balls of foil and restart the machine to finish drying.  I know some people place the foil balls in at the beginning of the drying cycle, but I have a fear of the foil abrading the inside of the machine, so I wait until the clothes are almost dry. The foil balls will last for up to 6 months and can be reused over and over again. 

This is really neat trick for people who have allergies and are allergic to commercial scented fabric softeners.  It leaves no scent whatsoever, except what remains from your laundry detergent, and it has an added benefit of making any towels you may have washed super soft, fluffy, and more absorbent.  The white vinegar removes hard water deposits and soap residue from prior washings, making clothes brighter and softer.  

This method is also environmentally friendly and "green" because it does not use harsh chemicals, dyes, or fragrances to achieve soft and static-free clothes.  I use this frequently with my loads of white towels and wash clothes to make them soft and more absorbent.  While I like the smell of fabric softeners and use them most of the time, this is a wonderful and economical alternative to store-bought softeners.

Printable Coupon Links Repost and Update!

UPDATED POST WITH EVEN MORE LINKS!!

One of the best ways to save is through printable coupons for groceries and other items.  Many manufacturers will e-mail coupons or coupon links to you in e-mail newsletters or have them available to print on their websites.  These are wonderful ways to save on your favorite products. Combine these with other coupon strategies, as noted in a prior post HERE, and you can reduce your grocery bill significantly. 

Below is a very long list of printable coupon sites from manufacturers and other sources.  I bookmark these for future reference.  

This is a repost to rearrange and make the printable coupon links closer to the top.   See tips and information below the links. 

Printable coupons

Coupons.com  

This is a great site for printable coupons.  You can check to see what’s available under not only your own zip code but under other zip codes throughout the country, as well.  To change zip codes, click on the link titled “Local Coupons.”  Enter a zip code in a spot on the left-hand side, and press enter.  Then click the “coupons” tab.  You can then sort by Food, Beverages, Household goods, etc.  Coupons.com also has a savings club that offers exclusive printable coupons to members that are not available elsewhere.  If you watch for promotions, oftentimes there are offers to get a year for free.

As a note, coupons.com requires that a small printer driver/applet be installed on your computer.  It is safe and is necessary in order to be able to print coupons. 

http://www.coupons.com/

Red Plum

Again, may require you to install a small printer applet that is considered safe for use.

http://www.redplum.com/

Coupon Network  (Also a source to find out what Your Bucks/Catalina offers are available or coming soon.*)

Again, may require a printer applet in order to print; considered safe for download.

http://www.couponnetwork.com/printable-coupons

Smart Source

**This is the website where it is most important that you not only have Java installed, but make sure you accept their printer applet and turn your popup blocker off.  It’s the trickiest one about not printing or giving some obscure error such as telling you that you’ve violated some rule. **

www.smartsource.com

Common Kindness.org 

These are coupons that serve as both discounts and fundraisers.  Sign up and choose a local organization to help, and then you can print coupons.

**I strongly advise printing these coupons one at a time, as sometimes the coupon sheet cuts across the next pages if there is more than one coupon and then will not print again.**

http://www.commonkindness.com/

Hormel (Hormel lunch meat, Cure81 hams, Hormel Always tender meats, Hormel entrees, Lloyd’s Woodfire heat and eat products, Hormel Chili, and numerous others.)

Sign up and sign in.  They will also e-mail specials and newsletters.

http://www.hormel.com/updates/coupons/

Ready Set Eat  from Conagra Foods (Hunt’s, Pam, Healthy Choice, Pam, Chef Boyardee, Marie Callendar’s, Orville Reddenbacher, Reddi Whip, Wesson, Fleischmann’s, and another long list of items.)

http://www.readyseteat.com/profile/newsletter-opt.do?newsletterOpt-50984=Y

Making Life Better by Unilever Products (Knorr products, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Country Crock, Jif, Lipton teas and rice/pasta products, Ragu, Skippy, and many bath and laundry products.)

http://www.makinglifebetter.com/offers/Coupons/

SnackPicks.com  (Keebler crackers and some Kellogg’s brands)

Sign up, then click on the coupons and savings link.  Make sure you approve for them to send you newsletters and updates, as they will send either high-value coupons to your e-mail inbox or provide links to print coupons. 

http://www.snackpicks.com/en_US/home.html

 Kellogg’s.com (Kellogg’s products, mostly cereal,  Pop-Tarts but other products, too.)

This site is a shared site with Snackpicks.com but often has different coupons.  There may also be other printable coupons under the Offers & Promotions tabs and “Other Coupons” section.  

http://www.kelloggs.com/en_US/home.html

Betty Crocker.com  (Betty Crocker, Bisquick, Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen tomatoes, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury products, General Mills cereals, and more!)

Sign up and sign in, and you will be sent special offers via e-mail and newsletter.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default

Nestle Very Best Baking (chocolate chips, baking products, etc.)

http://www.verybestbaking.com/Coupons-Promotions/Coupons-List.aspx

Pillsbury

Sign in and print coupons and get the newsletter for extra printable coupons

http://www.pillsbury.com/coupons-promotions

Land O’ Moms (Land O’ Frost deli meats and kits)

They’ll want you to give your name and e-mail address.  Sign up for the Newsletter to receive news and special offers.  The latest coupon is usually on the right-hand side of the home page. 

http://www.landomoms.com/ 

Pompeian Products (Olive oil, vinegar, and grapeseed oil)

http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/operations/offers/Pompeian/PompeianCoupons.html

On the Border Products such as chips, salsa, and sauces from Truco Enterprises

http://www.trucoenterprises.com/files/coupon.pdf

International Delight Creamers and other products

http://www.internationaldelight.com/special-offers

Coffee-Mate creamers

http://www.coffee-mate.com/Offers/Default.aspx

King’s Hawaiian Bread and Rolls

http://www.kingshawaiian.com/club/

Hiland Dairy Products  (Dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, orange juice, etc.)

Must sign up to be able to print.

http://hilanddairy.com/coupons/coupon-list

Wholly Guacamole and Salsa (Facebook page; they almost always have a coupon there!)

https://www.facebook.com/WhollyGuacamole/app_399260323430416?

Michelina’s Frozen Entrees and Dinners
http://www.michelinas.com/savemoney.aspx

Chinet Paper Plates, Cups, and Napkins

Sign up for their Newsletter, and they will send you a link every month to an awesome coupon that is usually $1.00 off one of their items.  This is a great way to stock up on paper goods, especially with the holidays coming up!

Link to join here:

http://www.mychinet.com/club/join/referrer:|promotions

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Sign up, then sign in.  The link for coupons is in tiny print at the menu on the bottom of the page. 

http://www.bluebell.com/

Blue Bunny Ice Cream Coupon

Again, sign up/sign in, and then you can print.  It’s usually for $1.00 off.

https://www.bluebunny.com/iScreamTeam/SignIn.aspx?required=1

Tabasco Sauces
http://www.tabasco.com/site-tools/grocery-coupon/

Underwood Deviled Ham (lower left corner of page)
http://www.underwoodspreads.com/

Marie Callender (If available, they'll be here)
http://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/promotions.jsp

Kraft First Taste 
Get the chance to try new products and provide reviews.  The more you share and provide feedback, the more coupons and offers you will receive.  
http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com/

Malt-O-Meal
Coupons will be e-mailed in newsletters.  May also print from website.
http://www.malt-o-meal.com/special-offers/

Vocalpoint
Join to provide product reviews.  You will receive either coupons or may be selected to receive full-size samples to review. 
 http://www.vocalpoint.com/

Target
Target has its own coupons plus they accept manufacturer coupons.  "Stack" or combine these to get tremendous savings.  They will also e-mail you ads, updates, and newsletters.
http://www.target.com/

Walmart 
They will email you notices of sales and ads.  However, they also periodically have options to download and print manufacturer coupons and even have a place where you can request free samples. 

Manufacturer coupons as part of ads (watch for link on ad itself for whatever products pop up):
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/Food-Center.aspx?povid=cat14503-env172199-module092411-lLinkISNRECIPE

Free samples, when available, will be listed here: 
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples.aspx?povid=cat14503-env172199-module092411-lLinkISNSAMPLES

*CATALINA OFFERS:  Those are the red-striped things that look like receipts when your cash register receipt is printed.  Many people throw them away without ever looking at them.  Don’t!  Many times companies will print these as rebates if you buy a certain amount or number of their products.  For example, recently KC Masterpiece and Kingsford charcoal and other manufacturers teamed up to offer a catalina.  Buy a certain amount of products and receive a $6.00 catalina for money off your next purchase.  That’s like someone handing you $6.00 and saying, “Here’s money to help with your groceries.”  If you get a red-striped coupon receipt that says $1, $2, $5, etc., off your next purchase, you’ve just been handed the equivalent of cash!  Make sure to keep an eye on the expiration date, and check to see if there are any restrictions, but these are like gold!

GENERAL INFORMATION:
People wonder is it worth it to print coupons because of the cost of printer ink and paper.  The answer is yes.  Why?  Because oftentimes these coupons are not available anywhere else or they are a higher value than what is printed in the newspaper inserts available on Sundays. 

Coupons function as a part of a company's marketing budget.  It's a way for them to not only get information about their product to you but to entice you to try that product by way of offering a discount through a coupon. 

By using these coupons combined with sales along with rebates, store coupons, and tracking of sales cycles, you can save significantly on your shopping budget 

I strongly encourage opening a web-based e-mail account to use for all of these coupons and newsletters.  Otherwise, you may find your inbox clogged and/or the majority of them going to your spam folder, which defeats the whole purpose!

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

1.  Make sure your Java is up to date, as many of these printable programs use Java to generate the coupons.  If your Java is out of date and the coupon messes up, you will not get a second chance.  The website uses a technology that identifies the number of times a certain computer has printed a coupon.  Most websites will allow 2-3 prints, but some do not.  It's wise to make sure everything is up to date, you've loaded paper, and your printer cartridges are working before hitting the print button.

2.  You may need to download a coupon printer from the site. Some coupon sites will request to install a coupon printer driver that is a simple program to generate the coupons.  As a general rule, if they come from an acceptable site such as coupons.com, Red Plum, Smart Source, or Coupon Network, they are okay.  You may also see a link in your address bar that says "bricks.com."  This is also an acceptable site.

3.  Most manufacturers also use one of these sources to print coupons from their websites, so it's advisable to install these printer drivers. 

4.  Links to coupons often open in another window.  If so, once the coupon is printed, try hitting back on your browser.  You may get a notice stating the page has expired.  Click try again, resend, refresh, or OK, and often you can get a second print of the coupon.  This is perfectly fine/acceptable and is a common practice. 

Here are some links to my favorite newsletters and/or websites that offer great coupon values: 

Loadable Coupons:

Savingstar.com

This is for people who have savings cards issued from stores.  Check to see if your store’s savings card is listed, sign up, and then shop.  When the purchase is confirmed by Savingstar, your account will be credited.  Once you receive $5.00 in credits, you can request that money be issued to you in the form of a direct bank deposit, Paypal deposit, or gift card from a retailer. 

https://savingstar.com/

Cellfire

These are coupons that are loadable to your cell phone.  Check to see if there are participating retailers in your area, then just bring up the coupon and have the cashier scan it at the register. 

http://www.cellfire.com/