Fabulous Home Made Cranberry Sauce

Fabulous Home Made Cranberry Sauce

This recipe is so easy and so fabulous, that you will never buy canned cranberry sauce ever again. Your friends and family will truly be impressed and your house will smell amazing. It is a win win recipe

12 oz bag of fresh cranberries
3/4 cup orange juice
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar (can use more if you like it sweeter)
2 oz gold rum

place all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook on med high for 15-20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has reduced, stirring occasionally. You will hear the cranberries "pop".... no worries, that is what you want them to do. Remove from heat and serve. Cranberry sauce can be made days ahead and brought to room temperature or slightly heated before serving.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

First Snow

Well here it is November, and getting our first snow.  This makes the realization of Christmas not seem so far away.  Am I prepared?  I shudder at that thought.  I am just not in the mood.  Not emotionally or financially in the mood. 
I am sure as the time draws closer I will get in the mood...  in the mood for it to be over.  I have never been much of a fan of Christmas.  I don't like cold weather.  It was fun when my kids were little.  I just hate the commercialization. 
What I do like is baking and making home made gifts.  So I am sure that will be my route this year. I do have a few things that I have picked up through the year for my family members that are far away.  I will mail them their Christmas goodie box the first week of December. 
I will enjoy having Christmas day off of work this year...  it has been many years since I have had this holiday off.  So that is what I will mostly look forward too.

Well with this snow comes soup weather.  I will clean out the fridge today and make some fabulous crock pot soup. 
Stay Warm and have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!!

Cold Buster

Lemon Ginger and Honey in a Jar (Cold Buster!)

By Tammy on September 12, 2012 8:00 am in DIY, Fruit & Veggie, Recipes / 8 comments

The seasons are changing around here. Although the days are still warm, it is chilly in the morning and at night.
The leaves are starting to change color. Fall is definitely around the corner (but don’t tell my tomatoes that!).
It seems like during these season changes, the kids tend to catch more colds. Nothing major, just a slight sore throat or cough. When I see any signs of an oncoming cold, I give them this lemon-ginger-honey tea. It soothes their throat and the ginger helps them fight any nasty stuff going around.
I like to make this concoction and keep it in my refrigerator. Spoon a bit in some hot water for some soothing tea. It keeps for months.

Lemon Ginger and Honey in a Jar
makes about 2 cups

• 2 lemons thoroughly cleaned and sliced
• 2 piece of ginger about the size of your pointer and middle finger together sliced into coin size pieces
• Honey (about 1 cup-maybe more)

1. In a clean 12 oz mason jar (2 cup size) distribute lemon slices and ginger.


2. Pour honey over it slowly. This may take a few tries to let the honey sink down and around the lemon and ginger slices. Make sure when the honey has filled in all the voids, there is enough to cover the top of the lemon slices by a smidge.
3. Close jar and keep refrigerated. The mixture will form sort of a loose jelly. Add a spoonful with some hot water and drink as a tea.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

What A Summer

Oh boy what a whirl wind of a summer....  In June my daughter got married, I also quit my job and of 7 years in order to start a new job with weekends and Holidays off.  My Mother-in-law had a heart attack at the end of June, so that was back and forth to the hospital about 40 miles away.  She is doing much better now after the surgery and recovery.  In July I started my new job, still commuting and beginning to think I was too old to be starting over in a career.  I have learned a lot and also a lot about myself. 
I did not have empty nest syndrome for very long at all...  In July my step-grandson who is 12 moved in with me.  I got his room all set up in my daughter's old room.  And he just settled right in.  It is different taking care of a kid again....  strange how after a certain age they just become so self efficient, but so very nice.
In August my car was wrecked after a 17 year old girl ran a stop sign and just plowed right in to me. I am still working on recovery, and am in physical therapy.  Car wrecks suck...  not only financially, mind you my car was paid for, in super working condition,  and I loved it.  Well in the blink of an eye that all came to an end.  I had a rental car for a week and a half.  Then I drove my husbands Jeep for another week and a half.  I was having such a hard time shifting the gears, I just had to go and buy another car.  Come to find out through physical therapy the reason for the pain while shifting gears was dislocated ribs...  that the doctor did not notice. 
In September my mother-in-law had another bad spell and was pretty laid up due to a herniated disc in her back and she will be having surgery soon. 
I just want you all to know that at my age it is challenging to take care of the elders and the young ones in the family along with working and trying to recover from a car accident.  I am hanging in there and take one day at a time.  I think as I am getting older my compassion for others is better than I ever remember it before. 
I worked at my job for 2 1/2 months and now have been transferred to my home town....  no more commuting for me.  I can't wait to save the gas money and put that to a much better use.  I can't wait to come home for lunch.  No more eating junk or fast food, and not having to pack a lunch is going to be wonderful.  I am also looking forward to the free time (not driving).....  It looks like with all the changes that took place in a 4 month time period have been life altering, but I am really looking forward to these next 4 months. 
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

The Joy Of Tomatoes

I have an over abundance of Tomatoes from the garden... I never thought I would ever admit this, but I am getting pretty sick of tomatoes. Here are 12 ways to eat raw tomatoes.

1. Tomatoes sliced (with salt & Pepper)
2. Tomatoes w/cottage cheese & pepper
3. Tomatoes w/ balsamic vinegar drizzled on them
4. Tomatoes w/ Mayonnaise spread on them (& pepper)
5. Tomato sandwich
6. Tomato & Cheese sandwich
7. Tomato stuffed with tuna (salad) and sprinkled with dill
8 Tomato stuffed with chicken salad
9. Tomatoes chopped and mixed with chopped olives, garlic and a little olive oil (spread this on crackers~YUM)
10. Tomatoes sliced on scrambled eggs
11. Tomatoes sliced on a hamburger patty
12. Tomatoes sliced on your favorite sandwich.. (maybe not peanut butter)

I really do love tomatoes and am glad they came on so well in the garden. Any other ideas out there using tomatoes?

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Clean Your Silver Jewelry

Instructions
1
Polish the silver with a soft, lint-free dust cloth. If needed, add a few drops of water to the cleaning rag to wipe away stickier buildup, then follow up with a dry cleaning rag to absorb excess moisture.
2
Spread a sheet of tinfoil across the base of a large skillet or basin, leaving the shiny side up.
3
Place all of the silver into the skillet or basin, with all pieces touching the foil. Pour in enough boiling water to submerge the silver.
4
Add 1 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of washing soda per quart of water used. Let the silver soak for 10 minutes.
5
Remove the silver with tongs or let the water cool until you are able to handle the silver items. Rinse the silver with warm water and polish with a soft cloth.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!!