Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Thursday, November 1, 2012

I can't find my car!

We've all done it!  We're so busy thinking about what we will buy that we don't remember where we parked the car. My sister and I looked for one hour in a mall parking lot because that store was on a hill and had two levels and we entered on one and exited on the other.  We had to find the parking attendant who sorted out our problem.

 My solution now:  When I get out of the car, I look at the building I'm going into and take note that the car is lined up with the H in Harry's , or the third tree, or the red trash barrel.  Upon coming out, I just locate the H, or whatever, and look straight out.  I've saved myself a lot of time.
Last resort:  Use the panic button on your remote.  I hadn't used it before as I couldn't turn it off.  SIMPLE:  Just press the panic button again.

10 Reasons to switch to cash

Smart Money Magazine provided this information to Yahoo Finance!.  The article "10 Reasons I'm Cancelling My Credit Cards" is by Brett Arenda and posted on Friday, July 8, 2011.  You will find it very interesting and helpful.  I'm listing the categories, but you will want to read the article.
#1 I'll spend less;     #2  The card bonuses aren't worth it;    #3  Cash makes budgeting easy;    #4  Less worry about identity theft;    #5  Fewer impulse purchases;    #6  I can still shop online (prepaid card);   
#7  Say Godbye to debt;  #8  Privacy;    #9 Cash rebuilds the link between what I earn and what I spend;   #10  Cash helps peopole I want to help (merchants & suppliers - no fees). 

It's the best starting place to get your financial health together!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

How do I get nutrition information?

The best source I've found is the book, "NUTRITION ALMANAC" by John D. Kirschmann and Nutrition Search, Inc., McGraw Hill, ISBN 978-0-07-143658-8 and is available through Amazon and probably others.  (I paid $19.95.)  The book lists all nutrition charts for calories, vitamins, protein, etc. and also a short discussion of each one as well as common maladies.  A second book I recommend is "EAT THIS AND LIVE". by Dr.  Don Colbert, MD by Siloam, ISBN 978-1-59979-519-5 ( I paid $15.99).  These two books give life-long health information and are invaluable.  Maybe the library has them to check out.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Totally awesome Lemon Bars

Totally awesome lemon bars
After many tries at lemon bar recipes (and powdered sugar all over me), this one is a winner!  It is quick for drop-in company, potluck dinners, coffees or special dinners at home.  I hope you enjoy it!

LEMON BARS
Spray a 9"x 9" pan
Mix:  1 cup flour
         1 stick melted butter
         2 tablespoons sugar
Press into the pan.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 (glass pan,  use 325)

While above is baking, mix:
        1 cup sugar
        5 tablespoons flour
        1/2 teaspoon baking powder
        2 eggs
        3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Pour over baked crust and bake an additional 25 minutes at 350.

While still warm, mix and pour over baked bars
        1/2 stick melted butter
        1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
        2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cut in squares and totally enjoy!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

5 foods that are stroke risks

1.  Crackers, cakes, and store bought doughnuts
2.  Smoked and processed meats
3.  Diet Soda
4.  Red meats
5.  Canned soups and prepared foods.

We probably know about these foods, but it's good to look at them again.  P.S.  They are also causing weight gains.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Purity for Young Believers

Julie Hiramine taught an all day seminar called Generations of Virtue at our grandson's Christian school in Singapore.  Being the mother of five children as well as having older adopted children, she was concerned about the material taught in schools concerning sex eduction.  In addition to help for parenting and advice on dating, she has researched sex education for our young people, has written a few books and has also gathered all the published books that Christians can use to help their children understand how much purity matters to God and to us.  All of the books she recommends has gone through rigorous examination to be sure they reflect Bible principles.

She, her family and about six workers were on a nine week tour teaching parents what to do, what to look for and books to help them train up their children.  Generations of Virtue is a non-profit and totally volunteer organization.  They went into Thailand, Indonesia and several other places to teach sex education to the kids in the Christian school. 

Her information was straight forward and very useful.  You can look it up at
http://www.generationsofvirtue.org/
Some of the books she recommends is:  "Against The Tide" for preschool through 4th grade; "The Wonderful Way Babies are Made"; "The Swimsuit Lesson" concerning off limits touching; "Beautifully Made" book for young girls;  "Lintball Leo's not-so-stupid Questions about your Body" for boys 10-13 years; "Hero" about saving your first kiss for your wedding; a beautiful retreat in a box for mother and daughter or father and son called, "Passport to Purity"; and "Preparing your son for every Man's battle".  These books are available on her website or amazon.com.

Julie strongly encouraged the parents to teach their children to redirect their eyes away from wrong things to learn self-control; to monitor their language by calling them on infractions; to be very aware of pornography.
Her younger helpers gave reports on things for parents to do or watch very carefully with their young people:  Media: what are they watching; Games: watch what they play - some problems are not evident until a child gets to the upper levels of the game; Cell Phones:  monitor who they call, have a policy that all cell phones are turned in to parents at 9 p.m.; Movies: keep away from sex scenes and/or use them if they come up as teachable moments... are they married?;  Sleep Overs:  Really know what's going on over there.  Know what friends parents believe; Music:  Know what the lyrics say.  Hire a trustworthy teen to read or listen to the music and give you a report.

Her final advice is to help our young people awaken their love for God through reading the Bible, listening to worship songs, going to church, and going to Youth Group so that they don't awaken romantic love until they are married.

This wonderful information will help you wage a strong warfare for your young people.  They will be our family leaders, our church leaders and our country's leaders.  They are definitely worth the effort of a great life."

Freezit.com

My son said, "Mom, you should have a website called freezit.com because you freeze things most people wouldn't think of.  Anyway, here a few:  leftover soup in serving sizes, 1-2 pieces of already cooked entres, gravies or juices for future flavor enhancers, chopped onions, chopped green pepper and red pepper, AND herbs.  Some herbs are not expensive, but are too much to use at one time.  I wash, dry and put in a ziptop bag and put in the freezer.  Whenever I need 2 tablespoons of parsley, green onions, basil, or cilantro in a recipe, I just use kitchen scissons to chop off as much as I need and put the rest back in the freezer.  It saves money especially if the herb was expensive.  Their fresh shelf life is very short.  Actually, some grocery stores are now selling frozen herbs and a pretty high cost.  (** I also cut desserts in portion sizes and freeze for a snack, etc.  They are good for at least six weeks and come in handy in a pinch.)  What unusual things do you freeze?

Did you know? - Dried cake pans

After removing a baked cake from the pan, if you will immediately wipe the pan out with a tissue or paper towel, all of the baked on cake will come right off.  If you wait and the pan cools even a little, it will be a bear to clean. Even soaking won't help much.

World Class Brownies

Another recipe that I have relied on for years is what I call,

               WORLD CLASS BROWNIES
A store bought box of inexpensive Brownie mix
Prepare as directed.
Before baking, heavily sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and then chopped nuts.  Bake per box directions.  The chocolate chips becomes the frosting.  They are very easy and "World Class".

Some foods and recipe suggestions

This is going to be long, so don't lose patience.  I had made a diet sheet for a Daniel fast last January which is completely vegan.  However, for this challenge, I did add a little meat/cheese, etc. Feel free to adjust for yourself keeping in mind the calorie content.  A piece of cake for dessert could add 350-400 calories to a low calorie day.  Why not just one bite?  Anyway, here goes and I hope the information works for you.  Enjoy!

DANIEL FAST SUGGESTIONS
Here are some suggestions (not full recipes) to start you on your Daniel Fast (Daniel 1:12 – vegetables, fruit – something sown and water).  These may spur you on to find your own solutions.  Not all the foods are fancy, but works for the duration of the fast.  It’s important to remember that the fast does not include: All meats and animal products (cheese, butter, cream, fish, eggs, dairy of all kinds), processed foods, white flour, white rice, sugars & sweeteners of every kind (including honey), preservatives, chemicals, artificial flavorings, food additives, desserts, no other drink than water (filtered is best) and all fried foods.  All leavened breads, including Ezekiel 4:9 – it has leavening and sugar - unless you find one and baked goods. 
Although this is a fast, you will eat sometimes and this guide will help you realize that there are a lot of foods that you can eat.  Food may not be as “tasty” as you are used to, but do taste good.  Remember in Proverbs 27:7 it says, “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”
Fortunately it does include wonderful foods that we enjoy all of the time just maybe not as often.  Many of your regular recipes will work if you adjust to leave out the above and add some extra ingredients that you hadn’t thought of before. 
You can use natural sweeteners for flavorings:  unsweetened dried fruit, frozen apple juice concentrate, canned fruit with no sugar (pineapple), naturally sweet apples, bananas, raisins.  In all “store bought” foods, check for sugar, chemicals or preservatives.  Many sugars are hidden in foods that you wouldn’t think about (maltose, dextrose, cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc.).  Nuts, tofu, and beans provide protein (also protein powder if it meets the above requirements).
I’m a lover of cold (first) pressed olive oil and use lots of it.  It fills in for butter on vegetables, cooking oil and to make simple oil and vinegar dressing.
If you have access to the internet, you can go on www.daniel-fast.com for a more complete list as well as some recipes.  You can also use other websites to get ingredients and amounts to guide you as you make up your own recipes (www.recipezaar.com, www.recipes.com – check Google).  You can order the Daniel Fast Cookbook from Amazon.com which also includes meal plans and other great ideas.

BREAKFASTS
Cooked oatmeal, apple pieces, walnuts, raisins – some of all listed.
Unsweetened Soy milk or Unsweetened Almond Breeze milk (all the rest have sugar of some sort)
Peanut butter on apple slices (I shop HEB and they have roasted peanuts or almonds in the bulk foods section that you grind yourself.  They taste great and have no sugar or additives.)
Ezekiel 4:9 breakfast cereal with above “milk”.  This is expensive, but is great for a change.
Cream of Wheat
Cornmeal porridge (Cook cornmeal and water – the usual mix is 2 water and 1 cornmeal.)

Sliced fruit – alone or with above items
Unsweetened store bought Applesauce, pineapple, etc.
Dried fruit – there are a few that do not have sugar added 
Cooked rice with raisins

LUNCH AND DINNERS – Soups and stews will be the mainstays
Potato soup: Potatoes, carrots, onion, water, salt pepper, garlic powder.  Instead of milk, puree’ ½ package of soft tofu. 
Broccoli soup: Use broccoli instead of carrots.  The potatoes will give it thickener – puree’ all of the soup.
Carrot soup:  carrots, onion, celery, garlic, Italian herbs, basil, vegetable broth. 
Tomato basil soup:  Diced tomatoes, onion, salt, pepper, and basil.  Puree’ ½ c. tofu to act as cream.
Split pea soup, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, potatoes and carrots are good in it also
Baked potato:  Cook in microwave 8 minutes(?) then put on olive oil and green onion.
Baked Sweet potato: Cook as above and put on olive oil.
Mashed potato with olive oil
French fries (oven baked with olive oil)  Make your own ketchup – no sugar
(Daniel Fast ketchup: 1 c. tomato paste, 2 c. tomato sauce, 2 T. apple juice,1 tsp. kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground cloves, 1/8 tsp ground allspice.  Bring to boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and cook until thick – about 20 minutes.)
Sweet Potato fries (oven baked with olive oil)
Make vegetarian chili
Make gumbo using roux, water, onions, okra, tomatoes and lots of seasonings (even sausage seasonings)
Vegetable soup
Minestrone
Beans and Rice: Beans:  Wash and soak 1 package dried pinto beans overnight.  Rinse and put in pot with water 2 “ to cover, 1 chopped onion, 1 c. chopped celery, 1 T. cumin, ½ c. chopped cilantro, salt, pepper, 1 T. garlic powder and cook for 3-4 hours or until soft.  Add 1 can diced tomatoes.  Add water to cover while cooking and stir often.
Whole wheat tortillas and bean quesadillas with salsa or guacamole.                                   Page 3


Easy pizza:  Large tortilla, spread on pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Pre cook as necessary  so that the vegs are not raw.  Might include: chopped tomatoes (drained), green pepper, broccoli, onions, shredded deli ham or turkey, pineapple chunks, red pepper.  Layer ingredients, sprinkle on Italian seasoning and top with a little more cheese.  Spray cookie sheet with Pam and bake about 10 minutes at 450 oven or as you like it.
Whole wheat penne pasta:  (Mix in bowl a combination of what you like: onion, red pepper, squash, broccoli, etc.  Add ¼ c. olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper and spread on cookie sheet in oven.  Roast vegetables in oven for 30 minutes.  In fry pan, put 1/3 c. olive oil.  Add minced garlic and ½ c. sliced Spanish olives, 4 T. olive juice and stir together for 3 minutes.  Mix penne, roasted vegetables and olive mixture together.  It’s great.  You really can’t taste the olives, but it gives great flavor.  Great to add sun dried tomatoes and chili seeds.
Chinese Stir Fry:  Use your favorite vegetables.   Precook carrots, celery, etc as they take longer to cook.  Heat olive oil and then add all the vegetables you like: Bok choy, mushrooms, zucchini, onion, broccoli,  yellow squash, cauliflower, olive oil, pepper, chili seeds, ginger, etc.  Mix  up garlic powder and Kikkoman soy sauce and add to vegetables.  You can also cook some spaghetti and add.  Check Chinese recipe for right amounts.
Basic oil and vinegar dressing:  ½ c. olive oil, 1/3 c. vinegars (mixed) or lemon juice, ½ c. water, 1 T. garlic powder, salt, pepper.  (After the fast, you can add 2 T. brown sugar for a great “go-to” dressing).
Daniel Fast Mayonnaise (Soyonnaise): 1 c. cubed soft tofu, 3 tsp. fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp. frozen apple juice concentrate, ¼ tsp. salt.  Blend together and then add 4 T. olive oil.  Blend until smooth. Store in refrigerator.
Condiments on ok list: Adobo sauce, cilantro, parsley, all herbs, mustard, salt, seasonings, soyonnaise (soy mayonnaise), spices, vanilla, vegetable broth, frozen apple juice concentrate-no sugar (just for flavoring), Kikkoman soy sauce.
Salads:
Lettuce, red onion, unsweetened dried fruit, (or sliced oranges, apples, grapes, etc.) toasted nuts and dressing.  Paul Newman’s oil & vinegar is ok.
Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, kalamata olives, dressing above (it’s an aim at Greek salad but without the feta cheese.)
            Make potato salad (no egg or mayo) and above dressing (soyonnaise)
            Pasta salad like potato salad.  Also add kalamata olives or black olives, red pepper slices
Carrot (grated), crushed pineapple (in its own juice) and raisin salad.  Use pineapple juice for dressing
            Three Bean Salad:  1 can drained kidney beans, 1 can drained green beans, 1 can drained
             yellow wax beans, 1 can butter beans (only drain half of juice) 1 T. garlic powder, ½ sliced red
            onion, 1 sliced red pepper, (chopped celery if you like), oil & vinegar dressing above.
Whole wheat spaghetti and Marinara Sauce (vegetable spaghetti sauce): Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, finely chopped celery, (possibly grated carrots), onion, basil, oregano and regular seasonings (I add fennel seed also).
Daniel Fast book says you can use TVP or veggie burgers.  Check ingredients
Matzo crackers (the onion/poppy are very good)

Apricot-Nut Flatbread:  2-1/4 c. whole wheat flour, ½ tsp. salt, 1 tsp. apple pie spice, 3 T. olive oil, 6 T. frozen apple juice concentrate, ½ c. chopped nuts, ½ to 1 c. chopped dried apricots, 1 c. water.  Mix flour, nuts, apricots, and apple pie spice and salt together.  Make a well in the middle of the flour and add olive oil, juice concentrate and water.  Mix well (it is sticky).  Spray a cookie sheet with PAM, sprinkle flour or cornmeal on the sheet, and spread dough out to 1” thick. (Sprinkle top with flour or cornmeal and place a sheet of waxed paper over to spread). Bake for 22 min. at 375.  Also enjoy as a morning Breakfast Bar.
Italian Flat Bread:   2 c. whole wheat flour, 1 tsp. salt, 3 T. Italian seasoning, ½ tsp. pepper, 3 T. olive oil, 1 c. water.  Mix well (it is sticky).  Spray a cookie sheet with PAM, sprinkle cornmeal on the sheet, and spread dough out to 1” thick. (Sprinkle top with cornmeal and place a sheet of waxed paper over to spread). Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle Italian seasoning on.  Could also mix olive oil and chopped tomatoes and spread on top.  Bake for 22 minutes at 375.  Can be used for bread/crackers with soup or crust for no-cheese pizza.  You can purchase awesome dry Italian spices (they use for dipping sauce) from Zio’s Restaurant in Humble – it does have a little parmesan in it – pick it out?
Hummus - another kind of bean dip – is great.  In a food processor, put 1 can garbonza beans (drained), 1 tsp of salt, 1 T. Tahini (sesame paste) or Almond or Peanut butter, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 T. ground cumin, and 1 T. powdered garlic (0r 2 cloves minced), ½ tsp. red pepper, ½ tsp black pepper, sundried tomatoes in olive oil (I couldn’t find it in WalMart – try another store).  Blend well and then add 4 T. (or more for right consistence) olive oil and finish blending.  (Some add a few drops of Tabasco sauce).   Use as a dip for raw vegetables.
Guacamole – In food processor:  Avocado, onion, garlic, lemon, tomato, salt, pepper, cilantro.
Dip with raw vegetables or Matzo crackers
Fried Rice:  cooked rice, onion, peas, 2 T. olive oil, soy sauce
Spanish rice:  cooked rice, onion, green pepper, red pepper, 2 T. chopped cilantro, cumin (comino), salsa.  Saute vegs then add rice and salsa.  Could serve with roasted vegetables, vegetarian charro (or refried) beans.

If you are new to this blog...

Welcome!  Some of the articles are pretty long but I do recommend that you go back through the old posts for additional information.  I don't know of anyone who has lots of time to just browse through a lot of reading, but there are some nuggets that are hidden quickly as more posts are published.  This blog is just for fun and hopefully some wise words.  I have reinvented the wheel far too many times so hope that you can cut some learning times shorter.  God bless you.

A Novel Idea!

Remember that while getting totally out of debt (except your house payment), it is necessary to deal in cash and to keep each month's money in the same month.  However, if you are debt free, there are some options available that you can use.  Some Credit cards are offering 5% cash back on gas purchases and 1% back on everything else.   It's a whole lot more than savings accounts are paying right now - usually less than 1%.  Depending on how you spend, that could mean a 2-3% saving.  When it was first offered, I just enjoyed the reduction in our credit card bill (we use credit card for travel and gas purchases).  Then I realized that it was a SAVING and began writing a check for that amount and putting it in one of our special savings accounts (emergency, furniture, etc).

***A way of keeping the expense in the same month would be to have cash for your monthly expenses and when you use your card, take that amount out of cash and put in a special place.  When the credit card bill comes, take the cash and deposit it back into your checking account.  You can then pay the bill on the correct month's allowance.  This may take a little time, but you will be able to get the savings and not get yourself into credit card debt.  Once you are out of debt - never go back!  It's just a thought and strategy.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER

My husband has worked hours and weeks creating a class from Dave Ramsey's TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER book.  The actual class hasn't existed so he put one together and we are teaching it in a six-week series.  Dave does offer the information online for $9.95 a month or $89.95 per year.  We thought it would be helpful if there was a warm body that you could ask questions.  Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes as well as the Total Money Makeover book is the simpliest way to understand your finances and to get control of your money.  As he says, "your greatest  wealth builder is your income".  Take the classes, buy the books - you will get a grip like never before. 

I also published a book, FREEDOM FROM DEBT, that has some quick strategies to win with your money.  You can order it on this blog.  Take a deep breath - you are going to make it!