Money & Time Savings

One of the things I have learned in recent years is that I must prepare ahead.  This saves time later but also saves lots of money.  Today, I cut up six sweet peppers to freeze.  Three of these were from Aldi. They have produce at really good prices and I have been very pleased with the quality.  The others were from a produce coop (Noisy Rabbit) that we are part of.  I date them and then place them flat in the freezer.  When I need sweet peppers, I just reach in the bag and take out what I need.  There are times when I need peppers that the price is just too high. This helps me always have them available.

I also do this with meat.  I buy our ground beef at Sam's Club.  They have huge tubes of meat that are around $25.  It is better quality than what I usually find at the grocery store.  I would love to take the leap to pasture feed beef but meanwhile this seems best.  Once I get it home, I go ahead and divide it into quart freezer bags.  Sometimes I patty some and sometimes I brown some before freezing.  It saves money and keeps me from needing to buy at current price.

For chicken breast, I also buy the big packs and separate it. Once home, I put them in the rice cooker with celery, onion, carrots, salt and pepper. Put it on the brown rice setting. It goes through one cycle and I let it partially cool (learned this from Martha Stewart) before taking it out. It comes out so tender.  Cut it into bite size pieces and put it into quart freezer bags. Soups, pastas, casseroles, etc are no problem and quick to make.  I love knowing cooked chicken is in the freezer and hate the feeling it I run out.

Hope these tips help you!

Writing Lesson

Chloe has beautiful handwriting. Yes, I know bad posture for writing. She loves doing school and most of it she doesn't even consider work.  So I let her do school where she likes and thus she spends lots of extra time doing school out of enjoyment.

Today though was a beautiful lesson for both of us.  She looked up and said that when she needed to improved on some part of handwriting she just focused on the letter until she knew it. Then she could write it just like the example. WOW!

I thought that is like our relationship with God.  In order to be more like Jesus, we need to focus on Him. Then amazingly He begins to transform us to the person He desires.  We do the focusing and He does the rest of the work! Praise God for the sweet words of a child.

Asparagus Soup

Don't you love soup season! I certainly do.  One of our favorites is Cream of "veggie soup". It is easy and comforting. We personally like any green vegetable best.  Tonight is Asparagus Soup. Talk about yum!

Asparagus Soup

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter


• Medium Onion roughly chopped


• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic


• 3 tablespoons freshly milled white wheat flour (or whatever you use)


• 12 ounces frozen asparagus


• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth


• 1 cup of milk or light cream


• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg


• fresh grated lemon peel


• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (preferably white)


• 1/4 cup Parmesan for garnishAdd butter, garlic and onion to a soup pot. Saute until the onion is soft on medium temp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Add flour, salt and pepper stirring for a couple minutes.

Add broth and milk stirring to prevent lumps.  Cut asparagus into smaller pieces (I do thirds) and add to pot.  Keep close check and cook for about 5 minutes. Add nutmeg.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Put mixture in blender half at a time (it is important to not over fill the blender).  Pulse it until it is a nice consistency.

 

 



 

 

 

Add lemon zest and fill bowls.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!