Substance of Living

My health My family is ALWAYS there for me Having wonderful friends Waking up this morning My husband Knowing that I will meet new friends before the end of this week The drink I’m sipping as I type My Internet Connection My Beautiful New Home All the Websites that have helped me decorate my home All the times my mother allowed me to “help her” in the kitchen (even though it probably took at least twice as long to cook) The fact that my husband has a job in a time that so many people are without My passion for life The upbringing and safe environment my parents provided Charitable Organizations that help so many people The endless hours people put in to save the lives of strangers and animals The hand written good morning notes my husband leaves me for no reason except to say thank you or to let me know he is thinking of me Today The rain, sun, wind that all help the plants The four seasons My education, the blessing that I am fortunate enough to read and write ...

July 1, 2012 - July 7, 2012 Day Menu Item Shopping Sunday Minestrone 1 Onion 5 cloves Garlic Celery Carrots 1 Eggplant or Zucchini 1 Green Bell Pepper Fresh Parsley 1 can Garbanzo Beans Gluten-Free Pasta* 1 can Diced Tomatoes 2 cans Tomato Paste Vegetable Stock Dry Red Wine Monday Pasta Alla Norma   2 medium Eggplant 1 small Yellow Onion Crushed Red Chile Flakes 5 cloves Garlic 1 28oz can Whole Peeled Tomatoes Fresh Basil Leaves 1 lb. Gluten-Free Spaghetti Ricotta or Parmesan Cheese Tuesday Creamy Pasta with Asparagus Gluten-Free Linguini Pasta Plain Soy Creamer Lemon Garlic Cashew Cheese 12 Asparagus Spears Fresh Herbs of Your Choice 1 cup coarsely chopped cashews Lemon Garlic Cashew Cheese : Plain Cashew Nuts 1 Lemon Nutritional Yeast 2 cloves Garlic Wednesday Vegan Tofu & Spinach Manicotti 8 Cannelloni/Manicotti Noodles (or thinly sliced eggplant) 1 16 oz. jar of Your Favorite Pasta Sauce 1 medium Oni...

I received this brain teaser via email the other day and thought of you.  I've seen this type of quiz where the letters are out of order or missing and somehow our incredible brain can still read it. This is a good example of a Brain Study:  A nurse friend of my mother's said that if you can read this OUT LOUD you have a strong mind and that Alzheimer's is not lurking around the next corner. 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F U C4N R34D 7H15. I'm not qualified to say if this is truly a test for Alzheimer's but it is amazing what our minds can do.  If we can read words that aren't really there, what else can our minds do?! How do you keep your mind sharp?  I've heard crossword puz...

This has to be the easiest apple cobbler I’ve ever made! 2 Granny Smith Apples 1 T Tapioca 1 T Lemon Juice 1 t Apple Pie Spice 1 C Graham Cracker Mix 2 T Butter Slice (I like the skins so I don’t peel) the apples.  In a soufflé dish combine the Apples, Tapioca, Lemon Juice, and Spice.  Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes at 375F. Mix the Graham Cracker Mix (you can use graham crackers and break them into crumbs for the mix) with the butter until crumbly.  Place in the refrigerator to keep chilled until ready to use. Remove the Apple dish from the oven and crumble the Graham Cracker Mixture over the top.  Recover the dish with the tin foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes. Remove the tinfoil and bake another 10 minutes to brown and crisp up the top a bit. Serve warm.  Will keep nicely in the refrigerator for a couple days - if it will last that long!

I'm not usually a fan of soup that comes in a can or premixed because of the sodium content.  In fact, this one has 630mg of sodium per cup, which I feel is still too high. A few reasons I do like this particular mix is because: It's made in the USA. It cooks in 15 minutes. Individual portions can be made. It's all natural. I also like this mix for all its applications.  Not only am I able to serve this as a hearty soup, just by mixing water, to my family I can also add vegetables and use the mix as a base.  When we are lucky enough to have leftovers, we use it as a gravy over baked potatoes or enjoy it for lunch with a sandwich or salad. This particular soup shown was made as part of a themed potluck dinner. Three additional items that we happened to have on hand were added.  This dish was a big hit and one of the easiest recipes I've ever given out without having to write it down! 1/2 T crushed chipotle peppers 4 sweet peppers 2 C Frozen ...

Watch your savings GROW! Try one of the following items for a month or a couple months and then add another item.  You can experiment and celebrate by showing your family how much you've saved or bring them into the planning stages.  They might find it a challenge to replicate their favorite pizza or meal at home.  With creative ideas saving money can actually be fun. These are some items we have tried and incorporated into our savings plan.  We often find that the planning for the evening is almost as fun as the event itself.  It's pretty cool knowing that we are using technology to make our lives easier and a little less expensive! Use subscription based or FREE access to watch your favorite TV programs or movies instead of paying for premium cable services.  Use a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone service. Use coupons for restaurants, events, amusement parks, and groceries that you purchase anyway. Plan and run all your err...

How will I eat? I will starve! What? No bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, pastries?! This is one of those cases that you can actually have your cake and eat it too. I’m not a doctor; nutritionist, dietician, or chef but I have an intolerance to wheat and gluten.  The main reasons, from what I’ve been able to gather, people are eliminating wheat and gluten from their diets is due to allergies.  Basically their bodies react to wheat, gluten, barley, and rye.  The other reason, which seems to be a growing trend, is the fact that people are finding out that they are losing weight; lowering their sugar level, have more energy just by eliminating wheat and gluten from their diets. The super sneaky thing about wheat and gluten is that one or the other is in just about everything!  It’s in pasta sauce, cereal, soup, vitamins, cosmetics, and practically anything that needs a thickener or held together. As always, do your research and read the labels...

When we moved into our cute apartment while searching for our new home, a few things - the pantry being one - were not high on our list.  Once we moved in, it became apparent that unfortunately our temporary home doesn’t have what one would call a pantry.  So, we have truly combined our dining room and kitchen.  I suppose our storage system is much like open-cupboard cabinets.  Very pretty to look at but function and storage must be taken into consideration.  Luckily we had some nice storage pieces.  Glass containers are so much prettier to look at than a box.  So, cereal and pasta went into pretty containers. The metal shelving found its way into the kitchen from the storage closet to hold the canned goods and coffee maker.  These larger coffee makers really are great for company or quickly making a large pot of tea.   The island cart came in from the screened-in patio to hold some extra dishes and non-canned goods. S...

June 24, 2012 - June 30, 2012 Day Menu Item Shopping Sunday Vegetarian Chorizo Firm Tofu Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)** Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth 1 can D iced Tomatoes 1 small Y ellow Onion S moked Paprika Powder C umin T hyme G round Allspice M arjoram X anthan Gum S oy Lecithin C ayenne Powder R ed Chili Powder 1 R ed Ancho Chile 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste White Vinegar 2 cloves G arlic 1  Shallot Monday Enchiladas  1 can (15 oz) Enchilada Sauce 1 can (15 oz) of Vegetarian Refried Beans 1 Onion 1 Bell Pepper 6 to 10 Mushrooms Cheddar Cheese 6 Flour or Corn Tortillas Tuesday Tofu in Apricot Tamarind Sauce Extra Firm Tofu Cremini and Shiitake Mushrooms Dried Apricots Tamarind**** Piloncillo or Brown Sugar Lime Chipotle Chilis in Adobo Sauce Apricot Preserves Rice Wednesday Flautas Vegetarian Refried Beans Shredded Cheese Mini Corn Tortillas Thursday No-Queso Quesadilla Nutritional Yeast Cornstarch Lemon...

At a time when our Nation needs to believe in someone or something our Government Officials, Corporate Leaders, Churches, and Charity Organizations are being scrutinized.  Our leaders should be teaching us how to live without fear, prejudice, and greed.  Yet, here we are reading daily about our Country’s finest leading us down paths of homelessness and hunger. Our leaders should be held to a higher standard and live accordingly to their preaching/teaching.  When an elected official says that we all need to tighten our belts and band together, then they too should curtail their spending.  When one of them gets caught using tax payers’ money for their personal gain then they should be removed from office and not receive their benefits such as medical and retirement. If we can’t trust those telling us to trust them, then whom can we trust?   If a church official asks for donations to feed the hunger, then why isn’t he/she held accountable when that same mon...

Did you know that in the nineteenth century, prior to the mass production of meat processing, beans were the primary source of protein for Americans? If you are trying to include more sources of protein to your diet other than meat or if you are a vegetarian, thinking about becoming one, or a vegan, increasing your consumption of beans or adding bean dishes to your meals will help in caloric and nutritional needs. Beans, peas, soy, and other legumes are a great source of low-fat, low-calorie, and no cholesterol protein.  Many also contain zinc, calcium and iron. Is it really worth buying dried beans and peas? I suppose it is if you want to reduce sodium consumption and eliminate a lot of the words you can't pronounce (at least I can't!) in addition to all the preservatives. Another really good reason to buy dried over canned is the cost savings!  Here's a little math for you:  1 pound dried = 7 cups cooked (approximately, depending on the type and...

  Mock Mozzarella Vegan Queso This recipe started out as a Mock Mozzarella by Cindy Demmer.  I followed her recipe except for two minor changes.  First, I halved the recipe and Second, I used flax seed instead of whole wheat flour. I'm not really sure I can agree with her assessment of this cheesy spread being a "mozzarella".  It really is good except DH and I kept comparing it to mozzarella cheese and we couldn't get past what we were thinking it was supposed to be.  To us, mozzarella cheese is white, thick, stringy when melted, and a very mild flavor marrying it up with other ingredients perfectly.  We agreed with her that this could be addictive on pizzas. However, I'm more inclined to agree with Joanne Stepaniak, author of " The Nutritional Yeast Cookbook " and that this is more of a cheese spread.  In fact, Joanne calls this her "Melty Nutritional Yeast Cheese".  This, I concur whole heartily! Vegan Queso Dip...

We've had two full weeks of receipt collecting with the June 2012 Money Management Challenge .  Hopefully it's starting to become second nature remembering to keep the receipt or to ask for one.  What system did you choose?  Are you separating your receipts by week, putting them all in one envelope, or sticking them all on your refrigerator door? You've seen the commercials or magazine ads for Neat Receipts and the cool things it can do.  But do you really want to spend about $200 or more on a scanner or another piece of office equipment?  Probably not. Since the object of our goal is to save money, we tend to agree with Jack Busch at GroovyPost when he said, "Why not use my iPhone and Google Docs’ OCR capabilities and roll my own digital receipt filing system?"   So here are some ideas to help you continue collecting receipts for budget purposes, work, or taxes without having to spend more money. One of the larger organizations online is Min...

Although I look more like my mother, I am truly my father’s daughter.  He taught, and continues to teach, me to believe in myself and fear not what lies ahead.  One of his favorite quotes is “I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today” by William Allen White.  Not only is this one of my dad’s favorites but he also lives his life in this manner. Daddies should be every little girl and boy’s hero. My dad is still my hero.  I remember my dad removing a splinter from my finger and all the while talking to me so that I didn’t even know he was done.  I still smile at this memory.  As a teenage girl, my dad was the one that I went to when I needed advice about boys. These days there are a few miles and a phone between us but I still run to my dad when I need advice or to discuss my bountiful load of ideas.  I am very fortunate that my father is still alive and very much a part of my life.  “I have...

Acknowledge The Mile Markers in Your Life – Now Burn Them! Write down every major and minor accomplishment on a separate piece of paper. Graduate from High School, College, Trade School – Write each down Win a Championship Title? – Write it down Have Children? – Write it down Make Partner in the Firm? – Write it down Survive an Illness or Accident? – Write it down Start a Business? – Write it down Master the Zen of Making Bread? – Write it down You get the idea; write down every accomplishment. This is a time of celebration or contemplation.  You choose to make this moment private or gather your friends and make this a yearly event.  Either way, you will pick a time to throw each piece of paper that holds your accomplishments into the fire.  Watch them burn and as they do, feel the change and growth within you.  You are not defined by past moments of glory.  They have he...

June 17, 2012 - June 23, 2012 Day Menu Item Shopping Sunday Vegetarian Cassoulet 1 (10-ounce) package B lue Corn Tortilla Chips 1 (24-ounce) package dried Cannellini Beans G arlic 2 Yellow Onions 3 cloves 10 ounces tomatoes , blanched, peeled and diced Fresh O regano Fresh T hyme 1 (12-ounce) package S oy Chorizo* S oy (imitation) Bacon Bits B aby Carrots Celery E mmental (Swiss Cheese) Cheese Monday Miraval's Vegetable Pot-au-Feu Vegetable or Chicken Broth 2 Skinless Chicken Breasts (Tempeh or Tofu) Couscous (Quinoa) Zucchini Carrots Mushrooms Turnip Green Beans Asparagus Small Pumpkin or 4 Acorn Squash for Serving Tuesday Vegetarian Salad Lyonnaise Frisee Lettuce** Croutons Egg Shiitake or Portabella Mushroom Onion or Shallot Sun-Dried Tomatoes Wednesday Honeyed Fruit Salad Dry White Wine Honey 1 Lemon 1 Pint Strawberries 2 Pears 2 Peaches Cherries 1 kiwifruit (optional) Thursday Cauliflower Gratin 1 Clove Garlic Caul...

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Tomorrow, Thursday, June 14, 2012 is Flag Day.  When I was growing up, I don’t ever remember hearing about this day.  As an adult, I’ve grown to appreciate this day more than July 4 th .  There isn’t a National Holiday, parade, or even a neighborhood celebration and yet the flag, along with the Bald Eagle, is a symbol of freedom recognized throughout the world. The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming; And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was st...