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Our Garden Gang Presents... |
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Dearest Gardeners: Miserly. I hate that word. It has such a bad connotation. I prefer being called "frugal". That sounds much better, doesn’t it? There is nothing wrong with being frugal. It allows you to economize on certain things in order to have some money to spend on the important stuff. Like "Mirtha Stuwort" merchandise! Mirtha |
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Unless you are a multi-millionaire like me, you most likely can’t afford to eat caviar every day. Why send your money down the drain? But believe me - caviar is not all it’s cracked up to be. After all, it's only fish eggs. Ew! Give me a nice juicy hamburger any day! If you follow my advice, you’ll be able to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket. Then as my dear mother used to say – "You can have a champagne taste on a beer income!
Debbie the Seed Queen seldom buys a new plant, except a few annuals. She diligently harvests her seeds in the fall to plant them again in the spring. Perennials are always a great money saver – they replenish themselves! Starting your own plants from seeds can save a bundle too! If you choose the right mix of plants, you too can have a self-planting garden! When you are out on an evening walk and you just happen to be strolling by a lovely flowerbed, just stretch your arm out and snap off a sprig or a few seed pods. They won’t miss 'em! You can even root cuttings!
Mrs. Clean: ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ t baking soda, 1 teaspoon bleach or Borax (a chlorine free alternative)plus 2 cups water. This is great for kitchens and bathrooms surfaces and has been proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria.
Not, not the World Wrestling Federation! It’s car windshield washer fluid. To make it: 9 cups water, 1 cup isopropyl alcohol, 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid. Mix and store in plastic jug. Did you know those store bought wipes actually dry out babies’ skin? Here’s a cost-saving and healthier alternative. 1 roll of paper towels (cut in half, with the cardboard tube removed), 2 cups water, 2 tablespoon each Baby Bath and Baby Lotion, one 6-cup capacity bowl with lid. Boil water and add Baby Bath and Baby Lotion. Place one half of the paper towel roll into plastic bowl and pour solution over it. When it cools, just remove wipes as you need them. Keep the bowl sealed though!
How about some Mirth-A-Roni? The cheap and easy treat!
(Hmmmm – I may be cheap but I’m not easy!) To make this boxed flavoured rice mix: Mix together 2 cups uncooked rice, 1 cup broken spaghetti, ¼ cup dried parsley flakes, 2 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 6 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder. To use: put 1 cup rice mix (above) in a pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Forget Mrs. Butterworth! Try this sweet substitute! 1 3/4 cup white sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 cup water, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon maple extract. Boil sugars and water for 1 minute, then remove from heat and add extract. Store in refrigerator. Help!!! Everyone needs help – so here’s a helper-style hamburger mix: 2 cups non-fat dry milk, 1 cup cornstarch, ¼ cup beef bouillon powder, 2 tablespoons onion flakes, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 2 tablespoons dried parsley, 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Use the same way as the boxed variety.
Mmmm….I love onions Need some onion soup mix? If you’re like me, you use it as a base for stews, dips, gravies, casseroles and of course soup! Mix ¾ cup dried minced onion, 4 teaspoons onion powder, ¼ teaspoon crushed celery seed, ¼ teaspoon sugar, 1/3 cup beef flavor bouillon. Use in all your recipes. In fact, here’s one of Debbie the Seed Queen’s favorite ones. Onion Steak This recipe is good for the
cheaper cuts of steak. Place steak in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle a bit
of onion soup mix over the top of steaks and add a bit of water to moisten.
Cover and cook in a moderate oven (325-350F) until done – approximately 1
hour. |
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Soooooooo – Have I given you some money saving ideas? Try them – how do you think I got to be a millionaire? LOL! See you next time! |
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