Good evening everyone. Just thought I’d share one of our beautiful sunsets up here on the mountain.
Psalm 65:8 – They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
~Kelly
My Citrus Money Saving Hack
Did I ever come across a great deal at Woodman’s Market in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. One of the first things that I always do when I shop is to head straight to the produce department to check out the markdowns. And let me tell you today’s visit did not disappoint. Each one of these items was priced at just .99¢ with the exception of the head of lettuce which was .49¢ Yes, even the vegetable tray!
Once home, I opened my bag containing the citrus. For the most part, everything was pretty fresh. I only had to discard one lime because the skin was rock hard. Next, I cut the limes in half and squeezed them to express their juice.
I then measured out ¼ cup of juice and put it in each of the snack bags.
I removed as much as air I could from the bags and placed them on a paper plate to freeze. I ended up with 8 bags of fresh-squeezed lime juice. Finally, I placed all the bags in a freezer bag to keep them as fresh as possible.
As for the other vegetables in my haul: I used them to make stuffed green peppers, a healthy salad for our lunch, BLT sandwiches, Elizabeth Rider’s black bean and quinoa salad, and a veggie snack with healthy ranch dip made with Greek yogurt. Not bad for spending about $5.49.
~Kelly
So You Think You’ve Got Nothing to Eat
There is one thing that irks me the most and it is wasting food. When I was 8 years old, I was sent to live with my Grandmother Lucille. She was a survivor of the Great Depression and she was frugal as frugal could be. I remember sitting at the kitchen table and watching her prepare meals. When we had Chicken or Turkey she would painstakingly pull every piece of meat off those birds. We would have chicken soup, chicken ala king, and chicken sandwiches. I don’t know how she did it but I swear she and I would feast for three days and we never went hungry.
When she was done cooking and began her clean up I would watch her wipe off the aluminum foil if it wasn’t damaged so it could be reused. If she had finished using a bag she would rinse it out and dry them by placing them upside down over a Kraft cheese glass to dry. And very rarely did I see her use a paper towel. We always used washable dish towels. To this day I hate buying paper towels. I guess old habits die hard.
Ok, enough time spent traveling down memory lane. This morning I received the newest edition of Hellman’s newsletter. What was the topic you ask? Think you’ve got nothing to eat? Make something delicious with Hellmann’s. It contains tons of recipes and inspiration to help you combat food waste in your home. I was chuckling to myself when I read about the sniff and smell test. I can’t tell you how many times I watched my grandma do that test. Be sure to click here to view the newsletter in its entirety.
~Kelly
Get Free 2-Day Shipping at Wayfair on Thousand’s of Products!
Wayfair is quickly becoming one of my favorite online retailers. At Wayfair.com you can browse by departments, refine your search, and get inspired when you search by room. Best of all you can save up to 70% on furniture and decor. Sign up and receive a promo code for 10% off. Stay up-to-date on your account with the new MyWayfair, featuring notifications for exclusive promo codes and more!
~Kelly
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Chicago Botanic Garden: Free Admission Day Calendar
If you are near the Chicago area a visit to The Chicago Botanic Garden is a must-see destination. I just received my email newsletter this morning and they have announced 52 totally FREE admission dates for 2022! What’s the catch? You’ll only need to Pre-register and pay for parking. Keep in mind the garden continues to offer free admission and parking to members of the military on active duty and Illinois educators. Entry via the North Branch Trail remains free, as well.
Want to visit at another time? Visit the plan-ahead pricing calendar. you can choose the optimal fit for your budget and schedule. The admission fee includes summer attractions such as Butterflies & Blooms, Grand Tram Tour, and Model Railroad Garden.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd
Glencoe, IL 60022 (view web map of Chicago Botanic Garden)
847-835-6801
~Kelly
Morning Bible Scripture: Proverbs 3:24-26
Good Morning everyone! Every morning I get up an hour or two earlier than my family to plan my day. I always start the day by reading a bit of scripture. This morning’s passage I’d like to share with you is from the Book of Proverbs. I hope that it brings you peace as it does for me.
Proverbs 3:24-26
24 You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
26 for the Lord is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Have a blessed day,
~Kelly
State of Illinois Residents: How to Check for Unclaimed Property
If you live or have previously lived in the state of Illinois you may want to pay a visit to the Illinois State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Page. Since 2015, the Treasurer’s Office has returned over $1 Billion in assets (cash and value of returned shares). Why not check? You have absolutely nothing to lose! Click below to see if there is any unclaimed property owed to you. Not in the State of Illinois? Visit FindMyFunds.com to search for and claim property held by other states.
Kelly
Enter to Win: The Southern Breeze Detox After the Holidays Giveaway
Enter the giveaway here.
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– $300 gift card to Velvette
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– Napjitsu prize pack worth $100
The Secret to Perfect Potato Pancakes
For years I tried to make potato pancakes like the ones I used to eat at Sally’s restaurant on Harlem Avenue in Chicago. Every time I tried they turned out gummy and undercooked. Then last week I came across a video on YouTube that explained how to make the perfect potato pancakes. So last night I decided to try again. All I can say is they turned out absolutely delicious. Next time I make them I’ll pull out my griddle so I can get them thinner and larger. By the way, I do want to apologize for the picture above. My little darlings grabbed all the picture-perfect pancakes before I could snap a decent picture! So if you’re looking for a frugal, simple recipe be sure to check out the video below.
The Simple Living Alaska YouTube channel has hundreds of videos on the topic of frugal and simple living. In the video 5 Delicious Ways to Cook Potatoes | Winter Cooking at the Cabin Arielle shares her secret to the perfect potato pancakes or latkes. After soaking the shredded potatoes in water, Arielle then drains the water and adds the potato starch found at the bottom of the bowl back into the shredded potatoes. Who would have known this would make such a difference.
Please don’t forget to follow Simple Living Alaska on YouTube.
I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did,
Kelly
Celebration of the Faithful
This morning I glanced at my phone and realized that I still had a Christmas-themed wallpaper set installed.
I immediately went to my gallery and chose this photo to replace it. This photo was taken at the Our
Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Des Plaines, Illinois in the Summer of 2020.
During difficult times, I often find myself sitting there in the darkness of the night praying. It is so peaceful and
beautiful there. What I can say is the energy at this location cannot be denied. Whenever I look at this picture it
reminds me that there are still good and faithful people left in this world.
Peace be with you,
~Kelly