What did you do to save $ today?

[freemotion]

Yes, I feel a powerful urge to go out and buy another little goaty. No-no-no!!! Not the way to save money!!! On the other hand, dh gave a Greek restaurant owner a couple fresh quarts of milk, and I got a message on my machine saying how wonderful it is and he would like to buy milk and eggs for his family! I would rather work out a trade, so I can save $ (the theme of this thread, after all) when I go away. He used to have goats, so I am hoping he or one of his teens (nice, nice kids) will be willing to milk so I can leave for a few days now and then without paying a small fortune for someone to come in twice a day. Here's hopin'!

eta: please share ss tips from the Gazette with us!

 

[gettinaclue]

What to do with: Yellow Flowered Broccoli.

A. Tell your family it is a rare gourmet variety.

B. If they're not quite that gullible, use it in quiche. The yellow egg and cheese mixture combine to create an effective camouflage.

Leftover Pickle Juice

A. Use as a marinade or your own salad dressing.

B. Sweet pickle chops. Arrange 4 chops in a shallow pan and sprinkle with salt. Place a slice of onion and tbspn of ketchup on top of each. Pour 1/2 cup of sweet pickle juice around chops. Cover and bake for 1 hour at 350 F.

 

[Beekissed]

Today I saved money by......stopping at a house and opening my mouth to ask a question.

What did I get?

About 3-4 truck loads of horse and sheep poop! They will load it on my truck for me! FREE! :bun

 

[gettinaclue]

Don't cook down tomatoes to get thick sauce. Once they are prepared and ready to cook, just put them in the fridge over-night. In the morning, use your turkey baster to remove the clear liquid that has floated to the top.

-TW Gazette

 

[Beekissed]

Excellent tip!

 

[freemotion]

OK, it is finally official.....I made cheese tonight! Yep, one of yesterday's batches got stretched tonight. I tested the other batch, it either needs another overnight in the fridge or it failed, but I will try stretching it tomorrow.

It wasn't exactly right, but close enough, and we will eat it up! Enough for a pizza and a lasagna!

 

[gettinaclue]

Hurray FM!!!


Well done!

 

[freemotion]

I finished up the second batch of mozzarella, and dh is begging me to make pizza tomorrow. I only have one more jar of pizza sauce left, but that is ok, because......drum roll......I picked up my second canner today!!!!! Wooohooo!!!

I found some fancy vanilla beans at the discount store near my house, I'd stopped in to get a bamboo hand towel for more feminine products...bamboo is soooo soft! Only $2, too! There, by the checkout, were these fancy-schmancy holders with 4 test-tubes each with a different form of vanilla beans for $4.99. Three whole beans, a tube of powdered beans (1.8 oz), a tube of little bean chunks (1.6 oz), and a tube of vanilla sugar (don't care, giving it away.)

I found some nice 16 oz jars that a friend saved for me that some fancy organic drink came in, removed the labels, and put a tube of the ground and a tube of the chunks in each, then filled it with vodka. That is gonna make some NICE vanilla extract for a fraction of the price. It will make some very nice gifts, too. I have been making my own vanilla for years but am almost out, because the price of the beans is so high now and I can't find anyone to split a bulk bag with me. So I will be able to start putting a splash of it in my hot chocolate again.

If I can get the vanilla smell out of the test tubes (suggestions?), I will fill them with Italian herbs from my garden this summer and give them as hostess and/or housewarming gifts. Oregano, basil, parsley, and rosemary.

I looked them up online and the vanilla sets retail for $52.00!!! Can you imagine! I told dh, showed him the site, and asked him if he'd get me one more as I only got one. He came back with 4, silly dh! I will keep two, and make gifts with the other three. Great gifts. I am so thrilled! If all goes as planned, I will end up with vanilla for me and two as gifts, 15 beans for later use, and 5 sets of Italian seasonings as gifts, 7 gifts in all.

I finally made up the deodorant cream tonight and will try it starting tomorrow.

I finally had a good day!

 

[gettinaclue]

Hurray FM!

BTW... What kind of vodka do you use to make your vanilla? Do you use it the same as what you buy at the store?

 

[freemotion]

Yes, whatever is on sale, I'm not picky. I used Smirnoff's tonight because I had it in the house. You can also use bourbon, but I prefer vodka because it has so little flavor of it's own.

I tend to like to make mine with a LOT of vanilla and let it sit for 6 months or more and get really dark. My last batch was made with a whole fifth, and I ground up the beans in my Vitamix! I just use a wire mesh tea strainer and funnel some into a smaller vanilla bottle and keep that in with my spices and herbs, and keep the fifth with the beans in a dark cupboard out of the way.

I've also just split the beans and dropped them in. Grinding makes a stronger vanilla, faster. Whole split beans makes a milder, more delicate flavoring.

Oooooo, I will have to go make some eggnog with fresh, raw goat's milk, a fresh, raw egg (both still warm) and some vanilla and nutmeg and a bit of stevia.....that'll be breakfast tomorrow (alcohol-free, of course!) Haven't had that in decades! Since salmonella hit factory farmed eggs!