I've moved....

my daily blog posts over to 

Blogging Lyndie! 

Stop by and see what going on at the new place... I've got frugal stuff and much more!

I'm still here!

I'm taking a well earned break but I will have new and more frequent blog posts coming right after the holidays! 

Good Words for Today 10/20

A few words that I hope, will help put your day in perspective...

Pin of the Day-A Frugal Loft Bed

When I saw this I knew it had to be a Pin of the Day! What a cute and clever idea for a space saving loft bed for a child's bedroom, or even for a guest room-okay, maybe not if Grandma and Grandpa are on the guest list, but for the younger set this would be great!

Frugal Loft Bed

The blogger has all of the materials and instructions on the blog. It looks like something that someone with an average set of skills could easily build. I'm thinking about asking Mr. Frugal if we might be able to make this for our 14 year old son's room and maybe also one for our 17 year old daughter's room as well. I see the space underneath as a great place for a couple of bean bag chairs or floor pillows or even for a dog and cat bed (hint, hint).

Pin of the Day 10/7/12

It's so cheesy and so FRUGAL too! It's HOMEMADE MOZZARELLA!
Due to dietary restrictions  I can no longer eat cheese, however, I live amongst many cheese eaters and I know they would LOVE to have HOMEMADE MOZZARELLA in the fridge for them to enjoy.  And if you've seen the prices of fresh mozzarella in the grocery store then you know that for the cost of one ONE GALLON of MILK and a few simple ingredients, it's at total FRUGAL FIND to make this at home!

http://pinterest.com/pin/19562579602668295/

The pin takes you to a step-by-step tutorial with photos, it almost looks too good and too easy to be true.

Pin of the Day 10/5/12

I came across this Great Tutorial on how to hang your flat screen TV on the wall and hide the cords. I don't need this right now, but when I do, I'll be glad I posted it here. Our flat screen sits in our entertainment center, the HUGE pine one that I won't let go of. (Just ask my hubby how much we've "debated" that subject.) LOL We actually bought the tv to FIT into the existing opening because I'm so against getting rid of my most favorite entertainment center ever. Sadly, I'm still living in my country decorating past. OH WELL. I figure it's my house so I'm the one who should be comfortable in it...and there is nothing wrong with pine...or oak. :-)

http://pinterest.com/pin/19562579602646458/

SPECIAL Pin of the Day for 8/30/12

Okay, this is not exactly frugal but...It's sooooooo pretty...and I want it soooooo bad! It's Fiestaware's newest color-FLAMINGO! (caps added by me!)
I just love, love, LOVE the color!

I've always wanted to invest in some Fiestaware but never had the dinero to do so. Okay, so I don't have it right now either, but this new color makes me want to pinch pennies, recycle soda cans and stand on the freeway off ramp with a sign that says "Will Work For Fiestaware".

Just kidding about the sign.

I think.

Gotta thank that Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond for bringing this new color to my attention! Please check out her write up about this Fiestaware on her blog, I know she'd be thrilled you stopped by.

I think.

No, I'm sure!

I'm off now to check the neighbor's garbage for cans to recycle.

Just kidding about the cans.

I think.

Pin of the Day

I see free TV armoires on Craigslist all the time, what a great use for one! Who can't use a little more cupboard space or a pantry in their kitchen.

http://pinterest.com/pin/19562579602368706/

Pin of the Day

This is on my must learn list

http://pinterest.com/pin/19562579602306974/

How cute would a row of these be on the edge of a tea towel! 

Pin of the Day

http://pinterest.com/pin/19562579602234055/

Can't afford to change out your gold trimmed fixtures for something more contemporary, then paint them with Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins
An excellent way to use up those over-ripe bananas instead of throwing them out.

3 large or 4 medium over ripe Bananas, mashed 
1/4 C Peanut Butter
1/4 C Mayonnaise
1 tsp Vanilla
2 Large Eggs
3/4 C Sugar
2 C Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1Tbsp Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mash Bananas then add Peanut Butter, Mayonnaise, Vanilla, Eggs and Sugar. Mix well.
In a second bowl mix together Flour, Baking Soda, Salt and Cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in 3 batches, mix well to combine. Line 12 large or 18 medium muffin tins with papers, scoop batter into lined muffin tins and bake for 22-24 minutes.
Optional: Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips into the batter just before scooping batter into tins.
Or omit peanut butter and stir in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.


This is a very versatile recipe, it can also be baked in a greased 8X8 pan for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Delicious served warm with butter for breakfast or cooled and frosted with cream cheese or chocolate frosting for dessert. I've also made it chocolate by reducing the flour to 1 1/2 cups and adding 1/2 cup of Hershey's Cocoa Powder to the dry ingredients.

Want to make a lower fat version, simply replace the 1/2 cup of mayonnaise with 1/3 cup of applesauce.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins 


2 C finely grated Zucchini
1/3 C boiling water
1 1/2 C Flour
1/2 C Hershey's Cocoa Powder
1 C Sugar
1 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 t salt
1/2 C Vegetable oil

1/4 C Mayonnaise
3 Large Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, pour boiling water over zucchini then stir. Add vegetable oil, mayonnaise, eggs, sugar and vanilla, mix until well combined. In a separate bowl stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt then slowly add to wet ingredients until well combined.  Line muffin tins with paper muffin liners and use a 1/4 cup measure to pour batter into cups. Bake for 24-28 minutes. Yields 18 muffins.
Optional: add 1 cup of chocolate chips to batter before pouring batter into muffin tins. Looking to make these muffins in a lower fat version-replace the mayonnaise with 1/2 cup of apple sauce.

Easy BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Earlier this week I made one of my family's favorite meals- BBQ Pork Sandwiches.

Here is the recipe:

A 4-5 pound Pork Shoulder cut into about 4 thick slices

1 Med Sweet Onion, cut in half and cut into 1/4" slices

1 Cup of Apple Juice (I used a box of Juicy Juice because that's what I had)

2 TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Braggs)

One bottle of Your Favorite Brand of BBQ Sauce (I tend to use whatever is on sale-Winco had Kraft for 88 cents)

Take 1/2 of the onion slices and lay them in the bottom of the crockpot/slowcooker.

Place the pork shoulder slices in a single layer on top of the onions.

Top with the remaining onion slices.

Combine the Apple Juice with the Apple Cider Vinegar and pour over the Pork and Onions.

Cover and cook on high for about 6 hours or until tender enough to shred.

Remove the pork from the crockpot then remove the remaining juices and set aside, shred the pork with 2 forks, return to the crockpot and add your BBQ sauce. If needed you can further moisten the pork with the reserved juices.

Serve on buns with your favorite accompaniment, I love to top them with homemade coleslaw.

Pin of the Day

French toast that cooks overnight in your Crock-Pot. I can't wait to try this one, waking up to breakfast on Sunday morning would be just wonderful!

Crock-Pot French Toast

North Orange County/Long Beach Free and Cheap Stuff To Do

List moved to this page http://frugallyndie.blogspot.com/p/frugal-events-north-oclong-beach.html

Pin of the Day

Time once again for my Pin of the Day!

From my Great Gifts board.

Not too much I can say about this...except haven't we all been there at least once? 

It's Grilling Time!

These are the pork chops I grilled! They were delicious!

The hubster found the original recipe in a magazine, I just tweaked it a tiny bit by using *boneless pork chops instead of bone in. 

Grilled Pork Chops with Basil-Garlic Rub

Recipe adapted from PorkBeInspired.com

Times:

Prep Time: 30 minutes prep, Cook Time: 10 minutes cook

Ingredients:

*6 boneless pork chops that are 1/2 inch thick

Basil-Garlic Rub: 

2 cloves garlic , peeled
1 cup fresh basil, packed
2 tablespoons lemon juice , fresh
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Directions:

With machine running, drop garlic through feed tube of food processor to mince. Stop, add fresh basil, and process until chopped. Add lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper and process to make thin wet rub. Spread both sides of pork chops with basil mixture. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes.

Prepare a medium-hot fire in grill. Grill chops, over direct heat, turning once 3 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.
Can also be made on stove top grill pan.

Pin of the Day

Old door turned garden gate complete with stove flange for window - fabulous! By Her Ballistic Garden

I would do love to replicate this gate for my side yard! I'm going to see what the Hubster can come up with.

Source: herballisticgarden.com via Linda on Pinterest

Stuff that makes traveling fun

After spending a week in a hotel, I've decided I would LOVE have one of these in each BEDROOM:


I would love to be able to separate the towels for each family member so they can store and dry them in their OWN rooms. It would free up so much space in the bathroom!





And I would LOVE to have a fridge in each bedroom as well-mostly to store beverages. Having cold water by the bed at night was such a luxury! Probably not going to happen-the towel bar has a better chance of making it than the fridge, but I can dream, right?

Okay, not in the bedroom, but still fun for traveling is Dairy Queen. There is one walking distance from my house but I've never been. I rarely eat ice cream, but when I do it's usually on vacation and I prefer it to be Dairy Queen. Small chocolate/vanilla swirl dipped in chocolate. It takes me back to when the Hubster and I first started dating and he would take me to DQ for a dip-cone. I found it sweet and romantic...still do!

Pin of the Day

This made me laugh!

My Pin of the Day