Frugal Vacations Close To Home

With the rising cost of…well…everything, summer vacations can seem out of reach. If you’re dedicated to keeping that credit card balance at zero but still want to have some summer fun then a staycation may give you the best of both worlds. A staycation combines the fun of a vacation getaway with activities that are close to home. Who says the only way to have fun is to hop on a plane only to come home to a whopping bill that you’ll be paying off all year long? There are some amazing things to do that are close to home and can provide your family with all kinds of wonderful summer memories. Here are five ideas to get you started.

Try Geocaching. Geocaching is like a high tech treasure hunt. All you need is a handheld GPS system and you’re good to go. We’ve had great fun tracking down hidden caches and leaving our mark. Find a cache in your area, enter in the coordinates on your GPS and start hunting. Most caches have a logbook inside for you to sign your name and you can leave little treasures inside for the next person to find. Go to www.geocaching.com to find some hidden geocaches in your area.

Bargain Day at the Oregon Zoo. Every 2^nd Tuesday of the month the Oregon Zoo has a discounted rate. For $4 per person (regularly $10.50) you and your family can have a whole day full of fresh air, animals and fun. Kids under two enter free. Pack a lunch and have a picnic to save on overpriced zoo fare.

Take a Hike: Washington State has some of the most beautiful scenery to be found. Just 30 miles east of Portland you’ll find several breathtaking waterfall hikes one of which is the famed Multnomah Falls. You can actually feel the spray of the 542-foot, two-tiered plume that plummets into a mossy forest grotto. There is an easier hike for the kids or a longer hike for the more adventurous.

Attend Community Events: Find out what’s going on in your own town. In Longview attend the 4^th of July events, take in a free concert at the lake 6-8pm every Thursday from July 7^th to August 18^th, or visit the Squirrel festival on August 6^th. In Clatskanie show up on August 5-7^th for the annual bluegrass festival. In Kalama on July 23^rd check out the 2nd annual Washington State Championship Chili cook-off at the Kalama Fairgrounds. St. Helens offers 13 Nights on the River every Thursday from June 19^th to September 1^st where you’ll find live music and an open air market. These are just a few of the many events in our area. Go to the website of your nearest town and look for events or markets they might be hosting.

Be A Day-Trip Tourist in your own State: We are fortunate enough to live between big cities full of history. Put on your tourist glasses (Hawaiian shirts and sandals with socks are optional) and travel around like you’ve never been there before. Visit Mt. St. Helens, take an underground tour of Seattle or Portland, visit museums and state parks, stroll through Pikes Place Market, explore the Portland Rose Garden or step back in history at the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.

Fun can still be found close to home using whatever budget you have to work with. And don’t forget the camera. Just like any vacation you’ll want to take photos of your staycation fun. But this time you’ll have fond memories as well as a wallet that’s not empty.

Book Recommendation on Creative Cleaning

I came across this book at the library and it blew my socks off. It's got some amazing info on using everyday household products to clean just about any thing you can think of.

• How to clean crayon off a wall using Baking Soda
• How to rejuvenate wilting flowers with Epsom Salt
• How to get rid of the mildew smell from your cars air conditioner system with Lysol
  

The author quotes a lot of brand name items (I'm thinking he might have some paid endorsements in the book) but I've found generics work just as well in many of the situations.

So go HERE to take a look. I'm going out to my Volvo right now to try the one about the air conditioner. Woohoo!

Summer Movies Cheap

Bored Kids? Well here you go.



On Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10 am, they will show select G & PG movies for only $1.00 at Regal cinemas all over the states. Go HERE for more information and to see if there is a participating theater near you.

Free Professional Photo Shoot

To all my friends in Western Washington, enter for the chance to win a FREE professional photo shoot for up to 5 people! You'll get...

A free 1-2 hour photo shoot valued at $75

A free 8 x 10 and 2 free 5 x 7's valued at $65

You can see her work and get all the details HERE.

I've worked with her before and her photo shoots are lots of fun and she really has a way of putting everyone at ease so you can get the best pictures.

Head on over and check it out!

GCC Shopping Round Up

So...what is it I couldn't live without this week? Here's what I got.


S & S Liquidators

cottage cheese $.99
5 rolls of refrigerator biscuits $1.00 (1 exploded in the back of the car so is NOT in the picture)
Win-co

1 gallon milk $2.36
15 lbs potatoes $2.98
chicken drumsticks $4.87
2 cucumbers $1.16
nectarines $1.72
bananas $1.33
Grand Total $16.41

We had a great pasta salad today with homemade french bread for dinner. I used some leftover penne pasta, frozen peas, sliced tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic, and some leftover turkey from the freezer. Mixed it all up with some homemade dressing and it was a great use of leftover odds and ends.

Would you like to share your shopping trip? Please link directly to your post, not your homepage and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Homemade French Bread

I found myself with no bread in the house today so I whipped up this easy homemade rustic french bread to go with our pasta salad dinner. I seriously only spent about 10 minutes of hands on time and came out with this beautiful loaf.

Easy Homemade French Bread


1 1/2 cups water at around 105 degrees (warm to the touch tap water)
4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
cornmeal

Add first four ingredients to bread machine and set on the dough cycle. When cycle is over, sprinkle corn meal over the bottom of a baking sheet. Shape dough into a long loaf, set on cornmeal covered baking sheet and brush with the egg white and water that has been slightly beaten. Cover and let rise for 40 minutes or until doubled. Place three 1/4 inch deep diagonal slices along the top of the loaf. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with more of the water and egg white mixture and bake another 15 minutes or until a nice rich golden brown.

Menu Monday

It's the end of the month and we're counting our pennies due to the down payment on two sets of braces that will be going on in just a few weeks. So this weeks menu is going to be mostly comprised of what is already on hand and with a much looser plan than normal. I have a few ideas up my sleeve for meals and I'll probably grab a few basics at the store this week.

On hand I have some fruit and veggies, baking supplies, and some meat I've saved in the freezer. We have plenty of eggs too. Usually weeks like these are a fun challenge where my creativity is put to the test and I tend to come up with new family favorites as a result.

Some dinner ideas that I have are:

• A pasta salad using leftover meat from the freezer, some veggies that need to be used up and THIS dressing.
• These Nacho Potatoes that I think the kids are really going to like.
• Grilled tuna and cheese sandwiches with carrot sticks
  
• Mile High Biscuits and gravy

We'll see what kinds of things I can come up with this week.

BlogHer Book Club: New Review Up

I've got a new book review up at BlogHer Book Club. Come on over and check it out.

Be The Breakfast Hero - GCC Recipe Swap

There was a time in my home where a hot home cooked breakfast was only for special occasions like holidays or weekends. Then we went through a season where I made so many hot breakfasts that they all began to take it for granted. And now, we've found a happy medium.

I make hot breakfasts on special occasions and if you want it any other time, well, here's the ingredients. Have at it!

Now before you think I'm completely heartless, I made it as easy as I possibly can on them. I'm a firm believer in teaching my kids enough to work myself right out of a job so I've shown them how to make their own basic hot breakfast. Yes, even the seven year old can do it. I have a handy container full of homemade pancake mix at the ready for anyone who isn't happy with a piece of fresh fruit or a muffin from the freezer in the morning. On the outside of the container are all the directions they need to make themselves a pancake feast.

And there are multiple benefits to making your own mix and teaching your kids how to use it:

• You know EXACTLY what's in it. Many convenience mixes have all kinds of preservatives and non-food items in it to keep it on the grocery shelf as long as possible. Yuck.
• You're teaching your kids independence cuz let's face it, the goal is that they NOT live with you the rest of your life, right? Can I hear an Amen?
• It's CRAZY cheap compared to the store bought mixes.
  
• You are saving yourself from the nasty Mother's day breakfast that consists of a plate full of nameless items that you must choke down with a smile on your face. Now they'll know how to cook something for you that is actually edible.
  

So here is a recipe that you can make a store for up to 6 months in an air tight container.

Homemade Pancake Mix

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon baking soda

Directions

In a bowl, combine ingredients. Label and store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.

To prepare pancakes: (Tape these directions on container) In a bowl, combine 1 egg and 3/4 cup milk. Whisk in 1 cup pancake mix. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Cook until second side is golden brown

Stir In Options: chocolate chips, blueberries or other berries, mashed banana, 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or nuts.

Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

5 Must Have Tools for the Frugal Kitchen

Let's face it, If you're committed to eating healthy and frugal then you're going to spend some time in that kitchen of yours. You'll be planning and cooking meals that are full of good old home cooking and for all the chopping and mixing and stirring you'll be doing, it's a good idea to have some tools that are going to make your life easier. We don't live in the days where all you need is a good rolling pin, a quality frying pan and an apron to make a good meal. We've got a vast and sometimes complicated array of tools at our disposal. So here are the five tools that I can't do without in my own kitchen. They are loyal friends that I use everyday of my life and if it weren't for them, we wouldn't be eating as good as we do.

A Food Processor: It's nothing fancy and probably to most people, the one I own is outdated. But that baby can cut onions without making me cry, grates cheese without any of my knuckles in the mix and grinds graham crackers into crust at the push of a button and with zero mess.

A Blender: We use it for smoothies, pourable pancake batter, quick quiche, pureeing fruit for syrups, and homemade salad dressings. It's not only fast and easy to mix things in but rather than cleaning out a mixing bowl and a whisk you've only got one thing to wash when it's all said and done.

A Garlic Peeler: I use fresh garlic everyday. I mean it....we use a lot of garlic! I used to hate trying to peel off those sticky paper thin layers of skin. But in our house, garlic powder is an abomination. It's fresh or nothing. With this little gadget I am frustrated no more.

No Slip Nestable Mixing Bowls: I have a two sets of 5 different sized, nesting, stainless mixing bowls that I use all the time. Yes, I said two sets. I get tons of use out of these and just one in each size wasn't enough. They have rubber bottoms so they don't slide off the counter and spill when I'm stirring and there is a size for every need from giant batches of potato salad to holding egg yolks for a special dessert. And the stainless set is even pretty and shiny enough that sometimes I serve right out of them.

Electric Skillet: With six of us in this house, there is no stove top skillet that can hold enough pancakes, fried eggs or sausage links where I'll actually be able to sit and eat with the rest of the family. It seems without this gadget I was doomed to the task of fry cook and never to be a diner at my own table. Now I can cook meals in one batch and actually get to eat it while it's hot. Hallelujah! Plus, I highly recommend one with a lid to keep any splatters under control.

What tools of the trade do you find yourself relying on the most?

GCC Shopping Round Up

Here's what we came home with today.....



Fred Meyer

1/2 gallon Almond Milk (w/coupon) $2.44

Dollar Tree

Conditioner $1.00

Win-co

Beef Patties $7.48
Organic Basil $.98
Tomatoes $1.23
Bulk Penne Pasta $1.14
green onions $.48
sausage links $2.48
2 bags hamburger buns $.96
2 spaghetti sauce $1.96
3 lbs apples $2.97
TP $5.98
2 sweetened condensed milk $2.66
frozen meatballs $1.98
2 loaves french bread $2.96
powdered sugar $1.42
bulk spaghetti $1.75
frozen blueberries $2.18
margarine $.89
mozzarella $3.48
margarine sticks $.77

Grand Total $47.19

While my total was low this week, it offset my higher than normal total for last week.

Would you like to share your shopping trip? Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Menu Monday

We've been intentional lately about family meals at the table. The busier we get with all our activities, it seems the harder it is to have time together as a family. But everybody has to eat, right? So I've set my bar low enough to reach:

Eat at least two meals together at the table each week and make them special meals.

So I've been trying to pick some fun or rare foods. For instance last week we did a fondue night and a shish kabob night. Those were fun because they were interactive as we dipped into our cheese sauce or built our own custom shish kabobs. So this week we have a Bruschetta night and a Grilled Burger night on the schedule.

Here's what's cooking at our house....

Breakfasts: This is a serve yourself house. I have three early risers (one of them is me) and three late sleepers so I've given up on family breakfasts. Every once in a while I'll whip up something special and everyone can graze when they roll out of bed but for the most part it's whatever you make for yourself. Think: smoothies, omelets, or homemade muffins from the freezer. This is why it's such a good idea to teach your kids how to cook the basics. Then you're off the hook.

Lunches: Usually intentional leftovers, a continuation of breakfast, or something creative from odds and ends. (quesadillas, tuna sandwiches, grilled cheese...they've come up with some pretty fascinating creations.)

Dinners: This is where I come in....

Grilled Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli
Grilled Tomato Bruschetta, Creamy Garlic Pasta
Grilled Burgers and Baked Potato Salad
Spaghetti with meatballs, steamed broccoli
Fried potatoes, eggs, and sausages
Attending a wedding
Leftover Buffet (using up whatever is left from the week so there is no waste)

Homemade Washing Machine Cleaner

My washer gets a workout. With six people and two house dogs (clothes, towels, linens, bedding, oh my) I'm doing at least two loads every day. If I skip a day on weekends then I'm backed up for a few days. I very rarely see the bottom of the pile that lays directly under my laundry chute and if you happen to have thrown something down the laundry chute on a day when I actually got everything washed and it's empty....well it might just sit there for a month until I get close the bottom again.

With just trying to keep up with the dirty stuff, who has time to think about actually maintaining the washer?

Oops.

My front loader can get stinky if those darn kids forget to keep the door open for it to air out in between loads and my old top loading agitator use to get a soap scum build up in the tub that was just plain gross. But no worries. Here's a quick and crazily (yes, I make up my own words) cheap way to solve all the odor, mineral deposits and grime problems that can accumulate in your hoses and tub.

Homemade Washing Machine Cleaner

• 1 quart chlorine bleach
• 1 quart white vinegar

For Top Loading Agitator Machines:

Fill your washer with hot water. Add 1 qt of chlorine bleach. (no laundry, no detergent) Run the washer through the longest wash cycle. When the washer is still wet- this should be immediately after the bleach cycle- add 1 qt of white vinegar and run the washer through the same cycle again refilling the tub with hot water.

For Front Loader Machines:

Put the bleach in the detergent dispenser so it goes straight in the tub and run the hottest, longest cycle you have. Do a second cycle the same way with the vinegar. Tah dah!

Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Please link directly to your post, not your homepage, and please include a link back here to the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Prepare for Picnic Season

Picnics are one of our favorite family times during summer. Whether it’s a short hike with a backpack full of trail snacks and bottled water or a concert at the lake with a hamper full of delectable home cooked goodies, it’s all fun. There’s something romantic and magical about throwing a blanket on the grass, slipping off your shoes and enjoying the fresh air and good food while the kids giggle and frolic in the background. Chris and I usually bring along a good book and just relax in the sun while the kids explore. And if there’s a creek nearby, that’s even better.

The movies like to tell us that a whole pie requiring slicing, cutlery, plates and cleanup is an ideal picnic food but that’s really not the case. The key to a good picnic is easily portable foods that you can eat with your hands and have very little cleanup. And something out of the ordinary makes it a much more exciting experience. So here are some ideas to bring a little excitement to your summer picnic.

Spicy Beef Rollups

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1green onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 lb. thin sliced roast beef
• 2 (6 ounce) packages deli-style sharp cheddar cheese slices
• 2 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 tomato thinly sliced

Stir together first 6 ingredients until blended. Spread evenly on one side of each tortilla; top with 3 beef slices and, 2 cheese slices. Sprinkle evenly with shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes if using. Roll up tortillas tightly; wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap. Chill until ready to eat.

Strawberry Hand Pies

Filling:

• 4 cups chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt

Mix strawberries with the flour, sugar and pinch of salt.

Pastry Dough (or buy premade at the grocery store)

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 3/4 cup milk

Egg wash: 1 egg mixed with 1 to 2 teaspoons water

Preheat the oven to 350º.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the shortening and cut it into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or mix it in with your hands until it is crumbly.

Add the milk all at once and mix in with a spatula until it begins to come together.

Lightly flour your hands and the countertop and turn the dough out onto the countertop. Knead the dough ball, folding over 10 to 20 times.

Using a rolling pin roll the dough to 1/3 to 1/2-inch thickness then cut into rounds using a 2 1/4-inch ring. Roll each round as thinly as possible or to 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling onto the dough, brush the edges of half of the dough lightly with the egg wash, fold over and seal the edges together with the tines of a fork, dipping it into flour as needed. Gently press down to flatten and evenly distribute the filling and snip or cut 3 slits in the top of the pie.

Brush a little bit of egg wash on the outside of the pie and sprinkle with decorating sugar.

Place finished pies on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Jamaican Wraps

• 1 lb. boneless chicken breast
• Olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger

· Salt and pepper

• 1 pinch cayenne
• 1 bell pepper seeded and sliced in strips
• 1 thinly sliced onion
• 1 tomato diced
• 4 flat bread

Cilantro Cream Sauce

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/8 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 1 chopped green onion
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• Salt and pepper

Mix sauce ingredients together and refrigerate. In a nonstick skillet over moderate heat warm each flat bread on both sides until warm and soft. Remove from pan, cover with foil and place under a kitchen towel to keep warm. Mix ginger, paprika and garlic powder together, adding salt, pepper and cayenne to taste. Drizzle a little olive oil on the breasts and rub with the spice mixture. Slice each breast into strips and sauté until browned and thoroughly cooked. Add a little oil if needed to prevent sticking. Remove chicken from pan or push to the sides, away from hottest part of pan. Add onions and bell peppers to pan and cook just until crisp tender. Spread cream sauce on a warm flat bread. Add chicken strips, peppers, onions and tomato. Top with additional cream sauce, and a squirt of fresh lime. Fold in half and wrap up with plastic wrap for portability.

Kid Friendly Trail Mix

• 1 cup Cheerios
• 1 cup goldfish crackers
• 1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, strawberries)
• 1 cup cashews or other nuts
• 1 cup M & M’s
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup miniature pretzel twists

Throw everything together in a sealed container.