Retro Mama Vs The Jalapenos....

DISCLAIMER: I live in central Indiana. What I do may not be appropriate for your particular region or climate. For best results, check your hardiness zone for planting dates on the back of the seed packets.

Grandpa Hill with 3 of the little ones.

So, the warm temps we’ve been experiencing have us all dreaming of the impending Spring. This time of year always has me thinking about my garden. I love the time I spend tending and harvesting the fresh vegetables with my family. It reminds me of summers spent with my Dad in his garden and putting up the produce with my Mom. You’ve never had a pickle until you’ve eaten one of Mama Hills freshly canned spears!! The old man still maintains a large garden and keeps all of his grand-kids involved with the tending of it. From running the tiller to picking vegetables, the kids are learning a valuable skill and bonding with their grandpa. My little one helped pick and then can a batch of green beans last summer. You’ve never seen someone so proud at the dinner table as when we share a jar of  “his” beans!

Stock photo of a bucket garden.

For me, stepping out the back door on a summer evening to grab a fat, warm, ripe tomato is truly one of life’s simple joys!  I love knowing that the vegetables my family eats are guaranteed completely organic. Not to mention the money saved on side dishes, condiments and sauces that are made after harvest. If you don’t have enough yard space for even a small garden you can easily have a bucket-garden. Due to construction last summer we couldn’t have our full garden. Instead we planted tomatoes and peppers in large 5 gallon buckets and left them to grow on our back patio. (For Cayuga locals, Palucci’s Pizza Express sells buckets of the perfect size for $2 each!) http://www.facebook.com/PaluccisPizza

So, the first question I always have is: What do I want from my garden? My first response is always: for the jalapenos to grow this year. Just ONCE I would like a successful jalapeno season! My three realistic choices are always zucchini, green beans and tomatoes. They are versatile in a variety of recipes, or stand alone as sides. They’re also easy to “put up” for future use. There is nothing quite as satisfying as green beans that taste garden-fresh in January!  We also make and freeze our own pizza and spaghetti sauce. Don’t be intimidated by “canning” or “putting up” your garden’s bounty. We will cover all of that this summer. I will also be available for any questions! Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a lot of specialty items such as a pressure cooker for everything. The only thing I use my pressure cooker for is canning green beans and jams. All the rest: pickles, sauces, corn, zucchini (sliced & shredded), pie fruit, peppers (if they would ever grow) etc I freeze or use the Water Bath Method. BUT I am getting ahead of myself. We’ll return to this topic in a few months!

Late February to early March is when I start planning and planting. (YES…planting) When we first started our garden journey I would go to the greenhouse in the Spring and purchase my plants and drop them in the ground. Voila..easy…but kind of expensive if you think about it. I can buy an entire packet of seeds for under $1. Also, greenhouses tend to use a lot of pesticides and fertilizer, which makes me uneasy. Plants like corn, melons, zucchini, eggplant and green beans do perfectly fine and have a long growing season if they are planted directly in the ground from seed. I usually put them in the ground in early to mid May. I just wait until we are beyond any chance of frost and the soil is starting to warm up. They grow quickly in rich, moist soil. However, jalapenos, tomatoes and broccoli I start indoors to make sure they have a good, solid season. For these I like to start at least 6 weeks before they will go into the garden. The broccoli can be started 7 – 8 weeks prior to planting. It can also survive and thrive in cooler temps. If maintained you will be eating fresh broccoli from late spring to mid-fall. (and will have plenty to put up for winter) Just make sure to cut the florets before they bloom.

To get your crops started indoors is quite simple. You can buy the indoor starter kits OR make your own! FYI, the starter kits can be reused. The first year we did this, my son and I used Dixie cups, a cookie sheet and saran wrap and it worked just fine. However, we now have grown and expanded to plastic planting cells that have their own tray and a clear plastic hood. I reuse the same ones annually.

Items needed:

• Growing vessel such as cell packs or Dixie cups. Also, a flat tray to put them in. Make sure your cell is at least 2” wide and a minimum of 2” deep. If you use a Dixie cup, poke a few tiny holes in the bottom for drainage.
• Clear plastic cover to act as a “greenhouse” for the seeds. You can use plastic wrap or plastic bags.
• Potting Soil
• Seed packets
• Colored toothpicks to mark what you’re growing. (E.g. red toothpicks in the tomatoes, green in the broccoli, etc) Otherwise, expect to be confused.
• A light source. I have a bay window in my kitchen, any sunny window will do (although not TOO bright to burn the seedlings) I suppose you    could use an artificial light source, but I won’t guarantee the results!

What to do?

• Fill your cells or Dixie cups almost to the top with fresh soil.
• Place them in the large tray. (To catch excess water)
• Plant your seeds at the depth determined by the back of your seed packet. MARK YOUR CELL!!!!! Otherwise you will end up with Cherry Tomatoes growing in your flowerbed. (YES…. this happened last summer!)
• Water but do not drown your little seeds
• Cover with the clear plastic hood and place in a warm location that has indirect minimal sunlight. I keep my seeds covered until after they germinate. Once they are a decent size I remove the clear plastic hood. (It works like a little green house.) Check the seed packet for info on each plant’s germination rules.
• Once the seedlings sprout, remove the hood/clear plastic and place them in a sunny location. (Not too bright…you don’t want to burn them!) Be sure to keep the soil moist and to rotate the tray once a day so both sides of the tray grow evenly.
• Once we are past danger of frost and the soil is starting to warm, till your garden and acclimate your plants to the outdoors by taking them outside during the day for a week. Then, plant them! Review the seed packets to see how far apart they should be planted.

My Father-in-law and son tilling our garden in 2010.

What’s going on at Retro Mama’s place this year?

• Corn: Well, we won’t be planting corn. Corn requires a lot of growing space. You have to plant a ton of it to get enough to even mess with. My parents have a huge garden so I usually pilfer all my fresh corn from them. (shhh….) Sometimes I will even hit the farmers market and buy a bunch of it to put up for winter. But grow it myself? Nah…. my minimal space is too valuable.
• Tomatoes: I intend to plant 10 - 15 Romas, 2 Cherry and 2 Beef Steak tomato plants. I use the Romas for making pizza and spaghetti sauce. They are very “meaty” with less wasted pulp and they have a deep rich flavor that makes them the perfect candidate. The Beef Steak and Cherry tomatoes are great to eat fresh, but I really don’t do anything with them once summer is over. Sometimes I will use leftover Beef Steaks in my sauces, just so they don’t go to waste but that’s not their primary purpose in life.
• Zucchini: I always put in two plants. One plant produces enough zucchini to be more than sufficient for my family to eat fresh all summer long and have plenty to put up for recipes and bread later. HOWEVER, zucchini gets lonely. A single plant doesn’t produce well and sometimes dies early. Trust me…just plant two…
• Broccoli: I’m putting in about 5 plants. As long as we keep cutting the florets we always have more than enough to eat fresh and put up enough to last us all winter long. In my experience, the more we cut the broccoli the better it grows. We tend to have produce well into the fall after everything else is brown and dead.
• Green Beans: I’ll plant 4 or 5 long rows. They take up the majority of my garden space. I “can” the majority of them. FYI, they’re not a great candidate for bucket gardens. Like the broccoli, if I continue to pick them I have fresh beans for most of the summer and into the early fall. A lot of other gardeners have told me they typically get one or two harvests and then they die off. (Maybe the beans just feel sorry for me because of the wretched jalapenos???)
• Jalapenos: Oh the bane of my existence, the flippin’ jalapenos!!! EVERY year I plant them, every year they yield minimal results. While the rest of the garden flourishes in its glorious bounty the jalapenos stubbornly refuse to yield anything more than a pepper or two. The hateful little peppers are never more than a couple inches long. Sometimes I feel like they are mocking me and the efforts I put forth. Yet, my husband and I love them…. both fresh and canned so I try and try again! I’m just not ready to admit to defeat. This year I’m going to put in 5 plants and see how they do.  If it is another epic fail, I may have to raise the white flag to those wretched peppers….

Bring Summer to Your Winter

For me, raising my family like my grandmother raised hers isn't just about saving money; it’s about an overall balanced, healthy home. For many of us, this time of year can be dreary, even sending many into depression. If you’re feeling down, rest assured you’re not alone. Many of us are affected. If you are one of the heads of the household there are things you can do for yourself and your family to combat these dark moods. Most of these things are simple things you can do around the home. Small changes can make a big difference. Think of what you love best about the Spring and Summer months and try to add them to your Winter lifestyle.

ADD LIGHT!!! Open your curtains, pull up the blinds & let your home fill with natural light where possible. Otherwise, add bright artificial lights. Studies conducted by Alfred Lewy, MD, a psychiatrist in Portland, Oregon show that a lack of natural light during the winter months is a major factor of depression. SO… It seems simple enough, turn on more lights! But it’s actually a little more complicated. The lack of light in the early morning messes up your circadian rhythm. (When your body thinks it should be awake or asleep) Adding bright lights early in the morning resets your internal clock and lets your body know its time to be up and active. Studies using dim lights had no effect on countering depression. So…Add Light During Morning Hours!!
You can see Dr. Lewy’s full article here: http://www.sadlight.com/em-articles-lewy.htm

However, with some people, not even the most well-lit waking conditions can put them in a good mood...

DECLUTTER Don’t wait for May to do your Spring cleaning! A stuffy, cluttered home makes us feel down. It’s almost as if the weight of the dirt and junk is suffocating us. You may not even see the stuff anymore because you’re used to it. Pick a room and go through EVERYTHING in it. If you haven’t used it in the last 2 years, get rid of it. With each decorative item in your hand, ask yourself if you’re willing to dust that item once a week. If the answer is no, then pitch it. I know it sounds unreasonable, and it may not be something you can do. But if you can do it, your home will become bigger and brighter. Walls that are sparingly decorated, floors that are open and clean, tables and counter-tops that are empty and shelves that are organized create an open, airy feeling to a room. Decorative items, lights and ceiling fans that are covered in dust & cobwebs feel dreary. Why do you think haunted houses in every great horror film are covered in dust and cobwebs!?! Make the cleaner in my article “Is it Safe?” and wash down the walls and fixtures. You’ll be amazed at how shiny everything is and how much “lighter” the room feels when it has been decluttered and cleaned. I recently did this to the large back room in our house that had become a “catch all”. I removed 5 garbage bags of junk, organized everything and scrubbed it from top to bottom. The room everyone typically avoided is now where I find Aiden playing almost daily. So, it does work!

AIR IT OUT During the winter, our homes are closed up and the air can become stale quickly. Of course, you cannot open all the windows to air it out without freezing out the family. But there are a few little things you can do. Grab all of your curtains, throw rugs and bedspreads and have them cleaned. Most of these items can be washed in your washing machine. Air-dry the rugs by hanging them over the backs of your kitchen chairs. For these items, I like to add a cup of vinegar to the washing cycle and use a double-shot of fabric softener on the rinse cycle.

Shampoo the carpets. Wash the walls and windows. You may not realize how much dust and grime can accumulate here. Giving them a quick wash instantly brightens the room…especially the windows, you may not realize how much light is being blocked out just from dust.

I know it’s cold, but crack open a couple windows an inch or two for about 15 minutes once a week. The amount of fresh air coming into your home will have an impact. Kick on your freshly cleaned ceiling fans to help circulate the air. (Don’t forget to wear a sweater while doing this!)  Also, don’t forget to clean or change your furnace’s air filter once a month to help keep your air quality as clean as possible.

TURN IT UP!! A quiet home can be sedative. Plug in your Ipod, put on your favorite album or radio station and crank it up. Feel energized by the music. Don't be afraid to dance, either. ESPECIALLY when your kids are home. Kitchen dancing is a favorite past-time in this house. There are evenings Aiden & I are both out of breath from rockin' out in the kitchen. The best part isn't the exercise either, it's that he WANTS to be with me and we're having a lot of fun together.




STAY ACTIVE Laying on the couch all day under a warm blanket can be so cozy, but it can have long-term negative effects. Get out of your computer chair, your recliner, wherever it is you’re relaxing and move. (Not right now though…finish my article first!) Yes…I know it’s cold and none of us really “like” being in the cold, but do it anyway. If you’re not overly ambitious with exercise, at least take a walk around the block; let the chilly wind hit your face. Play with your kids! Wrestle around on the floor. It's good for both of you. You get a little exercise combined with bonding! Not to mention there WILL BE laughing, which we all know promotes good feelings. Spend an afternoon at a roller skating rink, bowling alley, children's museum or even just a McDonald's Play Land. I can enjoy a good book & a cup of coffee while he burns pent-up energy!

Another indoor exercise that’s really easy is “Commercial Jacks”. They’re not life changing but they are great for getting your heart pumping without much effort. Sit down to watch your favorite 1 hour-long program. Instead of skipping the commercials, let them play.  Just do jumping jacks during the commercial break. This is a win-win. You get exercise AND you get to watch your favorite show guilt-free!!




BRIGHTEN YOUR PALETTE Think of your favorite summer time meals and bring them to your winter table. Bring out the red-checked picnic tablecloth and set the stage. I don’t recommend a meal of chilidogs and fries all the time, but they are a quick and easy summer meal. Chef Salads or Taco Salads are nice, bright meal options. Have chicken salad sandwiches on buns with raw veggies and dip. Try a supper of deviled eggs, hamburgers and popper-tots…instant summer fare! Add a pitcher of lemonade or sweet-tea to compliment your summer-supper. Finish the meal with a bright, summer dessert such as a Lemon Fruit Freeze. Hit your local super-market and pick up a cheap bouquet of daisies or other summer flowers to brighten the dinner table even more!

Not familiar with Popper-Tots or a Lemon Fruit Freeze? You can find the recipes below! FYI: The Lemon Fruit Freeze is a vintage recipe that I found in a Better Homes & Gardens magazine from the late 1960's. It is so light & refreshing. It compliments virtually any meal flawlessly. The unique crust is an awesome alternative to any dessert that is traditionally made with a graham-cracker crust. ENJOY!

Popper Tots 

Ingredients:

• Bacon (raw)
• Tator Tots
• Jar of sliced jalapenos
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Cut a package of bacon in half. (You want each bacon slice cut in half). Place a jalapeno slice on a tator tot and wrap it loosely in half a slice of bacon. Place on a cookie sheet. (Make sure the cookie sheet has a lip on it so the bacon grease doesn’t run onto your oven) Bake the bacon-wrapped tots at 400 until the bacon is done. Immediately place them on a large plate or serving platter and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.

Lemon Fruit Freeze

Ingredients:

• 2/3 C butter or margarine
• 1/3 C sugar
• 7 C of Rice or Corn Chex cereal, crushed to 3 Cups
• 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 1 (21 oz) can of lemon pie filling
• 1 (17 oz) can of fruit cocktail, well drained
• 2 cups of cool-whip

Melt the butter, stir in the sugar and crumbs. (reserve 1/3 c of crumbs) Press this mix into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 300 for 12 minutes. Cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, mix condensed milk and lemon juice. Stir in pie filling and fruit cocktail; pour over the crust. Top with cool-whip and reserved crumbs. Freeze at least 4 hours. Remove from freezer 20 minutes before serving.

Spread a Little Love (on a budget of course!)

Valentines Day is quickly approaching and it’s not just for lovers! You don’t have to be in a relationship to get the most out of this holiday. Whether you have a significant other, children or just a few friends and family, there is much reason to celebrate. You will find that showing those who are dearest to your heart know how much they mean is abundantly rewarding for everyone.... and what better time to do it than on Valentines Day!?!

So now, we think HOW to make this day as special as possible. If you are going out with a special someone, you don’t need to visit an expensive restaurant. The $80 bouquet of roses is unnecessary. If you NEED to get her flowers, hit up your local supermarket for the flowers and buy a unique vase to put them in. Skip the large heart-shaped box of mixed chocolates; it’s most likely they won’t be eaten anyway. Instead, splurge on a decent quantity of their favorite candy or make a homemade treat. Put it in a little decorative box and hand-write a little note on the outside. The idea is to make the other person feel special, not empty your bank account. I’m going to cover ideas below to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a “special someone” as well as a few fun and easy things to do with the little ones.

DINNER ~ If you have the extra cash and a reservation already made, then by all means skip this section. If you want something a little more from the heart and less from the wallet, then read on. A dinner at home can be made as intimate and special as an evening out. You just need to set the mood. Step one: find a grandma to take the kids for the evening! Next, make sure the house is clean and tidy, especially the dining area. Clutter is distracting and unappealing. It will ruin a mood as quickly as hearing “MOMMY” being yelled from the next room. Make sure the house smells nice. The idea is to have a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Make sure you are looking your best as well. Even if you're not going to an expensive restaurant, dress like you are. Going the extra mile on your appearance will make your partner feel special. Next, set the stage. Lay out a nice dark table-cloth, place a few candles in the dining room (just don't put any on the table that are so tall or big that they are distracting) lay out the nice dishes (NO PAPER PLATES!!!) and a couple of wine glasses. If you don’t have a set of wine glasses, invest in a set. They’re relatively inexpensive and add elegance. Have a bottle of wine chilling in the refrigerator. If you’re not very familiar with wine, try a White Zinfandel or Prosecco. Both are crisp and clean on the pallet. They also pair well with most rich, heavy or sweet foods. If you don't drink alcohol, buy a nice sparkling white grape juice.

Main Course ~ when I think of a romantic dinner I always think of pasta. The beauty is, Pasta is cheap & easy to prepare. Even with the most basic of kitchen skills you can create an amazing dish. Partner it with a salad, a loaf of crusty garlic bread and a decadent dessert and you have an unforgettable meal. I am going to give you my two favorite easy pasta recipes as a main dish; Carbonara and Chicken Parmesan.

Carbonara: This is a favorite dish in our home. The rich, creamy sauce is deceptive. It seems so complex but is actually quite simple…and has no cream! It takes around 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. However, it looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Traditionally, this dish is made with pancetta, but I prefer to just use standard bacon. Also, if you like seafood, don't be afraid to toss in a little sauteed or grilled shrimp to the finished dish.

Ingredients:

·        ½ lb spaghetti noodles

·        1 pkg of bacon

·        4 eggs

·        ½ C grated Parmesan (buy real parm, don’t use the stuff in a canister)

·        ¼ C grated Romano

·        Garlic, salt & pepper to taste

Slice up the uncooked bacon into small sections (around 2”) put the bacon pieces in a large pot (NOT a skillet – think soup pot) and allow it to start frying. Allow it to cook until slightly crisp then remove from heat. While the bacon is frying, start boiling your spaghetti noodles. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl whisk together your eggs, cheeses and seasonings.

When your noodles are done, remove about half of the bacon grease from the pot and return it to a low heat. Toss the drained noodles into the pot of bacon (& bacon fat) and mix until all the noodles are well coated. Then pour the egg/cheese mixture on top of your bacon-noodles. Stir continuously over low heat until the egg/cheese mix starts to melt and become creamy. FYI…don’t be lazy. If you have it on high heat & don’t keep stirring it you will end up with scrambled eggs instead of a creamy sauce.

Chicken Parmesan: This is another dish that seems elegant and complicated, but is truly SO EASY! Use your favorite spaghetti sauce (homemade or store-bought) but do not add any ground meat to it.

Ingredients:

·        2-4 chicken breasts

·        1 pkg of original shake n bake

·        ¼ cup grated Parmesan (use the stuff in the canister)

·        Mozzarella cheese

·        Olive Oil

Start by getting your spaghetti noodles boiling and your sauce cooking. While that is on the stove, begin flattening the chicken breasts to about ¼” thick. You can beat them with a meat mallet and make a huge mess OR place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Place a chicken breast on the plastic wrap fold the plastic over the breast. Gently use a (glass) drinking glass to pound the chicken. It will flatten out easily. Sprinkle the flattened breasts with a little garlic, salt & pepper and set them aside. In the Shake N Bake bag, mix 1 pkg of the SnB with the Parmesan cheese. Shake each chicken breast in the bag until it is evenly coated. Put a little olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the coated chicken breasts over medium heat until they are golden and crispy on the outside. Try not to flip them more than once (so you don’t lose your coating. It shouldn’t take them more than a total of 15 minutes to fry. Once they are finished lay them out on a nice platter (or big plate). Immediately pour a little sauce over the top of each breast and sprinkle with mozzarella. By the time the platter reaches the table the cheese will be slightly melted and beautiful! Serve alongside the prepared spaghetti & sauce.

Dessert ~ Finish your meal with a dessert that is lovely and rich. Here is an easy dessert that is best if made ahead of time. I have a niece, who was born around Valentines Day and this is one of her favorite desserts. I think of her every time I make it!

Individual Chocolate Cheesecakes (8 servings)

Recipe & photo courtesy of kraftfoods.com

Ingredients:

·        1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese, softened

·        4 TBS of sugar

·        4 squares of semi sweet chocolate (melted)

·        2 C of Cool-whip

·        8 Oreos

·        Chocolate chips for garnish

·        Muffin Tin with 8 paper cups

Put an oreo in the bottom of each of the paper baking cups in the muffin tin.
Beat the cream cheese, sugar, & chocolate in a medium bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Add in the cool whip & mix well. Pour the mixture on top of the oreos in the muffin tin. Sprinkle with chocolate chips & refrigerate at least 2 hours. To make the filling easier & prettier I put the filling in a large plastic bag, snip off one of the corners and “pipe” it into the muffin cups.


KIDS PLAY!! Creating hand-made personalized Valentines Day cards is the perfect way to spend quality time with your little one and create a one of a kind item for them to share. There are so many fun and creative ways to do this. Sure, we could buy our kids the valentine box-kit that comes with a lollipop, but what fun is that? If you make your own, you get to spend real time with your kid and they’re left with a real sense of self-accomplishment when they’re done. WIN-WIN! I’m going to show you a couple ideas that we’ve used. However, don’t be limited to what we have here. There is a fantastic website, http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/ that has a ton of amazing ideas. From Hershey's Kiss Roses to really cool optical illusion photos. (Check out the ginormous lollipop idea!)

But I digress, last year we bought several 6 packs of the Kool-Aid Bursts for my son’s classmates, Diet Coke for one teacher and Red Bulls for the other two teachers. (It helps to know the teacher’s favorite beverage!) We then made little cards out of card-stock. (You could even use the store-bought ones). We used a hole-punch and put a hole in the top of the card, threaded ribbon through it and tied it around the neck of the bottle/can. It was a fun, unique idea and was quick and simple to do. For the Red Bull cans, a little piece of tape was used to help secure the ribbon to the top of the can. This can be a fun, surprising way to show anyone that you love them. (not just on Valentine's Day) I got the idea from my good friend, Katie. I was having a bad day at work and she left me a surprise; sitting on the desk was a bottle of coke that had a bunch of ribbons and a funny hand-made card tied around the neck. I couldn’t help but laugh & it really made my day.

This is the Valentine Aiden made this year to share with his classmates. We got the idea from the family fun website. They are heart-shaped multicolor crayons. We spent last Saturday sitting on the living room floor watching cartoons and peeling paper off of old broken crayons. We then put the crayons in a heart-shaped silicone mold I picked up for $2. The mold has 6 hearts in it so we made 3 batches. (FYI, the mold was discolored afterward and I wouldn’t be comfortable using it for future food-use) We put the silicone mold on a cookie sheet for stabilization and “baked” the crayons at 200º until they were melted. Then we carefully placed them in the freezer to harden. The result was these awesome little creations. The best crayons were the ones that had contrasting colors next to each other on the bottom of the mold. i.e: yellow next to blue, orange next to green, etc. We made a card from 2 contrasting colors of card-stock and put the heart-crayons and cards in small plastic bags. We then folded over a piece of the card-stock and stapled it to the top of the bag. We used matching letter-stickers to create the “Love, Aiden” sentiment, but only because we have several packages of them lying around. Otherwise, I would have used my printer! The great thing about this project is, that we finally figured out what to do with that big tub of broken crayons!!

Another way to show your family how you love them is to bake a little something special. This is a cupcake recipe that my Mom always made for us on Valentines Day. The recipe was handed down to her from her Mother. My Grandmother will probably haunt me for this, but I'm going to give you all her recipe. Don't be surprised or turned-off by the ingredient list...the uniqueness is probably why no one has ever been able to duplicate the rich moist cake. FYI, it is so moist it doesn't do well being baked as an actual cake...bake it as cupcakes.

Grandma Norman's Chocolate Cupcakes
Sift together:
2C flour
1/2 C Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
1 C Sugar
2tsp Baking Soda

Mix in separate bowl:
1 C Water
1 C Miracle Whip (yes...the mayo alternative, but do NOT use real Mayo!)
1 tsp Vanilla
Combine both mixtures, bake at 350 until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes about 20 cupcakes

Icing
Mix:
2 TBS melted butter
1/2 bag of powdered sugar
approximately 2 TBS milk (If icing is too thick, add milk 1 tsp at a time. If it is too thin add more powdered sugar)

My Mom always topped them with the little heart-shaped “red hot” candies. However, I like to dip them in coconut. Either way (or plain) they are amazing.

Cupcakes can be stored at room temperature, but do not seal them in a container. Leave the lid "popped" a bit to allow for air circulation.

No matter what you do for Valentines Day this year, don’t lose sight of why (or who) you’re celebrating. The point isn’t all about seeing how much money you can spend and it’s not just for lovers. It’s about showing those around you how special they are.

The KISS Principle

I don’t want the focus of this blog to be just about saving money, because that is not the focus of my life. The focus of my life is my family, and how we’ve taken a simple retro-approach to living. We started this journey by following the KISS Principle. The KISS Principle was first introduced to me in JR High Art and I have loved it ever since. KISS is an acronym for Keep It Simple Stupid. Basically, the more complex a system the more room there is for error. For us, we’ve found that by cutting back on the complexities of life we are not only happier, but we also have more money!

To have a simple and low-key lifestyle we looked at how families were raised in previous generations. The first logical step for us was to scale back and live below our means. We spend our money as if we only have 2/3 of our actual income. At first it feels like you’re sacrificing, until you see your bank account numbers increasing. Yes, we could afford a big car payment…we just chose not to have one. My car does not define me and most of my friends probably couldn’t tell you what I drive. FYI…it’s a Cavalier and I haven’t had a car payment in years. Is it fancy? Nope. Does it make me feel important when I drive it? Nah, but I don’t need a vehicle for that. If I had to rely on my car in order to impress people, I would start seeing a therapist for self-esteem issues.

The next thing we scaled back on was our home. When I was pregnant we were on the verge of buying a nice, large home. It was beautiful and we could afford the monthly payments for the next 30 years. We finally opted to stay in our small 3-bedroom home. Our little yellow house is quite unremarkable (at best). It’s neither beautiful nor a showpiece, it’s just practical. The amount of money required to heat & cool our home is so low it’s almost embarrassing. I would have a heart attack trying to heat & cool a large home with high ceilings. Besides, it’s the people who live inside these little walls and in the homes around us that really make this a special place. (Not to mention it’s almost paid off…. 20 years earlier than planned!!)

One of my favorite “life upgrades” was to unplug from the digital world and take a hands-on approach to parenting. Grandma didn’t have a color TV with 24 hr cartoons to prop her baby in front of. She actually had to interact with her children. She had to find or invent things to keep them busy when she had her own business to tend to.

As a tiny infant, instead of laying our son in his crib I would lay him on my chest and we would have the most amazing conversations. We didn’t have to spend a fortune on learning toys because my husband would walk him around the house and yard pointing at every object they passed discussing their size, shape and color. We would repeatedly count his fingers & toes out loud. I’m guessing this is the reason he could count to 20 by his 1^st birthday. I started reading to him the first night I brought him home. There are so many opportunities for learning during the first year. Opportunities that are missed if the baby spends large quantities of time propped in front of the TV. What I'm saying is, just play WITH your kids (even babies) and you'll be amazed at not only what they learn from you, but what you learn from them.

A continuation of “unplugging” was to implement  mandatory family dinner. The table shouldn't be used only at Thanksgiving! SO, suppertime meals aren’t allowed in the living room. All electronic devices are shut off. If you try to call my house between 6p and 6:45, I’m sorry, but you will get the answering machine. While I’m cooking, both of my guys tend to gravitate to the kitchen and we chat while the food is being prepared. Sometimes they jump in and help. This unexpected perk wasn’t planned; it just sort of happened and then became habit. Without being prompted, my kindergartener grabs a dishrag and the bottle of cleaner to scrub down the table just before supper is finished cooking. Then he sets the table with plates and utensils. A great deal of family bonding takes place during our evening meal ritual.

 Face-Time ~ Honestly, I’m not a video game Nazi and anti-everything-digital! I just don’t think electronics should be the main focus of our family. I remember playing euchre late at night on Yahoo games with my friends. We had fun, but it wasn’t the same as sitting around a table with a pizza until 3am. It lost a bit of it’s magic. I think a lot of kids never get to really experience that “magic” of face-time bonding. Now that there are free or cheap subscriptions to MMO games, Facebook to express emotions, texting instead of writing a note or just talking; our kids’ friends almost become faceless. Well, they’re only emulating us! One of my biggest pet peeves is when I’m talking to someone and then I realize they’re texting. I think it is so rude. For that reason (much to the irritation of most of my friends) I shut my cell phone off when I’m with my family. My family comes first. I don’t want my husband or son to feel second-rate. I also don’t want my son to think its OK to text at the dinner table or when someone is trying to talk to him. If you REALLY need to tell me that the ice cream you just had at DQ is the most amazing thing ever, just dial my home number! (If it’s between 6pm & 6:45pm just leave a message on the machine)

Trust me when I tell you there is a great deal of bonding that takes place over a bowl of popcorn and a board game. Sure, it would be easier to have him go watch TV or let him play his DS all evening. Instead, we curl up on the couch and read every evening. During the summer we use our hammock for reading purposes. His favorite Christmas gift this year was a Bug Encyclopedia!! Another family favorite is “kitchen dancing”. The day I brought him home from the hospital we were standing in the kitchen and “Strangers in the Night” came on the radio and I started dancing with him. Now we get down & boogie with all types of music until we’re too exhausted to breathe!

Our little guy spends a lot of time outside getting dirty. Rule #1: He NEVER gets in trouble for ruining his clothes outside. Retro Mama Fact: little boys wash and so do their clothes. If it gets ruined, oh well. He was going to outgrow it in 3 months anyway. I have bigger things to stress about than whether or not a 6-year-old boy has holes in the knees of his pants! Outside time shouldn’t require a lot of prep or be a big planned event to a park; it should just be something kids do naturally & spontaneously. We have a small yard, but he still has plenty of room to explore. I always keep a stock of sidewalk chalk & bubbles in the garage. There is a sidewalk in front of our house perfect for hop-scotch or riding his bike. Thanks to a good neighbor, there is a sandbox buried somewhere under a big pile of sand. It’s even complete with shovels and Tonka trucks. We have a small rock garden and in the summer we plant a vegetable garden. We have a big tree perfect for climbing…I gave up 2 years ago trying to keep him out of it. The point is… if you have a few things for them to do outside, and they KNOW they’re not going to be allowed to watch TV or play video games inside they miraculously figure out how to keep themselves busy. You don’t need a $2000 swing set or a massive trampoline. Kids really only need their imaginations and permission to use them.

Live Simply, Be Happy

The Glory of Casseroles

For me, few things are quite as nostalgic as being a kid and coming home from school on a cold day to a warm house, my smiling Mom and a wonderful aroma wafting from the oven. BEHOLD the glory of the casserole! Few meals are as easy to toss together, that are inherently satisfying as a casserole. If you don’t have fond memories of them, you should have visited the Hill House, because my mother had rockin’ casserole skills! I’m not talking Tuna Noodle Casserole; I’m talking about amazing, delicious dishes that satisfied the budget and the family.

The main glory of the casserole, is that it:

• can be made ahead of time 
• can be frozen for future use 
• utilizes leftovers 
• is cheap and easy to prepare 
• is so versatile

Building a casserole is easy with just a little bit of know-how. I’m going to start with basic casserole ingredients. First, you want to base it on a starch like already cooked rice or pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, bow-tie…anything!) Second, you need a “filler”. This is usually where I grab my leftover meat from the fridge and add a veggie. Third, you need a sauce. Any “Cream of” soup is a winner, add some melted Velveeta (yes, Retro Mama buys Velveeta instead of generic cheese bricks!) and it’s worth gold! Leftovers such as soups or stews can act as both filler & sauce. For example, mixing vegetable beef stew with a heavy pasta (like egg-noodles) is a delectable dish. Or, add a little cornstarch to the stew, cook it down & let it thicken. Pour it into a casserole dish & top with a pie crust. Voila…Pot Pie! Now that you have the basics, let your imagination take over.

If you have leftovers that can be used for a particular casserole, but you really don’t want to eat it any time soon…don't throw out good food...prepare the casserole anyway! Just make these minor adjustments:
Layer your baking dish with wax paper prior to filling and do not add any toppers such as cheese or bread crumbs. (Mashed potato toppers are fine to add)  Make sure your wax paper goes up & over the sides of the dish. After you add the casserole filling to the paper-lined dish, place it in the freezer until it is frozen solid. Remove the frozen casserole from the dish (it should now just be semi-wrapped in wax paper – the paper makes it easy to remove from the pan). Put your frozen casserole in a large freezer bag or wrap tightly in foil. Don’t forget to label the contents! Then stash it in the freezer until needed! To use: Remove the frozen casserole 1-day prior to use. Remove the wax paper & place the casserole back in its original dish. Cover the dish & allow it to “thaw” in the fridge overnight.

Now I'm going to share a few of our family favorites. Take these basic recipes & change them up...add or subtract ingredients and make them your own! Most of them are easy on the budget...who says you have to eat Ramen to save money??? I am giving the cost, based on utilizing leftovers and shopping at a discount grocery store. (See my post “Trim the Fat” for references) Also, many of the ingredients I consider “pantry items” and are too cheap to apply a cost. If it is less than .25 in value I won’t list it. For example, an egg is worth about .10 so I wouldn’t list them unless I was using at least 3 of them.

Baked Spaghetti – $3.80

Use leftover (or make fresh) spaghetti. Mix about ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese and ½ cup of shredded mozzarella into the spaghetti. Pour into a greased 2 qt casserole dish. Layer the top with pepperoni (optional) top with shredded mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 400, 25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.
Cost: leftover spaghetti $0, shredded cheeses $3.50, Pepperoni: .30

Chicken, Cheddar & Broccoli Casserole - $4.60

2 cups cooked rice
Cut-up chicken (any type of leftover or approximately 2-3 breasts fully cooked)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 oz of Velveeta, cut up (the oz’s are marked on the pkg for easy measuring)
6 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
½ bag of frozen broccoli
Grated Parmesan cheese
Melt together the mushroom soup, velveeta and 3 oz of the cheddar. While the sauce is melting, combine the cooked rice, chicken & broccoli. Add the sauce to the rice mixture. Pour into a greased 2 qt baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of the cheddar cheese on top then sprinkle with a little grated parmesan.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Feel free to substitute the chicken with any leftover meat and the broccoli with any other vegetable…ham works well with peas or broccoli and shredded beef is beautiful with peppers and/or mushrooms.

Cost: Leftover meat: $0, Rice: $1.40, Velveeta: .65, Cheddar: $1.40, Mushroom Soup: .50, Frozen Broccoli: .65

One of my husband’s favorites that is easy to double, and is an excellent crowd-pleaser is my Mom’s quick & easy Jumbalaya recipe. It’s so simple; I was making this dish when I was barely big enough to reach the stove!

Mama Hill’s Jumbalaya  - $5.05

Cut up raw chicken (approximately 3 chicken breasts)
7 oz of link polish sausage, cut up in thin slices (7 oz is approximately 1 link or half of a pkg. I buy skinless polska kielbasa)
1 can of tomatoes & green chilis undrained
1 pkg of Cajun Rice or “Dirty Rice” (approximately 6 oz pkg)
1 cup of water.
Mix the above ingredients in a greased 2 qt casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350, 30-45 minutes or until the chicken is done. Serve with Cornbread!
Cost: Chicken: $1.85, Sausage: $1.35, Tomatoes & Chilis: .65, Rice Mix: $1.20

Of course, it wouldn't be a complete "Casserole" segment if we didn't include Tuna Noodle Casserole. I wasn't going to include this retro dish, but I decided I have to honor two great men in my life who think this is a fantastic meal. When I was a kid, if you came home to the smell of this casserole it was a pretty safe bet that Mom wasn't home...

Papa Hill's Tuna Noodle Casserole - $2

1 pkg of egg noodles (cooked & drained)
1 can of drained tuna
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
Combine the 3 ingredients, pour into a greased 1.5 qt baking dish and bake at 350 until bubbly.
Cost: Noodles: .99, Tuna: .52, Soup: .49

Papa Miller's Version - $2.80

1 box of kraft macaroni & cheese (prepare as directed on box)
1 can of tuna
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of peas (drained)
Combine the ingredients, pour into a greased 1.5 qt baking dish and bake at 350 until bubbly
Cost: Kraft Dinner: $1.20, Tuna: .52, Soup: .49, Peas: .59
(Thankfully that's over with!!)


We typically serve Bean-Dip Casserole as a main-dish with warmed tortilla shells and eat them like burritos. However, it can be a fun side to bring to a party. It’s a family favorite & it’s always requested for pot-lucks. It is also excellent served with tortilla chips. It’s not very budget-friendly, but it’s rather delicious, so I thought it was worth mentioning!

Vicky Miller’s Bean Dip - $9.77
Layer a 9” baking dish with the below ingredients in the order they are listed.
1 can of refried beans
1 lb of seasoned, browned hamburger drained of fat. (I season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a touch of cumin)
1 small jar of salsa (any variety)
1 12 oz pkg of shredded cheddar or Mexican style cheese.
Bake at 350 for approximately 20 mins or until the cheese is golden-brown.
Cost: Beans: .80, Hamburger:$2.79, Salsa: $1.79, Cheese: $2.79, Soft Tortilla Shells: $1.60


This simple recipe is great for those nights when you are short on time or just don’t feel like making a big fuss with dinner. The result is a warm, simple, aromatic dish.

Sausage Casserole - $5.40

(Recipe from cooks.com)

1 lb ground sausage (variety of your choice)
1 small onion, diced
1 cup Velveeta
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
16 oz Spaghetti
Cook the spaghetti until it is not quite done. Drain.
Fry the onion and sausage together, drain. Add Velveeta, cream of mushroom and milk. Mix together and pour in a greased 2 qt casserole dish. Bake at 350 until bubbly.
Cost: Sausage $2.80, Velveeta: $1.25, Cream of Mushroom Soup: .50, Spaghetti: .85


My final dish in this segment is my crown jewel of casseroles. It is a recipe I created based on an old favorite. I LOVE Shepard’s Pie but could never find a recipe that tasted “quite right”. So, my hubby and I sat down & discussed the things we felt were necessary to a good Shepard’s Pie and this is what we came up with. This retro casserole is hearty & delicious. Few things feel like home for us as much as this dish. It’s not a “quick dish” but it is well worth the effort. Serve it up on a chilly night and witness for yourself the warm reception that it receives. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine.

Retro Mama’s Shepard’s Pie - $4.13

 Mashed potatoes (I always use leftover)
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 onion, finely diced
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
2 TBS butter
1 C frozen peas
1 lb hamburger
2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
2 TBS tomato paste
2 TBS all purpose flour
1 C Beef Broth (I use 2 bouillon cubes to 1 cup of water)
1 egg white - beaten
 Parmesan Cheese
Start potatoes to boil – enough for a very small batch of mashed potatoes (or just use leftovers)
Sautee the carrots, onion and garlic. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix in the 2 TBS of butter and frozen peas and remove from heat.
Brown the hamburger; season it well with salt, pepper & garlic powder. Drain the fat and add the Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste. Gently stir in the Sautee mixture. Add the flour and stir well to evenly coat everything. Add the beef  broth & stir until thick.
Pour into a greased 2 qt baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes. Coat with the beaten egg white and sprinkle with the grated parm. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.
Cost: Potatoes: $0, Carrots: .50, Frozen Peas: .45, Hamburger: $2.79, Tomato Paste: .39

How to Ruin Thanksgiving with $5 a Month

Just before the holidays my husband made an off-hand comment about how I’ve “Ruined Thanksgiving”. What??? He explained that the big, traditional meals used to be something reserved for special occasions but now he eats that well all of the time. My response? YOU’RE WELCOME!

When we think of the traditional meals, we think of Mom or Grandma getting up at 4am and slaving in the kitchen all day. That’s not how I do it, and I’m going to teach you how a big family-style meal can be made from your own “convenience foods” while shaving a lot of money off your grocery bill. The reason flour-based foods like noodles, dumplings and pies were so popular during the depression are due to their economic value. We already established a bag of flour only costs $1.59 and you can do SO much with it. The key is to take an afternoon and spend it doing prep work. If you have little ones around, they love being involved in this process.

When I think of comfort food I immediately think of noodles. Sure, they sell the Amish-Made noodles in bags at the grocery store. For a small family size bag (to feed 4) they cost around $3.50 - $4.00 a bag. That’s not a terrible price, but with a little planning you can make your own for .23 a batch. That’s correct, you can create your family’s main dish for under a quarter. If you’re having guests it may cost you an entire .50! The recipe below is for 1 batch of noodles. Yes, it’s a little time consuming. However, this recipe is very easy to multiply. I multiply it x 12 and it’s no more complicated to make than a single batch. Let the noodles dry for a few hours, divide them into freezer safe containers or Ziploc bags and you now have ready-made noodles any time you want them. They will keep for up to a year frozen in an airtight container. All you have to do is drop the noodles in some broth and they’re ready to go! For easy clean up I recommend laying out newspapers on your kitchen table to make the noodles.

NOODLES (1 small batch)

• 1 large beaten egg
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 TBS milk
• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

Combine first 3 ingredients. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Roll the dough on a heavily floured surface. Roll the dough very thin. (this is based on your preference, keep in mind the noodles will swell a lot during cooking. I roll mine as thin as possible) Occasionally shift the dough to make sure it isn’t sticking to the surface. Smooth a little flour on top & let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Once it’s dry roll up the dough & slice it 1/8” thick (more or less based on preference) Separate the noodles and spread them out on the floured surface. Let them dry at least 2 hrs. Then, either fix for supper or store in a freezer-tight container. (1 batch per container) To cook: drop the noodles into boiling broth and let them cook approximately 15 minutes.

If you multiplied x 12 your family can now enjoy a nice “noodle” dinner once a month for the rest of the year! All you have to do is open a freezer bag & dump them in the boiling broth. If you had bought 12 bags of noodles the total cost would be at least $42. However, YOU only spent $2.76.


Now…what to do with those noodles? You can make Budget Friendly Beef & Noodles. This can be made in the crock-pot or stovetop. (we prefer crock pot because it’s easy) For a family of 4, buy 1 lb of beef stew meat. Put it in a pot full of beef broth. I use bouillon cubes and add 2 cubes per 1 cup of water. Add 1 tsp of salt, 2 - 3 tsp of Italian seasonings, 1 tsp of garlic powder, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, half a finely diced onion (optional) and pepper to taste. Let it cook until the meat is tender. (At least 6 hrs in the crock-pot or about 2 hrs on the stovetop) When the meat is tender add the noodles. They will take about 15 minutes stovetop or about 25 minutes in the crock-pot. Stir frequently when you first add them to keep them from clumping. Serve with mashed potatoes and a canned vegetable of your choice. 
You just fixed your family an amazing meal, but what did it cost? According to my grocery list yesterday, if you shopped at a discount grocery store the meat was $3.99, the noodles were .23 the canned veggie was .59 and the potatoes were around .40. Congratulations you spent $5.21 to feed your entire family one amazing meal.


Not into Beef & Noodles? Try Chicken & Noodles! (or turkey) This one is much easier and is great if you have any kind of left-over poultry. Even fried chicken translates well.
Cut up any leftover cooked poultry removing as much fat as possible. Toss into a pot of chicken broth. Season as desired. Once the broth is boiling add your noodles. Serve over mashed potatoes.

Are homemade mashed potatoes too time consuming to fix all the time? While you're waiting for your noodles to dry peel & cut an entire 5lb bag of potatoes. Partially boil  them in salt water. Drain, allow to cool completely and put in freezer containers (or bags). When you're ready to use just put the frozen potatoes in boiling water & they should only take about 10 minutes to finish cooking. Voila..."Instant" homemade potatoes!

Random Retro Mama Fact:  If your noodle broth seems to “soupy” put some of the broth into a bowl & whisk in enough flour until a soft paste forms. Add the paste to the broth & stir well. Repeat if necessary. This will gradually thicken your broth.

Trim the Fat

Seriously...Trim the Fat!! Quitting my job to stay home meant that I had to get creative with my finances or we were going to sink fast. We had some money set aside, but not enough. Especially after the stove, furnace, washer, and dryer all needed replaced. (SURPRISE!) So I took the daunting task of sitting down with every receipt and every bill to see what we had going out each month vs what we had coming in. It was tight & there was no room for error (or appliances that kept breaking down). However, by the second month I was able to reduce our monthly out-going funds by almost $700…true story. Over time, I’ve gotten even better and have reduced that cost exponentially. All I did was make a few minor changes in how I shop and cook. The added benefit? Since quitting my job I have lost almost 30 lbs and my husband has lost around 20 lbs. We’re both at a healthy weight and he claims that he eats better now than ever.

First of all: Quit eating out. At a minimum, limit eating out to once a week. Eat at home and take a brown-bag lunch. We used to get take-out for supper at least 3 nights a week, we would get take-out for lunch at least 2 days a week and we would go to a nice sit-down restaurant at least once a week. I figured this up and we were spending around $20 a ticket for supper take-out, $10 a ticket for lunch and $35 a ticket for a nice dinner. We were spending at least $6240 a year to eat outside of the home (that’s over $500 a month!!!)…OUCH! 

Second: Change the way you shop. I do not have the time or interest in couponing, so don’t expect any great coupon tips from me. I just use common sense…and avoid “Big Chain, Everything Under One-Roof” type stores. Save money shop smart? I don’t think so... Hardcore Wal-Mart fans swear they can’t purchase their groceries and toiletries any cheaper elsewhere. I’m guessing they never looked. I’ve managed to shave an additional $200 a month off my grocery bill in part by avoiding Wal-Mart. 

Despite what the big convenience stores tell you, it really is o.k to make 2 stops: 1 for groceries and 1 for toiletries. Try to keep an ongoing list in your kitchen so you’re prepared on grocery day. You won’t have to constantly run to the local grocery store or gas-station for items. Make 2 grocery trips a month and try to get everything you need all at once. 

Here's my big secret: Aldi’s grocery store. It is a little-known gem. If you’re not familiar with Aldi’s, it is a discount bag-your-own grocery type store. There are similar stores such as Save-A-Lot. I guarantee your neighborhood has something similar. I also love that I use my “green bags” and reduce tons of waste annually in plastic bags. Now, stay with me…this isn’t the same Aldi’s that was around when we were kids. They’ve really stepped up their game to become competitive with the big boys while maintaining their fantastic savings. Their produce is far superior to anything I can find at Kroger or Wal-Mart. Their meat is always fresh and I have no complaints about any of their frozen or dry goods. Even the ice-cream and other “non-essentials” are excellent quality. 

Here is where it adds up: Most items are less than a dollar cheaper, and a lot of people say it’s not enough to matter. But don’t be fooled…it really is. I took a dual shopping trip for your benefit. Aldi vs Wal-Mart. This is only a partial grocery list, but I tried to cover all the basics. All of the Wal-Mart items were from their “Good Value” line. (generic store brand). My Aldi grocery total was $63.54 and Wal-Mart was $87.46. That’s a $23.92 difference…on a partial grocery list. For toiletries I shop at Big Lots. That store is chocked full of hidden treasure at low prices! 

Last: Change the way you cook. Try to avoid convenience foods. Tossing a frozen lasagna in the microwave, purchasing “spice kits” for pot roast, buying pre-made noodles, etc might seem like a good idea, but they are a huge waste of money. Think about how our grandmothers and great-grandmothers cooked. Everything was from scratch and all the left-overs were utilized. More times than not I can prepare a full, healthy wonderful meal for 4 people for under $5. (Not $5 a plate…for $5 total) You would be surprised how with just a little planning you can really make a dollar stretch. Bonus??? Avoiding over-processed foods will gradually slim your waistline without you even realizing it. 

Starting tomorrow I’m going to share Retro Recipes that are delicious and budget-friendly. If you have any special requests, let me know! Tomorrow we’re going to focus on creating your own “convenience foods”.