Some changes on the blog

There will be a little change to the blog. It will still deal with homesteading things still, but it will also be changing as our homestead will be as well.  My husband is going back to college! He will be starting college classes this coming month (Feb.) and with  4H, my work, school and daily life. Life on the homestead is going to change.

We are selling all but 1 of our goats ( my mom's is staying of course) and will not be starting a herd up again until my husband finishes college classes or me just might never again. That is in God's hands!  I know we will get the people who say " you are giving up!", "this was your dream and now you are letting it go". To those people , we are not giving up! We have thought about this, prayed about this, and feel at this time in our lives we need to give some things up for now. While this time in our lives will be stressful, hectic and just need to have "space to breathe". For those who are supportive of this , we thank you so much for your congrats, and prayers as we go on this new journey God has planned for us!

So if you see meals that are from a box( shriek!), or not organic. Don't get upset please. Once again we are working on paying our house off , as well as having really hard schedules. So yes I will more then likely have something not homemade on my menus, and yes we won't be buying a ton or organic, I will try my best to get to farmers markets and still support local farms as much as I can. (Wow sorry for that run on sentence). To those who do want to judge that is fine. Once again though we are going through a time in our lives will I am going to sacrifice for a better later. ( Any way sometimes it I nice not to have to cook! Can I get an amen!?)

The blog will also have more book reviews, bible discussions, verses that have impacted my life or make you sit and really think on it as well. I am trying to dig even deeper in to God's word this year , to strengthen my walk and relationship with God ! So I hope you will share what God is doing in your life and what books, verses, and quotes you would recommend that have really impacted your life!


So that's it! I hope you all stick around for the amazing journey God is taking us on!

Once again thank you all for the great support and prayers!

Have a wonderful Sunday!! God Bless!,

~Katie

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Homemade English Muffins

With all the snow we have gotten and the boys are off school today, so I decided to make it a baking day.

One of the things I love to make is homemade English muffins. The smell from the oven that spreads through your house and then having the patience not to eat one before they have cooled.  Yep, I love the homemade kind. As an extra bonus you get 18 muffins compared to the store bought and you know what ingredients you have in them!

I love to enjoy mine with some butter and local honey! I also use them to make mini pizzas  for my boys, which they love. You can be even more creative and come up with your own way of eating them.  What is your favorite way of eating them?

Okay so here is the recipe I use, it is from the More- with - Less cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre ( one of my favorite cookbooks!)


English muffins

Makes 18 muffins

Heat in a saucepan until very warm (130 degrees)

1 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine ( I used butter)

In a large mixer bowl, combine:

2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 pkg. dry yeast ( or 2 1/4 tsp. if you buy bulk yeast like me)
1 1/2 cup flour
With mixer on low speed, gradually beat liquid into dry ingredients. Increase speed and beat 2 minutes, or beat vigorously by hand.

Beat in :
1 egg
1 cup flour

With spoon , add:

2 cups flour, or enough to make stiff dough

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead just until well mixed, about 2 mins. Shape dough into a ball and place in greased large bowl, turning once. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

  Punch down dough. Turn onto lightly floured surface; cover with bowl 15 minutes , and let rest.

Meanwhile,  place cornmeal in  a pie plate. Roll dough about  3/8" thick. Cut dough into 3' circles; reroll scraps to make 18 circles in all.

Dip both sides of the circle in the cornmeal and place on cookie sheet. cover and let rise in warm place until doubled about 45minutes.

Brush large skillet with oil and heat.

When skillet is medium hot put in 6 muffins, cook 8 mins. on each side or until brown. Repeat until all are cooked.

To serve spilt muffins horizontally with tines of fork and toast.

I hope you give these a try and if you do come back and let me know what you think!


Have a wonderful day!

~ Katie

Quick trip to Darrenkamps

       
     I had to make a quick trip to the store yesterday. Tyler is snack person for his class on Tues.so we had to pick up snacks , needed milk and picked up a few things for my in laws. I am not including the things I got them in this post though. So the total has been changed to only have what I paid for our groceries.  Sorry I didn't get a chance to get a picture of the trip but here is the run down.

Shopping trip:

Kellogg fruit snacks: $1.99 ( not these where not on the list, but they were on sale and they were Nascar! :) )

 Quaker granola bars: $2.99 ( got 3 boxes)

1% milk: $3.19

Always: $3.19

Total:

$20.74 ( this included tax and $0.10 discount for bringing my own bags)

Remaining Food Budget for Jan. : $34.91

How are your budgets going? Staying on track? If not don't give up! I would love to know how your shopping adventures are going! Find any great deals? Leave a comment below and let me know!

My first Aldi trip

This was my first time ever at an Aldi store! I was quite surprised how much organic stuff they had, how nice their produce was and was impressed with their prices. I would definitely go there again!

If you have never been to an Aldi, you will need to take a quarter to get your cart (don't worry you will get this back at the end), you will need your own shopping bags and your cash or debit card (they don't take credit cards). They have many great products chips, baking items, dairy items, fresh produce, meats, etc. They also have an aisle that had things like workout mats, blenders, car supplies, etc.

After your shopping is done and you check out. You will unpack your cart in your car and return your cart where you will get your quarter back! So if you are in the area or just like checking new stores out like I do. I would definitely check out an Aldi store. Okay see here is what I got and the prices.

Aldi shopping trip:

Baby Spinach: $2.49 (organic)

Rigatoni pasta: $1.29

Honey crisp apples: $3.99

Navel oranges: $3.49

Turkey Pepperoni: $2.19

White cheddar popcorn: $1.79 (organic)

Multi colored peppers: $1.69

Can of kidney beans: $0.59

Butter:$ 4.58 (total for 2)

Jennie -0 ground turkey(3lb. pkgs): $11.98 (price for 2)

Large eggs:1.45 each (got 2) Our chickens aren't laying!

String cheese: $ 2.79

Dried apricots:$2.89

Mini Babybel:$2.89

Kefir:$2.49 (got 3)

Pita chips: 1.99

Baby spinach:$2.49 (organic)

Granny smith apples: $3.99

Lemons:$2.99

Quinoa chips:$1.99

Spring mix: $2.49 (organic)

Can of Cannellini beans:$0.65

Squeezable applesauce: $1.79

Kiwis: 1.49

Sharp shredded cheddar:$2.79 (got 2 bags)

Goldfish crackers:$1.85

Organic rice cakes:$1.59

Turkey bacon:$1.89

Trail mix:$4.89

Olive oil spray:$1.49

Multi grain chips:$1.69

Sour Cream:$1.29

Dried Blueberries:$2.45

Total: $95.61

Walmart:

Box of Chex cereal: $3.89

Box of Cheerios:$3.89

Total:$7.78

Grocery budget left for Jan.: $55.65

I can say we are fully stocked for a long time! The only thing we will need to get the rest of the month will be milk, etc.

Have you gone any great shopping trips lately? Do you have a favorite store you like to shop? I would love to hear it and feel free to post a picture too!

~Katie

New blog series

Hi Everyone! Starting this new year I am going to be starting a blog series. I am wanting to work on my food budget this year, as one of my goals. So as usual I am going to be giving myself $350.00 a month for a budget. I will be documenting my store trips (with pictures of what I bought) and my menu plan for that week. My goal is to stay on budget or better yet get below my budget and then put the extra money into our savings.

Sound good? Do you want to join me? Let me know if you are joining, I would love to see how everyone else is doing!
So I know we are already a few weeks in to Jan., but I will post my latest shopping trip and what my amount I have left for my Jan. budget! So here we go! Yay!


Today I stopped at Darrenkamp's to pick up a few items, but also stopped by the reduced meats, veg. and bread area. I got some great deals!

***Tip always check these areas out! You can save a really good amount of money, on these types of things and if you can't use the items now freeze them! I love stocking up on breads, rolls and bagels! I just stick them in my freezer and just pull them out when I am ready to use.

Shopping trip items:

Bananas- $1.50
Baby carrots- $0.99
Milk- $3.19
Sugar-$5.99
Bread- $ 1.00 (reduced)
3 packages rolls-  $3.00 (reduced)
hot dog buns-$1.50 (reduced)
Perdue Mesquite chicken breasts- $2.99 (reduced from 9.99!)
Hatfield hot dogs- $0.99 (reduced)
Sandwich bags- $2.00 (on sale)

Total: $23.22 (includes 5 cent discount for bringing my own bag and tax)


Left of January budget: $159.04




Menu Plan;

Chicken pot pie, butterhorns
Tacos (using black beans from the freezer), corn
Chicken noodle soup, freezer biscuits
Homemade pizzas, broccoli
Blueberry Pancakes
Baked Chicken, gravy, tator tots, green beans( from our garden)
Spaghetti, homemade garlic bread, steamed carrots

*This menu was made with items I already have in my fridge, freezer, or pantry*



Do you have any tips that helps you save money on your shopping trips? I would love to hear them!

~Katie