Author: The Urban Homemaker

  • Eating Well on a Limited Budget

    Ed Note: The below comment was originally posted to my blog by Jill Ferris. There is a great deal of wisdom here. Read on.

    Many years ago when I was worrying about how to eat healthily on a very very limited budget I met a young mother who was raised in a poor family (12 children) who told me what they ate growing up.

    Basically, they ate cooked dried beans, cornbread and some sort of cooked greens (like turnip greens) for at least two meals a day all year long. She said they got ice cream once a year for Christmas or Fourth of July. That was it.

    When she married and moved across the country she went to a doctor and dentist for the first time in her life and was told that she was the healthiest person they had ever seen. The dentist had never seen teeth as strong as hers!!

    I thought about her parents and wondered if they worried all those years about not really “providing” for their family and wondered if they realized what wonderful health their children had because of growing up without refined foods!

    Meeting her was reassuring to me. I realized that good nutrition can be very simple and very plain. It can be very very inexpensive. It, of course, must be balanced (the beans and the corn bread compliment each other and the greens are a wonderful food if not overcooked).

    I realized that we could get very, very poor and still afford GOOD nutritious food!

    So that’s my money saving tip! Relax, trust in God to provide what you need, ask Him to teach you simple ways to make nutritious foods (sprouting seeds is one of those ways; they are very cheap but highly nutritious!) and have the confidence to know that you are providing the BEST for your family!

    The above tip was writted by Jill Ferris and I think this is a top tip for frugal eating!
    Be encouraged.

  • Save money by Cooking at Home

    Sometimes tremendous savings in the food budget can be made by cooking from scratch, compared to using pre-packaged, pre-processed convenience foods. In some cases, though, you may need to invest in suitable equipment such as bread baking equipment, quality stainless steel cookware and bakeware, water purification product, etc.

    Duromatic pressure pans by Kuhn Rikon are one way I believe I really save time and money with my food and energy bill. In Europe, I’m told, most households have up to three pressure cookers to save energy as energy is more costly in Europe than America.

    With ever increasing energy costs, homemakers are looking for ways to save energy and be “green” even in their cooking. A pressure cooker will save considerable cooking time for typical everyday cooking. For example, I cook broccoli for two minutes at full pressure. I cook quartered potatoes in five minutes.

    Brown rice takes in 20 minutes. Pot roasts and meat loaves take about 15 minutes per pound to cook. Dry beans such as kidney beans and limas are done in 8-10 minutes when soaked ahead.

    Pressure cooking enables you to cook less expensive foods like beans, grains, and legumes, as well as less tender cuts of meats very quickly with better taste and concentrated flavors.

    Usually each spring we offer a special 5 liter Duromatic for a bargain price. My allotment of the special pans are usually sold in a few days or even less.

    This year, Kuhn Rikon has discontinued this promotion. Instead they are raising prices April 1 an average of 10% or about $20.00 per pan.

    So this year, what I am offering is the old (current) pricing for Duromatics while my supplies last.

    Please read excerpts below from a recent issue of New Harvest Homestead Newsletter. Several homemakers shared their thoughts on the versatile pressure cooker.

  • Easy Economical Vegetarian Main Dishes

    Last week I printed the testimonial about a “poor” woman raised in a large family of 12 children who were fed beans, cornbread, and greens two meals a day most of the year. In her adult life, the doctors, and particularly the dentist, pronounced her extremely healthy.

    I’ll admit it; at times I hesitate to serve beans and legumes as often as I could for fear I’m serving poor man’s food, and not pleasing the family. I need to remember, I’m the mom and I do know what’s best for the family’s nourishment and finances.

    I hope you were encouraged to learn that this “poor” woman enjoyed vibrant health as an adult. I thought we could all be inspired if we shared with one another family favorite, tried and true recipes for beans and legumes.

    New Blog Contest:
    To get started I will publish one of my tastiest lentil recipes, Curried Lentils. It goes together quickly and easily, especially if you pressure cook the lentils first, which takes just 15 minutes.

    Several months ago I asked readers to share their family friendly recipes that rely mostly on beans or legumes to encourage struggling homemakers who are trying to stretch their paychecks while adopting a healthier lifestyle.

    My husband Duane passed away shortly thereafter and I am now, just geting to award  the best recipes/creative/versatile recipes with a complimentary bottle of safe and effective Norwex Fresh Wash for cleaning fruits and veggies ($26.99 value), or Norwex Carpet Stain Buster ($26.99), a complete carpet cleaning solution used for shampooing, spot cleaning, and deodorizing effectively without harmful residues.

    The winners  have been notified by email and will receive their prizes shortly.  The winners are:

    Jenny, Amy, Jackie, and Hope.  I hope you will read their winning recipes and try them out soon.
    I liked Jenny’s idea for adapting basic bean recipes to Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Mexican seasonings.  I loved Amy’s recipe for snack sprouts made with lentils dried in a dehydrator -this is a very unique idea.  Hope gets  the award for the most complete and extensive recipe collection of main dish legume recipes, and Jackie posted a recipe for Lebanese Vegetable Salad

  • The Homemaker’s Mentor

    I just found out two of my favorite and most talented authors, Martha Green and Rebekah Wilson, authors of The Treasury of Homekeeping Skills and The Hope Chest and Grandmother’s Hope Chest books respectively, have a vision to train woman in many useful homemaking skills that you probably weren’t taught by your mother growing up.

    Their vision for The Homemaker’s Mentor is to provide you with helpful, illustrated lessons designed to inspire and expand your homemaking skills. As each lesson is learned your homemaking skills increase and are refined and your enjoyment as a home keeper expands. Despite the hustle and bustle of life surrounding you, your home will become a welcome haven for all who enter.

    Here is a sample lesson with over 50 uses for old and mismatched socks.

    Current lessons include:

    How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden,
    Beans, Beans, and MORE Beans,
    Sample Dreams! Homemade Pillowcases
    Detail Cleaning of the Master Bedroom

    I believe that learning new skills from older, like-minded women will bring you a deep and satisfying in enjoyment in your role as homemaker.  Check it out!

    Join the HomeMaker's Mentor
    If you are ready for an older woman to hold your hand and teach you skills you have always wanted to learn, The Homemaker’s Mentor is for you.

  • Compare Top Drinking Water Contaminants

    Last week I talked about the best way to address emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, in drinking water.

    Many people wrote to me asking me to clarify what the benefit of an R/O (Reverse Osmosis) Drinking Water System is, and how they can know which type of system is best for their family.

    Today, I want to clarify the pros and cons of Reverse Osmosis water purification technology.

    First of all, it is a HUGE misconception to think any R/O system will remove all known contaminants. R/O technology does not even remove chlorine nor most chemicals in water.

    R/O systems are best known for removing minerals and were developed for desalination of seawater aboard Naval vessels. R/O technology will also remove cysts and bacteria.

    Most R/O systems are combined with other technologies, that is, they include another filtering medium such as a solid carbon filter to remove the chemicals as well as chlorine, chlorine disinfection by-products, etc.

    A two-page brochure called, The Challenge compares all the major drinking water technologies and shows which contaminant groups each is able to remove. This flier also shows you where to get more information about addressing the water purification problems unique to your home.

    The cost of maintaining an R/O system is higher because you have to replace sediment filters, solid carbon filters and the R/O membrane on a regular basis to make sure it is working properly.

    Most homeowners on city water do not need an R/O system because they usually
    do not have bacteria or harmful minerals in their water that only R/O
    will address. In general, the only time an R/O system is needed is
    when the water is high in harmful minerals such as sodium or nitrates.

    R/O systems, because they remove all the minerals from the water, create an acidic water which, as it goes through the body, tends to make the body more acidic. Some health researchers believe this acidic condition may be a precursor to degenerative disease.

    Also, as this water goes through the body, it has been demonstrated on laboratory animals to pull minerals from the body.

    We could sell hundreds of Multi-Pure R/O systems but we don’t believe in over – selling or selling a product that is more expensive than is necessary or that is not needed.

    A solid carbon filter is more than sufficient for most drinking water issues and shows the most hope of addressing emerging contaminants, according to The Water Quality Association.

    The Multi-Pure Solid Carbon Drinking Water System is a superior choice at a better price, in my opinion, because it has been certified to remove more contaminants of health concern than any other solid carbon system on the market according to third party, not-for-profit testing done by NSF, Intl. (nsf.org)

    There is NO ONE BEST system for all circumstances. As a general rule, solid carbon technology is the best choice if you are on city water, however.

    What Are the Questions Your Should Ask When Buying a Drinking Water System?

    Choose your FREE GIFT!

    With every Multi-Pure Drinking Water System Purchase, we are offering a choice of one of a choice of two free gifts.

    Option 1:
    New! – H20 On the Go Bottles – Receive two of these attractive new insulated 17 oz stainless steel bottles to transport hot or cold liquids. A $39.00 value

    OR

    Option 2:
    Multi-Pure Shower Filter
    The Multi-Pure shower filter is an indispensable part of reducing exposure to chlorine in showers.
    A $49.95 value.

    Promotion ends – May 31, 2008

    All Multi-Pure Products SHIP FREE! This special promotion is also good in conjunction with Filtermania. (Pre-pay for 10 filters and you will receive the stainless steel

    Sincerely,

    Marilyn and Duane Moll

  • Living on a Dime

    If you listen or read news headlines in the last few weeks, you have been hearing  all  about higher food prices, sharply higher gas prices, mortgage banking crises, wheat shortages, economic woes and so forth.

    Many of you are familiar with Living On A Dime and with Tawra and Jill’s money saving, get-out-of-debt, frugal living and homemaking tips.

    Well, Tawra has let me know that Living On A Dime is extending a very special offer to you, my readers. This offer includes all of the Living On A Dime e-books in one package along with free bonus downloads.

    The “Savin’ O’ The Green” e-book package will help you learn new strategies to stretch your paycheck and fight high prices!

    The great news is that Tawra is offering this package to you at $17, a substantial discount off of the regular price for all of these e-books. With the rising price of gas and groceries, it’s good to know that some prices are actually going down!

    This collection of ebooks is a $119.00 value,  for just $17.00!

    I just had to share it with you! Check it out!

  • Dr Denmark Said It – Common sense advise for home health

    Who in the world knows what’s best for my baby?’ You do!” says Dr. Leila Denmark. Dr. Denmark is a well-known pediatrician, who is considered the longest practicing pediatrician, who cared for thousands of children for 75 years! That is right she retired in her 90’s, and just celebrated for 110 birthday last month.

    In our fast changing culture, moms can become thoroughly confused and frustrated by conflicting child care advise from doctors and the media. Some doctors recommend over-the-counter decongestants, others say, “NO! they cause more harm than good.” Some doctors say, “Give aspirin.” Others say, “Don’t give aspirin.” How do we sort out conflicting advise?

    Madia Bowman, mother of eleven, wrote Dr Denmark Said It endorsed by Dr, Denmark to accurately reflect Dr Denmark’s realistic, down-to-earth philosophy and medical recommendations.

    Her book attempts to condense the Doctor’s advice into a practical, well-organized book filled with time-tested, common sense treatments for infants and young children.

    I am a firm believer, that armed with enough basic knowledge, a mother can save countless dollars on unnecessary trips to the doctor.

    Moms need to know when it is time to go to a doctor and how to treat a self-limiting illness.

    Please join us Thursday night and find out what a mom of eleven has learned medically over 28 years of raising children. Come prepared to take notes and have an enjoyable time of learning. You can email questions for Madia ahead of time to marilyn@urbanhomemaker.com.

    Here is the contact information:

    Date: Thursday, March 20, 2008

    Scheduled Start Time: 9:00 PM EST, 8:00 CST, 7:00 PM MST, 6:00 PST (Adjust for your time zone, please.)

    Dial-in Number: 1-605-475-4150

    Participant Access Code: 209932

    If you have never participated in a phone seminar before, here is how it works:

    1. You dial in the phone number below to the seminar. (You pay only for the phone call.)
    2. Key in the seminar access code.
    3. Introduce yourself, it you wish.
    4. Bring a notebook to take notes, a cup of tea, and have your questions ready.
    5. Don’t worry about background noise, we will mute that out.

  • Hot Cross Buns

    Remember the children’s nursery rhyme that goes as follows?

    Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
    One a penny two a penny – Hot cross buns
    If you have no daughters, give them to your sons
    One a penny two a penny – Hot cross buns

    Hot cross buns were sold in the street to the cry of “Hot cross buns!” around the period in English history dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth century.

    A hot cross bun is a type of sweet spiced bun made with currants and leavened with yeast. It has a cross on the top which might be made in a variety of ways. Using confectioner’s frosting, is the most common way.

    According to one source, hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of Christ and the resurrection. Have fun with the children and enjoy the process of being together in the kitchen. Here’s my recipe for the buns:

    Hot Cross Buns

    2/3 cup dried currants
    3-1/2 to 4 cups whole wheat flour (or half bread flour and half whole wheat
    2 TB yeast
    1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon
    3/4 cup milk
    1/2 cup cooking oil
    1/3 cup sugar or honey
    1 tsp salt
    3 eggs
    1 slightly beaten egg white
    Frosting (recipe follows)

    Cover currants with very hot water. Let stand about 10 minutes or up to one hour at room temperature. Drain well. In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups flour, yeast, and cinnamon. Heat milk, oil, sugar or honey, and salt until warm (115 to 120�). Add to the dry mixture. Allow to sponge for about 15 minutes if time allows. Add eggs, one at a time. By hand or mixer, stir in currants and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead until the gluten is developed by mixer or on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6-10 minutes.

    Shape into ball. Place in greased bowl. Turn once to grease top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch down. Cover and let rest 10 minutes.

    Divide into 18 pieces. Form smooth balls. Place on greased baking sheet 1-1/2 inches apart. Cover; let rise until double, 30 to 45 minutes. Cut shallow cross in each. Brush tops with egg white. Bake in preheated 375� oven 12 -15 minutes. Remove from baking sheet. Use confectioner’s Frosting to make a “cross” on the bun.

    Confectioner’s Frosting:

    2 TB milk
    1 cup sifted powdered sugar
    1/2 tsp. vanilla

    Combine these ingredients together and add milk or water as needed to get a good pouring consistency for the frosting. Place the frosting in a small zip-lock sandwich baggie, clip the corner and use the baggie to squeeze the frosting over the cooled buns in a cross shape. Small children will enjoy this process even if it gets a little messy!

    More Easter Themed Activities:

    1. To learn to dye Easter eggs with natural colors, CLICK HERE.

    2. Another fun Resurrection project is Resurrection Cookies.

    A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Bread ebook by Marilyn Moll offers step-by-step instructions for getting started with baking yeast breads.

    Click Here to purchase this instantly downloadable ebook for $9.95.

    Learn how to:

    * How to Select Ingredients
    * Selecting a Grain Mill
    * Selecting A Mixer

    * Step-by-Step Mixing Instructions
    * How to Develop the Gluten

    * Tips for the Best Bread
    * Lots of Bread and Roll Recipes
    * Troubleshooting Guide
    * The Two-Stage Process

    Item #6059 $9.95

    Click Here to purchase this ebook for $9.95.


  • Resources and Recipes to Celebrate St Patrick’s Day

    My family and I traditionally observe  St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Irish food.

    Having read biographies of St Patrick with my children when they were younger, I wish there was more known about the man.  We know that he was  the son of a Roman nobleman, and he was born in Scotland. He was kidnapped from his hometown and taken as a slave into Ireland around the age of 16. He escaped to Gaul, at the age of 22, and returned to Scotland.

    One source claims that to learn about the man behind the holiday, one can read Confessio and Epistola, letters he wrote. The first is described as Saint Patrick’s spiritual autobiography. The second is his attempt to right the mistreatment of Irish Christians at the hands of the British. These two works, however, do not teach us enough about the man to know what is true and what is fancy.

    I like to believe the story surrounding Saint Patrick, that after years of slavery and imprisonment,   God enabled him to win pagan Ireland to Christ by his explanation of the Trinity using a shamrock. He taught that God is one being, with three separate personalities – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    As a teaching tool, he plucked a shamrock from the ground and showed the pagans how the shamrock is one plant with three separate leaves.

    If you have younger children you might enjoy downloading St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages a complimentary ebook with pages to color with shamrocks and other traditional Irish lore.  You can use the pages as a jumping off point for a lesson about St Patrick.

    With older children, you might like to talk about the life of St Patrick as well as have them help prepare a traditional meal of Corned Beef, cabbage, Irish Soda Bread, and Irish Cream Cheesecake.  All this information is contained in a complimentary ebook called  St. Patrick’s Day:Not Just for the Irish.

    Other information traditionally associated with  St. Patrick’s Day including the tradition of wearing, green, the shamrock, the Blarney Stone, and Leprechauns are also explained in the ebook  St. Patrick’s Day:Not Just for the Irish .

    Awhile ago, I told you about a great Menu Planning Service that is a Quick and Easy Way To Get Dinner On The Table and Enjoy More Quality Time WithYour Family… I told you about another free report that you can pick up where you’ll find out the details, Plus:

    Pick up your free report and find out more about how Menu Planning Just Got Even Easier. 

    Healthy

  • Response to AP article on water contaminated with Pharmaceuticals

    RESPONSE TO AP REPORT ON DRUGS IN WATER

    I received the following information from the leading manufacturer of solid carbon block drinking water filters to the story about Pharmaceuticals in water today.  I hope you will read it, and realize there is no need for alarm or fear.  Prudent homemakers will invest in the most effective drinking water system on the market, which fortunately is very reasonably priced.

    Multi-Pure International is responding to a report by the Associated Press (AP) regarding widespread contamination of public drinking water supplies by pharmaceutical drugs. Multi-Pure has been aware of the issue of these drugs making their way into public water supplies for
    several years.

    However, NSF International, the leading certifying body in the
    industry, does not have established test protocols for
    pharmaceuticals; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    has not established allowable limits for any over-the-counter or
    prescription drugs found in drinking water supplies. Multi-Pure,
    and all other drinking water treatment manufacturers cannot make
    any NSF certified claims to remove pharmaceuticals from water.

    However, Multi-Pure can assure its customers that they use the
    industry’s most widely certified filter system on the market,
    which outperforms all other NSF Certified drinking water systems
    in terms of contaminant reduction
    . Multi-Pure has led the
    industry in introducing new technologies to address emerging
    contaminants found in our nation’s water supplies.

    The AP report also cites bottled water as not being a safe
    alternative, as it is often processed and repackaged tap water.

    The AP report names reverse osmosis as being effective at
    removing “virtually all pharmaceutical contaminants,” but does
    not cite any test data to substantiate this claim.

    Since 1970 Multi-Pure International has been an industry leader
    in high performance drinking water filters for home or office.
    Multi-Pure was the leading developer of carbon block water
    filters and was the first manufacturer to gain NSF Std. 53
    certification for the reduction of many contaminants such as
    Lead, PCBs, Arsenic V, and Toxaphene.